MANAonline
Ready for School to be launched in Nkhata Bay
By Chisomo Kambandanga
Nkhata Bay, February 1, Mana: World Vision Malawi (WVM), in collaboration with Early Childhood Development (ECD) Department of CCAP Synod of Livingstonia, is expected to launch a one-year Ready for School Project in Nkhata Bay District.
Speaking Tuesday during a presentation on the project to members of the district’s executive committee (DEC), Nkhata Bay District Manager for World Vision, Limbani Gondwe, said the project aims at building capacity of care givers who would return facilitating transitioning of over 3,000 children from ECD Centre’s to primary schools.
Gondwe said the project was hatched to respond to a number of challenges, such as shortage of trained care givers and lack of resources, among others, which are affecting ECD initiatives in the district.
“We have noted that only 20 percent of care givers in this district had undergone formal training; as such, the project aims at building capacity of 276 care givers and advocating for quality ECD services to ensure smooth transition of about 3,045 children from 10 Community Based Childcare Centers,” said Gondwe.
In his remarks, District Social Welfare Officer for Nkhata Bay, Macsencie Chagomerana, described the project as a right step towards uplifting ECD in the district.
“This project will go a long way in building a strong education foundation for children who are psychologically prepared and have hunger for primary school education,” Chagomerana said.
He therefore commended the two organizations for the project and urged other players to emulate the gesture for the benefit of more children in the district.
The project will be implemented at Sanga in the area of Senior Chief Mankhambira in Nkhata Bay and will also run in Chitipa with funding from WVI-Korea.
Minister hails Nkhotakota Community Radio
By innocent Chunga & Wongani Mkandawire
Nkhotakota, January 31, Mana: Minister of information and Digitalization, Moses Kunkuyu, has hailed community radio stations in the country, commending them for playing an important role in ensuring their surrounding communities are well informed, entertained as well as educated on various aspects of life.
Speaking in Nkhotakota where Nkhotakota Community Radio celebrated 20 years of broadcasting, Kunkuyu said government believes in community radios as they have collaborated and used community radios through various sectors of government programs such as health and agriculture, among others.
He assured community radios that government will enhance the cordial relationship to promote transparency and accountability through the media.
“Media is the forth arm of government and needs to be a just bridge and ensure that people’s voices are heard and give right feedback to the communities,” said Kunkuyu.
Kunkuyu said his ministry knows that community radios face various challenges and as such government will do all it can to rectify realistic challenges being faced in various areas.
Nkhotakota Community Radio Boad Chair, Willard Kamanga, bemoaned limited resources as the main challenge faced by the radio station.
“If government and other parastatals can come in and help community radios with business, such challenges could be reduced,” said Kamanga.
Director of Planning for Nkhotakota District Council, Davies Kavalo, celebrated the radio station saying it is the mouthpiece of the Council in information sharing.
Kavalo assured the community radio that the Council will continue working hand in hand in various development sectors.
NLGFC tips Nsanje District Council on revenue generation
By Robert Nayeja
Nsanje, January 31, Mana: National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) has advised Nsanje District Council to implement its strategies in 2024-2025 financial budget in order to embrace increase in its revenue generation.
Financial analyst at the NLGFC, Andrew Banda, made the advice in Blantyre on Tuesday during a 2024/2025 budget review session.
Banda hailed Nsanje Council for putting in place strategies that will help to enhance revenue generation but asked the council to ensure that it should work towards achieving its plans.
“We hear a lot of good plans from the councils, year in year out, but nothing much on the ground. We are hoping that the council will take the advice given and do revise the budget for the betterment of the people of Nsanje,” he said, adding there was need for the council to put much effort on revenue mobilization to raise enough resources for effective service delivery.
He further said the budget review exercise was critical as it had the potential to help the local authority to utilize financial resources accordingly to avoid audit queries.
The financial analyst then advised the district council to work out on debt that included accumulated water and electricity bills.
Nsanje District Council Chief Accountant Clifton Kabambe expressed optimistic that the strategies which the council put in place will help to increase its revenue base.
“We are still exploring how we can improve our revenue generation through involvement of various players,” he said.
Kabambe acknowledged the council's failure to collect enough revenue to settle its outstanding bills including utility bills.
“Our plans to boost revenue include introducing motorbikes and pushbikes operators’ fees, as well as making sure that our rest houses are operational,” he added.
Speaking on behalf of the District Commissioner, Nsanje District Chief Environmental and Natural Resources Officer James Lichapa thanked NLGFC for the positive input and good advice during the budget review.
“We acknowledge that we have a lot of work to do based on the recommendations and we are going to make it,” he said.
Nsanje District Council 2024/2025 budget is over K7 billion compared to 2023/2024 period’s budget which was above K4 billion.
Chimwendo launches construction of Mangochi council chamber, finance offices
By Bishop Witmos
Mangochi, January 31, Mana: Minister of Local Government, Unity, and Culture, Richard Chimwendo Banda says government is geared to transform Mangochi Municipality into a tourism city through infrastructural development.
