By Chisomo Kambandanga

Nkhata Bay, October 22, Mana: National Water Resources Authority (NWRA) has cautioned communities living along the lake in Nkhata Bay to refrain from constructing on the shores without proper consultations as projections indicate a prospect of rising of water levels on the lake and Shire River.

In an interview on Monday after an interface meeting with Area Development Committees (ADCs) in the district, NWRA Senior Civic Education Officer Masozi Kasambala said projections have been made that in the current hydrological period water levels will be higher than last year.

"By December 1, this year, the water levels will be 22 centimeters high compared to same period last year.

"This means that rainy season will be on at a time when water levels on lake Malawi are already high hence the need for people to be vigilant especially those with intentions to take developmental projects along the shores,” Kasambala said.

According to Kasambala there is need for infrastructure developers to seek permission from them and also make sure they have licenses to avoid water catastrophes.

“As regulator of water resources in Malawi, we thought it wise to equip the ADCs with knowledge of about our responsibilities so that we move forward together,” he added.

In his remarks, Nkhata Bay Community Development Officer, Jacob Moloko hinted that the rising of water levels during the previous hydrological period caused damages on the infrastructure, thereby disturbing tourism activities in the district.

“As a council, we appreciate the early warning given to communities on the rise of water levels as this will help us to pro-actively provide advice and intensify awareness to residents on the shores," he said.

ADC Chairperson for Malenganzoma, Loti Simion Mvula said the meeting was insightful and that they will share the knowledge gained with community members.

By Agatha Kadzinje

Blantyre, October 22, Mana: Malawi Peace and Unity Commission (MPUC) has pledged to continue engaging with the Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD), a grouping of all political party secretaries-general on the importance of promoting peace as the country prepares for the 2025 general elections.

In an interview on Tuesday with the Malawi News Agency (Mana), MPUC Chairperson Bishop Mary Nkosi said the commission has started meeting with various political leaders to raise awareness about the need for peace during the election period.

Nkosi emphasized that the commission will continue to engage with leaders, as they have the power to influence their followers and condemn any misconduct.

“Leadership is crucial because followers often take direction from their leaders. That’s why involving leaders is one of MPUC’s key initiatives. We believe that by educating and engaging with leaders, the commission can help end the spread of hate speech and tribalism, which can incite animosity among their followers,” she said.

Nkosi added that the commission will also engage with media houses to help curb the violence that occurs on social media platforms.

“The digital space seems to be filled with conflicts. So, we plan to involve the media in spreading accurate information to promote peace during this election period,” she said.

Nkosi stressed that the commission will continue working with the police and judiciary, not as a replacement for their roles, but as a mediator in conflicts.

She also assured the nation that the commission’s efforts will extend beyond the election period to ensure peace is maintained in the country.

In a separate interview with Mana, political analyst, Victor Chipofya observed that violence often begins when ideas run out in a society.

“People at the grassroots fight for those at the top, not for themselves. Leaders should be involved in everything their followers do to maintain peace during the 2025 elections,” he said.

Chipofya added that leaders should be the standard-bearers of peace by disciplining their followers when any issues of violence arise.

“Leaders must act to discipline their followers. Most political leaders rely solely on press statements when violence occurs, rather than using the law to discipline the perpetrators. As a result, people continue to engage in violent acts because they go scot free,” he said.

Chipofya also said most violence can be minimized during the election period if campaigns focus on issues rather than castigating each other.

“If rallies and campaigns address issues that affect people’s daily lives, we are most likely to avoid violence. The issues of tribalism and gender, which often arise during this period, cause resentment and anger,” he said.

By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, October 22, Mana: Kasungu District Council has invested MK839 million Performance Based Grant (PBG) funds into a paying clinic, which authorities say, will help to plug funding gaps for the district’s health sector.

Director of Health Services for the district, Emmanuel Golombe said on Monday that apart from being an income generating activity for the council’s health sector, the project is also a response to people’s demand for paying services to suit their interests.

“We want to generate revenue as a sector because this time, we have no means of raising funds apart from the subventions from the central government.

“We sometimes have funding gaps which compromise service delivery. So this initiative will help us raise resources to buy important items like fuel, critical drugs and others,” Golombe said.

He said the district has many clients who have been requesting to have pay services.

“Kasungu District Hospital serves over 300 clients a day. Those rushing to work, or are on medical schemes or can just afford to pay for private services find it difficult to wait for long hours.

“So this project properly responds to their needs. Actually, it is for everyone that can afford, including those coming outside the district,” he said.

Kasungu has a population of about a million people and its district hospital receives clients from communities such as Jenda in Mzimba and Malomo in Ntchisi.

