MANAonline
Committee proposes improved conditions in prisons
By Solister Mogha
Zomba, February 1, Mana: Presidential advisory committee on pardon of prisoners has appealed to prison authorities for better living conditions of inmates in the country's prisons.
The committee, led by Minister of Justice Titus Mvalo, made the appeal Wednesday in Zomba during a tour of Zomba Maximum Prison to, among others, appreciate living conditions of prisoners, apart from learning more about correctional services the Malawi Prisons Service offer.
Speaking after the tour, Mvalo, who is the chair of the committee, said having visited Maula and Zomba Maximum Prisons, there was need for the country to completely change the way prisoners are treated and provide them with quality services.
The minister further said it was better to provide the prisoners with quality service, adding that this was not an era for the prisoners to sleep on the floor.
The presidential advisory committee on pardon of prisoners also observed that cells at Zomba Maximum Prison were poorly ventilated and have no sanitary facilities such as toilets.
"The committee is sad to learn about the conditions in which inmates are living. Just imagine 60 prisoners being congested in a room meant for 20 people. Additionally, there are people who have stayed for more years on remand and some are too old to be in the cells," Mvalo said, adding the committee will brief the president about what it learnt during the prison tour.
As a way of addressing congestion in prison, Mvalo said there was need to utilize provisions which allow a prisoner released but advised to follow set conditions.
"Within our constitution, there are provisions that allow the court to offer conditional sentences. We however rarely implemented these provisions," he said and expressed satisfaction with reform services that the prison offers despite facing challenges.
Deputy Commissioner of Prison Service responsible for Legal Affairs and Operations, Baziria Chapuwala, acknowledged the conditions in the prisons and said prisoners too deserve better life.
"It is our hope and expectation that the committee would report what they found to the President so that changes are made," he said.
The advisory committee recommends to the head of state as to which prisoner should be pardoned, having fulfilled all the required conditions with the president having the power to choose who should be released.
Zomba maximum prison currently has 2,016 inmates.
The Phinifolos’ compassionate plea amidst life struggles
By Vincent Khonje
Mchinji, February 1, Mana: In Wayisoni Village, at Matutu within Tradition Authority (T/A) Mduwa in Mchinji, 60-year-old Severiano Phinifolo and his 51-year-old wife, Magadalena, confront not only the challenges of physical disabilities but also the harsh reality of living in desperate and impoverished conditions.
The couple, bound by a wheelchair and crutches, respectively, seeks assistance from benevolent individuals to alleviate their distressing circumstances.
Severiano and Magadalena endure the absence of a proper dwelling, residing in a meagre shack constructed from reeds and thatched with grass.
The couple's daily struggle for survival forces them into a dependence on begging and the sporadic piecework that Magdalena manages, despite her growing weakness due to the enduring pain from childbirth scars.
"We only eat once, in the evening, when going to sleep. We lack a proper place to sleep, enduring the wet floor during the rainy season. It is tough, but we manage somehow," shares Phinifolo.
Phinifolo explains that he had always lived a better life despite his disability when he lived with his family in Group Village Mduwa.
However, things turned worse when his parents died and relatives chased him and took away the land his father had.
“My brothers who are able-bodied moved to Zambia and my sisters got married; we were left to survive on our own so we found ourselves here at Wayisoni Village in Matutu,” says Phinifolo who has been in Matutu since last year.
With the little money they kept while in GVH Mduwa, they asked for a piece of land which they purchased and it is where they have erected the small shack they call home.
The new location is where they are facing a lot of challenges.
Compounding their plight, the couple takes on the role of caretakers for their granddaughter, Yankho, who embarks on her daily journey to school on an empty stomach.
Yankho, a six-year-old standard-two learner at Chitunda Primary School, unfortunately, is used to the life of waking up in the morning, fetching water from their neighbor’s well, taking a bath, and heading to school without eating anything.
