MANAonline
Association calls for discipline on Luwinga tavern desks saga
By Steve Chirombo
Dedza, December 6, Mana: Malawi Education Writers Association (MEWA), a body comprising of journalists focusing on education reporting, has called upon authorities in the education sector to discipline those involved in bringing desks to a tavern at Luwinga in Mzuzu.
A press release issued by the association on Tuesday signed by its interim Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Malunga, expressed shock with a picture which was circulating on social media depicting individuals quenching their thirsts with some local brewed Chibuku at one tavern around Luwinga in Mzuzu while sitting on class desks.
According to an eye witness there, the desks were said to be from a nearby school.
“At first, we thought it was just some ill-minded individuals playing around with Photoshop because one would wonder in which manner and why in the 23rd century any duty bearer would allow such to happen under their watch,” said Malunga.
He said later they learnt that the picture was true and that the Ministry of Education had already intervened on the matter.
Malunga further stated that as a professional organization, their duty is not only to write but also play some checks and balances.
“We would like to express our concern on the development. This news is not only a shock but also disturbing realizing the efforts government, organizations and other well-wishers put in to have such materials in place.
“This is pathetic as it is coming at a time when primary school learners are in dire need of learning materials such as desks. It is our sincere hope that efforts will go towards disciplining those involved in the malpractice,” he stated.
Ministry of Education Public Relations Officer, Mphatso Nkuonera, said the ministry got wind of the issue last week Wednesday.
“Senior officials from the ministry followed it through and found the desks at the mentioned place. The desks have since been recovered. We are on it to bring sanity,” said Nkuonera.
Last month MEWA condemned rampant student demonstrations, mainly in government boarding secondary schools, which has left school property worth billions of Kwachas destroyed.
Malawi Government receives fertiliser from Government of Japan
By Monica Tambala
Lilongwe, December 6, Mana: Malawi Government has received over 3,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser from the Government of Japan with another 2,000 metric tonnes expected to arrive later this week.
The fertiliser, which will benefit over 104,000 households has been donated through the Affordable Inputs Program (AIP) under which farmers are required to pay a K15,000 contribution to access the fertiliser.
Speaking during the handover ceremony held at Smallholder Farmers Fertiliser Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) head office in Lilongwe on Wednesday, Minister of Agriculture, Sam Kawale hailed the donation saying it is timely and will help reach more farmers with the support at a time the country is experiencing financial difficulties.
“We experienced Cyclone Freddy which devastated the agriculture sector in so many ways. We are spending so much money to invest back into the rehabilitation of the damaged infrastructure in the agriculture sector, crops, livestock and property. It is going to be very difficult for us, as a government, to recover,” he said.
The Minister said aside the donation, the Japanese government provides assistance in other programs and ministries hence the relationship between the two countries should never be taken for granted.
He said the ministry is implementing a couple of programs to ensure stability in food security and economic stability through investing in irrigation, agricultural commercialisation and Mega farms, among others.
Japanese Ambassador to Malawi, Yoichi Oya said the donation is aimed at enhancing Malawi’s food security, improving households, promoting sustainable growth and helping the country overcome some of the complex crises it is facing.
“We have decided to provide this assistance for the people of Malawi to support their lives at this difficult moment caused by escalating prices of commodities including food and to address forex shortage which is compounding the country’s economic challenges.
“Stable access to food forms the basis for people to live with dignity. With human dignity as one of the pillars of its diplomacy, Japan will spare no effort to defend human dignity through international cooperation,” he said.
The ambassador implored Ministry of Agriculture and SFFRFM to ensure proper management and distribution of the fertiliser so that it reaches the intended beneficiaries and is properly used to promote food security and economic stabilisation of the country.
The Government of Japan committed a grant of 650 million JPY (approximately K7 billion) to facilitate procurement of 5,200 metric tonnes of fertiliser.
Media advised to promote equal access to education
By Asimenye Sibale
Chitipa, December 6, Mana: Chitipa District Project Coordinator for Promoting Equal Access to Education in Malawi (PEATEMA), Osman Gondwe, has called upon journalists in the district to collaborate with the organization in promoting equal access to education for children with disabilities.
Gondwe made the call on Tuesday at Kawale Teacher Development Centre during an interface meeting with Chitipa based media personnel on PEATEMA project.
The K2 billion worth of project, with support from the British Government, is being implemented by the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) Synod of Livingstonia.
Gondwe said the six-year project, which was introduced in the district in 2018, has made strides as 48 learners with disabilities have gone back to school representing 94 percent of the project’s target.
“The project focuses on teachers’ capacity building on how they can teach learners with disabilities and enrollment of learners with disabilities in schools,” said Gondwe.
Special needs teacher at Kawale Primary School, Dexter Muyila said the project has contributed to inclusive education in the district.
Tuntufye Radio journalist, Patricia Kayuni, thanked PEATEMA for organizing the interface meeting which, he said, has enhanced their understanding of the project.
"Despite the project coming to an end in March next year, as media practitioners, we will continue disseminating information on the same to sustain the gains of the project," Kayuni said.
The project is also being implemented in Karonga and Nkhata Bay districts.
Govt develops interventions for youth agribusiness
By Patricia Kapulula
Lilongwe, December 7, Mana: Government is crafting programmes and projects that would coin important interventions for the youth to fully participate in agribusiness.
Director of Agriculture Extension Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, Pearson Jasi Soko revealed this in Lilongwe on Thursday, during the Youth Engagement in Agripreneurship Stakeholder Validation Meeting.
The meeting released results of a study on Analyzing the Landscape for Youth Agripreneurship in Malawi.
Soko said it is important that youth are offered interventions that would make them take agriculture as a career and a business.
“As a ministry we are programming youth friendly interventions such as provision for grants with special conditions that we take youth groups as collateral.
We are also building capacity in skills by linking the groups with institutions such as Small and Medium Development Institute Enterprises, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Malawi University of Science and Technology and other universities to build targeted skills development programmes to groom entrepreneurs in Malawi,” he said.
The study has revealed that youth are associated with quick benefits as such they take agriculture as old fashioned.
According to Soko, the findings are in line with what the country has been observing on youth engagement in agripreneurship.
“We have a number of initiatives in agricultural productivity and commercialisation as Malawi 2063 pillar number one. There is need for youth to fully participate in agriculture to achieve the MW2063. Youth participation in agriculture is not an option,” he said.
Lead Consultant on Analyzing the Landscape for Youth Agripreneurship in Malawi, Amon Kabuli said youth in Malawi lack skills to venture into agriculture as a business.
“We need more partners to invest in skills development such as irrigation, horticulture, marketing and other processes required to take the crop from the farm to the market for the youth to take agriculture as a business,” he said.
Senior Research Fellow for International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Dr Kristin Davis said findings of the study have given pathways on how international organisations, government and stakeholders can support youth in agripreneurship in Malawi.
“The perception that farming is old fashioned and dirty makes youth shun it. However, agribusiness and making money, can make youth interested as studies show that youth tend to be more involved in agriculture when there is money to be made hence the need to engage them,” she said.
Senior Researcher for International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Dr Karen Nortje emphasized on the need to harness ideas by the youth saying they are enthusiastic about what they want to do.
One of the youth farmers, Fainess Kazembe from Mambe Club, Traditional Authority Msamala in Balaka appealed to stakeholders to assist them address challenges if the youth are to fully participate and take agriculture as a business.
The club, which has a membership of 30, grows cotton.
“We are facing the financial challenge and also facilities. We use hoes and to cultivate a two-acre field is tough. If there can be tractors to lend it would be better,” she said.
