MANAonline
Madam Chakwera donates to Nkhotakota flood victims
By Wongani Mkandawire
Nkhotakota, November 15, Mana: First Lady Madam Monica Chakwera has through her office in collaboration with the Department of Disaster Management Affairs donated food relief items to people who were affected by water disaster due to heavy rain that hit Nkhotakota early 2024.
Speaking in an interview during the distribution, Chief Advisor to the First Lady, Michael Mkandawire said they have donated 40 tonnes of maize flour and 5 tonnes of beans that will help almost 1800 people affected.
"This is not the first time for Madam Chakwera to help, she has been helping people of different backgrounds to ensure food security in the country,” said Mkandawire.
Mkandawire insists that Madam Chakwera intends to have food-sufficient households, adding that such households can participate in the development of their areas.
Nkhotakota District Commissioner Ben Matengeni Tonho thanked the First Lady for the support and emphasized that all households they targeted will benefit from the donation.
He stated that they have done a lot of agriculture sensitization about disasters in preparing people for water disasters that are prone in the district.
Member of Parliament for Nkhotakota North East Overton Kondowe asked other stakeholders to help with agriculture equipment for the community to be vibrant.
"Community has to be empowered through agriculture inputs such as fertilizer and seeds that can help them to harvest their own so that they should not be relying upon relief items," said Kondowe.
One of the beneficiaries from Msenjere Aida Banda expressed gratitude for the donation saying it has been a relief to her family.
"Life at camp has not been easy since the disaster hit and we are grateful to Madam Chakwera for remembering us," said Banda.
Over 14,000 people were displaced by the floods that hit Nkhotakota early this year due to heavy rains and water rising levels on Lake Malawi.
Committee wants immediate amendment of ATI Act
By Josephine Chipofya
Lilongwe, 14 November, Mana: Parliamentary Committee on Media, Information and Communication has said their need for immediate amendment of Access to Information Act (ATI) in order to hold accountable non compliant institutions.
This was said on Thursday at the parliament building, where the committee met officials from Ministry of information and Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC), to give update on compliance on ATI.
Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Media, Information and Communication Susan Dosi said the Act needs to be amended to give powers to Ministry of information and MHRC to issue punishments to non compliant institutions.
"There are a lot of gaps in the Act one of them is what happens if an institution is not complying with the law, Malawi Human Rights Commission and the Ministry should be given powers to hold to account no compliant institutions," she said
She added that the committee we will continue to press institutions to comply with the ATI Act, saying the laws are made so that everyone should abide to them.
Meanwhile Director of Information in the Ministry of information, Arthur Chipenda said all Ministries, Departments and parastatals have at least designated information officers, he also said they need to update the list to check if the information officers appointed are still the same.
"We will publish the names of the information officers by December, we have a total of 150 information officers appointed from public institutions and we are yet to receive from the private sector," he said.
He added that there is need for capacity building for information officers and information holders to submit names of the information officers and reports without being reminded.
In his presentation Malawi Human Rights Commission Head of Access to Information Unit Chancy Kalolokesha said some provisions in the ATI Act conflict with other laws like official secrecy Act.
Access to Information Act was enacted in 2016 and became effect in 2020 to regulate the provision of access to public information.
Mangochi fisheries office confiscates illegal fishing material from traders
By Lyte Ali
Mangochi, November 14, Mana: Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Unit in the Department of Fisheries with support from Ripple Africa confiscated illegal fishing material from traders around some shops at Mangochi Boma and Makawa Trading Centre this week.
Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday, Fisheries Inspector in Mangochi, Allan Katola said after noticing increased illegal fishing gears on Lake Malawi, the department planned to conduct a spot check operation in shops that trade fishing material.
He said some of the fishing materials that were seized are monofilaments as well as gillnets, saying that most fishers buy them because they are cheap and that they kill more fish.
“What we confiscated are illegal fishing gear and are banned by the laws of the country, as such, they are unauthorised. They help are responsible for depleting every aquatic life in the water bodies.
‘‘As such, we thought of starting to move in shops, targeting traders, and those found selling these materials will be prosecuted in court,” said Katola.
