MANAonline
Business community hails government for supporting local entrepreneurs through MERP
By Gift Chiponde
Chitipa, March 11, Mana: Business community in Chitipa has commended government for initiating Malawi Education Reformed Programme (MERP), which has not only improved school infrastructure but also empowered local entrepreneurs by prioritising local suppliers for construction materials.
One of the suppliers who is the beneficiary of the project Lameck Ngomale, a supplier of cement and iron bars, described MERP as a lifeline for small businesses in the district.
“In the past, major construction projects often sourced materials from outside Chitipa, making it difficult for us to grow. But under MERP, we have had the opportunity to supply cement and iron bars for school construction projects. This has boosted our sales and allowed us to expand our business,” he said.
Another entrepreneur, Liness Kanyika, who supplied cement bricks, said that the programme has proven to be a pillar of small businesses.
“MERP has been a great opportunity for my business. By securing contracts to supply cement bricks for new classrooms, I have been able to employ more workers and improve my financial stability. The programme is not just about education; it is also uplifting local businesses,” she said.
In his remarks, David Phiri, a quarry stone supplier, said that the impact of MERP has been equally significant.
He stated that the increased demand for building materials has allowed him to scale up operations.
“Before MERP, our business was struggling with inconsistent sales. But now, with the construction of new schools in Chitipa, we have seen a rise in orders. This has helped us invest in better equipment and create more jobs for the youth in our community,” he said.
Phiri has since urged government to maintain its commitment of supporting local suppliers in future projects.
He believes that by prioritising local businesses, more people in rural areas will benefit from economic growth, fostering self-reliance and long-term development.
“We thank government for ensuring that development projects like MERP benefit not only learners but also local entrepreneurs.
“This is the kind of empowerment we need to grow our businesses and strengthen our communities,” said phiri.
Chitipa’s local business owners remain optimistic that their involvement in government projects will lead to sustained economic transformation in the district.
MERP classroom blocks construction excites Chitipa Communities
By Gift Chiponde
Chitipa, March 10, Mana: Communities in Chitipa have commended government for constructing and completing new school blocks under the Malawi Education Reform Programme (MERP), a development expected to significantly enhance quality education in the district.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA), Village Headman Chitala 2 from the area of Senior Chief Mwaulambya described the completion of a school block at Chimwemwe Full Primary School as a major milestone that will provide a better learning environment for learners.
"We have been struggling with classroom shortages, but with these new blocks provided by the government through MERP, our learners will now learn in a proper setting," he said.
He further pledged to continue sensitizing the community on the importance of maintaining the new infrastructure.
"I will engage parents on how we can preserve this project. This is a great development for us in Chitala 2," he added.
Chimwemwe Full Primary School Mother Group Vice Chairperson, Loveness Mtambo, stated that the new classroom block will provide a safer and more comfortable learning space for girls by reducing congestion.
"Many girls miss school due to overcrowding, especially during their monthly periods. The new school block will help improve attendance," she said.
She also highlighted that the school will benefit from the newly constructed toilet facilities under the same project, which will promote better hygiene, particularly among girls.
"We are grateful to the government for this development, which will likely increase girls' enrollment in primary schools across the district," she added.
Geoffrey Siyeni, a member of the Parent and Teachers Association (PTA) Committee, welcomed the project, emphasising its role in improving learners' well-being.
"We have faced significant challenges due to inadequate infrastructure, especially during extreme weather conditions. Many learners were forced to miss classes, leading to poor performance," he said.
Secretary for the School Management Committee at Lwambo Full Primary School, another beneficiary of the project, expressed his excitement for the construction of the classrooms.
“This project has eased congestion in our classrooms. Community is excited about the new infrastructure because of its impressive design and durability," he said.
Ramsey Ghambi, a Standard 8 learner at Chimwemwe Primary School, said the new classrooms will help to address the long-standing issue of classroom shortages.
"Lack of space has been a major factor in school dropouts. This new development will encourage more learners to stay in school," he said.
Lwambo Primary School Headteacher, Estone Ng’ambi, praised the initiative saying the project came when the school urgently needed additional classrooms.
"As a way of safeguarding this development, we already have existing by-laws and regulations in place to protect the infrastructure and ensure it continues to serve future generations," he said.
