MANAonline
Poet in mental health awareness campaign
By Vida Msiyo
Blantyre, October 11, Mana: Based on a report that 246 men and 35 women have died of suicide, one artist, Maxwell Mnjemu, is using his poetry to spread messages of hope to encourage people not to give up on life.
Mnjemu, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Lino Security Services, told Malawi News Agency (Mana) that he wrote a poem to address mental health disorder.
Through his poem, Mnjemu hopes to reach those struggling with mental health issues, reminding them that life is worthy living no matter how difficult it may be.
“I wrote this poem to let people know that even in their darkest times, there is hope, I want people to realize that there is always light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how tough life might be,” he said.
In addition to poetry, Mnjemu develops messages on posters and stickers carrying the same message of hope.
Executive Director of the Mental Health Users and Carers Association (MeHUCA), Memory Bismarck commended Mnjemu’s efforts stressing the importance of using artistic platforms to raise mental health awareness.
“Poetry and other forms of art have a unique way of reaching people, while they are entertained, they also receive the message making it a very effective method of disseminating information about mental health,” she said.
This year’s World Mental Health Day theme focuses on; mental health in the workplace,
Bismarck therefore emphasized that employers should priorities their employees’ mental well-being as stress and depression can severely impact productivity.
“Mental health must be taken seriously at work, many men don’t open up about their mental health issues, which leads to tragic consequences, that’s why we’re seeing more men taking their own lives,” she said.
Bismarck called on organizations to collaborate with MeHUCA to establish free, private counseling centers where individuals can seek help without fear of stigma.
Malawi joined the world to observe World Mental Day on October 10 under the theme: “It’s time to priorities mental health in the work place; health work force is the best workforce.
Minister hails PIH launch of ICU, dialysis machine in Lilongwe
By Leonard Masauli
Lilongwe, October 11, Mana: The Deputy Minister of Health, Halima Alima Daud has hailed the launch of a multimillion Kwacha Intensive Care Unit and a dialysis machine at Partners in Hope (PIH), saying it will help to increase quality health care provision in the country.
Speaking after the launch on Friday afternoon, the Deputy Minister said the initiative is timely and will help to improve health care service provision to people in need of such services across the country.
“We are excited as government for the initiative by PIH, as you know we have these two units at Kamuzu Central Hospital, but we are always overwhelmed. So, this is good to offer an alternative and decongest the Central hospital and this means other patients will be coming here.
“As government we need more of these, because much as we have such services at PIH and Kamuzu Central, but they are not enough,” said Daud.
Executive Director at PIH, Dr Agness Moses, said PIH saw the gap of dialysis and Intensive Care Unit services in Lilongwe, and thought to cover the challenges by establishing the two units.
“We have invested a lot, and over a 100,000 USD for this initiative supported by African Mission Health Care Organization from Uganda.
“Malawians should expect that the two units will improve access and availability of ICU and dialysis services. People who could not be accommodated at the limited services such as the dialysis will have chance to come at PIH. Similarly for the ICU, people will be helped in case of critical illnesses,” said Dr. Moses.
Dr Moses said PIH works to align with priorities of government, and dialysis services as well as ICU demands are higher, hence the establishment of the two units to complement such effort.
About 50 patients have so far accessed the services at the facility since January this year.
Flames donated three points to Senegal
By Happy Milanzi
Lilongwe October 11 Mana: The Malawi National Team (The Flames) on Friday donated three points and four goals to Senegal in the 2025 African Cup qualifiers competition.
The match which took place in Senegal has demolished hopes for the team to go to the African Cup of Nations competition to take place in Morocco in 2025.
The team lost four to zero in their third match, minimizing hopes to participate in the competition.
Devie Banda, a sports analyst said although the team is remaining with three games, the future looks not promising.
"It is sad that our national team has little chance to qualify for 2025 African Cup of Nations since it has not managed to get even a single point from the three games played," he said.
The team is now expected to host Senegal at Bingu National Stadium on 15 October this year.
The team which has played three games with no point registered, has so far conceded ten goals.
Karonga district registers increase in sexual crimes
By Patience Harawa
Karonga, October 12, Mana: Karonga District has recorded a 100 percent increase in sexual related crimes this year as compared to the previous quarter of 2023 with a total of 16 cases so far recorded.
