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Government elevates three chiefs to Sub T/As in Dowa
By Sylvester Kumwenda
Dowa, March 28, Mana: Government on Thursday elevated three Group Village Heads (GVH) to Sub Traditional Authorities (Sub T/As) in Dowa, with a call for traditional leaders to be development conscious for their communities.
The three are GVHs Chipeni, Chidothi Mkhulu and Manondo Zikielo, who were elevated to Sub T/As at an event that took place at Dowa district council.
In an interview after elevating the chiefs, Deputy Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture Joyce Chitsulo, asked the chiefs to support government's developmental agenda.
"People need development, and the chiefs are the conduit between people and government. So we need chiefs, Sub T/As, T/As to be championing issues of development in their respective areas in conjunction with government.
"But also, to work with government in fighting corruption at the local level, whether in the distribution of relief items, the Affordable Inputs Program (AIP) or Constituency Development Fund. We need leaders who can help their subjects access the required social services," she said.
She also tasked the Sub T/As to promote girl child education and fight issues of child marriages while lamenting that Dowa has a high number of girls dropping out of school.
Uncertainty, however, dawned before commencement of the event, as it was discovered that court orders were restraining the elevation of two of the chiefs, namely GHV Chidothi and Chipeni.
After consultations, the function proceeded with a resolution to only install GVH Manondo as a Sub T/A. However, as the function was coming close to an end, things took another twist when it was again later revealed that the injunctions had been stayed.
This paved the way for the installation of the two other chiefs.
The Deputy Minister said that as a law-abiding government, they made sure that they uphold the rule of law and stop the elevation of the two, and proceeded to elevate GHV Manondo only as there were no issues with that.
"But the good thing about it is that this injunction was not coming from concerned members of the Sub T/As clan, but other chiefs who felt it was supposed to be them to be elevated.
"So I am saying it was a good thing because as a ministry, we are struggling with issues of injunctions on chieftaincy, as there are a lot of misunderstandings as to who is going to be the next chief after the death of the one who was holding the office. But this case was different," she said.
Parliamentarian for Dowa South East, Halima Daudi said the chiefs will help to identify developmental projects needed in the area.
She asked the chiefs to put the interests of the people first.
In her remarks, Sub T/A Chidothi said she was excited to be elevated, and promised to focus on helping government bring development to her area.
Nice urges people to secure a voter certificate
By Zenak Matekenya
Dedza, March 28, Mana: National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) programs officer for Dedza, Vincent Kalawa has called on voters in the district to secure their voter certificate and make their voices heard in the upcoming September 16, 2025, General Election.
He made the call Thursday at Bembeke trading Centre amid the sensitization tour to a number of places, including Linthipe 1 and Thete.
“We are urging the voters to take full responsibility for keeping their voter certificate safe. We are also reminding them that the General Elections will be held on September 16 this year and that they should exercise their right to vote,” he said.
Kalawa further urged the voters to spare time to understand the manifestos of various contestants to make informed choices.
He discouraged any form of violence to ensure the election is free and fair.
One of the voters during the awareness, Said Ali, hailed NICE for the campaign, saying there are some people who are reluctant to vote out of frustration.
“Casting the ballot is the only legal way of dealing with any nonproductive politician,” he said.
CS-EPWP strengthens beneficiaries' financial base
By Maston Kaiya
Ntcheu, March 28, Mana: Joseph Guza, the District Designated Officer of the Climate-Smart Enhanced Public Works (CS-EPWP) for Ntonda-Kapeni Catchment in Ntcheu district, says the World Bank-funded programme has enabled participants to become financially successful after venturing into various economic livelihoods.
Speaking to Malawi News Agency on Friday, Guza said, unlike before, where many beneficiaries were into illegal charcoal production businesses, which were not sustainable, participants are now able to buy fertilizers while others have goats, and some are in the agro-dealer business, all courtesy of the programme.
"The CS-EPWP seeks to address the adverse effects of climate change, as such participants are encouraged to invest in sustainable economic livelihoods such as irrigation farming, among others.
"After working for 30 days, participants are encouraged to invest part of their wages in various economic activities to ensure that their sound financial base is improved," he said.
