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No work, no allowances: Karonga DOs warned
By George Mponda
Karonga, March 31, Mana: Acting District Commissioner for Karonga, Frank Mkandawire, has warned Designated Officers (DO) working under the Climate Smart-Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) against claiming allowances while not working on the ground.
Mkandawire made the sentiments Saturday in Chitipa at the end of a two-day review meeting for the programme’s third cycle attended by members of Karonga District Environment Sub-Committee (DESC) and DOs from 15 catchment areas.
"Officers are supposed to be on the ground supervising the project which aims to reduce risks associated with climate change and other disasters.
“We know that some of you are doing school which is not a bad thing but then you claim allowances for days which you did not work for; you will not receive that,” he said.
He expressed concern that some catchment areas lack supervision leading to shoddy work.
Mkandawire advised the DOs to exhibit firm leadership when dealing with extension workers and participants who are working under CS-EPWP in Karonga.
"We have heard reports that some of you are afraid to direct participants on how to do the work for fear of being bewitched. Leadership has no excuse; you just need to be courteous when dealing with participants and establish good communication channels and you will see the programme flourish in our district," he said.
President for the DOs, Webster Kanyimbo from Nyanja Catchment hailed the meeting for bringing out issues which will facilitate smooth implementation of the programme in Karonga.
"There are a number of issues which need to be addressed like the unavailablity of gadgets for proper documentation and late payments of participants wages which is also affecting the quality of work in the programme," Kanyimbo said.
CS-EPWP is implemented, in Karonga, by the National Local Governance Finance Committee with funding from the World Bank.
Over 13,000 participants are working on interventions which include construction of swales, contour marker ridging, caring for naturally regenerating trees, afforestation and river bank protection.
Water for People dress Mudi Catchment Area with trees
By Tikondane Vega
Blantyre, March 31, Mana: Water for People, in collaboration with stakeholders, on Saturday planted trees around Mudi Catchment Area in Blantyre as one way of increasing water levels that can be supplied to the community.
The trees were planted under Blantyre-Mulanje Water Fund, a deliberate source of fund established by the organization and other partners, to resource finance for water sustainability.
Speaking during the tree planting exercise, Chairperson for the fund steering committee, Dwight Kambuku, said they decided to plant trees in Mudi Catchment to protect water supply in the district.
“Trees are one of the most important aspects if we are to have clean and sustainable water. When planted in the right place, trees provide multiple benefits to people. It plays a critical role in capturing rainwater and reducing the risk of natural disasters such as floods.
“The catchment protection and restoration helps control siltation in Mudi Dam thereby reducing the cost of purifying water for a tenth of the city’s population,” said Kambuku.
Kambuku, who is also Chief Executive Officer for National Water Resources Authority (NWRA), added that the restoration of Mudi River has potential to reduce water tariffs since Blantyre Water Board’s (BWB) production costs will be lower due to good quality of water.
Water for People Director of Influence and Scale, Kate Harawa, said all trees that have been planted are indigenous in nature that can inhabit the environment without any human intervention.
Harawa expressed concern that lack of trees affects quantity and quality of water saying the trees planted swill ensure that water is available all the time to the public.
“This is the reason stakeholders are establishing Special Water Fund to ensure that there are resources for water sustainability by helping us come up with different interventions targeting concerned stakeholders such as the surrounding community,” she said.
BWB Director of Technical Services, Mavuto Chiipanthenga, commended Water for People and other partners saying such gesture has made Mudi catchment regain its lost glory.
Chiipanthenga said trees make water available all the time since they significantly increase water infiltration rate into soil and storage.
“When water is available the costs of treatment is always lower; that is why today we are saying our water production cost has slowly reduced. We ask other stakeholders to come and plant more trees,” he said.
Delegates to the exercise emphasized the need to monitor and caring for the trees planted.
Self Help Africa for durable WASH facilities
By Sylvester Kumwenda
Dowa, March 30, Mana: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Project Manager for Dowa Chifundo Mandala says WASH infrastructure must be resilient to natural disasters to ensure people still have access to portable water in case of emergencies.
He made the remarks Thursday during a district executive meeting when he presented the Self Help Africa WASH project progress report to the committee.
Mandala said one of the lessons learnt during project implementation was that when the district was hard hit by flash floods last year, there was loss of WASH infrastructure because some of the structures such as boreholes and the VIP latrines were not resilient enough.
“So, as an organisation, we found that there was a gap in terms of structural resilience. When we talk of resilience, we are talking of structures being able to withstand some harsh occurrences like flash floods which some of the structures failed to.
“For example, we had some boreholes which were submerged because of the floods, either because the location or the structure itself was not resilient enough to that natural disaster,” he said.
Mandala said loss of WASH infrastructure during floods also raises the risk of people contracting water borne diseases like Cholera due to loss of WASH facilities.
