By Arkangel Tembo

LILONGWE, AUGUST 1, MANA: "Nthawi yopuma tilibe, kumalembe m'bokosi ndiye tchuthi. As you live, you hustle for ana ako kapena mayi ako," musicians were singing the late Victor Mwangobola popularly known as Tremour’s song as their fellow musician brown coffin was being lowered into the grave on Monday.

At exactly, 3:02pm, the body of musician, Tremour, who died on Sunday after being involved in a motorcycle accident was laid to rest at Area 18 cemetery in Lilongwe.

Thousands of people that came to pay their last respects braved the heat.

Father and mother to the late Tremour looked devastated as they waved at the coffin, before being lowered into the grave.

As the coffin was slowly descending into the grave, women shed tears in disbelief, while on the other side choir members were singing, "Ndigoneranji mmanda ndekha."

An announcement was made by the master of ceremonies, "Azibambo senderani kuno tilandirane Ntchito yokwilira manda imafunika kuthandizana."(Meaning they should help grave diggers to bury Tremour).

One man in a black trouser and shirt, standing a far carried a cross bearing all the details of date of birth and death of Tremour. Next to her were women with fresh wreathes made from red and green flowers.

There was total silence when the pastor said," Dust to dust," while pouring the soil inside the grave. 

It was a heartbreaking moment when the mother to Tremour stood next to the grave, with her head looking down at the coffin of his Son six feet under the ground.

In tears, the mother shouted while waving at the coffin, "I still can’t believe you’re gone my Son. Rest in peace Son.

Every single day will be harder than the day before to walk this earth without you by my side. I love you more than this world Son Fly high, it’s not goodbye. goodnight until we meet again, Son.”

Tremour's little sister, could not control her tears, as she shouted, "Why God Why God have you allowed my brother to leave us alone, he always came home with that big beautiful smile of his. It was an absolute pleasure to have had Tremour as my brother. I'm so grateful to have you as my brother." After adzukulu finished their job, the master of ceremonies requested for the cross which was carried by a man."Bwelesani mtanda kuno tikhomele kumutu tamaliza kukonza nyumba ya Tremour"

After the burial ceremony, one by one left the cemetery with darkness going to their various homes leaving Tremour all alone 6 feet under the ground.

He was laid to rest a few meters where another Malawian musician, Martse was buried.

It all started, on a Saturday night when Tremour was coming from the studio in area 25 when he met his fate.

He boarded a motorcycle heading home after work, before a car hit their motorcycle.

He sustained head injuries before being rushed to Kamuzu Central Hospital.

Tremour breathed his last on Sunday and he left Malawians with this message in one of his hits, " Nthawi yopuma tilibe, kumalembe m'bokosi ndiye tchuthi. As you live, you hustle for ana ako kapena mayi ako.

By Yamikani Yapuwa

Blantyre, August 7, Mana: Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) has on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) which will see the university offering a postgraduate certificate in Taxation and Customs come 2024.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, MRA’s Director General John Biziwick said the MoU would foster collaboration in the development and delivery of a training programme in Taxation and Customs that would culminate into the award of a certificate.

“Through this partnership, we will jointly develop the curriculum, provide training to qualifying candidates and also share training materials with a view to fully equip young Malawians in the field of taxation.

“Besides that, the MoU will enable students studying taxation to access MUBAS's training facilities and infrastructure so that they learn taxation in a very conducive environment and be experts in taxation which is a very complex and dynamic field,” he said.

Biziwick said through the MOU, the authority would be able to significantly reduce its training costs as only candidates with the requisite knowledge and skills would be considered for employment in MRA.

“In other words, through this MoU, we are creating a pool of technocrats from where only competent and skilled manpower in taxation will be drawn.

“When I say a pool of technocrats, I mean officers who will competently conduct inspection, tax assessment or conduct effective tax investigations. I also mean officers who have the requisite knowledge and skills in rules of origin, classification and valuation, among others,” he said.

