MANAonline
Ministry urge students to be problem solvers
By Tawonga Moyo
Mzuzu, June 28, Mana: Ministry of Education has urged learners in the country to be observant of challenges facing the nation for them to come up with solutions for the achievement of a Malawi they aspire to have.
Director of Quality Assurance in the Ministry of Education, Dr Golden Msilimba was speaking Friday in Mzuzu during the 53rd International Letter Writing Competition Prize Presentation Ceremony.
The competition, which was organized by Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (MACRA) in collaboration with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) targeted learners aged between 9 to 15 years and attracted over 440 competitors across the country.
Msilimba encouraged learners to utilize current technological advancements in brainstorming how they can be applied in different sectors to solve challenges that they face.
"Nowadays, technology has surpassed everything as we see the use of artificial intelligence in crucial sectors such as health. As a future generation, have a habit of finding solutions to problems by taking advantage of present technological opportunities.
Our imagination as youths is what will shape a new Malawi and ensure the attainment of the Malawi2063, as such we should aspire to be a nation that is able to think, look and come up with solutions," said Msilimba.
Msilimba said besides implementing a number of programs in primary and secondary schools, the ministry is also training teachers in various skills so that learners can start reading and writing at an early stage of their education.
"About one percent of learners in standard one to four can read and write, which means 99 percent struggle to do so. We want to ensure that at least we reach up to 30 percent and to do that, we will continue supporting teachers and provide a conducive working environment for them," he said.
In his remarks, Board Director for MACRA, Alekeni Wodala Menyani described the competition as a necessary platform for young people to express themselves on things they think about.
"The theme for this year calls for young people to write a letter to future generations about the world they hoped to inherit and this gave them a chance to express themselves on the future they aspire to have" said Menyani.
In his remarks, winner of the competition from Mzuzu Government Secondary School, 15-year-old Gift Kansichi urged young people to believe in themselves and develop a reading culture to excel more in life.
Zaithwa Chombo from El-Shadai Academy Private Primary School and Ulalo Tembo from Mepic Private Primary School both aged 11 years scooped the second and third positions respectively.
The competition was held under the theme "At 150 years old, the UPU has served people around the world for more than eight generations. The world has changed enormously since then. Write a letter to future generations about the world you hope they inherit”.
MHRC holds meeting to discuss refugees’ rights
By Vida Msiyo
Blantyre, June 28, Mana: Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC), with funding from the European Union, held a stakeholder interface meeting in Blantyre on Friday as part of its two-year project called Promoting and Protecting of Rights of Refugees and Other Migrants in Malawi that seek to provide safety and dignity of refugees and asylum seekers staying in the country.
Participants from various sectors emphasized the need to safeguard the rights of refugees, observing that refugees are not tourists, criminals, or economic migrants but individuals fleeing from danger in their countries.
Speaking with Malawi News Agency, Commissioner in the MHRC, Andrew Kavala underscored the importance of the project and interface meeting which brought together stakeholders such as Malawi Police Service, Department of Immigration and Citizenship and chiefs to share ideas on how best to respect rights of refugees and asylum seekers.
“This project aims to unite leaders from different fields to generate ideas for protecting refugees’ rights. They should not be afraid, they are in a country that will take care of them and protect their rights,
“This project; Promotion and Protection of Rights of Refugees and Other Migrants in Malawi continues to seek collaborative efforts to ensure the safety and dignity of refugees in the country.” He said.
A community leader at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa, Niyibigira Goreth, called for equal rights for refugees, saying it is important to do so.
She shared her personal experience of missing out on a scholarship abroad due to lack of necessary documents.
“We need equal rights, regardless of we come from be it Rwanda, the DRC or Burundi. I fled my country due to personal issues and cannot return. We demand our rights to be protected and to be allowed to contribute to the society,” Goreth said.
Representatives from government, Non-governmental organisations, civil rights bodies, religious groups, traditional leaders, Malawi Police Service and Malawi Prison Service, among others attended the interface meeting at Amaryllis Hotel in Blantyre
Kasungu Municipality elects new mayor
By Wanangwa Tembo
Kasungu, June 28, Mana: Kasungu Municipal Council on Friday elected Councillor Innocent Nkhoma of Chitete Ward as its mayor, replacing Heese Maclean Nyangu who has served for one term but decided not to contest.
Nkhoma floored his Malawi Congress Party (MCP) counterpart, Brighton Ngalande with seven votes against the latter’s two to grab the chain of command for the municipality.
