MANAonline
Serengeti Energy handed over K88 million projects
By Innocent Chunga
Nkhotakota, April 25, Mana: Serengeti Energy Limited Wednesday handed over two houses to two vulnerable community members and 60 mattresses to Kasamba Community Day Secondary School in the area of Senior Chief Malengachanzi in Nkhotakota.
Speaking at Kasamba Community Day Secondary School, Plant Manager for Nkhotakota Solar Power under Serengeti Energy Limited, Paul Mhango, said they would continue supporting the people surrounding the plant through programmes that include Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
He highlighted that as private power producers in the country, they would continue supporting communities based on their different needs in the district.
"We have done the two projects to a total budget of K88 million as part of our CSR package to the communities surrounding the solar energy plant and we will continue assisting them through such projects in the district," Mhango said.
Headteacher for Kasamba Community Day Secondary School, Precious Kacholala, said the support of mattresses has come at the right time saying they will be used by female students that will be residing at the school once the water is restored at the hostels at the facility.
One of the beneficiaries of the two houses at Liwewe 2 Village, Hajat Amidu applauded Serengeti Energy Limited for their timely intervention.
"Thank you Serengeti for remembering me in my tough times, I was staying in a tiny mud house, if it is possible, do the same to more people surrounding your company help them also," she appealed.
Serengeti Energy Limited produces 21 megawatts and adds to the national grid from solar power in Nkhotakota, plans are underway to have another plant in the area which will have its CSR focused on uplifting the lives of people surrounding the plant in the district.
Malawi signs a charter with Africa Strategy Mining Group
By Rennie Tembo
Lilongwe, April 25, Mana: Malawi has signed a charter with Africa Strategy Mining Group, which would assist in transforming the nation through sustainable mineral extraction.
Speaking during the signing ceremony on Wednesday, Minister of Mining Monica Chang’anamuno said the agreement would help safe guarding the country’s minerals and address issues affecting companies and miners.
By signing the pact, Malawi becomes an official member of the group.
“I am very happy with what we have achieved through this Mining Investment Forum and am very optimistic of the positive impact the agreement is going to bring.
“For a long time we have not been working as a team, as a result others have been taking advantage of us by taking our raw materials and benefiting from our natural resources, so its high time African countries benefit from the mining industry,” she said.
Chang’anamuno thanked President, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera for showing commitment in transforming the mining industry in the country.
She urged the stakeholders and investors to continue with the spirit of collaboration, sharing knowledge and experiences in mining and also conserve the environment as they do mining activities in different sites.
Secretary General for Africa Strategy Mining Group, Moses Engadu said this agreement would play an important role in growing the mining sector and to get fair deals to Malawi and other African countries.
“As we all know Africa has vast quantity of mineral resources, but often times we do not benefit from these minerals and our duty is to negotiate better deals and foster collaboration among our countries.
“This agreement then will help us explore opportunities hence improving the mining sector, which can be instrumental in boosting the economy and improving the livelihood of our people by creating worth, job and business opportunities,’’ he said.
Engadu noted that lack of technical skills among miners, oneness, lack of funding and insufficient resources that are required to exploit minerals being some of the challenges affecting the growth of the mining sector.
Sovereign Services Limited’s Technical Manager, Andries Kruges said he was very optimistic that the agreement would help them know what their colleagues are doing and it’s going to address some of the problems that were affecting mining companies.
The two-day Malawi Mining Investment Forum was held under the Theme “Transforming the Nation through Sustainable Mineral Extraction”.
Bottom sides have daunting fixtures
By Tione Andsen
Lilongwe, April 25, Mana: Bottom three sides in the TNM Super League have daunting fixtures this coming weekend as they face inform teams in the week four of the season.
The three sides are Dedza Dynamos, Baka City and Bangwe All Stars who are yet to register a win for the season and are in relegation battles.
Dedza have managed two draws against FCB Nyasa Big Bullets 1-1, Silver Strikers 1-1 and lost 3-0 on the road against Civil Service United.
Baka City lost in a Karonga derby 1-0, got beaten Mzuzu Hammers 2-1 and drew with Mafco 1-1.
Bangwe All Stars have lost two away games against FOMO 1-0, Silver Strikers 3-1 and drew with Karonga United 1-1 at home.
This weekend, Dedza Dynamos is on the road to face Moyale Barracks who are on third place on the log in Mzuzu Stadium on Sunday.
The game promises more fireworks as the home side have won two game against Mafco 2-1 and Civil Service United 3-0.
Dedza Dynamos have proved to be tough playing at home and have not done well playing away and in their second outing they need to collect maximum points.
