MANAonline
Minister calls on political parties to create enabling environment
By Zenak Matekenya
Dedza, August 14, Mana: Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Jean Sendeza has urged political party secretary generals to ensure that female aspiring councilors and parliamentarians are provided with timely and right information in pursuance of their political careers.
Sendeza said this on Tuesday during the 2024 - 2030 National Strategy on Political Empowerment of Women launch in Dedza district.
The document succeeds the 2019 - 2023 strategy which failed to address the issue of political parties sidelining and underutilizing the potential of women in their parties, contributing to the low participation of women in politics.
The minister said while other players such as government and the Civil Society promote women in attaining political positions, political parties take a contrary approach.
She cited an example where a woman aspirant would be directed to a wrong venue for primary elections to ensure that she does not participate in the contest.
Delegation of the European Union to Malawi Team Leader for Social Sectors and Infrastructure Section, Michele Crimera said the European Union has a broader programme supporting the democratic process in Malawi.
“The launch today is part of a programme called Boma Lathu which has broader components that include supporting Civil Society to improve the participation of women and marginalized groups. There is also support for Civic education through the National Initiative for Civic Education and Ministry of Local Government,” he said.
Oxfam Malawi Country Director, Lingalireni Mihowa said the organization with other stakeholders invested in information gathering on what needed to be done differently to get women viable as candidates, aspirants and voters.
“The strategy gives a clue as to what is our narrative as we campaign for women and address political parties. Our database indicates that there are 400 women that are vying for parliamentary seat and also there are hundreds women vying for position of councilor,” she said.
The strategy’s specific goals are to promote successful participation of women in Presidential and Vice President elections and increase the proportion of women in Parliament and Local Government Elections to at least 35 percent in 2025 and 50 percent in 2030 Malawi General Elections.
Woman dies in Dedza road accident
By Zenak Matekenya
Dedza, August 14, Mana: A woman has died while seven other people have sustained injuries following a collision of four cars near Linthipe in Dedza District.
Dedza Police Station Publicist, Beatrice Jefita said the accident happened on Tuesday and identified the deceased as Thoko Chambwinga, 23, from Chanthunya village in Traditional Authority Nsamala in Balaka district.
Jefita said the accident occurred after a driver of a motor vehicle registration number MH 6983 Nissan UD, driving from Dedza Roadblock direction to Lilongwe, lost control of his motor vehicle due to over-speeding.
“Upon arrival at Pinji village near Linthipe 3, he lost control of his motor vehicle due to speeding, as a result, he hit the front motor vehicle registration number BZ 11647 Nissan Extrail and it went further and hit other two motor vehicles,” she said.
Dedza District Hospital Publicist, Mwayi Liabunya, said the deceased was pronounced dead upon arrival at the facility.
He said five of the injured passengers are receiving treatment while two were treated as outpatients.
Kasungu households receive relief maize
By Wanangwa Tembo
Kasungu, August 14, Mana: Kasungu based non-governmental organization, K2 Tigwiranemanja Aids Support Organization (K2 TASO) on Tuesday distributed maize and soybean to 210 families affected by hunger at Kapyanga in Traditional Authority Wimbe in the district.
Director for the organization Peter Minjale said people of Kapyanga have been heavily affected by hunger owing to erratic rainfall pattern experienced in the 2023/24 growing season.
"We are an organization that promotes livelihood security in communities ensuring that people have access to clean water, good nutrition, income, education and a general good environment.
"This nutritional support we have provided today is part of our wide range of social support that we provide to communities especially to vulnerable families," Minjale said.
He said the organization has so far secured about K50 million from Bridges To Malawi, a charity organization based in the United States of America, which will be used to purchase relief items for vulnerable families.
People living with HIV/Aids, the elderly, persons with disabilities, community based child care centres, care givers and groups involved in land conservation activities were some of the recipients of the 5.3 tonnes consignment valued at K7 million with each household receiving 25 kilogrammes.
Group Village Headman Kapyanga said his area is one of the most hit by hunger pointing out that most families have been without food since April.
"We have had a very bad rainfall season, one of the shortest in many years. Fields dried up before the crops were ready for harvesting, a development that left many of us without food.
"Rivers are dry such that we are not doing any irrigation farming meaning that we will remain without food until the next harvest in March or April," Kapyanga said.
While thanking K2 TASO for the donation, the traditional leader asked government to come in quickly with more relief maize in the area.
