By Chilungamo Missi

Blantyre, September 6, Mana: Police in Limbe, Blantyre have arrested two people identified as Samson George, 25, and Cosmas Siza, 35, on suspicion that they were involved in the murder of three security guards at Amalika Forest at Bvumbwe in Thyolo district.

Confirming the arrest on Monday, Limbe Police Public Relations Officer, Aubrey Singanyama said that on August 28, 2023 at around 06:00 hours, a partially burnt body of a 45-year-old Joseph Samson was discovered in the forest by women who were on their way to fetch firewood.

“Prior to that sad discovery, the late Samson was reported missing on August 23, 2023 after going to fetch livestock feed in the forest. When the body was discovered with burn wounds from a suspected forest fire, some villagers became very angry and attacked forest guards,” said Singanyama.

He said the three forest guards identified as Lameck Tebulo, William Yohane and Thomas Chibakera were assaulted to death by the angry villagers.

Postmortem results from Thyolo District Hospital found that the deaths were a result of severe head injuries due to blunt trauma.

He added that Samson's body was taken to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital for autopsy.

Limbe Police detectives launched investigations which led to the arrest of the two suspects at Thunga Trading Centre in Thyolo.

When questioned by the police the two confessed that they took part in the brutal murder of the three guards.

Limbe Police has, therefore, urged members of the public to stop mob justice saying it defeats justice.

George comes from Chamasowa Village, Traditional Authority (TA) Boyd while Soza comes from Sakoma Village, Senior Chief Bvumbwe both in Thyolo district.

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By Memory Chatonda

Blantyre, September 4, Mana: Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture, Richard Chimwendo Banda has warned local authorities against mismanagement of funds meant to implement different developmental projects in their respective councils.

He said this on Monday in Blantyre during the official opening of the two-day- quarterly coordination meeting for the local authorities in the southern region.

Banda observed that this year, three councils have failed to receive performance-based grant known as Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) to implement various projects saying some councils mismanaged resources while others underperformed.

“The missed money is more than K 2 Billion in total which would have benefited people in rural areas with infrastructural development.

 “It is time to remind them that government will not tolerate any abuse or mismanagement of funds because we do not want to see any council failing again to access the grant,” he said.

The Minister advised the councils to fast-track developmental infrastructures and deliver services efficiently and effectively to benefit local Malawians.

Banda urged controlling officers to take charge of the financial resources at their disposal, saying anyone misusing funds would be held accountable.

Malawi Local Government Association Executive Director, Hadrod Mkandawire said it was a regrettable development that some local authorities failed to access GESD funds which were meant to benefit the local masses.

He said, “There might be a number of factors that could lead to this. Therefore, controlling officers and technical directors need to tie down key performance indicators and work to achieve the required results within that specific period of time.”

District Commissioner (DC) for Zomba, Reinghard Chavula described the meeting as essential and urged her fellow controlling officers to adhere Minister’s call.

By Chilungamo Missi

Blantyre, September 1, Mana: Women’s Legal Resource Centre (WOLREC) drilled community members in Group Village Head Bwanasompho’s area in Blantyre on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and referral systems to promote GBV cases reporting to relevant law enforcers and authorities.

WORLEC is carrying out series of community sensitisations on GBV in the district under a UN Women funded project called Cure GBV, targeting Tropical Cyclone Freddy survivors and service providers.

Speaking during the community sensitisation on Thursday, WORLEC Project Officer, Ernest Mujavo expressed concern that many people in rural areas fail to report on GBV cases to relevant authorities saying the reluctance victimize a lot people during disasters.

“We are doing community sensitisations on GBV and referral system targeting Tropical Cyclone Freddy survivors. A lot of GBV has happened but the challenge was that survivors were not being referred to relevant service providers to get support,” he said.

Mujayo said WORLEC has engaged service providers from Social Welfare Office, Malawi Police, Gender Officer, Judiciary and others to give communities at Bwanasompho better clarification and ways in dealing with cases of GBV in the area.

He further said WORLEC’s intention is to strengthen the referral system pathways which will empower community members to know where and to whom to report GBV cases, adding WORLEC will also ensure that the service providers have the capacity to handle GBV cases at community and district levels.

Chairperson of Village Civil Protection Committee at Bwanasompho, Esmy Kapendo hailed the WORLEC for sensitising the community members on GBV saying there was need to educate them on GBV to address the problem in rural areas where the malpractice is common.

