NEWS IN BRIEF
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By Bishop Witmos

Mangochi, October 30, Mana: Using K43 million from Constituency Development Fund (CDF), Member of Parliament for Mangochi Nkungulu, Aisha Mambo Adams constructed girls hostel at  Changali Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) to accommodate 50 girls as some of the girls travel more than 10 kilometres to attend classes.

The girls hostel was completed at the time of media tour and speaking during a media tour, Changali CDSS Deputy Head teacher, Maria Jackson told Malawi News Agency (Mana) this week that construction of the girls hostel will improve learners performance as some of the girls travel long distances to school.

She added that long distance to school was a prohibiting factor that prevents girls from proceeding with education at the expense of girls education.

‘‘Changali CDSS has learners that travel very long distances of over 10 kilometers from home to school, as a result this affects learners performance. Some learners performance, especially girls’ was not encouraging and most of the girls drop out of school.

"‘Construction of girls hostel here is a sigh of relief to learners, teachers as well as the community. This will help learners to concentrate as they will have ample time for studies,’’ said Jackson.

She therefore commended Adams as well as Mangochi District Council for constructing the hostel using the CDF.

Speaking in a separate interview, Adams, who is also Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, said she decided to construct the hostel using CDF after experiencing the same problem of long distance to school in her days in the same area.

‘‘As a woman who was born and raised in this area, I know what it means to walk a long distance to school,

‘‘Girls meet a number of challenges on their way to school. Again, unlike boys, whenever girls are back home from school, they are given a number of households chores and this prevent them from concentrating on their education,’’ said Adams.

The Mangochi Nkungulu legislator said was planning to construct another hostel at Chimwala CDSS in the constituency

Currently, Changali CDSS has an enrollment of 148 learners among them 77 girls.

Wednesday, 30 October 2024 12:06

Udolo Wanga Project addressing social issues

By Pempho Nkhoma

Blantyre, October 30, Mana: Youth Developers Collaboration Theater (YDC Theater) in partnership with HIVOS Foundation is implementing Udolo Wanga Project, which is a creative advocacy initiative aiming to address social issues impacting youths and marginalized communities in Malawi.

Key elements of the project include theater advocacy, school and youth festivals plus dialogue discussion.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Wednesday, Executive Director of YDC Theatre, Fumbani Innot Phiri said they introduced the project to empower young people to engage in critical topics like Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR), Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and mental health using arts and media.

“We are utilizing art as a platform for education and awareness in local communities and schools. We host festivals like the Udolo Wanga ghetto youth festival and the secondary school performing arts festival which encourages students and youth groups to showcase creative responses to issues such as SRHR and climate change,” he said.

He added that the project creates a safe space for young people in underrepresented areas to express themselves and advocate for change.

“Through the project we are engaging youths in discussions around topics like gender inclusion and environmental resilience,” he said.

Phiri therefore express satisfaction saying that they have reached their expected outcomes.

“We are using art-based approach, so in partnership with Blantyre District Health Office and six secondary schools within our catchment area of Bangwe and Nancholi Townships we have conducted mobile clinics, theatre advocacy, school and ghetto youth festivals, produced a music album and a cypher plus hosted a series of dialogue sessions,” he said.

In a separate interview, patron of drama club at Our Lady of Wisdom Secondary School, Fraser Mombe, commended the project saying it has created a platform for youths to contribute towards development.

“It is very important to involve the youths in dealing with social issues like climate change and GBV since they are part of the society. Since we say that youths are the future, they must help in shaping that future,” he said.

The Udolo Wanga project started in December 2023 and is expected to end in November 2024.

By George Mponda
Karonga, October 30, Mana: General Manager for Kayelekera Uranium Mine operated by Lotus Africa Limited (LAL) in Karonga Theo Keyter has pledged that the company will enhance the welfare and quality of life for residents in the district.

Keyter who was addressing a Council Meeting on Tuesday said the company will sign a Community Development Agreement (CDA) with communities within a 20 kilometre radius of the mine aimed at sustaining a good working relationship with the communities and government.

"The draft CDA has already  been reviewed by the Ministry of Mining in September and in it, we will be spending no less than 0.45 percent of our annual gross sales revenues to support development projects formulated by the communities.

If the company will be doing something wrong, dialogue is very important to reach a resolution for the common good. We believe that the communities in Karonga should be better off because we are here if not then it means we are not supposed to be here,"Keyter said.