To make matters worse, Chitunda Primary School has no school feeding programme making her endure a half day of classes on an empty stomach.
Magadalena reveals: "My daughter trekked to Zambia, and we do not hear from her. However, she left us with her child, and we are struggling to provide for her in these challenging conditions."
Driven by desperation, Phinifolo crafts wooden sieves in an attempt to sustain the family, yet his business faces considerable challenges—people are not buying.
Meanwhile, one of the couple's two children pursues a law degree at the University of Malawi, offering hope for the family's future; however, financial constraints leave him to fend for himself, relying on the support of well-wishers.
“We gave birth to two children, my daughter who is in Zambia, and my son who got lucky and found a place to study law. I cannot lie, I am unable to support him and his progress towards education is possible because of other well-wishers,” said Phinifolo.
The son, Madalitso, does not even visit during holidays as he cannot afford money to and from Mchinji resorting to staying behind at school or sometimes at his uncle’s in Mtandire Lilongwe.
However, the couple and the son who is in his second year now, constantly get in touch, thanks to a small phone Phinifolo has.
Despite their hardships, the couple remains excluded from social support programs, having missed out on both the Agriculture Input Programme (AIP) and the Social Cash Transfer (SCT).
Principal Social Welfare Officer Emmanuel Gerevazio states: “For now all we can ask for is support from well-wishers while we are looking for ways of how to respond to the situation. On having the couple on SCT, the programme enrollment process is very much rigorous, there are thousands of ultra-poor households in Mchinji and only a few have access.”
SCT beneficiaries are selected from the Universal Beneficiary Registry (UBR), adding to the challenge of enrolling anyone into the program.
Village head Wayisoni said as a village they feel for the family, but, despite the empathy, the village is grappling with its difficulties this year, relying on mangoes that are also dwindling in supply.
"No one in this village qualified for AIP, and most people have no food, resorting to eating only once. We are powerless to help; they need well-wishers," concludes VH Wayisoni.
Malawi Council for the Handicapped (MACOHA) facilitator for Mduwa, Violet Kawere, acknowledges her awareness of the couple's challenging circumstances and affirms that MACOHA has maintained regular contact.
Kawere notes that MACOHA's assistance has primarily involved facilitating the acquisition of a wheelchair to enhance Phinifolo’s mobility.
"As others have already emphasized, the appeal is directed towards well-wishers to lend their support to the family and alleviate them from the profound poverty they are facing," says Kawere.
Despite the hardships, there is a silver lining in that the small piece of land they reside on is owned by the family, and they cultivate maize; however, the yield may not be sufficient to meet their needs in the long run.
Additionally, the family benefits from the generosity of a caring neighbor, Mary Katsabola, who allows them to fetch water from her well, addressing their sanitation requirements.
The couple's aspirations extend beyond immediate relief, encompassing a stable source of food, a proper dwelling place, and support for their granddaughter's education.
Phinifolo and his wife also hold ambitions for their son's education, expressing a willingness to support him. However, their hands are tied, as they currently have no means to secure funds for this purpose.
They remain optimistic and continue to look to well-wishers who can extend a helping hand to lift them out of the deep seas of poverty.
NLGFC commends Nkhotakota District Council on revenue collection
By Wongani Mkandawire
Nkhotakota, February 1, Mana: National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) has commended Nkhotakota District Council for showing indicators of preparedness in their 2024/2025 budget submission with a high level of completion in projects.
Speaking during the budget discussion held with council officials at Grand Palace Hotel in Mzuzu, NLGFC Budget Analyst Jonathan Banda said the Council has shown high levels of preparedness in local revenue, especially on property rates.
“The Council has done consultations on property rate collection using the flat rating. As NLGFC, we are here to guide them on such issues,” said Banda commending Nkhotakota district council for being ahead of time.
He said urban councils are able to raise high revenues as a result of property rates, stating that it is the right direction to take to boost local revenue for local councils.
