MANAonline
Take partnerships seriously, Gwengwe appeals
By Patience Longwe & Lesnat Kenan
Lilongwe, March 22, Mana: Minister of Trade and Industry, Sosten Gwengwe, has encouraged partnerships and collaboration in resource mobilization amongst cooperatives in order for them to thrive in their business.
Gwengwe made the remarks in Lilongwe on Thursday when Commercial Farmers Cooperative Society (COFACO) hosted a business breakfast.
The event was held to facilitate information sharing between Malawi's captains of industry in agribusiness, development partners, donors and financiers with agriculture focused products to share opportunities.
Gwengwe said not only is partnership and collaboration important but also innovation which cooperatives and other related agencies should adopt.
"Mega farmers and the agribusiness players are increasingly using innovative approaches and scientific research, combined with traditional knowledge to increase the production of their field, diversify their crops, boost their nutrition and build climate resilience.
"It is for that reason that large scale farmers, commercial estate farmers and agribusiness owners with large farming estate, diversified livestock, aquaculture and agro-processing business ventures, organized themselves into a society to advance Malawi's economic development,” he said.
Controller of Agriculture Extension and Technical Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, Alfred Mwenefumbo, highlighted the importance of the meeting to large-scales farmers saying farmers are getting interested to engage and hear more from prospective donors and financiers about mega farms.
"Malawians with big farms are getting interested to hear more from donors, including banks, and take advantage of such gathering to progress in their activities,” he said.
COFACO was registered in 2017 with Ministry of Trade and Industry. It works alongside the Ministry of Agriculture and the Mega Farm Unit
Chiefs, religious leaders urged to take leading role in mind-set change, development
By Leah Malimbasa
Chikwawa, March 22, Mana: Principal Secretary for National Unity in the Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture, Dr Elizabeth Gomani Chindebvu, has called on traditional leaders and religious leaders to take a leading role in mind-set change for Malawi to achieve the Malawi 2063(MW2063).
Chindebvu was speaking Thursday in Chikwawa during a training workshop for traditional leaders and religious leaders which focused on mind-set change, hard work, wealth creation, prosperity and self-reliance.
“It is important to adopt a new mind-set to drive Malawi’s development forward. Malawi’s development blueprint, MW2063, has three pillars and seven enablers and among these enablers, mind-set change stands out as a crucial aspect championed by the ministry,” Chindebvu said.
She said Ministry of Local Government engaged traditional and religious leaders to align them with the MW2063 and empower them to guide their subjects and congregants towards prosperity and self-reliance.
She expressed optimism that messages that promote hard work will effectively be conveyed.
Senior Chief Ngabu acknowledged that leaders have the responsibility to encourage their subject to change their mind set towards sustainable development.
“Self-reliance is important. We should do away with dependence on hand-outs from government and organisations,” he said.
The Senior Chief added that people should contribute towards development and good policies should be put in place to encourage community participation.
Senior Chief Mlilima said Malawi needs concerted efforts and active citizen participation to achieve meaningful development.
Apart from Ngabu and Mlilima other traditional leaders that attended the meeting were senior chiefs Kasisi and Makhuwira as well as Traditional Authority Ngowe.
Faith leaders from African Evangelical Church, Church of Central African Presbyterian (CCAP) Apostolic Faith Mission of Malawi and Living Waters Church also attended the meeting.
MCP youth wing cheer patients at Mangochi District Hospital
By Ernest Mfunya
Mangochi, March 22, Mana: Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Youth Wing and born free women in Mangochi on Wednesday donated food and nonfood items, which includes rice, sugar and soap, to patients at Mangochi District Hospital.
Speaking after making the donation, MCP Director of Youth in Mangochi, Isaac Adani, said they decided to cheer up patients, especially children admitted to the pediatric ward, to show how responsible the youths are in caring for patients.
Adani said MCP empowers youth in the country to be good citizens by playing significant roles in the society.
"In most cases, youths are regarded as agents of violence but we, in MCP, are always trained to be responsible. We are encouraged to contribute towards improving livelihoods of people in our society.