Commenting on the development, District Project Manager for Ripple Africa, Robert Manthonyera said Ripple Africa will continue supporting the Fisheries Department with resources through their Fishing Conservation Project as a way of protecting fish in the water bodies.
He added that the Fish Conservation Project also known as Fish for Tomorrow is aimed at reducing illegal fishing in Malawi as well as promoting fishing regulation.
“Ripple Africa will continue collaborating with the Department of Fisheries in confiscating illegal fishing material whether in shops or lakes in order to protect our lakes,” Manthonyera said.
CS-EPWP hailed for transforming livelihoods, farming methods
By Steve Chirombo
Dedza, November 14, Mana: People of Mayani in Dedza district have hailed the Climate Smart Enhancement Public Works Program (CS-EPWP) for transforming their livelihoods as well as farming methods through construction of swales which they say are helping in holding rain waters that used to cause land degradation.
Speaking in an interview on Thursday, Vice Chairperson for Ng’ombe Catchment, Cecilia Seliso said unlike in the past, many communities are embracing the initiative having noticed the many benefits that come with it.
She said apart from swale construction, the cash being provided to members of the communities is helping them to buy farm inputs and also support their households.
“Some are doing small scale businesses while others are paying fees for their children in schools. This intervention is important as it is also improving our lives. Some households have managed to buy domestic animals which also provide them with manure for our farms and others we sale in so doing improving our economic wellbeing,” said Seliso.
On his part, Group Village Chingota expressed satisfaction with the program adding that apart from the swales, they have established nurseries and tree seedlings have also germinated ready for planting soon.
“We are geared to restore forests for the benefits of our next generation. We appreciate the council for leading us in various initiatives that are transforming our lives through the program,” he stated
Agriculture Extension Development Officer (AEDO), Joseph Jassi, for Kaphuka Extension Planning Area (EPA) where Ng’ombe catchment falls, said people are able to make manure.
“About 800 hectares of land is being used by people in this catchment area. We are happy to see that participants have embraced the program. There are a number of program participants that have owned some businesses while others do have domestic animals curtsey of the financial aspect of this program,” said Jassi
Dedza district council, Land Resources Officer, Franklyn Gomani, who is also desk officer for the program said CS-EPWP is aimed at addressing four areas of afforestation, ending hunger, access to finances and ownership to the affected areas either by soil erosion, galleries and deforestation among others.
There are 22,336 program participants under the CS-EPWP in Dedza district.
The program is being implemented by the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) through the district council with support from the Malawi Social Protection Multi Donor Trust funded by the World Bank, USAID, Iceland, Ireland, UK-FCDO, EU and Norway.
Stormy rains affect 2,313 households in Mangochi
By Ernest Mfunya
Mangochi, November 14, Mana. Mangochi District Council has established that stormy rains the district had on Thursday, November 7, 2024 affected 2,313 households as 16 people got injured in 12 villages under traditional authorities Mponda, Mapila and Ntonda in the district.
The council's spokesperson, Bishop Witmos disclosed this on Wednesday following an assessment, which the District Disaster Risk Management Committee (DDRMC) conducted recently.
According to Witmos, out of the 2,313 affected households, 1,430 are female headed while 883 are male headed.
The council spokesperson added that 319 households are displaced due to damages of their houses as the council calls for urgent assistance of tents, food and other non-food items to keep the affected households going.
“We are pleading with organization to help the victims with family tents, food items including maize or flour, rice, relish, cooking oil and nonfood items such as blankets, plastic kitchen utensils as most families lost almost everything,” added Witmos.
Mangochi Municipal Council, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ernest Kadzokoya said that the stormy rains affected 782 households in five wards in the municipality including; Chikole, Kalungu, Msukamwere, Chigawe and Ndege.
He added that a boy got injured and infrastructure damaged, citing Mpondasi primary school roof and Ndata market shed were blown off.
Kadzokoya has since appealed to individuals of goodwill and organizations to help the council with tents food and non-food items to timely assist the victims.
The assessments were underway in Traditional Authorities Chimwala and Nankumba to establish the impact of the damage due to stormy rains on Tuesday, November 13.
Apart from Mangochi, stormy rains also affected other districts in the country including, Balaka, Neno, Mwanza, Mzimba.
