By Andrew Gondwe

Chitipa, November 20, Mana: A local organization in Chitipa, Tubepoka Development Initiative (TDI) has drilled a K12 Million borehole at Ngatele village in Senior Chief Mwabulambya in Chitipa to ensure that communities have access to clean and safe water in the area.

Speaking during the handover ceremony on Tuesday, TDI's board chairperson, Island Mtambo said the intervention follows increased cases of waterborne diseases in the area owing to lack of access to clean and safe water.

"We believe the borehole will help transform the community as people will have improved access to safe and clean water and will also enhance opportunities for infrastructure development," Mtambo said.

He added that the borehole will help reduce the long distance women and girls used to travel to fetch water from unprotected sources.

Mtambo urged the community to cultivate a sense of ownership for the borehole by maintaining it to ensure sustainability.

One of the beneficiaries, Lolass Nyondo of Ngatele Village applauded TDI for the borehole in her area saying it will help reduce various challenges such as water borne diseases.

"We used to fetch water from unprotected sources shared with domesticated and wild animals making it unhealthy and unreliable. We are thankful for having one," she added.

She asked TDI and other stakeholders to drill more boreholes in the surrounding areas as shortage of safe and clean water was a big challenge.

The borehole is set to address water related challenges among 374 community members.

Since 2012, TDI with funding from Willow Creek Church of America have drilled 46 boreholes within the Ilanga-Njerengwa area in Senior Chief Mwabulambya in Chitipa district.

By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, November 20, Mana: Some participants under Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) in Chitipa District have hailed the programme saying it has assisted local farmers to replicate what they are learning in the programme to their fields.

One of the participants, Steven Mughogho of Wanjenjema village in Traditional Authority (TA) Nthalire in Chitipa District says through the programme he has constructed swales and contour ridges in his garden to help fight land degradation.

Mughogho, who is under Thete catchment, says his farmland had a lot of gullies and after learning how to construct swales and marker ridges, loss of topsoil in his farmland is a thing of the past.

“Since I started making my own manure, constructing swales, marker and contour ridges in my farmland, I have noticed that topsoil, which I used to lose is intact,” Mughogho said.

Another participant, Alice Nyondo said the last farming season she realized higher maize yields than her neighbours because she applied what she learns from public works programme.

“I constructed swales which helped hold water and made my farmland wet hence my crops were able to survive during last year's dry spell,” she said.

Agriculture Extension Development Officer (AEDO) for Kavomolo, Solomon Mbale said on manure making and application, a number of farmers are able to harvest more yields without chemical fertilizers.

CS-EPWP is a component of the Social Support for Resilient Livelihood Programme (SSRLP) supported by the World Bank and the Social Protection Multi-Donor Trust

Fund.

By Agatha Kadzinje and Hope Chimwala

Blantyre, November 20, Mana:  Research conducted by University of Malawi (UNIMA) and the University of Stirling in Scotland has revealed a high alcohol consumption among youth and women in Africa, attributing the problem to advertisement strategies and branding employed by beverage companies to sell their products.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Wednesday, Blantyre District Youth Officer, Peter Mizedya concurred with the researchers' call to action, emphasizing the need for new policies regulating alcohol advertising to help reduce alcohol-related deaths in the region, including Malawi.

Mizedya added that many young people also engage in excessive drinking habits due to unmet expectations they had while growing up.

“When these expectations are not met, often due to various hardships such as unemployment, frustration and anger comes in. This makes young people give up easily on life and become more susceptible to being swayed into drug and alcohol abuse,” he added.

Mizedya said Blantyre District Council will continue working with youth clubs to reach out to young people in the area on issues of drug and alcohol abuse.

“In these clubs, we ensure that youths are involved in many activities, including sports, village savings and loans (VSLs), and agricultural initiatives, which are both educative and informative for them,

“These activities aim to keep them engaged while educating them about the dangers of drug abuse, including alcohol consumption. There are young people in youth clubs who are battling with various addictions and others that are involved in prostitution,” he added.

Mizedya emphasized that alcohol consumption was a serious concern as it diminishes productivity of the country’s youths.

“We are losing productive young people who could have contributed significantly to this country and their families. We therefore, urge organizations to incorporate drug abuse initiatives into their youth programmes,” he said.

He also highlighted limited number of trained therapists in youth clubs, noting that counselling provided in youth clubs was inadequate to address issues of drug and alcohol abuse among the youths.

“There is counselling in youth clubs to help young people battling addiction. However, there are no trained psychologists to provide professional therapy, and this is one of the challenges we face,” said Mizedya.

In a separate interview, Psychotherapist and mental health advocate, Catherine Thangalimodzi said there could be a lot of causes of high alcohol consumption and addiction among the youth apart from the marketing strategy that has been established as the main cause.