Chimwendo Banda said this Tuesday during the launch of the construction of a K2 billion Mangochi District Council chamber and finance offices jointly financed by the governments of Iceland and Malawi.
He expressed hope that infrastructural developments will attract more investors and tourists into the lake district.
“The vision of President Dr Lazarus Chakwera is to transform Mangochi into a tourism city. We believe this vision will soon come to reality with developments, currently, taking shape across Mangochi,” he said.
The Minister said construction of the offices in Mangochi is a true manifestation of a good bilateral relationship between Malawi and Iceland.
Recently, Government of Iceland supported Malawi with finances for the expansion of Makanjira Health Centre in Mangochi in order to improve health care delivery in the hard to reach area.
Director General for Development and Cooperative for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iceland, Elin Rosa, hopes that the project in Mangochi will help provide excellent working environment for the Council’s effective service delivery.
District Commissioner for Mangochi, Dr Smart Gwedemula, said due to limited space, most offices were scattered which negatively affected office coordination.
According to the contractor of the project, Blithe Construction Limited, Mangochi District Council chamber and finance office construction works are expected to be completed within a period of 12 months.
Standard Bank increases scholarship fund to K220 million
Lilongwe Bridge construction project to cost K37 billion
By Sheminah Nkhoma
Lilongwe, January 31, Mana: President Dr Lazurus Chakwera on Wednesday laid a foundation stone for the construction of Lilongwe Bridge which will cost K37 billion.
Upon arrival at the construction site, President Chakwera was welcomed by Vice President Dr Saulos Chilima, ambassadors and other government officials.
In his speech after laying the foundation stone, President Chakwera said the bridge will help in the development of the country as it will be constructed in a modern way.
“The bridge is looking very impressive. It is designed in a different style compared to the previous one. This will be the biggest bridge in the country once it is done.
“As government, our aim is to have the capital city changed. We are bringing in many developments not only in the road network but also other sectors,” he said.
Chakwera thanked the Japanese Government for its efforts to construct the bridge saying it is a huge success for the country.
The President said, once completed, the bridge will provide better service delivery within the city boundaries and beyond due to the road improvements.
Government of Malawi signed a grant agreement for improvement of main roads in the city of Lilongwe, which includes 78 metres dual carriageway bridge and 743 metres long road.
The improvement of this section of the road will help ease transportation of goods and services as well as reduce traffic congestion in the city.
The construction project, which commenced on 22nd November, 2023, is being funded by the government of Japan. It is expected to be completed by 21st November, 2025.
NyaLonje for boarding facilities at community college
By Manasse Nyirenda
Rumphi, January 31, Mana: Minister of Labour, Agnes NyaLonje, says there is need to include boarding facilities and tutors’ houses at Lura Community Technical College in Rumphi for it to be conducive for vocational skills acquisition.
She was speaking Tuesday after inspecting the college to appreciate its readiness for operation.
In an interview after the inspection, NyaLonje said the location of the college necessitates construction of houses for tutors as well as boarding facilities for students.
"There are structures that need to be done which were not in the original plan. Apparently, the initial plan did not include other essential things such as electricity, accommodation for tutors and students.
“These are key things that require a significant budget, but were not included because they were overlooked at planning stage," said Nyalonje.
She added that government is considering options of funding the extra works including utilizing part of Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) allocated to Rumphi District Council in consultation with the Council.
She said her ministry is doing everything possible to source K50 million, which is an outstanding balance for the previous phases of the project, so that construction works resumes on the site.
Chairperson for Rumphi District Council, Harry Munyenyembe said boarding facilities at the institution would ensure that people from areas across the district are provided with an opportunity to acquire vocational skills training, adding that the current design only favors the college’s surrounding communities.
Construction of Lura Community Technical College started in 2018 and is expected to enroll up to 200 students into various vocational skills.
At least K1 billion has been spent on the project since construction started.
TRANSFORM reshapes sanitation landscape with durable and eco-friendly toilets
By Vincent Khonje
Mchinji, January 31, Mana: The community in Mikundi Extension Planning Area (EPA) in Mchinji is experiencing a life-changing transformation as modern toilets replace outdated facilities, thanks to the efforts of Assemblies of God Care (AG CARE) an implementing partner of Sustainable Food System for Rural Agriculture Transformation and Resilience (TRANSFORM) programme.
One of the key aspects of the project involves providing sanitation entrepreneur training and deployment, resulting in skilled artisans constructing modern toilets across the EPA, including schools.
Benson Friday, Deputy Head Teacher at Chitunda Primary School, shared the impact of this intervention on their institution.
Friday said: "We faced challenges with pit latrines covered with trees and later concrete slabs, both proving to be neither durable nor protective as they could usually collapse, but the introduction of modern toilets called Corbelled or 'Mwamuna apumule' in 2022 by an AG CARE-trained artisan brought a positive change. These toilets do not only fill up quickly but are also cost-effective and environmentally friendly, eliminating the use of trees."