Kasungu is one of the 23 districts which President Lazarus Chakwera declared a state of disaster in March this year following the devastating effects of El Nino weather phenomenon which affected about 750 000 hectares of maize representing 44.3 per cent of crop area countrywide.
With an estimated two million farming households affected, at least 600 000 metric tonnes are required to plug food deficits this year.
President Chakwera arrives in Maputo, Mozambique
By Fostina Mkandawire
Maputo, August 14, Mana: President Lazarus Chakwera has arrived in Maputo, Republic of Mozambique where he is expected to hold bilateral talks and sign a Memorandum of Understanding to foster economic activities between the two countries.
President Chakwera landed on Wednesday at exactly 9AM, through Maputo International Airport and was welcomed by Mozambican Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Hermenigildo Caitano, Malawi High Commissioner to the Republic of Mozambique Wezi Moyo and High Commissioner of Mozambique to Malawi Alexander Manjati and other top Government officials.
The President who is in the company of First Lady Madame Monica Chakwera, was later accompanied to Polana Serene Hotel, before proceeding to the Office of the President of Mozambique where Presidential and Ministerial bilateral talks were held.
Speaking to Malawi News Agency earlier, in Maputo Mozambique, Moyo underscored the importance of the President's Official trip for the people of the two countries.
She said while in Mozambique, President Dr. Chakwera will hold several critical engagements aimed at fostering trade such as an improvement in movement of people and goods which will boost import and export activities.
"President Chakwera together with his counterpart, Filipe Nyusi, will hold bilateral talks and sign Memorandum Of Understandings (MOU) on several areas of cooperation," she said.
The High Commissioner said among important aspects of the MOU, will be strengthening the interconnection of the 41 megawatts of power that was commenced in 2022 between the two countries and also transportation of petroleum products will be formalized.
As one way of recognizing President Chakwera's efforts to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries, Joaquim Chissano University will confer an Honorary Doctorate Degree in international Relations and Leadership.
In 2022, President Chakwera facilitated the signing of MOU's between the Agency of Promotion and Investments and Appiex IP of Mozambique and the Malawi Investment and Trade Centre as well as the Mozambique Cereals Institute ICM and the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC).
Therefore, the renewed ties will among other things enable trade, the establishment of the Mozambique Malawi electricity interconnection deal, refurbishment of the Nacala railway line, as well as free movement of people between the two countries.
Chakwera says bilateral relations with Mozambique critical for development
By Sarah Munthali
Lilongwe, August 14, Mana: President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has said strengthening bilateral relations with Mozambique is critical in enhancing development between the two countries.
The President made the remarks on Wednesday at Kamuzu International Airport before his departure for Maputo, Mozambique for a two day official visit.
Chakwera said at the invitation of his Mozambican counterpart, President Fillipe Nyusi, the two will discuss how the two governments can cement existing bilateral relations in critical areas of human and economic development such as trade and investment.
"This week the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) will also hold a Heads of State Summit in Harare, Zimbabwe. The two events, demonstrate that we are part of the region and we have excellent ties with our neighbours," he stated.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is expected that the two governments of Malawi and Mozambique will also sign agreements in several areas of joint permanent cooperation.
After the Mozambique visit, President Chakwera will proceed to Harare, Zimbabwe where he will attend the 44th Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government to be held on August 17, 2024.
BCC set to establish modern amusement parks
By Arnold Namanja
Blantyre, August 13, Mana: Blantyre City Council (BCC) will soon establish modern amusement parks and recreation centres within the central business district following a successful public private partnership agreement signed between the council and Jura Adventures.
The Public Private Partnership Commission (PPPC) negotiated the K4 billion contract on behalf of BCC to have Jura Adventures develop two existing parks into modern amusement centres at Rangely along the Victoria Avenue and at the Catholic Institute popularly known as CI.
Among other amenities, the parks would have such facilities like restaurants, swimming pool, a music studio and other child friendly attractions in its pursuit to be an entertainment as well as an edutainment centre.
Speaking in an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on the sidelines of the contract agreement ceremony in Blantyre on Monday, PPPC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Patrick Kabambe said he partnership between BCC and Jura Adventures was a manifestation of the influence of public-private collaboration in driving economic growth.
He emphasized that public-private agreements have the potential to bring huge economic benefits to both parties in the partnership as well as to beneficiary city residents.
He said the commission has the duty to facilitate and negotiate for viable and meaningful partnerships between public-private sector in Malawi to ensure transparency and accountability in public service delivery.
“This partnership is a great milestone for the commission as it would help BCC to develop economically by contributing to infrastructure development of the commercial city of Blantyre.
