By Leah Malimbasa

Chikwawa, September 3, Mana: Business Acceleration for Youth (BA4Y) project has awarded 20 grants valued at K2, 500,000 each to highest ranked business start-ups owned by youth and women in Chikwawa.

Chikwawa District Youth Officer (DYO) McNeil Shire said successful entrepreneurs were identified through a business idea pitching session where 30 shortlisted youth and women entrepreneurs presented their business ideas to a panel of judges.

“In Chikwawa we received 394 applications 50 of which were selected to under-go a four months training by Development Aid from People to People (DAPP) which started in April 2023,” he said.

Shire said along the way three dropped out which left training with 47 participants who, upon completion, developed business plans and later pitched.

From the 47 participants, 30 were shortlisted.

He added that the 30 entrepreneurs were coached again to fine tune their business plans for a final pitch where 20 were selected for the grants worth K2,500,000 each.

“The Council is grateful to USAID and CIAT for supporting our young people with such an economic empowerment program which will also create employment to fellow youths,” said Shire who was also part of the panel of judges for the project.

Apart from Shire, the pitching panel composed of Small and Medium Enterprise Development Institute (SMEDI) representative, International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) representative, a business person within Chikwawa anan independent observer from Chikwawa District Council.

CIAT Project Associate, Ramadhan Kadammanja said the organisation will conduct a series of field visits to monitor those that received the grant if they abide by what they indicated in their business plans.

He said monitoring is key to the success of the project hence the field visits.

“We understand that for a business to succeed it is not just about having finances but also the right skills and information. The project has equipped them with both finances and business skills,” he added while encouraging those that did not receive the grant to apply again.

One of the beneficiaries, Manuel Yohane, from Traditional Authority (TA) Kasisi was grateful for the grant and knowledge saying it will change his life forever.

“I will use the grant to boost my pig farming. Every penny I receive will be utilised for its intended purpose because I feel very lucky to be one of the 20 successful candidates out of the 394 who applied,” said Yohane.

The BA4Y project is funded by United States Agency for international Development (USAID) and managed by CIAT with DAPP as implementing partner.

By Bishop Witmos and Ernest Mfunya

Mangochi, September 2, Mana. Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Liana Kakhobwe Chapota toured Southern Region Water Board (SRWB) project at Nkhudzi bay where she applauded the board for implementing the K11 billion water project which is expected to start providing clean water to communities in Mangochi.  

Chapota applauded the SRWB project on Friday after SRWB chair disclosed that the project, which was commissioned in 2021 will see water being provided to communities from Nkhudzi bay, Mtaka-taka Turn off up to Bishop’s house at Mpondasi from September 4.

SRWB Nkhudzi project tap water from Lake Malawi to benefit over 92,000 households apart from public and private institutions and tourism facilities with financial assistance from Kuwait fund International.

The deputy minister said that the project which is being funded by Kuwait Fund for Arab Development is in line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 6 which looks at availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

“This project is important to the people of Mangochi because some areas of Mtakataka Turn-off in Monke-bay were not able to access clean water.”

She said the current administration is committed to provide clean water to Malawians including the rural population to improve water and sanitation and hygiene standards.

“President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera advises us to ensure that we provide people with clean water because Malawi cannot achieve meaningful development without clean water. We are happy now that the Nkhudzi bay water project is completed and that many households in Mangochi will access clean and potable water,” said Chapota.

She therefore asked communities within the project area to avoid stealing and vandalising water pipes and equipment on top of continuing conserving environment for sustainable management of water resources.

In his remarks, Board Chairperson for SRWB, Brown Mpinganjira said now that the project has been completed, communities at Mtakataka Turn off in Monke-Bay to the bishop's house in Mangochi should expect clean water by Monday, September, 4 this year.

“This is an exciting moment for the people of Mangochi and SRWB, as the contractor has completed all the works and Monday water will start flowing in taps.” said the board chair

He added that the project was successfully implemented because of political will towards provision of safe water. 

