MANAonline
138 TAs in Malawi attain ODF status
By Brighton Chimsinde
Mchinji, May 16, Mana: Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Liana Kakhobwe Chapota, says the Malawi Government, in partnership with other stakeholders, has so far enabled around 138 Traditional Authorities (TAs) to attain Open Defecation Free (ODF) status across the country.
The Deputy Minister made the remarks while presenting an ODF status certificate to the area of Chief Kapondo in Mchinji District, where the achievement was made possible through interventions led by World Vision Malawi’s (WVM) Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Project.
Chapota said government is committed to improving sanitation and hygiene as a measure of fighting water and airborne diseases.
“For instance, government demonstrates commitment by instituting a stand-alone Ministry of Water and Sanitation that solely focuses on hygiene and sanitation. The ministry makes sure that issues of hygiene and sanitation are dealt with. Mind you, without improving sanitation it results in a higher prevalence rate of waterborne related diseases in the communities,” she said.
Chapota added that the government is optimistic about achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6.2 of ending open defecation by 2030.
The minister called on other non-governmental organizations to emulate commendable examples demonstrated by the WVM in the country.
World Vision WASH Project Manager, Panganani Njolomole, reaffirmed their organization’s commitment to work with the government in providing potable water, hygiene and sanitary facilities in rural areas across the country.
NJolomole said WVM has set aside K400 million for two area development programmes of Rusa and Bua Mtete catchments in the district.
“WVM has committed to inject funds to ensure that every house has improved climate-resilient latrines. We know that it is easy to achieve ODF status but difficult to maintain it. Therefore, the money will help community members to buy building materials like iron sheets and cement at subsidized prices for their improved toilets,” Njolomole said.
TA Kapondo of Mchinji thanked WVM and the government for working together to attain status in their area.
"I am thankful to all the stakeholders, however, I am also appealing to community leaders in the area to take a leading role in maintaining the ODF status," said the chief.
MACRA engages stakeholders on new sim card registration laws
By Prisca Promise Mashushu
Lilongwe, May 15, Mana: The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has engaged various stakeholders including local leaders, church leaders, and civil society organizations on the new SIM card registration laws aimed at combating online fraud.
The engagement took place on Thursday at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe.
MACRA’s Deputy Director for Consumer Affairs, Kelias Malenga, explained that involving different community leaders will help effectively disseminate information about the new regulations to citizens within their respective communities.
He further expounded that the new regulations are a form of subordinate laws that have created a comprehensive resume of legal framework that will give details on how the SIM card registration process should be operated in terms of who, how and what documents to use when registering.
“We are planning to remove passports and licenses and only the National Identity card will be used during SIM card registration as it is the most prominent of them all and also it will help to maintain the integrity of the citizens to easily track the real owner if any laws have been misused or abused.
"This will enable real-time connectivity between the mobile operator's registration system and the National Registration Bureau (NRB) database, ensuring that biometric data matches accurately to prevent the submission of false information," he explained.
MACRA has also placed a limit of SIM card registration up to ten times from citizens and thirty times for company registration to it’s members depending on the type of SIM card required by the person.
Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Network Chairperson, Herbert Chakwawa—who also works with the Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEIN)—acknowledged the significant impact of fraud and scams, noting that criminals have been stealing money from people using SIM cards registered under false identities. He said the introduction of the new regulation brings hope for improved safety in mobile banking.
“This is a very crucial engagement, as it will help dispel misconceptions surrounding SIM card registration and build public trust in digital banking platforms such as Airtel Money and TNM Mpamba for financial transactions.
“A lot of challenges will be addressed concerning SIM cards registration as MACRA has impacted us with knowledge on how this initiative will benefit citizens,” he said.
Senior Chief Kalungu from Lilongwe commended the government through MACRA for the new development that will easily track people electronically thereby promoting transparency and accountability.
“This project will help people in our communities to know and understand the importance of SIM card registration and also it will make them feel safe to use the internet for business and online banking that is free from frauds and scammers,” he explained.
The initiative is set to commence in early July this year.
NICE Trust urges registered voters to verify names
By Beni Bamusi
Thyolo, May 15, Mana: National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Trust in Thyolo has urged registered voters to verify their names in the second phase of the voter inspection and verification exercise, scheduled for May 21 to May 23 in the district’s centers.
NICE Trust, Programmes Officer for Thyolo, Moses Kaunda said voter inspection and verification offers opportunity for the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to correct any errors in the voter’s register and for individuals to confirm their registration in the register.
