MANAonline
Likoma DC urges communities to embrace good nutrition practices
By Ireen Mseteka
Likoma, February 8, Mana: District Commissioner (DC) for Likoma, Abubakar Nkhoma, has asked community members to embrace good nutrition practices, including consumption of six food groups to maintain good health.
Nkhoma said this on Thursday when Invest in Early Years Program (IEYP) distributed wrappers to 700 beneficiaries of the programme at Chizumulu Island.
“The wrappers which you have received are displaying nutritional messages. These messages are not there for decoration but they have an intended purpose. You need to put into practice whatever message is there, such as eating six food groups to sustain health lives with your families,” said Nkhoma.
He encouraged the beneficiaries to wear the wrappers in order to disseminate the messages displayed to community members than using the wrappers as bed sheets or curtains.
Community Facilitator for IEYP Project, Vision Mkumbwa, said apart from being information, education and communication materials, the wrappers were distributed to motivate the beneficiaries.
“Apart from the wrappers, beneficiaries have beneficiated in various ways such as receiving bicycles, laptop bags, weighing scales and livestock, including goats, ducks, and chickens which have contributed in improving nutritional status of their households,” he said.
Nutrition promoter for Chiteko Village Development Committee, Winnie Majiwa, said the economic and nutrition status of her household has improved after she received banana suckers, fruit tree seedlings, goats and chickens from the programme.
Irrigation schemes rehabilitation to boost agricultural production, commercialisation - GBA
By Wakisa Myamba
Karonga, February 8, Mana: Green Belt Authority (GBA) Director of Irrigation Operations, Dr Chisomo Kumbuyo, says the rehabilitation of Dwambazi, Lweya, Mlambe and Chipoka irrigation schemes into mega farms will help in boosting agricultural production and commercialisation in the country.
Kumbuyo was speaking on Wednesday at Lusubilo Conference Hall in Karonga during a media orientation for journalists based in the district on GBA projects.
"Currently, GBA is focusing on rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure such as Mlambe Irrigation Scheme in Mangochi which is about 800 hectares, Ncharo Irrigation Scheme in Chikwawa and the construction of Nthola Ilola Scheme in Karonga. Upon completion of the works, the schemes will contribute towards agricultural production and commercialisation", said Kumbuyo.
He added: "The construction of Nthola Ilola Rice Irrigation Scheme which has components like the construction of a milling and a processing factory, which is at 90 percent completion, and the construction of water intake, which is at 60 percent, are all meant to be completed by the end of February."
Kumbuyo explained that they will carry out additional works at Nthola Ilola Rice processing factory, such as construction of a security fence and a warehouse which will be undertaken during 2024/2025 financial year.
One of the participants, Nation Publications Limited correspondent Jordan Phiri, hailed GBA for the orientation, saying it has come at the right time when some of the projects under GBA are being implemented in the district.
"I would like to urge journalists in the district and across Malawi to exercise their educative and informative role effectively for the public to have knowledge and appreciate the benefits of GBA interventions being carried out in their premises,” said Phiri.
Community members advised against dependency syndrome
By Ireen Mseteka
Likoma, February 8, Mana: Commissioner for Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), Charles Kalemba, has advised people in Likoma District to refrain from dependency syndrome for their livelihoods.
Kalemba was speaking Wednesday during a distribution exercise of relief maize to 444 under privileged households in the district.
“What we are doing as DoDMA, we are providing relief assistance and we have also embarked on what we call a mindset change. Most people have created a mindset of waiting for somebody to help them all the time without taking individual actions to uplift oneself from poverty trap.
“This country has adequate resources, so we have to utilize our capabilities and abilities to mobilize worth for ourselves so that we meet one of the pillars of Malawi 2023 which talks of worth creation. This cannot be achieved by government alone, so everybody has to work towards this goal,” said Kalemba.
He noted that the district has people who have capacity to help themselves, saying the people have a lot to do which can make almost everybody in the district to be self-dependent.
District Commissioner for Likoma, Abubakar Nkhoma, thanked government for the relief assistance which he said would go a long way in serving hunger stricken households in the district.
“We are thankful for this; people will have food for the next two months,” said Nkhoma.
One of the beneficiaries from Chizumulu Island, Mary Malumbizo, commended government for the maize, saying it will serve her family and others who have acute food shortage in the district.