Nkhotakota District Council also intends to upgrade its flagship lodging building, Sitima Inn, into a two-star hotel as part of its plans to increase local revenue.
In an interview, Director of Finance for Nkhotakota District Council Khumbo Masankhula said the Council is prepared to increase its resource base by broadening revenue streams.
He indicated that the Council has put in place strategies that will see it collecting more in the ensuing fiscal year and beyond.
Nkhotakota District Council has collected K171,000,000 of the targeted K196,000,000 revenue representing 87 percent.
With two months left to reach the desired target, the Council is optimistic to reach the 100 percent revenue collection target.
MOMENTUM donates medical equipment, supplies to Chitipa DHO
By Aliko Munde
Chitipa, February 1, Mana: MOMENTUM Tikwese Umoyo Project on Tuesday donated medical equipment and supplies to Chitipa District Health Office (DHO) as one way of contributing towards the reduction of maternal and neonatal deaths in the district.
District Data Officer for the project, Naomi Mkhutche said the items are meant to improve health service delivery to expectant mothers, newborn babies and under-five children.
“Chitipa is one of the districts with high maternal related deaths. As a project, one of our goals is to reduce these deaths, hence the donation.
“We will make sure that the items are delivered in specific health facilities and are used appropriately,” said Mkhutche.
Matron for Chitipa District Hospital, Nie Nyirenda, saluted the project for the donation which she described as a timely intervention.
She said the hospital is overwhelmed with referral cases from the district’s farthest health facilities such as Nthalire, Wenya and Misuku some of which are 120 kilometres from the boma.
“We may have the knowledge and skills on how to handle such cases, but this cannot work without equipment. The equipment will help in self-delivery for mothers and care for the neonates,” said Nyirenda.
Nyirenda assured the organization that the equipment will be taken care of, for it to last long and serve the intended the purpose.
Director of Administration for Chitipa District Council, Clement Gonthi, said the donation is timely and was hopeful that it will contribute towards the reduction of referral cases from health centres to the district hospital as well as from district hospital to Mzuzu Central Hospital.
The donation, which is worth US$ 472,005.82, includes examination couches, suction machines, autoclave sterilizing machines, ultrasound mobile scanning machines, anti-shock garments, foetal scopes, blood pressure machines, anglepoised lamps, oxygen concentrators and cylinders.
A similar donation has been made to Salima, Nkhotakota, Kasungu and Karonga.
Blantyre District Council recruit’s enumerators
By Memory Kutengule Chatonda
Blantyre, February 1, Mana: Blantyre District Council has recruited 130 temporary enumerators to collect data of all the households in the district for the Unified Beneficiary Registry (UBR).
Blantyre District Council Principal Social Welfare Officer, Kumbukeni Kauwa, disclosed this in Thyolo on Tuesday during training of trainers for District Training Team and District Social Support Committee.
Kauwa said the enumerators are expected to conduct the exercise for a period of 30 to 42 days targeting household members, regardless of status, in the areas of eight Traditional Authorities in Blantyre.
"This exercise is very crucial because it will provide the district with consolidated information on the socio-economic status of households which will help in determining the potential eligibility for social programmes such as Social Cash Transfer and Climate Smart Public Works, among others," he said.
Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Chief Social Welfare Officer, Anastazio Matewere, said currently apart from Blantyre, three other districts of Lilongwe, Rumphi and Kasungu are also conducting a similar exercise.
He urged the enumerators to exercise professionalism and integrity to achieve the desired results.
"Enumerators should be patriotic enough to collect data that will represent the real situation of the households being interviewed. In the end, we want those who deserve to be in an allocated programme, thereby reducing inclusion and exclusion errors that occur when selecting households for different programmes," he said.
One of the enumerators' supervisors, Nozghechi Hara, thanked Blantyre District Council for organizing the training to orient them on their roles in the management of data collection.
She said they will ensure that every household has been registered during the period and that information collected is accurate.
