MANAonline
Clergy urged to raise awareness on public health emergencies
By Richard Kagunda
Kasungu, August 26, Mana: Kasungu District Council health authorities, have appealed to religious leaders to take the lead in disseminating information about health emergencies, including the newly declared MPox viral disease.
The Kasungu health promotion committee has been engaging stakeholders in the district, including members of the clergy to raise awareness on various public health emergencies such as measles, Covid 19, cholera and recently MPox disease.
Speaking in an interview, the Health Promotion Officer for Kasungu District Health Office (DHO), Catherine Yoweli, said religious leaders are key stakeholders in health promotion.
“We targeted them, considering that they command respect and that they have a large following. That alone is an important aspect, which we need to ride on to take messages to people.
“The other issue is that; challenges we face in dealing with these health emergencies borders much on beliefs. Therefore, if we empower the religious leaders with correct information, we believe we will be able to deal with these challenges,” Yoweli said.
Kasungu registered five cases of measles between April and June this year, and the district has been on high alert over the threat of Marburg viral disease which was reported in Tanzania last year and cholera which devastated neighbouring Zambian districts.
Yoweli underscored the importance of preparation, saying despite the district not registering any MPox cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared it a public health emergency.
On his part, Sheikh Hamdan Umari said religious leaders have a big role to play in raising awareness of health issues.
“We have a responsibility, to take part in promoting the health status of our people,” Umari said.
Sheikh Umari, further condemned religious leaders who prohibit their followers from getting immunization, saying physical health and spirituality must go hand in hand.
Malawi has had health emergencies such as Covid-19 and Cholera and now faces the threat of MPox, an infectious disease caused by the monkey pox virus.
So far, Malawi has not recorded any MPox cases, but 13 other African countries have reported the disease, with the Democratic Republic of Congo being the most affected.
Military officers called to uphold culture
By Golden Kang'oma
Salima, August 26, Mana: Malawi Defense Force (MDF) Command and Staff College hosted a cultural day event on Saturday under the theme "Celebrating Cultural Heritage and Wisdom in Fostering Military Leadership."
The event that took place in Salima brought together military officers from over five African countries, including Mozambique, Ghana, Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania, and South Africa, to showcase their diverse cultures and traditions.
Colonel Enock Ntonya, Commandant of the MDF Command and Staff College, emphasized the importance of cultural understanding in every day’s military leadership.
Ntonya noted that for military leaders to operate effectively in any environment, it is crucial to understand and respect the cultural contexts of the communities they serve.
He said: "Without knowing the culture, it is going to be very difficult to win the hearts and minds of the people. Understanding culture allows for easier integration, respect, and support from the communities."
The cultural day highlighted the role of military culture, which, according to Colonel Mtonya, is unique, standardized, and promotes discipline while respecting the diverse cultural backgrounds of military personnel.
He stressed that while military culture fosters unity, it also preserves the unique identities of soldiers from different tribes and nations.
This diversity, he argued, enriches military leadership by providing a broad spectrum of cultural perspectives.
Executive Dean of the Bingu School of Culture and Heritage at the Malawi University of Science and Technology Dr. Atikonda Mtenje Mkochi, also underscored the significance of cultural exchange in fostering unity across the continent.
She observed that, despite cultural differences, there are numerous similarities that bind African nations together.
"In the differences that we have, there is beauty. We must learn from each other to build a better continent," Mkochi said.
The event served as a platform for participating countries to share their cultural practices, including traditional dances, music, and culinary traditions.
Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Amoah from Ghana, who chaired the organizing committee, highlighted the importance of such events in promoting cohesion among military personnel from different countries.
He expressed concern over the loss of cultural identity due to globalization and emphasized the need to preserve African values through such cultural initiatives.
The cultural day not only celebrated the rich diversity of African cultures but also reinforced the idea that cultural awareness is integral to effective military leadership.
As African militaries continue to work together in peacekeeping and other joint operations, such cultural exchanges are vital in building the mutual respect and understanding necessary for successful collaboration.
Mzimba ADCs told to monitor construction projects
By Joel Phiri
Mzimba, August 26, mana: M’mbelwa District Council construction supervisory team member Adini Phiri has appealed to members of Area Development Committees (ADCs) in the district to be vigilant in monitoring various construction projects the council has embarked on for contractors to achieve high-quality work.
Phiri made the appeal on Saturday during the supervisory and monitoring tour of Euthini and Mbalachanda GESD construction projects.
Phiri said when contractors are given work to do they are supposed to be monitored regularly and supervised by council staff as well as members of area development committees to avoid shoddy work.