According to Mandala, it was also evident that some local structures managing WASH facilities were not aware of what to do in case of such emergencies.
“So, as an organisation, we put it as a recommendation that, together with the council, we can sit down and come up with more plans and designs which can be integrated in our construction works to make sure we are constructing durable WASH infrastructures resilient enough to natural disasters,” he said.
He said, this will ensure survivors have access to clean water during disasters and save finances to construct other new facilities.
Dowa District Water Officer, Cecilia Banda, concurred with Mandala saying the country is experiencing climate change whose impact are the high occurrences of floods and other disasters.
“It is, therefore, important to have durable structures which can reduce the loss of WASH facilities during these disasters,” she said.
Chakwera participates in the Way of the Cross in Lilongwe
By Elia Chibwe
Lilongwe, March 29, Mana: People from all corners of the country belonging to different Churches on Friday came together in participating the Way of the Cross as part of commemorating the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
President Dr Lazarus McCathy Chakwera joined the Christians in participating in the Way of the Cross procession from Capital Hotel round about through the Presidential Road Drive to Botanic Gardens in Lilongwe where the entire commemoration service took place.
The commemoration with the theme “Revive us again,” is observed during Easter celebrations, where Christians reflect on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In his speech Chakwera urged all Malawians to make use of the sermon during the service on Good Friday, with the theme “Revive us again”, saying the advice given during the sermon will help in skill creativity and build a self-reliant Malawi.
Chakwera said there is need for citizens to dwell on the word of God, and consistently pray for the betterment of the country.
Chakwera also urged citizens to stand firm and have faith that God will provide ways to deal with challenges facing the country, including floods, diseases, and dry spells.
In his sermon, Apostle Stanly Ndovi thanked Chakwera for his humble spirit he expressed by participating and carrying a cross on the big walk to Botanical Garden.
“We cannot take it simple as we are celebrating the Way of the Cross to see that the president and the first lady joined us on the Way of the Cross, I know there is the purpose for the nation as Malawi is great Nation,” Ndovi said.
Chairperson of the Way of the Cross, Reverend Rangford Chokhotho applauded Chakwera for involving God in building the country’s development.
“President recognized that we can never build this nation without God’s involvement as Psalms 127:1 bible says unless the Lord build the house, the labour build in vain,” Chokhotho said.
The event was organized by Evangelical Association of Malawi and African Enterprise.
Government applauds Rotary Club International
By Martha Simchimba
Lilongwe, March 29, Mana: Government says it appreciates the role different stakeholders play in complementing its efforts in providing good health service delivery to people across the country.
Deputy Minister of Health Halima Daud made the remarks on Wednesday at Chilimampunga ground in Traditional Authority Njewa in Lilongwe during the launch of Rotary Family Health days whose aim was to bring health care services closer to the community.
Daud said what Rotary Club International is doing by bringing health services closer to the community is what government is advocating for, and called on other players to emulate the gesture, stressing that government on its own cannot manage to offer all the services.
“As government, we are so happy with this initiative because many people will have an opportunity of being diagnosed different type ailments such as eyes, ears, dental, family planning, TB, HIV and AIDS,” she said
Daudi further said the rotary family health days will also assist the people who could not have access to health facilities which are very far from where they stay.
President of the Rotary Club International Dr. Gordon Mcinally said the family health care days help to minimize the time and costs people use when visiting health facilities.
"This is the beauty of rotary family health days which are mobile clinics, we are bringing health care services closer to the people so that they should not travel long distance to access health services,” he said.
Mcinally then assured the people that they will continue working hand in hand with government in order to improve health services in the country.
in a separate interview, one of the beneficiary residing in Mtandile township Elina Kamanga expresses gratitude and excitement to rotary family health days, saying she has been visiting the hospital to know whether she had Tuberculosis (TB) or not, but no to avail.
"I want to applaud this initiative, because today they have diagnosed me with TB, and I also went to test my eyes and they have given me eye glasses. I am encouraging those who feel they have got health problems to utilize this opportunity by getting free treatment," she said.
With funding from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) the Rotary Club International also conducted similar initiative last year to the tune of US$3.5 million at Mitundu Community Hospital in Lilongwe.
CISONECC challenges councils to incorporate Climate change in development plans
By Wellington Sibale
Neno, March 29, Mana: Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) has urged district councils to integrate Early Warning Systems (EWS) including loss and damage issues into the council’s District Development Plans (DDP).
The network’s National Coordinator, Jullius Ng’oma, made the call during a meeting with Neno district council officials in Blantyre.
Ng’oma said councils should incorporate the importance of including loss and damage at policy and strategy level considering various challenges coming due to climate change.