He adds that participants are establishing village forests where over 3 hectares have been restored, besides reclaiming hectares of degraded landscape through gully reclamation and reforestation.
One of the participants, Thomas Noles of Chapalapata village, in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Phambala under the Ntonda-Kapeni Catchment area, said the coming in of the programme has turned his household fortunes.
Noles said before being enrolled in the programme, he was producing illegal charcoal, which left his seven-member family in poverty.
"Using K48,000 wage payment, I saved some money through the village loans and savings accounts and later used the same to invest in irrigation farming," he said.
Noles said three times a year, he cultivated different crop varieties like tomatoes and maize, which he sells to support the daily needs of his family, besides children's education.
Another participant, Gloria Peter of Nyambo village, in the area of TA Phambala under the same Catchment area, said the wages have enabled her to purchase goats and construct a decent house.
Peter, a single mother who lives with her two sons, said she invested in small-scale business besides village loans and savings in her area to increase the income.
"While I am supporting my family, my appeal to the authorities is to increase the wages owing to the high cost of living, which has been necessitated by the devaluation of the local currency," she said.
The National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) is implementing the CS-EPWP with funding from the World Bank and the Multi-Donor Trust Fund.
MP urges government to protect forests from destruction
By Patience Longwe & Lesnat Kenan
Lilongwe, March 28, Mana: Member of Parliament (MP) for Kasungu North, Mike Bango, has called upon government to collaborate with the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) to protect the country's forest from destruction.
Speaking when he asked a supplementary question to Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change in Parliament on Friday, Bango emphasized the need for urgent action to safeguard forests like Chimaliro, which is under threat from charcoal production.
"Chimaliro Forest, a vital ecosystem, is facing degradation due to the increasing demand for charcoal. The situation has raised concerns about the long term consequences of deforestation, including loss of biodiversity, soil erosion and climate change,” he said.
Bango proposed that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change should work with MDF to establish a permanent presence in Chimaliro Forest and other vulnerable areas.
Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Owen Chomanika, said government is taking bold steps to protect the country's forest reserves, which have been under siege from deforestation and other environment threats.
"As a ministry we have plans to engage MDF in forest protection efforts,” he said.
He expressed concern over high cost of deploying MDF personnel to forest reserves, which has been in place since 2007.
"The current Memorandum of Understanding between government and MDF is being reviewed to explore more sustainable options,” he said.
He, therefore, said government is recruiting 1,500 new forest guards who will be armed and trained to effectively protect forests.
Chomanika emphasizing on the need for a more robust approach, citing loss of lives and injuries among forest guards who are currently ill-equipped to deal with the scale of the problem.
"The new recruits will undergo training to meet the revised framework which is currently being developed.
“Government aims to complete the recruitment process soon with the ultimate goal of ensuring long term sustainability of Malawi's forest reserves,” Chomanika said.
High Court grants injunction to Nankhuni against MLS suspension
By Gift Chiponde
Lilongwe, March 21, Mana: The High Court Judge, Justice Howard Pemba has granted an injunction to Practicing lawyer Gift Nankhuni, halting the enforcement of a six-month suspension and fines imposed by the Malawi Law Society (MLS) Disciplinary Committee.
The injunction, granted by Justice Pemba at the Lilongwe District Civil Division Registry, prevents the MLS from implementing its disciplinary decision pending the outcome of a judicial review.
The committee's ruling, issued on January 10, 2025, had suspended Nankhuni for six months and imposed significant fines. However, Nankhuni challenged the decision, leading the High Court to grant permission for a judicial review under Cause No. 6 of 2025.
As a result, the MLS and its representatives are now legally barred from enforcing the disciplinary measures until the review process is concluded.
When contacted for comment, Nankhuni declined to speak on the matter, referring inquiries to his legal team—comprising Senior Counsel Allan Chinula, John Suzi Banda, and Gilbert Khonyongwa. However, his lawyers also refrained from commenting, citing the ongoing court proceedings.
Council gives 150 buffalo push bikes to Community Based Trainers
By Solister Mogha
Zomba, March 21, Mana: Zomba District Council on Friday gave out 150 buffalo push bicycles to volunteer community-based trainers (CBTs) that were trained to set up Village Savings and Loan groups under Social Protection for Gender Empowerment and Resilience (SP-GEAR) project to sustain livelihood of communities under the Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP).
