NEWS IN BRIEF
MANAonline

MANAonline

By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, March 20, Mana: Some elderly persons in Chitipa District have commended government through the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) for distributing relief maize to households during the lean period.

 

75-year-old Efa Msukwa of Amos 2 Village in Senior Chief Mwenemisuku in the district thanked DoDMA for the relief maize, which, she said, will go a long way in ensuring that she has food for her family.

 

Msukwa said this on Wednesday at Chipwela in Senior Chief Mwenemisuku during the distribution of relief maize under the 2024/2025 lean season response programme across the district.

 

She said she had no staple food in her home and was eating what she had at her disposal.

 

“The maize I have received will help me and my family as I wait to harvest my maize from the field which I did not apply any fertilizer,” Msukwa said.

 

Elias Sichula, 83, of Masyesye Village in Senior Chief Mwabulambya in the district said the relief has come at the right time when families are experiencing hunger.

 

“I am happy to receive this 50 kilogramme bag of maize. This will help me, together with my family, have some meals,” Sichula said.

 

Chitipa District Council Disaster Risk Management Officer, Mphatso Nedson, said during this year's lean season, the district will provide relief maize to 5,791 beneficiary households who are in the programme.

 

Nedson appealed to the beneficiaries to utilize the assistance received by making sure that they do not sell it.

 

“This maize distribution is the last for this lean season because it was supposed to run for three months. We hope to have bumper yield this year and it is my plea to households to avoid selling farm produce,” he appealed.

 

The 2024/2025 lean season response programme for Chitipa was for January, February and March.

By Yamikani Yapuwa

Thyolo, March 20, Mana: Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Thyolo have raised concerns over delays, lack of transparency and poor community involvement in the implementation of 13 projects under Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD).

A recent monitoring exercise revealed issues such as delayed project completion, lack of financial disclosure, poor community involvement and unpaid workers.

Thyolo CSO Network Chairperson, Willard Mwambo, said this on Wednesday when presenting their findings to Thyolo District Council officials.

He said while some projects like the Chimaliro Gravity-fed Irrigation Scheme are functional, others including Thyolo Boma Primary School, Mikate Health Post and Khongono Irrigation Scheme are either incomplete or facing serious setbacks.

“We are calling for urgent action because development projects must serve the people, not become a burden due to poor management. Transparency and accountability are key to success,” said Mwambo.

The CSOs have, therefore, recommended better oversight, community involvement and proper project handovers to ensure that the projects are completed and benefit local communities.

“Local communities need to be involved in supervision and monitoring of the projects as well as promote inclusivity. Many project implementation committees lacked representation of people with disabilities and youth who are among key minority groups,” said Mwambo.

Thyolo District Council Director of Planning and Development, Thokozire Munthali, described the engagement as an important platform for both the Council and CSOs.

“The platform gave us a chance to clear out some issues raised from the findings. The report highlighted different areas where the Council was performing well and those that needed improvement,” she said.

Munthali appreciated the feedback saying it will help improve areas of concern and also allowed the Council to clarify misconceptions.

“Having clarified, we believe that CSOs will take the message back to the masses on how things are supposed to be done,” she said.

By Brighton Chimsinde

Mchinji, March 20, Mana: Civil Society Organizations (CSO) in Mchinji have expressed satisfaction with Mchinji District Council’s implementation of development projects under Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) project.

Mchinji CSO Vice Chairperson, Davis Damson, made the remarks Wednesday during a findings consolidation meeting done after conducting a monitoring visit.

The CSOs monitored a number of projects implemented with GESD funds in the district.

“Our impression is that the Council is trying its best despite some challenges. The major problem is inadequate knowledge of GESD guidelines among project implementation committee members,” said Damson.

Damson advised the Council to equip the committees with guidelines and ensure that they are always active and independent.

Mchinji District Council Director of Planning and Development, Martin Pindankono, assured CSOs that the Council is doing everything possible for the district to continue getting GESD funds. 

“Mchinji is progressing well since we are meeting guidelines and deadlines of the projects. To ensure community involvement, we always ask the community to institute project implementation committees at every project site and these are also trained,” said Pindankono.