UNIMA Research Shows Rising Alcohol Consumption among Youth and Women in Africa
By Austin Kananji and Yewo Munthali
Lilongwe, November 14, Mana: Research conducted by the University of Malawi (UNIMA) in collaboration with the University of Stirling in Scotland has revealed an increase in alcohol consumption by youth and females across Africa.
Presenting the research findings titled " Regulating alcohol packaging and supply to protect health in sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from policy systems in Malawi and Uganda (RAPSSA) " lead researcher, Dr Isabelle Uny shed some light on the increased alcohol consumption rates.
"The alcohol industry in Africa is using tactics to promote products like beer in larger containers, fruit flavoured beverages to attract this demographic. Alcohol consumption is a leading risk factor for death in this region," she stated.
In his presentation on the National Alcohol Policy, Assistant Deputy Director of the Ministry of Health, Michael Udedi highlighted the need to enforce restrictions on the promotion, sponsorship, advertising, and importation of alcohol in the country through the revision of the National Alcohol Policy.
“The policy intends to curb harmful consumption of alcohol, therefore there is a need for the development of systems that monitor the marketing of alcoholic products in the country.” he said.
Chairperson of the parliament health committee, Dr. Mathews Ngwale encouraged Civil Service Organizations and other stakeholders to bring the issue into much focus to be discussed in Parliament.
“We as parliamentarians do not initiate laws or issues ourselves as we are not lawmakers but rather mere representatives of the people from our societies, we therefore appeal to all stakeholders be they individuals or organizations to bring their findings so we amend the policy if there is a need,” said Ngwale.
The research was presented in Lilongwe on Thursday at Crossroads Hotel. Other organizations in attendance were the Southern Africa alcohol policy alliance, the Malawi Chapter, Danish church aid, Parliamentarians, ministries of health and homeland security, and the trade industry.
Utatu Woyera Choir 1 in CD and DVD launch
By Benedicto Maguda
Blantyre, November 14, Mana: Utatu Woyera (Kawale) Catholic Parish Choir 1 will launch its first ever-English music CD and DVD album titled, County Your Blessings, on Sunday, November 17 at Golden Peacock Hotel in Lilongwe from 1 pm.
The launch is part of the choir’s mission of spreading the gospel through music on top providing space to establish new relationships with other choirs.
Chairperson of the audio and video project, Laurent Mkwanda, told the Malawi News Agency (Mana), that preparations for the launch were at an advanced stage and pledged that people in Lilongwe will enjoy the audio and video launch.
“We are launching a CD and DVD titled; Count Your Blessings which is our first English album. For a long time, we have been producing Chichewa albums but this time, we have decided to come up with English songs,
“We want to reach those that like listening to the English songs,” he said, adding that many choirs from Lilongwe and outside Lilongwe were invited to the album launch.
The new CD and DVD have 17 songs and were recorded by Felix Ziyade of Honour Et Gloria studio and Felix Mpinga of Luntha Studio.
“We have decided to invite special choirs to be guest choirs. We want people to watch beautiful performances on stage,” he said.
Silvester Mwang’ana, Secretary for Utatu Woyera Catholic Church Choir, said people should expect live performance, adding that all instruments will be played live.
“We will not use CD on the day like what others have been doing in their launches. We shall play our instruments like guitars, flutes, and violin manually on the stage,” he added.
Mwang’ana called on people in Lilongwe to come in large numbers at Golden Peacock Hotel to witness the launching of Utatu Woyera (Kawale) Choir 1.
“Am requesting all gospel music lovers to come and be blessed with our songs. We are well prepared and let me assure people that they will enjoy the songs,” he added.
Some of the songs that are in other albums include; Ambuye Ndimadabwa, Ndikubwera Kuti Ndidzipereke, Lord of Dance, Sweet Sacrament.
Utatu Woyera (Kawale) Catholic Choir 1 from the Lilongwe Archdiocese, has three albums, the first one being Ndidzatama released in 2012, Kodi Ndidzanena Chiyani in 2018, Ambuye Ndimadabwa in 2023 with Count Your Blessings the fourth one.
PAC impressed with infrastructural development projects in Mzuzu City
By Precious Mandala
Mzuzu, November, 14, Mana: Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has expressed satisfaction over progress of infrastructural development projects taking place in Mzuzu City.