 “Some of the issues we could look into are; unemployment, relationship challenges, the way families deal with problems of their loved ones and unsatisfied emotional needs,

“Youths choose to take alcohol as a way of trying to ease and numb their pain when these emotional needs have not been met,” she said.

Thangalimodzi added that beer consumption has devastating impacts on the lives of the youth as alcohol may instigate health problems, among others.

 “We have to understand that there are high risks related to high levels of alcohol consumption such as addiction, increased cases of road accidents due to poor driving, and also liver and kidney problems,” Thangalimodzi added.

The research is titled; Regulating alcohol packaging and supply to protect health in sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from policy systems in Malawi and Uganda (RAPSSA).

By Tawina Kuluweya

Mzuzu, November 20, Mana: Church of Central. African Presbyterian (CCAP) Synod of Livingstonia in alignment with its Early childhood development (ECD) program on Tuesday graduated 30 caregivers and six mentors from Nkhatabay after three weeks of training in Early Childhood Development (ECD) at St. Andrews CCAP Church in Mzuzu.

Speaking at the event General Secretary for CCAP Synod of Livingstonia, Reverend William Tembo highlighted on the importance of the ECD program saying it helps to raise a responsible generation.

“As a nation we have to start preparing the younger generation so they can be mentored, have good manners and be responsible citizens at a tender age”

Tembo also thanked World Vision and the government for supporting the synod in its ECD programs

“As a synod we thank the government and World Vision for supporting the ECD programs in an effort to improve the quality of early childhood education in Malawi”.

In her remarks, Chief Child Affairs Officer in the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, Martha Namalomba who was the guest of honor at the ceremony thanked all caregivers in the country and advised them to preach the importance of early childhood education

“As a ministry we would like to thank our partners, child protection officers and all the caregivers as they are doing a good job in making sure that our children are getting quality education, we also encourage them to teach the parents the importance of ECD.

She said government is trying to motivate the caregivers by giving them an honorarium.

“As government we have started giving the caregivers an honorarium in order to motivate them so that they work with confidence. As of now, 2000 caregivers in the country are already on the payroll and we are looking forward to adding more” Namalomba said.

One of the graduates, Janet Mamba who has been teaching in nursery school for over 23 years said she has learnt a lot from the training which will benefit her and she will also teach her fellow teachers.

By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, November 20, Mana: Chitipa District Forestry Office has urged communities under Climate Smart Enhance Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) in the district to start collecting tree seeds locally to ensure high survival rate when the seedlings are planted.

In an interview, District Forestry Officer for Chitipa, Daniel Mbeu said if communities start collecting seeds locally they will have fresh seeds that have adaptive characteristics leading to higher survival rate.

“We are encouraging participants under community contribution of CS-EPWP to start collecting seeds from their forests. This will help to reduce expenses they incur and the seeds germination rate is good," he said.

He noted with concern that some of the seeds which communities procured had poor germination rate hence the need to start collecting seeds locally, which he said has proved to be the best.

“Those communities that collected seeds locally and planted, the germination rate are very encouraging. That is why we are encouraging communities in different catchment areas to emulate the same,” he said.

One of the participants at Yamba catchment, Lyson Silumbu said local collection of seeds has helped raise 18, 000 seedlings for the catchment area.

Silumbu said local collection of seeds has assisted the area save money, saying they have only spent on procuring polythene tubes.

“Local collection of seeds is good because the germination rate is very good. And the seedlings are growing very healthy,” Silumbu said.

CS-EPWP is a component of the Social Support for Resilient Livelihood Programme (SSRLP) supported by the World Bank and the Social Protection Multi-Donor Trust Fund.

By Yamikani Yapuwa

Thyolo, November, 20, Mana: Five Traditional Authorities in Thyolo District have been officially declared Open Defecation Free (ODF), marking a significant milestone in improving public health and sanitation in the district. 

Speaking during the declaration on Tuesday, Thyolo District Council Chairperson, Councilor Petro Bowman commended the traditional authorities Nanseta, Ngolongoliwa, Kapichi, Changata, and Khwethemule for their commitment and hard work in achieving the ODF status. 

“This is not just about having latrines in every household. This is about restoring dignity, improving health, and creating cleaner communities free from preventable diseases,” added Bowman.

The Council Chairperson said the ODF status was a significant step forward to public health but requires continuous effort to sustain. 

“We must remain vigilant by maintaining proper hygiene practices and ensuring every household continues to use and care for their latrines.

“This is the only way we can protect ourselves from diseases like cholera,” he said, while acknowledging a recent cholera case recorded in the district. 

