MANAonline
Likoma District Council has new chairperson
By Ireen Mseteka
Likoma, August 17, Mana: Former Chairperson for Likoma District Council on Friday handed over his Chairmanship to Barnabus Sambomo who is expected to run the office for the next one year in Likoma District.
Speaking during the elective council meeting, District Commissioner (DC) for Likoma, Abubakar Nkhoma said according to the Local Government Act, 1998 which was revised in 2010, each council needs to elect new chairperson and their vice.
"Likoma District Council is however different from other councils as it only has two councilors; one from Chizumulu Island and another one from Likoma Island hence the two just exchange their positions annually," said Nkhoma.
In his remarks, Samboma said he will continue working from where former chairperson stopped to ensure continuity of developmental activities in the district.
"We expect to continue with what we have already started. We have some plans which are underway, so my expectation is to have these plans implemented on the ground with the help of my friends and the secretariat," said Sambamo.
Former Council Chairperson for Likoma, Ernest Gulu said he will continue working hand in hand with Sambamo in order to lead the people in a positive way as far as development is concerned.
Lilongwe District Council elects new Chairperson
By Rennie Tembo
Lilongwe, August 16, Mana: Lilongwe District Council has elected Matias Chiopsanjati of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) from Chiputu ward as the new Chairperson for the council and Councillor Hardwell Jami of the same party from Chiwamba ward as his vice.
The council held its elective full council meeting on Friday, where Chiopsanjati won the seat after defeating Dominic Banda with 23 votes to 17 votes.
In his acceptance speech, Chiopsanjati said he is delighted to attain the Chairmanship and is ready to engage with stakeholders to promote development and ensure that the council is delivering to the people.
“It will be easier for my leadership to deliver if we hold hands and work together towards a common goal. I will not be competing with anyone, but I will be working with everyone, so I urge you to bring forward your ideas on how we can develop our district," he said.
He further emphasized the need to address issues amicably among councillors and asked them to deliver on their responsibilities as people from their wards look up to them.
Lilongwe District Commissioner, Lawford Palani welcomed the newly elected Chairperson and his Vice and assured them of the council’s support in discharging their duty.
“The council is ready to provide support and we are looking forward to a collaborative working relationship between the Chairperson and his Vice. Our goal is to work together to advance government’s agenda by implementing government’s projects,” he said.
Chiopsanjati is taking over the Council's Chairmanship from Councillor Dan Mtayamanja who served the council in the position for two terms.
The elections were managed by Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) where 33 councillors and 7 Members of Parliament(MPs) voted.
Malawi Prison Service calls for positive attitude towards inmates
By Joel Chirwa and Esther Ndhlozi
Mzuzu, August 17, Mana: Malawi Prison Service’s Acting Public Relations Officer for the northern region, Macbeth Wansambo has called for positive attitude from the public towards prison inmates by getting involved in supportive initiatives that are geared towards their reformation.
Wansambo made the sentiments, Saturday when a Mzuzu based charity organization, Azimayi Reachout and Touch cheered inmates and donated assorted groceries and food items to Mzuzu Prison.
He said currently the prison service is embarking on various programs in education and vocation activities that are aimed at effectively reforming individuals serving time at the correctional centre.
"As an institution we have moved away from punitive measures and are working on the concept of using correctional measures. We involve inmates in various vocational trades such as tailoring, carpentry, farming and fisheries.
He said the service is also providing school and vocation studies to inmates so that they become productive citizens after completing serving their jail terms.
He said the public needs to view prisons as correctional centres not punitive institutions and asked for assistance that would support the service achieve its goals.
"We appeal to stakeholders and well-wishers to help us improve our income-generating projects, ensuring a satisfying experience for inmates and efficient operations” said Wansambo.
Commenting on the matter, Chairperson of Azimayi Reach Out and Touch Group, Given Mushani said inmates require support.
“Our vision is to help the needy, and we visited Mzuzu Prison to fulfill that. We recognize that inmates, despite their status, are people in need of various support. They are people who the society oftentimes neglect,” said Mushani
Person with albinism gets house after surviving attack
By Leonard Masauli
Lilongwe, August 17, Mana: Government and Standing Voice, has handed over a K13 million house to a girl with albinism who survived an attack in Traditional Authority Chilikumwendo in Dedza district.