In an interview Nkhoma said his priority is to make the municipality clean, improve the road network and help in resource mobilisation for improved service delivery.
“I will ensure that our refuse vehicles are consistently on the road to ensure that our council is clean.
“We will try to mobilise resources from the donor community, loans from lending institutions as well as intensify local revenue collection,” he said.
Ken Kandodo who is the sole Member of Parliament (MP) within the municipality challenged the new town father to work with diligence and help to fix the many challenges the council is facing.
Said Kandodo: “We have elected a strong leader for this important position and we will give all our support to ensure that our municipality is developed.
“My appeal is that despite that we are getting into a busy season of elections which require that everyone gets to the ground campaigning, the mayoral responsibilities must not be forgotten.”
Kandodo said despite being small, Kasungu Municipality has many challenges that the new leadership must deal with together with everyone as a council.
In his remarks, Chief Executive Officer for the municipality, Isaac Mkandawire said the secretariat will offer all its support to ensure that the challenges such as street vending and a constrained resource envelop are dealt with.
“I’m excited that finally we have elected a new mayor through a process where there have been no issues.
“The expectation is that we will move forward together with all our support. We have very high expectations from him,” commented Mkandawire.
Equally, Braxton Banda who chairs Kasungu Civil Society Network expressed satisfaction in the manner the polls were conducted and challenged the new mayor to serve the interest of the public.
He said: “This is the process of governance that we expected and we hope the new mayor will commit to serve the people of Kasungu and Malawi as a country.
“We expect an improved road network and also enforcement of the laws governing the town so that business activities are properly regulated within the dictates of the laws.”
Kasungu Municipal Council has eight councillors and one MP – all belonging to MCP.
CCAP Synod of Livingstonia donates to CBCC in Nkhata Bay
By Lydia Banda
Nkhata Bay, June 28, Mana: The CCAP Synod of Livingstonia through its Early Childhood Development Department, Thursday donated assorted construction materials to Tionepu Community Based Child Care Centre (CBCC) in the area of Senior Chief Mankhambira in Nkhata Bay.
Executive Director of the synod’s Early Childhood Development Department, Rev. Edward Kamthunzi said the materials are meant for maintenance and expansion of the center as the synod strives towards improving early child development in the district.
“We feel obliged to invest in the future of children through such interventions, hence we have donated 50 iron sheets, 65 bags of cement and 10 tins of paint for their improved care and learning environment.
We will help to improve this structure because we believe that a solid foundation in early childhood education is crucial for the development of children," said Kamthunzi.
Senior Chief Mankhambira said the donation is a blessing to the community, adding that CBCCs are vital for children development and their well-being.
“We therefore thank the synod for its continued support towards children related interventions in the district," said Mankhambira.
In her remarks, one of the caretakers at the center, Alice Phiri said the donation will make their work more effective than before due to improved learning environment.
"Our children deserve good start in life. Through this donation we will have a well maintained and safe space for our children who are currently 70 in total," Phiri said.
The synod through its Early Childhood Development Department has in total supported about 35 CBCCs in Nkhata Bay.
Regional Police registers a decrease in cases of drugs abuse and trafficking
By Petro Mkandawire
Blantyre, June 28, Mana: South West Police Regional Headquarters in Blantyre has acknowledged a decrease in cases of drug abuse and trafficking between January to June this year as the region registered 38 cases compared this year, compared to 91 cases registered in the same period last year.
Assistant Regional Public Relations Officer for the region, Inspector Edith Kachotsa said in an interview with Malawi News Agency on Friday that in 2023 the region registered a high number of drug abuse and trafficking due to limited resources to track down suspects as the region covers Blantyre, Limbe, Mwanza and Neno districts.
She also disclosed that out of 38 cases, 37 suspects were arrested and appeared before court, saying intensified public awareness on dangers of drug abuse, police investigations and prosecution of suspects was a major factor that led to the reduction.
“The reduction of cases was due to a number of strategies which were put in place, Currently South West Regional Police continues with the strategies and we are also working hand in hand with various stakeholders to make sure this comes to an end,” Kachotsa added.
She said police are expecting the National Drug Policy to balance the drug users' rights as well as the rights of the law enforcers when discharging their duties and encourage all Malawians to work together in the fight against drug abuse.
The police publicist bemoaned the tendency by some drug users who mix drugs to make a new one with no name, observing this has serious implications on health.