The Director General added that the MoU has come at an opportune time when government was working towards reducing donor dependence and instead advocating for mobilization of domestic revenue as envisaged in the Domestic Revenue Mobilization Strategy 2021-2026.

“Therefore, I am very optimistic that through this MoU, the country will be producing technocrats in the field of taxation and in the process, beat the set revenue targets and enable the Government accomplish its development agenda,” Biziwick said.

MUBAS Vice Chancellor, Nancy Chitera described the programme as a very crucial and critical component and programme for the development of the nation and achieving of Malawi 2063.

“As a country, we are talking of more exporting of our products as we would want to build a nation that is self-reliant.

“We would want to build a nation that is more into industry. If you will see the Malawi 2063, there are issues of Industrialization and Urbanization. All these will involve importing and exporting of materials.

“As such, there are issues of taxation and customs that these employees, clearing agents and entrepreneurs need to be aware of,” she said.

Chitera added that the programme would help in the implementation of the country’s budget which runs on taxes.

 “Our budget runs on the taxes and we need people that are well aware and familiar with issues of taxation because without proper procedures, processes and proper collection of these particular taxes then Malawi’s budget would have challenges to be implemented,” she pointed out.

By Levison Lester

Lilongwe, August 3, Mana: Student Union President for Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) City Campus, Samuel Nyirenda said the fees hike in most public universities was a distortion to Cyclone Freddy survivors in the country.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) Thursday in Lilongwe, he said the recent fees adjustment was inconsiderate to students who were affected by Cyclone Freddy which caused havock in the country some months ago.

"We feel like the decision has not come at the right time. We are just coming out of disaster Cyclone Freddy where most families have not yet recovered economically."

"Some families have no shelter yet their children have been selected in different universities, so fees hike is a distortion to such people," Nyirenda said.

The President noted that LUANAR students union was eager to collaborate with other public universities to challenge the fees adjustment.

"Collective voice can shake the public while an independent voice can shake an institution so the difference is that on individual basis, only your insitution can hear you, and yet fees issue is done at a public level," he said.

The President for Students Representative Council (SRC) at University of Malawi (UNIMA), Humble Bondo has issued a statement calling other public universities to join hands in challenging the fee hike.

By Loness Gwazanga

Blantyre, August 3, Mana: Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets (PPDA) Wednesday donated books worth K7 million to Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) in order to help procurement students acquire vast knowledge.

PPDA Director General, Dr Edington Chilapondwa said currently, public procurement was a challenge and therefore it was important to instill the basics at a youthful stage for sanity to prevail in the sector.

"Many procurement officers do not have the basics and this challenge is giving a lot of problems in the country's public procurement sector. This is why we want to encourage public universities such as MUBAS to train the students right away from the first year on what public procurement is all about," he explained.

Chilapondwa said this was the only way Malawi could solve public mis-procurement that most government departments are encountering due to lack of experts in the field, which was somehow fueling corruption.

MUBAS Vice Chancellor, Nancy Chitera described the donation as timely since the university was planning to introducing certificate, diploma and doctoral level degrees to meet the current demand.

“We are in final stages and hence, need for more books to meet the demand. Since 2008 we have been offering procurement programme but at mature entry only. So now we have just finished the review and will start having generic students.

“We will be having more students and demand for books will be huge. Therefore, these books will enable us produce fully baked graduates that will make a difference," she added.

By Eunice Disi

Lilongwe, August 2, Mana: National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA) on promoting quality in tertiary education.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Lilongwe on Tuesday, TEVETA Board Chairperson Dr Don Whaya emphasised on the need for collaborative efforts in promoting quality education.

“The MoU brings an agreement between the two institutions which are involved in regulating education trainings.

“Although the two institutions were doing almost the same things, it was difficult to work together since we did not have an agreement. This is time we will be able to share information and experience on training institutions,” said Whaya.

Whaya elaborated that the two institutions will ensure that quality in the education and training institutions is not compromised.

