By Salome Gangire

Neno, March 21, Mana: Neno District Council Chairperson, Joseph Chiphaliwali has described a learning visit to Dowa District Council as an eye-opener, commending Dowa for its effective revenue collection strategies beyond government subventions.

Chiphaliwali made the remarks on Thursday during the visit, which aimed to enhance Neno’s service delivery under the Demand Driven Performance Improvement Plans (DD-PIPs) initiative.

"Dowa is implementing several innovative initiatives to boost local revenue, including through agricultural cooperatives and associations, farmers clubs and a council-owned 6 hectare farm. We need to emulate this approach rather than relying solely on traditional revenue sources like market fees," he said.

He added that Dowa District Council has successfully used locally generated funds to procure assets, such as 11 motorcycles, 55 pairs of protective gears for its agricultural extension workers; an achievement that underscores the importance of revenue diversification amid insufficient government subventions.

Chiphaliwali further emphasized that Neno District Council was particularly interested in learning from Dowa’s strong performance in local governance and development, as reflected in its first-place ranking in the 2023/24  Local Authority Performance Assessment (LAPA).

"This exchange visit is expected to enhance Neno’s operational efficiency and governance, fostering improved service delivery based on lessons learned from Dowa," he said.

Dowa District Council Chairperson, Councillor Gift Nkhono Songeya, attributed their success to strong collaboration among council secretariat, elective members such as  Members of Parliament, councilors, traditional leaders and interest group.

"For a council to perform well, there must be a good working relationship between all stakeholders. Additionally, supervision at every stage of project implementation is crucial to ensuring quality infrastructure. Some contractors compromise quality when unsupervised, but in Dowa, we prioritize strict oversight, which has resulted in better infrastructure," Nkhono said.

He also advised fellow councillors to prioritize impactful flagship projects rather than focusing on small, scattered developments that may not bring significant change.

Deputy Director of Local Government Services, Janet Machinjiri, commended Dowa District Council for hosting Neno and urged the visiting delegation to implement the best practices observed.

"Dowa has been performing well in several areas, and I encourage Neno District Council to apply the knowledge gained here to improve service delivery," she said.

The learning visit aimed to expose Neno officials to best practices in revenue collection, project implementation, procurement, and council management, particularly in the implementation of the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) and District Development Fund (DDF) projects.

By Mary Makhiringa

Balaka, March 21, Mana: The Malawi Red Cross Society on Thursday donated a once off cash of K180, 000 to 587 survivor households of Cyclone Chido in Balaka.

Speaking on behalf of the Red Cross during the cash distribution in Nkaya Khwalala Village, Zomba District Coordinator, Tionge Luhanga, assured the community that they were not alone in their struggles and said despite coming in late due to logistical constraints, they were glad to reach out to help people.

“We understand the pain and suffering that Cyclone Chido has brought to this community. Today, we are here to stand with you and provide support to help you rebuild. Each affected household will receive 180, 000 Malawi Kwacha to assist with their urgent needs,” Luhanga said.

One of the beneficiaries Lydia Kalitera, a 68-year-old resident of Nkaya Khwalala Village, with tears in her eyes, clasped her hands together and praised the Red Cross for their generosity.

“This donation means everything to us; since the cyclone hit, life has been very difficult. We lost our homes, our crops, and many of our belongings, but today, thanks to the Red Cross, we can begin to rebuild. May God bless them for remembering us in our time of need,” she said.

Balaka District Acting Relief and Rehabilitation Officer, Alick Milanzi hailed Red Cross for the gesture, saying people from Balaka are passing through a hard time since the cyclone.

“We have seen a lot of calamities, flooding, droughts, hailstorm, all that left marks which are so hard to take off. Seeing good Samaritans coming to assist, is always a blessing,” he said.

1,408, households were affected by Tropical Cyclone Chido in Balaka in 2024, and the distribution was made in Traditional Authority Nkaya, Nsamala and Matola.

