By Brenda Nkosi

Thyolo, July 22, 2023: Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture, Richard Chimwendo Banda has applauded traditional leaders in the country for working hard in realizing the government's vision of developing its people.

He said this Friday in Thyolo when he officially elevated Traditional Authority (TA) Bvumbwe to Senior Chief and Group Village Head Chidothe to Sub Traditional Authority (STA).

"Government recognizes the huge role that chiefs play in translating its development plans. Elevation of chiefs is done to motivate them so that they can continue working hard," Banda said.

He said unlike politicians who are elected, chiefs are God appointed people who lead the people forever.

"The chieftaincy title goes for decades. This means different governments come and goes. That is why government is always committed to work with chiefs because it is their people who benefits regardless of the political party in power," Banda said.

The Minister said a chief does not indulge in politics but rather looks after the welfare of his people and maintains peace.

Paramount Chief, Gomani has since thanked government for honouring chiefs in the country, saying the elevation of TA Bvumbwe was a special honour to their tribe.

"Bvumbwe is a brother to Gomani. So his elevation is an honour to the Gomani chieftaincy. In addition, wherever a ngoni chief is, they represent the whole tribe," he said.

Inkosi Gomani has since urged fellow chiefs in the country to lead their people with love saying this has potential to bring more blessings in life.

By Tiwonge Kampondeni

Karonga July 23, 2023: Karonga District Council has elected councilor for Songwe Ward, Misheck Mwaijengo as new chairperson for the council.

Mwaijengo was elected Friday during an extra ordinary full council meeting.

He has taken over the mantle from Isaac Kalambo who is councilor for Zgeba Ward after the expiry of his one-year term.

“I am very happy to be elected as chairperson of the council. One of the things I would like to work on, is to improve nutrition levels in the district,” Mwaijengo said.

On his part, Kalambo said he was happy to have completed his term and that he is ready to support his successor.

By Moses Nyirenda

Lilongwe, August 4, Mana: one of the country’s independent filmmakers, Philmon Kuipa says he is committed to producing more films centered on disability that would advocate various talents and skills which people with disabilities in the country possess.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana), Kuipa said that his inspiration comes from ‘Focus on Ability’, a short film festival annually done in Australia and Malawi which promotes the talents and abilities of people with various forms of disabilities.

The filmmaker said that through producing films on disability among other things he wants to promote inclusion amongst people with disabilities mostly by showcasing their capabilities and contributions.

“Most of the times the inclusion becomes an issue and we lose out from tapping the skills and gifts from the people with disabilities, with my films I want to show the contributions that people with disabilities are making,” Kuipa said.

Kuipa who has so far submitted 15 short films on disability to Focus on Ability film festival since 2020, said that recently he has produced two short films titled ‘Gratitude box’ which talks about a person with disability who was saving his money for charity and ‘Kark’ which is a highlight of a young blind man who was a musician.

The film production enthusiast cum journalist further said with his films he also wants to see change on perception of some individuals on people with disabilities.

“I really want to see change, I really want to see people with disabilities being liberated, enjoying their rights just like any other person, there should not be prejudices that the moment you see a person with disability you start thinking that he or she wants to beg some money,” he said.

In her remarks, Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Spokesperson, Pauline Kaude commended Kuipa for his mission.

“One of the barriers facing persons with disabilities is to do with negative attitudes that the society has towards them due to, among other factors, lack of accurate information to address this situation, raising awareness becomes an important tool.

“So we believe what Mr. Kuipa will be doing will help to raise awareness about persons with disabilities and this is in line with government policies, laws, and strategies on disability,” Kaude said.

By Carolyn Khola

Lilongwe, August 1, Mana: Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare is migrating from manual data management to digital information management system called Child First Software (CFS) in Child Care Institutions (CCI) as one way of improving accuracy and efficiency during operations.

This was said on Monday during the District Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting at Lilongwe District Council offices.

Child Development Officer in the Ministry, Kondwani Mhone highlighted that migration will help increase accuracy and have reliable data when tracking children status in the system.

“The transition will enable us, as a ministry, to have all data related to CCI be available in the system. We will be able to register the child, monitor them and be able to improve in service delivery since all information pertaining to the child is captured in the system.

“We believe the CFS will help us address challenges that come in data management in the district. The system will ease the district from so much paper work that can be lost due to fire and misplacement,” he said.

Country Director for Both End Believing (BEB), Joyce Maganga stated that her NGO will work hand in hand with the ministry to provide the software that will be used in institutions so that they can have digital records.

She highlighted that the organisation will ensure to work in a professional manner so that they can build accurate data for the district’s vulnerable children as well as providing training and mentorship support to officers who will be managing the system.

Lilongwe District Social Welfare Officer, Derrick Mwenda appreciated the development describing it as very crucial for the development of the country.

"This is a good initiative and it is helpful if well implemented. I hope it works out for the benefit of the council," said Mwenda.

BEB will be the implementing partner in the transition aimed at transforming child welfare with technology.