In separate interview, National Programme Officer for the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime-Malawi, Maxwell Matewere highlighted the need for the country to move fast in coming up with Drug Control Policy that should help deal with drug abuse and trafficking, saying drug and substance abuse affect mental health among users.
“As a country, we have to accept the fact that issues of drugs is there so as a way forward let’s raise awareness. We should advocate for a policy, facilitating dialogue and collaboration to enhance evidence based prevention, promote and empower the youths to have skills that will help to address the malpractice,” said Matewere.
MERP to improve basic education
By Patience Longwe.
Lilongwe,28 June, Mana; Principal Secretary (PS) Responsible for Basic Education, Dr Rachel Chimbwete Phiri has said the Malawi Education Reform Programme (MERP) aims at improving learning environment in primary schools by constructing additional classrooms for learners.
Speaking on Friday at the Ministry of Education offices in Lilongwe, Chibwete- Phiri said MERP project wants to construct 10,900 classrooms across the country.
She said, as government they want to ensure that pupils have safe learning environment, that is why they are having different activities taking place like school improvement grants (SIG) which are meant to directly support schools.
“We want to solve the existing primary school problems that is why we came up with this project as a tool to address education issues in the country,
“We also look at the issue of recruitment of auxiliary teachers, as education sector we need to have 1 to 60 teacher, pupil ratio in the primary schools”, She said.
She further said they is need for cooperation in the education sector, saying education is very important to the development of the country that is why efforts should be made to promote the education system.
In her remarks MERP desk Officer for Salima, Tereza Sibande Commended the program saying that it will help to improve education standards in the district.
“We have an activity in the MERP project called learners mentor whereby we help leaners who dropped out of school, many schools here are close to the lake so learners prefer to go to the lake than school. But with this activity we haves sensitised children to come back to school “, Sibande said.
MERP has several components which include school leadership programme (SLP) targeting 10,600 school leaders across the country, construction of 1000 sanitary rooms, hiring 4200 auxiliary teachers, and supporting administration of Common Zonal test, among others aimed at improving primary education.
Creck Sporting to play Chitipa United
By Pempho Nkhoma
Blantyre, June 28, Mana: Lilongwe based Creck Sporting Club will play against Chitipa United on Sunday June 30 at Karonga Stadium in the first round of elite TNM Super League fixture.
Last weekend Creck Sporting Club played against FCB Nyasa Big Bullets, a game that ended in tears to see-saw supporters for the peoples; team who failed to claim 3 points and managed to walk away with 1 point after a 1-1 draw.
Chitipa was left frustrated by MAFCO FC with 2-0 defeat at Chitowe Stadium in Salima making MAFCO to strictly maintain position 12 on the log table as Chitipa maintained its position in relegation zone of TNM Super League.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Friday Creck Head Coach, Mc Donald Njinde Mtetemera express optimism that his team will correct maximum points saying that they have prepared very well and his boys are in good shape.
“We have prepared very well and everybody is ready for this game and knows how vital these points are,” he said and urged his players not to be obsessed with their past performance saying that it was a different game and they were playing against a different team.
“Bullets is another team and Chitipa is another team. We cannot take the performance of bullets to apply on Chitipa. The two approach the game differently,” he said.
Chitipa United, Head Coach, Christopher Nyambose said they have done their homework after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Mafco FC in his first game at the touch line as Chitipa’s mentor and is hoping to get his first win on their home ground when they host Creck.
“The full squad is ready for the game. We tried to close gaps which can lead us into destruction and we are geared to battle because if we drop points on this match day, it will not be a good thing. The win will be much more important for our team,” Nyambose said.
The game is coming when Creck Sporting Club is on position 6 at the log table after playing 10 games, managing to correct 15 points while their Sunday’s opponents are stuck at position 15 with 5 points from same number of games.
In other TNM Super League fixtures on Saturday, Kamuzu Baracks FC will host FCB Nyasa Big Bullets at Civo Stadium, Fomo will play against Moyale Barracks at Mulanje Park Stadium, Baka City will welcome Bangwe All Stars at Karonga Stadium.
On Sunday Civil Service Club will battle with Silver Strikers in a capital city derby at Civo Stadium, Mzuzu City Hammers will play Mafco at Mzuzu Stadium, Dedza will welcome Karonga at Dedza Stadium and coming from a 2-2 draw against league leaders Silver Strikers.
Mighty Wakawaka Tigers will face Mighty Mukuru Wanderers who defeated Civil Service Club 3-0 at Kamuzu Stadium.
