MANAonline
Promoting best practices in public works programmes
By Yamikani Yapuwa
Thyolo, February 8, Mana: It is nine in the morning in the area of Traditional Authority Nsabwe and under some mango trees are a group of men and women listening attentively to one man in front of them.
The man is Martin Andrew, an Agriculture Extension Development Officer (AEDO) for Thekerani North Section under Thekerani EPA and the group comprises members of Catchment Management Committee (CMC), Grievance Redress Mechanism Committee (GRMC), as well as foremen under the Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) under Lisule 1 Catchment.
Andrew is orienting the committees on how to handle and address grievances reported by participants of the programme as well as unpacking safety nets on how they can avoid injuries during work sessions.
“The district team oriented us extension workers on GRM and we are supposed to do the same with these grassroots committees.
“We are orienting them on how they can address issues that come out as participants are working under various components of the programme,” he says and adds that he tells them ways and procedures to be followed to deal with problems and complaints that may rise.
"We know that some complaints can be handled and tackled at community level, others at village head level as well district level.
"All this is to ensure that work under the CS-EPWP is going smoothly thereby achieving its intended purpose of conserving land and bringing back the lost forest glory in the areas," says Andrew.
Andrew explains that it is very important to have this training because the participants work on other people's land and fields and it is very obvious that they will be receiving complaints from the owners; as such, they need to know how they can sort those issues peacefully using right procedures.
"Further to that, the participants come from different backgrounds so disagreements will always arise so long as they are working together hence having such mechanism put in place in case disagreements arise," he explains.
Desk Officer for CS-EPWP at Thyolo District Council, Francis Yohane, says the orientation meetings have taken place in all the 16 catchment areas where CSPWP is being implemented.
"We want to make sure that the GRMC members know their roles and responsibilities for them to be vibrant in handling grievances at community level," says Yohane.
Yohane states that the use of GRMCs in resolving grievances is very cost-effective than litigation hence the need to ensure that the committees are functional in the communities.
District Land Resources Conservation Officer Madalitso Uledi notes that GRMC plays a crucial role in ensuring that disputes related to implementation of social support programmers and interventions are treated separately and given priority.
"Having vibrant GRMC in public works programmes is important as they help to identify and investigate grievances related to the implementation of activities
"Further it also promotes transparency and accountability at all levels during implementation of activities thereby promoting sustainability of the programme," says Uledi.
Group Village Head Kalingende hails GRMCs, saying they have removed the burden of having to mediate on issues coming from participants.
"With these committees, we can now focus on other important development activities in our areas since participants will have to go to the GRMC first before involving us, as it was the case previously," she adds.
Village Head Kabichi under Traditional Authority Nanseta adds that participants now know where to take their concerns, complaints and grievances.
"The committees now know how to take up cases without bias and this will promote oneness in the communities.
"This is also promoting a culture of using proper procedures when aggrieved instead of resorting to violence," says Kabichi.
Beyond the project, Village Head Kabichi thinks that this will instill a culture of peacefully sorting out issues among their subjects.
"I believe that what is instilled in them will even go to their children thereby creating communities that seek redress peacefully," she says.
Apart from relieving the pressure on local leaders, the district council is also already benefiting from the establishment of GRMC.
Attesting to this is the District Commissioner for Thyolo, Hudson Kuphanga, who testifies that the number of complaints that used to come to his office has drastically decreased since people are now able to sort issues in their villages.
"We now have established GRMCs which are playing a huge role in terms of controlling small issues which trickled down from the villages to the DC offices.
"The committees have removed the burden that was there on us as they were solely relying on us to help them solve matters therefore taking most of our time," says Kuphanga.
He adds that the district council is now concentrating on issues of policy and how to bring development initiatives that will uplift the lives of people in Thyolo.
On safety nets, Kuphanga says they will make sure that they include more when planning to ensure that people working in public works programmes are covered.
The Grievance Redress Mechanism is a key component in the CS-EPWP which is being implemented in all district councils with funding from the World Bank and the Social Protection Multi Donor Trust Fund.