PAC Chairperson, Mark Botomani, was speaking in Mzuzu when the members of the committee toured the city to inspect infrastructural projects that are funded by government.
“So far, so good, the committee is pleased with the projects’ progression and the council’s efforts are in line with the Malawi 2063 and I believe that they are on track to achieving this development blueprint of the country,” Botomani said
Botomani, however, said that, levy collection for the government has been a hustle, a development he said has affected many projects which are being run by many councils in the country.
Chief Executive Officer for Mzuzu City Council (MCC), Gomezgani Nyasulu, said that despite having registered remarkable progress in projects’ implementation, the council has numerous challenges particularly lack of funding.
“The main challenge we have is lack funding. For example, construction of Zolozolo Road has now stalled for over a year,” Nyasulu said
He then took advantage of the PAC’s visit to the council to implore the committee to lobby for more funding for the council.
Master Chirwa who is site engineer for SOS Construction, the company that is working on Dunduzu-Sonda Road, said that payment delays have forced the firm to reduce its workforce drastically due to funding issues.
The committee among others, inspected road projects and a state of art five-story civic office complex which is expected to be in operational by September 2025.
Thyolo DC laments delays in drafting by-laws
By Yamikani Yapuwa
Thyolo, November 14, Mana: District Commissioner for Thyolo, Hudson Kuphanga, has expressed frustration over delays by the office of the Attorney General in drafting by-laws submitted by the council, saying the situation is crippling the district’s revenue collection efforts.
Speaking during a visit by the Local Authority and Rural Development Committee of Parliament Thursday, Kuphanga, disclosed that the council is unable to collect over K200 million in tariffs from tea estates because there are no legally binding by-laws to guide the process.
“The tea estates are willing to pay, but they demand a proper legal framework. Unfortunately, the Attorney General’s Office has not yet approved the by-laws we submitted, citing a shortage of legal drafters,” said Kuphanga.
He said the delay has dire consequences, stating that the council owes its direct staff over K100 million in unpaid wages, causing unrest among employees.
“Our staff have resorted to reporting the council to the Malawi Congress of Trade Unions, accusing us of withholding their wages intentionally. Meanwhile, the money we need to address this is sitting in the estates, uncollected,” lamented Kuphanga.
In response, Local Authority and Rural Development Committee Chairperson, Horace Chipuwa, recommended that the council use interim measures to proceed with tariff collection.
“While awaiting for the Attorney General’s Office to draft the by-laws, the council should use the minutes from the Full Council meeting where the by-laws were formulated and passed. This could serve as a temporary measure for collecting the tariffs,” said Chipuwa.
Chipuwa acknowledged that the delay in drafting by-laws is a common issue affecting many councils across the country, calling for urgent intervention to address the bottleneck.
“This is not an isolated problem; it’s a national challenge. We will engage relevant authorities to ensure that the Attorney General’s Office expedites the drafting process so councils can collect revenue and improve service delivery,” he said.
During the tour, the committee visited the newly constructed office complex as well as Mtambanyama Market, a Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) funded project where Chipuwa expressed satisfaction with the quality infrastructure.
Flames Line Up: Coach Pasuwa trusts Gaba and old guards to face Burundi
By Sheminah Nkhoma
Lilongwe, November 14, Mana: The Malawi National Football Team, the Flames, interim coach Calisto Pasuwa has restored Gabadinho Mhango in the starting loine that will face Burundi today in 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers at Stade Félix Houphouët -Boigny in vory Coast.
This comes after Burundi defeated Flames at Bingu National Stadium 3-2 on September 5 2024.
In a line released by the Football Association of Malawi (Fam) Pasuwa has trusted the formerly maligned Mhango to lead the attack together with anothr long absentee Mozambique based Richard Mbulu.
John Banda will captain the team with William Thole manning the goals who will be defended by Charles Petro, Macdonald Lameck, Alick Lungu and Chembezi Dennis among the new look line up.
Gaddie Chirwa and Lanjesi Nkhoma have been entrusted to attack from the wings with support from Yankho Singo,
The Previous meetings between the two sides have favoured the Burundi after registering two victories and two draws.
Malawi will be looking for their first win against Burundi in all competitions since 1987.