‘‘Both council staff and members of ADCs hold the key in ensuring that these contractors come up with strong and durable structures. But for them to deliver quality works they need close supervision’’, said Phiri.
He added that vigilance is needed among ADCs to ensure quality is achieved at construction sites.
‘‘These construction companies are hired to construct these structures but they don’t live here. Once they finish they will go.
” The beneficiaries of these structures will be members of the communities who will suffer if contractors come up with substandard structures and because these structures belong to community members, ADCs should be critical in monitoring how works are being done on site to ensure quality’’, he said.
M’mbelwa District Council has pumped K132 million into the construction of the Mbalachanda Police staff house.
The contractor, Spectrum Construction Company, will also build a toilet and do maintenance works for the Mbalachanda Police Unit.
The Council has also funded the construction of Euthini Rural Hospital’s laboratory and laundry to the tune of K169 million.
Both projects are under the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) which is a performance grant funded by the World Bank.
In his remarks, Euthini ADC member responsible for projects, Julius Nyirenda said they will be vigilant to ensure the community benefits from the structures being constructed.
In an interview, hospital In-charge Steve Manda hailed the council for the construction of the laboratory saying it will enhance laboratory services at the facility.
Couple Arrested for Strangling Child to Death in Ritual Murder Plot
By Sellah Chunda and patience Longwe
Lilongwe, August 26, Mana – Police in Nathenje have arrested a couple accused of strangling their two year-old son to death in a gruesome plot to use his body for charms to gain wealth.
The incident occurred in Chikuwa Village, Traditional Authority Chitekwere, Lilongwe District.
The suspects, identified as Ivy Elinati (25) and Mphatso Nalinde (25), the child's mother and stepfather, are alleged to have conspired to kill the boy after striking a deal with an unidentified Mozambican witch doctor. The witch doctor had reportedly promised the couple wealth if they provided him with their son's dead body.
According to Lilongwe Police PRO Hastings Chigalu, the couple bade farewell to their relatives and friends at the husband's home village, claiming they were traveling to Mozambique to visit other relations.
However, their true intention was far more sinister— they planned to kill the child en route to Mozambique to fulfill the witch doctor's demands.
After walking several kilometers, the couple reportedly lured their son into the bush, where they strangled him to death. However, when they contacted the witch doctor to inform him of their actions, he refused to proceed, claiming they had failed to perform certain rituals, making the body useless for the intended charms.
Fearing the consequences, the couple returned home with the deceased child, attempting to cover up the murder by claiming that the boy had suddenly become unconscious and died while strapped to his mother's back. However, the village elders grew suspicious of their story and alerted the police.
A postmortem examination conducted at Nathenje Health Centre confirmed that the boy had died from suffocation due to strangulation.
The couple has been charged with murder and will face trial in court.
The suspects, Ivy Elinati, hails from Chimbwala Village, T/A Mlonyeni in Mchinji, while Mphatso Nalinde comes from Chikuwa Village, T/A Chitekwere in Lilongwe District.
NWRA dates southern region media managers
By Memory Chatonda
Blantyre, August 26, Mana: National Water Resources Authority (NWRA) has challenged editors and media managers from various media institutions to make deliberate efforts that would change people’s mindset on issues around water resources management in the country.
NWRA Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Dwight Kambuku gave the challenge on Monday in Blantyre during the high level engagement meeting with editors and media managers from the southern region.
Kambuku said the significance of editors and media managers in any set up could not be overstressed as they are the cardinal point on which success or failure of any institution rotates.
“It is for this reason that we ask for your support. Help us persuade the citizenry towards involvement in matters of managing water resources and avoidance of any water related catastrophe,” he said.
Kambuku said he is optimistic that through the interaction, NWRA and media managers would share notes on how best they could sustainably manage and regulate water resources at the same time and also jointly implement strategies of averting any water related catastrophe among the citizenry.
“I believe the outcomes will resonate well with the Malawi 2063 Agenda as it focuses on jointly contributing towards achieving country’s long term development plans,” he said.
Meanwhile, NWRA has penalized councils and companies for contravening water resource Act and regulations during their operations.
“As you are aware, no one is allowed to drill a borehole without obtaining a license from the authority, no one is allowed to extract water from the rivers for irrigation or domestic use, no one is allowed to use the water resource for generation of hydro-electric power not even discharging effluent into water bodies without the permit from the Authority.
“So, those that were penalized, in a big way they violated these conditions as captured in the water resource Act of 2013 and also the regulation of 2018,” he said, adding that some of the councils that have been penalized include Zomba, Lilongwe and also Mount Meru.