Nsanje targets 1.6 million trees during tree planting season
By Robert Nayeja
Nsanje, February 8, Mana: Chairperson for Nsanje District Council, Mike Kafalachi, has disclosed that the council will plant 1.6 million trees during 2023-2024 forestry season.
Kafalachi said in an interview after launch of 2024 forestry season in the district on Wednesday at Khuluvi Primary School in Traditional Authority Ngabu’s area.
He therefore appealed to communities to take active role in the tree planting exercise, considering that the district currently experiences huge effects of climate change triggered by human induced non environmental activities, such as cutting down of trees, among others.
“Nsanje is a victim of floods and drought. We have witnessed various cyclones which have caused a lot of devastation of our livelihood. Let us all take part in tree planting to minimize the pain caused by effects of climate change,” appealed Kafalachi, adding that the district focused on smart innovative ways to plant trees and protect forest for sustainable livelihood for future generation.
“We need to take positive steps to make our environment a better place to live for us all and our grandchildren,” he added.
Member of Parliament for Nsanje South West, Eurita Mtiza, said there was need to put much effort in protecting trees that have been planted to ensure high rate of survival.
“The survival rate of trees in my area is minimal. It is time that everyone must take responsibility to take care of trees that have been planted,” she said.
Nsanje District Commissioner Dominic Mwandira said the council had put in place measures to protect and preserve trees to avoid further soil erosion and other forms of land degradation.
“We have increased our human resources on forest patrols to reduce illegal cutting down of trees but let us all take a lead and be exemplary in protecting environment. Everyone must be committed to preserve the environment.” he said while calling for mindset change to achieve restoration of depleted forest.
“Let us not just leave the issue of planting and protecting trees to forestry department and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) alone. We need concerted effort to restore our environment to achieve Malawi 2063,” said Mwandira.
Mwandira also asked traditional leaders to be vigilant in protecting the environment and acknowledged the effort by the NGOs in restoring the environment in the district.
Concern Worldwide, World Vision and Churches Action in Relief Development were some of NGOs that took part in the tree planting exercise.
President Lazarus Chakwera launched 2023-2024 forestry season on January 26 at Mpasa hills in Phalombe, under the theme ‘Forest innovation in action: reforestation for sustainable tomorrow’
First Lady donates medical equipment to Kabudula Community Hospital
By Andrew Mkonda
Lilongwe, February 8, Mana: First Lady Monica Chakwera has underscored the need for government and development partners to join hands in providing modern equipment to health facilities across the country.
Madame Chakwera made the call Thursday at Kabudula Community Hospital in Lilongwe after donating various medical equipment.
The donated items included beds, office desks, wheel chairs, buckets, blood pressure monitors, and Likuni phala among others.
The First Lady, who was accompanied by Former Vice President of Liberia Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor, said the government, led by President Lazarus Chakwera, is committed to improve the living standard of the people by, among other things, making sure people, more especially in rural areas, have access to good health service delivery.
“I am very thankful that today I can make this donation from our well-wishers. This donation is in line with Malawi Vision 2063 enabler number 5 which talks about human capital development through improvement of the well-being of the people in the country,” she said.
In his remarks, Deputy Minister of Health Halima Daud said government is committed to improve health service delivery in the country by, among other things, constructing new hospitals and rehabilitating all old facilities.
Daud then disclosed that the country will soon have its cancer centre in Lilongwe which she said will serve a number of lives who could not manage to get such services outside the country.
Member of Parliament for Lilongwe North West Mphatso Boti thanked the First Lady for the donation, saying it will go a long way in assisting the rural masses at the facility.
Boti, however, asked government to expand the Kabudula Community Hospital to a rural hospital, saying it is serving a number of people not only around Kabudula, but also patients from Dowa, Santhe and Kasungu.
“Your Excellency, this hospital looks small in appearance, but numerically it is serving almost 56,000 people from this area.
