MANAonline
MBC formulates elections coverage guidelines
By Andrew Mkonda
Lilongwe, June 20, Mana: Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) has developed elections coverage guidelines for TV, radio and digital platforms aimed at ensuring fairness in its coverage ahead of the September, 2025 Tripartite elections.
Speaking Thursday during a day-long stakeholders meeting in Lilongwe, MBC Director General, George Kasakula said he was aware of public accusation of MBC being biased towards the governing party during every election since the country attained multiparty system of government in 1994, hence the initiative.
He said MBC was geared to giving equal coverage to every party which has a representation in parliament through special political programmes and news that would be developed in order to have a wide coverage on political issues.
“As we already started opening up, we want all political parties to enjoy our coverage once the campaign period is officially opened by Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).
“You will agree with me, MBC is now transformed, in the past you could hardly see any member from opposition party being featured on MBC, but this time around, we are doing that,” Kasakula said.
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Secretary General, Eisenhower Mkaka thanked MBC for the initiative saying the general public needs to enjoy the coverage from MBC by giving them a well-balanced news, since it is operating on tax payer’s money.
“Unlike what used to happening in the past where there was biased and clear black out, MBC is now trying to give the audience well balanced news, information so that they can make informed decisions,” he said.
Democratic Progressive Party Publicity Secretary, Shadreck Namalomba thanked MBC for the initiative saying for many years MBC has been working towards promoting the ruling parties, a development he said must change.
“This is a nice idea, but my worry is that, is it possible for MBC to follow those elections guidelines?” he wondered.
District physical planning to protect government land
By Robert Nayeja
Nsanje, June 20, Mana: Deputy Director responsible for Quality Assurance in Eastern Region in the Ministry of Lands, Blessings Mpanga has said the development of district physical plan would help to protect government land.
He was speaking on Thursday during a District Executive Committee meeting in Nsanje to make consultation in line with the development of the district physical plan which was being developed with expertise from the Ministry of Lands.
“Nsanje is a planning area as such the physical planning will help to guide where various developments should take place as such minimizing land disputes between public institutions and the community,” Mpanga added.
He said the consultative process was necessary to get input from all concerned stakeholders so that the document should be finalized before being approved by authorities.
“The meeting was aimed at getting views from council members, technocrats, non-governmental organisations and the communities through area development committees,” the Deputy Director added.
Mpanga advised Nsanje District Council to step up efforts in protecting public land.
“During data collection, we have also noted that some land earmarked for developments and Matandwe Forest Reserve has been encroached. We will work with relevant authorities to deal with the problem,” he added.
Nsanje District Council Chief Administration Officer, Rotina Mlombwa said the meeting was very important as it would help the council in its planning of development activities.
She said the meeting was informative to council officials on physical planning.
Khuluvi cultural festival returns
By Robert Nayeja
Nsanje, June 20, Mana: Khuluvi Arts and Cultural Grouping Executive Member, Erick Trinta has assured communities in the Lower Shire districts of Chikwawa and Nsanje and the nation at large that this year’s Khuluvi Cultural Festival will take place from June 27 to June 30, 2024.
He said this during a Media briefing on Thursday at Nyamithambo Arts Centre at Nsanje Boma.
Trinta said this year’s event would be celebrated under the theme: ‘Time to shine and empower our people.’
He said the theme would be used to drum up support to complement government efforts to preserve the endangered fish species like Makakana and Mwanamfeluka endemic to Shire River.
“We have been implementing various interventions every year. So, this year our main focus is to preserve fish in our Shire River so that it should not be depleted, on the other hand, exploring other means to empower the communities,” the Executive member added.
Trinta said preparations for the event which would take place at Nsanje Prison Ground were at an advanced stage.
“We will have the event for three days from 27 up to 30 June,” he added.
One of the coordinators for the event, John Maganizo promised to make the event to be colourful.
“We have invited all Lower Shire giants including Chinafuna M’bale Stars and Stanley Nyandoro. We will have Utche and other traditional dances to celebrate Sena culture,” he added.
This is the third time the cultural grouping will be hosting the celebrations in the district.
Germany experts to start investigations on plane crash
By Kondwani Banda
Lilongwe, June 20, Mana: Minister of Information and Digitalization, Moses Kunkuyu has disclosed that the governments of Britain, United States of America and Germany have been formally requested to support the government with investigations into the plane crash that claimed the lives of Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima and eight others.
In his update to the Nation at the Central Office of Information (COI) in Lilongwe on the new developments regarding the thorough and independent inquiry into the plane crash that President, Dr. Chakwera had pledged,
He said the government of Germany has responded positively, adding that they would be sending a team of experts into the country by Saturday, June 22, 2024, to start the investigations, adding that the team of experts would be granted unhindered access to the crash site, personnel, and institutions for the investigations.