By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, September 1, Mana: Director of Planning and Development (DPD) for Chitipa District Council, Jossen Tembo has advised stakeholders implementing nutrition projects in the district to coordinate and fight in reducing stunting to a single digit.

Tembo made the call on Friday during the District Nutrition Coordinating Committee (DNCC) meeting which was funded by the Lusubilo Community Care Organization under Agriculture and Nutrition Integration Project,

The project is being implemented with funding from Mathile Family Foundation.

Tembo said that stunting is at 33 percent in the district, which translates to 82, 000 people.

"We all need to come together and fight stunting in the district. We need to fight to reduce 33 percent and come to single digit.

"We really need to work hard so that children born from these 82, 000 people who are stunting should be free from stunting," he said.

Project Coordinator for Lusubiro Community Care Organisation, Maureen Maseya assured the district council that civil society organisations will continue complimenting government efforts in reducing stunting and other nutrition related interventions.

Maseya said as one way of reducing malnutrition in the district, her organisation plans to procure anthropometric tools in the clinics.

"Last time we procured anthropometric tools like height board, weighing scales, Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) tapes and many more. And this time around we are procuring another consignment, which will be distributed to the areas we are implementing the project," she said.

The project targets the moderately malnourished under five children, pregnant and lactating mothers in Senior Chiefs Kameme, Mwenewenya and Mwabulambya,

By Austine Kachilika

Mzimba, September 1, Mana: Deputy Director for Food and Nutrition in the Department of Agricultural Extension Services under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Sylvia Mapanje has appealed to men in Mzimba District to ensure that their families consume all six food groups as one way of fighting against malnutrition.

Mapanje made the appeal on Thursday during the launch of the National Nutritional campaign that was held under the theme ‘Dietary diversification: a key to a healthy population.’

“It is saddening to see that men can consume all food groups mostly meat products in their daily endeavours whereas their families lack such nutritional diets. Men should ensure that their families consume food groups such as meat, fruits, legumes, carbohydrates, vegetables and fats and oils for the betterment of their loved ones,” she said.

In his remarks, Chairperson for M’mbelwa District Council, Morgan Tembo concurred with Mapanje on the need for joint efforts to fight malnutrition which affects 39 per cent of children in the district.

 “Animals should not just be kept for prestige. It is our responsibility to consume them with other food groups so that our bodies benefit from the nutrients found in all six food groups”.

Nutrition promoter from Group Village Head (GVH) Robert Mphande, Chimwemwe Masinji said the national nutrition campaign was an eye opener on the importance of backyard gardens, small and large livestock keeping, as well as hygiene and food security.

By Fletcher Chiponda

Nkhotakota, September 1, Mana: Men in Nkhotakota have been challenged to take a leading role in encouraging women to breast feed their children until the rightful age.

Speaking on behalf of the District Commissioner for Nkhotakota, Chief Agriculture Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CAENRO), Siliro Nkhukuzalira Magomero, said the week should be a reminder that a persons’ good health starts at breastfeeding stage.

He was speaking during the launch of a world breast feeding week which took place at Abuja ground in Mgombe Village, Traditional Authority Kalimanjira in the district,

Magomero said, “Life starts at birth because it determines the future of the new born, so once a child is born it is very important to breast feed them because in the breast milk there are all essential nutrients that help in building the immunity of the child which helps in fighting against various diseases.”

He challenged fellow men that there is need to take part and contribute in these breastfeeding exercises such as encouraging women to breast feed their children frequently.

Concurring with Magomero, Nkhotakota District Hospital Nutrition Officer, Lissa Nthiliro said some men leave the duty of taking care of a child to women alone saying this is as good as abandoning their responsibility to escorting their wives and babies to hospitals.

She said failure to take part contribute to the malnourishment of many children in the district. hence having high number of malnutrition cases.

This year’s World breast feeding week is being commemorated under the theme ‘Enabling Breastfeeding, making a difference for working parents.’