“We want to make sure that when people graduate from these institutions they should be of the standards that the industry demands,” he said.

NCHE Board Chairperson, Professor Beatrice Mtimuni said the MoU will ensure that regulatory functions are done cordially and that there is sanity.

“Most institutions are operating illegally in Malawi and tend to lie to have been accredited by NCHE or TEVETA.

“Our responsibility is to ensure that young people are getting quality education in universities or vocational training skills though TEVETA hence the importance of the MoU between the two institutions in shaping education in Malawi,” said Mtimuni.

The MoU, which will run for three years, seeks to regulate the issuing of fake certificates by institutions who are not accredited by the two regulatory authorities.

By Ernest Mfunya

Mangochi, August 1, Mana: Global Hope Mobilisation (GLOHOMO) says proper coordination amongst stakeholders in Mangochi has potential to combat trafficking in persons which is a common practice in the district.

Speaking during the commemoration of anti-human trafficking day on Monday, which was held at Kwiputi Primary School in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Jalasi, Case Tracking Officer for GLOHOMO, Madalitso Magelegele said issues of trafficking in persons are common in Mangochi as many people are tricked to find jobs in countries like South Africa.

Magelegele said raising awareness on prevention, prosecution and protection on trafficking in persons would help minimise future occurrence of such incidences.

“It is so disheartening that in this 21^st century, we are still witnessing cases of trafficking in persons, a malpractice which violates human rights, health concerns and governance.

"Mangochi is considered as a transit and destination district for victims and, as an organisation, we believe that working jointly with other districts and community stakeholders can really help the fight against trafficking in persons,” he said.

Magelegele also urged young girls and boys, who are mostly victims of the malpractice, to be on alert and report anyone to authorities once they sense such danger, saying community is crucial in dealing with the malpractice.

Chairperson for Mangochi District Council, Hassan Chikuta commended GLOHOMO for its efforts in curbing human trafficking saying such interventions are bearing fruits in the district.

"As a council, we appreciate what GLOHOMO is doing in Mangochi. As such, we would like to request other able partners to come in and support us in raising awareness against the malpractice," said Chikuta.

Member for Malomba Area Development Committee, Elias Kandiotchi, conquered with the council chairperson saying through Tigwirane Manja Project, the committee has managed to rescue four people out of seven cases reported to them this year.

Kandiotchi, however, said the committee faces numerous challenges such as lack of transportation in their fight against the trend.

GLOHOMO is implementing Tigwirane Manja Project with funding from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in nine districts of the country including Mangochi.

The organisation has been following and supporting a total of 45 trafficking cases that are in the courts across Malawi particularly in the focused districts of Phalombe, Machinga, Dedza, Ntchisi, Kasungu, Mzimba, Mangochi, Karonga and Ntchisi.

Out of 45 cases, five are from Mangochi.

By Wakisa Myamba

Karonga, July 28, Mana: A Teacher at Saint Mary’s School of the Blind in Karonga, Lughano Winga has embarked on a project of making chairs and desks designed to provide postural support for learners with physical disabilities.

Winga, who works with a team, makes the desks from locally available resources such as cartons and cassava flour.

In an interview Thursday, he said that he initiated the project after noting that some learners at the school were experiencing posture challenges during since the desks has few desks and the majority of thelearners had to sit on the floor.

“We noticed that learners faced challenges to sit upright and concentrate on learning because of their physical disabilities, hence the initiative,” Winga said.

Headteacher for St-Mary’s Boys Primary School to which the school for the blind is affiliated to, Geoffrey Kayange welcomed the development saying the initiative would go a long way in facilitating teaching and learning at the school.

“This initiative will enhance the teaching and learning process at the institution as learners will be sitting on comfortable desks during classes,” he noted.

 Kayange appealed to well- wishers to assist the school with construction of toilets at the school.

“The institution has only one toilet which is used by bothboys and girls,” he added

By Chisomo Kambandanga

Nkhata Bay, July 21, Mana: People of Nkhata Bay have hailed government for its commitment in improving secondary school education in rural areas by constructing modern secondary school structures.