He added that LAL will offer employment and training opportunities to Karonga locals as well as safeguard the rights of women and girls against sexual harassment, ealry marriages and exploitation within the communities.

On his part, Paramount Chief Kyungu said custodians of the land where mining activities are taking place in Malawi should benefit from the resources being taken out of their land.

"There are so many mines here in Karonga but looking around in the communities people remain poor and the district is not developing at all. There is need for Government to conduct thorough consultations before mining agreements are given to companies for communities to be benefitting,"said Kyungu.

Principal Mining Engineer in the Ministry of Mining, Reggie Makwela said government is committed to ensuring communities which surround mines are benefiting.

"The Ministry is mandated to ensure the sustainable development and utilization of mineral and petroleum resources for socioeconomic growth and development of the country," she said.

Kayelekera is 85 percent owned by Australian company Lotus which acquired it from Paladin Energy in 2020 and the Government of Malawi has a 15 percent stake in the mine.

Wednesday, 30 October 2024 12:03

CDF promotes quality education in Chitipa

By Aliko Munde

 

Chitipa, October 30, Mana: Travelling from Kapoka Trading Centre to Kayanda Village in Senior Chief Mwenemisuku one has to brave a tough ride due to its topography.

 

After travelling from Kapoka to Kalenge bridge you have to branch to the right, into a meandering dusty earth road as you go to Sokola.

 

Few kilometres before the Sokola area there is a small newly established earth road, up the Misuku Hills, that leads to Sanga Junior Primary School.

 

Driving up to Sanga Junior Primary school is not for an amateur driver but a more experienced one.

 

The school is at the top of the hill and green iron sheets can be seen twinkling from afar when one uses Misuku road to the far right.

 

The school, constructed in 2020, opened its doors in January 2023.

 

Paul Mulungu, a community member from Kayanda 1 village in Senior Chief Mwenemisuku in Chitipa District, says the area had difficulties to access quality education because the nearest school was almost 5 kilometres away.

 

“Our children could start school slightly above the enrollment age because of the long distance to school,” Mulungu explains.

 

Mulungu says after looking at the challenges for their children to access quality education in the area, the communities decided to request for a school in their area to ease the long distances learners were travelling to attain quality education.

 

“The nearest school was Chato Full Primary School, which is at a distance of 5 kilometres away. We are now happy that our children start school at the age of six,” he says.

 

He then applauds the government through Chitipa District Council for introducing Constituency Development Fund (CDF), which he says has helped the area to construct Sanga Junior Primary School.

 

He also applauds their Member of Parliament (MP) for supporting the request the communities made using constituency development fund.

 

Member of Parliament for Chitipa East where Sanga Junior Primary School is located, Kezzie Msukwa says he decided to be in support of construction of the school after seeing that children from the area were walking long distances to school and others dropped out at a tender age.

 

“From Sanga area to Chato or Sokola Primary Schools, it is about 5 kilometres. So, for learners, walking long distances to school was difficult. As a result, children from the Sanga area could start school older than the enrollment age of six,” Msukwa says.

 

Msukwa says people who were attending school from the area were few hence his decision to be in support of construction of the Sanga Junior Primary School.

 

“I intend to support construction of other school block, which will accommodate standard four to six. We want learners who are in standard three to transition to four at the same school.  We want Sanga Junior Primary School to be a complete full primary school in the next five years,” he says.

 

Leave no one behind (LNOB) is one of the six Guiding Principles of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. LNOB is the central, transformative promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

The LNOB represents the unequivocal commitment of all UN Member States to eradicate poverty in all its forms, end discrimination and exclusion, and reduce the inequalities and vulnerabilities that leave people behind and undermine the potential of individuals and of humanity as a whole.

 

A teacher at the school, Joackim Ngonya, attest to the fact that the government walk the talk by implementing what it says that it does not want to see any child drop out of school due to long distance to school.

 

Ngonya says construction works for Sanga Junior Primary School started in 2019 up to 2020. The school has enrollment of 50 learners from standard 1-3. And it was opened in January 2023 in term 2.

 

Ngonya says learners are now happy because they are accessing their education within their village saying the school has one qualified teacher and two volunteer teachers.

 

“The terrain of the area is mountainous and it was difficult for children to climb each and every day to and from school. That is why the children from the area and surrounding villages were starting school a bit older.

 

“This is now history because of the construction of Sanga Junior Primary School. This has eased the burden children and even parents were having. The learners are now able to access education less than a kilometre away from their homes,” Ngonya explains.