Newcomers, Baka City will play against FCB Nyasa Big Bullets who are fifth on the table at Kamuzu Stadium on Saturday.
They will be playing a team that has not won any game at home this season and they are coming from a 3-0 win over Chitipa United last Sunday in Karonga.
Baka City should brace themselves for highly competitive game owing to the fact that the defending champions will be looking for maximum points in order to enhances their championship ambitions.
Current league leaders, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers will on Sunday be hosted by Bangwe All Stars at Mpira Stadium.
The Nomads have won twice against FOMO 3-0, Creck Sporting 3-0 and were forced to a 1-1 draw against Kamuzu Barracks at Kamuzu Stadium.
Bangwe All Stars need to work outside the box if they are to stop wanderers which is in a great scoring form.
A win for Wanderers will increase their points tally to 10 points from four games while for Bangwe they will jump out of relation zone.
Another epic battle is on Saturday in Area 47, while second placed Silver Strikers will play host to Mafco.
Mafco’s form this season has started on a bad note and they need to pull up their socks in order to register a catch up win.
They lost to Moyale 2-1 in their opening match, they drew with Kamuzu Barracks 1-1 at home and they pulled 0-0 against Baka City away.
A Soccer fan from New Gulliver in Lilongwe, Dick Bester viewed that the three bottom sides need to play with their lungs out if they are to move out of drop zone.
“They are all capable of turning the tables if they put up a hard working spirit. They need to start collecting maximum points in order to survive in the league,” he said.
Another Football follower from Kawale, Nelson Phiri said the fixtures will provide a litmus test for the three teams.
He said the three teams should expect tough encounters and they should avoid losses with big margins.
The TNM Super League weekend fixture as follows and kick off 2:30 pm.
Saturday:
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets vs Baka City @ Kamuzu Stadium
Silver Strikers vs Mafco @ Silver Stadium
Creck Sporting vs Mzuzu City Hammers @ Civo Stadium
Sunday:
FOMO vs Chitipa United @ Mulanje Park
Karonga United vs Mighty Waka Tigers @ Karonga Stadium
Civil Service United vs Kamuzu Barracks @ Civo Stadium
Bangwe All Stars vs Mighty Mukuru Wanderers @ Mpira Stadium
Moyale vs Dedza Dynamos @ Mzuzu Stadium
Inadequate funds affecting roads rehabilitation
By Thandie Chinthambi
Mzuzu, April 25, Mana: Mzuzu City Council has revealed that inadequate funding was having an effect on progress to rehabilitate roads which are in bad shape in the City.
Spokesperson for the Council, McDonald Gondwe disclosed this Wednesday that the Council was aware of challenges which road users are experiencing due to the state of most roads within.
He said once the Council acquires adequate funds from government, it would ensure maintenance works on the dilapidated roads are made.
"We do acknowledge that most roads are not in good condition and we want to assure the residents of Mzuzu that we are doing our best to ensure that rehabilitation happens as soon as possible", Gondwe said.
The Spokesperson said as one way of finding a solution to the problem, the council has advertised for contractors who would work on the road rehabilitation project while waiting for funding from government.
One of the Taxi Operators in Mzuzu, Captain Lucky said as taxi operators, they are usually faced with potholes in roads in the course of their work which brings them problems.
"It becomes difficult for us to operate as the roads are full of potholes. May the council please help us in maintaining the roads around the city", Lucky said.
Another road user, Mphatso Chigona said the condition of the roads endangers people's lives as accidents are inevitable.
"As bicycle operators, we sometimes get involved in road accidents as we try to avoid the potholes. We will be grateful once the roads have been maintained," he said.
All set for Tanzania Union Day celebrations
By Sylvester Kumwenda
Dares Salaam, April 25, Mana: Vice President, Dr Saulos Chilima is expected to attend the 60th commemoration of the Union Day of Tanganyika and Zanzibar on Friday which will be held at Uhuru Kenyata Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The Celebrations are held annually to mark the creation of the United Republic of Tanzania when the Republic of Tanganyika and The Peoples Republic of Zanzibar exchanged articles of union on April 22, 1964, and became one state from April 26, 1964.
The Union was inaugurated by President, Julius Nyerere of Tanganyika and Sheik Abeid Aman Karume, leader of the Revolutionary Government in Zanzibar.
Chilima is set to arrive in Tanzania on Thursday for the celebrations which represent unity kinship, common struggle, and vision amongst the people of the former two sovereign states.
President of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan is expected to lead the commemorations.
Currently, preparations are at an advanced state for one of Tanzania’s big days, which will be graced by Heads of State and dignitaries from other African countries like Namibia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, South Africa amongst others.