“When delivered, the parks will not only improve the social profile of the city but also offer international tourism experience to residents and visitors to the city,” the CEO added.
CEO for BCC, Denis Chinseu said the council was looking forward to realizing urbanization in alignment with the Malawi 2063 Agenda to have modern infrastructure, which corresponds to the agriculture, tourism and mining aspiration strategy.
“The parks will be tailor-made to take on board the expectations and demands of families and children in particular seeking luxury and leisure in a profitable manner. Blantyre is the easiest way to connect to other countries in the region like Mozambique, so we expect a huge traffic of tourists when this is completed.
“The facilities will have the potential to change the mindset of Malawians through its wide range of mental, physical and social activities that will be on offer once completed and open to the public,” Chinseu said.
The BCC chief said the recreation parks would also complement the green and beauty aspiration of the city council. He said the facilities would also lead to increased revenue generation through user fees and other paying services at the centre.
He, therefore, disclosed that the procurement process of the contract was very transparent which followed all public procurement and disposal of assets procedures with Jura Adventures, a local company winning the bid.
On his part, Board Chairperson of Jura Adventures, Charles Zimba, the company tasked to do the project, concurred with Chinseu, saying the procurement process of the contract was very transparent and rigorous, disclosing that it dates back to 2013 when initial negotiations were initiated.
Charles Zimba pledged to deliver a good quality facility, which would stand the taste of time; saying: “We will not disappoint; we are very family friendly in our approach to service delivery.”
He said the unit would provide family entertainment and edutainment so that children don’t only play but have some education programmes which would enhance their social skills and develop mentally.
Zimba added that the facilities would also contribute to the tourism sector in Malawi by attracting local and international tourists, noting that the project would, on one hand, create wealth and jobs in the course of its construction.
The construction of the facilities expected to begin in the next two months will be done in a period of 12 months before being delivered to the client (BCC).
Nzeka Arts to host Talent Show
By Alex Kachingwe
Blantyre, August 13, Mana: Blantyre based Nzeka Arts has organized Talent Show dubbed: Luso Langa Talent Exhibition, scheduled for September 1st 2024 at Chichiri Museum in the city as one way of promoting music, poetry, drama, storytelling and dances to embrace Malawian culture along the various art disciplines.
Nzeka Arts Director, Harris Kamwendo told Malawi News Agency on Tuesday that the Talent Show was planned to create a platform where the youths can showcase talent through various art disciplines such as music, poetry, theatre and dances.
“It has been noted that a lot of talented youths fail to incorporate Malawian cultural elements in their artistic work and this is why Luso Langa Talent Exhibition has been organized to provide a platform to upcoming artists to showcase their talents and also learn how to fuse Malawian culture into their piece of art,” he added.
Kamwendo said the event will target both upcoming artists and those already in the industry, expressing hope that the upcoming artists will learn more from experienced artists to embrace Malawian culture.
Canaan Savala, a member and dramatist at Nzeka Arts, hailed the Luso Langa Talent Exhibition, saying it has the potential to promote upcoming artists through interaction with experienced artists that will perform at the event.
He added that talent shows were an important arena to discuss a wide range of issues and was hopeful that various social concerns that affect the youth such as suicide, drug and substance abuse and mental health will be tackled through music, dance, poetry, drama and storytelling.
Lloyd Phaundi popularly known as Agorosso, an Afro-Jazz artist will be the guest artist to spice up the event with his local music.
Nzeka Arts was established in 2020 with an aim of cultivating, nurturing and exposing hidden talent among young people through music, poetry, drama and at the same time using the talent to address social issues.
Police arrest four in Mangochi for killing suspected thief
By Ernest Mfunya
Mangochi, August 13, Mana. Police at Koche in Mangochi district on Saturday arrested four men on allegations that they assaulted to death Isaac Mbendera, 29, of Khumunye Village, Traditional Authority (TA) M'biza in Zomba, after he was caught red-handed stealing goats.
Mangochi Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Amina Tepani Daudi identified the four suspects as Mtenje Salanje (kraal owner), 50, Felix Maunda, 45, Shadreck Jailosi, 48, and Christopher Mkwate, 48.
According to Daudi, it is alleged that Mbendera, now deceased, and his two unidentified accomplices broke into Salanje's goat kraal within his compound on the night of July 19, 2024, at Chipoka Village around Maldeco Trading Centre.
