MANAonline
Worlec train Dedza NICE volunteers in violence prevention
By Zenak Matekenya
Dedza, March 22, Mana: Women’s Legal Resources Centre (Worlec) and Oxfarm Friday trained 40 National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) volunteers from all 20 wards in the district on the prevention and mitigation of violence against women youth and people with disabilities (PWDs) in elections.
Dedza District Nice Programs Officer, Vincent Kalawa who facilitated the training said women and other disadvantaged groups continue to face discrimination towards the attainment of political leadership positions.
“Malawi 2063 talks about leaving no one behind. But to a certain extent, these disadvantaged groups are not given a chance to take part in many development activities.
“We are therefore promoting awareness to encourage them to contribute towards development by contesting either as a councillor or parliamentarian, if not, we are encouraging them to exercise their right to vote,” he said.
He urged the participants to make deliberate efforts to reach the PWDs with the messages because some platforms, such as infrastructure are not conducive for them.
“There is a lot that different stakeholders can do to make sure that the status of these people is uplifted. We urge different stakeholders to come up with different strategies to support marginalized groups of people to take up leadership positions,” he added.
A participant at the training Esther Mchekeni from Dedza Boma Constituency’s Umbwi Ward said the training was vital to help the volunteers develop strategic awareness messages for the marginalized groups.
She however lamented a threat to the civic engagement process saying some people have a negative mindset, declaring that they will not vote due to dissatisfaction with politicians’ performance.
“We will not relent because voting is a fundamental right and crucial aspect of democratic participation,” she said.
Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace for Dedza Diocese projects officer, Horace Kasudze said demeaning remarks against women, youth and PWDs contesting in political positions is one of the violence that needs to be addressed
Mchinji DC emphasises on importance of clean-up exercises
By Vincent Khonje
Mchinji, March 22, Mana: Mchinji District Council on Friday conducted a clean-up exercise at Boma New Market as part of its ongoing efforts to ensure public spaces remain clean and safe for business and daily activities.
The initiative was spearheaded by District Commissioner Lucia Chidalengwa, who said maintaining cleanliness in all public spaces is very important if the people are to operate and stay in safe places.
“The main aim of having a clean-up exercise is to make sure that all the places where we do our business or reside are kept clean. Public spaces such as markets must always be maintained in a hygienic state to prevent diseases and promote a safe trading environment,” said Chidalengwa.
The Boma New Market was specifically targeted for the clean-up as it was established to accommodate traders who previously conducted their businesses on the streets.
According to Chidalengwa, the decision to have the market was an effort to prevent accidents and enforce regulations that prohibit roadside vending.
Mchinji District Environmental Health Officer Robson Kayila said cleanliness, especially during the cholera season is paramount and urged market users and the general public to prioritise hygiene to prevent the outbreak of diseases.
“This exercise is crucial, particularly now as we are in the cholera season. Mchinji is yet to record a cholera case, and we must continue observing proper hygiene practices to maintain this status,” said Kayila.
He further called on residents and business owners to embrace the clean-up initiative as a collective responsibility to ensure that public spaces remain conducive for all.
The council has pledged to continue conducting similar exercises while advocating for community participation in sanitation efforts.
Authorities believe that by fostering a culture of cleanliness, Mchinji can significantly reduce health risks and create a more orderly business environment.
In 2020 President Lazarus Chakwera declared that every second Friday of the month should be cleanup day.
Dedza Police receive 100 reflector jackets from Puma
By Zenak Matekenya
Dedza, March 22, Mana: Chairperson for Dedza Station Executive Committee (SEC), Peter Msukwa has commended Dedza Puma Service Station for a 100 reflector jackets donation worth about K1.2 million to Dedza Police Station.
Speaking Friday when he received the donation at Dedza Police Station, Msukwa said SEC requested 1,200 reflector jackets from well-wishers for the smooth operation of the community policing department.
“We wrote to different stakeholders across the district requesting assistance. We are excited that Dedza Puma has come out first to make this donation,” he said.
Msukwa said the donation would enhance monitoring and patrols and promote trust and credibility among the public.
Dedza Police Station Officer Clement Mlera said through the community policing forum there is a good working relationship between police and the communities which he said is critical in crime prevention.
He urged other stakeholders to emulate the gesture by Dedza Puma Service Station to support the police.
Dedza Puma Service Station official Simion Itai described the donation as the organization’s corporate social responsibility.
“It is very difficult for police to work in isolation, they need support from the community. As Dedza Service Station, we believe the donation will help them to effectively do their job,” he said.
WVM launches ECD feeding programme
By Andrew Mkonda
Lilongwe, March 26, Mana: Government has commended development partners providing quality early childhood development (ECD) services and feeding programme in the country saying thy are vital in improving education standards in the country.
Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Jean Sendeza, made the remarks Tuesday at Zalari Community Based Childcare Centre (CBCC) at Nkhoma in the area of Senior Chief Mazengela in Lilongwe when she launched a feeding programme by World Vision Malawi (WVM).
Sendeza said school feeding programme play a vital role in addressing immediate hunger and enhance concentration, attendance and overall academic performance among learners.