Kunkuyu said that this comes after President Chakwera promised to institute a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the plane crash and the probable causes of the crash.
“As you recall His Excellency the President pledged and assured the nation that the plane crash that took the lives of our Vice President and the other eight officials will be investigated thoroughly and independently,” the Minister stated.
He announced that President Chakwera has directed that the commemoration of the country’s 60th Independence Anniversary be done with prayers only and not the usual celebratory events.
Kunkuyu disclosed that President Chakwera has made the directive so that the country continues to honour the late Vice President, Dr. Chilima and eight others.
“The President wishes that as we are commemorating our Independence we honour the life and contribution to our nation of our Vice President and the other officials that lost their lives,” he said.
Chitipa United ropes in Nyambose as a coach
By Pempho Nkhoma
Chitipa, June 20, Mana: Chitipa United Football Club has appointed Christopher Nyambose as their new head coach to replace McNebert Kazuwa who resigned from the club.
Nyambose who previously coached Wakawaka Mighty Tigers FC, resigned from Bangwe All Stars two months ago and he has signed a one-year contract with Chitipa United.
Confirming the development Thursday, Chitipa United General Secretary, Watson Kabaghe said after conducting a research and assessing the coaches who were available, the club has settled for Nyambose to lead the team for one year.
“I can now confirm that the head coach of Chitipa United is Christopher Nyambose who has started working today,” he said.
He added that the team’s executive made the decision of hiring Nyambose because of his experience and his ability to bring good results to the team.
Sports analyst, Kim Kamau commended the northern region outfit for bringing in Nyambose, saying he is a good tactician and that he would help them to improve their performance in the elite league.
“It is a good decision for Chitipa to take Nyambose, he will help the team to do better in the league,” he said.
He advised the team’s management to look for solutions to other problems that have contributed to Chitipa’s poor showing in the league considering that last season they were fighting for the championship and now they are in the relegation zone.
“Management needs to ensure that the team is being provided with the right resources because they can hire a good coach but if other things are not sorted they will not get the desired results,” Kamau said.
Chitipa United is currently occupying position 15 in the TNM Super League after playing nine games and managed to collect a miserable five points and their next assignment are travelling to Chitowe to face 13th placed, Mafco FC on June 23,2024.
New guidelines to fight sickle cell
By Lisa Lamya
Blantyre, June 20, Mana: World Health Organization (WHO) Africa region has released new groundbreaking guidance to help strengthen efforts to address the growing threat of sickle cell disease in the continent.
In a statement, Director of Universal Health Coverage/Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases Programme at WHO Africa, Dr Benido Impouma said that, “This guidance for countries will serve as a valuable new addition to their toolkit.
“Specifically, because the guidance is tailored to the African reality, where a multi-faceted approach is key.”
The Statement stated that despite notable advances in sickle cell treatment globally, including newborn screening, hydroxyurea therapy, gene therapy, improved management strategies and expanded immunization programmes that have reduced mortality rates in higher-income countries, significant challenges remain in ensuring equitable access to these treatments in low and middle-income countries, particularly in the African region.
Statistics from the WHO indicate that an estimated 240,000 children on the continent are born with sickle cell disease annually and that up to 80 percent of whom will die from severe infections or acute chest syndrome before age five, the highest sickle cell disease-related childhood death rate worldwide.
WHO Africa has been at the forefront in the fight against sickle cell disease since 2010, focusing its efforts on, among other things, disease interventions and their scale-up and access to innovative treatment technologies and medicines.
Kanengo Police arrest robbers terrorizing Area 25B
By Lisa Lamya
Lilongwe, June 20, Mana: Kanengo Police Station in Lilongwe have arrested two robbery suspects, Shukurani Mussa, 20 and Tony Junior Juma, 22, who are believed to have been terrorizing Area 25B and surrounding locations.
Kanengo Police Station Public Relations Officer (PRO), Sub Inspector, Gresham Ngwira told Malawi News Agency (Mana) Thursday in Lilongwe that the arrest was made on June 19, 2024 following a tip off that the two were seen somewhere spending money extravagantly.
“We got a tip and followed it up, in the process we recovered a 42-inch Samsung Plasma Television, a 32-inch Sony Plasma Television, an amplifier and a Toshiba external hard drive, among others,” he said.
Mussa hails from Kumwembe Village in Traditional Authority (TA) Tambala in Dedza while Juma hails from Mzondo Village in TA Chitukula in Lilongwe.
The two are expected to appear before the court as soon as further investigations are completed, according to Ngwira.
The PRO has commended the community for supporting police in fighting crime, adding that this is for the good of the citizenry.