In 2019, six masked thugs abducted and killed a 14-year-old boy with albinism, Goodson Makanjira, while his parents and sister were sleeping. During the attack, the girl's parents and a relative who attempted to rescue the boy were injured while saving him.
Speaking at the handover ceremony on Friday, Director of Administration at the Ministry of Gender, Community Development, and Social Welfare, Benson M'bwana, said the houses are being built to enhance security of people with albinism against such attacks.
He said many homes in the villages are not strong or secure enough, making it easier for attackers to target people with albinism.
“After the attack in 2019, the government strengthened the laws to ensure severe punishment for perpetrators. Additionally, we began constructing homes for people with albinism to enhance their security. Today, we are handing over a house to Faith, a girl who survived the attacks," M'bwana said.
"We are also raising awareness within communities to ensure the protection of people with albinism. As a ministry, we are pleased to see that, thanks to our awareness efforts, cases of attacks have decreased,” he added.
Executive Director of Standing Voice and Commissioner for the Malawi Human Rights Commission, Bonface Massa, expressed his satisfaction at finally handing over the house to one of the survivors of the attacks.
“Malawians will remember the tragic and unique case of Buleya Lule, where a brother with albinism was murdered, and Lule himself died in police custody. Since the surviving girl left home, this is her first return, and it is a success story," said Massa.
"In addition to building houses, we are also providing skin cancer screenings, supported by the European Union, Suncare, and Yoneco, along with dermatology services and psychosocial support for victims of torture,” Massa added.
He emphasized that Standing Voice is continuing to intensify awareness efforts, especially as the country approaches the general elections, noting that such cases tend to rise during this period.
The mother of the surviving girl, Misa Fanizo, thanked the government and Standing Voice for providing her daughter with a safer home.
“I am grateful for the new house built for my daughter. Most importantly, I am overjoyed to be reunited with her after five years. Many people had negative things to say about my daughter, but today they are silent, seeing her return healthy and beautiful,” Fanizo said.
Traditional Authority Chilikumwendo affirmed that chiefs have strengthened security measures to ensure the protection of people with albinism in their communities.
LL-City Council commits to development projects
By Elia Chibwe
Lilongwe, August 17, Mana: Lilongwe City Council says it is committed to ensuring that development projects taking place within the city are completed on time by providing funds whenever needed.
Speaking after a media tour, on Friday in Lilongwe, Mayor for the city, Councilor Esther Sagawa said the commitment is in line with the need for delivery of quality works as they address challenges the contractors are facing.
"We all know that in every work there are challenges as presented by the contractors, but we will make sure that we provide the needed support so that they deliver a good job.
"We are committed to make sure that we finish the projects and therefore have funds to see the projects through” Sagawa said.
Sagawa said she was impressed with the status of projects from Msambachikho and Mphonongo bridge, among other projects.
"Today we were visiting some of projects that we have within Lilongwe City and we had a delegation comprising Mayor and deputy Mayor of Blantyre City, among other officials.
Mayor for Blantyre City, Councilor Joseph Makwinja said he learned a lot from the visit and hoped to replicate the lessons in Blantyre.
"I am impressed with what Lilongwe Mayor is doing. We have inspected more than seven projects which are almost complete” he said.
The one-day-media tour started from Area 38 at Msambachikho where Lilongwe City Council has constructed a school block, to area 2 where renovation of Bombe street is underway. before proceeding to area 12 where the council is renovating a street, among other places.
The development projects are being supported by the Malawi government, according to Sagawa.
Fresh registration for 2025 elections
By Tione Andsen
Lilongwe, August 17, Mana: Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has disclosed that it would undertake a fresh registration of voters and would use new equipment and system which has been specially procured for the purpose.
MEC Chairperson for MEC, Justice, Annabel Mtalimanja disclosed this Friday during meeting with development partners, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Media held to demonstrate the voter registration process using election management device (EMD) at Bingu International Convention centre (BICC) in Lilongwe.
She said fresh voter registration help the Commission have accurate figures of registered voters owing to that fact that it conducted constituency and ward boundary re-demarcation exercise as a result of the review of boundaries of the two.
Mtalimanja noted that the review of boundaries moved some voters and centres from one constituency or ward to another.