On his part, Secretary General for Malawi Editors Forum, Gracian Tukula described the meeting as crucial in ensuring that manager and editors understand better the mandate of the NWRA for them to ably disseminate messages to the masses to save life and property.
“Water is life because we cannot talk about sustainable life without water. Therefore, this interaction is of paramount importance and it remains our responsibility to use the information we have gathered regarding to water resource management for publication through different platforms,” Tukula said.
NWRA was established by the Act of parliament in 2013 and it became operational in 2019. Among other things, the authority is mandated to control, regulate and conserve water resources.
First Lady advises women on fistula prevention
By Wongani Mkandawire
Nkhotakota, August 26, MANA:First lady Madam Monica Chakwera, has called on women and girls in the country to work hard in preventing fistula by avoiding situations which leave them vulnerable to the disease.
Speaking during the commemoration of World Fistula Day at Mkaika Community Day Secondary School in Nkhotakota on Monday, Madam Chakwera said fistula can be prevented by among other things avoiding underage pregnancies in girls.
Madam Chakwera encouraged women to take their time and focus on education until the right age where their bodies are matured enough to reproduce without negative side effects on their health.
Deputy Minister of Health Halima Daud said her ministry is working tirelessly to make sure information as well as contraceptives are made available to women and girls living in hard to reach areas to fight unintended pregnancies in communities as one way of preventing fistula cases.
She called upon chiefs, church leaders and community leaders to encourage those suffering from fistula in their communities to get medical treatment noting that fistula is a treatable condition and as such should not be a source of shame and embarrassment.
Nkhotakota District Council Chairperson Charles Chimzukuzuku, commended the government and it's partners for intensifying the fight against fistula
Freedom from fistula in collaboration with UNFPA is implementing a three-year project called empowering empowering women with obsteric fistula to ensure access to quality obsteric fistula care and social reintergration in nkhotakota with funds from the government of Iceland.
Chakwera calls upon judges to be proactive
By Sheminah Nkhoma
Lilongwe, August 26, Mana: President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has called upon the newly appointed High Court judges to be proactive to Malawians when carrying out their duties.
The President made the remarks on Monday during the swearing-in ceremony at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe.
Chakwera emphasised on the issue of being systematic organised when carrying out their work, saying that the talents, education, experience, integrity and passion have maximum impact in the cause of delivering justice to Malawians.
“As judges you need to make sure to maximise the use of your time, your resources, and your staff in that, you will safeguard your minds and professionalism align with the expectations of your roles”, he said.
The President further said, the judges should pay attention to their temperament as it has to do with the proper regulation of emotions and reactions to emerging situations.
“If something happens that stirs in you such emotions of shock, sadness, or anger and you do not take time to reflect on and regulate those emotions, you will inevitably find yourself discharging your duties with an attitude of pettiness and egoism emanating from those unregulated emotions instead of discharging your duties purely on the basis of what is fair according to law,” Chakwera highlighted.
In his remarks, Chief Justice Rizine Mzikamanda welcomed the appointments, saying that this would enhance the judiciary’s efficiency.
“The judiciary needs more judges, so swearing in of these judges will help to ensure that court cases are heard in good time and that justice is served in the country,” he said.
Mzikamanda disclosed that the judiciary aims to increase the number of judges from 58 to 90 to improve service delivery across the country.
One of the appointed Judge, Trouble Kalua said they will demonstrate effectiveness and fairness in their duties to ensure that justice is served to the people of Malawi.
The newly appointed judges include Justice Kondwani Banda, Justice Madalitso Chimwaza, Justice Trouble Kalua, and Justice Edna Bodole.
Chilomoni Assemblies of God celebrates Young Adults Day
By Beatrice Bangula
Blantyre, August 26, Mana: Chilomoni Assemblies of God Pentecostal Revival Centre under the leadership of Rev. Maxton Chipungu celebrated Young Adults Day on Sunday in Chilomoni Blantyre where the young adults took charge of the Sunday service.
Director of Young Adults Ministry, Mercy Mwase explained to Malawi News Agency in an interview on Sunday that this year’s Young Adults Day focused on: Fishing Souls for Jesus Christ, which according to Mwase means, young people engaging in personal evangelism to save lives.
“This day is celebrated once every year and mostly on Sundays whereby all church activities are led by Young Adults Ministry including preaching, church announcements, welcoming of visitors and convening.
“Young Adults Ministry is a ministry of the church, and it is a ministry of young people aged from 18 years old to the time of marriage. After marriage, females join Otumikira Mwa Chikondi (OMC) Ministry which is a women's ministry and males join men’s ministry, a ministry for men within the church, she added.