The monitoring tour was done to check if the council is implementing the project in compliance with GESD guidelines.

By Tikondane Vega

Lilongwe, March 20, Mana: Local artisans in the country have commended government for providing them a platform where they can showcase their skills saying the opportunity has created room for growth.

In separate interviews with Malawi News Agency (MANA) in Phalombe, Thyolo and Mangochi, where they are constructing classroom blocks under the Malawi Education Reform Programme (MERP), the artisans said the work has put them in a spot where many people have developed trust in them.

Alex Wittika, who has just completed constructing school blocks at Dzenje Primary School in Phalombe District, said the opportunity is a breakthrough to not only him but also the community.

“Previously, there has been an underestimation of the potential of the artisans like us, which can play a significant part in our country. What government has done to give us a chance to construct school blocks is a game changer in our career.

“This has exposed us to other stakeholders who also need our services. Artisans face several challenges like job inconsistencies but finally government has opened opportunities for us,” said Wittika.

Ken Matias, a local artisan based in Thyolo district and is currently constructing classes at Mikalati Primary School, concurred with Wittika saying the platform has enabled people to see great work done by local artisans.

He said the contract has enabled him to employ other people who are helping him construct classrooms while others are bringing sand as well as water as part of their income generating activity.

“We face a lot of challenges, one of them being that people do not trust that we can make high standard infrastructure but government has trusted us. We were lacking a platform to prove ourselves that we can also deliver.

“Previously, contracts from government were landing in the hands of a few people while local artisans were not allowed to grow. The step taken by government is commendable,” he said.

Another local artisan, Stanley Chiwalo, who is constructing classroom blocks at Chiusi Primary School in Mangochi, said if government can continue empowering local artisans, the country has the potential to create jobs within localities thereby contributing to social and economic development of the country.

Government through Ministry of Education is implementing MERP with support from the World Bank and the Global Partnership on Education.

By Tikondane Vega

Lilongwe, March 20, Mana: Director of Education, Youth and Sports in Mangochi, Ireen Kawale, says government's provision of 511 primary school blocks through the Malawi Education Reform Programme (MERP) will increase learners' enrollment.

Kawale said some of the blocks have already been completed and are currently being used across the district adding learning under trees as well as overcrowding will soon be history.

She was speaking Wednesday when Malawi News Agency (MANA) visited the district to appreciate progress of the work, which has provided the district with 1,022 classrooms from the 511 blocks.

“For years, our learners have been learning in overcrowded and poorly structured classrooms which affected their concentration and overall performance. With these new classroom blocks, learning conditions have greatly improved. We are optimistic that this will lead to better academic results,” said Kawale.

Mchoka Primary School located in Traditional Authority (TA) Mponda is one of the schools that has benefited from MERP.

A visit to the school found that learners have already started using the new classes.

“This infrastructure could not meet the high demand for education services needed by the surrounding villages. We are grateful for this gesture from government as the new classrooms are providing a conducive learning environment for pupils. This will result in having more educated citizens who will contribute to the country’s development,” said Lyford Mkombe, headteacher for the school.

Mkombe emphasized the importance of adequate educational facilities and positive nurturing so that children can bring out their unique talents and potential.

On his part, Group Village Head Malunda, urged the community to take care of the infrastructure to stand the test of time.

“As for the community, we can only show appreciation for this gesture by taking good care of the facility.

“I call upon each one of us to ensure safety of this school by educating others to keep it clean and in good condition, and reporting all forms of vandalism to relevant authorities,” said Malunda.

Fatila Frank, a Standard 7 learner at the school said the classroom blocks have provided an opportunity for her to receive quality education that will prepare her for opportunities and challenges of the future.

“Previously, when it rains learning process was disturbed and we were forced to go home without learning but with these new classrooms, things have changed,” she said.

By Sheminah Nkhoma

Lilongwe, March 19, Mana: Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Dr Owen Chomanika, has urged civil society organisation (CSOs) to take critical actions in environmental management as  they are key players in the natural resources management and other environmental issues in the country.