“Voter inspection and verification is a crucial element of electoral governance that promotes transparency and accountability. People should not take it lightly,
“They must visit their voter registration centers to verify their details,” said Kaunda.
NICE will carry out a series of rallies, announcements, and road shows to raise public awareness on the importance of voter inspection and verification.
“It is important to check whether a registered voter’s name is correctly captured. If errors are found on the voting day, it will be difficult to correct them,” he added.
Kaunda said NICE Trust has sent letters to religious leaders for them to encourage their registered members to visit centers to verify their names, saying failure to do so could affect voting on the polling day.
A business person at Thyolo Boma market, James Kapenga said NICE Trust’s appeal for verification of voters details was necessary and timely.
“I urge fellow business owners, vendors, and community members that registered in the voters roll to take heed of what NICE Trust is saying. There is need to take part in the verification exercise.
“This is the only way to be sure if one’s name is correctly recorded in the voter’s register for September 16 general election,” added Kapenga.
Registered voters can also verify their details using the USSD code *2509# by entering their voter registration number or National ID number starting with the letter 'G'.
Minister calls for strong family bond
By Donald Zimba
Lilongwe, May 15, Mana: Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, Jean Sendeza, has called on Malawians to protect and strengthen the family unit, describing it as “the heart of our society and the first school of love, values, and resilience.”
She was speaking during a press briefing at Capital Hill in Lilongwe to commemorate the International Day of Families.
The minister observed that a nurturing home is a child’s first sanctuary.
“A peaceful home is where a child learns kindness, respect, and courage, it is where they are shaped into the citizens our country needs.
“This year’s theme, “Families and Urbanization,” reflects the urgent need to adapt to modern challenges. As cities expand and life becomes faster, families often face pressures that pull them apart” she said.
Sendeza said government is addressing these challenges through various initiatives including counselling, child protection services and family-based care, among others.
Deputy Director of Social Welfare, Enock Bonongwe, appealed to parents, especially fathers, to play their role.
“Children don’t need perfect parents. They just need both parents to show up since raising a child is a duty of both parents,” he said.
As the world marked the International Day of Families, Malawi’s message was clear: a nation is only as strong as the families that hold it up.
Digital sector Stakeholders urged to involve rural masses
By Sellah Singini
Lilongwe, May 16, Mana: Minister of Information and Digitalization, Moses Kunkuyu, has challenged stakeholders in the digital sector to involve people in rural communities in their digital conversations.
The minister made the call on Thursday in Lilongwe when he officially launched Digital Readiness Assessment Report, noting that 80 percent of Malawian population live in rural areas where they do not have access to digital services.
“If there is no connectivity in the rural areas, and if there is no affordability to gadgets, then the conversation ends with us here in town,” said Kunkuyu, adding: “4G and 5G network coverage is not expanding into rural areas: it's only in urban areas.”
He further said, for instance, if another a cyclone of the magnitude of Freddy hit today, learners in the urban areas could be able to attend classes using a phone while those in the rural could not.
“Let us make sure that these conversations are now expanding and including, those people that are in the remote areas, otherwise, we will always come here and look at a very beautiful report, yet with nothing to show on the ground,” He added.
The minister further said the government of Malawi is committed to empowering the youth, women, and marginalized communities to participate actively in the digital economy.
“We aim to establish innovation hubs that nurture start-ups, encourage digital entrepreneurship, and leverage technologies such as artificial intelligence to transform sectors including agriculture, healthcare, and public services," he said.
UNDP Resident Representative, Fenella Frost, said the Digital Readiness Assessment Report is “more than just a diagnostic tool” as it is a road map to bridge the divide between the current reality and the immense potential of digital empowerment in Malawi.
She said it provides a clear-eyed analysis of Malawi digital ecosystem, revealing the strength, such as the growing mobile money usage, as well as urgent gaps such as the need for affordable and accessible broadband in rural schools and clinics.
“Crucially, it calls on all of us, the private sector, public sector, as well as international partners and civil society, as well as universities and other academic institutions to make strategic investments in digital infrastructure, digital skills, digital governance, to ensure that no Malawian is left behind,” she said.
Frost further commended the government of Malawi for prioritizing digitalization as a driver of progress in line with Malawi's National Digital Economic Strategy, and Malawi 2063.
Feature: Salima communities lead on Climate Action with LIFE-AR
By Yankho Kandio
SALIMA, MANA: In the sun-baked plains of Salima District, where dry spells stretch longer each year and rainfall has grown increasingly unpredictable, something remarkable is happening. Other than waiting for assistance from elsewhere, communities are taking positions to confront climate change with home-grown solutions.