 

Chitipa District Education Network (DEN) Chairperson, Sydney Simwaka, describes the construction of Sanga Junior Primary School as good news to the people of Chitipa and Misuku in particular.

 

Simwaka says the Chitipa District Education Network as an education stakeholder welcomes the development as learners in the junior section were having challenges to access education due to the topography of the area.

 

“I hope the good gesture will be emulated by the other constituencies just to ensure that education services are brought closer to the people.

 

We urge the parents to utilise the facility by sending their children to school,” Simwaka says.

By Charlie Ligomeka

Machinga, October 30, Mana: Mpoya -Mdere Rice Scheme farmers in Machinga toured Mua irrigation scheme in Nkhotakota to learn scheme management and other best agricultural practices to turn the Machinga scheme into an agribusiness thing.

Mpoya-Mdere scheme farmer, Agnes Sifa said the tour to Nkhotakota was ideal adding that apart from learning irrigation farming in general, she and the rest of the farmers learnt financial management.

Sifa who is also board of trustee chairperson added that Mpoya Mdere scheme has challenges in managing finances, which prevents the scheme from doing farming as business. 

Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Projects (MWASIP) facilitated the Nkhotakota learning tour, which also provided farmers opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience in rice irrigation farming.

“We also learnt how scheme management committee and board of trustee operate to ensure effective scheme management,” she said, adding that the visiting farmers also learnt effectiveness of Bua-Water Users Association (WUA).

She explained that introduction of membership fees and byelaws that govern the scheme were things Mpoya Mdere Scheme needed to emulate to ensure sustainability.

Agricultural Extension Development Officer (AEDO) for Ntubwi Extension Planning Area (EPA) in Machinga,  Kondwani Kadewere said was impressed that Machinga farmers learnt a lot from their Nkhotakota counterparts.

The AEDO expressed hope that the Machinga farmers will implement what they learnt from the experienced Bua farmers.

“This was a learning tour and l know that they have learnt a lot from fellow farmers in Nkhotakota that farming should be regarded as business,” he added.

President for Bua WUA, Alfred Chiweza hailed the World Bank funded MWASIP for facilitating the learning tour, saying this was also an experience sharing opportunity.

He therefore encouraged collaboration among the Mpoya-Mdere Scheme members and to put in place byelaws that should help to govern the scheme for better results.

A consultant working with MWASIP, Norius Kayira said Bua Irrigation Scheme was a better thing to learn from and expressed hope that the visiting Mpoya –Mdere farmers will implement what they learnt during the tour.

She added that collaboration and good financial management were key issues for successful agribusiness.    Bua Rice Irrigation Scheme has been operating since 1976.

By Catherine Chikopa & Dalitso Kampira

Thyolo, October 30, Mana: Communities in Thyolo District have hailed government for implementing various social protection programmes such as the Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) and Climate Smart Public Works Programme (CSPWP), which are improving their livelihoods.

During the launch of Social Protection Week on Tuesday, a representative of the beneficiaries, Hamilton Lyson from Kadzuwa Village in Traditional Authority Bvumbwe said the programmes have positively impacted their community.

“The money we receive helps us buy fertilizer, food for our families and even livestock, enabling us to better support ourselves,” he said.

Lyson also appealed to government and its development partners to continue supporting the programmes, emphasizing their critical role in sustaining families’ livelihoods.

Another beneficiary, Ellen Mwanga added that the programmes have allowed their families to become self-sufficient.

“With the SCTP and CSPWP, we can now provide for our families without external help. Most of us used to beg from other people but this came to an end," she said.

Senior Chief Inkosi Bvumbwe said the CSPWP is helping participants to practice climate smart agricultural practices leading to more sustainable farming practices.

District Commissioner for Thyolo, Hudson Kuphanga expressed satisfaction with the programmes' progress, noting that beneficiaries have been able to purchase livestock, such as goats.

Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Jean Sendeza disclosed that K900 million has been allocated to cover four months of payments for beneficiaries who had not received funds previously in Thyolo.

By Vincent Khonje

Mchinji, October 30, Mana: Participants of the Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CSEPWP) in Nathyola Catchment in Mchinji are now reaping the benefits of financial empowerment through the formation of a village savings and loan (VSL) group.

After earning wages from their involvement in afforestation and natural regeneration projects, the participants established a COMSIP group to further enhance their financial stability.