He commended government for constructing child-friendly and modern classrooms, which have also helped to improve teacher learners ratio.
Loveness Kayuni, a Standard 7 learner at Lwambo Primary School, described the new classrooms as impressive and highly beneficial.
"I encourage my fellow learners to take care of this beautiful infrastructure. It will help us achieve our dreams. Let’s avoid vandalizing school property, as such acts are not only destructive but also against the law," she said.
Director of Education and Sport for Chitipa District, McGiven Chinyamula, stated that the district has so far benefited from the construction of 40 school blocks, with nine already completed in the first phase.
He commended government for the initiative, stating that it is likely to improve the learning environment and provide quality time for teachers in managing learners.
Chinyamula also highlighted that, through the program, the district has benefited from the employment of 84 auxiliary teachers that will improve education in the district.
"I am very grateful that government has also considered employing teachers. This development will tremendously improve education standards in Chitipa," he said.
He further appealed government to consider constructing teachers houses in the district, a move that would help reduce accommodation challenges faced by rural teachers.
Councils urged to popularize NAS for effective implementation
By Sylvester Kumwenda
Dowa, February 7, Mana: Deputy Director of Postal Directorate at the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) Burnet Namacha has urged councils to ensure that people are aware about the National Addressing System (NAS) to ensure proper understanding and implementation.
He made the remarks Thursday during a five-day training of District Awareness Teams on NAS from Nkhotakota, Ntcheu, Ntchisi and Dowa district councils held at Mponela in Dowa.
Namacha said NAS being a new thing in the country, might bring misunderstandings and misconceptions amongst some communities, hence the awareness teams must ensure enough publicity of the program ahead of its implementation in the districts.
"The plan is to have NAS country wide, but before we roll out NAS in your districts, we would like to ensure people understand what this is all about. That is why we decided to have this training.
"The training looks at an overview on NAS and other technicalities in its implementation. So it is important that you understand these, so that you can also present the right messages to the communities," said Namacha.
Through the Communications ACT of 2016, parliament mandated MACRA to implement a comprehensive addressing system to allocate, manage and regulate addresses and postcodes.
The system is being implemented in all the districts across the country.
NAS is expected to improve councils' and central governments' service delivery to the people.
In his remarks, Chief Administrative Officer Mathews Mkandawire from Dowa awareness committee said the orientation was crucial as the success of the NAS will largely depend on an informed society of the same.
As such, the awareness committees, he said, have an important role to play in enhancing awareness amongst the community.
"As a committee in Dowa, after this we intend to conduct several activities to raise awareness, starting radio programs, community awareness campaigns targeting different communities, and also social media, considering many, including the youth, are on social media.
"We will give a podium for all or a larger number of community members to be aware of NAS, so that the campaign should be a success," he said.
Blantyre city Village loan groups capital hits K1.7 billion
By Tikondane Vega
Lilongwe, March 7, Mana: Savings and Loan Groups in Blantyre city now have a capital of K1.7 billion, a testimony that such groups can drive the country's economy if properly managed.
This was revealed on Thursday by Pearson Banda, who is the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for Blantyre City Council (BCC), when representatives from the Community Savings and Investment Program (COMSIP) Savings and Loan Groups in Soche West Ward, visited Chilomoni Ward on a best practices-learning visit.
Soche West Ward groups were formed from the Livelihoods Restoration for the Urban Poor - LIRUP Programme formed in 2024, while those in Chilomoni, were formed during the Covid-19 Social cash Transfer Program.
The learning visit was facilitated to see how the old group has survived years after their program concluded.
Speaking during the visit, Banda, who is also BCC COMSIP Desk Officer, said the groups continue to register successes due to several skills COMSIP has been equipping them.
“These groups are receiving much support from COMSIP and BCC hence continue to thrive like the case of Chilomoni where the Covid programme ended. I can happily say that people who are receiving social cash transfer money are investing so much at group level as well as individually.
“In the meantime, we have 631 savings and loan groups in Blantyre city with 12869 members. The coming in of COMSIP has made many people have discipline on how to use money,” said Banda.