By Joseph Ligowe

Blantyre, March 21, Mana: Blantyre District Council has expressed satisfaction with the modern farming practices farmers in the district adopted, saying this guarantees food security at household level.

Blantyre District Council Chairperson, Councilor Elson Dumuka said this during the week at an agricultural field day noting that adoption of modern farming technologies has potential to improve on food security and general livelihood,

Dumuka made the remarks at Traditional Authority Kapeni in the district where Blantyre District Agriculture Extension Coordinating Committee (DAECC) organized the field day to provide opportunity for farmers to share knowledge and skills for improved agricultural production.

Among others, the farmers showcased several conservational agriculture technologies such as manure making, fertilizer-making using human urine, construction of swales and stone bands. 

“I am satisfied with improved farming methods that are done in this area, I would like to see all farming households to continue with the technologies so that hunger can be alleviated in the district," he said.

Director of Agriculture Services at Blantyre District Council, Edward Katunga, said that many farmers realize good harvest after adopting good farming practices.

”We believe that if the current trend, which enables farmers to achieve food sufficiency at the household level and within the district, continues, we will collectively make Malawi a hunger-free nation by 2063,” he added.

One of the farmers, Simeon Mikeya from Mchere Village, Traditional Authority Kunthembwe in the district, hailed the council for providing extension services on improved farming technologies.

"We are shining because of the guidance that we get from our extension workers and other non-governmental organizations like Bayer Malawi, One Acre Fund, and Glow-best, among others, on good farming technologies.

“I am into maize production, and since the extension workers started visiting me, my knowledge on conservation agriculture has improved. My harvest from my half-acre plot improves each year," he said.

DAECC, a committee comprising stakeholders in the agriculture sector at council level, holds agriculture field day every year to allow farmers to showcase modern agricultural practices learnt from agricultural extension workers.  

By Sheminah Nkhoma

Lilongwe, March 21, Mana: As the world is commemorating  International Day of  forests (IDF), youths in the country have been urged to be at the forefront protecting forests  as they provide essential ecosystem services to the environment.

In an Interview with Malawi News Agency ( MANA) on Friday, Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Dr .Yusuf Mkungula said as the country is facing challenges of land degradation, climate change and deforestation, it is important to come with solutions to protect the environment.

He said as part of 2025 IDF celebrations, they are visiting schools  to plant trees and educate the next generation about the importance of forests in our lives.

“Let’s commit to reforesting our lands, promoting agroforestry and protecting our natural resources. Together, we can ensure a future where forests continue to support our food security and well-being.

“Trees provide food, fuel and employment and they help mitigate the effects of climate change. By learning about sustainable forest management and conservation, young people can play a role in protecting the planet. This is not just about planting trees, it's about planting hope for the future of Malawi,” he said.

Mkungula further urged communities to come together and make forest restoration in Malawi a success because  a sustainable forest management begins with each one of us.

“Whether you are a farmer, a local leader, or a community member, your role in restoring forests and protecting our land is vital. By practicing agroforestry, conserving water resources and promoting sustainable land use, we can ensure a future where forests and agriculture coexist in harmony, securing food and livelihoods for generations to come,” he stated.

The IDF is a global observance being held annually to raise awareness on the importance of forests to people and their role in poverty eradication, environmental sustainability and food security.

The day is being celebrated under the theme “Restore Forests and Land to Secure Food Production”.

By Wongani Mkandawire

Nkhotakota, March 21, Mana: National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE), on Thursday engaged Citizen Forum for Ntosa in Traditional Authority Mwadzama, Nkhotakota District as a way of rolling out discussions surrounding various development programmes happening in the area.

Speaking during the meeting, NICE District programme officer, Hellina Mwiba, said it is the responsibility of the citizens' forum to be well-updated with community developments and follow up with relevant leadership on matters that need attention.

Mwiwa added that the citizens' forum needs to know they are a community watchdog and the district officers depend on their insights when it comes to analyzing community developments.