The Chairperson said this means that voters that registered in 2019 may need to be reallocated to their new wards and constituencies.
“This cannot be achieved effectively through voters’ transfers alone or the updating of the existing voters’ register. The other benefit of a fresh registration is that it will eliminate deceased voters in the voter register, thus ensuring accuracy and integrity of the register,” she explained.
Mtalimanja added the Commission has always involved political parties, CSOs and media in its processes regarding the procurement, delivery and functional capabilities of the voter registration equipment and system.
She said the Commission has taken delivery of the whole consignment of equipment including all the necessary accessories and consumables.
“Representatives of political parties and the media witnessed the arrival and the warehousing of the consignment. In terms of the actual EMDs, the Commission has purchased a total of 6,500 units,” the Chairperson remarked.
She pointed out that demonstrating the voter registration process and functionalities of the EMD was central in attaining better and credible elections.
“The technology underlying the EMDs represents a significant enhancement in our operations in terms of modernization of the electoral process, efficiency and cost-effectiveness. You will recall that in recent past elections, the Commission was using devices described as Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) Kits,” Mtalimanja said.
She said while these have served us well, the Commission has transitioned to the more advanced EMDs for the voter registration process for 2025 General Election.
“It is our sincere expectation that the use of the EMDs and its system will ensure that the Commission generates a credible voters’ register free from multiple registrants and registrations obtained without due verification of eligibility in terms of age and citizenship,” the Chairperson hoped.
She said the EMDs and the systems would play a crucial role in improving the voter registration process by automating various aspects of the process.
Mtalimanja observed that the adopted process would facilitate the collection of voter information, including personal details, biometrics, and photographs.
She said it would assist the Commission in coming up with modalities to enhance, planning, inclusivity and the packaging of civic and voter information.
MEC Chief Elections Officer, Andrew Mpesi said involvement of all stakeholders in the electoral process was vital because it help to eliminate some doubts and misunderstanding.
He said delivery of credible elections largely depend on the participation of all key stakeholders involved in the electoral processes.
IOM moves to advance mobility health security
By Moses Nyirenda
Lilongwe, August 17, Mana: International Organization for Migration (IOM) Malawi Chief of Mission, Nomagugu Ncube says her organization remains committed to advancing mobile health security in the country.
This follows a recent release of the findings of population mobility mapping which IOM conducted in the country's three districts of Mangochi, Salima and Nkhata-bay.
The mapping results revealed an increased rate of disease transmission such as Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STIs) due to increased number of people who migrate to the lakeshore districts during fishing season.
Speaking on the sidelines of the breakfast meeting which IOM organized on Friday in Lilongwe to discuss issues of migration health with its stakeholders, Ncube said with the results of the survey, her organization is committed to advancing mobile health security in the country.
“IOM is an intergovernmental organization and Malawi is one of the countries where we are working and supporting government on issues of migration health.
“Therefore our commitment still persists and we remain committed to advancing Malawi's agenda on mobile health security,” Ncube said.
She added that, IOM will continue working with government and its other stakeholders to mainstream and integrate migration and migrants in national health programming.
She also said her organization is eager to ensuring that health services in the country are migrants responsive and are able to address their needs.
Ncube also said as IOM they want also to help in creating a demand for health services amongst the migrants through raising awareness on their rights and how they can access services and utilize them appropriately.
According to her, their mission as an organization is to create a welcoming environment for migrants on issues of health while advancing mobility health security in the country.
“We are looking at strengthening or creating an enabling environment for migrants to be able to access services including capacity building among the migrants on how they would access the health services.
“We are also looking at engaging local stakeholders to be able to reach out to the migrants to deal with issues of stigma and exclusion of migrants from services,” she said.
Ministry of Health Deputy Director responsible for reproductive health, Hans Katengeza applauded IOM for its commitment to promote migration health security in the country, saying that the gesture is complementing government's efforts aimed at addressing health issues in the country.
Blantyre DHO to renovate Chilomoni Health Centre maternity wing
By Alex Kachingwe
Blantyre, August 17, Mana: Blantyre District Health Office (DHO) has secured funds from AMECA Trust to renovate Chilomoni Health Centre maternity wing in an attempt to provide enough accommodation for women who seek maternal health services at the facility to ensure safe motherhood.