"As such, we decided to cheer patients at Mangochi District Hospital to help in bring hope amongst those in hospitals said Adani.
In-Charge for Mangochi Hospital Pediatric Ward, Blessings Juma, commended MCP youth and born free women for the gesture describing the donation as timely.
He said the donation will go a long way in alleviating problems that patients face while at the hospital.
"We are humbled for the gesture. The donation will assist our clients who lack basic needs while admitted to the hospital as the hospital alone cannot manage to support each and every patient admitted here,” said Juma.
One of the guardians at the children’s ward, Ester Dagalasi, expressed concern that a number of patients in the ward have no relatives to support them as most come from long distant places such that they lack basic necessities.
Dagalasi described the support as significant saying it will make a difference during their stay at the hospital.
Chakwera treats Four Nations Tournament teams to dinner
By Rosalia Kapiri
Lilongwe, March 21, Mana: President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has described the Four Nations Football Tournament as an event that connects people beyond nationalities by bridging the gap between nations through promotion of unity amongst the countries involved.
He was speaking at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe on Thursday evening during a presidential dinner hosted for football teams in the Four Nations Tournament currently underway in Lilongwe.
Chakwera said Malawi is determined to take sports development to greater heights through various sports projects taking place in the country.
He cited such projects as the Griffin Saenda Complex, the National Aquatic Centre and various stadiums currently under construction in multiple districts across all the country’s three regions.
“For us in Malawi, we are determined to take all sports disciplines in which we have a competitive advantage to the next level; and football is one of them. This determination is the reason why sports development is part of our human capital development strategy at the heart of the Malawi 2063 (MW2063),” said Chakwera.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) President, Fleetwood Haiya, applauded the president’s gesture saying it is beyond the demonstration of dedication to football commitment in the country.
Haiya said: “This tournament is a testimony of real partnership among the four countries of which the concept was conceived by the football association committee presidents of the four nations. We appreciate FIFA’s support to cushion the general organization of this tournament. We will give value of the support we have received from our partners and remain resolute in transforming the vision towards the MW 2063 goals.”
Minister of Youth and Sports, Uchizi Mkandawire, expressed his ministry’s continued support to all programs intended to develop sports in the country.
In her remarks, representative of the International Football Association, who is General Secretary for Zimbabwe Football Association, Yvonne Mapika Manwa, thanked President Chakwera for opening up and taking time to host them as players and officials.
The Four Nations Tournament, which kicked off on the 20th March this year, is the first ever to happen in this part of the SADC region. It has as brought together senior and junior teams of the four countries of Zimbabwe, Kenya, Zambia and Malawi, the host.
Lilongwe District Council moves to form new documents
By Andrew Mkonda
Lilongwe, March 21, Mana: Lilongwe District Council Director of Planning and Development, Willard Chirwa, has described Social Economic Profile (SEP), District Development Plan (DDP) and Strategic Plan as crucial documents that act as roadmap for all development projects in the district.
Chirwa made the remarks on Thursday at the opening of heads of sectors’ and members of District Executive Committee (DEC) session aimed at reviewing the district council’s SEP, DDP and finalizing the drafting of the 2023-2030 district strategic plan.
He urged the heads of sectors to be focused and align the council’s new documents to government’s blue print, the Malawi 2063 Agenda, through the medium term implementation plan (MIP-1).
Chirwa observed that without such documents, the section heads and DEC members fail to implement and focus on the projects that people in the communities need.
Speaking in a separate interview, Chairperson for Civil Society Organizations, Gibozi Mphanzi, commended the council’s secretariat for coming up with new documents which he said will assist the council to have a proper guide in its implementation of projects in the district.
However, Mphanzi asked the council to come up with documents that will assist to bring positive change by improving livelihoods of the community.
“Any intervention which is being implemented in the district has to bring positive change among the people and when we start using these documents, we should make sure that people on the ground also give their input on those projects,” he said.
Mphanzi further said the documents will also act as a tool for checks and balances of progress of interventions of various activities being implemented by government and development partners in the district.
