MANAonline
NICE drills councilors, committees on oversight roles
By Beni Bamusi
Thyolo, May 23, Mana: National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Trust has trained ward committee members, councilors and neighborhood committee representatives within Luchenza Municipality in Thyolo on their oversight roles over various development activities.
Speaking during the training on Wednesday, Thyolo NICE Trust Programme Officer, Moses Kaunda, said the Trust organized the training as various committees had just been constituted and lacked knowledge and skills on how to perform their oversight roles on issues of council development projects and financial management.
“The ward committees are development structures and are crucial in grassroots development plans. We believe they have been empowered on how to execute their roles in the communities. We hope they will enhance engagement with the council and other elected leaders on development activities,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the training will improve revenue collection, saying the ward committee acts as a link between communities and service providers.
The meeting also discussed importance of the municipal council generating revenue form taxes, fees and rates from traders and residents within Luchenza.
“Luchenza heavily relies on revenue collection from the people doing business and from bus depot fees. Knowledge about revenue collection is, therefore, crucial. We believe that ward committees will be on the forefront encouraging people to pay taxes, fees and rates.
"Experience has shown that people, at times, frustrate payment of city rates and we believe that these people will trickle down the message and influence people to pay taxes” he said.
Luchenza Municipal Council Chief Executive Officer, McPhine Mzumara, expressed gratitude to NICE for organizing the training saying it will build the capacity of the ward committees to deliver on their roles and mandates.
Mzumara said the committees understanding on how the municipality generates revenue will help in influencing traders and residents to pay their dues to the council for effective service delivery.
“We also believe that knowledge imparted will assist the ward committee to decide on activities that reflect development needs of the areas they represent,” he said.
Mapanga Ward Councilor, Wyson Movilikana, said the meeting provided knowledge on roles of Members of Parliament (MPs), ward councilors and ward committees.
He observed that there were interferences on the roles of MPs, ward councilors and ward committees which mostly result into conflicts among the three.
He pledged to engage ward committee members and community members so that they are aware of their roles in developing Luchenza Municipal Council.
Luchenza which has eight wards was declared a Municipal Council on April 10, 2010.
UNFPA promises continued support to Fistula program in Malawi
By Elia Chibwe
Lilongwe, May 22, Mana: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has reassured Malawi Government, through Ministry of Health and the Fistula Repair Centre, in addressing fistula issues in the country.
UNFPA Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Lydia Zigomo, made the remarks in Lilongwe on Wednesday during a press briefing after visiting different sections of Freedom for Fistula Centre at Bwaila Hospital in Lilongwe.
The visit was aimed at discussing ways of addressing fistula in Malawi.
"We were talking to some survivors of fistula as well as those waiting to have their surgeries. We also discussed how we can address fistula in Malawi. We believe that fistula can be solved and we can prevent young girls and women from suffering from fistula," Zigomo said.
She said UNFPA is relentlessly assisting Malawi and will continue supporting government to end fistula among Malawian women by raising awareness among communities.
She, therefore, appealed to young ladies to remain in schools until their bodies have developed properly saying this can reduce resources required for treating the disease.
Country Director for Fistula Centre, Magret Moyo, applauded UNFPA for the strong partnership which exists between Freedom for Fistula Foundation and UNFPA.
"We are grateful for the visit and we don't take it for granted. You are supporting us by complementing our efforts; a lot of patients have benefited," she said.
About 300 to 350 women annually are repaired at the facility.
According to Moyo, the facility doesn’t just do physical repairs but also rehabilitate and reintegrate women back into the society and empowers them economically.
As part of social reintegration, the facility has received 50 sewing machines from UNFPA.
Director of Reproductive Health, Doreen Namagetsi Ali, said the visit was crucial as it has acceded an opportunity to witnessed progress Ministry of Health.
Freedom for Fistula Foundation is a Scottish charity organization which has been in Malawi since 2010.
Malawi committed to partnership with Iceland
By Sheminah Nkhoma
Lilongwe, May 22, Mana: Vice President Dr Saulos Chilima has described the partnership with Iceland as important in the development of the country.
Chilima was speaking Wednesday evening at Kumbali Castle in Lilongwe, when he hosted the visiting Prime Minister of Iceland, during the commemoration of 35 years of collaboration between Malawi and Iceland.
He said, Malawi is committed to strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations highlighting that Iceland has remained dedicated in helping Malawi even in times of natural disasters.