Lilongwe District Council approves K124.2 billion budget
By Andrew Mkonda
Lilongwe, February 8, Mana: Lilongwe District Council on Wednesday approved a K124.2 billion budget for 2024-2025 financial year with a 102% increase from the current year budget of K61.5 billion.
Presenting the budget during a full council meeting, the council’s finance committee chairperson, Councilor Limbani Phiri, said the 102% increase in the budget is because of the increased Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in the national budget from K100 million to K150 million.
The funds, according to the chairperson, will come from locally generated revenue, Other Recurrent Transactions (ORT) and CDF, among other sources.
“As a council, we want as much as possible to find ways of improving collection of our local revenue. As such, we want to expand some of the markets that we have,” he said.
In the approved budget, apart from CDF and Government for Enabled Service Deliver (GESD), which have the biggest allocations, the health and education sectors have got the lion's share in the budget at K4.3 billion and K1.9 billion respectively.
Reacting to the budget, Member of Parliament for Lilongwe Mpenu Nkhoma, Collins Kajawa, commended the council secretariat for the guidance towards the formation of a budget which he described as visionary.
Kajawa then asked for unity among council members for smooth implementation of the planned projects in the budget for the benefit of rural masses.
However, Bunda Ward Councillor Luciano Botoman expressed dissatisfaction with the 10 % salary increase for ward councilors in the budget, saying with the high cost of living, the increment is too little.
“We already get little salaries and with high cost of living caused by devaluation, at least we need a 25% salary increment as we agreed in the past,” he said, attracting a big shout and hand clapping from his fellow councilors.
In his response, Lilongwe District Commissioner Dr. Lawford Palani said the issue will be looked into and that all required procedures will be followed on whether to adjust upwards or not.
Palani then assured members of the council that if the budget can be implemented as planned, it will spur development and improve livelihoods of the communities.
Mzimba GESD health projects impress government
By Joel Phiri
Mzimba, February 8, Mana: Minister of Health Khumbize Chiponda says government is impressed with the standard of construction works of Mzuzu Health Post and Vibangalala Maternity Wing in Mzimba.
The projects are being implemented by M’mbelwa District Council with support from Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD).
Chiponda was speaking on Wednesday during an inspection tour to appreciate progress of the construction works of the projects.
She said that construction of the two health structures will lessen distance that some people in rural Mzimba cover to access health services.
“Government is serious about taking health service closer to communities and the construction of these two facilities is a testimony to that.
“Government in collaboration with its development partners is to construct 900 health posts and we are on course to achieving that. The idea is to bring health facilities closer to the people,” Chiponda said.
The minister then asked the council to ensure that, once completed, the facilities are opened for public use for intervention to have a positive impact on the ground.
“Some people in this district cover up to 20 kilometres to get to the nearest health facility. So, construction is one thing but using them is another.
“I therefore urge the council to ensure that these facilities are furnished with beds, mattresses and all necessities, including deployment of health workers,” she said.
Chairperson for the council, Morgan Tembo, said the council will source funds to furnish both facilities with beds and mattresses within six months for them to be ready for use.
In an interview, medical assistant at Vibangalala Health Post, which serves a population of 15,000 people, Wisdom Nyirenda, hailed the council for the constructing a maternity wing at the facility, adding expectant mothers will be assisted accordingly once it becomes operational.
“We currently refer them to Mzimba District Hospital which is some 20 kilometres away and some to Embagweni Mission Hospital,” said Ngwira.
EGENCO in afforestation drive along the Shire River
By Salome Gangire
Neno, February 8, Mana: Electricity Generation Company (EGENCO) Chief Executive Officer Dr Maxon Chitawo says the company is set to plant 35,000 trees in the 2024 tree planting season with an aim to conserve the catchment along the Shire River.
Chitawo was speaking Wednesday at Lisungwi Community Day Secondary School in Neno district during the official launch of EGENCO 2024 tree planting season where the company planted 5,000 trees at the school.
He said the initiative is aimed at mitigating siltation and debris which affect hydroelectric power generation at its stations located on the Shire River.
“Trees hold the soil and prevent it from eroding into the river which in turn prevents siltation of the dams,” Chitawo said.
