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Chiefs’ houses to be built at chieftaincy headquarters
By Chisomo Kambandanga
Nkhata Bay, October 15, Mana: District Commissioner for Nkhata Bay, Rodgers Newa has advised chiefs in the district to ensure that chiefs’ houses which are being built by government are located a neutral piece’s land for easy transition of the same to their successors.
Speaking on Monday during a full council meeting, Newa stated that the houses currently being built by the government through the Ministry of Local Government, Unity, and Culture are intended for chieftaincies, not for individual usage.
"Previously, some houses were not built at the headquarters of particular chieftaincies but at a particular home of the one on the chieftaincy position hence resulting in personalization of such houses, yet in actual sense the houses were for the chieftaincy.
“Let me emphasize that the policy of government is that the house belongs to a chief’s jurisdiction to the extent that when one ceases to be a chief in that area, the succeeding chief should occupy it. These government houses hence should be built on neutral land preferably at the chieftaincy headquarters," Newa said.
According to Newa, fours houses at the tune of MK341 million are being built for senior chiefs Timbiri, Mkumbira, Fukamapiri and Traditional Authority M’bwana and are all at roofing stage.
He therefore assured the remaining chiefs that government will soon embark on another house construction phase targeting a good number of chiefs until all chiefs are covered.
Senior Chiefs Fukamapiri commended government for the initiative which he said would contribute toward chiefs’ welfare.
Youths in Thyolo embrace climate action through CS-EPWP
By Dalitso Kampira
Thyolo, October 15, Mana: Youths in Thyolo district have expressed their continuous participation in Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) that empowers communities to take active roles in issues of environmental conservation and other climate smart agricultural activities for sustainable livelihood.
Many young participants in the district mentioned that their involvement has provided opportunities to build their environmental awareness, leading them to embrace agroforestry and other sustainable farming practices.
19-year-old Milca Chikwakwa, from Msuwati catchment, Delule village, Traditional Authority Bvumbwe in an interview on Monday said that she acquired new skills that will forever remain in her.
“We are learning modern farming techniques, such as swales and marker ridges and check dams which regulates flow of water and also improve soil fertility to increase our yields.
“These are techniques that we will always utilize as we are growing up. This will help us to break hunger and poverty cycles in our respective families,” said Chikwakwa.
She added that youth’s participation in CS-EPWP keeps them engaged and they become productive, distracting them from life threatening behaviours.
"We spend better part of the morning working in our hotspots, giving us no room to involve ourselves in unbecoming behaviours,” added Chikwakwa.
Another participant, Gift Njaya said that CE-EPWP capacitates the youth with knowledge on issues of climate change, which has affected all ages of the population including the youths.
“We are witnessing benefits of environmental conservation right before our eyes. We can see how Climate Smart Enhance Public Works Programme interventions are truly changing our community.
"Techniques such as swales and stone bunds prove to be crucial for sustainable farming,” the young man added.
A youthful foreman at the same catchment. Felix Machete noted that the programme has shifted the mindset of many youths from being spectators of development activities to active participants.
“This programme is a game changer. We are adopting new innovative farming and conservation methods such that the youth are eager for more involvement,” said Machete.
Machete also urged his peers to participate in climate smart activities to prove that youths are responsible citizens.
Thyolo District Youth Officer, Blessings Major emphasized the importance of engaging the youth in climate-smart initiatives and other community level development activities.
“Involving youths in this programme is not just beneficial for today; this is an investment for the future. As future leaders, the youth must understand that their actions today will have long-lasting consequences,” added Major.
Funded by the World Bank and the Social Protection Multi-Donor Trust, CS-EPWP is being implemented in 18 catchments in Thyolo with over 18,000 participants in various climate smart activities.
Thyolo District Council takes action to curb street vending
By Dalitso Kampira
Thyolo, October 15, Mana: Thyolo District Council has recruited ten market rangers that will be patrolling the Boma area to stop vendors from selling their merchandise in the street and other undesignated place.
The rangers signed contracts and will work according to the council wish to stop vending along roads at the Boma at the expense of revenue mobilization, which is mostly affected, by the vending outside designated market places.
Thyolo District Commissioner, Hudson Kuphanga told Malawi News recently during clean up exercise that the council does not tolerate street vending hence recruitment of rangers to deal with the problem once and for all.
“To curb street vending, we have employed ten market rangers to maintain order among vendors conducting business along the streets and on council premises. These rangers will begin their duties soon,” Kuphanga said, adding that the council will continue with cleaning exercise and will not allow vending induced littering.
He noted that the proliferation of vendors on the streets in undesignated premises promotes littering thereby posing serious health risks to the community.
“We have repeatedly advised the vendors to relocate to the market, but they have defied the orders. We are going to enforce the law and remove them from the streets,” he added.
Kuphanga also noted poor state of the drainage system, which has been blocked by waste, and announced plans to clean the drains.
