By Golden Kang'oma

Salima, November 12, Mana:  Salima District Health Office (DHO) has embarked on a mass distribution campaign of Insects Treated Nets (ITN) in an effort to fight Malaria.

The campaign, which is targeting over 147,000 households, is being implemented through the Presidential Malaria Initiative funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Speaking Monday during the launch of the campaign, Salima District Environmental Health Officer, Reuben Chikadza, said the campaign will run for seven days covering all the Traditional Authorities with an aim of reducing malaria cases.

“Through the campaign, a household will receive a maximum of four nets depending on its size," he said.

Chikadza asked the beneficiaries to make good use of the nets, saying it will be a waste of resources to use them on some other unnecessary things.

"When we talk about dangerous diseases, Malaria is one of them. It is my plea to everyone, mostly chiefs, to make sure that their subjects utilize these mosquito nets properly,” he said.

Salima ITN mass distribution Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Maness Chingoli, said the campaign has started very well and hopes that by end of the distribution period all targets will be met.

"We expect to distribute the nets within our targeted number of days. I am sure that within this period everyone who got registered will receive their nets," She said.

One of the beneficiaries from Senior Chief Khombedza, Pilirani Kaliza, hailed the initiative saying it will help in malaria prevention.

Nkhotakota had a similar campaign last week and some districts in the southern region are yet to receive.

By Benedicto Maguda

Blantyre, November 11, Mana: Millennium University over the weekend held a two-day Youth Mental Festival at the Blantyre Youth Centre with the aim of bringing the youth together to celebrate life, community, connection and bring positive change through good mental health.

Drug Fight Malawi Executive Directory, who was guest of honour at the event, Nelson Zakeyu, advised youth in the country to avoid using drugs and substances as one way of keeping their body health and fit.

“Nowadays, we have noted that many youths in the country especially those at university and in colleges are using drugs and marijuana. For this reason, many youths are falling into the trap of mental illness,” he said.

Zakeyu added that drug and substance abuse like marijuana leads to problems such as hypertension, lack of physical coordination and depression.

“In marijuana there is a substance called THC whereby once someone has smoked it the ingredients remain in the body for some time resulting in serious health problems,” he said.

He said marijuana is hazardous to the health of a person because it contains 50 to 70 percent or more cancer causing substances.

A mental health clinician from Zomba Mental Hospital, Harry Kawiya, said recent research on mental issues shows that out of 10 people four go to the hospital for fake disease but in real sense they are suffering from mental illness of which sometimes they don’t receive the necessary attention due to lack of resources.

“In the health sector, we have some problems that are making it difficult to deal with mental health issues. For example, we only have two hospitals that deal with mental health issues which are Zomba Mental Hospital and St. John of God both of which require support,” he said.

Senior Lecturer at Millennium University, Dr. Sandra Jumbe, who is also a health psychologist, was impressed with the turn out because a large number of youths attended the festival.

“This festival has shown us that even in darkness there is hope, we will keep shedding light on mental health issues, fostering empathy and celebrating the strength of our youth,” she said, pledging to make the festival an annual event.

The festival was characterized by different activities such as career development talk, music performance by Piksy, football and netball.

By Yamikani Yapuwa

Thyolo, November 11, Mana: Parliamentary Committee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has expressed admiration for infrastructure development projects taking shape in Thyolo District.

The committee led by its chairperson, Mark Botomani, visited Thyolo District Council on Monday to assess various ongoing projects under the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) and District Development Fund (DDF), among others.

Botomani said the GESD funded one-story primary school block under construction stands as a testament to the council’s ambitious efforts to transform the education sector.

“We are impressed with the development taking place here, especially the construction of this primary school.

“The council has demonstrated boldness in dedicating significant resources to this single transformative project which will not only elevate the education landscape but also enhance the district’s overall image,” said Botomani.

However, Botomani raised concerns about delays in project implementation, attributing them to contractors’ sluggish pace.

“Looking at the project timeline, the contractors are clearly behind schedule. This is something that requires urgent attention,” he added.

Botomani, however, acknowledged the funding constraints faced by councils across the country and pledged to engage relevant authorities.

“We understand that some of these programmes are donor-funded and we know they come with a red tape and procedural delays. As a committee, we will advocate for streamlined processes to ease these challenges,” he said.

District Commissioner for Thyolo, Hudson Kuphanga observed that funding flows from the central government have hindered timely project completion.

“Partial release of funds has disrupted our timelines and delayed payments to contractors. This stops projects mid-way, creating unnecessary setbacks,” he said. “We would have appreciated full disbursements to ensure seamless project execution.”

By Fostina Mkandawire

Salima, November 11, Mana: Salima district is targeting to plant 4 million trees, which will be spread across all the 18 catchments under the Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CSEPWP).