Speaking during the handover of the push bicycles at Sakata Training Center in the area of Traditional Authority Nkagula, District Commissioner, Reinghard Chavula said the volunteer CBT were given the bicycles to ease their mobility in facilitating setting up VSLs among recipients of cash transfers.
She said SCTP was meant to uplift the lives of the vulnerable community members that were listed in the programme, adding that VSL groups formation was an ideal approach to ensure sustainable livelihood among recipients of the cash transfers.
"Our expectations under the Social Cash Transfer Programme is that people should, by end of the programme, graduate from their current status and live a more transformed life other than remaining in poverty. For us to reach this stage, more village banks should be established and sustained,” Chavula said.
The district commissioner therefore appealed to CBTs to encourage community members to do businesses in groups, saying this allows them to have market opportunities for their products on top of easy access to loans.
One of the community based trainers, Exah Nsapato hailed the council after receiving a push bicycle saying this was timely since travelling long distances on foot was a challenge.
“We are just volunteers and we could, in many occasions, use our money to visit the groups and we thank government through UNICEF for the support," Nsapato who supervises a VSL group of over 100 members, added.
She said the bicycles are a big relief, adding that many CBTs have been motivated and will work hard.
“We promise to take good care of the bicycles so that they serve the intended purpose," Nsapato added.
Traditional Authority Nkagula who witnessed the handover, said mobility amongst most of the CBTs was a big setback.
He therefore hailed the council and development partner for the timely support and promised to woo more people to join VSL groups.
SP-GEAR championed by UNICEF is one of the cash plus interventions which among others seek to promote community resilience through establishment of VSL groups.
Balaka's lean season response extended one month
By Steven Lingamawa
Balaka, March 21, Mana: Government through the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) has secured funds for an extra month for the lean season program beneficiaries in Balaka.
Since December, beneficiaries of the 2024-2025 lean season were left with no hope as the World Food Program (WFP) through its partner Find your Feet, only managed to distribute cash meant for food for two months cover against the five months that food situation assessment recommended.
Briefing members of the District Disaster Risk Management Committee on Thursday, Acting Disaster and Rehabilitating Officer, Alick Milanzi disclosed that WFP will again partner with Find your Feet on the activity.
Said Milanzi: “The Learn Season Response Program is a Malawi Government program intended to help a lot of households which are food insecure.
“WFP will cover 36, 519 households with cash amounting to K70, 000 while the remaining 15, 281 will be given a 50 kilogram of maize by the Department of Disaster Management Affairs.”
According to Milanzi, beneficiaries from Traditional Authorities Nsamala, Nkaya, Group Village Headman Phalula, Ngomwa, and Phimbi will receive maize, while the rest will get cash.
For the remaining two months, Milanzi said Government is still knocking doors for other donors and once everything is set, the beneficiaries will be notified.
Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for Balaka South, Ireen Mambala has hailed the initiative, saying people in villages were struggling to find food and asked authorities to act with speed as the food situation was worsening with a handful of harvests this year again.
Plan International donates relief items to Mulanje District Council
By Innocent Chamtulo
Mulanje, March 21, Mana: Plan International on Friday donated relief items to Mulanje District Council worth K42 Million to support households affected by Cyclone Jude in Traditional Authority Nkanda.
In an interview with Malawi News agency, Plan International Area Programs Manager for Southern Region, Jane Mweziwina said the initiative was brought up after observing that people that have been affected by the cyclone are living in devastating conditions that needs urgent support.
“Plan International Malawi status core is to help children for them to achieve their goals. Therefore, it is in our will as an organization to support these children,” she said.
District Commissioner for Mulanje, David Gondwe commended the development, saying they have welcomed the donation, which will help to cushion the shock that households had been facing since the onset of the cyclone in the district.
“Plan International has been a key partner to Mulanje District Council in responding to emergencies we have been experiencing. As a council, we are thankful for the support that the organization has been rendering us. The donated items will help cushion the impact that our people have been experiencing since the onset of the cyclone Jude,” he said.
Mulanje District is one of the districts that were affected by the cyclone Jude on 10 March this year.
The donation included soap, blankets, buckets, soya pieces, maize flour, dignity kits and chlorine.