NICE Trust urges more investigative reporting on governance
By Rose Cross Mahorya
Mzuzu, June 28, Mana: National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Trust has asked journalists to write more investigative stories on governance issues particularly those brought in the public domain by social media influencers.
The organization’s District Program Manager for Rumphi and Mzimba North, Freency Mapanga made the remarks on Thursday in Mzuzu during an orientation workshop for journalists drawn from the city and surrounding areas.
Mapanga said it is the duty of trained journalists to investigate issues reported by social media influencers so that the general public gets verified information.
"Due to increased flow of information to the general public, more people are taking up the role of citizen journalists by reporting issues taking place in communicates on various platforms including social media.
"However it is only journalists that can verify that information and even investigate deeper into the issues, hence the refresher training organized to facilitate the same," said Mapanga.
One of the trainees and Chairperson for Nyika Media Club, an umbrella body for journalists in the northern region, Feston Malekezo commended NICE Trust for the training.
He acknowledged that, even though social influencers may be good whistle blowers, the information they share needs trained journalists to investigate.
"We know that with increased access to information, there is a flood of information being shared by citizens on various forums. However, journalists have a duty to follow up on such tips and investigate because a majority of Malawians rely on formal media institutions to confirm some claims," he said.
Amongst other things, the training involved discussion of ways in which citizen journalism and investigative journalism can work together to ensure proper information dissemination.
National Youth Council of Malawi Empowers Young Entrepreneurs in Agriculture
By Patience Kapinda
Lilongwe, June 28, MANA: The National Youth Council of Malawi (NYC) says it is committed in empowering young entrepreneurs in agriculture through its Empowering Youth in Agriculture (EYA) programme.
Director of Programmes at NYC, Williot Lumbe said the organisation has helped over 500 youths by providing them with loans to expand their businesses and supporting them to export their products outside the country.
"We are not just giving them cash, but we are buying equipment equivalent to that money, Our goal is to empower them to become successful entrepreneurs and contribute to the country's economic growth." He said
NYC has partnered with various organizations, including the National Enterprise Empowerment Fund (NEEF), Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS), Centenary Bank, and others, to provide loans and support to young entrepreneurs.
"We are ensuring that government is taking a big part in this initiative," Lumbe added.
The programme recently organized a business pitch competition where youths from various districts, including Mchinji, Mzimba, and Ntchisi, gathered to showcase their innovative ideas and products.
The competition aims at identifying and supporting talented young entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector, providing them with the necessary resources to grow their businesses.
The winners of the competition will receive equipment worth K3.5 million, which will be used to enhance their production capabilities.
Chairlady of the Chimwemwe Youth Club Mphatso Gondwe, one of the participating groups, expressed her gratitude to NYC for the support.
"NYC has taught us how to empower ourselves, We came up with soya milk and coffee products, which are unique and of high quality." she said.
Gondwe expressed her hope about the possibility of winning the competition, which would enable them to purchase a machine to increase their milk production to 5,000 liters per week and irrigation equipment to enhance their farming capabilities.
She said by providing them with the necessary resources and support, NYC is helping to create a new generation of successful entrepreneurs who will contribute to the country's economic growth and development.
Chilomoni Assemblies of God opens branch at Maliya
By Beatrice Bangula
Blantyre, June 28, Mana: Chilomoni Assemblies of God church has opened a new branch at Maliya, Traditional Authority Kuntaja in Blantyre.
Speaking in an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Tuesday, newly appointed Pastor, Harold Sasani who has been assigned to pastor the new church said people at Maliya and surrounding areas should expect spiritual growth, healings and more blessings.
He said the congregation and other community members should also expect more community and social development activities, ranging from construction of a new prayer house to charity works for underprivileged, among others.
“As a pastor l like working with chiefs and the community besides preaching the word of God. Maliya Assemblies of God church has a vision of finding partners that will assist in fundraising to assist the needy,” he said.
Leader for Chilomoni Assemblies of God church, Rev. Maxton Chipungu said Malawi Assemblies of God is a mission oriented church which believes in reaching out to people and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
“We do door to door evangelism apart from crusades. Many people receive Christ while some get delivered and healed,” he added.
He said Malawi Assemblies of God was looking forward to see Maliya church growing and offering more to the community in body and spirit.
“We have a new pastor stationed at Maliya Assemblies of God church. This is a person who is approved by the Malawi Assemblies of God,” he said.
Chilomoni Assemblies of God led by Rev. Chipungu established Maliya church which currently has 27 members to continue evangelizing.