At the heart of this grassroots movement is the Least Developed Countries Initiative for Effective Adaptation and Resilience (LIFE-AR).
Launched globally during COP25 in 2019 and currently being piloted in Malawi’s Salima, Rumphi, and Mangochi districts, the initiative marks a shift from traditional top-down climate responses.
Instead, it prioritizes long-term, locally led planning, giving communities the power and resources to design their own adaptation strategies.
In Salima, the results are already visible: Villagers, who were once at the mercy of degrading landscapes and failed harvests, are now leading efforts to restore their environment and protect their livelihoods through tree planting, sustainable agriculture, and forest-friendly income-generating activities.
Group Village Head Chifuchambewa, also known as Medison Kholole, recalls years of unanswered pleas for climate assistance until LIFE-AR arrived.
“For a long time we have been asking for help through the council; When this project came, the community felt a long-awaited sense of recognition,” he says.
Under the initiative, residents have planted mango, banana, and bamboo trees, selected not just for their environmental benefits, but also for their potential to provide food and income.
A Farmer from Chifuchambewa area, Bester Chikaonda, one of the project’s participants, says the mango trees have brought hope to his household.
“Planting these mango trees means I can fight climate change while improving the surrounding of my household: In a few years, I will not only have shade and fruit, but I’ll also be part of restoring the land,” says Chikaonda.
Another smallholder farmer, Lyca Paul, applauds the project for the provision of banana suckers, which, according to the farmers, came at a critical time.
“Rainfall has become unreliable: we plant and wait, and then the crops wither. But these banana plants will help us with food and income. They are more resilient, and that gives me hope,” she explains.
Behind these efforts is a commitment to inclusivity. LIFE-AR ensures the participation of women, youth, and marginalized groups, making sure that all voices are heard and everyone has a role in climate action.
According to Acting Director of Natural Resources and Environment for Salima district council, Adam Jason, the community-led model has proven to be highly effective in tackling Salima’s environmental challenges.
“The LIFE-AR initiative is demand-driven: Communities were supported to come up with their own investment proposals, identifying the solutions that work best for their unique challenges. We are now seeing action on the ground and the energy is coming directly from the people,” explains Jason.
One of the major concerns in the district has been environmental degradation, largely fueled by deforestation. As households struggle to meet energy needs and replace failed crops, trees are cut down at an alarming rate.
This, in turn, worsens flooding, reduces river capacity, and dries up water tables, with even fish breeding grounds suffering from increased siltation.
In response, the government and partners are promoting forest and landscape restoration, through the use of energy-saving cooking stoves, and alternative livelihoods such as piggery.
Despite the progress, challenges persist: Crop failures continue due to irregular weather, and hunger is an ever-present threat.
GVH Chifuchambewa emphasizes the need for urgent investment in irrigation to help communities farm throughout the year.
“We are asking government to help us speed up the establishment of irrigation schemes so we can farm in the dry season too,” he says.
The transformation underway in Salima stands as a powerful example of what’s possible when communities are empowered to lead.
Through LIFE-AR, the communities are not just adapting to climate change, they are reclaiming, and restoring hope in the face of an uncertain future.
Rains cause havoc in Mzuzu, households displaced
By Rose Cross Mahorya
Mzuzu, May 15, Mana: At least 15 households have been displaced in Mzuzu City after their houses collapsed following rains that poured continuously for 3 days.
Disaster Risk Management Officer for Mzuzu City Council (MCC), MacDonald Gondwe, confirmed the development, saying Ward Disaster Committee is on the ground conducting initial assessment of the damage,
Gondwe, who is also spokesperson for Mzuzu City Council, said the affected households are in dire need of relief assistance.
“We have received disaster related reports from Masasa, Chibanja, Chibavi and Mchengautuba East wards and assessment to establish magnitude of the damage is under way,” said Gondwe.
Meanwhile, Councillor for Chibavi East Ward, Edward Simwaka, has appealed for immediate relief assistance including, plastic sheets, tents, and food for the households which have been affected by the rains.
According to Simwaka, some houses have collapsed due to high water table following the continuous downpour.
Malawi government strengthens land governance through devolution
By Fostina Mkandawire
Salima, May 15, Mana: Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening land governance and service delivery at the local level after devolving key functions and resources to councils across the country.
Speaking during an engagement meeting in Salima on the progress of land devolution on Thursday, Minister of Lands, Deus Gumba highlighted the progress made in decentralizing land services, aimed at bringing the services closer to the people and improving efficiency.