By Sarah Munthali

Ntchisi, September 4, Mana: Forum for African Women Educationalists Malawi (FAWEMA) has said mother group structures in schools are important in promoting girls’ education, fight against child marriages and teenage pregnancies.

FAWEMA Project Officer for Innovations in Health Rights and Development (iHEARD) for Ntchisi, Patrick Magalasi said this Monday during a training of 52 mother groups’ from 13 schools inKayoyo and Boma education zones.

“Most girls drop out of schools’ girlsin upper classes as compared to boys due to some factors such as cultural barriers which regard boys as superior to girls, Mother groups can explain the importance of education, support girls with school supplies and act as counsellor to girls on how to resist pressures and cultural practices which can make them to drop out” he said.

Magalasi said some girls face pressure from their own parents to quit school and the mother groups are there to offer support.

“The mother group play a critical key role in promoting personal hygiene amongst girls by teaching them how to care for themselves, including how to make re-usable sanitary pads out of simple and locally available materials,” he added.

Magalasi said through the iHEARD project FAWEMA organised the training for the mother groups aimed at orienting the committees on their roles and responsibilities, importance of girls and inclusive education and the concept of child friendly schools and legislations.

One of the participants from Sambakunsi School Mother group committee, Zione Chirwa said the training helped the mother groups to know their roles when counselling the learners in schools.

“For instance, we have been trained on how to counsel the learners by dividing them into age groups, including one on one counselling, this helps learners to open up and say the challenges they face, we learnt to work with other stakeholders such as chiefs, teachers when doing our work and mobilise resources to achieve our roles,” she said.

Chirwa hailed the IhEARD project saying it was helping girls to continue their education and not drop out of school.

iHEARD is a five-year project funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) targeting 3 million  adolescent girls and young women aged between 10-24 years in primary and secondary schools to dismantle barriers that affect girls in the realization of their sexual and reproductive health rights in Ntchisi, Dowa and Lilongwe districts.

By Margret Praise Kalua

Nkhata Bay, September 2, Mana: Executive Director for Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) Education Department, Joseph Mnyimbiri has urged boards of governance in various CCAP Schools to be vigilant in soliciting funds for development projects in their schools.

Speaking in an interview after a mock wedding fundraiser at Bandawe Girls Secondary School on Friday, Mnyimbiri said many schools turn to raise school fees when they want to cater for some projects or when the currency is devalued.

“Traditionally, school institutions raise fees when they initiate construction projects. This time around, we ask them to be vigilant in sourcing funds through other means.” he said.

He highlighted that raising school fees is not a solution to development of a school, bearing in mind that life is expensive nowadays and students come from different backgrounds.

He therefore appealed to all boards of governance to emulate Bandawe Girls’ Secondary School (BAGSS) board members gesture of taking the initiative of fundraising for their school developmental projects through various activities like mock weddings.

Commenting on the development, Bandawe Girls’ Secondary School Board of Governance Vice Chairperson, Baka Banda said the school has two projects which needed money hence the initiative.

“Currently we are extending dormitories for our students and constructing a school fence which is underway.”

 “We did not want to put pressure on the parents by giving them extra costs, rather we are fundraising and we are still sourcing more funds to accomplish the task we have just started," he said.

Director of Education, Youth and Sports for Nkhata Bay, Muhabi Chivunga challenged schools to utilise available resources from the communities in school development projects rather than waiting for government and other sponsors.

By Emily Kamisa

Mzuzu, September 1, Mana: Deputy Minister of Education, Nancy Chaola Mdooko has pledged government support towards completion of Jalira Secondary School which is under construction in the area of Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe in Rumphi district.

The deputy minister made these remarks on Friday as she inspected the school.

“I am impressed with the development that is taking place here and I pledge my direct support wherever necessary. I will also report to the Honorable Minister of Education, Madalitso Wirima Kambauwa as well as His Excellency Dr. Lazarus Chakwera,” she said.