“Malawi is cordial to the partnership. We have benefited immensely towards socio-economic development; basic social services have been greatly enhanced, transforming many lives through improvement in health infrastructure, access to education, agriculture and gender equality,” said Chilima.
Prime Minister of Iceland, Bjarni Benediktsson, said his country cherishes the relationship which has been there for the past 35 years saying it has fostered a level of honesty and openness between the two nations which has helped to strengthen bilateral relations.
“It has been a pleasure visiting Malawi and my gratitude should go to President Dr Lazarus Chakwera and his administration for the work they are doing in the country; it is really transforming lives of people,” he said.
He, therefore, pledged for his country’s continued support to Malawi.
Currently, Iceland is supporting Mangochi District and intends to replicate the same to Nkhotakota District.
Malawi and Iceland relations started 1989 through the Icelandic International Development Agency (ICEIDA).
263 youths graduate from agro-food processing course in Mchinji
By Vincent Khonje
Mchinji, May 22, Mana: About 263 youths have graduated from an agro-food processing course at the Nkhwazi Community Skills Development Centre (CSDC) in Mchinji as part of equipping rural youth with essential skills for the agribusiness sector.
Implemented under the informal sector, the agro-food processing course targeted both literate and illiterate rural youth and was supported by GOPA-AFC under the GIZ EYA! ATVET youth employment project.
Assistant Registrar in the Ministry of Labour's Department of Technical and Vocational Training, Anderson Balaka, expressed his admiration for the graduates.
"It is impressive to see these students graduating, which signifies that they will, one day, be able to stand alone.
"For the country to develop, there is need for a lot of skilled labour and the ministry is committed to establishing many skills centres to reach more youths,” he said.
GIZ EYA! ATVET's Youth Skills Development Advisor, Ackim Kress, elaborated on the importance of community-based initiatives in driving change and development.
"We believe that change and development start in the communities, and over 50 percent of the population are youth,” he said.
Kress added that as the project comes to an end this year, they have already trained over 6,000 youths in the country in agribusiness courses.
One of the graduates, Chancy Elisa from Traditional Authority Mavwere was happy to have come out with skills.
"I am impressed with the course as we have learned how to make different kinds of food. The skills I have acquired will help me in establishing a business and becoming self-reliant,” said Elisa.
Nkhwazi CSDC, besides the Agro-food Processing course, also offers vocational training in fashion and design, carpentry and joinery, tailoring, and electrical work.
MP condemns encroachment of public land
By Andrew Mkonda
Lilongwe, May 22, Mana: Member of Parliament (MP)for Lilongwe Msozi North, Sosten Gwengwe has condemned the tendency by some community members that encroach into public land such as schools and hospitals.
Gwengwe who is also Minister of Trade and Industry made the remarks Tuesday at Chadza Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in Lilongwe during the ground breaking ceremony of the construction of ICT lab at the school.
He said that, “As community members, we need to have proper development plans for any development project that government is implementing in our area.
“We need to have enough land for the expansion of projects such as schools or hospital. Any encroachment to government institutions across the country, should not be tolerated.”
Gwengwe thanked Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (MACRA) for the Connect a School (CAS) project saying it would assist in increasing access to Information and Communications Technology (ICT) services among the students in rural communities.
“Malawi will never develop, up until we put much emphasis on human capital development. We need young people with various skills so that they are able to participate in the development of this nation and ICT skill is one of such important component,” he said.
Group Village-Head Chadza thanked government for the different development projects that are being implemented in their area.
He asked parents to continue teaching their children good morals, saying it was sad that students continue vandalizing government property in schools.
Head-boy for Chadza CDSS, Windrose Zuzera thanked government for the initiative saying it would give them huge opportunity to access information for their studies on internet.
“We have a huge problem of internet here. We do not have internet towers and whenever we want to be on internet, we go to nearby mountain where we access internet which is time consuming. But with the coming in of this ICT lab, it will minimize the challenges we have been facing,” he said.
MACRA will construct computer labs in 75 secondary schools of which 73 are CDSS, one national secondary school and one primary school with funding from MACRA's Universal Social Services Fund.
Secondary school visits mushroom farm for hands-on experience
By Amos Chigwa
Mchinji, May 21, Mana: In an effort to promote hands-on learning and sustainability, Fair View (PVT) Secondary School in Mchinji District visited Naomi Mushroom Farm for a unique educational experience.
This education visit offered students an opportunity to learn about the life cycle of mushrooms, from spore dispersal to harvesting.
Speaking after the visit, an Agriculture teacher for Fair View Secondary School, Nephtari Phiri, expressed the need of the visit.