Ntosa Citizens Forum Secretary, Laison Chafuwa, said to date, the biggest projects happening in the area are the K362 million rehabilitation and expansion of Ntosa health centre under the Constituency Development Fund and the construction of K62 million Ntosa main market, which he says is on track.

Chafuwa said they continuously ensure that other development programmes, like the AFRICOM project, benefit the desired communities since they are the target market.

He stressed that other than the developments mentioned; the forum is also combatting child marriages and gender-based violence that have been a problem in the community over the past years.

NICE has been engaging various groups of communities to discuss issues surrounding the well-being of communities and how they can engage relevant authorities to address their grievances.

By Ruth Kumwenda

Blantyre, March 21, Mana: Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM) has reaffirmed its commitment to raising awareness on scratch card seed labelling technology, which was made through a collective action of government, private sector and civil society organizations to deal with rising cases of counterfeit seeds on the market.

Speaking to Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Thursday, FUM President, Maness Nkhata said despite the system being in place for some time, FUM noted that farmers were still not aware on how to use the innovation to verify authenticity of seeds.

“The objective is to raise awareness of the scratch card technology among farmers so that they should be able to distinguish certified seeds from fake seeds,

“Fake seeds constitute as high as 60 percent of the total seed that is sold to farmers annually. FUM has embarked on this initiative because we have realized that some farmers are still not aware of the scratch card seed labelling innovation,” she added.

Nkhata said that the awareness includes radio jingles, mass short message campaigns, posters and social media messaging on Facebook among others.

According to FUM, each seed pack contains the scratch card labelling such that farmers are encouraged to scratch the card and send the pin as a text message to 3015 to receive a confirmation message detailing company name, weight, type of seed and the date upon which the seed was certified. 

FUM further urged farmers not to sell empty seed packets to anyone, saying that could easily contribute to the counterfeiting.

Agriculture expert, Tamani Mvula commended FUM for the initiative saying the technology gives an assurance that the seed is genuine.

“The system has gone to a greater extent in ensuring that fake seed is taken away from the market as people that are selling fake seeds are now finding it difficult to replicate it,” he added.

Evelyn Nkhoma, one of the farmers from Traditional Authority Somba in Blantyre said after falling victim of counterfeit seed, she became more cautious when buying seeds.

“I do not just buy seed from anyone. Since 2023, I incurred losses after buying fake seeds. From now I always buy from registered Agro-dealers and verify my seeds to check if they are authentic,” she added.

Nkhoma however said she knew some individuals that go after farmers to collect empty seed packs telling them not to scratch cards on the pack.

Scratch card seeds labelling technology was introduced on maize and legume seeds in 2021/2022 agricultural season.

By George Bulombola

Mzuzu, March 19, Mana: Malawi Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has urged broadcasters, postal and courier operators to be submitting accurate and updated data reports related to their operations to the authority, as it is a mandatory obligation for such operators.

The remarks were made on Thursday in Mzuzu, by MACRA’S Director of Economic Regulation Andrew Nyirenda during the authority’s engagement with broadcasters and postal courier operators drawn from the north.

He said that no story can be told without numbers as statistics indicate where we are coming from and where we are heading to, hence the need for such reports for MACRA to understand how the operators are faring and for operators’ own assessment.

“We find it difficult as a regulator to be submitting information without any accurate and reliable statistics to government which is the policy maker for it to make meaningful policy interventions especially in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) Sector which looks at broadcasting, postal and telecommunication services.

In the absence of data reports, MACRA relies on surveys which we conduct but surveys are expensive hence we need to be collecting the needed information from our licensees which are on the supply side,” said Nyirenda.

He added that data generated from the operators is expected to be updated quarterly so that it provides progression trends on ICT Sector in the country.

Nyirenda said the data can also show progression and challenges in the sector and move government through Ministry of Information and Digitalization to come up with interventions, projects and programs to address the gaps.

“This information can assist service providers on how best they can invest in the sector and how they can improve their performance besides that the information is also needed by various international bodies which Malawi is affiliated to.