Speaking during a CSO engagement session in Lilongwe on Wednesday, Chomanika said partnering with CSOs will help address the pressing challenges facing in environment, natural resources and climate change.

“We are all witnesses to the devastating impacts of climate change on our nation. From persistent droughts to severe floods and cyclones like Ana and Jude; these events have caused immense suffering in our communities and CSOs have been at the forefront to respond to these crises.

“Your ability to connect with local communities makes you invaluable in implementing solutions that are both inclusive and effective,” he said

Chomanika stated that there is need for strong partnerships with CSOs to amplify the efforts from the grassroots level  to ensure the environment is protected.

“It is high time as a country we change on how we deal with issues concerning fisheries, forest and other  natural resource management whether it is through community education campaigns, policy advocacy or direct project implementation,” he said.

Executive Director for Coordination Union for Rehabilitation of the Environment (CURE), Charles Mkoka, said they are many challenges that have affected the environment like ecosystem degradation and forest degradation so coming together will help to find long term solutions.

“It is not the duty of government alone to protect the environment but CSOs also have a role to play in management of the environment,” said Mkoka.

The session aimed  at building a sustainable future for Malawi by leveraging the unique strengths and contributions of CSOs.

By Brian Wasili             

Mwanza, February 19, Mana: Mangochi and Machinga district council officials toured Mwanza on a learning visit to tap knowledge on how the district manages Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programmes (CS-EPWP) as a result of good coordination with participating communities in various environmental conservation activities.

Desk Officer for CS-EPWP, Idruce Kanyenda, hailed the two district councils for choosing Mwanza as their learning point saying the tour also offers knowledge sharing opportunity.

Kanyenda said this on Tuesday during a wrap up meeting to get inputs from the visiting teams after touring various catchments that conserve the environment while addressing other issues associated with climate change.

“This programme is a game changer for our communities because we are seeing great progress in reforestation, soil and water conservation and sustainable livelihoods.

“Hosting our colleagues from Mangochi and Machinga is an opportunity to share lessons and challenges as we work towards common development goals,” Kanyenda said.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA) District Project Facilitator for Mangochi, Levy Mwambakulu, described the tour as ideal saying his team is looking forward to learn from Mwanza’s experiences.

“We have similar projects back home. We were compelled to visit Mwanza after learning its progress in the programme. This has given us valuable insights,” he said.

Mwambakulu said his team learnt that good coordination with local structures and applying community driven approaches are best practices in achieving best results in implementing activities in the CS-EPWP.

He said Mangochi will take into consideration all the best practices to ably implement the programme.

District Project Facilitator for Machinga, Kingsley Pendame, commended Mwanza District Council for its effective execution of the programme.

“We are particularly impressed with how the communities here are actively involved in the implementation of these projects. The community ownership and commitment we have seen here is remarkable," Pendame said.

One of the programme participants, Elina Mofati, of Khudze Catchment at Inkosi Kanduku Maseko in the district told the visiting delegation that communities learnt a lot in environmental conservation to address land degradation for sustainable land use and crop production.

The CS-EPWP is a World Bank and Multi-Donor Trust funded programme implemented in councils by the National Local Government Finance Committee whose primary objective is to create visible, durable and quality assets within micro-catchments.

By George Mponda

Karonga, March 19, Mana: Communities in Karonga are reaping the benefits of the Climate-Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) as the rainy season continues.

The CS-EPWP focuses on soil and water conservation works among other environmental interventions.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Wednesday, one of the participants to the programme, Alex Mwalilino, from Sanambe Catchment said the programme has helped farmers in the district to control flow of water in their fields.

Mwalilino said through the programme, communities constructed contour ridges and canals to conserve water and reduce soil erosion.

“We did not think much of these works but now with the intensity of the rain, these conservation works will help to increase agricultural productivity besides reducing the risk of flooding.

“Rains in Karonga is unpredictable, but I have noted that the deep trenches which we dug have been holding water which is being used by my crops even during prolonged dry spells," Mwalilino said.