Officer in Charge for Karonga Police Station, Deputy Commissioner of Police Kelvin Mulezo revealed this on Saturday during a Station Executive Committee (SEC) meeting.
Mulezo said; "In the 2024 quarterly crime analysis of the months of July, August and September, we have registered 16 sexual cases which involved indecent assault, rape, sexual intercourse with a minor, while in 2023 during the same period we registered eight cases which shows a 100 percent increase.
"We have also registered 29 assaults crimes which involve murder, grievous harm, unlawful wounding and common assaults, against 21 cases recorded last year, which translate to a 38 percent increase.
Mulezo said the district has seen a 12.5 percent decrease in robberies with seven cases recorded, against last year`s eight. As for breakings and theft, we have recorded 39 cases while last year we had 34, representing a 14.7% increase, “he said.
The Officer In charge expressed worry over increasing number of defilement cases, saying they have been a major concern.
He said the community police was actively working to curb the malpractice and revealed plans to increase patrols, particularly in hotspot areas.
‘We have been sensitizing people about the gravity of sleeping with minors, and this led to more reports of such incidents and we are committed to ensuring the safety and security of our communities," he said.
Karonga Police Station SEC Chairperson, Felix Mwakyanjala urged the police to collaborate with the community police to identify and apprehend perpetrators.
‘We need to work together to stop theses illegal activities in our villages and as community members, we have a critical role to play in preventing crime and maintain law and order. We must report suspicious activities, support the police and protect our homes’ Mwakyanjala said.
He commended the police for its effort, but said it needed to do more and consider engaging the youth and sensitize them on the value of respecting the law.
Community Police Forum Chairperson, Joyce Mwangonde, emphasized the importance of community involvement urging the community to take ownership of crime prevention initiatives and support the police.W
WV advocates for Girl Child empowerment.
By Paul Madise
Lilongwe, October 12, Mana: As Malawi commemorates the 2024 International Day of the Girl Child, World Vision`s (WV) Country Advocacy and Communications Manager, Charles Gwengwe, has appealed for multi-sectoral interventions to ensure that the girl child`s future is safeguarded.
Gwengwe was speaking during a press briefing at WV offices in Lilongwe on Friday in commemoration of International Girl Child Day which falls on 11th October each year as a global event dedicated to raising awareness on the unique challenges girls face worldwide, with emphasis on girl child empowerment.
In his address, Gwengwe expressed satisfaction with child protection programs being implemented, highlighting that the initiative crucial role is to address issues of gender inequality, child marriage and access to education and healthcare.
WV Country Advocacy Campaign and Safeguarding Manager, Lizzie Lombe called for the prioritization of essential nutrition actions and services, further advising for a comprehensive approach to address gender-specific challenges that aggravates malnutrition.
“We also need to ensure that girls are provided with the necessary nutritious food so that they can attend classes and participate fully to achieve their dreams.” She said.
Students from Nkhoma Community Day Secondary School, Naomi Richman and Violet Phiri who are some of the beneficiaries of the WV Program appealed for targeted interventions to address malnutrition to ensure girls' survival and well-being.
This year’s International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC2024) is being cerebrated under the theme "Girl’s Vision for the Future," emphasizing the incredible potential of girls to shaping a brighter tomorrow.
Minister encourages youths to acquire digital skills
By Charlie Ligomeka
Machinga, October 11: Minister of Youth and Sports, Uchizi Mkandawire has encouraged youths in Malawi to be ambitious by acquiring digital skills as the world is in a digital revolutionary era that requires adequate digital knowledge to equate themselves with fellow youths globally.
Mkandawire said this during International Youth Day commemoration at Mgodi Primary School at Nsanama in Machinga District on Friday.
The minister appealed to the youths to use digital platforms and gadgets in a way that should assist them to gain more digital skills and knowledge.
The International Youth Day is annually commemorated on 12th August, all over the world to reflect roles young people play in bringing change on global issues to achieve sustainable development, besides raising awareness on challenges young people face.
Malawi commemorated the International Youth Day under the theme; “Youth Digital, Pathways for the Achievement of Malawi 2063”
The minister said the theme resonates well with the key priority number 3 of the National Youth Policy on Information, Communications and Technology (ICT), adding that there was need to digitally empower the youth.