Chitawo added that EGENCO has power plants along the Shire River which has tributaries from Mangochi, Balaka, Machinga, Neno and part of Blantyre going to Chikwawa and the power plants are cascaded from Nkula, Tedzani and Kapichila, adding very soon they will also plant trees at Tedzani and Kapichila.
He said the water which the company uses for power generation comes from these streams apart from the lake, saying the water comes with silt and trashes from upland and this is the reason they are planting trees to reduce erosion and siltation of rivers and prevent trash which goes into the water.
“Siltation reduces dam depth and water levels and at the same time power generation depends on the height of water, so when we lose height of water, we also lose power generation in the power stations,” he explained.
He said apart from the seedlings, EGENCO is also providing equipment, such as wheelbarrows, hoes, watering canes to schools and the village forest committees to be used for irrigating trees as they intend to achieve a 90 percent tree survival rate.
Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola commended EGENCO for the gesture, saying it is important to have catchments areas along Shire River well protected by planting trees, as deforestation and degradation affect electricity generation.
He, therefore, urged communities to protect trees, stressing they have a lot of socio-economic benefits, aside from protecting water catchment areas for power generation.
“You should not just plant trees but protect them so that they grow to minimize the impact that come because of environmental degradation,” Matola said.
President Lazarus Chakwera launched the 2024 tree planting season on January 18 this year in Phalombe district.
Daud bemoans delays to complete health personnel houses
By Noel Chimwala
Chikwawa, February 8, Mana: Deputy Minister of Health Halima Daudi has advised contractors who are constructing health personnel houses in Chikwawa district to speed up the process, saying the project is likely to miss deadline.
The project was supposed to be completed by 17th February 2024 and, with time closing in, it is likely the contractor will not fulfil the agreement.
Speaking after touring rehabilitation projects of health workers’ houses at Bereu, Chipwaila and Dolo health facilities in the district on Wednesday, Daudi advised Chikwawa council to closely supervise the projects to ensure that contractors are doing quality standard work and that they should complete the projects within the contract period.
The minister said the aim of the tour was to appreciate the progress and hear from contractors if they are facing challenges which are making them delay to complete the projects within the agreed period.
“We are worried and concerned that despite having the funds at the councils, contractors are slow to complete the rehabilitation of houses for medical personnel in the three health facilities,” she said.
She added that when projects do not end in time, more money is spent as some contractors take advantage of the kwacha devaluation and inflation.
“Councils and traditional authorities must supervise the progress of these projects to ensure that contractors are doing good work, all mistakes are corrected timely and the project completion should be on time,” said Daudi.
In his remarks, Member of Parliament for Chikwawa South Constituency, Illias Karim, commended President Lazarus Chakwera for his commitment towards ending housing challenges for health workers.
“When these houses are completed, it will ease the housing challenges for our health workers and this means the workers will attend to patients whenever the need arises, regardless of the time,” said Karim.
“The concerns on delays have been addressed as the Minister has warned contractors to complete the projects by 31st March, 2024 and if they fail, the contracts will be terminated,” he added.
Nyalonje hails TEVET’s 2024-2030 strategic plan
By Twimepoki Mangani
Lilongwe, February 8, Mana: Labour Minister Agness Nyalonje has described the newly launched Technical, Entrepreneurial, and Vocational Education and Training (TEVET) 2024-2030 strategic plan as a major milestone towards achieving Malawi 2063.
Nyalonje made the remarks Wednesday in Lilongwe during the launch of the plan, coined “Rethinking TEVET” - a blueprint that will guide the TEVET Authority in implementing its mandate of regulating, facilitating, and promoting TEVET as it seeks to contribute to the government’s development agenda.
Nyalonje highlighted that while the mandate of her Ministry is to develop and protect the labour force, TEVET has the role of fulfilling the first half of the mandate and added that the plan will also ensure students are well-equipped to deliver services in and outside the country.
“This is a very auspicious occasion for the labour sector because Malawi’s development can’t happen until we have skilled youth and, with this strategic plan, we should begin to witness improved skills for the needs of the industry and economy.
“We must focus on innovation, science, and technology because that is likely to be the growth area for human capital hence my ministry is working with TEVET and the Ministry of Education in order to infuse TEVET with the curriculum in primary and secondary as well as the teacher trainings,” said Nyalonje.
Executive Director for TEVET, Elwin Chiwembu Sichiola, unpacked the theme “Rethinking TEVET” and noted that there is need to provide answers to hard-hitting questions.