Malawi is member of United Nations, International Communications Union, Universal Postal Union and International Broadcasting Association and they all need this information to know how Malawi is faring in the development of ICT,” added Nyirenda.

Radio Dinosaur Development and Technical Engineer, Alexander Mhango said the interactive meeting with the authority was an eye-opener to most of the operators in the ICT Sector, especially broadcasters.

“Following the meeting, we have understood which type of data should be presented and submitted to MACRA, however broadcasters should collaborate, share ideas and interlink with MACRA so that we have a common understanding and improve on data submission together,” said Mhango.

Some of the issues discussed in the meeting included key performance indicators of broadcasting, postal and courier sectors.

By Andrew Phiri

Balaka, March 21, Mana: Balaka District Council has been applauded for successfully rolling out Electronic Payment (E-Payment) system on Social Cash Transfer (SCTP) and Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works (CSEPW) programmes.

This was made on Thursday at the end of a three-day learning visit by Mulanje, Chikwawa and Nsanje District Council officials at Phalula Extension Planning Area (EPA) in Traditional Authority (TA) Phalula in Balaka.

One of the members from Department of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare from Mulanje District Council, Dave Nyasulu said their journey has been fruitful because they have learnt various techniques that Balaka District Council use for the successfulness of SCTP and CSEPW E-Payment strategy.

Among others, he noted that there is strong coordination among various stakeholders such as donors, payment services providers (TNM and Standard Bank), council officers, community leaders and the beneficiaries themselves and this makes the whole process easier.

"We have witnessed that E-Payment is ideal when disbursing funds to beneficiaries of SCTP and CSEPW because people from TA Phalula have testified that the system is time convenient, cost effective and secured from fraudulence.

"Through this system, we have also noted that there is a vibrant Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) whereby challenges among the beneficiaries are sorted out timely either during the cycle or when the funds are disbursed," he said.

Nyasulu therefore said he was ready to utilize the knowledge learnt during the tour in order to successfully implement a similar approach in Mulanje District which he said is still using the old way of distributing hard cash to over 17,000 SCTP beneficiaries in nine Traditional Authorities.

One of the beneficiaries of CSEPW, Liness Chimbuto from Phombeya Village in TA Phalula testified that she has not encountered any challenge since she started receiving the payment through her mobile phone.

She lauded the approach, highlighting that the K48, 000 she gets per cycle of 30 days helps her family to afford food and school materials for her children.

Balaka District Social Welfare Officer responsible for SCTP, Mphatso Chisepa has described the initiative as a life saver especially for marginalized groups such as women, elderly and people living with disabilities.

"Since the implementation of E-Payment system for SCTP in 2013, over 10,000 beneficiaries from 80 village clusters have welcomed the initiative,” she said.

Apart from district council members, the visit was also accompanied by officials from Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) and donors from European Union and UNICEF.

Government in partnership with several donors introduced SCTP and CSEPW as part of social economic programs that would help to economically empower marginalized communities while also conserving the environment by planting trees and adopting modern farming techniques in order to address issues of climate change.

By Tikondane Vega

Lilongwe, March 20, Mana: A Malawian woman based in the United States of America (USA), Chawezi Banda popularly known as Chacha, has extended a helping hand to elderly women in Chitawira, Blantyre by supplying them with essential goods to improve their daily lives.

The women are under an organization known as Women in Partnership Against HIV and AIDS in Malawi (WIPAM) under the guidance of Pastor Roselyn Lois Mankhwala.

Some of the items donated include 10 kilogrammes of flour, cooking oil, sugar, salt and soya pieces.

In a telephone interview from the USA, Banda said this was part of celebrating her 50^th birthday.

Banda said she thought of celebrating her birthday with the elderly since most of them lack support.

"My mission goes beyond this donation. I support many people in need, including covering school fees for some girls. This contribution is a part of my commitment,” she said.

Banda recently donated various food items to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre and Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe.

In her remarks, WIPAM Execute Director Pastor Mankhwala hailed Banda for the support and urged her to continue supporting the needy.