By Isabel K Banda

Lilongwe, July, 12, Mana: A 22-year-old innovator George Kalichero who continues to amaze Malawians with his wonderful innovations by bringing his ideas into reality, is currently working on a planting Hoe which will speed up the planting process for farmers.

Speaking with Malawi News Agency, on Friday, Kalichero said the planting hoe will help farmers by reducing the time that they spend when planting their seeds.

“This hoe is different from the local ones because it has a bottle attached to store seeds and the handle has a button which releases the seed into the planting holes, hence reducing the time the farmer spends when planting with the traditional hoe,” he said.  

According to Kalichero, the new innovation will take him about a month to be finalized and be made available for use.

He also revealed that the planting hoe is one among some of his innovations that he has invented since he started in 2017.

“My first innovation was done in 2020 and it was a windmill which generates electricity and powers my grandmother’s house and 10 of her neighbors in Mulanje, but most people know much about the electric bike which I invented during the fuel crisis period in 2023,” he said.

Kalichero says he gets his inspiration from William Kamkwamba among other local innovators as well as some of the international innovators that are shown on television.

He however, lamented the lack of resources, financial support and mockery that he constantly faces in his innovation journey and urged government and different stakeholders to support and promote innovators for meaningful development.

Recently, Research Manager for National Planning Commission, Dr. Andrew Jamali said there is hope for the innovation sector in Malawi as more youths are emerging with solution-based innovations in the country.

He said: “It is very exciting as you know Malawi vision 2063 is centered on the youths and we just launched the vision about 3 years ago and already we see young people running with the vision by identifying problems and making innovations like these hence this brings hope to the country.”

Kalichero’s brilliance hit the headlines on social media in the past years and drew attention of many in the country. In 2021 he was among innovators that were selected at the Institute of Industrial Research and Innovations at Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST).

By Tawonga Moyo

Mzuzu, July 12, Mana: Great Hope Foundation, an organization which is campaigning for the endorsement of Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, has urged city councils to endorse their campaign, which seeks to persuade people to transition from the use of fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.

Director for the Foundation, Steve Chinsendenji made the call on Thursday in Mzuzu when the organization briefed Mzuzu City Council on their campaign and ask for an endorsement.

The Treaty, which has the endorsement of 191 member states, is a diplomatic and civil society campaign which aims to stop fossil fuel exploration and expansion and phase-out existing production in line with the targets of the Paris, France Climate Agreement of 2015.

Chinsendenji said the use of fossil fuel products such as thin plastics has contributed to adverse effects of climate change which come as a result of factors such as land and air pollution.

"Sometimes, people do things due to lack of knowledge on how their actions can negatively impact the environment; hence we want to raise awareness first and one way is through engaging city councils and other stakeholders for them to help us in our quest.

As a country, we have witnessed natural disasters which occurred due to adverse effects of climate change and we hope that by the end of our campaign, government establishes measures that combat the causes such as the use of thin plastics," Chinsendenji said.

He said the organization will soon take the campaign to districts like Karonga where mining activities take place to get the message across to the masses, for them to desist from actions that pollute the environment, hence leading to climate change.

In his presentation, environmental activist and Director of Green Homes Initiative, Maloto Chinkombero encouraged continual debate on the issue of thin plastics, saying doing so can eventually lead to lasting solutions.

"As African countries, our aid mostly comes from those Western countries whose economy depends on fossil fuels, so it's hard for us to put pressure on them to stop producing the fuels.

It's an issue that is debatable, hence it's important for us to keep on talking about it so that our concerns get heard and one such way, is by boycotting buying plastic products from companies that are taking a restraining orders against government's proposed ban on plastics," he said.

He said it's worrisome that the country is struggling to put an end to the use of thin plastics which destroy the environment and contribute to health problems, saying mindset change was crucial in addressing the matter.

In his remarks, Mayor for Mzuzu City Council, Kondwani Nyasulu applauded the organization for the move, and pledged to get the message across to people on the importance of minimal use of plastics for a safer environment.

Comenting on the matter, Assistant Director of Parks, Leisure and Environment for Mzuzu City Council, Gerald Mchacha described the meeting as important, saying in as much as plastics are produced by developed countries, campaigns can go a long way in making a difference.

The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty was adopted in 2015 in France at the United Nations' framework convention on climate change.

Some of the countries which agreed and joined the treaty include United States of America, Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea.