“The visit was a great way to bring our science curriculum to life. Our curriculum as a country is vital as long as economic development is concerned and if it can be properly delivered to the students, unemployment and other economic challenges can be the story of the past because our curriculum incorporates entrepreneurship that equip students with skills to start their own businesses,” said Phiri.
Phiri added that it is high time schools should invest more in hands-on learning so that students may benefit even if they cannot go further with their education.
Mphatso Edward, a form three student at the school expressed gratitude after the visit.
“I have learnt a lot from this education visit, among other things I have learnt how to grow mushrooms. As a girl I have been motivated and I am ready to establish my own mushroom farm with the help from my parents and well-wishers,” said Edward.
She added that, in her community, there are a lot of girls of her age who did not go further with their education and she will share with them what she has gained so girls can be empowered and remove themselves from the bondage of poverty.
Students were given guided tour of the farm, where they learnt different types of mushrooms grown and also participated in hands-on activities such as planting mushroom spores, taking care and how to harvest them.
TRANSFORM donates 20 dairy cattle
By Sylvester Kumwenda
Dowa, May 22, Mana: The Sustainable Food Systems for Rural Agriculture Transformation and Resilience (TRANSFORM) project has donated 20 dairy cattle to Mbalame Dairy Cooperative in Dowa to boost milk production capacity of the cooperative.
The donation has been made Tuesday through one of the implementing partners, Trustees of Agricultural Promotion Programme (TAPP) with funding from the Royal Norwegian Embassy through the NCA/DCA.
In an interview after a ceremonial handover, TAPP Head of Programmes, Brown Chitewere said in total, TAPP would donate 69 dairy cattle to the cooperative, which has been valued at around K 56 million.
"We decided to make the donation considering the potential the dairy industry has in transforming lives. This is one of the biggest game changers in the agricultural sector because it has a structured market and it is easy for farmers to get sustainable income from this. So we would like to strengthen the capacity of this cooperative in terms of production and commercialization.
"But these cattle we have given farmers today are under a pass on arrangement, meaning once they reproduce, they must give the offspring to another person so that we may reach a wider coverage," he said.
Chitekwere called upon the farmers to take care of the livestock so that the intended goals be achieved.
Chief Agriculture Officer for Dowa, Albert Kaputa said the gesture supports government's Malawi 2063 agenda which has agriculture as one of its priorities.
"In order to achieve this, we need to work together, both government, partners and individuals. The agenda talks about improving both agricultural commercialization and productivity, so this development has the potential to contribute towards this agenda," he said.
Kaputa asked the members to promote unity amongst themselves to ensure success and sustainability of the cooperative.
Chairperson for Mbalame Dairy Cooperative, Pretorius Msonthi said before the donation, the cooperative had 180 cattle, with 32 at milk production stage.
Currently the cooperative produces over 150 litres of milk a day.
"But we have big dreams which include production of our own feed to cut costs and maximize production.
"We want to commence value addition and have our own mini processor right here. We are currently annually contributing K60,000 for 12 shares per member towards this. So the donation is a big step for us in reaching our goals, and we are very thankful for this," he said.
Msonthi thanked TAPP for previously providing a generator to the cooperative which he said now provides backup power.
The cooperative was established in the year 2017 and has a membership of 290 dairy farmers with 120 male members and 170 females and this includes 43 youth and four persons with disabilities.
NCA/DCA Agriculture Value Chain Specialist Elube Kasina said the donation would help improve the cooperatives market access by improving milk production.
She added that they have donated other value addition processing equipment like oil extracting and peanut butter making machines amongst others to cooperatives cross the districts they are working in.
She said they plan to reach out to 80 farmer organizations in the districts.
Farmers urged to embark on crop diversification
By Margret Kalua
Nkhata Bay, May 22, Mana: Zambian High Commissioner to Malawi, retired Lieutenant Colonel Panji Kaunda, has urged farmers in the country to enhance crop diversification for improved food security and nutrition.
Kaunda made the remarks Wednesday when he toured Limphasa Irrigation Scheme, Mkondezi Rice Producers and Marketing Cooperative in the area of Senior Chief Timbiri in Nkhata Bay.
He said Malawi has abundant water resources and good soils which, if efficiently utilized, can produce assorted high quality crops enough for both local consumption and export.
"Farmers should consider cultivating different types of crops as this is essential in mitigating adverse effects of climate change such as droughts which have recently affected Malawi and Zambia," he said.