Community Facilitator for Chimwankhunda COMSIP cluster Veregia Lumbe attested that the coming in of COMSIP has changed many on how they think about business as well as money on a large scale.
She said,” We have learnt a lot in Chilomoni, and when we go back home, we will start a business as a new group that was formed in 2024. We need to have multiple sources of income, and also to change our business according to the time. These are some of the things we have learnt.
“Within seven months, as a group, we managed to raise K2.7 million, which we shared among 26 people. From January 2025, we started again, and we have K687,000 cash in the meantime. I used such money to buy a motorcycle while other members are in farming produce businesses.
Edith Matope, Community facilitator for the Chigwilizano cluster in Chilomoni, attributed their group's resilience to intensive training that COMSIP has been providing.
“Apart from individual businesses, our group makes dish wash liquid, peanut butter, and we are doing farming as a group. We currently have K6 million in our account. All these have been achieved after the programme phased out. It means we are here to stay,” she said.
Matope said the group, which started in 2021 after receiving Covid funds, has 19 members.
Health workers, Information Officers oriented on healthcare waste management
By George Mponda
Mzuzu, March 7, Mana: Ministry of Health has oriented health workers and District Information Officers from hospitals as well as districts in the Northern Region on the proper dissemination of healthcare waste management practices.
Speaking in Mzuzu at the end of a three day orientation which was organised by the Ministry of Health through the Public Health Division with funding from Global Fund and Gavi, the ministry's Chief Public Health Officer Sydney Paul said they decided to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to effectively manage healthcare waste and promote environmental sustainability.
"The Healthcare Waste Management Policy, which was approved by cabinet in 2024, aims to harmonise practices and guide staff and institutions involved in the management of healthcare waste.
“To create awareness and facilitate implementation of the policy, we planned dissemination sessions for healthcare workers and district information officers for them to have a thorough understanding of healthcare waste management principles and practices," said Paul.
He stressed that healthcare workers and information officers play a critical role in disseminating accurate information on healthcare waste management practices to the public.
"Information sharing helps in behavior change and raising awareness, so district information officers are important because they are in touch with communities and various stakeholders at the council level. So, we are trying to increase our scope when it comes to raising awareness on healthcare waste management," added Paul.
On his part, District Information Officer for Nkhatabay, Chisomo Kambandanga praised the orientation saying it will help health workers and information officers to educate the public on proper healthcare waste management practices.
"We have been educated on the importance of proper waste handling and disposal practices to prevent the spread of diseases and promoting environmental sustainability.
“This knowledge will help us employ skills necessary to develop effective communication strategies and messaging on healthcare waste management practices which will promote environmental sustainability in our communities," said Kambandanga.
The Ministry of Health has conducted similar orientation programs in the central and southern regions of the country, with the goal of promoting proper healthcare waste management practices nationwide.
Complete project or face termination, Karonga District Council warns contractor
By Patience Harawa
Karonga, March 7, Mana: Chiyeka Building Contractors working on the Hara Health Centre project in Karonga district has been given an ultimatum to complete the project by March 31, 2025 or face contract termination.
Karonga District Council Chairperson Bellium Msukwa said this Thursday while touring various projects being implemented under the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) and Hospital Rehabilitation Fund.
Msukwa said the project, which is valued at K173 million, was supposed to be finished by March 12, 2025, but it has been facing delays, while other projects in the district have been completed, prompting the council to take action.
"We cannot continue to tolerate these delays because the people of Karonga deserve better, and we expect the contractors to deliver quality work on time. Failure to meet the revised deadline will result in contract termination," warned Msukwa.
Msukwa emphasized that the council had given the contractors enough time to complete the project and that further delays would not be tolerated.
“We have been patient with the contractors, but it seems they are not taking us seriously. We cannot continue to wait for them to complete the project,” he added.
In his remarks, Site Manager for Chiyeka Building Contractors Elisha Elias acknowledged the councils' concerns and assured that they will work diligently to complete the project within the stipulated time frame.
“We understand the council's concerns and we apologize for the delays. We are doing everything possible to complete the project as soon as possible”, Elias said.
Elias attributed the delays to unforeseen circumstances, including the fuel scarcity and personnel shortages.
He assured the council that they were doing everything possible to address the challenges and complete the project on time.