By Elia Chibwe

Lilongwe, July 11, Mana: Andrew Msope, 35, from Chimbalanga village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Kadewere in Chiradzulu district, thought of investing capital he earned from his salary into livestock farming such as raising rabbits, ducks and pigs after facing a lot of challenges for several years.

Married with two children, Msope struggled to meet the demands of his family’s basic needs, despite being employed as an Accountant at Agricultural Research and Extension Trust (ARET),

He realized that salary was too little for him to buy what his family needed, and to pay school fees for his children.

“Starting pig farming was a means of increasing income. So when I recognized that salary alone was not enough to pay school fees and to meet other needs, pig farming became a side hustle to increase my income,” he explained.

As Msope invested more capital in piggery, he observed that the venture was a game changer and profitable as one pig could produce more than 10 piglets.

Since he started pig farming business in 2019, Msope has got a lot to show for his lucrative business: he managed to buy 3 cars, a motorbike, and he built shops in various places within Lilongwe city.

He also built a house; and opened a big farm which is known as Msope Farm Stead.

From the pig farming, Msope has also employed 10 permanent workers and hires other causal workers to work in his fields where he grows maize, cabbage, and soya bean within Lilongwe district.

The accountant-cum-farmer disclosed that the farming has also seen him build a good relationship with buyers, and identify good markets.

“We sell piglets to upcoming farmers and organizations and also do value addition. We sell pork to hotels, Chinese and Nigerian restaurants” Msope said.

Despite the strides taken in the piggery, Msope targets to raise 1000 pigs at different stages and increase capacity to meet the demand by customers.

Jimmy Simfukwe, an employee of Msope Farmstead who is the Marketing Officer, lauds the job opportunity, which has seen him improve the livelihood of his family.

Simfukwe recalls to have struggled to get employment since he completed his studies at Mzuzu University in 2022.

The job opportunity has not only brought solutions to Simfukwe's economic needs, it has also equipped him with exceptional skills.

“I have learnt marketing skills, and how to design good pig kraals for improved yield, " he explains, adding: "I have also learnt veterinary services from veterinary officers who attend to the pigs’ medical needs."

Msope’s venture is in line with governments effort in promoting animal husbandry in the country through various interventions.

Director for Animal Health and Livestock Development Dr. Julius Chiwanga Chulu said in a questionnaire that besides conducting regular farmer trainings, government has livestock multiplication Centre’s as one way for improving livestock husbandry including pigs.

“Government has livestock and multiplication Centre’s where farmers can buy breeding stock including pigs at an affordable price. The livestock and multiplication Centre’s also act as demonstration Centre’s where farmers can learn good animal husbandry practices,” Chulu said.

He also disclosed that government is reviewing legislation to take on board emerging and re-emerging issues.

According to the Director, government has organized numerous investment programs which have, and will continue to support livestock development, including piggery.

“Agriculture Commercialization Project (AGCOM 1) provides matching grants to Producer Organization to venture into various enterprises, including piggery,” he said.

“Sustainable Agriculture Production Project (SAPP 1) through the Village Challenge Fund (VCF), SAPP1 also provided grants to farmers for them to venture into various enterprises including piggery, and we have a number of programs to improve the same,” he said.

Chulu recommended pig farming as being more profitable and urged people to venture into the business, or to seek loans from the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) for those who cannot afford on their own.

Agriculture expert, Tamani Nkhono Mvula, hailed government for coming up with good livestock policies but it to put urged it to put much effort in supporting pig farmers.

Mvula said: “What we may need is capital investment that one may put in to start the program and once the program starts, its highly profitable business that is able to sustain itself in the long run.

“There has to be more effort from the policy makers to support pig production including giving them information on the enterprise.

According to National Livestock Development Policy for 2021-2026, by 2026 the country’s contribution of livestock sector to overall agricultural production will increase by 50 percent through effective animal production, health and value chains interventions.

The policy also indicates that the government targets to increase the value of livestock exports by 10 percent, and increase by 60 percent the number of new livestock technologies.

It also discloses that the growing demand for livestock and livestock products on both the domestic and export markets can best be met if strategies that achieve growth in numbers and productivity are implemented.

By George Mponda

Karonga, July 12, Mana: Minister of Gender Community Development and Social Welfare Jean Sendeza has asked the Ministry of Lands to fast track the construction of houses for persons with albinism by cutting out some processes that are causing delays.