In an interview, one of the enumerators, Chilungamo Missi, pledged to collect quality data and make timely submission of it.
Community rehabilitates Naisi River
By Solister Mogha
Zomba, February 1, Mana: Community members from Group Village Head Chopi in Zomba have started rehabilitating Naisi River to avoid destructions triggered by natural disasters like tropical cyclones.
Members who are participants in Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme, under Songani catchment, have committed themselves to do everything possible to ensure that the river does not miss its course.
One of the participants, Samwell Frackson, told a district level taskforce on Wednesday that rehabilitation of Naisi River was done based lessons drawn from last year when the river caused devastation to people.
Frackson said when Tropical Cyclone Freddy affected the country, including parts of Zomba, Naisi River lost its course, damaging crops in the fields of many farmers.
“First of all, let me commend the programme for considering that we rehabilitate this river. With the maintenance works we are carrying now, we are sure that we will reduce negative impact that the river would cause on our fields,” he added.
Village Head Kapitikusya, whose area was heavily affected, said rehabilitating Naisi River will regulate water flow and people in the area will no longer experience crop damage.
“Apart from the resources that the programme has, we have also contributed some construction materials such as bamboos, pangas and trees to be used when constructing wood walls along the river,” Kapitikusya said, adding that this was one way of appreciating the programme intervention.
Apart from constructing wood walls along the river, members will also block damaged areas with sacks filled with soil.
Land Resource and Programme Officer Chimwemwe Chimbaza expressed satisfaction with the progress registered in the programme.
Chimbaza said almost all the 18 catchments in the district have started implementing activities that include check dams, swales, tree regeneration and construction of stone bands.
CS-EPWP is a World Bank funded programme and aims as restoring the environment through various interventions.
Ready for School to be launched in Nkhata Bay
By Chisomo Kambandanga
Nkhata Bay, February 1, Mana: World Vision Malawi (WVM), in collaboration with Early Childhood Development (ECD) Department of CCAP Synod of Livingstonia, is expected to launch a one-year Ready for School Project in Nkhata Bay District.
Speaking Tuesday during a presentation on the project to members of the district’s executive committee (DEC), Nkhata Bay District Manager for World Vision, Limbani Gondwe, said the project aims at building capacity of care givers who would return facilitating transitioning of over 3,000 children from ECD Centre’s to primary schools.
Gondwe said the project was hatched to respond to a number of challenges, such as shortage of trained care givers and lack of resources, among others, which are affecting ECD initiatives in the district.
“We have noted that only 20 percent of care givers in this district had undergone formal training; as such, the project aims at building capacity of 276 care givers and advocating for quality ECD services to ensure smooth transition of about 3,045 children from 10 Community Based Childcare Centers,” said Gondwe.
In his remarks, District Social Welfare Officer for Nkhata Bay, Macsencie Chagomerana, described the project as a right step towards uplifting ECD in the district.
“This project will go a long way in building a strong education foundation for children who are psychologically prepared and have hunger for primary school education,” Chagomerana said.
He therefore commended the two organizations for the project and urged other players to emulate the gesture for the benefit of more children in the district.
The project will be implemented at Sanga in the area of Senior Chief Mankhambira in Nkhata Bay and will also run in Chitipa with funding from WVI-Korea.
Minister hails Nkhotakota Community Radio
By innocent Chunga & Wongani Mkandawire
Nkhotakota, January 31, Mana: Minister of information and Digitalization, Moses Kunkuyu, has hailed community radio stations in the country, commending them for playing an important role in ensuring their surrounding communities are well informed, entertained as well as educated on various aspects of life.
Speaking in Nkhotakota where Nkhotakota Community Radio celebrated 20 years of broadcasting, Kunkuyu said government believes in community radios as they have collaborated and used community radios through various sectors of government programs such as health and agriculture, among others.
He assured community radios that government will enhance the cordial relationship to promote transparency and accountability through the media.