Thyolo registers a surge in condom use
By Yamikani Yapuwa
Thyolo, June 20, Mana: Thyolo District has registered a rise in condom and lubricants usage thanks to the Last Mile Programme implemented by Banja La Mtsogolo (BLM) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health aimed at increasing accessibility of condoms and lubricants to people in the district.
Speaking during a District Condom Coordinating Committee meeting, BLM Thyolo District Condom Programming Leader, Clara Dias said the programme which was implemented in 15 Traditional Authorities (TAs) in the district has seen an increase in usage of condoms.
She disclosed that approximately 2.8 million male condoms, 5,952 female condoms and 9,800 lubricants were distributed from January to May 2024.
“We operated in 350 hotspots where we placed the condoms in bars, shabeens and distributed to various youth clubs and community based organizations in the district,” Dias said.
“We used sporting activities like football bonanzas to sensitize communities which resulted into high uptake of the condoms,” she said, adding: “We are happy to see that even Traditional Authority leaders were willing to map and register hotspots where people could get access to the condoms.”
Dias pointed out that many women are still hesitant to use female condoms, attributing the trend to knowledge gap.
“We feel that there is need to orient people on the use of female condoms as well as sensitisation and mindset change if we are to see more adoption of female condoms in the district,” she said.
Thyolo District Condom Coordinator, Samuel Kalema said the rise in condom use was an indication that people are aware of the importance of the condoms in preventing sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies in the district.
On the low absorption of the female condoms, he said there was need to step up sensitisation and mindset change efforts.
“There is lack of promotion of the female condoms among men, studies have shown that where female condoms are promoted among men there is a high adoption rate.
“It is, therefore, important to deliberately promote female condoms among men if we are to see a high rate of adoption,” Kalema said.
During the meeting, various sectors presented their condom programming activities for the first quarter of 2024
Council calls for interventions to curb malnutrition
By Willy Kadewere
Chikwawa, June 20, Mana: Chikwawa District Council has said they are committed to ensuring the implementation of a number of interventions to prevent malnutrition.
Vice Chairperson for the District Council, Joe Gwanda said this Wednesday during launch of Nutrition Education Week at Mitekete Ground in Traditional Authority (TA) Kasisi in the district.
The launch held under the theme: "Ulimi wakasakaniza munyengo ya ng'amba, gwero la chakudya ndi kadyedwe koyenera," is aimed at sensitizing people on various ways to combat malnutrition.
He said there need to use several interventions in a bid to improve the nutritional status of the district.
“Through various offices, communities are being advised, among other things, to have backyard gardens, eat form all the six food groups and ensure lactating mothers fully breastfeed their babies,” Gwanda said.
Director of Planning and Development (DPD) for Chikwawa District Council, Thokozile Munthali, observed that, “Due to El Niño weather patterns, which have contributed to hunger, many people, especially children, expectant and lactating mothers have become malnourished.”
She added that the District Council in conjunction with Chikwawa District Hospital was engaging communities to educate them on ways to reduce malnutrition.
"As we know, Chikwawa is frequently hit by cyclones and droughts, which escalate hunger," Munthali said, adding that, "Through various interventions such as Nutrition Education Week, radio programmes and nutrition screening, the problem shall be reduced."
The Event started with a big walk from the council to Mitekete Ground and was characterized by several performances.
Mission Rabies to vaccinate 25, 000 dogs and cats
By Robert Nayeja
Nsanje, June 20, Mana: Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) under the banner of Mission Rabies plans to vaccinate over 25, 000 dogs and cats in Nsanje District in an attempt to reduce rabies.
Project Coordinator for Mission Rabies, Chrispin Njala disclosed on Thursday in Nsanje during a District Executive Committee meeting that rabies was killing people every year in the country and that there was need to step up efforts by reaching out to all districts in the country with rabies vaccine.
“We will vaccinate all the dogs and cats for free. What we want is to be given consent by the owner of these pets,” he said.
Njala said the organization has planned to vaccinate dogs and cats in Nsanje from 2024 up to 2030.
He added that the campaign which will be done in phases will have the first phase start from July 22 up to August 19,2024.
Chief Agricultural and Natural Resources Officer for Nsanje, James Lichapa thanked the organization for the timely support to complement government efforts in reducing rabies in the district.
He said the veterinary office in the district could not initiate the exercise due to shortage of funds.
“The vaccine is very expensive and we thank Mission Rabies for the planned exercise and we will give them all the support they need to implement this activity,” Lichapa added.
He said the district has over 25, 000 dogs and cats and appealed to communities to render full support to the exercise.
Mission Rabies has been providing rabies vaccine in various districts in the southern region including, Zomba, Chiradzulu, Thyolo, Balaka, Blantyre, Phalombe and Mulanje.