Binton Katengeza, a trained artisan from Mtenje Village, highlighted the life-changing impact of the project on individual lives.
"After receiving training, I approached the Village Development Committee (VDC) to share information about modern toilets, now, I construct these toilets for schools and individuals, and earn a sustainable income that is transforming my life,” he said.
Ganizani Chirindanji, WASH coordinator in Mchinji, emphasised the importance of the project in addressing challenges affecting hygiene and sanitation.
“In Mchinji there is one problem of water logging that is a challenge to hygiene and sanitation, so most toilets collapse, but Corbelled toilets are recommended and improved latrines that take time to fill and do not collapse easily,” said Chirindanji.
The benefits of the project extend beyond schools, reaching communities and individual households.
Takondwa Phanga, AG CARE Programmes Manager, outlined the comprehensive approach of the TRANSFORM programme, reaching 5,160 farmers in Mchinji.
“The micro-investment component we are implementing also includes providing safe water, promoting hygiene and ensuring good nutrition. This involves constructing shallow wells equipped with hand pumps, rehabilitating boreholes, and training artisans to build modern toilets,” said Phanga.
TRANSFORM project, is funded by Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and Dan Church Aid (DCA.
Ministry of Lands for professional district land registrars, clerks
By Gift Chiponde
Lilongwe, January 30, Mana: Minister of Lands, Deus Gumba, has urged the newly recruited District Land Registrars and Land Clerks to execute their jobs professionally.
Gumba made the remarks in Blantyre on Tuesday during the official opening of the orientation for land clerks and land registrars.
The training is being offered by the Malawi School of Government.
Government, through Ministry of Lands, facilitated recruitment of 34 District Land Registrars and 319 Land Clerks to help in dealing with lands issues in district councils across the country.
Gumba said the recruitment of new staff in the ministry will help government improve service delivery at local level and embrace decentralization.
He urged the newly recruited officers to take the training seriously and execute their duties with competence.
"I want to have well trained officers who are conversant with Malawi land laws and regulations. It is my expectation that once these officers are inducted, I will have well trained officers who will assist to champion the country’s development," said Gumba.
Secretary for Lands, Devie Chilonga, said land in Malawi is a very big issue in all the 35 councils hence recruiting the officers is a big achievement which will make a difference in all the councils on how to settle land matters.
Chilonga has advised the trainees to embrace discipline during their training and has instructed officials from Malawi School of Government to report any case of indiscipline.
"For all those who will not be serious with their training please inform management of Ministry of Lands so that we can discipline such officers accordingly," said Chilonga.
Education, powerful tool for sustainable peace – Mdooko
By James Kanyenda
Lilongwe, January 30, Mana: Deputy Minister of Education Nancy Chaola Mdooko says the theme for this year’s International Day of Education resonates very well with the reason the day was set aside for; to ensure peace prevails in the world, aided by education.
Speaking Tuesday during the commemoration for the day held at Mkwichi Secondary School in Lilongwe under the theme, ‘Learning for Lasting Peace’, Mdooko said the day is important to reflect on milestones gained towards achieving sustainable development and peace.
“Education is key in creating safe place to live. As such, we should ensure learners have access to their fundamental right to quality education and gain knowledge, competences and become agents of peace,” she said.
The Deputy Minister expressed worry with cases of indiscipline and violence in schools leading to loss of valuable property and closure of schools which greatly affect the learners themselves.
She said it is now time to bang heads and find solutions to deal with the vice once and for all.
“The responsibility of finding these solutions in not for the ministry only; parents, school committees, teachers and community leaders should also get involved in ensuring peace in schools. Violence puts the affected school at a disadvantage as damaged property takes time to be fixed, and learners stay at home while their colleagues in other school continue with lessons,” Mdooko emphasized.
She added that parents and communities should be actively involved in shaping their wards to become responsible citizens with good morals and well-disciplined learners at school.
Chairperson for Development partners in the education sector, Allian Zonolin, said lack of peace in schools demonstrated through corporal punishments and teasing among others leads to school dropout out hence the need for collective efforts to ensure peaceful learning environment.
“Education is a powerful tool to shape the mind, bring enlightenment and solve problems and, therefore, we need to guard against anything that might prevent learners from accessing it including violence in schools,” she said.
Parents Teacher Association (PTA) Chairperson for Mkwichi Primary School, Israel Kaunda, called upon all PTAs to be functional and help in preventing tension among teachers, learners and parents by ensuring each of the three is taking its part in creating violent free education institutions.
He asked learners to be submissive to their teachers and teachers to act as role models to learners while parents to shape the behavior of the learners.
International Day of Education was set aside by the United Nations (UN) six years ago for nations to consolidate gains made in the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This year’s theme calls upon member states to reflect on the role of education in peace building and calls on all stakeholders to hold hands and commit to invest in education for the betterment of the society.