“Additionally, this hospital is also a referral of some health centres but it has only two ambulances and 48 health personnel, hence a need for expansion,” he said.
Lilongwe Director of Health and Social Services Dr. Wilson Ching’ani thanked the timely donation and assured government that the donated items will be used for the intended purpose.
However, Chin’gani said inadequate staff in many health facilities remains a very big challenge that retards the efforts of providing good health services delivery.
Likoma DC urges communities to embrace good nutrition practices
By Ireen Mseteka
Likoma, February 8, Mana: District Commissioner (DC) for Likoma, Abubakar Nkhoma, has asked community members to embrace good nutrition practices, including consumption of six food groups to maintain good health.
Nkhoma said this on Thursday when Invest in Early Years Program (IEYP) distributed wrappers to 700 beneficiaries of the programme at Chizumulu Island.
“The wrappers which you have received are displaying nutritional messages. These messages are not there for decoration but they have an intended purpose. You need to put into practice whatever message is there, such as eating six food groups to sustain health lives with your families,” said Nkhoma.
He encouraged the beneficiaries to wear the wrappers in order to disseminate the messages displayed to community members than using the wrappers as bed sheets or curtains.
Community Facilitator for IEYP Project, Vision Mkumbwa, said apart from being information, education and communication materials, the wrappers were distributed to motivate the beneficiaries.
“Apart from the wrappers, beneficiaries have beneficiated in various ways such as receiving bicycles, laptop bags, weighing scales and livestock, including goats, ducks, and chickens which have contributed in improving nutritional status of their households,” he said.
Nutrition promoter for Chiteko Village Development Committee, Winnie Majiwa, said the economic and nutrition status of her household has improved after she received banana suckers, fruit tree seedlings, goats and chickens from the programme.
Irrigation schemes rehabilitation to boost agricultural production, commercialisation - GBA
By Wakisa Myamba
Karonga, February 8, Mana: Green Belt Authority (GBA) Director of Irrigation Operations, Dr Chisomo Kumbuyo, says the rehabilitation of Dwambazi, Lweya, Mlambe and Chipoka irrigation schemes into mega farms will help in boosting agricultural production and commercialisation in the country.
Kumbuyo was speaking on Wednesday at Lusubilo Conference Hall in Karonga during a media orientation for journalists based in the district on GBA projects.
"Currently, GBA is focusing on rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure such as Mlambe Irrigation Scheme in Mangochi which is about 800 hectares, Ncharo Irrigation Scheme in Chikwawa and the construction of Nthola Ilola Scheme in Karonga. Upon completion of the works, the schemes will contribute towards agricultural production and commercialisation", said Kumbuyo.
He added: "The construction of Nthola Ilola Rice Irrigation Scheme which has components like the construction of a milling and a processing factory, which is at 90 percent completion, and the construction of water intake, which is at 60 percent, are all meant to be completed by the end of February."
Kumbuyo explained that they will carry out additional works at Nthola Ilola Rice processing factory, such as construction of a security fence and a warehouse which will be undertaken during 2024/2025 financial year.
One of the participants, Nation Publications Limited correspondent Jordan Phiri, hailed GBA for the orientation, saying it has come at the right time when some of the projects under GBA are being implemented in the district.
"I would like to urge journalists in the district and across Malawi to exercise their educative and informative role effectively for the public to have knowledge and appreciate the benefits of GBA interventions being carried out in their premises,” said Phiri.
Community members advised against dependency syndrome
By Ireen Mseteka
Likoma, February 8, Mana: Commissioner for Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), Charles Kalemba, has advised people in Likoma District to refrain from dependency syndrome for their livelihoods.
Kalemba was speaking Wednesday during a distribution exercise of relief maize to 444 under privileged households in the district.
“What we are doing as DoDMA, we are providing relief assistance and we have also embarked on what we call a mindset change. Most people have created a mindset of waiting for somebody to help them all the time without taking individual actions to uplift oneself from poverty trap.