The Hara health Centre project is one of the several projects being implemented by the Karonga District Council.
Digitalization of Human resource personnel records to improve service delivery
Gift Chiponde
Salima, March 7, Mana: Secretary for Human Resource Management and Development Blessings Chilabade has said the digitisation of human resource personnel records will enhance the Department of Human Resource Management and Development's (DHRMD's) performance and operations.
Chilabade made the remarks on Thursday in Salima, where the Department, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Department of the Accountant General (AGD), officially launched the Digitalisation of Human Resource Personnel Files program for the Public Service.
This initiative is part of the broader upgrade of the Human Resource Management Information System (SAP-HRMIS).
Speaking during the launch, Chilabade, highlighted the importance of the project, stating that it will help reduce incidents of missing files for public civil servants in the country.
He commended the World Bank for its support and for donating essential equipment, including desktops, laptops, scanners, and projectors, emphasising that the resources will play a crucial role in the initiative.
Chilabade said,” I urge participants to take good care of the equipment and use it responsibly to ensure high-quality work during the project's implementation.
“I commend the collaborative efforts between the Department of Human Resource Management and Development (DHRMD), the Accountant General’s Department, the Ministry of Health, and the Department of E-Government for their dedication to make this initiative a reality.
In his remarks, Duff Msukwa, Director of Human Resource Management in the Ministry of Health, acknowledged the challenges associated with manual data storage.
"We all know the decision-making process in government. We take on a huge responsibility when managing healthcare workers, but most of our data is stored in physical form, making access to information difficult," Msukwa said.
"This delay leads to critical decision-making regarding promotions, postings, and training. When information is stored manually, it becomes difficult to retrieve and analyse. However, once digitised, it will be much easier to make informed decisions on Human Resource for Health (HRH) management," he added.
The initiative is fully funded by the World Bank and is expected to benefit over 263,000 employees across the country.
Dowa district council approves K38 billion 2025-2026 budget
By Tamala Kamanga
Dowa, March 7, Mana: Dowa district council chairperson of finance and audit committee, councillor Martin Luka has urged elected members in the district to set aside politics and focus on developmental projects.
Luka made the remarks Thursday as the committee presented a K38.4 billion budget for the 2025 - 2026 financial year which has since been approved through a full council meeting held on the day.
Speaking in an interview after the presentation of the planned budget, Luka said the budget is for Dowa citizens in all the seven constituencies, and not for the council or its elected members, and must be treated as such.
"If we embark much on political ambitions, we cannot deliver. We must set aside politics and look at the pressing needs at that particular moment, which we can prioritise.
"That is why we have allocated funds in every constituency regardless of the nature, condition and the situation we are passing through," he said.
Luka added saying as a district which is shining on project implementation, the budget also puts in place measures to improve revenue collection so that the council remains top in its project implementation and service delivery.
In his remarks, Traditional Authority (T/A) Mponela said he is happy with the budget as it prioritises rehabilitation of hospitals, schools and bridges in all the T/As.
"I believe that this budget will bring more development to the district. If we start implementing the projects in time, and according to plan, our district will develop," he said.
In his remarks, council chairperson Gift Nkhono Songeya urged the secretariat and elected members to work in collaboration so that people in the district should benefit from the budget.
'In this way, we can pave the way for social and economic development of our people, in the district," he said.
Blantyre city Village loan groups capital hits K398 million
By Tikondane Vega
Lilongwe, March 7, Mana: Savings and Loan Groups in Blantyre city now have a capital of K398 million, a testimony that such groups can drive the country's economy if properly managed.
This was revealed on Thursday by Pearson Banda, who is the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for Blantyre City Council (BCC), when representatives from the Community Savings and Investment Program (COMSIP) Savings and Loan Groups in Soche West Ward, visited Chilomoni Ward on a best practices-learning visit.
Soche West Ward groups were formed from the Livelihoods Restoration for the Urban Poor - LIRUP Programme formed in 2024, while those in Chilomoni, were formed during the Covid-19 Social cash Transfer Program.
The learning visit was facilitated to see how the old group has survived years after their program concluded.
Speaking during the visit, Banda, who is also BCC COMSIP Desk Officer, said the groups continue to register successes due to several skills COMSIP has been equipping them.