“Digital empowerment is essential for the achievement of the MW2063 key strategic pillars namely Agriculture Productivity and Commercialization, Industrialization and Urbanization.
“If our youths are equipped with digital skills and knowledge, they have potential to transform key sectors of development thereby contributing to the economic growth of the country. This will turn Malawi into an inclusively wealth and self-reliant nation," he said.
Mkandawire added that digital spaces have proven to be reliable platforms for youth engagement and participation on emerging issues.
“With the growing use of mobile phones, the digital revolution is broadening pathways for youth engagement with decision makers. Through social media, young people are able to amplify their voices in matters of national interest thereby influencing development,” he added.
The minister therefore assured the youths that the Government was doing all it could to implement programmes that enhance access and utilization of digital services among young people.
He highlighted interventions that his ministry had done citing construction of ICT labs in existing community colleges in collaboration with Ministry of Labour as one way of expanding access to ICT among rural youth.
National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM), Executive Director, Rex Chapota said it was important to make most digital platforms accessible to the youths.
“The world is digital and we need our youths to be digital conversant. This will enable them to easily access things that affect their lives," he said.
The NYCOM Executive Director observed that many young people in the rural areas have no access to digital tools, saying there was need to do something about this so that the rural youths also have an opportunity to access the digital platforms just as their urban counterparts.
UNFPA Deputy Representative to Malawi, Dr. Ezizgeldi Hellenov, said his organization was working hand in hand with Malawi Government to achieve Malawi Vision 2063 through United Nations, Sustainable Development operation framework.
“We are working together with Malawi Government in achieving Malawi Vision 2063 and we need youths to be digitally organized. The youths need to access information that should address issues affecting their lives and education,” he added.
The United Nations designated August 12 as International Youth Day, a day set aside by governments and other stakeholders to celebrate young people and their contributions to development.
The day also reflects on various issues that affect the youths around the world.
Salima District to roll out Social Cash Transfer's E-payments
By Lekereni Chinkhota
Salima, October 12, Mana: Salima District Council will soon transition from paying beneficiaries of Social Cash Transfer hard cash to electronic payment as one way of shortening the payment procedures.
Speaking on Friday during the council meeting, Social Welfare Officer responsible for Social Cash Transfer at Salima District Council, Thumbiko Mbale highlighted that the adoption is aimed at easing the mobility of people who travel long distances to access the payments.
“We are migrating from manual payment to e-payment because we believe that this process will help beneficiaries to receive cash in good time. It will also help in efficiency and transparency because it will just be from service providers to the beneficiaries’ accounts," he said.
Mbale said his office has already engaged Telekom Network of Malawi (TNM) as the service provider that will be responsible for the payments through its service TNM Mpamba.
"TNM has already assured us to address network issues that many complain about by mounting transmitters as a way to boost their network in these areas where they have problems accessing their services,” he said.
Expressing her excitement about the initiative, Traditional Authority Maganga said the initiative is welcomed because it will ease the challenges many beneficiaries were facing in accessing the payments.
“We had security reasons after beneficiaries received their payments they were being attacked. The e-payment will also reduce the misuse of money that most people were involved in by buying unnecessary things," she said.
She however expressed disappointment with the use of the Unified Beneficiary Registry (UBR) system to identify beneficiaries suggesting that the UBR is outdated and it is not serving the intended purpose other than bringing chaos as people think community leaders have a hand in the selection process.
“The use of the UBR system disappoints us because we see people who have already graduated and are ineligible benefiting from the services. We know the deserving and the ultra-poor, but they are left out because the UBR picks some who already have something to earn a living," she said.
The e-payment will commence in November and is targeted to reach out 11,400 households in the district.
Other districts already using the e-payment include Mangochi, Machinga, Chitipa, Likoma and Mchinji.
Tsangano EPA of Ntcheu learns from Nkhate Irrigation scheme in Chikwawa
By Maston Kaiya
Ntcheu, October 12, Mana: Ntcheu District Irrigation Officer Limbani Mzembe has said the council appreciate the efforts by the Malawi WaterShed Services Improvement Project (MWASIP) for building the capacity of farmers through Water Users Association (WUA) development.
Mzembe made the remarks on Friday after Tsangano Extension Planning Area (EPA) farmers of Ntcheu district, made a learning visit to Nkhate Irrigation Scheme in Chikwawa.
