By Wongani Mkandawire

Nkhotakota, October 21, Mana: Communities in Nkhotakota say Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Program (CSEPWP) has improved livelihoods and restored the environment, benefiting them in return.

Speaking to Malawi news agency on Monday, Weluzani Jolamu from Kwenda village in Bua catchment in the district says money earned from the program has been a lifeline for his family over the years.

"This money from Climate Smart Works has allowed us to meet our basic needs and even start saving for the future," he explained.

Jolamu added that in addition to the financial benefits, the CSEWP has also had a positive impact on the environment. The project also emphasizes on forest management efforts and has resulted in increased access to firewood and shade around their villages.

Eliza Phiri from Chilingali catchment says the benefits are huge and that her community appreciates works like gully reclamation and the creation of water harvesting swales which were unknown to them but now they depend on these methods during farming to yield bumper harvests.

District Community Development Officer for Nkhotakota, Ellina Lukasi emphasized the importance of the CSEWP as a component of the social support for resilient program that has empowered communities to take ownership of their development and improve their livelihoods and resilience to climate change behaviors.

“This program is a shining example of how communities can address both economic and environmental challenges around them. By providing financial support, promoting sustainable land management practices, and fostering community empowerment, the government is through the program, making a lasting impact on the lives of people in the district,” added Lukasi.

Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Program is part of the social support for resilient livelihood program funded by the World Bank and multi-donor trust fund.

By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, October 21, Mana: National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Public Trust Programmes Officer for Kasungu, Pilirani Chaguza has appealed to youths in the district to register in large numbers so that they vote in the next year’s general elections slated for September 16, 2025.

The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has started the first of the three-phased voter registration and in Kasungu; the exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 9 to 22 November.

Speaking Sunday during an awareness and sensitization rally at Kamphungu in Kasungu West Constituency, Chaguza said the forthcoming elections are a chance the youths must utilise this exercise to shape the future they desire to have.

“Voting is one of the rare moments that guarantee citizen participation in shaping the democratic destiny of a nation. This is your chance as youth to take part in making a very important decision for your country.

“Remember that the more people participate in elections, the stronger the mandate that is given to those elected as leaders, and the more confidence and trust given to them and the systems they operate under. So we must register and vote,” Chaguza said.

He said the new electoral laws demand that a person must register with the National Registration Bureau to qualify as a voter hence asked the youths to make sure they register for citizen identification.

Chaguza also sounded a warning against the perpetuation of violence, calling for peace and tolerance in all the stages of the elections.

“We must refrain from being used as agents of violence. Youths must be champions of peace,” he said.

Speaking earlier, Group Village Head Serenje encouraged women and girls to go beyond mere voting, urging them to contest as candidates so that they acquire leadership positions.

“For girls and women, your participation in elections must not be limited to voting. This is our opportunity to also contest as candidates,” he said.

Serenje said traditional leaders have a big role in ensuring that there is peace in the electoral process hence asked his fellow chiefs to champion political tolerance.

MEC is conducting voter registration in three phases from 21 October to 11 December this year and NICE is mobilising people for the exercise.

By Lyte Ali

Mangochi, October 20, Mana: Mangochi District Council has launched a participatory forest management plan to take communities on board in planning and implementation of strategies that will help to bring back forest cover thereby protecting biodiversity for communities improve livelihood

The launch took place over the weekend at Mtakataka Community ground at Traditional Authority Chowe. Senior Chief Chowe welcomed the participatory forest management plan, saying this was the right approach to preserving the remaining forest and recovering lost forest cover in the district.

He said forest management was a collective responsibility, adding that community participation through enforcement of bylaws was an important measure to address deforestation.

Senior Chief Chowe said bylaws and other Acts will surely bring perpetrators to book and further appealed to fellow chiefs in the district to exercise their authority by being at the forefront of enforcing bylaws so that their subordinate chiefs and subjects are environmentally conscious and responsible enough  in conserving and protecting forests

"Let us take ownership of our forests and work together to preserve them for future generations. As chiefs, we must help to sensitize our subordinates to recognize the value of our forests beyond just timber and charcoal,

“Forests also provide us with clean air, water, and food. It is our duty to protect them,” Chowe said as he addressed those who attended the launch.

He warned that those found cutting down trees irresponsibly will face consequences, emphasizing the need for collective action against all human activities that destroy forests, citing encroachment into protected forests and village forest areas for charcoal and timber production.

Speaking at the event, Assistant District Forest Officer at Mangochi District Council, Mangochi, Mary Kamanga said that the district intends to empower local communities to manage their forests effectively, ensuring tree regeneration and conservation of natural resources.

She explained that participatory plans will guide community-level forest management structures in sustainable forest management and utilization.

“Many forests in the district have been heavily depleted, leading to numerous problems, including loss of livelihoods. As such, through the participatory plans, in the next five years we want to recover all community forests with more trees, both through natural tree regeneration and new plantings," Kamanga said.

Mangochi District Council, Chairperson, Councilor Abdullah Yusuf hailed the initiative, saying this was crucial measure to conserve the environment in line with Malawi’s development aspirations.