Touring the construction works on Monday, Senior Planning Officer for National Local Government Finance Committee, Charity Kaunda expressed hope that the contractor will deliver a quality structure and within the agreed project timelines.

“This trip is about supporting the district council to ensure that they are delivering on the projects as per the agreements. It’s a spot check exercise whereby we check on the council on how they are delivering on the PBG funded projects.

“Our desire is to see that councils are able to utilise the resources that they get under this fund to address the community service gaps by implementing projects that can stand the test of time and implemented to the desired quality by adhering to specifications and completed within the given timelines,” Kaunda said.

Funded by the World Bank through the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (Gesd) project, PBGs are given to well performing councils identified through the Local Authorities Performance Assessment.

According to Kaunda, Gesd is about enhancing inefficiencies in the delivery of services in the councils.

She said: “So it’s not just about the projects. It’s about supporting the councils to embrace a performance culture in every area of their intervention.

“The good thing with Kasungu is that they comply with the principle of delivering a complete service package which we have always encouraged. This entails that once projects are completed, they should be functional.”

The paying clinic which is expected to be completed by December 31 this year, will have an Out-patient Department and an admission ward replete with self-contained rooms, laboratory, staff lounge, pharmacy, radiography and a car park, among other specifications.

By: Vida Msiyo

Blantyre, October 21, Mana:  Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Youth Chairperson for Ndirande Malabada Constituency, Mavuto Chimwaza was laid rest on Monday at HHI cemetery in Blantyre.

Minister of Information and Digitalization, Moses Kunkuyu condoled with the bereaved family, MCP members, the youths and all that befriended Chimwaza popularly known as Shushe. 

He thanked the MCP leadership for its support during the funeral of Chimwaza who was found dead at his house on Saturday.

There was somber mood as the body of the deceased arrived at Nyambadwe School Ground for prayers.

“We are all deeply disturbed by what has happened, but I assure you that the truth will be uncovered,” Kunkuyu said.

He likened the situation to the biblical story of Jesus, where people only recognized his true identity after his death.

The Minister further condemned any celebration over the tragedy, stressing the importance of maintaining humanity, despite political or religious differences.

“We are losing our humanity when we celebrate the suffering of others because they belong to a different political party or religion, it is inhumane to be happy in such circumstances,” he said.

Kunkuyu urged all Malawians to embrace love and unity, regardless of their political affiliations.

He also thanked the various political parties that were present at the funeral for showing support.

Speaking at the same funeral, Director of Youth and Member of Parliament for Lilongwe South East, Steve Baba Malondera described the death of Chimwaza as a shock.

“It is a shock to the party and I urge all party followers to remain calm up until everything is sorted out,” he said.

Chimwaza was born in 1975 and was said to have served MCP with dedication and passionate.

By Zexon Yohane Banda

Lilongwe, October 22, Mana: Government has communities needs to adopt improved hygiene practices and construct improved latrines and use them.

Minister of Water and Sanitation, Abida Mia made the remarks Monday during the launch of Sanitation week and commemoration of Global Hand Washing Day at Chinsapo UNICEF ground in Lilongwe.

She said communities need to install had washing facilities, use them and manage their waste properly.

Mia noted that for the past two years, the country struggled to contain Cholera and one of the solutions to combat such diseases was washing hands.

“Most places have turned into solid waste dumpsites, this put all in danger of getting Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) related diseases,” she observed.

Mia called for massive investments to enhance progress in sanitation and hygiene.

The Minister appealed all communities to join hands in observing this week and there.

“There is need for intervention that will ensure increased access to safely managed sanitation for all Malawians,” she said.

Mia said good sanitation and hygiene practices should be lifestyle both during the week and beyond.  

She disclosed that during there would be several activities aimed at raising awareness

WASH Non- Governmental organization (NGO) representative, Willies Mwandira promised to work together with the Ministry in order to improve sanitation and hygiene activities in the country.

He said good sanitation and hygiene translates into proper development agenda hence the need for collaborative efforts in strengthening them.

Member of Parliament for Lilongwe city west, George Zulu asked for proper waste management saying others are making a living from waste products.

He encouraged the communities to make sure that their waste products are managed in such a way that they can be turned in to manure.

Zulu advised them that, “You should wash your hands with soap before eating and not washing hands with soap after beating. The most important things to do away with germs is before eating you need to clean your hand with soap.”

Traditional Authority (TA) Malili said washing hands remains essential to every community in order to avoid the further spread of WASH related diseases.

He said during this season of Mangoes, there was need to trade carefully saying washing them before eating would remain ideal.  

Every year the world commemorates Global Handwashing Day on October 15.