“We have increased in frequency and density of climate related hazards, risks and disaster over the past few years and these need to be feared if we are actually trying to plan for any other interventions at national level including at district council level,” Ng’oma said.
He added that there is need to have guiding laws for the implementation of the policy to materialise.
The National coordinator said the country’s economy is bleeding because the climate-related issues are affecting social economical system.
He therefore, said there is need to scale up financing towards loss and damage to manage issues related to climate change.
Neno District Council Director of Planning and Development, Charles Lomoni said the initiative is very crucial as the district has been experiencing issues of climate change, indicating that they are formulating their district development plan.
“CISONECC has invited us here and help us to plan as we are preparing our district development plan which we are in the process of formulating and we will include issues of climate change” Lomoni said.
In his remarks, Department of Disaster and Management Affairs (DoDMA) Recovery officer, Ollings Mghandira said all councils need to embrace climate change in their plans.
“This art of incorporating these issues of loss and damage where most of the communities are affected and lose a lot of properties, will help the district to plan better as to what they are supposed to do and even if the district is not exposed to these other hazards,” said Mghandira.
CISONECC and Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) with funding support from Christian Aid are implementing the Climate Change Adaptation and Sustainable Energy in Malawi (CCASE): Investments for prevention of Loss and Damage in Malawi Project in Neno.
The project aims at developing anticipatory, Absorptive, adaptive and transformative capacities in Neno while financing risk reduction measures to prevent, minimise and address loss and damage ultimately strengthening national and local resilience to disaster risk and promoting sustainable development.
NGO award grants to Machinga district young entrepreneurs
By Patuma Kachoka
Machinga, March 29, Mana: International Centre for Tropical Agriculture through Business Acceleration for Youth (BA4Y) on Thursday awarded grants to 20 young entrepreneurs in Machinga district as business start-up.
The organization’s Business Incubation and Acceleration Officer, Oganive Chingakule in an interview during the awarding of the grants in Machinga said successful entrepreneurs were identified through a business idea pitching session.
Chingakule said about 50 youth have undergone trainings and coaching by Small and Medium Enterprises Development Institute (SMEDI) since August 2023 and 30 shortlisted youth entrepreneurs presented their business ideas to a panel of judges where 20 qualified for the grant.
"We are awarding every successful youth entrepreneur K4, 250, 000 grant. And we are giving out to the 20 successful Machinga youth entrepreneurs. The idea behind this grant is to help the youth to manage their businesses effectively since most of the youth that are trying to start a business lack means to monetize ideas they have.
So through the grants, some of the young entrepreneurs will be able to buy small machinery and raw materials to create products so that they can take them to the market," she said.
Chingakule further added that her institution together with SMEDI will conduct series of field visits to monitor those that have received the grant if they are practicing what they indicated in their business plans.
One of the beneficiaries, Rabecca Kachigamba from Traditional Authority Kawinga who is into bar-soap making, says she will use the money to boost her business and create employment opportunities for fellow youths.
"My plan so far is to extend my business so that I can reach out to some other youths, there are a lot of young people out there who are doing nothing so with my company I am sure will employ some other youths" she said.
BA4Y project is funded by USAID targeting young individuals aged 18 to 35 in nine districts.
Thyolo CBO commission new offices
By Andrew Phiri
Thyolo, March 29, Mana: Thyolo District Gender and Development Officer, Gerald Zgambo has emphasized the need for various Non-Governmental Organizations that are working towards elimination of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the district to create safe and conducive environment where victims would be open to report the matters without interferences.
Zgambo made the call on Thursday when Chipembere Community Development Organization (CCDO) was opening their newly constructed offices.
The Gender officer said the council is delighted to see the organization’s potential of creating a safe and conducive area where victims of GBV such as children, women and the elderly will have freedom to report matters,
He added that that the building will also motivate its staff members to work effectively and efficiently on various projects they are rolling out in the district.
"These new offices have lifted the face of Thyolo district and now, we are pretty sure that cases of Gender Based Violence will be handled successfully right here because the affected parties will have adequate safety when reporting the cases.
"We applaud Chipembere Community Development Organization for committing to alleviate GBV cases because here in Thyolo, poverty, cultural beliefs and bordering areas of Mozambique are among the major factors that are fueling the occurrence of this malpractice," he said.
He therefore called for collective effort from the police, Civil Society Organizations, community and other parties to work on revamping the community victim support unit that will help to eradicate the challenge.
Executive Director for CCDO, Dalitso Chiwayula said since in 2010 when the organization was being established, it has been their dream to have a conducive environment where they would complement government's effort by working efficiently and effectively in dealing with issues of poverty, health, education and social welfare of communities in general.
"So far, we have managed to eliminate over 540 cases of early marriages in Thyolo. However, the issue of GBV is still a major challenge because many young girls are getting married and for this reason, we are facing various setbacks to alleviate the vice.
