By Beatrice Bangula

Blantyre, April 28, Mana: Malawi Assemblies of God’s royal rangers in the southern Malawi have hailed the regional royal rangers’ division executive for organizing a three days training for 30 prospective royal rangers’ leaders on a curriculum that is used to teach rangers for effective evangelism and other outreach activities,

The training took place over the week end at Revival International Assembly (RIA) in Machinjiri, Blantyre where royal rangers leaders were trained in evangelism and discipleship, friendship and mentoring, adult leadership roles, among others.

Royal Rangers Training Coordinator for the Southern Division, Amazing Mwakipunda said the training was ideal for prospective rangers’ leaders as it provided essential knowledge and skills needed in the Christ centered ministry.

“We have almost 30 royal rangers’ leaders from different Assemblies of God churches attending the training. We started the training and we will break and continue on May 1st up to 3rd May,” he said.

Mwakipunda said the training also expected to provide structured guidance and leadership development on top of strengthening capacity of royal rangers’ leaders to nurture the next generation of royal rangers.

“Upon completing this training, the number of active outposts within the districts will increase significantly. Topics during the training included; ministry philosophy and curriculum design, how children learn best, junior leadership, evangelism and discipleship, friendship and mentoring, adults’ leadership roles and how to conduct fun week meeting,” he said.

A training participant from Chilobwe Tabernacle Assembly of God, Charissa Ching'amba said the training was necessary as it built capacity of most rangers in the ministry for effective evangelisation.

“From the training, we have gained a lot of knowledge such that we will be able to train rangers in our respective churches on how to become real royal rangers and what royal rangers do,” she said.

Royal Rangers is a Christ centered ministry that focuses on developing young people into leaders to become men and women of character.

Some of activities of the royal rangers include; evangelism, outdoor activities, bible studies and devotions, leadership development and community services.

By Lesnat Kenan

Lilongwe, April 28, Mana: Mzimba Second Grade Magistrate Court, has convicted and sentenced a 27 years old man, Emmanuel Nchama to three years’ imprisonment with hard labour (IHL) for burglary and theft, contrary to sections 309 subsection (2) and 271 of the Penal Code.

According to Jenda Police Station Assistant Public Relations Officer, Constable Precious Mzunga, the court, on April 25, 2025 heard through state Prosecutor, Sub Inspector Pachalo Nyirenda, that Nchama broke into a house at Jenda and stole various items, including a car battery, Plasma Television Screen and a Smartphone.

" The total value of the stolen items was estimated at K480,00 and he was arrested the same day after a complaint was lodged for burglary and theft", he said.

 Appearing before court, the accused pleaded guilty to the charge.

Mzunga said the accused asked the court for lenience, saying he had previously been imprisoned for other offences and he served a lengthy sentence.

In submission, Nyirenda asked the court to impose a stiffer punishment, emphasizing that burglary and theft have become common in the district and that a harsh sentence would serve as a deterrent to other would-be offenders.

Emmanuel Nchama, hails from James Sibande Village, Traditional Authority Mabulabo in Mzimba District.

By Doricah Mkwapatira and Charlie Ligomeka

Machinga, April 28, Mana: Thousands of people in Machinga on Sunday paid tribute to Senior Chief Nsanama who died on Saturday and laid to rest on Sunday at his Masungwi headquarters in the district.

Senior Chief Nsanama, born Duwa Lapukeni on January 1, 1954 died at the age of 71 at his headquarters after an asthma attack.

Speaking at the funeral ceremony, Deputy Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture, Joyce Chitsulo called on the royal family to stay united and mourn Senior Chief Nsanama in peace.

She urged the family to follow right procedures when appointing a successor, observing that doing so will prevent chieftaincy disputes that ignite divisions among family members and subjects.

“In this moment of grief, we must come together just as our departed chief used to advice during his lifetime,

“Succession needs patience and protocol. This prevents wrangles that come due to the struggle of power in the clan, I urge family members to follow the right procedure,” she said.

Machinga District Council Chairperson, Councilor Simplex Duwa said the council will miss Senior Chief Nsanama’s contribution to development.

“He was a true leader who valued unity and transparency, he was a wise man whose insights will forever be cherished, the council will never forget him,” he said.

Paramount Chief Kawinga also urged relatives to mourn Senior Chief Nsanama with respect,

“I plead with the family to hold hands and stay united during this time. There should be no disputes over chieftaincy.

“He was a God fearing man who had a Mosque at his place which is a testimony that he feared God and may the community remember him for being peace loving,” he said.

The late Senior Chief Nsanama was installed sub chief in 2006 and later traditional authority in 2017.