Kaunda said he was inspired by rice production through irrigation in Malawi as observed at Limphasa and Linga Irrigation Schemes.
He, therefore, urged Malawi Government to promote mechanized farming technologies, improve and strengthen market systems and linkages for increased agricultural production.
Senior Irrigation Engineer for Nkhata Bay District Council, Edward Mjiku, said the district has the potential to irrigate up to 16,000 hectares of land which, if efficiently used, can contribute to growth of country's economy.
One of the farmers, who is affiliated to the cooperative, Joseph Nyirongo, commended the Zambian High Commissioner for visiting the cooperative saying it has motivated farmers to be utilizing available resources to the maximum to attain increased agricultural production.
Limphasa Irrigation Scheme is a river diversion-gravity system which uses open canals to carter for about 669 hectors of land.
Computer laboratories to improve education
By Fostina Mkandawire
Salima, May 22, Mana: Malawi Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has been commended for its efforts to promoting access to Information Communication Technology (ICT) through construction of computer laboratories at three Community Day Secondary Schools (CDSS) in Salima District.
Speaking during a ground breaking ceremony at Lungumadzi Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in the area of Senior Chief Kambwiri on Monday, Headmaster for the School, Louis Chafa said that the computer lab would enhance studies at the school taking into consideration that the world has gone digital.
He said learners were showing willingness to learn computer studies which the school could not afford to offer them due to different pertinent needs that the school had, therefore the coming in of MACRA was timely and would enhance education.
"This will be a motivation to learners because they will have access to internet where they can be studying and searching for information which will assist in enhancing their studies," Chafa said.
MACRA's Deputy Director of Consumers Affairs, Kelious Mlenga said through the project, 75 schools; including 73 CDSSs, one national government secondary school, and one pilot primary school are expected to benefit from the project.
"Nobody should be left behind, we want digital inclusion to be embedded in the country's education sector, we also want access to ICT to be realized at a young age, so that as the children are growing they should be well conversant with ICT," he said.
Mlenga said taking into consideration that every fundamental development depends on ICT and pertinent to align universal access to ICT with Malawi 2063.
"A good economy or education system depends on ICT which is the backbone of all the development avenues in the world, rural connectivity to ICT will promote inclusion of learners at schools situated in hard to reach areas like Lungumadzi CDSS," he said.
Member of Parliament for Salima South East, Mike Mwawa has hailed MACRA for considering Lungumadzi CDSS as one among three schools in the district to benefit from the initiative.
He urged the constructors to follow stipulated timeline of the construction period and architectural plan of the facility so that it should be of high standard.
MACRA is constructing computer laboratories through Connect-A-School' project under the Universal Service Fund (USF), to a tune of a total of K 150 million on the construction of ICT computer laboratories, to which the labs shall be connected to the Internet.
Computer labs providing opportunities for ICT learning
By Vincent Khonje
Mchinji, May 22, Mana: Mchinji schools are set to benefit with the establishment of Information Communication Technology (ICT) laboratories in three schools in the district.
A ground-breaking ceremony at Waliranji Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) on Monday and another one at Misale CDSS on Tuesday symbolized the prospects of ICT embracing in schools in the district.
Member of Parliament for Mchinji South, Agnes Nkusa Nkhoma pointed out the significance of these ICT labs in empowering learners with essential technological skills.
"I am delighted that a school in my constituency has received an ICT lab which will mean learners getting knowledge on new technology easily. The lab is very important especially these days where technology has advanced," she said.
Head Teacher of Waliranji CDSS, Jonathan Magombo noted on the impact that the introduction of ICT labs would have on students' academic journey.
"The establishment of the ICT lab at our school is indeed a milestone achievement. It will not only enhance the learning experience of our students but also equip them with the necessary skills to thrive in today's digital age," he said.
Speaking on behalf of MACRA's Director-General, the Organization’s Finance Manager, Phillip Nakoma said they embarked on Connect a School project where the labs would be put up and provided with free internet connectivity.
"In the first phase we are starting with 75 schools in which Mchinji has got three schools. We have noted that there is a big gap between Africa and other continents, so we need to address that by identifying schools that will be equipped with ICT equipment and internet," he said.
Apart from Waliranji and Misale CDSSs the other school to benefit in Mchinji is Takondwa.
Countrywide, during the first phase one national secondary school, one primary school and 73 CDSSs will benefit.
The initiative to equip Mchinji schools with ICT labs has been made possible through the Universal Service Fund under the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA).