Korean Missionary, Young Sim Baek who is funding the construction of the school expressed optimism on the future of the construction project as now they have assurance from the government.

“We have faced many challenges due to lack of electricity and water which has delayed the completion of the project. But now we look forward to having quality infrastructure which will translate to quality education,” said Baek.

Member of Parliament for Rumphi West, Wiza Mkandawire said that water will be available at the project site soon, as he together with the district council have already engaged stakeholders who are working towards rectifying the problem.

“We had members of the Northern Region Water Board who took samples from various boreholes in the community and we are working on having a high yield borehole that should be able to provide at least 50 000 litres of water per day,” said Mkandawire.

Mkandawire also disclosed that government has given them a grant through the African Development Bank through the NRWB which is expected to roll out in 2026 for a long term provision of safe and enough water.

Jalira Girls Secondary School whose construction started in June 2022, is part of the bigger vision of the funder Missionary Young Sim Baek who plans to construct other infrastructure in the area including a hospital and a university.

By Donald Zimba

Lilongwe, August 31, Mana: District Commissioner (DC) for Mulanje, David Gondwe says the district has registered success in its drive towards post cyclone Freddy recovery due to the district’s proper management of the recovery projects.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA) recently, Gondwe said currently, the district is finalising relocation of Cyclone Freddy victims whose houses were completely washed away.

He said Mulanje District Council has been engaged in meetings with the local leaders especially in Traditional Authority (TA) Njema where about three villages were washed away.

“Negotiations with the local leaders have been successful. In Group Village Head Namasalima the good will ambassadors Dr Joyce Banda and Dr Bakili Muluzi are assisting people by building new houses to help in the relocation exercise and land was given for free. As I am talking houses are now at roof level,” he said.

Village Headman Nkhumba under TA Njema said they did not expect such a tragedy to occur.

“When we heard that government, through the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) and good will ambassadors, is beginning a project to build houses for people in the affected areas, we as chiefs thought it wise to give this land for free to help people that lost their homes.

“I would like to urge my fellow chiefs and good will ambassadors to join hands and where possible assist with land or aid to help the initiative that Government has already started,” he said.

Mulanje is one of the districts where Government is constructing houses to assist in the post cyclone Freddy relief.

Mana/dz/pk

By Memory Chatonda

Blantyre, September 6, Mana:  Director of Accounting Services in the Department of Accountant General, Chifundo Kapulula has challenged finance officers from local councils to utilise knowledge gained on International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) by having credible and high-quality financial reporting.

He said, this will enhance credibility in the government's financial transactions thereby promoting the country’s good image.

Kapulula was speaking in Blantyre on Monday during the official opening of IPSAS training for finance officers drawn from almost all the country's districts.

He said: “This training is very fundamental to the financial reporting framework in Malawi. We have developed a roadmap to train accountants on IPSAS so that they should be able to produce financial statements comparable with other countries and at the same time easily understood by users.

“So far, we have managed to equip accountants in the mainstream civil service with the knowledge on IPSAS. Today, we are training local council’s Chief accountants, Directors of finance as well as accountants.  Our plan is to train everybody in the accounting service.”

Kapulula said it is the wish of the government to see finance officers providing verifiable audits that can enhance credibility of the finance management while at the same time, boost donors' confidence in Malawi's economy.

“As a country, we are moving forward to that and soon will be able to achieve this quest because of such kind of training,” he said.

National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) Director of Finance, Linda Kapanda said enhancing knowledge of IPSAS to finance officers would enable them prepare their financial statements with all-inclusive elements.

“The financial statements will show how the councils are recognising their revenues, spending their expenses and managing their assets and even other financial management issues. We want to enhance credibility in the financial management and also produce reports that can be trusted by our donors, investors even other stakeholders,” she said.

One of the participants, Director of Finance for Ntcheu District Council Musandide Misinjo hailed the training saying it has provided knowledge required for the councils to perform well.

The training is expected to end on September 14, 2023.