She said the programme serves as an incentive for parents to enroll and keep their children in school thereby reducing dropout rate and promoting sustainable educational engagement.
Sendeza said despite the evident benefits of the school feeding programme, the initiative faces several challenges citing many schools struggling with resources leading to interruptions in meal provisions.
“Let me, therefore, thank World Vision for being a long time partner and a leader in the fight against hunger. This is yet another great milestone as they are scaling up the school feeding programme. We salute them for this gesture,” she said.
Sendeza said, on its part, government has taken several initiatives such as expansion of the Home Grown School Meals (HGSM) programme to districts such as Nkhotakota which has been done in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP), and with support from the Government of Iceland.
The initiative provides nutritious meals to 10,000 primary school children and also empowers 1,200 smallholder farmers by sourcing food locally thereby boosting the local economy.
World Vision Country Director, Francis Dube, said since WVM started school feeding programme in 2024 in Phalombe and Mulanje, enrolment has improved by 33 percent.
“As an organization whose work is centered on promoting the well being of children, we believe that a simple meal can change a child’s life as it keeps them in school, help them grow and gives them hope for a better future,” he said.
Dube said it is pathetic that over 37 percent of under five children in the country are stunted due to chronic malnutrition meaning that their bodies and brain are not growing as they should.
Neno communities oppose RA's decision to transfer bitumen for road project
By Salome Gangire
Neno, March 26, Mana: Communities in Neno District have strongly opposed the Roads Authority’s (RA) decision to transfer 2,640 drums of 50/70 bitumen and 704 drums of Prime MC30 procured for Ntcheu-Neno-Mwanza Road project.
In a letter dated March 13, 2025 signed by RA Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Ammiel Champiti, the Authority informed Neno District Commissioner, Rosemary Nawasha, of its decision to relocate the bitumen purchased by the previous contractor, China Geo Engineering Corporation, whose contract was terminated by the RA citing expiry of the contract.
The Authority argued that the materials would become obsolete as they were not used by the time of the project.
During an interface meeting on Tuesday attended by Members of Parliament, ward councilors, traditional leaders, business people and civil society organisations, Neno Road Advocacy Chairperson, Samson Njolomole, voiced the community’s firm stand against RA’s decision.
“We will not allow the bitumen to be moved to another district. Neno is the only district in Malawi without a tarmac road. We have endured poor road conditions for too long and we had hoped this project would change that," Njolomole said.
He said instead of relocating the bitumen, RA should instruct a contractor to speed up the work and use the material before it expires.
Local business person, Elson Maere, expressed frustration over the district’s poor road network, saying the challenging road condition and costly transportation of goods which significantly affect business.
“We are suffering a lot. Transporting goods from Blantyre to Neno is very costly because of bad road network,” Maere said.
Ligowe Ward Councilor, Joseph Chiphaliwali, expressed concern saying RA should ensure that the bitumen is used in Neno rather than relocating the material from the district.
RA Regional Manager for the South, Engineer Flora Hauya, explained that the decision to transfer the bitumen was based on the project’s timeline, adding that there is provision of bitumen in the new contract.
She said according to the contractor, China Railway 20, surfacing works on the road are scheduled to begin in July 2025, after the bitumen’s expiration date in June 2025.
“The supervising consultant has informed the contractor that the bitumen will expire before surfacing works commence. Given that this is an imported material and a significant financial investment, we must use it before it becomes waste,” Hauya said.
Minister warns contractors against shoddy road construction works
By George Mponda
Karonga, March 25, Mana: Minister of Transport and Public Works Jacob Hara has warned contractors working on road projects in Malawi that they will be required to undertake remedial works at their own expense if their work is deemed below standards.
Hara said this on Tuesday in Karonga as he was inspecting remedial works being done on the Karonga Boma to Songwe border stretch of the M1 Road.
"I must admit that this road was not properly done from designs all the way to the construction, and I must warn contractors in this country that no contractor is going to get away with shoddy works," said Hara.
"We do have a defects liability data period and, in that period, if we notice defects, contractors will be required to fix them without any money from the government. That is what you have seen happening here. Some of the works that are happening on these sections are works that shouldn't have developed faults by this day.
“This road was finished in 2018 and it should still be in good condition this day since the design period is mostly 20 years. For this road to begin to fail in the seventh year is unacceptable, which is why we have instructed the contractor to remedy the works by end May with new designs," the Minister explained.
On his part, site agent for Zhejiang Communications Constructions Company (ZCCC), which originally rehabilitated the road, Gift Mtombosola, said they will finish the remedial works within the 21 days.
"We have a programme that has been drawn and shared to all the stakeholders concerning this stretch that we are about to undertake right now. Technically, water overflowing from the Rukuru River is what damaged the road so we will, among other works, increase the pavement layers to deal with this design flaw," said Mtombosola.
Council urged to incorporate rights-based approach in its activities
By Chisomo Kambandanga
Nkhata Bay, March 25, Mana: Director for Child Rights at the Malawi Human Rights Commission(MHRC), Jeremiah Mpaso, has urged Nkhata Bay District Council to be applying Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) skills into their routine activities for improved service delivery.
