By Kondwani Magombo

Lilongwe, August 15, Mana: Since the coming in of the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) project, councils across Malawi admit that there has been a revolution in their handling of public resources, records keeping and financial reporting.

“GESD has had a lot of impact to our councils in general, and to my council in particular” explains Chitipa Director of Finance (DoF), Gift Msowoya. “Through GESD, I have attended a number of financial management trainings and workshops, including the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), which is the accounting model that government is currently advocating for."

GESD is a 5-year US$100 million project funded by the World Bank and its objective is to strengthen Local Authorities’ institutional performance, responsiveness to citizens and management of resources for service delivery.

With GESD, there came LAPA (Local Authority Performance Assessment) – a tool designed to determine councils’ eligibility for, and the amount of, Performance Based Grant (PBG) that the Project awards to councils.

Thus, based on individual score on the LAPA, PBG is awarded – or not awarded at all – to councils in varied amounts for the implementation of service delivery projects to supplement the District Development Fund (DDF).

GESD introduced the LAPA between November and December 2020 to assess the councils’ performance in the 2019-2020 Financial Year, and determine their individual eligibility for the PBG in the subsequent year.

Since then, the LAPA has kept councils on their toes, leading to a remarkable turnaround in public finance management and service delivery.

In the 2020 LAPA, four councils, namely Mchinji, Nkhotakota, Blantyre and Thyolo, did not make it for the first PBG due to their poor performance (failure to pass both the Minimum Access Conditions and Triggers), while 24 councils qualified for the PBG 1.

A notable improvement was registered in 2021 when 25 councils qualified for PBG 2, representing an increase of 4 percent as compared to 2020.

The year 2021 also saw 4 councils, namely Chitipa. Nkhotakota, Dowa and Phalombe, attaining unqualified opinion audit report, the top score on the audit scale.

For the LAPA 2022, the number of councils attaining unqualified opinion has doubled from 4 to 8, with other councils attaining the score for the second time in a row, while three councils, namely, Balaka, Machinga and Zomba completely missed out access to PBG 3.

The outstanding councils include Chitipa, Rumphi, Nkhotakota, Lilongwe, Ntcheu, Phalombe, Thyolo and Nsanje.

The councils attribute their outstanding performance to GESD project and its LAPA tool, which, according to the councils, is leaving them cautious to ensure that there is prudent management of public resources.

“The National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC), through which GESD funds are disbursed, have consistently provided technical advice on prudent finance management and record keeping, among other things,” explains Msowoya, Chitipa DoF.

Rumphi, which is among the councils that have attained unqualified opinion for the first time alongside Lilongwe, Ntcheu, Thyolo and Nsanje, also speaks highly of GESD as the reason the council has achieved the much-sought-after score.

DoF for the council, Fyson Zidana, concurs with Msowoya on NLGFC’s role throughout the journey.

"The NLGFC analyst, Sara Banda, has been very helpful, throughout, checking the IFMIS if we are performing within the cost line items and, where we have a problem, she advises us how to go about it,” explains Zidana, adding: "We have also been having technical advice from Local Government Accountability and Performance (LGAP), which has also been very instrumental in our success."

The DoF notes that through GESD, councils have learned to pay close attention to instruments such as Financial Management Act, Local Government Act, Procurement Act, and other related instruments for smooth handling of transactions.

GESD's contribution in the councils' improved performance in public finance management and records keeping is also evident in how Nkhotakota achieved a turnaround from adverse opinion audit report in 2020, to unqualified opinion audit report in 2021 and, again, in 2022.

According to the council's DoF, Khumbo Masankhula, the council was in disarray before GESD but with the project's close monitoring and supervision through the NLGFC, it's now all paradise for the council.

"GESD is a game changer,” explains Masankhula. “The guidelines for the project are flexible, for example, the council has got an element of 30 percent for commercial investment – which is a plus for us especially the secretariat because we are able to propose projects that we feel are relevant for the council.

"The 70 percent is for service delivery to the residents that we serve – so this is also critical because most of the areas in Nkhotakota are lacking a number of social services facilities."

The DoF adds: "The NLGFC financial analysts help us perfect the records – you can see where we, as a council, have come from: adverse opinion. We failed to access PBG1 and that hit us hard as it affected the trust that our donors, and our yet-to-be donors, had on us.”

