By Golden Kang’oma

Salima, February 13, Mana: Restoring Fisheries for Sustainable Livelihoods in Lake Malawi (REFRESH) has donated bee keeping equipment worth K5 million to communities in Salima.

Speaking in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Maganga during the handover, REFRESH Chief of Party Dr Daniel Jamu said the project aims at fostering diversification from fisheries towards sustainable livelihoods and restoration of the environment.

“The project wants people along the lakeshore not only to rely on fishing but also venture into some other enterprises hence introducing them to bee keeping," he said.

Jamu said as the communities embrace the initiative, they are looking at continued forest restoration and land conservation which will lead to high fish production.

Salima District Commissioner, James Mwenda, said the initiative will help improve the social-economic status of the communities.

He said his office will ensure that it is sustainable and yield the desired results by making sure that there is availability of markets for the honey produced by the beneficiary clubs.

“The organization has done a very commendable job by giving these communities such equipment. These will go a long way in sustaining people’s livelihoods as well as help in fish and forest conservation,” he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Maria Fuleya, from Mlambe Club hailed the project for the initiative saying it will help communities to rely on multiple enterprises whilst restoring fisheries in the lake.

REFRESH project is implemented by PACT Malawi with funding from United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

By George Mponda

Karonga, February 13, Mana: Karonga District Council has announced an outbreak of pink eye disease in the district.  

Pink eye, also known as viral conjunctivitis, is a disease which affects the eyes and is caused by a virus that can easily spread from person to person.

Signs and symptoms of the disease include pink or red colour in the white part of the eye, swelling of the conjunctiva (eye lining), increased tear production, itching, eye discharge, painful eye and visual disturbance.

According to a memo released Tuesday by Director of Health Services in Karonga, Dr David Sibale, 109 cases have been registered across the district since February 1, 2024.

In an interview, Dr. Sibale said the disease was first detected among travellers who use Songwe Border Post.

"Later, the disease was also detected among government officials who work at Songwe Border Post and, currently, we have intensified awareness of the outbreak to prevent its spread.

"People should avoid sharing personal clothes such as wash clothes and hand towels, wash hands frequently with soap and use sanitisers as well as avoid rubbing or touching eyes with unclean hands," Sibale said.

In a separate interview, Traditional Authority (TA) Karonga advised Karonga residents to follow guidelines outlined by the district health office to end the disease and prevent it from spilling over to other districts.

By Chisomo Kambandanga

Nkhata Bay, February 13, Mana: District Field Officer for Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Program (CS-EPWP) in Nkhata Bay, Edward Ngwemba, has disclosed plans to increase the program’s beneficiaries in the next financial year.

Speaking during a review meeting for the program’s second cycle in Mzuzu, Ngwemba said the targeted beneficiaries will be increased to 13,427 from 11,233. 

Ngwemba said preparations for the third cycle are done and some catchment areas have already started work under the program.

"The second cycle progressed well although we had some minor setbacks which included poor data entry and participants getting their wages in arrears. However, the review meeting has helped iron out these obstacles and we are confident that the third cycle will go on well," he said.

He advised participants and committee members to avoid making replacements without following the program’s implementation guidelines saying that causes challenges in getting wages.

District Commissioner for Nkhata Bay, Rodgers Newa, said the program is progressing well in the district.

"The review meeting is necessary to perfect ourselves in readiness for another cycle ahead. So far, the program is on on track. Some of the challenges we are facing are system based and are appreciated at national level," he said.

Senior Chief Timbiri was glad that the number of participants will be increased as it means that more people will be involved in environmental conservation.

CS-EPWP is a government initiative under Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Project implemented by National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) with financial support from Multi-Donor Trust Fund and World Bank.

By Sylvester Kumwenda

Dowa, February 13, Mana: Dowa District Council on Saturday approved a budget of about K28.5 billion for the implementation of activities for the 2024-2025 financial year with a call for prudent use of resources.

Chairperson for the council, Mayamiko Kambewa, made the call in an interview after the council through its Extraordinary Full Council Meeting approved the budget, saying the budget is targeting development and social economic empowerment of the people.

“Today we are proud to have approved this 2024-2025 fiscal year budget. This is a very important budget because it aims at developing the district with various important infrastructure and for the social economic empowerment of the people.

“The budget has tackled several activities and interventions like construction of bridges, roads, school blocks, health facilities, and other infrastructure.

“Also, it has interventions in social support programmes which all overall aim at developing the district and its people,” said Kambewa.

The consolidated budget includes K22.7 billion for operations and salaries, K571 million Locally Generated Revenue (LGR), and an Annual Investment Plan (AIP) of K6.7 billion towards Capital and Software developments.

Amongst others, the AIP includes District Development Fund of K253 million, Governance to Enable Service Delivery of K710 million, Constituency Development Fund which has been pegged at K1.05 billion.

There is also Climate Smart Public Works Programme which has a celling of K2.4 billion and the Social Cash Transfer Programme which has a budget of K862 million.

All these are in the areas of education, health, community development and agriculture, among others.

Kambewa added that it was pleasing to note that the council has intensified issues of LGR.

“As a council, we have a lot of interventions we would like to implement but we know that central government alone cannot manage to fund all these. That is why in our budget we are focusing on strengthening issues of LGR.

“Amongst other strategies, we will strengthen collection of market fees, commercial ventures like that of our grader and other businesses, fees and service charges, and also licenses and permits,” he said.

He said the council has the capacity to implement all its plans but appealed for consistent funding from central government, saying the contrary affects service delivery of the council.