Before the documents become operational, the draft will be presented to relevant structures at the council for feedback and approval.
Karonga DC urges professionalism in local government by-election
By George Mponda
Karonga, March 21, Mana: Karonga Acting District Commissioner (DC) Frank Mkandawire has urged officials who will be involved in the upcoming local government by-election in the district to be professional for the by-election to be free, fair and credible.
Mkandawire, who is also the District Elections Coordinator for Karonga, was speaking Thursday when Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Karonga District Elections Supervisory Team (DEST) met on the impending by-elections.
"Elections are a serious business hence DEST members and everyone engaged in this exercise should be committed and professional in paying attention to details for the process to go smoothly.
“We need to follow all rules and regulations as stipulated in the Presidential Parliamentary Local Government Elections (PPLGE) Act and in so doing, Karonga will host a credible by-election which is slated for March 26," said Mkandawire.
He also warned DEST members against being involved in malpractices that can undermine the electoral process.
MEC's Regional Elections Officer in the north, Diverson Makwete, said when everything goes well in the field, MEC takes the credit but it is individuals on the ground who do the work.
"The Commission appreciates the work which has already been done for it to continue achieving its mission of delivering credible elections that are free, fair, transparent, inclusive, efficient, and cost-effective to entrench democratic values in Malawi," said Makwete.
He added that although many have been involved in the process for a long time, the elections field is dynamic and there will always be new ideas and approaches introduced.
"There have been some changes to the electoral laws; for example, closing time of polling has been changed from 6pm to 4pm hence I urge you to pay attention to all details shared by MEC," said Makwete.
He further urged DEST members and MEC staff to be impartial, corteous and polite to all electoral stakeholders.
The local government by-election, which is expected to take place in Rukulu, Chilanga and Kapolo Wards in the district, will be held following conviction of three ward councilors who were found guilty of fraudulently pocketing K2.4 million from vendors in exchange for plots.
SPARK project earns praises in Nkhata Bay
By Margret Praise Kalua
Nkhata Bay, March 21, Mana: Communities in the area of Senior Chief Timbiri and Traditional Authority (T/A) Kabunduli in Nkhata Bay District have commended International Labour Organization (ILO) for empowering people with disabilities.
The organization is implementing a project dubbed Sparking Disability Inclusive Rural Transformation Project (SPARK) which targets all International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) programmes which promote disability inclusion.
Speaking on Tuesday during a monitoring visit by ILO officials, a member of Chisala Beekeeping Association in the area of Senior Chief Timbiri, Brown Kaunda, who has a walking disability, said he was at first struggling to provide basic needs for his family of seven.
He said he saw a ray of hope when, in 2022 through SPARK project, he was trained on beekeeping and was given four bee hives from which he makes money to feed his family.
“I have also been saving part of proceeds realized from selling honey and, using those savings, I bought a goat, ducks and a bicycle,” he added.
Another beneficiary under Programme for Rural Irrigation (PRIDE), Akafaamveka Mbewe from Chiwawa village, TA Kabunduli said through SPARK he has been trained in producing assistive technologies using AgriLab model.
Assistant Social Welfare Officer for Nkhata Bay District Council, Octovia Phiri, commended ILO for the project, saying it needs to be replicated across the district to transform the lives of people with disabilities so that no one is left begging for survival.
ILO National Project Officer for SPARK project, Vincent Kavala, said the project seeks to create employment opportunities for people with disabilities within the rural economy.
"We are happy for making a significant progress in the district, as over 300 persons with disabilities are currently included in IFAD funded programmes, and we are striving to include even more before the project phases out end September this year," he said.
Fishing communities urged to diversify income streams
By Chisomo Kambandanga
Nkhata Bay, March 21, Mana: Programs Manager for Restoring Fisheries for Sustainable Livelihoods in Lake Malawi (REFRESH) project under TechnoSave, Felistus Sibweza, has advised fishing communities in Nkhata Bay to create multiple sources of income to reduce pressure on Lake Malawi’s dwindling fish population.