Malawi launches iVerify platform to combat misinformation ahead of elections
By Donald Zimba
Lilongwe, March 21, Mana: In a decisive move to combat misinformation and disinformation ahead of the country’s elections, the Minister of Information and Digitalisation, Moses Kunkuyu, has launched iVerify Malawi, a fact-checking initiative spearheaded by MISA Malawi.
Speaking at the event that took place on Friday at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe, Kunkuyu emphasized the growing threat of false information, particularly during election periods, where misinformation can fuel unrest and undermine public trust in the electoral process.
“False information is a danger to any society. iVerify Malawi has come at a much-needed time as we approach the elections. This is a time when we cannot afford to live in an era of disinformation,” he stated.
He called on both the media and the public to be vigilant, underscoring that the responsibility to combat fake news falls on everyone, not just journalists.
MISA Malawi Chairperson, Golden Matonga, reaffirmed the platform’s role in curbing the spread of fake news, stating that iVerify Malawi will fact-check suspicious information, particularly during the campaign and voting periods.
“Misinformation can lead to violence and distrust in the electoral process. This platform allows the public to report any questionable stories, which will then be verified to ensure people access factual information,” Matonga said.
The launch comes at a critical time when social media and digital platforms are widespread with misleading claims, which can easily influence public perception. False narratives about election candidates, polling procedures, and election results have the potential to incite violence or delegitimize the process.
UNDP Resident Coordinator, Fenelia Frost, commended the initiative, stating that iVerify Malawi will equip citizens with the tools to discern fact from fiction.
“Misinformation is dangerous, especially in an election year. This platform will play a crucial role in ensuring factual and credible information is shared with the public,” Frost emphasized.
The iVerify Malawi platform will serve as a trusted resource for citizens, journalists, and policy makers, offering verified news to counter misleading narratives. As Malawi enters a crucial election period, the fight against misinformation has never been more urgent.
Neno District Council learns from Dowa
By Salome Gangire
Neno, March 21, Mana: Neno District Council Chairperson, Joseph Chiphaliwali has described a learning visit to Dowa District Council as an eye-opener, commending Dowa for its effective revenue collection strategies beyond government subventions.
Chiphaliwali made the remarks on Thursday during the visit, which aimed to enhance Neno’s service delivery under the Demand Driven Performance Improvement Plans (DD-PIPs) initiative.
"Dowa is implementing several innovative initiatives to boost local revenue, including through agricultural cooperatives and associations, farmers clubs and a council-owned 6 hectare farm. We need to emulate this approach rather than relying solely on traditional revenue sources like market fees," he said.
He added that Dowa District Council has successfully used locally generated funds to procure assets, such as 11 motorcycles, 55 pairs of protective gears for its agricultural extension workers; an achievement that underscores the importance of revenue diversification amid insufficient government subventions.
Chiphaliwali further emphasized that Neno District Council was particularly interested in learning from Dowa’s strong performance in local governance and development, as reflected in its first-place ranking in the 2023/24 Local Authority Performance Assessment (LAPA).
"This exchange visit is expected to enhance Neno’s operational efficiency and governance, fostering improved service delivery based on lessons learned from Dowa," he said.
Dowa District Council Chairperson, Councillor Gift Nkhono Songeya, attributed their success to strong collaboration among council secretariat, elective members such as Members of Parliament, councilors, traditional leaders and interest group.
"For a council to perform well, there must be a good working relationship between all stakeholders. Additionally, supervision at every stage of project implementation is crucial to ensuring quality infrastructure. Some contractors compromise quality when unsupervised, but in Dowa, we prioritize strict oversight, which has resulted in better infrastructure," Nkhono said.
He also advised fellow councillors to prioritize impactful flagship projects rather than focusing on small, scattered developments that may not bring significant change.
Deputy Director of Local Government Services, Janet Machinjiri, commended Dowa District Council for hosting Neno and urged the visiting delegation to implement the best practices observed.
"Dowa has been performing well in several areas, and I encourage Neno District Council to apply the knowledge gained here to improve service delivery," she said.
The learning visit aimed to expose Neno officials to best practices in revenue collection, project implementation, procurement, and council management, particularly in the implementation of the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) and District Development Fund (DDF) projects.