“These groups are receiving much support from COMSIP and BCC hence continue to thrive like the case of Chilomoni where the Covid programme ended. I can happily say that people who are receiving social cash transfer money are investing so much at group level as well as individually.
“In the meantime, we have 145 savings and loan groups in Blantyre city with 3880 members of which the majority are women. The coming in of COMSIP has made many people have discipline on how to use money,” said Banda.
Community Facilitator for Chimwankhunda COMSIP cluster Veregia Lumbe attested that the coming in of COMSIP has changed many on how they think about business as well as money on a large scale.
She said,” We have learnt a lot in Chilomoni, and when we go back home, we will start a business as a new group that was formed in 2024. We need to have multiple sources of income, and also to change our business according to the time. These are some of the things we have learnt.
“Within seven months, as a group, we managed to raise K2.7 million, which we shared among 26 people. From January 2025, we started again, and we have K687,000 cash in the meantime. I used such money to buy a motorcycle while other members are in farming produce businesses.
Edith Matope, Community facilitator for the Chigwilizano cluster in Chilomoni, attributed their group's resilience to intensive training that COMSIP has been providing.
“Apart from individual businesses, our group makes dish wash liquid, peanut butter, and we are doing farming as a group. We currently have K6 million in our account. All these have been achieved after the programme phased out. It means we are here to stay,” she said.
Matope said the group, which started in 2021 after receiving Covid funds, has 19 members.
Health ministry engages information officers on healthcare waste management policy
By Brian Wasili
Mwanza, March 2, Mana: Ministry of Health has engaged southern region District Information Officers (DIOs) and health personnel in public health on dissemination of National Healthcare Waste Management Policy so that it should guide proper management of healthcare waste.
The ministry’s Chief Public Health Officer in the Public Health Division, Sydney Lockie Paul, said there was need to engage media practitioners in disseminating the policy, adding that orienting information officers on the policy was necessary, as they inform the public on many policies through news articles.
Paul said this in Blantyre recently at the end of three-day policy dissemination meeting with the DIOs, Environmental Health Officers, Nursing and Midwifery Officers, Health Promotion Officers, Infection Prevention and Control Coordinators, Hospital Management Committee Chairpersons, Healthcare Waste Management Focal Coordinators and Water Sanitation and Hygiene Coordinators.
He expressed hope that the DIOs, in collaboration with Health Promotion Officers and other hospital level officers, will popularise the National Healthcare Waste Management Policy to the public.
“Previously, Ministry of Health did not have a comprehensive document in place as a guiding tool; as such, there was no proper way of managing healthcare waste. The challenge has now been addressed because of this policy," Paul added.
He also indicated that key issues highlighted in the policy include legal framework, human capacity building, monitoring and evaluation, governance, infrastructure and public awareness.
Paul further emphasised the need to popularise to the public the content of the policy and implementation strategies at the lowest level through awareness, saying this was the reason Ministry of Health decided to engage district information officers as media practitioners for a joint district-level stakeholders’ collaboration in the policy popuralisation.
Thyolo DIO Yamikani Yapuwa said the meeting was ideal, as it was informative on the National Healthcare Waste Management Policy.
She added that the knowledge about the new policy will help the information officers to write informative news articles and ably disseminate correct information through other communication channels in their respective districts.
"District Information Officers have capacity to raise awareness at council level using different means of communication. I am sure we will work together with health officers to effectively inform communities about the policy so that it should be well understood and implemented at the lowest level,” added Yapuwa.
She therefore pledged total commitment to work with the health sector to ensure that planned activities in the dissemination and implementation of the policy are done for positive results at district level.
Mwanza District Environmental Health Officer Andrew Nowa said dissemination on National Healthcare Waste Management Policy was necessary as it will guide in protecting health workers and communities against accidents and diseases related to poor healthcare waste management.
"It will also promote clean environment and at the same time reduce infections that are related to poor healthcare waste management in health facilities,” he added.
Nowa pledged to impart the knowledge to fellow health workers and other district and community level stakeholders to ensure the policy is fully understood for effective implementation and better results.
Similar policy dissemination sessions with districts councils in the central and northern regions are expected soon, according to the Ministry of Health.
