MANAonline
Youths urged to spearhead community development
By Tawonga Moyo
Mzuzu, May 16, Mana: Youths in the country have been challenged to take a leading role in developing their communities to enable them acquire various skills and build strong support networks.
The call was made on Wednesday by Webster Ndhlozi who is founder and Chief Executive Officer for Web Champions Chiputula, an organization in Mzuzu City which conducts clean-up initiatives and trains communities on matters of hygiene.
Ndhlozi noted that when youths partake in various developmental activities at the community level, they will be prepared to take on leadership roles even at the national level or effectively collaborate with different organizations that deal with development.
“Partaking or volunteering in community development activities can provide youths with various opportunities whereby they can acquire skills in communication, problem solving as well as team work, which are essential in leadership roles.
“They can also gain a sense of belonging as well as make a positive impact by contributing to the overall wellbeing and development of their communities,” said Ndhlozi.
He then urged organizations to consider involving young people when they are implementing various development projects without necessarily considering years of experience, noting that such criteria hinder many young people from showing their potential.
In his remarks, Lunjikani Chirwa, who resides in Luwinga Mzuzu, concurred with Ndhlozi, saying youths possess creative ideas and by taking part in developmental projects, they can ensure that the projects being implemented align with their needs and inspirations.
“Youths bring fresh perspectives, energy and innovative ideas that can drive positive change. As such, taking part in projects can empower them to take ownership, thereby build their capacity and confidence in readiness for future tasks,” said Chirwa.
Among other initiatives, Web Champions Chiputula has been clearing wastes in most parts of Chiputula’s drainage systems, as well as handing out cash prizes to households which excel in hygiene.
Mpamba Market sheds spur businesses
By Chisomo Kambandanga
NKhata Bay, May 16, Mana: In the outskirts of Nkhata Bay town, about 10 kilometres from the beautiful scenery of Lake Malawi, lies a busy trading centre called Mpamba.
Wedged between several beautiful hills, including the famous Kandoli Mountains, Mpamba enjoys a cool breeze that wheezes down from the thick surrounding forests.
A few miles away are stretches of Kaning'ina and Kandoli forests which further influence the weather conditions for the place and that of neighbouring area like Chikwina, Thanula, Kangoyi and Mzenga.
With such usually-rainy weather conditions that go all year round, these areas have turned into a production hub for bananas, maize, cassava and mangoes which find their way to Mpamba for better market.
“Here, everyday day is a busy day. Many people come here on daily basis, seeking to buy produce especially bananas, maize and cassava,” says Naomi Jere, a banana supplier.
She says Mpamba has become a busy trading area and attracts traders from as far as Lilongwe and Mzimba and those from nearby places like Mzuzu and Nkhata Bay town.
“Our biggest challenge was that we did not have proper market sheds, being an area that receives rains almost throughout the year. So doing business on the open was not easy,” she says.
Nkhata Bay District Council authorities also noticed this gap that existed and planned to construct modern market sheds to help boost business activities at the district’s most famous trading centre.
Nkhata Bay Director of Planning and Development Edgar Chihana says Mpamba deserves modern market sheds because it is fast growing into a very important trading area, supplying produce far and wide.
“As a council, we noted the potential that Mpamba has in terms of trading activities and decided to quickly move in and construct better market sheds.
“I’m happy to report that all what we wanted has been achieved. Vendors are doing business all seasons and revenue collection for the council has been simplified. This is driving to the growth of this agro-based community besides improving the service delivery of the council,” he said.
In random interviews, market users expressed satisfaction with the facility which was ofificiary handed over to the community in September 2023.
Martha Banda, a 45-year-old tomato vendor, praises the structures for their quality and the convenience they offer to both sellers and buyers.
She said: “I ventured into tomato business a decade ago. It was not easy considering that I was conducting my business on an open space and that meant braving rains almost on daily basis.”
She said that such situations nearly forced her to quit the business.