He was elevated to Senior Chief in 2020, and is survived with a wife, eight children and 24 grandchildren. 

By Brighton Chimsinde

Mchinji, April 27, Mana: Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Dr. Nertha Semphere Mgala has advised beneficiaries of the social cash transfer programme Mtukula Pakhomo to regard the monetary support as seed money.

Mgala advised in an interview after holding an interface meeting with Guillime Cluster Beneficiaries at Chivawu Primary School in the area of Chief Zulu in Mchinji District.

The principal secretary said in addition to the financial payment under social cash transfer, the beneficiaries had been receiving K70,000 every month as a top-up cushion in the lean season.

“We are encouraging them to make sure that the money they are getting should not just be used for food and other consumable things. But they should look at it as the seed money which they can use to buy farm inputs, investing in livestock farming for them to improve their financial muscle,” she said.

Mgala explained that in the past four months, the beneficiaries were given K70,000 as a cushion to the effects of the lean season for them to be productive farmers and have the ability to send their children to school.

She described Mtukula Pakhomo as an important initiative that the government of Malawi is implementing with a donation from the German Government through KFW.

“Moving forward we are hopeful that the Malawi Government will sustain the programme for more vulnerable and needy households in the district and from other additional districts to benefit. Government is aiming to see that the needy and vulnerable Malawians are decent and also building decent houses,” Mgala said.

One of the beneficiaries Edita Yepulani of Kaphande Village, Traditional Authority Zulu said through the money they get from the programme some of them have managed to buy iron sheets, and pigs, build decent houses, feed families and pay school fees for their children.

Yepulani also thanked the programme for introducing an electronic payment but she requested the government to provide them with cell phones for some beneficiaries who could not afford to buy the devices.

“We are thankful to the government for the programme that has changed our lives for the better. Additionally, for starting electronic payment which is safe, secure and less time-consuming. However, we are asking the government to provide us with phones because some of us cannot afford to buy them,” Yepulani said.

Currently, Mchinji District has 12,067 beneficiaries in the programme out of 14,875 targeted households under Social Cash Transfer (Mtukula Pakhomo).

By Winfrida Kamwana

Mchinji, April 27, Mana: The Ministry of Gender has appealed different stakeholders to join hands in mitigating challenges that affect children’s general welfare.

Speaking during the Mchinji Children’s Parliament session, Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Dr Nertha Semphere Mgala said it is by collective efforts that the nation can be able to fight challenges affecting children’s welfare.

“Children are treasures to the nation that is why as a nation there is a need for us regardless of the title or position to take part in ensuring their safety in the communities they are living in,” said Mgala.

Mgala further stated that it is also crucial to give children a platform to discuss issues affecting them as they can bring change to their communities.

During the session, members of the children’s parliament asked questions to different authorities on how they are progressing in addressing some of the concerns that were raised during the previous session which took place in May 2024.

In response to the most raised question on ending child marriages, Executive Director for Girls Activist Youth Organization, Richard Batch explained that their organization has so far ended 37 child marriages since the beginning of the year in the area of Traditional Kapondo and they will continue to fight for children’s rights.

“The organization is working tirelessly to make sure issues such as child marriages are addressed in communities by sensitizing community members on the dangers of child marriages and at the same time helping children understand their rights so they can progress in life,” explained Batch.

He also stated that the introduction of Child rights governance clubs in primary schools will help children understand their rights and have the ability to fight for them when they notice that they are being infringed.

The children’s parliament which was organized by World Vision at Mchinji Boma was set to track the progress authorities have made in addressing issues that were raised during the last time the parliament had a session.

By Aisha Chiwaya

Salima, April 27, Mana: Farmers in Salima have been advised to embrace natural methods of controlling insects in their fields to restore soil fertility and reduce reliance on chemicals, which contribute to soil degradation.

During a visit to lead farmers’ fields on Friday, officials from the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) noted that farmers using natural methods achieved good harvests, despite the heavy fall of armyworm attacks in the district.

According to Cropping Systems Agronomist in the Ministry of Agriculture Dr Donwell Kayira the methods, include push-pull farming, traps, biopesticides, and parasitoids.

"Push-pull involves planting desmodium to push pests away. Desmodium, a legume, adds nitrogen to the soil, so no chemicals are needed. The trap method uses water and pheromones to attract and trap male fall armyworms. We also use a safe biopesticide called detain," Kayira said.

Agriculture Development Extension Coordinator for Tembwe Extension Planning Areas, Elia Kazinga, praised farmers who adopted natural methods and urged them to share their knowledge with others.