Speaking to Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Monday, District Land Resource Conservation Officer who is also the Desk Officer for CSEPWP, Gift Majawa, said in the meantime participants are establishing tree nurseries after previously working on soil and water conservation interventions.

He said the tree nurseries are spread across in the catchments, and communities take charge watering and providing all necessary tree management interventions so that the trees are in good shape when transplanted to the fields.

“The goal is to establish tree seedlings that will be planted as the rains commences, so that we will recover forest cover and reduce water runoff in all the catchments,” said Majawa.

He said communities are encouraged to follow standard practice of tree seedling management to ensure optimum results, adding that key players especially supervisors underwent trainings on nursery establishment and management.

He said: "The good part of CSEPWP is that whatever interventions are being implemented in the communities, there was a training before taking the intervention was taken to the communities, what we want is to have sustainable and tangible assets that will stand the test of time."

Acting Director of Natural Resources and Environment, who is also Principal Forestry Officer for Salima District, Adam Jason, commended re-afforestation efforts being implemented by CSEPWP, saying the district had lost most of its vegetative cover.

"Forest landscape restorative approach is highly commendable, this project has an initiative where participants are restoring the vegetative cover by replanting and taking care of areas where there are natural regenerants," he said.

Jason said the efforts are complimenting the district’s plans, of increasing vegetative cover, adding that since its inception in 2022 the survival rate of the trees being planted under the project has been impressive.

"Since participants in this programme are paid, their approach to tree planting is more aggressive than in interventions where communities are tasked to plant trees without any incentive, the willingness is minimal," He said.

CSEPWP is a component of the Social Support for Resilient Livelihood Programme (SSRLP —Tidzidalire) supported by the World Bank and the Social Protection Multi-Donor Trust Fund.

By Anna Mkandawire

Mzuzu, November 11, Mana: Mzuzu University (Mzuni) has embarked on various sports disciplines to enhance mental and physical wellbeing for its staff members.

According to   Vice Chancellor for Mzuni, Professor Wells Singini said the initiative demonstrates the university’s commitment in ensuring that it has health personnel for improved service delivery.

“Recently we held Mzuni Staff Sports Day and the theme ‘Active Together – Strengthening Bonds Through Sports’ and many members of staff participated in the interfaculty competitions of different games,” said Singini

Singini added the university will be having aerobics every Friday and sports day every month end and one way of enhancing coordination amongst staff members.

“Mzuni believes that it is only healthy staff member that can execute quality work, hence our commitment to this course,” said Singini.

Sports Coordinator for Mzuni, Felix Kaliwo said the initiative also aims at reviving the spirit of participating in sport amongst staff members.

“We were inspired by unwillingness of staff members to participate in Public Universities Sports Association of Malawi hence engaging them in sports so that the are always fit for competitions. said Kaliwo.

 So far, the turn up of members of staff for the sporting activities is motivating and many are calling for sustainability of this initiative,” said Kaliwo.

One of the staff member at the university, Dr. Agness Hara said that she was pleased with the introduction of the initiative adding she was once diagnosed with hypertension and had challenges in walking uphill but I feel lighter and very fit since this the introduction of this initiative.

She then commended Mzuni Management for the development in promoting their health besides enhancing interaction among staff members and preventing stress among other health related issues.

Some of the sports disciplines which took place during the day included Football, Netball, Volleyball, Chess, Tug of war and Aerobics.

By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, November 11, Mana: Malawi’s Wildlife Conservation Policy places responsibility on communities to get involved in the conservation of wildlife, especially those closer to their villages.

In Kasungu, some people around the National Park had led an onslaught on the country’s second largest protected area poaching animals for both meat and ivory, felling trees for charcoal production and clearing the buffer zone for settlements and crop cultivation.

These activities led to the reduction of the animal population in the park, with elephants, for example, reducing from over 2 000 to around 200 individuals, rendering the park unattractive to tourists.

“This is the period poaching was at its peak owing to lapses in security largely due to lack of funding.

“Again this is the time the buffer zone which averaged 2.1 kilometres in thickness was invaded and cleared for charcoal, settlements and farming,” says Ndawona Kumanga, Park Manager.

In 2016, the Department of Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) partnered with International Fund for Animal Welfare (Ifaw), a marriage that saw the latter pumping in resources to support efforts to protect the park from further destruction.

“This is why in 2022, Ifaw supported us to translocate at least 694 animal species including 263 elephants from Liwonde to Kasungu in a restocking programme to boost the numbers of the key wildlife species,” Kumanga says.

Park authorities say high poverty levels amongst some communities surrounding the park is still posing a threat to conservation efforts and the future of the protected area as people turn to the park resources for their livelihood.