“When my husband died, his relatives grabbed all the property we had so I had no choice but to proceed with the business that I use to take care of my children despite the challenges that were there due to the absence of market sheds,” she says.
Until the opening of the new market structure, Banda has seen her business blossom.
“I am able to provide for my family with ease. I’m paying school fees for my children and I have secured a plot.
“I plan to build a good house before end this year,” she said.
Not only that, Banda has also managed to buy two goats and two pigs, toping up on the chicken farming that her late husband introduced to her.
“The new market shed is providing an environment suitable for all weather conditions. I continue making sells even during rain. On a good day I make up to K40,000 in profits,” she said.
On his part, 40-year-old beans and fish seller Thomas Phiri said the new market sheds are an encouragement to him, as he has gained more customers for being stationed at one place.
"The coming in of these market sheds has helped me to gain more trust from my customers, as I am always found at one place. Everyday I receive new customers and that is an encouragement to me to keep on diversifying what I sell to keep on realizing more profits," Phiri said.
Chairperson for Mpamba market, Soko Banda, says he is overwhelmed with the messages he usually gets from the buyers and sellers at the market which all show satisfaction.
“We are excited to have this market and we will appreciate even more if the council can construct a fence and a car park,” he said.
Acting Director of Trade and Commerce at Nkhata Bay District Council, Thanila Gondwe, said they are pleased to see traders utilising the market with happy faces.
“Already, we can see the fruits of this project. Mpamba Market has boosted revenue collection as it becomes easy for ticket sellers to do their work. On a good market day, we are able to collect K50,000 on average, which was not the case before,” Gondwe said.
Mpamba market sheds have a capacity of 120 vendors with good spacing, allowing people to pass each other without problems.
It is a twin of Chintcheche Market under Senior Chief Malanda, which is also rendering hope and survival to the buyers and sellers from southern part of the district and those from Dwangwa, Nkhotakota and Salima.
In his remarks, spokesperson for the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Patrick Botha, said construction of markets like Mpamba is in line with MW 22063.
"So when we talk of MW2063 we are talking of three key pillars, namely Agriculture Commercialization, Industrialization and Urbanization. When you look at the three, you will see that provision of a modern market plays a very crucial role in terms of access to market but also urbanisation as you know the coming of the market also brings about other components and complementary amenities.
"The availability of a market will also make producers produce more quality products in order to be competitive," Botha said.
Nkhata Bay District Commissioner Rodgers Newa assures vendors that the council will keep lobbying for funding for more market sheds at Mpamba.
“As a council we need to take care of all communities in the district. Mpamba is a big community. Much as we have provided them with these two sheds, that’s not enough. The future plan is to increase the number of sheds to almost six and to properly accommodate the vendors.
We will keep on lobbying for more funding so that we can keep on responding to the needs of the people,” Newa said.
Funded through Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) project to the tune of K60 million with support from Multi-Donor Trust Fund and World Bank, the market is expected promote trade and create wealth in line with the 2063 vision.
Staff house brings relief at Chima Health Centre
By Ireen Mseteka
Likoma, May 16, Mana: Director of Health and Social Services (DHSS) for Likoma, Dr Gracewell Mathewe has described construction of a staff house at Chima Health Centre in the district as a milestone in health service delivery at the facility.
He said the K18 million house, constructed using Government to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) funds has reduced accommodation challenges at the facility and has led to improved provision of health services.
in an interview Thursday, Mathewe said before construction of the staff house, all health workers were residing far away from the Health Centre hence patients were not getting health services at the right time.
“It is important for staff to reside near their work place, however, before the construction of the house, all staffs used to live far away from the Health Centre. This affected their service delivery because patients could not be assisted on time.
“I felt it was important, together with the management for the district, to lobby that the first chunk of GESD Project funds should go towards the health sector. I am happy that all sectors involved including the council approved that the money should go towards the construction of the house,” Mathewe explained.