“We are closely monitoring the situation to prevent disease outbreaks such as cholera. Cleaning the drainage system and relocating vendors into the market are key steps we are taking to protect the public from diseases,” he said.
Thyolo Modern Market Chairperson, Evance Kachingwe, acknowledged the street vending, saying this has been a problem for a long time.
“This issue has been there for a long time; we will support the council to ensure that the vendors are relocated into the market.
“The market has enough space to accommodate those that are currently operating along the streets and near hospital premises,” Kachingwe added.
Thyolo District Council’s Acting Director of Environment and Natural Resources, Mirriam Yona, said the initiation was ideal and relevant, saying this will ensure order and cleanliness at the boma.
NEEF commits to empower smallholder farmers in agriculture commercialisation
By Mary Sichali
Karonga, October 14, Mana: The National Economic Empowermemt Fund (NEEF) has said it aims to disburse MK70 billion as Farm Input Loans (FIL) targeting 70,000 farmers national wide.
Speaking on Monday in Karonga during a NEEF engagememt meeting with Karonga Agriculture Development Division (ADD) officers, Wakisa Mwelefe Kalolokesha, Head of Operations at NEEF said they are working with small holder farmers to enable them to embrace farming as business.
“We want to give them FILs, an opportunity that will elevate them from subsistence farming where the focus was on Affordable Input Program (AIP) to commercial farming,” said Kalolokesha.
He added that the intervention will aid the achievement of a minimum national food security by adding an approximate of 1.4 Million Metric Tonnes to the national production, which represents 39 percent contribution.
“NEEF Intends to offer FILs to categories of farmers’ groupings of (five -ten people) or individuals who own not less than five acres with a minimum loan of MK1 million and a maximum of MK250 million to those who own mega farms to achieve the targets of our intervention,” said Kalolokesha.
He further said that they have partnered with Cooperative Insurance Company (CIC) and the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure effective implementation of the program.
On his part, Jimmy Nkhata, Customer Executive Officer for CIC said they are working hand in hand with NEEF to help farmers become aware on the use of loan insurance policies.
“We have partnered with stakeholders to sensitize farmers to enhance their understanding of collateral insurance to mitigate controllable risk factors that may lead to deliberate defaulting,” Nkhata said.
Davie Makavalo, Senior Agribusiness Officer for Karonga ADD said they are providing technical expertise to NEEF where their core duty is to measure and approve land size and provide agricultural production estimates to match with NEEF’s expectation.
“We will also collect data to verify how the farmers are progressing and register farmers according to the Extension Planning Area (EPA). This will assist NEEF to have control of every loan applicant,” said Makavalo.
The disbursement process of the loans for 2024-2025 is currently in progress and it is expected to end in December,2024.
Nigeria's AFCON Qualifier Against Libya Descends into Chaos
By Patience Kapinda
Lilongwe, October 15, Mana: The highly anticipated Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier between Nigeria and Libya took a dramatic turn on Monday when Nigeria's squad was left stranded at an airport in Libya for hours without basic necessities.
As the team arrived at Al-Abraq Airport, they were shocked to discover that their chartered flight had been diverted from Benghazi, the original destination.
The players and officials were prevented from leaving the airport, sparking widespread outrage.
"We've experienced stuff before playing away in Africa, but this is disgraceful behavior. Even the Tunisian pilot who managed to navigate the last-minute change to an airport not fit for our plane to land had never seen something like this before,” Nigeria's captain, William Troost-Ekong, posted on social media.
Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi alleged that the team was being held hostage.
"This is not football. Very embarrassing. Hostage to a national team. Disgrace," he posted on Instagram.
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) quickly sprang into action, announcing that the team would boycott the match in protest.
"The delegation of Nigeria to Tuesday's 2025 AFCON qualifier against Libya still remained at the Al-Abraq Airport 12 hours after landing in Libya," the NFF stated.
Libya had previously alleged "poor treatment" during the reverse fixture in Nigeria, claims that were rejected by the NFF.
However, the latest incident has raised serious concerns about player safety and the organization of AFCON qualifiers.
Nigeria's victory over Libya on Friday had put them top of their group, six points clear of their opponents.
But now, the postponement has cast a shadow over the team's progress.
"This is unacceptable and a clear violation of player rights," said Victor Osimhen, Nigeria talisman. "We stand with our players and demand immediate action from CAF."
The incident has sparked calls for an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the postponement.
CAF and FIFA have been urged to take swift action to ensure player safety and prevent similar incidents in the future.
Insurance company awards clearing agents at Songwe Border
By George Mponda
Karonga, October 15, Mana: CIC insurance group has awarded clearing agents who brought in high Gross Written Premium (GWP) to the company at Songwe Border in Karonga.
Speaking Monday at the award ceremony at the border, CIC Business Development Manager for Corporatives, Kiernan Banda, said GWP was mainly from car importers who bought insurance policies at their company.