"From this MWASIP-funded visit to Chikwawa, we have learnt among other things that the scheme inclusively manages to support the marginalized communities and the vulnerable.
“The economic empowerment is also guaranteed through improved productivity of the irrigation scheme such as Nkhate," said Mzembe.
He commended the project for promoting food security, which is also one of the priority areas in Ntcheu District Development Plan (DDP).
For his part, Chikwawa District Irrigation Officer Stewart Chibwana said the biggest challenge for Nkhate farmers has been climate change.
"The water flow is now less to suffice the hectarage of the scheme due to climate change," said Chibwana.
Thava Water Users Association President Joy Sitima assured stakeholders that his association will use the knowledge gained from the Nkhate Irrigation scheme.
"There are a lot of things that we have learnt which are commendable to replicate," said Sitima.
Crops including rice, maize, beans, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes are grown in the 243 hectares Nkhate irrigation scheme.
Nkhoma synod to distribute food items in Salima
By Fostina Mkandawire
Salima, October 12, Mana: The Church of Central African Presbyterian (CCAP) Nkhoma synod has disclosed that 1700 households affected by El Nino in Salima district will receive food assistance for the next five months.
Speaking on Thursday during a District Executive Committee meeting, the synod's General Secretary Reverend Vasco Kachipapa said the church will from October to March 2025 be distributing the assorted food items in the areas that were affected.
"The areas that have been identified to receive food assistance are those that have been heavily affected by food shortage so that they should be relieved," he said.
According to Kachipapa, the church has received funding from their partners World Renew and Canadian Food Grain Bank amounting to K869 million which will be used during the exercise.
He said as a church they believe in helping the needy so that they can see the love of God through the good deeds of the church.
"The Malawi Vulnerable Assessment Committee report over 5.7 million people in the country are likely to be food insecure in the next few months, therefore we are collaborating with the government to alleviate the hunger that most families will face before the next harvesting season," he said.
Meanwhile, Salima district's Disaster Risk Management Officer Gloria Chinangwa said what the CCAP church has done is worth emulating.
Chinangwa said the district appreciates collaboration from stakeholders in lessening the effects of El Nino since most families are food insecure therefore more assistance is needed.
"We will also start maize distribution in all the 12 Traditional Authorities in the district, this is meant to ensure that families are cushioned," she said.
World Renew and CCAP work together to improve local healthcare systems through maternal and child health programmes and help families achieve long-term food security.
Deputy IG Chalera laid to rest
By Wanangwa Tembo
Kasungu, October 12, Mana: Deputy Inspector General of Malawi Police Service responsible for operations Late Casper Chalera has been laid to rest at his home in the area of Senior Chief Lukwa in Kasungu District.
Aged 59, Chalera succumbed to a heart attack on Tuesday in Lilongwe.
At exactly 1:35 pm on Friday, Chalera's casket was lowered to the ground with fanfare and a gun salute in a police funeral drill.
Representing President Dr Lazarus Chakwera, Malawi Congress Party Regional Chairman for the Centre, Zebron Chilondola described the late Chalera as an asset in the police who ensured that there is a cordial relationship between the service and communities.
"The President is saddened by the demise of Mr Chalera and extends his condolences to the family and the entire Malawi Police Service.
"The country has lost a humble and hardworking man who could relate well with everyone and was a bridge between the public and the police service," Chilondola said.
In his eulogy, Senior Chief Lukwa said the Late Chalera was a role model to the youths in Kasungu.
"As a son of Kasungu, he was a pride for us and a role model to boys and girls because of his exploits that saw him rise and attain a senior managerial position in the police.
"We thank the Inspector General for the love and the good work you showed and did to our son. We know the President also loved him," Lukwa said.
He appealed to the chiefs in the area and family members to ensure that the widow and the children are protected and own the deceased estate.
Representatives of the family and Malawi Police Service described the Late Chalera as a loving and hard-working person.
Police Inspector General Merlyne Yolamu, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Madalitso Kazombo, Kasungu District Commissioner James Kanyangalazi, chiefs and political party functionaries attended the ceremony.
Born in 1965, the Late Chalera joined the police service in 1988 and was appointed Deputy Inspector General of Police responsible for operations in 2022.
He is survived by a wife and three children.