To deal with land degradation the council chair added that communities should be responsible enough to conserve the forests for numerous benefits.

By Ben Bamusi

Thyolo, October 20, Mana: Thyolo District Agriculture Development Office has launched a K12.6 million intra Extension Planning Area (EPA) Agricultural Trophy for Matapwata and Dwale EPAs.

The competition is meant to boost macadamia, fish and dairy farming as well as agroforestry among smallholder farmers in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Boyd.

Speaking at the launch on Friday at Naveya Ground, Thyolo North Member of Parliament, Ephraim Nayeja, commended the initiative saying it will enhance productivity by encouraging farmers to adopt modern farming methods while embracing soil and water conservation for sustainable agriculture.

“Farmers will work in their farms competing and at the same time increasing their yield,” said Nayeja.

He urged government to introduce additional value chains and create market opportunities for farmers.

Thyolo District Chief Agriculture Officer, Mphatso Kafuwa, said the competition will reward farmers with farm inputs and technology thereby promoting agricultural innovation.

She called on stakeholders for financial support to sustain community led initiatives.

The initiative's pioneer TA Boyd explained that this begun in 2021 after observing low crop productivity due to poor farming methods and limited land.

“Since then, farmers have experienced improved yields and attained greater food security,” said Boyd.

Model farmer in banana, fish, and dairy farming, Charles Buledi, shared how farming has transformed his life, earning him about K400,000 per month from dairy farming thereby improving household income.

He encouraged other farmers to take farming as a business for improved livelihood profits.

By George Mponda

Karonga, October 20, Mana: Karonga based bussiness persons have asked the acting District Commissioner (DC) Frank Mkandawire to ensure that mining deals signed by the council should benefit those doing business around the district.

The business persons led by their Chairperson, Peter Ngwire Viyuyi said this, Saturday when they held an engagement meeting with the DC to air out their concerns over mining deals.

Addressing the meeting, Viyuyi said; "From previous experiences with companies which had mining deals in our district like Paladin, the business as well as the Karonga community in general did not benefit a lot.

"Now we have heard that Lotus Resources Limited will be reopening Kayelekera mine and we have seen coasters which have come from Lilongwe ferrying people to and from the mine so we are worried already because Karonga also has buses which can do this job."

He said they are also worried with the lack of Karonga based people who have so far been employed at Kayelekera Uranium Mine and demanded to know the contents of the Community Development Agreement (CDA).

In his response Mkandawire hailed the business people for choosing dialogue over conducting violent demonstrations.

"Indeed Lotus Resources Limited has taken over Kayelekera Uranium Mine and they will reopen it soon. The council held meetings with Lotus officials and we emphasised that the Karonga communities should benefit from this mine," he said.

"Currently, the company has signed a Mine Development Agreement with the Government of Malawi and the acting Director of Planning and Development at the council held meetings with their Community Engagement Officer who assured us that they will conduct separate meetings with various stakeholders like business people, journalists, Chiefs, Civil Society Organisations and Council Officials before signing the CDA."he added.

Mkandawire assured the business people and Karonga residents that all mining deals struck with the council will be transparent and beneficial to them.

Lotus currently holds an 85% interest in the project, with the Malawian government owning the remaining 15%. The mine’s majority ownership was previously held by Paladin Energy.

By Benedicto Maguda

Blantyre, October 20, Mana: Members of Saints Peter and Paul, Chilobwe Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Blantyre took a 12 kilometre fundraising big walk on Saturday to raise K10 million for the church renovation.

Parish Priest, Fr. Symon Moffat has, therefore, urged congregants to continue participating in various fundraising activities meant for the church renovation project.

He told Malawi News Agency (MANA) after the big walk that the parish thought of the big walk to mobilize funds to renovate the church in preparation for 50 years anniversary.

“The church is in our hands and for this reason we need to do things on our own without relying on donors outside the country. This is why I am urging all Christians from Saints Peter & Paul Chilobwe Parish to work together for the project,” Fr, Moffat said.

He thanked those that took part in the big walk from Chilobwe Parish through Zingwangwa, Kudya, Catholic Institute, Stella Maris and back to Chilobwe Parish.

Chairperson for Saints Peter & Paul Church Council, Harris Kachale, appealed to organizations and individuals of good will to support the parish with funds or various materials to speed up the project.

“We need more resources such as cement, tiles and paint. We are, therefore, requesting people of good will to come and join us on this project with whatever they have,” he said.

Chairperson of the Project Committee, Matias Jowack, said the project is meant to chance the appearance of the church in and out, as it has taken many years without major renovations.

“We want to put new tiles, new comfortable chairs and new look for our church entrance. The whole project will cost K52 million. The first phase is to do modification of the church entrance and this will commence on October, 21 followed by fixing of tiles on November 4,” he said.

According to Jowack, the parish will organize other fundraising activities to mobilize extra financial resources for the project.

Agnes Phiri, from Saint Kizito Mphakati in the parish encouraged fellow Christians to take part in every fundraising activity.

Saints Peter & Paul Parish was established in 1975.