By Ireen Mseteka

Likoma, August 7, Mana: Councilor for Likoma, Earnest Gulu has commended Invest in Early Years Project (IEYP) saying it has improved livelihoods of the people in the district.

He said this Sunday during an orientation meeting integrated homestead farming   organized for IEYP beneficiaries and community leaders in the district.

"For the past four years, we have managed to reduce mortality rate, maternal rate, infant rate and people's diet has greatly improved because of the project," said Gulu.

He said the nutrition status of people has improved due to the pass on project of livestock, adding that people have a variety of fruit trees and vegetable gardens.

Apart from improving nutrition status, he said women and young girls are now attending antenatal services, delivering at the hospital hence reducing death rate among mothers and babies.

He then asked World Bank to replace the project once it phases out so that many people should benefit hence sustaining their livelihoods.

Project Coordinator for IEYP in Likoma, Vision Mkumbwa said the orientation was aimed at improving food security in integrated households in the district.

"IEYP has done a number of activities in the district for example pass on of livestock, giving out vegetable plants and different varieties of fruits. People now have a lot of vegetables and fruits within their reach unlike in the past so food security and nutrition status has improved," explained Mkumbwa.

He said the aim of the project is to improve nutrition status of the targeted households such as under five children, lactating mother's and adolescent girls.

The five-year project which is being funded by World Bank District is expected to phase out next year in Likoma.

By Salome Gangire

Neno, August 4, Mana:  Neno District Council Director of Planning and Administration Charles Lomoni has hailed Partners in Health (PIH) popularly known as Abwezi Pa Za Umoyo for its programs aimed at improving health and socio economic rights of adolescents in the district.

He was speaking Thursday during an engagement on the strides of the two programmes namely Social Economic Rights (POSER) and Teens Clubs: Improving Health and Creating Socio Economic Opportunities for HIV Adolescent (ASPIRE).

 He said empowering youth with vocational skills is crucial to the development of the country.

“Let me recommend PIH for the good work it is doing in the district as government alone cannot manage to support all the youths in the county,” he said.

Lomoni therefore encouraged the youths to utilise such opportunities by acquiring vocational skills to empower themselves so that they become economically independent.

PIH Director of Community Health Jimmy Harare said one of the objective of the ASPIRE programme is to promote socio-economic rights of adolescents through education promotion and job creation through supporting vulnerable adolescents with school bursaries, food packages, transportation and housing improvement.

He said the programme is supporting 174 students in secondary schools, 11 in universities and some doing vocational skills through Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training programs.

“We believe that once the youths are empowered they will be able to acquire quality health services and improve their physical and economic wellbeing,” he said.

Harare said access to health care services is affected by a number of issues like social economic and if people do not have enough resources they are unable to go to health facilities to get the help they need.

Harare added that the aim of the project is to make sure that adolescents acquire skills to do business so that they are empowered economically so as to acquire quality health services.

He said the project is in line with their strategic plan of supporting adolescents but also national strategies like Adolescent girls and young women, the agenda 2063 and the Health Strategic Plan aimed at supporting the communities economically.

POSER programme Manager Victor Kanyema said the programme gives cash transfers to patients for transport costs, goat pass on programme and education to vulnerable people as means of empowering rural communities economically.

“We make sure that adolescents we work with do not have issues in accessing health services because they have no transport, no housing and sources of income,” he said.

By Solister Mogha

Zomba, August 3, Mana: Minister of Information and Digitalization, Moses Kunkuyu has said government was committed to improving provision of health services through construction of health centres.

Speaking during the opening of Khanda Health Centre in Zomba on Thursday, Kunkuyu who represented responsible Minister Khumbize Chiponda said provision of quality health services was one of the government's priorities.

The Minister said to ensure that health quality services are adequately administered, three elements must be made and these are high standard equipment, quality facility and qualified staff.

"It is our quest that we provide better and quality health services to all Malawians regardless of colour, region and status.

"There are plans to construct 900 health centers across the country but this will require concentrated efforts from both local and international stakeholders,” Kunkuyu added.

He said the new Khanda Health Centre would reduce death and long distances that people were travelling to access health services.

"Let me appeal to the community around the health centre to take care of the facility so that today and next generations should benefit.

“We will continue to provide all the necessary support including well trained nurses and doctors,” Kunkuyu said.

He hailed Village In Partnership (VIP) for mobilizing resources and constructing the health centre.

VIP Country Director, Wellings Mwalabu said his organization was forced to construct a health centre having seen the challenges that community members were facing in accessing health services.

"When we started implementing our activities we noticed the need for a health facility. We therefore started with mobile clinic and today, we have a full health centre," he pointed out.

Mwalabu said his organization would continue supporting people of Khanda and complementing government efforts in providing quality health services.

Apart from the health centre, VIP has constructed five staff houses.

Traditional Authority (TA) Nkagula said the health centre would serve thousands of families and reduce number of maternal death.