Another participant, Paul Kamanga, a farmer from Walamba Village in the area of Paramount Chief Kyungu said last year he lost most of his crops due to flooding.

"But this year, thanks to contour ridges and terracing, my crops are safe, and I'm expecting a bumper harvest.

 “The project has also helped me to have an economic activity through selling of organic fertilizer which I make using skills and knowledge gained from CS-EPWP," Kamanga said.

According to the Land Resource and Conservation Officer for Karonga District Council, Mirabel Munthali, the initiative has positively transformed agriculture practices in the district.

"The programme has helped increase agricultural productivity hence contributing to improved food security besides enhancing community resilience to climate change.

Karonga is prone to natural disasters like floods and dry spells but through the adoption of climate smart agriculture practices, farmers have adapted to climate related shocks," Munthali said.

By Dhumisani Khumalo

Mzuzu, March 19, Mana: Police in Mzuzu have applauded the public for being proactive in reporting rape and defilement cases to relevant authorities such as social welfare organizations and Malawi Police Service (MPS).

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Wednesday, Deputy Public Relations Officer for Mzuzu Police Station, Cecilia Mfune, attributed the development to awareness initiatives by various stakeholders, including MPS, on the vice.

The remarks were made following a report of arrest of Jailosi Kanyika, 38, of Katutula Village in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Mwaulambya in Chitipa who was detained for allegedly having sexual intercourse with a nine-year-old girl within Mzuzu City on March 16, 2025.

“This entails that communities are aware of the consequences of such heinous activities, hence taking lead in reporting such cases to us.

“They also understand that rape and defilement cases are criminal in nature as such they cannot be handled by the communities themselves,” said Mfune.

She added that, in the past, community members were reluctant to report such cases to authorities with the goal of shielding suspects, who could be their relations, from facing the law.

District Social Welfare Officer for Mzimba North, Hellen Simwaka, said her office works in collaboration with the police and other partners in dealing with such cases.

“We usually collaborate with the police and render required service once a survivor of such a case has reported to police so that the perpetrator is apprehended and brought to book,” said Simwaka.

She commended the Judiciary for supporting stakeholder’s efforts by handing stiff and punitive jail sentences to perpetrators.

Currently, police in Mzuzu   have effected arrest of Leonard Konyani, 29, for having sexual intercourse with an eight-year-old girl child within the city.

Konyani, who was arrested on March 18, hails from Chimwaza Village in the area of TA Mponela in Dowa District.

By Chisomo Kambandanga

Nkhata Bay, March 19, Mana: NGO-Gender Coordination Network (NGO-GCN) has tipped female aspiring candidates in Nkhata Bay on winning campaign strategies in a bid to increase women representation in political leadership positions in the forthcoming general elections.

In an interview Tuesday after an engagement meeting with the aspiring candidates in Nkhata Bay, member for NGO-GCN Dorothy Chiumia said most women fail to make it because they lack confidence to win the hearts of people with their manifestos hence the need to bridge the gap.

She said the Network is there to empower women aspirants with effective communication skills to showcase their manifestos and ideas.

"Our emphasis is on the importance of issue-based campaign rather than handouts. This approach ensures that voters understand the value and vision of each candidate," she said.

She, therefore, assured candidates of continued support with various capacity building skills as it is their aspiration to see all of them winning.

Aspiring parliamentary candidate for Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) in Nkhata Bay West Constituency, Mercy Limbani Kaunda, described the initiative is timely saying it will accord them an opportunity to strategise on how they can sell their ideas without challenges.

"Let me urge all voters to bank their confidence in female candidates without being influenced by handouts," she said.

According to Principal Gender Development Officer for Nkhata Bay, Lawrence Matiti, there are currently only two female ward councilors and one female Member of Parliament in the district. 

He, therefore, expressed optimism that with this intervention the numbers will increase.

With support from UN Women, under the Malawi Electoral Support Programme, NGO-GCN is engaging female aspirants in Nkhata Bay, Ntchisi, Balaka and Phalombe since October last year to September this year to the tune of K153 million.

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