Speaking on Tuesday during a Conservation Enterprise Market and Food Fair in the district, Sibweza said over-reliance on the lake for income by fishing communities has caused depletion of some valuable fish species.
“We are encouraging fishing communities to venture into other income generating activities, such as apiculture and mushroom production to ease pressure and help conserve fish species in Lake Malawi and other natural resources surrounding it,” she said.
District Fisheries Officer for NKhata Bay, Dellings Kamenya, said due to over-dependence on Lake Malawi as the sole source of fish, annual harvest for highly valued chambo fish is declining.
In his remarks, Director of Planning and Development for Nkhata Bay, Edgar Chihana, said diversifying their sources of income would also help fishers earn income when fishing is closed during fish breeding season.
"The council is also engaging with its development partners to establish fish ponds for aquaculture to upscale fish supply and to ensure that the district does not only rely on single source for fish," Chihana added.
Chairperson for Makuzi Beach Village Committee, Lester Wakana, said communities are geared to embrace REFRESH project, as it presents a lifeline for fishers who strive to make ends meet during closed seasons.
REFRESH is a five-year project that started in 2019 and is being implemented by PACT Malawi with funding from US Agency for International Development.
Climate smart agriculture saves Mzimba farmers
By Austine Patrice Kachilika
Mzimba, March 21, Mana: Agriculture Service Committee chairperson for M’mbelwa District Council, Paul Chombo, says most farmers in Mzimba District who practiced climate smart agriculture (CSA) in their fields are eyeing bumper harvest despite a dry spell that occurred during the 2023/2024 growing season.
Chombo was speaking on Wednesday in the area of Traditional Authority Kampingo Sibande during a field day visit themed ‘Promoting climate resilient technologies for increased agricultural productivity and enhanced nutrition security’.
He said although the district experienced dry spells over a period of 21 days, some farmers were still able to mitigate its impacts through CSA practices, such as crop diversification, moisture retention, livestock production and drip irrigation.
“We cannot deny the fact that adverse weather conditions have hindered agriculture in most parts of the district and the whole country at large; however, some farmers have managed to sail through the disaster by practicing integrated approaches that have enhanced their crop productivity,” he said.
“Today's field inspection has shown that if all of us could practice crop diversification, embrace drip irrigation, practice irrigation and grow fast maturing and drought resilient crops, climate change impacts on agricultural productivity will be history,” he added.
Director of Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources for M’mbelwa District Council, Beatrice Mbakaya, urged farmers continue with CSA practices and urged others who have not yet adopted it to do so in order to improve agricultural productivity in their fields.
One of the farmers practicing CSA, Mervis Soko, said she was expecting a bumper crop harvest after she followed CSA practices.
CCJP trains 18 volunteers in Chitipa on electoral laws
By Aliko Munde
Chitipa, March 21, Mana: Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) of Karonga Diocese on Wednesday trained 18 volunteers in Senior Chief Kameme in Chitipa District on electoral laws and how women can take part in electoral processes.
Gender Coordinator for CCJP Karonga Diocese, Janet Mhango, said the training was organized for the volunteers to build their capacity ahead of 2025 general elections.
“We have trained the volunteers on the barriers women face in politics and also during the electoral period. We have also trained them on electoral laws and how best they can promote women participation in the upcoming general elections,” said she.
Mhango further said that her organization expects that the volunteers will go to the grassroots and continue sensitizing community leaders, religious leaders and local governance structures like area development committees (ADC) and village development committees (VDC).
District Gender Officer for Chitipa, James Gubudu, said some female aspirants in elections fail to make it due to lack of capacity and courage to address people.
“Most women aspirants lack courage. So we have trained the volunteers on how to generate that courage as far as the manifestos and what they have planned to offer to people is concerned.
“We expect the volunteers to go flat out to engage communities, VDCs, ADCs and other community platforms to disseminate the information we have imparted to them,” he said.
One of the volunteers, Annet Phiri, said they will utilize every gathering in their localities to encourage more women to contest in 2025 general elections.
Chitipa District has three female ward councilors out of ten and no female Member of Parliament.