The sentiments were made Friday by Councillor for Chikwina Ward, Malani Kafunda following the commencement of construction works of Bula and Makumbo secondary schools in the district.

The two schools are among several secondary school the Ministry of Education is constructing across the country under Secondary Education Expansion Development (SEED) Project.

Kafunda said people in the district are excited that the project will bail out communities who have been trying so hard in the past to have the secondary schools in their areas but all efforts proved futile.

“We will make sure that these facilities are well taken care of. This will reduce school dropout especially among girls. We will mobilise resources for additional teachers’ houses and girl’s hostels to complement this good initiative,” Kafunda said.

District Commissioner for Nkhata Bay, Rogers Newa, said that there is good progress of construction works of the two schools.

“We will have three modern schools in Nkhata Bay under SEED Project. Two of them are already under construction,” Newa said

 He added that the construction of the schools is an indication that government is committed to promoting access to secondary school education.

A standard package of the secondary schools will include a science laboratory, an administration block and two teacher’s houses.

Public relations Officer in the Ministry of Education, Mphatso Nkuonera said the ministry is grateful to Government of United States of America for supporting construction of the schools they will help the Malawi Government to meet enabler number five which is Human Capital Development of the MW2063.

“We therefore appeal to other development partners to join hands with the ministry in developing the education sector. Nkuonera said.

Bula and Makumbo secondary schools are expected to be ready for use by December 2023.

By Yamikani Yapuwa

Blantyre, July 24, 2023: Blantyre Water Board (BWB) on Monday signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with University of Malawi (UNIMA) where the board would be using UNIMA’s laboratories for water testing with the latter sending chemistry students for internship.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Blantyre, BWB Chief Executive (CEO), Dr Robert Hanjahanja said the MOU provides an opportunity for them to verify the quality of BWB’s water through the school laboratories.

“The water that we treat and supply in the city of Blantyre complies with Water Organization standards as well as Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) with above 95 percent compliance and we are always confident with the water that we distribute.

“It is good practice for a third party to have a look at what you are doing and just to make sure that what you are saying and committing to the public is indeed very viable and true.

“We will have access to UNIMA’s chemistry laboratory so that if there are any tests that we want to do but we do not have the facilities, we can take advantage of the fact that they have a state of art laboratory,” he said.

Hanjahanja added that UNIMA would help them with second opinion in case there are any queries from customers as well as issues that have risen from MBS.

“If there is any research or issues we are uncertain of and we want extra knowledge, we have access to the university so that they can advise or share information,” he added.

The CEO said that the partnership would grant the Board an opportunity to give back to the community as they would be taking in Chemistry students from UNIMA to work with the board as attachés.

“It is an opportunity to allow students from UNIMA to come to BWB, learn from us and share their knowledge. We strongly believe that young people have ability to innovate and think differently so we are looking forward to learn from them.

“BWB intend to identify and support high performing girls studying sciences at UNIMA. We will support them with fees as well as open the doors for them to come and work with the institution after they have finished their education,” Hanjahanja added.

UNIMA’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, Dr Sunduzwayo Madise said the institution was very prepared to implement the MoU with BWB as it already has the expertise, the highly sophisticated chemistry and chemical engineering laboratory as well as students who are eager to learn and offer insights.

“For us it is good because one of the things we do in the university apart from teaching is research and community outreach, meaning that whatever we do must have an impact on the community.

“We know that BWB provides portable water to residents of Blantyre and surrounding areas therefore this partnership can help us to ensure that they provide good, clean and high quality water that is benefiting the country.

“What it will mean is that the residents of Blantyre and the country at large will be more satisfied that the water they are drinking is safe and of high quality because us as an independent institution will do research, water analysis and we will be able to tell BWB if there are issues they need to address,” he said.

Madise said the experience that students would get while doing internship at BWB would go a long way in giving them specialized training to enable them have experience when they go and start working wherever they want.