Community facilitator, Michael Zyalura from Chamveka COMSIP Cluster in Traditional Authority (T/A) Mlonyeni said, COMSIP approached them to form the VSL group, and they did not hesitate to do so, saying they are now benefitting from the savings and investments they have made.

“After working on the environmental projects under the CSEPWP, the participants were told of the importance of having savings and loan groups, which led to the formation of Tikondane and Chamveka COMSIP groups under Chamveka Cluster,” said Zyalura.

The chairperson of the Tikondane COMSIP group, Andsen Mvula, said that being in a COMSIP group has improved the lives of its members.

“From the savings, members have accumulated assets like livestock and small stocks that are also helping them in terms of income and nutrition. Some are sending children to school and improving their dwelling houses,” said Mvula.

Commenting on the COMSIP groups being formed from CSEPWP, COMSIP’s Development Communication Officer, Mercy Kayuni said she was impressed with the way the groups are performing.

“We have noted resilience from these COMSIP groups and we are very impressed to see that members are benefiting from their savings which is the core purpose of the livelihood programme,” said Kayuni.

CSEPWP and COMSIP are components of the Social Support for Resilient Livelihood Programme (SSRLP) Tidzidalire.

CSEPWP is being implemented by the Malawi Government and is supported by the World Bank and the Social Protection Multi Donor Trust Fund.

Wednesday, 30 October 2024 11:53

E-payment excites traders in Thyolo

By Yamikani Yapuwa

Thyolo, October 30, Mana: Traders across Thyolo District are urging customers to adopt e-payment methods, as it is convenient as well as reduce the risk of handling huge sums of cash.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) during the Digital Financial Services (DFS) awareness campaign currently underway in Thyolo, Junis Kalikasa, a grocery shop owner at Mphande Trading Centre in the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Nsabwe expressed his support for digital payments, saying it streamlines their operations, allowing them to serve more customers with ease.

“With e-payments, I no longer struggle to find change, which used to slow us down. Even customers feel safer carrying less cash, especially in crowded markets," said Kalikasa.

He said they still face resistance from some customers because of lack of knowledge on how it works; hence, the need for more civic educate activities to reach out to more people with the messages.

An agricultural supplier at Gombe Trading Centre in the area of T/A Thukuta, Amin Jassi praised mobile wallets for their convenience, especially for rural customers who travel long distances.

“Many farmers worry about theft when they carry cash, but with mobile payments, they just bring their phones,” Jassi said.

He added that digital transactions have also made it easier to keep track of sales, benefiting his business overall.

At Luchenza Town, a shop owner Justin Mwaluza noted that e-payments reduce common cash-handling issues, including presentation of counterfeit notes as well as damaged currency.

“E-payments have made transactions much easier, especially on busy days when I do not have to worry about fake notes or damaged notes which is common here.

"The problem with damaged currency affects our businesses because normally when we take it to the bank; they give you half the value of the money you are exchanging,

“Some customers even use mobile credit to buy now and pay later, which helps me maintain steady sales," said Mwaluza.

Mwaluza, however, emphasized on the need for service providers to improve on network issues as it its intermittent supply affects payment.

The campaign's District Team Leader for Thyolo, Dr. Ella Kangaude said the campaign is focused on raising DFS awareness among merchants and the public, aiming at increasing adoption in rural areas and enhance usage in urban communities.

“We are working towards educating consumers and merchants on the benefits of DFS. Our goal is to increase public trust in these digital services and help people understand the security and convenience they offer," said Kangaude.

Kangaude added that the campaign also aims at addressing several barriers to DFS adoption, such as the uneven availability of agent banking networks, understanding customer due diligence and promoting transparency on product pricing and complaints handling.

“Through this campaign, we want to build awareness of the risks and ensure consumers know about the protection guidelines available to them,” she added.

By: Brighton Chimsinde

Mchinji, October 30, Mana: Some elderly people and persons with disabilities, who are among the vulnerable group, have described digital finance services as a rescue for their lives.

Random interviews in Mchinji District, through the ongoing digital finance services (DFS) awareness campaign, led by the Ministry of Finance in conjunction with the Reserve Bank of Malawi have revealed.

One of the elderly persons, Jefita Jason, a mechanic at Kapiri Trading Centre, in the district, said he prefers using digital finance services, considering his age and physical fitness.

“To tell the truth, digital money has come to rescue our lives. At my age, I cannot manage to struggle with thugs hence carrying or keeping a lot of cash is life risking. Thieves can easily rob me of the millions and displaying resistance they can kill me or leave me with injuries,” Jason said.