Nurse and Midwife Technician for Chima Health Centre, Lyson Kasakatiza thanked the council for the house saying it has helped in improving quality of health services to community members.
“People are able to access health services anytime including at night and during weekends unlike in the past when I used to stay away from the health center. It was challenging to walk long distances every day because I could reach at work tired,” he said.
Director of Public Works (DPW) for Likoma, Shadrick Msiska said the council has constructed a second staff house at the facility which was expected to be handed over by the end of this month.
Journalists drilled on Obstetric Fistula
By Wongani Mkandawire
Nkhotakota, May 16, Mana: National Coordinator for Freedom from Fistula, Margaret Moyo has hinted that orienting journalists would help in disseminating information about obstetric fistula.
Speaking during the capacity building training of journalist on obstetric fistula prevention, treatment and social reintegration which will be done through radio programmes and news articles in Nkhotakota District, she said the Media plays a vital role in disseminating information to masses as such capacitating journalists on obstetric fistula prevention and treatment would help to enlighten communities.
''I believe the Media has power to disseminate information and involve the community into different programs," Moyo explained.
She stressed that the strategy of using patient ambassadors is going on well as they help to identify clients in the fight to end obstetric fistula.
One of the trained journalists from Umunthu FM, Dyson Kamwana said the training was an eye opener to Journalists as it has imparted them with skills on how they could professionally report about obstetric fistula.
"We lacking the capacity on how we can report about obstetric fistula in newsrooms, this training has posed as an aye opener to us as we have been sharpened on how we can present the issues surrounding fistula professionally," he admitted.
According to statistics, Nkhotakota is one of the districts that is registering high cases of obstetric fistula citing seven cases of fistula that have been treated by the Bwaila Fistula Centre in Lilongwe hence there is need of more commitment.
Apart from treating women with fistula, Freedom for Fistula gives psych-social support for the patients to overcome the trauma that they have been facing in the communities that they are coming from.
Freedom from Fistula with funds from Government of Iceland is implementing a three-year project called Empowering women with obstetric fistula to ensure access to quality obstetric fistula care and social reintegration in Nkhotakota.
Chizumulu Ward councilor defects to MCP
By Ireen Mseteka
Likoma, May 16, Mana: Councilor for Chizumulu Ward in Likoma District, Barnabas Sambamo has defected from opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to Malawi Congress Party (MCP).
He is Vice Chairperson for Likoma District Council and was welcomed into the party during a political rally held at Same Ground at Chizumulu on Wednesday.
In an interview after the rally, Sambamo said he decided to join MCP because of the party’s emphasis on national development.
“MCP as one of the major parties in the Tonse Alliance led administration, focuses and puts much emphasis on people’s welfare and national development hence I have decided to join and support its development agenda,” he said.
Sambamo said he was planning to contest for the ward on MCP ticket during the 2025 General elections.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Likoma, Ashems Songwe said Sambamo and other 60 members from DPP, UTM and United Democratic Front (UDF) were ushered into the party during the rally.
“Councilor Sambamo told the gathering that he was motivated by the MCP led government’s focus, determination and commitment to developing Likoma Island as evidenced by the ongoing developments such as the modern port project, construction of a health center and primary school blocks and many more,” he said.
Songwe said MCP was attracting more people because of development projects which the government was implementing in the country.
Food insecure families being assisted by CARD
By Mary Makhiringa
Balaka, May 16, Mana: Churches Action in Relief and Action (CARD) Executive Director, Melton Luhanga on Wednesday said the launch of the Enhanced Climate Resilience for Improved Income and Food Security Project will help in alleviating serious food insecurity people in Balaka area facing.
At least 109,340 farmers in Balaka are food insecure following destruction of 27,000 hectares of maize due to dry spell in the 2023/2024 agricultural season as a result of El Nino weather pattern which affected most districts in Malawi.