“We have devolved our functions to the councils to enhance service delivery and this includes the direct provision of resources and ensuring systems are streamlined within the community’s vicinity.
“Regulating land services is very important, and we are reinforcing land-related laws to ensure all developments align with stipulated guidelines.” Gumba said.
The devolution of land services is part of a broader effort by the government to decentralize governance functions and empower local authorities.
Principal Secretary for Local Government, Unity and Culture Richard Hara emphasized the importance of continued collaboration between Ministry of Lands and his ministry.
“We are working together to build the capacity of District Commissioners so they can effectively execute their mandates,” Hara said.
“This is a shared responsibility. The human resource and fiscal functions have been devolved, and with resources now accessible through Other Recurrent Transactions (ORT), departments within councils are better positioned to manage and utilize these funds efficiently.” he said.
District Commissioner for Zomba, Reingard Chavula, acknowledged the transformative impact of the devolution policy on land governance at the district level.
“The land sector is one of the most integral areas that has been devolved. It has empowered us to make proper decisions and resolve long-standing community land issues that we previously could not address due to lack of authority.” she said.
She said the move is a critical step in improving transparency, accountability, and service delivery in the land sector, which has historically been viewed and marred by bureaucratic delays and disputes.
As government continues to devolve more functions, stakeholders are optimistic that these changes will lead to stronger local governance and improved livelihoods for Malawians across the country.
The meeting involved District Commissioners and Chief Executive Officers of local councils to discuss the progress of devolution in the land sector.
Chakwera calls for attitude change among university graduates
By Yamikani Sabola
Mzuzu, May 15, Mana: President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has asked graduates to adopt attitudes of self-sacrifice, humility and optimism if they want to reap the benefits of education they have received.
He was speaking in Mzuzu on Thursday during the 27th Mzuzu University (MZUNI) graduation ceremony.
He said a good education has power to open good opportunities for the graduates. However, it is their attitude that determines how far they can go.
“There are things that you will need to overcome because they threaten to render your education useless.
“First thing about yourself that you need to overcome is your bad attitude. You need to understand that what you destroy with your bad attitude, you cannot fix with your good education,” he said.
He said attitudes that the graduates should overcome in themselves are attitudes of self-absorption, reluctance, rudeness, stubbornness, pessimism and self-pity.
“If you show up anywhere with your education but forget to leave your self-absorption behind, your education will soon become useless.
“No matter what skills you have acquired through your education; no one will want to be around you if they see in you the attitude of caring about no one but yourself,” he said.
Chakwera said people who have an attitude of self-absorption take all the credit for team efforts, blame others for their own mistakes and take things that are not theirs without asking.
Chairperson for MZUNI Council, Hawa Ndilowe, outlined operational strategies that the university has adopted to raise the bar of excellence.
She said one of the strategies is to strengthen and expand open distance and e-learning opportunities to fast track increase in access to university education.
“We want to expand the number of students accessing university education through open distance and e-learning to 19,000 by 2030. Currently, programs delivered through open distance and e-learning have risen from seven to 15, including science subjects,” she said.
Ndilowe said MZUNI is also pushing for regional and international accreditation, adding that 75 of its programmes have already been accredited by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).
She said the university has also identified major business projects to implement through MZUNI Trust Fund to improve the institution’s financial sustainability and independence.
Ndilowe said some of the projects include mega farms and building of hotels in Mzuzu and Nkhata Bay.
Vice Chancellor for the university, Professor Welce Singini, commended Chakwera for abolishing quota system of selecting students to public universities.
He said the system was disadvantaging students from the northern region.
A total of 2,326 students have graduated with PHDs, Master’s Degrees, Bachelor’s Degrees and Diplomas including 1,376 males and 950 females.
11 Arrested for committing different offences
By Santos Zefania
Lilongwe 15 May Mana: Police in Zomba are keeping in custody 11 people suspected to have committed various offenses.
The offences range from, burglary, theft, malicious damage, receiving stolen property, being found in possession of petroleum products without a licence and possessing cannabis sativa without permit.
According to Zomba Police Station`s, Inspector Patricia Sipiliano, the suspects have been arrested during an intelligence driven operation which the district’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) undertook.
“The operation took place on the night of 14 May 2025, within our policing jurisdiction and was organized after receiving numerous reports in the months of January to March from individuals in Chinamwali, Matawale, and other areas about a series of break-ins and theft” Said Sipiliano.
This development has come days after police in the district recovered two Plasma Screens, one Lenovo Laptop and other assorted items stolen from various homes.