“This country has adequate resources, so we have to utilize our capabilities and abilities to mobilize worth for ourselves so that we meet one of the pillars of Malawi 2023 which talks of worth creation. This cannot be achieved by government alone, so everybody has to work towards this goal,” said Kalemba.
He noted that the district has people who have capacity to help themselves, saying the people have a lot to do which can make almost everybody in the district to be self-dependent.
District Commissioner for Likoma, Abubakar Nkhoma, thanked government for the relief assistance which he said would go a long way in serving hunger stricken households in the district.
“We are thankful for this; people will have food for the next two months,” said Nkhoma.
One of the beneficiaries from Chizumulu Island, Mary Malumbizo, commended government for the maize, saying it will serve her family and others who have acute food shortage in the district.
Lilongwe District Council approves K124.2 billion budget
By Andrew Mkonda
Lilongwe, February 8, Mana: Lilongwe District Council on Wednesday approved a K124.2 billion budget for 2024-2025 financial year with a 102% increase from the current year budget of K61.5 billion.
Presenting the budget during a full council meeting, the council’s finance committee chairperson, Councilor Limbani Phiri, said the 102% increase in the budget is because of the increased Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in the national budget from K100 million to K150 million.
The funds, according to the chairperson, will come from locally generated revenue, Other Recurrent Transactions (ORT) and CDF, among other sources.
“As a council, we want as much as possible to find ways of improving collection of our local revenue. As such, we want to expand some of the markets that we have,” he said.
In the approved budget, apart from CDF and Government for Enabled Service Deliver (GESD), which have the biggest allocations, the health and education sectors have got the lion's share in the budget at K4.3 billion and K1.9 billion respectively.
Reacting to the budget, Member of Parliament for Lilongwe Mpenu Nkhoma, Collins Kajawa, commended the council secretariat for the guidance towards the formation of a budget which he described as visionary.
Kajawa then asked for unity among council members for smooth implementation of the planned projects in the budget for the benefit of rural masses.
However, Bunda Ward Councillor Luciano Botoman expressed dissatisfaction with the 10 % salary increase for ward councilors in the budget, saying with the high cost of living, the increment is too little.
“We already get little salaries and with high cost of living caused by devaluation, at least we need a 25% salary increment as we agreed in the past,” he said, attracting a big shout and hand clapping from his fellow councilors.
In his response, Lilongwe District Commissioner Dr. Lawford Palani said the issue will be looked into and that all required procedures will be followed on whether to adjust upwards or not.
Palani then assured members of the council that if the budget can be implemented as planned, it will spur development and improve livelihoods of the communities.
Mzimba GESD health projects impress government
By Joel Phiri
Mzimba, February 8, Mana: Minister of Health Khumbize Chiponda says government is impressed with the standard of construction works of Mzuzu Health Post and Vibangalala Maternity Wing in Mzimba.
The projects are being implemented by M’mbelwa District Council with support from Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD).
Chiponda was speaking on Wednesday during an inspection tour to appreciate progress of the construction works of the projects.
She said that construction of the two health structures will lessen distance that some people in rural Mzimba cover to access health services.
“Government is serious about taking health service closer to communities and the construction of these two facilities is a testimony to that.
“Government in collaboration with its development partners is to construct 900 health posts and we are on course to achieving that. The idea is to bring health facilities closer to the people,” Chiponda said.
The minister then asked the council to ensure that, once completed, the facilities are opened for public use for intervention to have a positive impact on the ground.
“Some people in this district cover up to 20 kilometres to get to the nearest health facility. So, construction is one thing but using them is another.
“I therefore urge the council to ensure that these facilities are furnished with beds, mattresses and all necessities, including deployment of health workers,” she said.
Chairperson for the council, Morgan Tembo, said the council will source funds to furnish both facilities with beds and mattresses within six months for them to be ready for use.
In an interview, medical assistant at Vibangalala Health Post, which serves a population of 15,000 people, Wisdom Nyirenda, hailed the council for the constructing a maternity wing at the facility, adding expectant mothers will be assisted accordingly once it becomes operational.