Speaking at Zalimu Village in Balaka after the official launch of the project, Luhanga said the project will look into issues of environmental management and food security.
Said Luhanga: “Balaka is one of the districts that is frequently affected by different calamities, just this year, the district had the El Nino phenomenon which caused severe drought and at some point, the district was also affected by floods.
“We feel different disasters periodically affect the district because climate change and its effect is coming to its climax, so we thought we could invest in this produce to reduce the shocks that come due to the climatic effects.”
According to Luhanga, the project is targeting 1,200 families with 60 percent of them being female headed.
“At the end of it all, we would like to see environmental management highly improved in the area as well as seeing that there is a lot of inclusivity in development with people being food secure and focusing on developing themselves,” he added.
In the project, farmers will be given state of the art solar powered irrigation pumps which will be used all year round as well as distribution of five goats to 300 families on a pass on programme.
Member of Parliament for Balaka South, Ireen Mambala hailed CARD for the initiative, anticipating that it will go a long way in in addressing the food situation in the area.
“It is encouraging that the project has incorporated a lot of women. This is a positive attribute as mostly it is women who feel the impact of food insecurities because they mostly bear the burden unlike men,” she said.
One of the benefiting lead farmers, Regina Eliya said that agricultural activities were always jeopardized by dry spells.
She hailed CARD intervention saying this was timely and ideal among people in Balaka as modern solar pump irrigation will help the farming families to be food secure all year round.
She therefore called upon all beneficiaries of the goat pass on programme to be responsible enough to make the programme reality in meeting its intended objectives.
Chief Agriculture Extension and Natural Resource (CAENRO) David Alli said Enhanced Climate Resilience for Improved Income and Food Security Project will run for three years.
Committee satisfied with progress of SCTP
By Mary Makhiringa
Balaka, May 16, Mana: Parliamentary Committee on Governance Assurance and Public Sector Reform, Chairperson, Noel Lipipa said the committee was satisfied with the way Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) yielded its intended purposes after observing that the programme improved beneficiaries’ livelihood.
He made the observation Wednesday at Mchenga Village in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Nsamala in Balaka where the committee visited selected SCTP beneficiaries to appreciate the programme’s results.
He said it was encouraging to note that “from the little the beneficiaries receive monthly, some have managed to build houses with iron sheets and others buying different livestock such as goats, for their growth,”
Lipipa noted that some beneficiaries invest the cash into irrigation farming and after selling crops they use the money to send their children to school.
“We wanted to see the impact if at all the programme is impacting the society and so far so good with the places we visited. We cannot have a conclusive idea as this is just one region with one sample area. The Ministry is taking us to northern and central regions and in July. We should have a conclusive report when Parliament meet.”
The Parliamentary Committee observed that delay in receiving cash was one of major setback in SCTP.
“Delay in receiving the money and devaluation of the Kwacha are setback that the beneficiaries have mentioned. These have negatively affected the beneficiaries and have since asked if there could be an increase to the money they receive,” he noted
A single mother of four children, a SCTP beneficiary, Robina Mdala, 65 hailed government’s gesture for introducing the programme in her area saying it greatly transformed her life such that she managed to build two bedroomed house, roofed with iron sheets.
“I did not have a decent house. Before this house, life was difficulty, in rainy season the house was leaking, I describe SCTP as my husband because apart from the house, I also bought goats and l am able to buy food for my family,” she added.
Social Welfare Officer responsible for SCTP, Mphatso Chisepa said 10,070 people are currently benefiting from the program with 68 percent of the total beneficiaries being from female headed households while 32 per cent is male headed.
Government introduced the SCTP in Balaka in 2013.
A call to improve performance in CSEPWP
By Vincent Khonje
Mchinji, May 16, Mana: Mchinji Director of Agriculture and Natural Resources, (DANRE) Hastings Yotamu has called for identification and addressing of challenges encountered during the previous cycle of implementation of Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CSEPWP).