School block improves learner’s performance
By Salome Gangire
Neno, April 24, Mana: Learners at Nandzanga Primary School in Neno District have hailed Neno District Council for constructing a K35 million classroom block under Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) which will accommodate learners in senior classes that used to travelled long distances to access education.
Before the construction of the school block, standard 7 and 8 learners were travelling up to 10 kilometres to another school to access education as Nandzanga was a junior primary school that only enrolled standard 1 to 5 learners due to limited classrooms.
A standard 8 learner, Gift Mphalumo said on Wednesday that before the construction of the school block, most learners were not performing well in class due to fatigue as result of long distances.
“We are now learning in a good environment but also not travelling long distances which has greatly improved our performances in class,” Mphalumo said.
Nandzanga School Head teacher, Patuma Mkango said the new classroom block has provided a better learning environment and was sure this will continue improving leaners performance.
She disclosed that the school registered a 100 percent pass rate in last year’s Primary School Leaving Certificates of Education (PSLCE) examinations.
Mkango added that all the 22 candidates that sat for PSLCE examinations passed and were selected to various secondary schools including Community Day Secondary Schools.
“In the past standard 6 learners were transferred to other schools which were far away. This also affected their performance because they were travelling long distances,” she added.
In the meantime standard 6 learners are accommodated under a shelter used for school feeding programme which members of the community built to bridge the gap.
According to school authorities, a new block is under construction with funds from Malawi Education Reform Programme to accommodate the standard 6 learners.
Chief Education Officer (CEO) for Neno, Sonnex Likharuwe said the council was committed to provide conducive learning environment for quality education
He added said that the new school block has helped to upgrade the junior school into a full primary school which has also turned the school into an examination centre for standard 8 learners.
The CEO added that the additional block also minimised school dropouts in senior classes as leaners (in senior classes) from Joliji village access education with short distance.
“In the past, most learners were dropping out of school in senior classes as they were travelling long distances to attend schools to nearby schools which are far,” he said.
Director of Planning and Development for Neno District Council, Charles Lomoni said construction of Nandzanga Primary School block supported by GESD has reduced learner-classroom ratio.
“The classroom block has also managed to improve learning environment as this has been a dream for the district. Our district has not been performing well in the past,” he said.
Nyalonje hails partners for donations
By Patience Longwe
Lilongwe, April 24, MANA: Minster of Labour, Agnes Nyalonje has said review of labour laws is important in the productivity of labour officers because currently work environment is changing due to global economic crises that challenge both business and government.
Speaking in Lilongwe on Wednesday during the 2024 annual labour conference, Nyalonje said current changes require resources for officers to flexibly respond to circumstances, as such donations received from partners will help officers to achieve sustainable development.
"With the help of partners I am happy to report that the Ministry has secured a donation of 20 motor cycles from Limbe Leaf, which will soon be distributed to the beneficiary districts. We have also received a donation of six motor vehicles from the EU Zantchito project and two motor vehicles from JTI.
"Labour officers are the public face of the Ministry of Labour, with responsibility to provide guidance on, and enforce, the labour laws which promote decent work standards that are internationally recognised as critical for sustainable economic development.
In his remarks, EU Zantchito Project Consultant, Johannes Mandowa said review of labour laws is eminent because of the new developments happening in working sector.
Mandowa said there is need to sharpen labour laws in relation to new work dynamics for the workers to be efficient in the country.
"There is a lot happening out there, the proliferation of formal sector and medium enterprise needs a review in order to promote decent work," He said.
He added that there is a need to bring cooperation in work sector in order to thrush out areas that hinders efficient work.
"Labour officers are promoters of decent work so we are bringing them together in this year's annual labour conference with an aim to bring cooperation. We want to standardize the application of work environment," He said.
MRA refunds around K9.5 billion to tobacco farmers
By Robert Katuli
Lilongwe, April 24, Mana: The Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) has paid back about K9.5 billion to tobacco farmers in the country as refund for the deductions the farmers were subjected to between 2014 and 2019.
This was disclosed on Wednesday at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe during a meeting between MRA and tobacco farmers.
MRA Deputy Commissioner (Lilongwe Domestic Taxes) Janet Kholowa said the Authority was applying and deducting withholding tax on the farmers’ tobacco sales at the auction floors at a rate of three percent from 2014.
"When a farmer brought his or her tobacco to the auction floors, there was a law that mandated the auction to withhold three percent from the sales.
"It was now up to the farmer to bring the financial accounts of the business to MRA so that we could see whether the farmer made profits or not," she explained.