But the adverse opinion audit report served as a catalyst to Nkhotakota district council and, now with two successive unqualified opinion audit reports on the shelf, the council has become more attractive to donors than ever before, according to Masankhula.

GESD’s influence on the councils’ performance is also echoed by DoF for Lilongwe District council, Charles Mhone, who has been in government finance system since 2003.

Mhone describes the LAPA as having 50 percent of its parameters dwelling on financial management hence its introduction to the councils has stimulated positive delivery in that regard.

According to Mhone, the increase in the number of councils attaining unqualified opinion audit reports over the past two years is evidence of GESD's impact in the councils improved performance.

"I’ve worked in government financial management for quite some time and this improvement has never been there," explains Mhone, whose council is among the 8 that outshined the rest by attaining unqualified opinion audit report for the 2022 LAPA.

He continues: "No councils have ever been issued unqualified opinion in terms of numbers as they have now; So it’s basically because of GSED. Everyone wants to tap resources from GESD and for you to do that, financial management prudence is key."

GESD has also helped build the capacity of the councils through recruitment of accounting staff and training of the same as observed by all the 8 councils on the spotlight.

Phalombe, for instance, boasts about four accountants recruited by GESD and the council is also in the process of developing functional review whereby the council has factored in a lot of required staff in the finance department, according to the council's DoF, Martin M'baya.

"We feel that in future we’ll have a very vibrant financial management team with the support that we have received from GESD through NLGFC, explains M'baya, whose council is a two-time achiever of the unqualified opinion audit report.

He adds: "There has also been a lot of capacity building trainings: Recently, Phalombe was involved in a trip to Mauritius for IPSAS benchmarking – all this courtesy of GESD through the NLGFC."

Still on the subject, the DoF for Thyolo district council, Andrew Jafali, caps it all on how GESD is being instrumental in energizing the councils to perform better in managing public resources.

Jafali observes that GESD's LAPA tool has urged councils to observe timely financial reporting unlike before when they could report anyhow and anytime.

He explains: "Councils are expected to report on the previous month by the 10th of the succeeding month, unlike the time before GESD: there was laxity and we could report on 15th, or 20th – it was not an issue – but such is not the case now with GSED.

“So by ensuring that the reporting is done timely, even the transactional entering is done carefully to ensure that you don’t miss out on the time lines, and miss the sweet cake that is the Performance Based Grant (PBG),” concludes Jafalli, whose council hit the wall in the 2020 LAPA and, painfully failed to access PBG1.

Martha Simchimba

Lilongwe, August 16, Mana: National Social Mobilisation Committee (NSMC) on Tuesday engaged traditional and faith leaders from Kasungu, Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mulanje and Phalombe districts with key family practice messages under Kulumikiza Campaign.

Under the campaign, NSMC, a grouping of social mobilisation experts from different government ministries, is promoting integrated messages on adoption of desired behaviors such as WASH, child marriage, immunisation and nutrition and back to school.

Speaking on the sidelines of the engagement meeting in Lilongwe, NSMC Secretary Wallace Chipeta said faith and traditional leaders play a critical role in promoting social mobilisation activities in their respective communities.

He said the two groups of community leaders have the power to use their influence in society to bringing about desirable behaviors to their followers.

“Through the campaign, we want to have behavior change related data to be easily collected and tracked in order for stakeholders to maintain positive changes whilst we are also finding new ways of overcoming negative behaviors,” he said.

Chipeta disclosed that NSMC will create a platform for youths, mother groups, and community radios to discuss challenges for low adoption of desired behaviors.

He described Kulumikiza as a community responsive campaign that engage participants to come up with solutions to low adoption of desired behavior for their respective communities.   

One of the participants representing Pastors Fraternal Association of Malawi, Bishop Dr Lazarus Gama said the meeting has equipped them with the right information that will help them to disseminate immunisation and cholera messages to their congregation.

Sheikh Yunusu Hayadi commended the meeting and called upon government and non-governmental organizations to continue engaging faith leaders in awareness campaigns saying faith leaders have a number of groupings in their mosques and disseminating messages will be easy.