Mpaso was speaking Tuesday in Nkhata Bay during a capacity-building workshop on HRBA with the goal of enhancing the council’s capacity in mainstreaming HRBA in planning and implementation of public programmes.
According to Mpaso, district councils are expected to ensure that service delivery is aligned to human rights.
"We want to empower councils as duty-bearers responsible for service provision to understand the HRBA to ensure that human rights are promoted and protected without any challenges.
Every programme has corresponding human rights principles that must be adhered to," said Mpaso.
In his remarks, Director of Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources for Nkhata Bay District Council, Raphael Mkisi, said that the training was an eye opener to the council in a number of areas and pledged to put into use knowledge gained for development acceleration in the district.
MHEN donates 4 push bicycles for mother care groups in Blantyre
By Pempho Nkhoma
Blantyre, March 25, Mana: Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN) on Tuesday donated four push bicycles and other items to Blantyre District Health Office (DHO) to address some of the challenges mother care groups in the district face.
The items include backpacks, stationary storage boxes, umbrellas, raincoats and t-shirts to be distributed to four other care groups in the district.
Speaking after the donation, MHEN Executive Director George Jobe said the donation was part of the project they are implementing in four districts and a response to some concerns other care groups raised, which included limited mobility.
“The mother care groups need items like bicycles and others. We brought bicycles to help them to go to hard-to-reach areas, raincoats to be used in rainy season, stationary boxes to keep their documents and t-shirts for their visibility and identification,” he said.
Director of Health and Social Services at Blantyre District Council, Dr Gift Kawalazira, expressed gratitude, saying this donation will help the community volunteers in child immunisation programme.
“MHEN is working in the district in collaboration with DHO basically to complement community participation as well as building the capacity of women care groups. The donation will help us to campaign and champion vaccination of the under-five.
“Involvement of mother care groups is giving positive results, as we have managed to vaccinate over 90% of the children. The district was awarded with a trophy for being one of the districts that have done well in under-five vaccines,” he added.
MHEN, in partnership with PATH - with financial support from Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI) through the Ministry of Health - is implementing a project that helps to identify zero dose children on top of strengthening routine child vaccination in four districts, namely Blantyre, Mzimba North, Dowa and Mchinji.
Government plans to increase internet connectivity across the country
By Aliko Munde
Chitipa, March 25, Mana: As one way of increasing inclusive access to internet, Ministry of Information and Digitalization (MoID), through the Department of E-Government under Digital Malawi Acceleration Project (DMAP), says it plans to connect internet to 500 public institutions.
Speaking Monday when she addressed members of Chitipa District Executive Committee, Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Officer at Department of E-Government in the MoID, Jane Kwalimba, said the initiative intends to connect 2,000 schools across the country through Research and Education Network (MAREN)
Kwalimba said the two interventions seek to increase access to and inclusive use of the internet and improve government's capacity to deliver digitally enabled services.
“Under the Digital Malawi Acceleration Project, 500 additional public institutions will be targeted. This is to improve government efficiency, resilience and ability to sustain operations even in the face of natural disasters,” Kwalimba said.
Kwalimba said that 80 higher education institutions and about 530 institutions were connected to internet in the first phase of DMAP and MAREN respectively.
“All this is to expand broadband coverage in rural areas so that we achieve universal coverage of mobile broadband,” she said.
Director of Administration for Chitipa District Council, Clement Gonthi, said that the world is growing into a digital global village, hence the need for the interventions.
Gonthi said that increased internet connectivity will go a long way in enhancing public participation in public and civic affairs besides improving access to services.
Malawi gears up for 2024/2025 tobacco selling season
By Gift Chiponde
Lilongwe, March 25, Mana: The Tobbaco Commission has announced that the 2024/2025 Tobacco Market Season will commence on April 9, with Lilongwe Selling Floors the first to open.
In an interview, the Commission’s Public Relations Officer Telephorus Chigwenembe assured stakeholders that all necessary preparations are in place to ensure a smooth and transparent trading process during the upcoming season.
He said other floors across the country are expected to follow, with Chinkhoma Floors opening on April 11, Limbe Floors on April 14, and Mzuzu Floors on April 28.
Chigwenembe further said that the opening of the selling season marks a significant event for Malawi, as tobacco remains the country's top foreign exchange earner. However, the number of licensed buying companies is yet to be confirmed, as the licensing process is still ongoing.
Economic expert David Nyirenda expressed anticipation for the season, noting that with Malawi’s economy heavily reliant on tobacco, both farmers and industry players are eager to see how the season unfolds, particularly in terms of pricing and demand.
James Mwadzama, a tobacco farmer from Nkhotakota in the area of Senior Chief Mwansambo, praised the Tobacco Commission for its timely decision to open the market. He emphasized that this is a critical time for farmers to make profits.
Mwadzama also urged fellow farmers to ensure that the tobacco they bring to the market is of high quality, advising against using tricks such as adding extra materials to increase the weight of the leaves.