He urged other traditional authorities in Thyolo District to emulate the ODF declared areas, saying the remaining traditional authorities should priorities sanitation and hygiene practices in their localities. 

Traditional Authority Nanseta expressed commitment to maintaining the ODF status in his jurisdiction.

“We will work tirelessly to ensure that this status quo is upheld. Our people have embraced these changes, and we will continue to promote good hygiene practices to protect our communities,” said Nanseta.

Thyolo District Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) Coordinator, Judgement Kumwenda said the district has made commendable progress in sanitation efforts.

“This achievement shows that we are on the right track in ensuring access to safe sanitation for everyone.

“Good WASH practices are critical for overall well-being. They not only reduce the risk of diseases such as diarrhea and cholera but also improve productivity and contribute to economic development,” said Kumwenda.

The WASH Coordinator added that improved sanitation practices promote better learning for children, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance the quality of life for families.

According to Kumwenda, the declaration follows years of collaborative efforts involving community members, natural leaders, and WASH partners, including Habitat for Humanity and Self Help Africa.

“These organizations provided technical and financial support to ensure the successful implementation of sanitation projects across the traditional authorities,” he added.

By Joel Phiri

Mzimba, November 20, Mana:  Women in Traditional Authority Khosolo in Mzimba have expressed excitement with adult classes they attend at Rukulu Primary School, describing them as empowering and enlightening.

Speaking on Tuesday at Rukulu Primary school in the area during one of such lessons, a learner, Elizabeth Jere from Thomas Tembo Village said she decided to enrol for the afternoon classes because she had challenges with numeracy and literacy skills.

‘‘I dropped out of school way back when I was a girl due to lack of school fees. As you might be aware, education in the 1980s was not for free as it is today, so I failed to proceed with it’’, said Jere.

Jere said before enrolling for the adult classes, she had problems with budgeting for her business.

‘‘I had problems counting and reading. My fritters business almost collapsed. But now I can write, count and explain issues. These adult lessons have helped me’’, she said.

Another beneficiary of the adult classes, Christina Gondwe said the reading and writing skills she has gained have opened her eyes to the world of many possibilities.

‘‘I used to ask strangers whenever I was travelling due to illiteracy. But now with this adult lessons we are able to read and we no longer ask fellow travellers about where a car is going because I am now able to read and write.

“Even my business of selling clothes is now thriving because I no longer struggle with calculations and other transactions’’, she said.

Margret Kaunda, a tutor at the school said the adult learners are taught many subjects and skills.

‘‘We teach them how to set up a business, identify a market, savings and loans groups and hygiene and modern agriculture techniques. Many are coming to attend these classes and learn these skills which are pivotal in their life’’, She said.

She however said most men do not attend adult literacy classes as compared to women and appealed to men to join.

‘‘I would like to appeal to everyone starting from 15 years to come and attend these classes and open their minds to the world’’, said Kaunda.

In a separate interview, Assistant Community Development officer for Mzimba, Godfrey Shaba said male participation is one big challenge that adult classes face.

‘‘It could be because they are income earners for their families so they have difficulties finding time for the classes” he said.

Shaba however encouraged men to find time and attend the classes, observing that such classes run in the afternoon hours when many people have time.

According to Shaba, there are about 238 adult classes across all traditional authorities in Mzimba South. 

By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, November 20, Mana: Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) beneficiaries in Chitipa District have asked government to adjust their monthly stipends to cushion them from the effects devaluation of the local currency.

One of the beneficiaries, James Kabaghe of Mwenebanda Village in the area of Senior Chief Mwabulambya in the district, Tuesday said that an average of K15, 000.00 per month per household is not enough to meet the cost of households’ basic needs.

He made the remarks when Parliamentary Committee on Governance, Assurance and Public Sector Reform visited some of the beneficiaries to appreciate impact of the programme.

“K15, 000.00 is not enough. We cannot buy basic things with this money, we therefore ask government to adjust upwards the amount,” Kabaghe said.

Principal Secretary Responsible for Finance and Administration in the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Nwazi Mnthambala said the call to have the amount revised upwards has been echoed by almost all the beneficiaries in all areas visited by the committee across the country.

“This is something that the ministry is considering. We are doing something and it will be framed up with input from the committee’s report. The request is justifiable,” said Mnthambala.

Vice Chairperson for Parliamentary Committee on Governance, Assurance and Public Sector Reform, Francesca Theula said the committee has noted the program`s impact on people’s livelihoods, though not so huge.

“We will take the beneficiaries’ call to have their stipend increased to Parliament for a discussion,” Theula explained.

Currently, SCTP reaches out to over 293,000 households in Malawi, representing 1.2 million beneficiaries of which 70 percent are women and 60 percent children.

On average, a benefiting households receives K15,000.00 monthly.