Apart from coming up with activities to be implemented at a community level, participants to the meeting also received integrated message booklets which NSMC, with support from UNICEF, developed to be used as stakeholders’ guidelines.

By Rose Cross Mahorya

Mzuzu, August 15, Mana: Government has challenged Mzuzu City Council (MCC) and its stakeholders to be proactive in initiating development projects which can attract government’s funding.

Speaking Monday in Mzuzu when he closed first ever Mzuzu City Summit, Deputy Minister of Local Government, Culture and Unity, Owen Chomanika said the city can only develop if the council work together with its residents and hold accountable duty bearers.

Chomanika said the summit will not bear fruits unless those responsible are taken to task to ensure transparency and accountability.

“No one is going to develop this city better than its residents who need to initiate their desired   development projects to face lift the city,” said Chomanika.

He advised the council to improve its working relationship with its stakeholders for improved efficiency in service delivery.

“I have also noted that MCC has missed out a lot by not utilizing some stakeholders. You cannot just rely on government support.

“We have through this summit witnessed that there are a lot of stakeholders who are willing to support in the development of the city,” he said.

Vice Chancellor for Mzuzu University (Mzuni), Prof. Wales Singini concurred with Chomanika stating that the council needs to take advantage of opportunities that it has within its jurisdiction.

“Mzuni is ready to work with the MCC and we have already identified areas where we can work in partnership with them.

We would like to step in waste management and the development of electronic revenue collection through the Water and Sanitation Department and Information Communication Technology respectively.

Mayor for MCC, Gift Nyirenda, commended stakeholders for supporting preparations of the summit and for availing themselves at the summit.

By Fostina Mkandawire

Salima, August 4, Mana: Over 200 youth in Salima have undergone a four-week computer training as a way of improving their digital skills which will be their stepping for other ventures.

The training has been conducted with support from Computer Clinic Limited under the Digital Malawi Project.

Speaking on Monday during the graduation ceremony of the training, District Youth Officer, Jessy Mwansambo, said the computer skills would be stepping stone for the youth to venture into different careers that require computer skills.

She urged the graduating youths to pursue further studies so that they can continue sharpening their skills.

"The training has opened the way for the youth to participate in the digital world which is key in today's world because everything is going digital," she said.

Owing to the high cost of education, Mwansambo said offering the lessons for free was commendable and encouraged the youth who could not afford such lessons to be able to participate.

She said the youth being the drivers of change, equipping them with necessary skills is investing in the country's development and progressing in the right direction.

The Public Private Partnership Commission is implementing the Digital Malawi Project with support from Malawi Government and sponsorship from the World Bank.

Communications Officer for Computer Clinic and Digital Malawi Project, Hazviperi Mbizi, said they received overwhelming response from the youth who showed interest in the training which ran for four weeks.

Mbizi said the training targeted more than 200 youth in the introduction to computer skills, basics of graphic designing and how to use social media in entrepreneurship. However, about 280 youth registered for the courses.

"Our wish is to see the youth doing something with their lives rather [than just] staying. With the skills they have gained, we are hopeful they will be able to start small businesses or get jobs," she said.

One of the youths who were trained, Elizabeth Kaponda, said the training had sharpened her digital skills, especially social media marketing because she is an entrepreneur and would now be marketing her products on social media.

"I lacked basic knowledge in computer packages, therefore, the skills I have gained will assist me in my career path even when I pursue my studies further. The skills will still be useful in my academic life," she said.

The training, which included entrepreneurship and digital skills, started in July 2023, and lasted for four weeks.

During ceremony, the youth that had graduated were each presented with a certificate of attendance. Apart from Salima, the project is also implemented in Lilongwe, Dowa and Ntchisi.

By Patricia Kapulula

Lilongwe, August 30, Mana: Minister of Education, Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima has emphasised on the need for Malawi to integrate and mainstream Research and Science, Technology and Innovation (R-STI) in its national policies and strategies through effective and efficient application of knowledge, tools, scientific research and technological innovation in addressing societal challenges.

The Minister made the remarks at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe on Wednesday when she launched the Grand Challenges Malawi initiative.

The initiative is meant to promote and enhance innovation and as well as collaborative research and development amongst scientists both locally and internationally.