The Minister said this, Thursday at Kwiyala Village, in the area of Paramount Chief Kyungu in Karonga where she together with the Minister of Lands, Deus Gumba were handing over a house which government has constructed for a family which has children with albinism.

"These houses are supposed to be constructed in all districts in Malawi and as we speak, 67 have been completed. However, there are alot of persons with albinism who need these houses so there is need to expedite the construction process by cutting out some of the procurement processes which are slowing down the work," Sendeza said.

On his part, Minister of Lands Deus Gumba said government is committed to ensuring that persons with albinism are protected.

"Although we were facing problems at the beginning of this project, we have sorted those out and in this year’s national budget, K600 million has been allocated which will be used to construct 15 houses for people with albinism," Gumba said.

He reiterated governments commitment towards protecting persons with albinism.

"Years ago, our collegueas were being hunted for their body parts and some of them could not even find the body lotion which they use. But the adminstration of Lazarus Chakwera has ensured that persons with albinism are protected and enjoying the same rights as other citizens in Malawi," Gumba said.

President for the Association of Persons with Albinism in Malawi (APAM), Young Muhamba described the house which has been constructed at Kwiyala Village in Karonga as the best under the project.

"We have handed over several houses under this project but this one has been well constructed and I would like to encourage other builders to emulate this design and come up with safe, beautiful houses," Muhamba said.

Muhamba called on local authorities in districts to include persons with albinism in various social protection programs like the social cash transfer for them to be self sufficient.

He also asked for a review the national action plan on the protection of persons with albinism to ensure that gaps which exist are rectified.

By Elia Chibwe

Lilongwe, July 12, Mana: Chiefs in Kasungu have vowed to use civic education as a measure against poaching of elephants in protected forest and game reserves.

Speaking in an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Thursday, Senior Chief Lukwa of Kasungu said chiefs are on the ground to sensitize communities to take full ownership of the reserves and protect the wild animals and natural resources.

“As Chiefs in Kasungu, we thought to join the fight against such practices. Currently, we are carrying out civic education in the surrounding communities including traditional leaders to ensure they take full control of protecting the wildlife.

“In this fight, we are working jointly with National Parks and community committees to discourage the malpractice,” he said.

Lukwa said they are also distributing goats to communities, to ensure they start businesses as one way of preventing them from poaching.

Concurring with Lukwa, Traditional Authority Chisinga urged the communities surrounding Kasungu National Park to prevent poaching, saying the act endangers their lives as they can be gun-shot by rangers.

“People should avoid entering parks for poaching because they may end up losing their lives,” said Chisinga.  

He also urged communities to prioritize the significance of having elephants and other wildl animals in the country since they attract tourists who contribute to the country`s economy.

Public Relations Officer for the Ministry of Tourism, Joseph Nkosi said the government is employing several measures to counter poaching in the country.

“Government is relentlessly working hard to stop the act of elephant poaching. It is employing more rangers, strengthening laws, improving infrastructure and also embarking on community and public awareness.

According to Nkosi, prior to 2014 elephant poaching was high but the problem has decreased, observing that from January 2023 to date, only two elephants have been killed by poachers and none poached in Majete Game Reserve for 19 years.

By Chisomo Kambandanga

NKhata Bay, July 12, Mana: Senior Chief Nyaliwanga in Nkhata Bay has warned communities around K23 million gravity fed Chikwina-Mpamba Water Supply Project against stealing the project’s construction materials.

Nyaliwanga was speaking, Thursday when Nkhata Bay District Council handed over the project site to a contractor, Bwalo Civils for commencement of the project which has been supported with Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) Programme.

He said that he was grateful to government for the project which he said would be a solution to challenges in access to potable water in the area.

"A qualified company has been contracted to work on this project, therefore I warn community members surrounding this project against theft of construction materials. I will not tolerate that to happen to this project and anyone found indulging in the malpractice will be punished," he said.

He therefore urged community members to own the project for its successful implementation.

Project Manager for Bwalo Civils, Joel Lungu assured the community of high quality works and to complete the project within stipulated period.

In his remarks, Acting Director of Public Works for Nkhata Bay District Council, George Gopani said that construction works of the project will include rehabilitation of intake and water treatment structures among others.

Gopani urged the contractor to deliver quality work and complete the project within three months as guided by the contract agreement.

Upon completion the project is expected to serve a population of 18, 500 people from the areas of senior chiefs Nyaliwanga and Timbiri.