In her comment Juliet Brandson, a physically challenged person at Nyoka Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Nyoka in the district says she prefers the digital money services because it is safe and convenient.

“I have no problem with digital money and I prefer it because it is safe, convenient and easy. It also gives me the liberty to do almost everything on my phone like buying talk-time, paying various products, receiving money and among others,” Brandson said.

Team leader for the Mchinji DFS awareness campaign, Joshua Kunkumbira, said it was encouraging seeing the elderly and people with disabilities testifying about the multiple benefits of digital money.

“It is a source of encouragement and pride for us, that members of groups that were previously considered vulnerable are now sharing their testimonies regarding the significance of digital finance services,” Kunkumbira said.

Mchinji is currently conducting a 20 day DFS awareness campaign.

By Leah Malimbasa

Chikwawa, October 30, Mana: Outdoor learning often comes with distractions, and most learners fail to concentrate on lessons due to numerous disturbances associated with learning in the open among the extreme hot and comfortability.

But in Chikwawa District, where temperatures can soar up to 44 degrees Celsius, learning outside the classroom in sweltering heat is a struggle for many young learners, and sometimes, it makes learning difficult.

Fourteen-year-old Ethel Limbikani, is a learner at Gombwa Junior Primary School which opened for learning in 2021 with an enrolment of 385 learners but only had a single classroom block.

“We were learning outside, and during rainfall, classes were disturbed. When hot, it was also difficult to concentrate while sitting under the scorching sun,” says Ethel.

Such hardships caught the attention of Chikwawa Nkombedzi Constituency, Member of Parliament, Abida Mia, who is also the Minister of Water and Sanitation.

“The sad background of Gombwa Junior Primary School inspired me to engage an extra gear towards improving education standards in my constituency. Most learners were learning in the outdoors, which exposed them to harsh weather conditions; hence my intervention to make a difference,” she explains.

Determined to create more conducive learning environments in her constituency, the MP mobilised K46. million from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and built a new classroom block at Gombwa Junior Primary School. 

According to the school’s head teacher, Chikwasha Simba Jimu, learners are no longer left at the mercy of harsh weather conditions, saying they comfortable, learning in a safe and well-structured space. 

Jimu says the MP, Chikwawa District Council and other stakeholders closely monitored the CDF procurement process and made careful follow-ups on project funds.

“Through close scrutiny, we were able to monitor how the project was progressing together with local structures such as Area Development Committees (ADC), Village Development Committees (VDC) and project committees to ensure that community members had a stake in the project. The learning structure also transformed the physical landscape of the school and the attitudes of teachers and learners alike, 

“The new classroom block has eased the burden of overcrowding, allowing teachers to conduct lessons in a comfortable environment while giving each learner the space they need to engage fully in their studies,” says Jimu.

Chikwawa District Council’s Director of Education, Youth and Sports, Gertrude Zimba concurs with Jimu on the broad impact the development has on education in the district.

“The Ministry of Education recommends a classroom ratio of 1:60. However, in Chikwawa an average classroom has 132 learners.

“This reduces interaction between teachers and learners as overcrowded classrooms make it difficult for teachers to give each student the attention they deserve, ultimately impacting learning outcomes,” says Zimba.

She adds that quality classroom infrastructure is essential for delivering education that meets national and global standards.

Aligned with the Malawi 2063 vision, which prioritizes human capital development, investments in educational facilities play a crucial role in building the foundation for a skilled and educated population.

The new classrooms also support Sustainable Development Goal 4, which aims for inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

To ensure the classroom block remains in good condition, Zimba emphasises a collaborative approach. 

“We will work together with teachers, learners, and the community and the district council will allocate funds for ongoing maintenance, safeguarding this valuable resource for future generations,” she adds.

Meanwhile, Senior Group Village Head, Nzangaya expresses gratitude to both the government and Mia for working to improve education standards in the area. 

He adds: “Our children were covering about six kilometres on foot to the nearby school, but this new classroom block will ease our children’s tiresome treks to other schools. 

“We have already employed two security guards to help us safeguard the new classroom block for the benefit of future students.”

Quality classroom infrastructure is essential for delivering education that meets national and global standards. Aligned with the Malawi 2063 vision, which prioritizes human capital development, investments in educational facilities play a crucial role in building the foundation for a skilled and educated population. Such projects also support Sustainable Development Goal 4, which aims for inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

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