Kholowa further said that this was like making the deductions in advance before properly assessing the profits the farmer made.
"Many times we could see that the farmer never made any profits at all, so that he wasn't supposed to be deducted withholding tax or was not supposed to pay tax, hence we had to process a refund to the farmer. So, this amount is from 2014," she added.
A representative of the tobacco farmers, Lyson Artwell Banda, who is also Group Village Head Kasangazi, confirmed that MRA has refunded them their money from 2014 to 2019.
"The money reached this amount because we weren't getting refunds in the past. We are thankful to the current administration, as it has initiated so many things for the good of the farmer.
"In the past years, we weren't benefitting from our tobacco farming because of the taxes that weren't helping us. We were, however, lucky in 2020 when this government reduced the tax at the auction floors from three percent to one percent," said Banda.
The one percent rate of the withholding tax, which Banda is referring to, was arrived at by government, through MRA, as a way of correcting the situation and doing away with the past anomalies.
The new rate is also being calculated basing on the total tobacco sales and not profits, as it was the case before.
With this arrangement, the tobacco farmers have now no need of providing MRA with any information about how their business has performed and, on the other hand, MRA has also been spared from going through the process of refunding the farmers whenever they have not made profits.
The total amount of money, K9,491,710,628,12, has been refunded to a total of 14,800 farmers' clubs, with one club comprising at least ten members.
Five netted in Mzuzu for stealing Escom property
By Blessings Preston Memena and Tracy Mtegha.
Mzuzu, April 24, Mana: Mzuzu Police have arrested five people in Sonda for alleged theft of property belonging to Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom).
Speaking Wednesday in an interview with Malawi News Agency, Assistant Public Relations Officer for Mzuzu Police Station, Rose Chipyola said the suspects were arrested on Tuesday following a report from Escom’s security officers who were on duty in the night of Monday at Mazamba in Chikangawa area.
According to Chipyola, the officers intercepted a motorcycle rider transporting property suspected to belong to Escom and the suspect managed to escape.
“The officers intercepted the rider who abandoned the motorcycle with Escom wire on it. They then reported the issue to Mchengautuba Police Unit where detectives through intelligence collection managed to arrest the rider,” said Chipyola.
Shen added that later, police arrested four other suspects at Sonda after they were suspected of melting stolen Escom wire to make aluminum pots.
“The suspects are currently in police custody for further investigation and had their property confiscated,” Chipyola said.
She said the suspects are, Manson Simbeye 30 of Namapanje Village, Raymond Simbeye 35 of Bulamawe Village both from Traditional Authority (TA) Wenya Chitipa District.
“The others are Shadreck Sambo 20 from Mwaphoka Village under TA Kabunduli in Nkhata Bay District, Patrick Mpepu 29 of Maholya Village and Emmanuel Bamusi 42 of Mukumpha Village both under TA Nkhumba in Phalombe District,” said Chipyola
Mwanza SCTP beneficiaries told to buy maize to address food shortage
By Brian Wasili
Mwanza, 23 April, Mana: Minister of Gender, Community development and social welfare, Jean Sendeza has called on Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) beneficiaries in Mwanza to buy maize to be in line with government's objective of addressing food insecurity among households that have no food in the district
The minister made the call at the launch of Vertical Expansion Lean Season Response and Horizontal Expansion Lean Season Response under SCTP at Mofati Village in the area of Inkosi Kanduku Maseko in Mwanza on Tuesday.
“This cash is not meant for beers or polygamy but to buy maize so that households should have some food and even multiply the money through some investments,” said Sendeza.
Among 8,443 households that are expected to benefit from the initiative, 1,858 are already on the SCTP and will receive K200, 000 cash with some top ups covering a period of four months under Vertical Expansion Lean Season Response.
The rest will receive K200, 000 for the same period under Horizontal Expansion Lean Season Response that is targeting non-members of SCTP who also received maize from Department of Disaster Management Affairs.
European Union (EU) Ambassador to Malawi, Rune Skinnebach commended the cordial relationship which exists between Malawi and EU on social protection and other development initiatives in the country.
“EU is committed to ensuring that Malawians are alleviated from poverty through our partnership,” said Skinnebach.
A SCTP beneficiary, Janet Sitiyanjana 46, from Tchereni Village at Inkosi Kanduku Maseko area hailed government for the intervention, saying this will improve her household food situation.
“I went to tailoring school using the money I received last time in order to sustain and expand source of income. This helped me to send my children to school,” said Sitiyanjana, a mother four children.
Member of Parliament for Mwanza Central Nicholas Dausi commended government for launching the initiative in the district saying this was a commitment to address hunger situation in the district.