"Some farmers have harvested enough while others have not, showing a knowledge gap. I urge farmers to support each other so we all can contribute to national development," Kazinga said.

Lead farmer Isaac Macdonald encouraged fellow farmers to adopt the natural methods, describing them as cost-effective and accessible to adopt.

"Farming is expensive with labour and chemical costs. This opportunity cuts costs, and it would be ungrateful not to embrace it and improve our lives," Macdonald said.

ICIPE is working to strengthen the resilience of smallholders against fall armyworm infestations in Salima, Mangochi and other districts.

By Brian Wasili

Mwanza, April 27, Mana: Mwanza District Commissioner, Dr Martha Magreta Sineta has urged the council’s staff to start focusing on performance and service delivery rather than personal benefits, calling for a shift from allowance-driven participation to performance-based engagement.

Sineta was speaking at the end of the budget review meeting on Friday whose objective was to analyze how Mwanza District Council utilized public resources from the April 2024 to March 2025 financial year.

The meeting also discussed successes and challenges encountered in the period under review and brainstormed strategies to deal with challenges in the current financial year.

“Let us not be allowance-oriented when performing our duties. Our priority must be the people we serve and the results we deliver.

“We must reflect on how we used the resources entrusted to us by the people of Mwanza and we should also think about what to plan for the future,” added the District Commissioner.

Sineta commended participants at the review meeting for contributing constructively and for submitting elaborative departmental reports that reflected realities on the ground and service gaps.

Director of Finance at Mwanza District Council, Arthur Malemia presented a financial report which outlined achievements and shortfalls across departments and commended council staff for their commitment.

“Good financial expenditure has been registered across all sectors and the implementation of key projects such as the construction of physical infrastructures like school blocks, bridges and market sheds.

“Other interventions that registered good financial expenditure include; the Investing in Early Years Programme, Climate Smart- Enhanced Public Works Programme and Social Cash Transfer Programme,” he added.

The Director also pointed out that the introduction of border entry fees and the rolling out of electronic ticketing promoted efficiency in market fee collection, saying this helped to boost local revenue for the council.

He however noted that an increase in prices of goods and services on the market affected the budget line of some activities, adding that delays in completing projects and compromising standards of some projects by contractors were some of the challenges the council encountered in the implementation of the just ended financial year.

Most participants at the review meeting noted that delays in the procurement processes were common in most sectors, complaining that this affected the timely implementation of some activities.

Responding to the concern, Malemia attributed the delays in the procurement processes to the late submission of requests to his office by sectors and a limited number of staff in the procurement office, among other reasons.

“Moving forward, we need proper planning, timely submission of the requests and presentation of detailed activity report.

“Further to this, there is a need for better coordination among departments to avoid duplication and there is also a need for sectors to stick to financial discipline apart from making follow-ups on funding disbursements,” he added.

The budget under review was pegged at K10 billion and it included council staff salaries, a general resource fund, a sector fund, a constituency development fund and, local revenue among others.

Mwanza Council directors, heads of departments, accounts personnel and front-line workers were some of the people who attended the finance management review meeting.

By Augustus Nkhwazi

Mzuzu, April 27, Mana: The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested two officials at M’mbelwa District Council concerning the earlier arrest of Mzimba North Parliamentarian Yeremiah Chihana on corruption-related charges.

The suspects have been charged with falsifying information to the District Commissioner (DC) to deceive M’mbelwa District Council Procurement Committee.

According to a statement signed by ACB’s Senior Public Relations Officer Egritta Ndala, the two are former Acting Director of Public Works for M’mbelwa District Council, George Gopani and an accountant for Northworks Limited, Gabriel Mkandawire.

Ndala said the two were arrested on April 22, 2025, and appeared before Chief Resident Magistrate Court in Mzuzu where they were charged and released on bail.

Chief Resident Magistrate Godfrey Balaka granted the two bail on the condition that they should be reporting at ACB offices in Mzuzu once every fortnight, pay a cash bond of K200 000 each, provide one surety each bonded at K500 000 non-cash and surrender travel documents to the bureau.

The statement said ACB investigations established that in August 2022, Gopani provided false information to the DC for grading of roads in Mzimba North Constituency under Honourable Yeremiah Chihana, to authorize payment of K15 million to Northworks Limited which is contrary to section 122(a) of the penal code.

It further said ACB investigations established that in May 2022, Mkandawire forged an official document purporting to be a quotation from E and V Engineering for grading of KIA-Luhomero-Kasasile Road, Enukweni-Kavula-Malokotera Road and Bwengu-Katope Road in Mzimba North Constituency which is contrary to section 358 of the penal code.