Senior Chief Kayembe in an interview said this was a good budget which will help in the development of the district.

“As people are different, so are their needs. It is encouraging to note that the budget has diverse issues which will try to address almost all the different things people need.

“However, the most important thing is to make sure that all the money is put to its intended purpose,” she said.

Dowa Youth Network Chairperson Sankhurani M'banga however said as the youth, they would have wished issues of youth empowerment were also highly prioritized.

By Steve Chirombo

Dedza, February 13, Mana: Participants under the Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Program (CS-EPWP) in Dedza district have hailed the programme, saying is it transforming their farming methods and, at the same time, improving on retaining soil as well as forests.

The revelations were made on Monday when Dedza District Council organized a media tour to some catchment areas in the district where the programme is being implemented.

Speaking in an interview, Monica Mtambalika of Chimombo Village under Traditional Authority Kachere said before the interventions like construction of swales and the tree regeneration, they experienced heavy flow of water from the hills which resulted in sweeping their crops as well as houses.

She however said the development has stopped all that and they are not facing any hiccups.

“The rainwaters from the hills are getting into the swales, which also assist in conserving soil thereby bailing us out during hot weathers,” she said.

Another participant, Gift James from Chaphuka Village in the same area but working on galleries, said they are working to block running water so that there is siltation thereby reducing the impact and size.

“You may see that this gallery here has gone wider because there were no controlling measures. But what we are doing under the CS-EPWP is that we are using stones to block the running water. This in the long run will help through siltation and the size may reduce or the whole gallery will be covered up,” he indicated.

On his part, Kosmas Ganizani, from Chioza Kalichero under Senior Chief Kalichero, said as a participant, he welcomed the development, adding apart from getting some money which goes towards assisting his household, the programme has direct long term benefits.

“We are into tree regeneration and construction of swales and I can comfortably say that there are no running waters here and our Kadedwa Hill has worn a new face because we are actively taking part in ensuring that the natural regeneration activities are done in a rightful manner,” emphasized Ganizani.

In Dedza, over 13,000 participants are benefiting from the programme’s phase one, and the number is expected to be increased to over 18,000.

CS-EPWP in the country is being implemented by the National Local Governance Finance Committee (NLGFC) through district councils with support from the Malawi Social Protection Multi Donor Trust funded by World Bank, USAID, Iceland, Ireland, UK-FCDO, EU and Norway.

By: Andrew Mkonda

Lilongwe, February 13, Mana: Lilongwe District Commissioner Lawford Palani has called on Unified Beneficiary Registry (UBR) enumerators to be professional and accurate during household data collection exercise.

Speaking on Monday during the opening of a seven-day orientation of 460 temporary enumerators in Lilongwe, Palani said quality and credible Unified Beneficiary data depend on the professional and personal conduct of enumerators.

He then advised the enumerators to take the training seriously and work professionally and love their country in producing accurate results that will help government determine people’s eligibility for various social protection programmes like the Social Cash Transfer and Climate Enhanced Public Works Programme, among others.

“We are expecting you to give us accurate data that will present the real status of households on the ground,” he said.

In a separate interview, Lilongwe District Council Principal Social Welfare Officer Sarah Chimodzi said apart from being professional, enumerators are supposed to show discipline and be culturally sensitive to speech, more especially to the elderly.

“You must know that where you are going, you are representing the council. It is therefore important to maintain the good image of the council,” she said.

One of the enumerators, Harold Mtepatepa, thanked Lilongwe District Council for organizing the training before the actual work, saying this will simplify their work and come up with accurate data.

Mtepatepa then assured the council that they will make use of the knowledge gained during the training and gather the correct information for input into the UBR.

The enumerators are expected to conduct data collection between 30 to 42 days, targeting household members in all 23 traditional authorities in Lilongwe.

By Salome Gangire

Neno, February 13, Mana: National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) District Civic Education Officer for Neno, Wallace Kudzala, has called on political leaders in Neno District to ensure that more women are joining political parties and contest in the 2025 elections.

Kudzala was speaking Monday at NICE offices during a meeting with political leaders of various political parties on inclusive participation of women in Malawi politics project which the organization is implementing in the district with funding from United Nations Development Programme.

Currently, Neno has no female representation in its two parliamentary seats and has no councilor in its four wards.

Kudzala said the meeting was organized to sensitize political leaders on inclusive participation of women in politics and leadership positions so that they move together and woo women to participate in political leadership.

“District political governors play a vital role of encouraging their members to participate in politics vying for position of councilors and Members of Parliament,” he said.

He said a baseline survey that NICE conducted, showed that a lot of women lack skills in terms of public speaking and drawing campaign plans, so, noting the gaps, NICE will train them in public speaking and how to conduct campaigns.

The Civic Education Officer said there are so many advantages when women assume leadership positions, as they are transparent, accommodative, development conscious and if voted into power, can bring change to the district.

He therefore encouraged community members to vote for women in political positions.

District Social Welfare Officer Paul Sosono said his office is working with NICE as its gender department role is to enhance participation of women in decision making, political environment and economic empowerment.

He said women have been marginalized for long time and when put into leadership positions, more people benefits.

Leadership with Compassion Party (LPC) District Campaign Director Leonard Mphidza thanked NICE for the initiative, saying it is worrisome that there are no women representing any political party in the district.

He said with this initiative, there will be an improvement in the forthcoming elections and hope the district will produce female legislators and ward councilors.

He added that with the trainings NICE will conduct, a lot of women will gain confidence to face and compete against their male counterparts.