Parents are resisting to let their children return to school attributing to lack of school fees and other necessities that would enable their children's education successful," he said.
Senior Group Village Headman Chide from Traditional Authority Bvumbwe has since commended the organization for committing itself in uplifting the lives of rural communities in sectors of health, education and social welfare.
He called for all community leaders in the district to encourage the beneficiaries of such initiatives to embrace and transition various knowledge shared by these NGOs.
Deputy Minister commends PIH for donating K3.2 billion Oxygen Plant
By Leah Malimbasa
Chikwawa, March 29, Mana: Deputy Minister of Health Halima Alima Daud has commended Partners in Health (PIH) for donating an Oxygen Plant to Chikwawa District Hospital.
Speaking during the handover ceremony of the facility on Thursday, Daud said the donation will go a long way in providing quality medical oxygen to patients in the Lower Shire.
“It is my plea that other well-wishers will complements your efforts to provide service contract cover for the plant and help government to secure additional oxygen plants and other oxygen therapy technologies for hospitals which are not yet covered,” she said.
Daud added that it is important to take good care of the Oxygen Plant installed at the hospital, which was procured by PIH at the value of USD 1.16 million equivalent to approximately K3.2 billion.
In her remarks, PIH Executive Director Basimenye Nhlema said the oxygen plant was installed under the “Building Reliable Integrated & Next Generation O2 Services (BRING O2)” Grant.
“This project is made possible thanks to Unit aid’s funding and support. The organisation accelerates access to innovative health products and lays the foundations for their scale-up by countries and partners,” said Nhlema.
She added that PIH, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, started the project following the observed gap in access to medical oxygen supplies in health facilities.
“As indicated in the Malawi National Medical Oxygen Ecosystem Roadmap 2021–2026, the country needs an estimated supply of oxygen amounting to 115,156,050 litres (equivalent to 16,935 “J” cylinders) per month,” she said.
Nhlema added that it was impossible to meet the demand due to inadequate Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) plants, inability to maintain existing PSA plants, insufficient oxygen cylinders to capture and store oxygen, as well as a lack of distribution systems to reallocate supply.
“It is for this reason that PIH embarked on a journey to increase the oxygen delivery capacity and access across the country in 2021. This project mainly focused on six districts of Neno, Mwanza, Balaka, Chikwawa, Nsanje, and Nkhata-Bay to alleviate PSA plant supply and demand pressures but also strengthen oxygen equipment, delivery, and logistics,” said Nhlema.
The oxygen plant has been strategically installed in Chikwawa to serve the two districts of Nsanje and Chikwawa.
Initially, these two districts were accessing oxygen from Blantyre at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital and at a privately-owned Afrox center. Both Chikwawa and Nsanje would also go as far as Lisungwi to collect oxygen cylinders after its commissioning in 2021.
Farmers in Thyolo district urged to take farming as business
By Beni Bamusi
Thyolo, March 29, Mana: Farmers in Thyolo district have been urged to take farming as business if they are to make profits and improve their economic livelihoods.
The statement was made on Thursday during Agriculture Field Day which took place at Chinguluwe Primary School ground in the area of Traditional Authority Bvumbwe.
Speaking after visiting model farms and under the theme, “Promoting Diversified and climate resilient approaches for increased and sustainable agricultural productivity,” Thyolo District Commissioner, Hudson Kuphanga said it is high time farmers should emulate modern farming techniques and treat their work as business saying he is impressed with what the farmers are doing as it has potential to champion national development.
“Today we have visited farmers who are into fish farming, dairy farming and others are into macadamia nuts combined with maize farming, and this is an indication that people are serious with agriculture. For instance, macadamia nuts; this product has the capacity to replace tobacco.
“As council, we ask government to make feed for fish available to farmers on the local market since you can rarely find it as indicated by farmers, instead they use other alternatives as feed and this inhibit the growth of the fish” he said.
Kuphanga added that macadamia farming has the potential to replace tobacco which provides foreign currency to the country.
“Macadamia nuts generate huge sum of money hence there is a need for mindset change for people and government to abandon tobacco and put much effort in the nuts by making it accessible on the market to macadamia farmers.” he added.
Chief Land Sources Conservation Officer from Blantyre Agriculture Development Division, Medson Thole said the field day is important to small holder farmers as it promote good agriculture practices among them which in turn boost their productive.
Michael Somanje who represented Kambiri Estate which practices fish and banana production in Dwale Area said they have learned a lot from the field day adding they will expand into other farming activities which other farmers are doing.
During the day, Bvumbwe Research Station showcased newly released varieties of sweet potato, groundnuts, soybeans potato and pigeon peas, also One Acre Fund, and other Agribusiness enterprises showcased their pavilions.