The park which harbours the largest Miombo woodland in the country, is surrounded by nine traditional authorities namely Lukwa, Kaphaizi, Mwase, Nthunduwala, Mawawa, Chulu, Chisinga, Mangwazu and Kawamba with a population of at least 350,000.

With support from Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management Programme (BIOPAMA), Kasungu Wildlife Conservation for Community Development Association (Kawiccoda) is leading efforts to build resilience amongst the communities surrounding the park in a bid to create alternative sources of livelihood.

The BIOPAMA programme assists countries in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific to address their priorities for improved management and governance of biodiversity and natural resources by providing a variety of tools, services and funding to conservation actors.

Board Chairperson for Kawiccoda, Malidadi Langa, says the conservation of Kasungu National Park is in two components which are wildlife on one hand and livelihood on the other.

“Kawiccoda is an offshoot of the Wildlife Policy which prescribes that populations living within natural resources such as national parks must participate in the conservation of those resources.

“So we are a vehicle for enabling this community participation in conservation of parks whereby we mobilise communities to take part in managing forests, promoting natural regeneration of trees, agroforestry and climate smart agriculture,” Langa says.

Through its Forest Natural Regeneration and Agroforestry project in the area of Traditional Authority Chisinga in the district, Kawiccoda is integrating land restoration, forest governance, agroforestry and climate smart agriculture, teaching communities about modern farming approaches including promotion of forest regeneration.

“Our people should be able to integrate crop farming and forestry, regenerate and re-green landscapes. We have handed over tools such as hoes, slashers and wheelbarrows to help them carry this work.

“On the livelihood component, we support them with soybean seeds where each household gets 40 kilogrammes. We hope that when they cultivate soybean, they can raise a lot of money to support their families and stop invading the park,” Langa says.

The association is also giving out goats on a pass-on arrangement targeting the population along the park.  

“The park has suffered a lot of encroachment, poaching and charcoal production with the primary driver being poverty and livelihood pressures.

“If we provide our communities with alternative livelihoods, pressure will reduce. So as Kawiccoda, we have embarked on this livelihood component, supporting communities with farm inputs and by doing so, we are contributing towards efforts to save Kasungu National Park,” Langa says.

Group Village Head Kanyakatika of T/A Chisinga says as communities, they have realised the importance of conserving biodiversity such that they voluntarily participate in the activities.

“We have even enacted by-laws to the effect that when one is found destroying forests, he or she will be fined K100 000 or a goat.

“We understand the impact on climate change and the importance of having forests. The beehives and implements we have received are a huge motivation that we should do more,” Kanyakatika says.

Field Operations Manager for Ifaw, Gervas Thamala, notes there have been a lot of threats to Kasungu National.

“We must work together ensuring that the park should not be burden to people and that people should not be a burden to animals,” Thamala says.

To further promote conservation efforts, the DNPW has handed over at least 67 bicycles to lead farmers to help in promoting climate smart agriculture. The bicycles which Ifaw sourced from World Bicycle Relief are to reduce mobility challenges for lead farmers as they go round communities training farmers on climate smart agriculture.

The K25.8 million bicycles are also expected to boost patrols along the newly erected solar-powered perimeter fence which has been constructed to prevent animals from leaving the park to invade people’s homes and gardens.

At least 100 kilometres of the eastern park boundary has been covered with the perimeter fence while the remaining 30 kilometre stretch is expected to be completed by December this year.

Director of Parks and Wildlife Bright Kumchedwa says the handing over of bicycles signifies a cordial working relationship that is there between government and the communities in safeguarding wildlife.

“Communities must take part in conservation, and these bicycles are a huge motivation to them and that they should do their work effectively,” says Kumchedwa, also stressing the need for communities to have alternative livelihood so that they don’t invade the park.

He says the fence is a critical instrument to guard against animals straying out of the protected area to destroy homes and crops.

“All the outstanding issues that were regarding the construction of the fence have been sorted out and construction is in progress. We are hopeful that we will cover the entire 130 kilometre stretch by the end of this year.

“As government, we are very serious about tourism because of its potential to contribute towards economic growth. Wildlife is the backbone of tourism, that is why we increased the numbers of animals in Kasungu National Park to attract more tourists and generate forex,” Kumchedwa says.

On his part, Senior Chief Lukwa who chairs the Chiefs Council on wildlife conservation in Africa asks the recipients to use the bicycles and the implements for their intended purposes.

Kasungu National Park has a huge ecological relevance in that it is the catchment for Dwangwa River that flows east to Lake Malawi through the densely populated Kasungu District, sustaining settlements and agriculture and contributing to the maintenance of viable fish stocks for the lake.

Economically, the park is home to hundreds of elephants which are the largest tourist attraction in Kasungu National Park, promoting tourism, one of government priority areas.

The tourism sector contributes 7.7 percent towards the Gross Domestic Product, of which 2.7 percent is from the wildlife sector.