He made the call during a review meeting that brought together members of the Mchinji District Environment Sub Committee (DESC) and Designated Desk Officers (DDOs) from 20 catchments in the district.
Yotamu emphasized the importance of thorough scrutiny of the previous cycle to pave the way for a more successful implementation in the upcoming phase.
"Our team is capable of achieving great things for Mchinji, but it is imperative that we adhere to norms and standards under the programme," he said.
One of the key issues highlighted during the meeting was the failure of the district to meet the allocated targets for participant enrollment.
"We need to ensure that as many participants as possible are enrolled in the programme. Failure to do so may result in other districts being allocated the number that Mchinji has failed to absorb," Yotamu added.
He underscored the significance of maintaining high-quality assets within the programme.
Guillime Catchment DDO, Thandi Kamanga, described the meeting as an enlightening experience that would greatly contribute to the successful implementation of the next cycle.
"This gathering served as an eye-opener, as we are reviewing, we will point out all the shortfalls so that the implementation of the next cycle should go on smoothly," she said.
CSEPWP, is being implemented by government and funded by the World Bank and the Multi-Donor Trust Fund, is an important component of Social Support for Resilient Livelihood Programme (SSRLP- Tidzidalire).
MSCE mock examinations star performers awarded
By Maston Kaiya
Ntcheu, May 16, Mana: Ntcheu Secondary School Awards Initiative Committee has said students need to be encouraged to aim high when sitting for their final examinations.
Chairperson for the Committee Kingsley Gwaza said this Wednesday during the presentation of awards to 10 students who have done well in Malawi School Certificate Examinations (MSCE) mock examinations.
He said the committee decided to award the learners with K 10,000 each to motivate the students as they are preparing for their final examinations,
"The aim is to restore the lost glory that the school is known for," Gwaza said.
He said they had come to their secondary school to alert the school management that the committee has secured Master Degree scholarship slots that would be offered to two teachers at the institution who would produce higher distinctions in the 2024 MSCE examinations.
"We have partnered with two institutions of higher education in India and China for the master degree program to motivate the teachers to revive the school’s academic standards which have for years faced students’ indiscipline," the Chairperson said.
Ntcheu Secondary School Head Teacher, Jilles Puma said he was hopeful that the awards would motivate both the learners and teachers to work hard.
The best 10 outstanding form four students in the MSCE mock examinations saw nine boys and a girl each being awarded.
Fisheries management agreements signed
By Chisomo Kambandanga
Nkhotakota, May 16, Mana: Director of Fisheries in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Dr Hastings Zidana has said efforts to conserve fish species in Lake Malawi are expected to improve.
This follows signing of Fisheries Management Agreements between the directorate and communities in Nkhata Bay and Nkhotakota.
Zidana said this Wednesday in Nkhotakota during an event where chiefs, sub-fisheries, associations, council officials and other stakeholders in fishing industry converged for the official signing ceremony of the agreements organized by Ripple Africa.
"By signing to this Management Agreements Plan, it means we are transferring most of the functions that were carried at central level to district councils.
“This is part of decentralization process and we expect the sub-fisheries associations to carry out their work with integrity. At the same time, we are increasing the workforce in conserving the fish resources for future generations.
"Currently, we have managed to produce 180,000 tonnes according to the 2023 survey we conducted. With this, we are expecting an increase of up to 350,000 tonnes by 2030,” Zidana said.
Country Director for Ripple Africa, Force Ngwira said the organization’s expectation was to see communities leading in managing fish resources.
"What Fisheries Department has done is to empower the community structures to play a vital role in managing fish resources in these two districts.
"Once the fishing resources, we have as a country are properly managed and utilized we are expecting better catches which will mean more money and food,” he said.
District Council Chairperson for Nkhata Bay, Osman Charge Phiri commended Ripple Africa for their continued support in the fishing industry and urged sub-fisheries associations in both districts to work hand in hand with chiefs and all stakeholders at local level.