Wirima said Malawi has potential to leverage transformative Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) in order to position itself as a global competitive knowledge based economy hence the need for technological innovation in addressing challenges.

“We expect that our researchers can come together in a stronger and powerful way to collaborate with fellows globally to come up with powerful ideas that can enable them to create and innovate in order to solve problems that the country faces,” she said.

She expressed concern that Malawi’s economy has been registering slow growth evidenced by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rate of 3.5 percent from 2010 saying time has come for Malawi to widen opportunities for collaboration and investment, create innovation and commercialise innovative technologies.

“Malawian researchers and innovators need to make breakthroughs and develop new mindsets that will enable them find new solutions that will make the country less dependent on others,” she said.

National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST) Acting Director General, Gift Kadzamira said there has been demand in terms of financing research in the country that researchers and innovators fail to meet.

“Even the Commission is failing to finance them adequately due to inadequate financing. So, the coming in of Grand Challenges Malawi will mobilise resources both domestically and internationally.

She said despite inadequate resources, Malawi is doing fine in research because it has the technical and human capacity.

Science for Africa Foundation (SAF) based in Nairobi, Kenya coordinates national Grand Challenges in Africa to develop innovations on the continent.

SAF Head of Programmes, Dr Moses Alobo hailed Malawi for the launch of the initiative saying it (Malawi) is joining a group of science managers and innovation supporters.

By Sarah Munthali

Lilongwe, August 29, MANA: The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) says it is concerned about the declining Quality of Service (QoS) for voice calls and mobile data services in the country.

MACRA Director of Telecommunication Edward Kauka expressed the concern in Lilongwe on Tuesday, when he opened a ‘Better quality of service for Malawi stakeholders meeting for telecommunication companies and consumers.

 He said the Authority has received numerous complaints from subscribers of telecommunication services over among other things, poor network, drop calls and expensive data.

“Telecommunication is a vital tool in development, for you to do business you need to communicate and you need telecommunication in place, if these key elements are not there you are regarded as someone who is dead. So we thought for them to bring good services in this country we needed to bring all players together so that we can move forward as one team,” he said

Kauka said during the stakeholders meeting MACRA has engaged an expert from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) under the “Better QoS for Malawi Project” who will guide the efforts to improve mobile network services in Malawi.

“During this meeting, telecommunication companies’ officials who are attending including Airtel, TNM, Access and others will discuss their challenges and how to improve on the complaints from consumers.

At the end of the meeting, we are going to revise some of the key performance indicators(KPI) which operators are to supposed to be following.  We will also revise regulations which operators are supposed to abide to when they are providing services, if they cannot meet these regulations, they will be charged and punished, this will ensure an improvement in quality of services,” He said.

He said MACRA is responsible for regulating and monitoring communication services in Malawi with an aim to provide reliable and sufficient services while prioritizing transparency, certainty, market orientation, efficiency, and consumer satisfaction.

Consumer Association of Malawi (CAMA)Executive Director John Kapito bemoaned expensive data and erratic mobile phone networks in most parts of the country.

“We have been complaining to MACRA and we are glad they have stepped in to engage us consumers and the telecommunications companies improve their services. The mobile call bundles and data are expensive for the consumers,” he said

Kapito also urged mobile telecommunication companies TNM and Airtel to address fraud on their mobile money services saying many people have fallen victims to theft.

 A Consultant for MACRA Better QoS for Malawi Project, Kwame Baah-Acheamfuor said quality services in telecommunications is a continuous improvement process but is met by challenges such as power outages, among other things.

He however said quality of services challenges can be overcome, if the service providers investigate and work together to address their challenges.

The Better QoS for Malawi project will run from August 25th, 2023, to February 25th, 2024 and aims to among other things Identify areas that require improvement to enhance the user experience and enhance the quality of mobile network services and better overall user satisfaction.

Mana/scm/sbn

By Patricia Kapulula

Lilongwe, August 28, Mana: Malawi, through the National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST), will on Wednesday launch the Grant Challenges Malawi Initiative to accelerate innovation and trigger sustainable solutions by unlocking both international and domestic investments for collaborative research in the country.