“Media is the forth arm of government and needs to be a just bridge and ensure that people’s voices are heard and give right feedback to the communities,” said Kunkuyu.
Kunkuyu said his ministry knows that community radios face various challenges and as such government will do all it can to rectify realistic challenges being faced in various areas.
Nkhotakota Community Radio Boad Chair, Willard Kamanga, bemoaned limited resources as the main challenge faced by the radio station.
“If government and other parastatals can come in and help community radios with business, such challenges could be reduced,” said Kamanga.
Director of Planning for Nkhotakota District Council, Davies Kavalo, celebrated the radio station saying it is the mouthpiece of the Council in information sharing.
Kavalo assured the community radio that the Council will continue working hand in hand in various development sectors.
NLGFC tips Nsanje District Council on revenue generation
By Robert Nayeja
Nsanje, January 31, Mana: National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) has advised Nsanje District Council to implement its strategies in 2024-2025 financial budget in order to embrace increase in its revenue generation.
Financial analyst at the NLGFC, Andrew Banda, made the advice in Blantyre on Tuesday during a 2024/2025 budget review session.
Banda hailed Nsanje Council for putting in place strategies that will help to enhance revenue generation but asked the council to ensure that it should work towards achieving its plans.
“We hear a lot of good plans from the councils, year in year out, but nothing much on the ground. We are hoping that the council will take the advice given and do revise the budget for the betterment of the people of Nsanje,” he said, adding there was need for the council to put much effort on revenue mobilization to raise enough resources for effective service delivery.
He further said the budget review exercise was critical as it had the potential to help the local authority to utilize financial resources accordingly to avoid audit queries.
The financial analyst then advised the district council to work out on debt that included accumulated water and electricity bills.
Nsanje District Council Chief Accountant Clifton Kabambe expressed optimistic that the strategies which the council put in place will help to increase its revenue base.
“We are still exploring how we can improve our revenue generation through involvement of various players,” he said.
Kabambe acknowledged the council's failure to collect enough revenue to settle its outstanding bills including utility bills.
“Our plans to boost revenue include introducing motorbikes and pushbikes operators’ fees, as well as making sure that our rest houses are operational,” he added.
Speaking on behalf of the District Commissioner, Nsanje District Chief Environmental and Natural Resources Officer James Lichapa thanked NLGFC for the positive input and good advice during the budget review.
“We acknowledge that we have a lot of work to do based on the recommendations and we are going to make it,” he said.
Nsanje District Council 2024/2025 budget is over K7 billion compared to 2023/2024 period’s budget which was above K4 billion.
Chimwendo launches construction of Mangochi council chamber, finance offices
By Bishop Witmos
Mangochi, January 31, Mana: Minister of Local Government, Unity, and Culture, Richard Chimwendo Banda says government is geared to transform Mangochi Municipality into a tourism city through infrastructural development.
Chimwendo Banda said this Tuesday during the launch of the construction of a K2 billion Mangochi District Council chamber and finance offices jointly financed by the governments of Iceland and Malawi.
He expressed hope that infrastructural developments will attract more investors and tourists into the lake district.
“The vision of President Dr Lazarus Chakwera is to transform Mangochi into a tourism city. We believe this vision will soon come to reality with developments, currently, taking shape across Mangochi,” he said.
The Minister said construction of the offices in Mangochi is a true manifestation of a good bilateral relationship between Malawi and Iceland.
Recently, Government of Iceland supported Malawi with finances for the expansion of Makanjira Health Centre in Mangochi in order to improve health care delivery in the hard to reach area.
Director General for Development and Cooperative for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iceland, Elin Rosa, hopes that the project in Mangochi will help provide excellent working environment for the Council’s effective service delivery.
District Commissioner for Mangochi, Dr Smart Gwedemula, said due to limited space, most offices were scattered which negatively affected office coordination.
According to the contractor of the project, Blithe Construction Limited, Mangochi District Council chamber and finance office construction works are expected to be completed within a period of 12 months.