“We currently refer them to Mzimba District Hospital which is some 20 kilometres away and some to Embagweni Mission Hospital,” said Ngwira.
EGENCO in afforestation drive along the Shire River
By Salome Gangire
Neno, February 8, Mana: Electricity Generation Company (EGENCO) Chief Executive Officer Dr Maxon Chitawo says the company is set to plant 35,000 trees in the 2024 tree planting season with an aim to conserve the catchment along the Shire River.
Chitawo was speaking Wednesday at Lisungwi Community Day Secondary School in Neno district during the official launch of EGENCO 2024 tree planting season where the company planted 5,000 trees at the school.
He said the initiative is aimed at mitigating siltation and debris which affect hydroelectric power generation at its stations located on the Shire River.
“Trees hold the soil and prevent it from eroding into the river which in turn prevents siltation of the dams,” Chitawo said.
Chitawo added that EGENCO has power plants along the Shire River which has tributaries from Mangochi, Balaka, Machinga, Neno and part of Blantyre going to Chikwawa and the power plants are cascaded from Nkula, Tedzani and Kapichila, adding very soon they will also plant trees at Tedzani and Kapichila.
He said the water which the company uses for power generation comes from these streams apart from the lake, saying the water comes with silt and trashes from upland and this is the reason they are planting trees to reduce erosion and siltation of rivers and prevent trash which goes into the water.
“Siltation reduces dam depth and water levels and at the same time power generation depends on the height of water, so when we lose height of water, we also lose power generation in the power stations,” he explained.
He said apart from the seedlings, EGENCO is also providing equipment, such as wheelbarrows, hoes, watering canes to schools and the village forest committees to be used for irrigating trees as they intend to achieve a 90 percent tree survival rate.
Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola commended EGENCO for the gesture, saying it is important to have catchments areas along Shire River well protected by planting trees, as deforestation and degradation affect electricity generation.
He, therefore, urged communities to protect trees, stressing they have a lot of socio-economic benefits, aside from protecting water catchment areas for power generation.
“You should not just plant trees but protect them so that they grow to minimize the impact that come because of environmental degradation,” Matola said.
President Lazarus Chakwera launched the 2024 tree planting season on January 18 this year in Phalombe district.
Daud bemoans delays to complete health personnel houses
By Noel Chimwala
Chikwawa, February 8, Mana: Deputy Minister of Health Halima Daudi has advised contractors who are constructing health personnel houses in Chikwawa district to speed up the process, saying the project is likely to miss deadline.
The project was supposed to be completed by 17th February 2024 and, with time closing in, it is likely the contractor will not fulfil the agreement.
Speaking after touring rehabilitation projects of health workers’ houses at Bereu, Chipwaila and Dolo health facilities in the district on Wednesday, Daudi advised Chikwawa council to closely supervise the projects to ensure that contractors are doing quality standard work and that they should complete the projects within the contract period.
The minister said the aim of the tour was to appreciate the progress and hear from contractors if they are facing challenges which are making them delay to complete the projects within the agreed period.
“We are worried and concerned that despite having the funds at the councils, contractors are slow to complete the rehabilitation of houses for medical personnel in the three health facilities,” she said.
She added that when projects do not end in time, more money is spent as some contractors take advantage of the kwacha devaluation and inflation.
“Councils and traditional authorities must supervise the progress of these projects to ensure that contractors are doing good work, all mistakes are corrected timely and the project completion should be on time,” said Daudi.
In his remarks, Member of Parliament for Chikwawa South Constituency, Illias Karim, commended President Lazarus Chakwera for his commitment towards ending housing challenges for health workers.
“When these houses are completed, it will ease the housing challenges for our health workers and this means the workers will attend to patients whenever the need arises, regardless of the time,” said Karim.
“The concerns on delays have been addressed as the Minister has warned contractors to complete the projects by 31st March, 2024 and if they fail, the contracts will be terminated,” he added.