NCST Acting Director General, Gift Kadzamira told journalists during a press briefing to announce the launch of the initiative in Lilongwe on Monday that the launch marks an important milestone for Malawi in building a better future for partnerships that foster development.

Kadzamira said through the initiative Malawi will have access to finances and intellectual capital for Malawi’s development.

She said the finances will help the Commission be able to give out grants to researchers and innovators in the country for them to provide quality research and have innovations that will solve societal problems that Malawi is facing.

“When giving out the grants, we will put out a call. Researchers and innovators will have to apply or respond to the call. Thereafter, there will be a review process which will be done by reputable local and international researchers,” she said.

Kadzamira, however, expressed concern that despite the country having so many innovations taking place at grass root level, the Commission is unable to provide resources for the innovators to fine tune their innovations to commercial stage.

She, therefore, said the initiative has come at the right time as it will bridge the gap that exists in as far as innovation is concerned.

“Having the grand challenge is beneficial for Malawi. The demand in research and innovation is high as such the initiative will enable us narrow the gap that is there in terms of finances,” said Kadzamira.

NCST will launch the initiative at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe in conjunction with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and Science for Africa Foundation.

It is expected that Minister of Education, Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima will launch the initiative.

Speaking at Kigali International Convetion Centre when she attended the launch of the Grand Challenges Rwanda in May this year, Wirima described the initiative as important saying it is meant to address innovation challenges through collaboration with government, private sector, academic institutions, civil society and the environmental sector.

“We are facing challenges that require creative multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary collaborative approaches to affectively address them,” she said.

Malawi becomes the sixth country in Africa to launch the initiative after Botswana, Ethiopia, Senegal, South Africa and Rwanda.

Grand Challenges is an initiative that provides grants to researchers and innovators working on science, technology, health and development issues.

Mana/pk/

By Glory Msowoya

Blantyre, August 15, Mana: National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST) has challenged innovators in the country to always fine-tune their ideas first for their businesses to thrive on the market.

The call comes against the backdrop that most innovation fails to materialise due to lack of support of ideas.

Speaking to Malawi News Agency (MANA) NCST Acting Director General, Gift Kadzamira urged innovators to always seek guidance from the Commission as one way of helping their ideas become successful.

According to Kadzamira people should not rush to social media with their ideas before involving the right technocrats who can assist in fine tuning their innovations.

“The Commission has noted that Malawians rush to social media and announce their ideas without consulting relevant authorities on how best they should go about them.

“With this, chances are very high that the ideas cannot materialise. I am, therefore, urging innovators to take their time and seek guidance, where necessary, so that they can enjoy the fruits of their ideas,” she said.

Kadzamira said the Commission is committed to give guidance, regulate, support and promote research, science, technology and innovation in the country.

 “NCST will continue to provide grants through the S and T Fund which will be launched soon and the Grand Challenge Initiative and promotion of public understanding of Science. We are doing all this to help all the ideas from the innovators to materialise,” she said.

According to Kadzamira, NCST is collaborating with the Registrar General’s office to protect the works of Malawian innovators through the legal framework.

Vice Chancellor for Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), Nancy Chitera said the university is open to work with innovators in polishing up ideas.

Chitera believes that ideas that have been exposed to social media, once polished, have a great impact in addressing some of the challenges rocking the nation.

Mana/gm/mmm/pk

By Ireen Mseteka

Mzuzu, August 15, Mana: Department of Economic Planning and Development in the Ministry of Finance, says community radio stations are vital in disseminating Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Project (SSRLP) information.

Department of Economic Planning and Development Principal Economist, John Funny Mwale made the remarks in Mzuzu on Tuesday when he opened a two-day orientation workshop for reporters from community radio stations in the northern region.

Mwale noted that most communities are not well versed on SSRLP related issues hence the department’s expectation that the radios, through well designed programs, will assist in disseminating the right information to their target audiences.

“Community radios are a critical stakeholder in community engagement as they use local languages which can easily be understood by the target population hence promoting communities’ participation in SSRLP activities,” said Mwale.

National Local Government Finance Committee Research and Documentation Officer, Symon Lubanga said the orientation will also improve working relationship between the radios and local authorities in spearheading development.

Among others, the reporters are being oriented on effective programing and dissemination of SSRLP information to communities and duty bearers at district councils.