The day’s preacher Doreen Mkwamba focused on Christians being the salt and light of the world and in her preaching explained she that young adults as young people should not always wait for older people to preach the gospel and win souls to Christ.
She added that young people should be at the forefront of preaching the gospel and take an active role in church activities.
Leader of Chilomoni Assemblies of God, Rev Chipungu hailed Young Adults Ministry and encouraged parents to encourage their children to join the ministry, saying young adults learn the word of God and walk in the way of the Lord.
“As parents and pastors, we say it is a great thing to see a young lady preaching the word. It was also interesting to listen to great testimonies from Young Adults Ministry,” he added.
He said when children are raised in the way of God, they are guided by His power and remain in God
NYNCC decries animal welfare in the country
By Andrew Mkonda
Lilongwe, August 26, Mana: The National Youth Network on Climate Change (NYNCC) has stressed the need for members of the media to be committed on reporting issues of animal welfare and rights that are deteriorating in the country.
NYNCC National Coordinator Dominic Nyasulu made the call on Saturday in Lilongwe during a day-long media training on animal welfare and cage-free farming.
Nyasulu noted that the caged farming system in the country is one area that needs to be looked into, since it is not only hampering the welfare of the animals such as chickens, but also affecting the environment.
He said it is pathetic that many poultry companies in the country are still using charcoal as a source of energy which is contributing to degradation of the environment.
“There is a huge gap in terms of our registrations and policies. If you look at what is governing the industry now, it is an outdated policy that was formulated in the 70s and if you compare it with what is happening on the ground, it is bad,” he said.
Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Head of Animal Science Department Jonathan Tanganyika, attributed the issue of animal welfare to ignorance, lack of information and law enforcement as some of the factors contributing to the deteriorating in the country.
“Animals have freedom just like human beings. They have freedom from hunger, thirsty, discomfort, pain, injury or fear and distress. But many people do not observe these things, which is bad,” he said.
Tanganyika said as LUANAR, they will keep on doing research and share the results with the relevant authorities for proper dissemination of the information to the masses.
Speaking in a separate interview, one of the journalists Mercy Lwanja of Radio Alinafe thanked NYNCC for engaging members of the media on animal welfare and cage-free farming, saying it has been an eye-opener.
“We are happy that some of the information we have gained here, will go a long way in improving the welfare of animals and the environment in the country,” she said.
Catholic Church registers milestone of faith as 174 Catholic Christians get confirmation sacrament in Nkhata Bay
By Chisomo Kambandanga
Nkhata Bay, August 25, Mana: St Joseph Catholic Parish in Nkhata administered Confirmation Sacrament to 174 Christians marking a significant development in their spiritual journey.
This is a sacrament that seals a baptized person with the Holy Spirit and strengthens them for the task of serving Christ and His Church.
Among the confirmands, 87 were newly baptized Christians after attending the church’s teachings for two years as per Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) guidelines.
Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Mzuzu, Zughzo Yohane Nyirenda who was the main celebrant, laid hands and anointed the confirmands with Chrism Oil marking the descending of the Holy Spirit and sealing their commitment to Christ and His Church.
In his homily, Nyirenda drew inspiration from John 16 Verses 13 to 14 and advised the confirmands to go out as missionaries to preach the word of God and bring back the lost sheep to God.
"Go out and preach the word of God without fear for the Holy Spirit will always guide you.
Continue being faithful to the Catholic Church by participating in various activities in your zones because that is the only way the church can keep growing," said Nyirenda.
He then urged the Christian community to participate in all processes in preparing for the upcoming 2025 general elections by voting for leaders of their choice.
Parish Priest for St Joseph Catholic Fr Andrew Kamanga said that he was pleased to see the church growing every day.
"We are happy to witness another great development in the Catholic Church. We expect that you will practice whatever you have been learning about Catholicism throughout your life,” said Kamanga.
One of the Catechist from Kavuzi Zone, Bathlomeu Nkhonjera who was also one of the mentors lauded the confirmands for their endurance in undertaking the Catholic church teachings.
"Specially let me thank the clergy at this parish for providing guidance and direction in ensuring that the teachings are instilled in our brothers and sisters,” said Nkhonjera.
Rachel Kaliata, one of the confirmands said that she has been energized upon receiving the sacraments and ready to serve the Lord as a true Catholic Christian.
The confirmands were drawn from Likoma, Chintheche, Banga, Mpamba, Kavuzi, and Kande which are administrative zones of St Joseph Catholic Parish.