Khanda Health Centre will be serving a population of 13, 000 and Zomba District Council now has 33 health centres.

By Golden Kang’oma

Salima, August 2, Mana: Salima District Health Office (DHO) has it was worried with the increase of Sexual Transmitted Infection's (STI’s) among youth in the district which has been attributed to lack of knowledge and information.

The development was revealed during a community service fair which was organized by Center for Youth Empowerment and Civic Education (CYECE) in collaboration with Salima DHO in the Area of Senior Tradition Authority (TA) Makanjira.

Speaking on the sidelines of the fair, Anti-Retro Therapy (ART) Coordinator for Salima District Hospital, Lucia Matambo revealed that from January to June, 2023, the district has registered 74 percent increase in STI cases in youth ranging from the ages of 10 to 35.

She said that, "The situation is very worrisome as we are receiving more STI cases, and this is putting most of the youth at risk of getting HIV, if they are not careful.”

Matambo said the initiative by CYECE would help most of the youth to have vast knowledge on Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) related information as most youth had no knowledge and it would help to reduce STI cases.

District Coordinator for CYECE, Aggie Chan’g said they organized the fair to ensure that young people have access to SRH and make sure that they have the right information which they can easily share with others.

“Our aim is to make sure that adolescent’s girls and young women have access to different sexual and reproductive health services and information, so the program is a live reality that most young people in our rural communities do not complete their education because of several challenges,” she said.

Chan’g said that they are impressed with how most youths have patronized the event and how they have accessed the services that were being rendered.

One of the youths, Lucia Hassan said that the initiative has helped most of the youth to access quality health services and take off some myths about SRH that surrounded them.

CYECE with funding from amplified change are implementing a Sexuality Education for Transformation (SET) project in the area of TA’s Makanjira and Kuluunda.

By Joel Phiri

Mzimba, August 2, Mana: District Nutrition Officer for Mzimba, Gift Simukonda has challenged communities in the district to be practicing diversified diets for good healthy and reduce stunting which emanates from malnutrition.

He was speaking on Tuesday during a visit to some households at Manyamula in the district to appreciate nutrition promotion initiatives as the district prepares for a nutrition open day to be held in the district this month.

Simukonda said that he observed that most households have vegetable gardens, livestock such as goats and pigs and chickens.

He advised the people that apart from indulging in animal husbandry and poultry for sell, they should consume animal meat and vegetables for healthy living.

‘‘We always advise you to grow diversified crops besides rearing livestock and not all should be sold away. You should store some for your balanced diet consumption for good nutrition,’’ Simukonda said.

Group Village Head Kawimbo under Paramount Chief M’mbelwa said he in collaboration with some traditional leaders advise his subjects on the advantages of consuming balanced diets.

‘‘I always tell people in this area that as they sale, they should keep some for themselves,’’ he said.

A recent survey conducted by Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources indicated that malnutrition and stunting levels is at 39 percent exceeding national level which is at 35 percent.

By Martin Chiwanda

Machinga, August 2, Mana: Kapua Charity Climbers, a group from Finland which raises funds to support girls in the country has said inclusion of Sexual Reproductive Healthy Rights (SRHR) education in schools’ curriculum could play a huge role of reducing sexual violence.

The Group’s representative, Pia-Maria Lausas said they have noted with concern that most of the adolescent girls in the country have little knowledge of sexual violence and sexual reproductive healthy hence the call.

She was speaking on Tuesday when the group visited Kaombe Primary School in the area of Senior Chief Liwonde in Machinga to appreciate efforts being made by Centre for Youth Empowerment and Civic Education (CYECE), on empowering communities especially girls and women on issues to do elimination of all forms of violence in the district.

Lausas said her grouping wants to advocate that Sexual reproductive healthy rights and Gender Based Violence (GBV)be included in the school’s curriculum which would subsequently reduce all form of violence in the future.

"We want to advocate that issues to do with Sexual reproductive healthy rights and GBV be in the school’s curriculum. Once we begin to teach these little ones right from school, it will help to reduce sexual violence in the society," she said.

CYECE Executive Director, Lucky Mbewe said through empowerment initiative, the organization has established different strategies in schools and communities including youth clubs and village savings loans groups to give girls platform so that they can talk about issues that negatively contribute to their poor participation on issues that affect their lives.

"Our object is to empower communities to be self-reliant in developing sustainable strategies that protect women and girls from all forms of violence and allow a girl child to stay in school while we continue bringing awareness to communities on issues that affect them in attaining basic education," he said.

District Gender Officer for Machinga, Olive Msyamboza applauded CYECE for "Prevention of Sexual gender based violence in rural Malawi" project which the organization was implementing in the areas of Traditional Authority (TA) Liwonde, citing the project has tremendously improved the knowledge gap on gender related issues among communities.

"Prior to the inception of the project we had challenges such as child marriages, high school dropout rate, especially among primary girls due to early pregnancies which eventually lead to early marriages," she noted.