In his remarks, Group Village head, Bwanasompho said he will take an active role in fighting GBV along with village level structures and subjects to ensure the malpractice is eradicated in his area

He urged WORLEC and other human rights organisations to continue engaging them on GBV and other human rights issues to raise much needed awareness.

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By Winfrida Kamwana

Mchinji, September 1, Mana:  International Labour Organisation (ILO) says addressing decent work deficits can enhance efforts to end child labour and sexual harassment in the country.

The sentiments came to light Thursday during a meeting for different stakeholders under the District Child Labour Committee (DCLC).

The meeting highlighted progress made by Ministry of Labour and ILO Project dubbed ‘Addressing Decent Work Deficits and Improving Access to Rights in the Tobacco Sector (ADDRESS)’ in Mchinji.

According to the project’s Technical Officer, Gracious Ndalama, ADDRESS aims at promoting decent work and all principles of decent work in the districts where the project is being implemented.

“ADDRESS Project seeks to eliminate child labour, sexual harassment as well as promote awareness on the abolition of tenancy labour system in work sectors, especially the tobacco sector,” explained Ndalama.

The ADDRESS Technical Officer further stated that the project also promotes social dialogue between workers and their employers to create a safe working environment for both parties.

In his remarks, Malawi Congress of Trade Union (MCTU) Project Coordinator, Joseph Kankhwangwa, explained that since the project was introduced in the first phase, there has been positive change about addressing decent work shortfalls in areas where the organisation works.

“We have noted that in the first phase, school enrollment has increased and there has also been an increase in reporting forced labour and child labour cases. We take that as a positive impact of the project,” said Kankhwangwa.

One of the stakeholders involved in the same project, Centre for Youth Empowerment and Civic Education (CYECE), has been involved in school-feeding programmes.

These programmes increase school enrollment in primary schools so that children who reside in tobacco-growing areas remain in schools even during the tobacco growing season.

ADDRESS Project is implemented in four districts namely Kasungu, Mzimba, Lilongwe and Mchinji.

In Mchinji, the project is implemented in areas of traditional authorities Dambe and Mduwa.

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By Vincent Khonje

Mchinji, August 31, Mana: Minister of Lands, who is also Member of Parliament (MP) for Mchinji South West Constituency Deus Gumba has led an initiative to improve the lives of people with disabilities in his constituency as a way of demonstrating a heartwarming act of compassion and inclusivity.

Gumba's efforts in conjunction with the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Action for Progress (AfP) have enabled the distribution of crucial mobility aids, such as push wheelchairs and clutches, to 50 needy constituents.

During the handover event of the items on Thursday at Tembwe, Gumba said witnessing the challenges faced by people with disabilities in his constituency, he recognised the immediate need to address their struggles with mobility and approached AfP.

"In the constituency, there are a lot of people with disabilities, making it impossible for them to do some social activities. The push wheelchairs and clutches are durable and light which enables the people to gather with their fellow community members and take part in social and development gatherings," said Gumba.

He added that the gesture aligns with the broader vision of Malawi 2063, which seeks to ensure that every citizen can actively contribute to the nation's development agenda.

AfP's executive director, Wilson Tembo, emphasised the group's prompt response to Gumba's request for aid.

"We have been doing this across the country and we have assisted a lot of people, so we thought we would also do the same for the people of Mchinji. This organisation has been a beacon of hope for individuals with disabilities, consistently striving to alleviate mobility challenges and enhance their quality of life,” said Tembo.

One of the beneficiaries, Sefulana Sandifolo expressed his heartfelt gratitude towards the MP for his initiative.

"I can now move around with ease and join community activities," Sandifolo shared echoing the sentiment of many beneficiaries.

Apart from the push wheelchairs and clutches which are to the tune of K11 million, the people also received Bibles.

AfP, established in 2018, is dedicated to enhancing living standards through various programs, including those focused on health, agriculture and food security, education, and humanitarian assistance.

This initiative's push wheelchairs and clutches have not only made mobility issues easier but also opened up new opportunities for social engagement and community involvement.

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By Andrew Gondwe

Chitipa, August 30, Mana: Chitipa Civil Society Organization (CSO) Network on Tuesday elected Director for Thembi Community Initiative, Patrick Dziba as its chairperson after the position went vacant when former chairperson, Sydney Simwaka resigned after a month in office.

Ziba was elected unopposed as he was the erstwhile vice chairperson for the grouping.

In his acceptance speech, Ziba assured the council that his committee will maintain good collaboration between CSOs and Chitipa District Council and continue complementing the council in implementation of developmental projects.