“The owner was awoken by the bleating of the goats and shouted for help upon noticing the presence of the thieves. This prompted neighbors, including the other mentioned suspects, to mobilize themselves such that Mbendera was captured after he failed to escape with his motorcycle, while the other two fled,
“The mob assaulted Mbendera with stones, sticks, and metal objects before abandoning him. The matter was reported to Koche Police Unit, whose officers rushed to the scene and took Mbendera to Mangochi District Hospital where he was pronounced dead while receiving treatment,” Daudi said, adding that Mbendera died due internal bleeding.
She said that police initiated investigations that led to the arrest of the four suspects, adding that investigations are going on to apprehend the remaining ones.
According to Daudi, the three will answer murder charges, which contravenes Section 209 of the Penal Code, adding that the suspects will appear before court after completion of all paperwork.
Meanwhile, Police in the district is appealing to the public to avoid taking the law into their own hands saying mob justice is illegal and mostly frustrates crime investigations.
The four come from Chipoka Village, Traditional Authority Mponda in Mangochi.
First Lady call for fight against cybercrime
By Patience Longwe
Lilongwe, August 13, Mana; First lady Madame Monica Chakwera has called on communities to empower women and girls in the fight against cybercrime.
Speaking on Wednesday during the commencement of a three-days second edition of the 2024 women and girls Conference at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC), in Lilongwe, Chakwera emphasized that as innovators and leaders, women possess unique skills and perspectives that are essential in combating cybercrime.
"I am confident that our male counterparts will join us in this endeavor. Together, men and women can fortify our resilience against the digital threats.
"Let us utilise this conference as a platform to exchange best practices, establish new partnerships, and ignite a fervor in young women and girls who will spearhead cybersecurity in the future," Chakwera added.
Minister of Information and Digitalization, Moses Kunkuyu said government is committed to ensuring that girls actively engage in the digital realm in a secure manner.
"We are engaging in these dialogues to shed light on the government's initiatives, policies, and regulations aimed at enabling our girls to articulate the challenges they encounter in the cyber domain," kunkuyu said.
Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (Macra) Board chairperson, Bridget Chibwana underscored the significance of the conference, saying it will foster a supportive and inclusive environment where young girls and women can explore various career paths and opportunities in cybersecurity.
"Our endeavors today seamlessly align with the Malawi 2063 vision, which seeks to elevate Malawi into an inclusively prosperous and self-reliant industrialized upper-middle-income nation.
"By empowering women in cybersecurity, we are advancing the realization of this vision, ensuring that digitalization and technological progress are inclusive and beneficial to all sectors of our society" she said.
Macra is hosting a three-day conference aimed at Inspiring the next generation and empowering future women cybersecurity professionals.
Salima District Council applauds CS-EPWP participants' commitment
By Lekereni Chinkhota
Salima, August 13, MANA: Salima District Council has applauded participants under Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) for their commitment towards environmental restoration initiatives.
Speaking on Monday at Gwirize catchment, District Project Facilitator, Josephine Ngaivale said people participating in the programme are doing a commendable job since its commencement in 2022, and that there is no major setback such as boycotting work.
"We have started payments as a district and have made good progress. Salima is one of the few districts that have started payments for this cycle. We appreciate the dedication of people to work with us in restoring the degraded land in the district.
"So far we have not encountered any major challenges with the participants. Most of the things that we are facing is lack of documentation for the participants to receive their wages. For example, not having national IDs, some are using other people's names something we do not allow as per project criteria." She said.
A participant from Nnoloma village in the area of Senior Chief Pemba, Patson Wisiki said the programme has helped his family in many ways, hence his dedication to participate and work in all activities being assigned.
"This programme has benefited me so much in the past cycles. I have managed to buy maize and fertilizer for my household, but also to buy uniforms and books for my children to excel in their education,” he said.
Wisiki emphasized that it is important to take care of the family needs before using the money for other purposes.
Concurring with Wisiki, another participant from Chindungwa 2, Aisha Chapola said she will use the money to buy school uniform and pay for her children's school fund.
She however said the money is not enough to cater for all her family's needs and appealed to government increase the wages.
"The money is little and most of the times its delayed. We fail to take care of our families with it because its little," she said.
Salima is expected to finish the payments in 24 days starting with large catchments which are 8 in total.
The district has 18 catchments, of which 10 are model ones while eight are standard catchments where CS-EPWP is being implemented.
CS-EPWP is a component under the Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Project (SSRLP). The SSRLP is a Malawi Government project funded by the Multi Donor Trust Fund facilitated by the NLGFC in all the 28 district councils.