“We need to ask ourselves why employers are not satisfied with our graduates; we need to rethink our target groups and how we let them access TEVET, among others,” he said.
Meanwhile, Executive Director for the Employment Consultative Association of Malawi (ECAM), George Khaki, pledged full support for the strategic plan, saying students make meaningful contributions to the industry.
“We are supporting the plan because, as employers, we are the ones contributing to TEVET through the levy we pay and also because the employers are in need of the skills that are being trained in the TEVET colleges,” he said.
Khaki, however, noted the existing gap where most graduates are not meeting the standards required by industries but added there is hope the pillars in the plan will address the gaps.
Government not engaged in new contract with Sattar-Minister Kunkuyu
By Roselyn Phiri
Lilongwe, February7, Mana: Minister of Information and digitalization, Moses Kunkuyu has said Government has not engaged in any new contract with Zuneith Sattar related business and there are no plans to sign any contract with him.
This was disclosed on Wednesday in Lilongwe during a media briefing where the Government was clarifying on issues that appeared in the Daily Times Newspaper of Monday January 29, 2024 titled ‘Government, Sattar in U$19 Million (over K31 billion) Arms Deal.
Speaking during the briefing, Kunkuyu said all Sattar related contracts were terminated by Government in line with section 46 of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets (PPDA) Act on public convenience.
“There is no new contract that has been signed with any of the company’s belonging to Sattar, Government as a procuring entity is under an obligation to pay for goods supplied, delivered or goods that were under production at the time of the termination.
“At the termination Government through the Malawi Defense Force (MDF) had several contracts with Sattar, among them was the contract with Malachite FZE for the supply of 32 Armored Personnel Carriers(APC) signed on 24th May 2021,” He said.
The minister further explained that Government wrote Malachite FZE on the 11th January 2022 informing them that Contract for the supply of APCs had been terminated.
He also said that the Government is concerned with how some members of the Media in the country conduct themselves when dealing with matters of national importance.
He advised members of the press to first verify any allegations before publishing any security related matters to avoid misleading the public.
“Government is always ready to clarify any issues when necessary, if approached in good faith with a common vision to develop Malawi,” Kunkuyu Said.
Also speaking during the press briefing, Minister of Defense Harry Mkandawire refuted allegations that the MDF is looking for a Journalist who published the article concerning government being involve in a contract with Sattar.
“It is not true that there are any plans to arrest any Journalist on this matter, we respect media freedom here Malawi,” Said Mkandawire.
People in Phalombe hail CS-EPWP
By Edna Moyo
Phalombe, February 6, Mana: Communities at Ganeti village, Traditional Authority (TA) Kaduya in Phalombe have hailed the Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) which has helped to transform livelihood of communities through cash for work climate smart agricultural related activities.
Migowi Catchment Management Committee Secretary, Charity Chitseko said through the CS-EPWP, communities managed to control running water, plant and taking care of trees and vetiver grass at Mwananyani hill as well as constructing stone bands, among others.
"Our aim is to reforest Mwananyani hill which had no trees because of charcoal production, but we have now seen a great change. We are able to harvest more out of land conservation techniques unlike in the past when water was running uncontrollably down the hill into our fields destroying crops and causing soil erosion,” she said.
According to Chitseko, communities around Mwanayani hill also planted vetiver grass to control running water while using the same grass as feed for livestock.
She advised other community members to take advantage of all development activities that come in their area, saying most developmental interventions were eye openers capable of bringing best practices worth advancing.
Speaking earlier, Group Village head Ganet said CS-EPWP was ideal and relevant to communities in her area and was sure that the intervention would improve people’s livelihood.
She observed that most household in her area were food secure after abiding by the programme guidelines that in turn helped to build communities’ capacity on appropriate agricultural practices.
He asked fellow traditional leaders and their subjects to embrace interventions such as CS-EPWP for the good of their subjects.
Phalombe District Land Resource Officer, Aron Mwala also called on communities to make use of knowledge and skills acquired through CS-EPWP to plant more trees and practice all measures that would help in mitigating effects of natural disasters.
"Phalombe is a disaster prone district and the works been done helps to block running water that may cause flooding," he said.
The programme started with 200 people during a pilot phase, but now has 500 participants.