“Communities in Chitipa should expect a vibrant CSO network. The CSO will work hand in hand with stakeholders and citizens of Chitipa district for sustainable development at district and national levels,” he said.

Director of Planning and Development (DPD) for Chitipa District Council, Josen Tembo urged the newly elected chairperson and all CSO network members to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the district council to promote a good working relationship.

He urged the grouping to promote capacity building and awareness on developmental issues at the grassroots level to bring about mindset change in the communities.

“Different structures must be formed starting from the district to the community level. Local people including the youth should be involved in developmental activities taking place in their areas. This encourages development of a sense of ownership and sustainability,” he said.

Tembo also advised all NGOs operating in the district to be transparent and accountable to the district council and the communities they are working in. 

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By Maria Tembo

Ntchisi, 29 August, 2023, Mana: Police in Ntchisi on Monday arrested 30-year-old Mayines Banda for stealing a baby at Ntchisi District Hospital.

Confirming the arrest, Ntchisi police spokesperson, Glory Kondowe said the incident occurred in the morning hours of Monday when the guardian to the baby’s mother had gone to the guardian’s shelter to prepare food.

“The suspect approached the baby’s mother, Alinafe Hayiton and introduced herself as a friend to her guardian and offered to carry the newly born baby so that the mother could rest.

"While the mother was asleep, the suspect sneaked out of the Ward with the baby but was intercepted by the hospital perimeter guard," explained Kondowe.

Kondowe said the matter was reported to Ntchisi Police Station who later arrested the suspect and recovered the child.

The suspect appeared before court on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to the charge of stealing a child and was denied bail pending trial.

Banda hails from Chole village, Traditional Authority Kalumo in Ntchisi district.

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By Austine Kachilika

Mzimba, August 29, Mana: Executive Director for Coalition for the Empowerment of Women and Girls (CEWAG), Beatrice Chisomo Mateyu says empowering women economically is one of the effective measures of protecting them from gender based violence (GBV).  

Speaking on Tuesday, during a meeting aimed at promoting coordination and integration to enhance referral systems in addressing violence against women and girls, Mateyu said women who are not economically empowered fail to leave abusive marriages.

She said CEWAG is implementing various interventions in the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Mzikubola in Mzimba, aimed at uplifting the economic wellbeing of women in the area.

“Through interventions like male champions trainings, tailoring, business management lessons, loans and savings and livestock pass-on, women can fend for themselves without being exposed to exploitation,” she said.

One of the beneficiaries of the interventions, Charity Langa from Inkosi Mzikubola hailed CEWAG for equipping her with tailoring skills that have enabled her to support herself economically.

CEWAG is implementing the interventions in collaboration with Coalition of Women Living with HIV/AIDS with support from African Women Development Fund.

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By Maryam Mtengulah

Blantyre, August 29, MANA: Women’s Legal Resources Centre (WOLREC) donated assorted items worth K22.5 million through Cure Gender Based Violence project to Tropical Clone Freddy survivors and community based service providers at Bwanasompho and Chigonawaya villages, Traditional Authority (TA) Kuntaja area in Blantyre on Monday.

Donating the items, among them 50 push bicycles, 100 cellphones, 1,000 fuel briquettes, 348 energy-saving stoves, and 1,000 solar lamps, WOLREC Project Officer, Ernest Mujavo said the project is being implemented with funding from United Nations (UN) Women.

 “We are implementing a project known called Cure Gender-Based Violence (GBV). We are dealing with GBV by distributing risk reduction kits and household supplies.

“The solar lamps, stoves, and fuel briquettes have been donated to the actual survivors of the cyclone whereas bicycles and phones have been given to service providers including the Village Civil Protection Committee (VCPC), Community Victim Support Unit (CVSU) structures and the police to registered GBV cases to relevant stakeholders,” said Mujavo.

He added that WOLREC is sensitising communities how to identify and register GBV and to refer GBV cases to law enforcing agents and other partners in the gender sector.

Mujawo said he was hopeful that the community sensitisation will help to empower community members to fully deal with GBV in TA Kuntaja’s area.

Receiving the items, TA Kuntaja, thanked WOLREC for the donation, stating that the items will help the Tropical Cyclone Freddy survivors to cope with life following the devastation.

He also expressed optimism that the donated items will help the community based service providers to deal with cases of GBV which have been occurring among his subjects.

TA Kuntaja therefore urged the recipients to ensure that all the donated items are cared for and used for intended purposes.

One of the beneficiaries, Layiteni William said was grateful to receive the items, adding that the donation came at the right time when the survivors were in dire need of such assistance. Mana/mm/ewc/scm