Following the development, Blantyre DHO held a sensitization meeting at Chilomoni Health Centre to inform community leaders on the forthcoming project, and a Memorandum of Understanding it has signed with Mitsidi Health Centre to allow maternal cases from Chilomoni Health Centre to access maternity services at the facility, as Chilomoni maternity wing will be temporarily closed from August 26.
Speaking during the meeting, Blantyre District Health Promotion Officer, Chrissy Banda said the expansion of the maternity wing would be of great importance as it will increase bed space at the facility.
Banda said the community sensitization meeting will help to spread the message to a wide range of maternal mothers in Chilomoni and surrounding areas to avoid delays on women accessing maternity delivery services that would result into serious maternal complications.
In her remarks, Trinity Kaliwamba, Facility In-charge for Chilomoni Health Centre hailed the project, saying it will improve maternity delivery services at the centre.
Kaliwamba said besides the renovation of the maternity wing, there will be a renovation of dental studio which is a positive agent in improving dental services at the facility.
On her part, Group Village Head Luya pledged to disseminate correct information to her subjects.
GVH Luya said she has welcomed the project to renovate the maternity wing at Chilomoni Health Centre, describing it as very important since it will help a lot of women access maternity services from Chilomoni, Mbayani and Chemusa.
The expansion project will commence on September 2 and is expected to finish in a space of three months.
Three bodies recovered in Nsanje canoe accident
By Robert Nayeja
Nsanje, August 17, Mana: Authorities in Nsanje have recovered three bodies out of the six that were missing when a canoe they were sailing in capsized after it was hit by a hippo at Chingondo in the area of Traditional Authority Ngabu in Nsanje District.
One of the officials from Nsanje District Council, Patrick Sipuni said the bodies were recovered on Friday.
He added that the search of the missing person is still underway.
According to the District Council Chairperson, Mike Kafalachi, the canoe had 11 people on board coming from the Malekeza side where people mostly go to do farming activities.
Kafalachi said the accident happened on Thursday August 15 around 2 pm and only five people were rescued.
Nsanje District Police Station Public Relations Officer, Agnes Zalakoma said the three bodies recovered are of Yanjanani Stanford, 30, Dofiya John, 45, both from Mkuziwaduka Village and a canoe operator, Isaac Faela, 30, from Sekeni Village all from Traditional Authority Ngabu in the district.
Journalists urged to report child labour issues
By Joseph Ligowe
Blantyre, August 17, Mana: Chief Labour Officer in the Ministry of Labour, Francis Kwenda has said negative effects of education, lack of decent work for parents, climate change, cultural norms and Poverty are the major factors fueling child labour in the country.
Kwenda who is also Head of Child Labour Unit, said this on Friday in Blantyre during the closing of a two-day media training on legal and policy framework, action plan and reporting mechanism on child labour issues.
The training was aimed at building capacity of the media on how they can help in combating child labour cases.
Kwenda said child labour causes discomfort on both national and community level, resulting into lack of skilled personnel, criminology and prostitution, as such journalists are stakeholders in bridging the gap between child labour sector and the community.
“This training is designed to equip media professionals with the requisite skills, knowledge and inspiration required to effectively contribute to child labour elimination in the supply chain of the country.
“As ears and eyes of people, the media has to compel ethical, impactful media content on child labour and produce reports that engage and advocate towards change,” said Kwenda.
He said child labour is very common in agriculture, forestry and fishing followed by community, social and personal services.
He said the southern region has the highest prevalence of child labour of about 44% followed by the northern and central regions at 34 percent each.
One of the participants from Ndirande FM, Noel Mkwaila commended the Ministry of labour for the training, noting that it is the duty of the media to co-ordinate and promote quality control measures on awareness and sensitization messages through storytelling, and act as a link between stakeholders and communities in mainstreaming issues related to child labour.
“Issues of child labour can affect the economy of the country, as journalists it is our role and we have to take full responsibility in awareness against the evils of child labour. If we are to combat child labour, we have to provide accurate information and protect the rights of the child by ensuring accountability which will help prevent and address the vice” he said.
The 2015 National Child Labour Survey which was published in 2017 indicated that 2.1 million representing 38 percent of children aged 5-17 years are involved in child labour; whereby, more children aged 5-17 years are from rural areas than urban.