"The desire for our products at Songwe Border inspired us to award clearing agents who brought in the highest GWP.
"At CIC we are in the business of selling claims as such we are happy when more customers, especially here at Songwe Border, approach us. This is why we decided to award clearing agents who achieved the highest target in premiums set from March 1 to June 30, 2024,” he said.
According to Banda, the first winner performed well by bringing GWP of K6,700,000 and was given a coffee table and a K125,000 shopping voucher, the runner up brought in K4,500,000 and received same prize as first winner.
On the third place, the agent brought in K2,100,000 and received a coffee table while the last one brought in K1,1000,000 and was given a jersey of his favourite team and a K100,000 shopping voucher."
Banda added that customers and clearing agents should expect them to continue delivering exceptional services as they will not run away from claims made.
Combine Cargo Transit Clerk who scooped the top award, Stanley Zambasa, said they have a lot of customers who import cars and CIC is their go to company.
"We strive to satisfy the needs of our customers at Songwe Border and because of this, more customers trust us, that’s how I managed to rake in K6,700,000 in GWP at CIC insurance which is also a reliable company,” said Zambasa.
CDF has potential to transform rural areas – Mwalwanda
By George Mponda
Karonga, October 15, Mana: Member of Parliament (MP) for Karonga Central Constituency, Leonard Mwalwanda, says proper utilization of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) has potential to bring modern structures in rural areas.
Speaking with Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Monday at Mlare Primary School where a K15, 000,000 headteacher’s house was constructed using CDF, Mwalwanda commended government for CDF which, he said, has transformed rural areas.
He, therefore, called upon leaders to make diligent use of the funds in order to improve people’s lives.
“If some constituencies are lagging behind in development it is due to bad leadership. Government is giving us enough resources for development of our constituencies which is very commendable,” he said.
He appealed to community members to be active in demanding development projects they want.
According to Mwalwanda, having a good working relationship amongst MPs, ward councillors and the community is vital for the successful implementation of CDF projects.
Headteacher for Mlare Primary School, Golden Mwenelupembe, said construction of teachers houses is a motivating factor which will improve results.
"Most teachers live in dire conditions, but with the construction of houses such as the one I am living in now, we will strive to give back to the community by ensuring learners get quality education and good results," Mwenelupembe said.
School Management Committee Chairperson, Mapunda Mwalwanda, said a lot of MPs had been in the area but most of them never used CDF to construct modern structures.
"We helped bringing sand, water and clearing the land where this house was built. As you can see, this is a very beautiful house which is a great improvement at our school,” he said.
Each constituency is allocated K200,000,000 for implementation of various projects.
Chakwera appeals for prudence in social protection initiatives
By Salome Gangire
Neno, October 14, Mana: President Dr Lazarus Chakwera on Monday launched the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) for the 2024/2025 farming season in Neno District with a call to beneficiaries of various social protection interventions to utilise the initiatives with prudence.
Speaking at Dzundu Primary School in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Symon, Chakwera said this year’s programme targets small holder farmers who have land and are productive.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensure Malawians are food secure by supporting them with affordable inputs; hence, the continuation of the programme.
“In the past the programme was targeting people randomly and was not achieving its purpose as some of the people that were benefiting had no land and were selling the farm inputs,” he said.
He said the programme will from now onwards be targeting productive small holder farmers who have labour and can produce more food.
Chakwera said those without labour and land will be incorporated in other government safety nets according to their abilities and those not benefiting from AIP will benefit in other programmes.
He said government is aware that some Malawians are facing hunger as they did not harvest enough food due to the dry spell induced by climate change.
“No one should cheat you that Chakwera will not help you. Government will help you as some have benefited from AIP, others are benefiting from Social Cash Transfer and NEEF loans,” he said.
He, therefore, asked Malawians to love one another and not be greedy by benefiting from multiple programmes but give a chance to others to also benefit.
Minister of Agriculture, Sam Kawale, said everything is in place for this year’s AIP, as the ministry has contracted 77 transporters to ferry the inputs to different selling points across the country.
Kawale said each constituency will have two selling points with each having mobile satellite depots across the constituency.
“On network, we are working with ESCOM to make sure fibre is working properly so that the programme doesn’t face challenges in its implementation,” Kawale said.
He said government through other partners has mobilised over K1 trillion for agricultural development to ensure the country achieves the Malawi 2063 of having productive and commercially driven agriculture sector.
Kawale said government is taking AIP as a first step towards mega farms where they expect a person who has received two bags to multiply it using Mbeya manure so that they transition from AIP to mega farms.
A total of 1,048,445 productive farmers nationwide are expected to benefit from AIP in the 2024/2025 season with each benefiting with farming inputs of 50 kilogrammes of UREA and CAN of which 6,500 farmers are benefiting with livestock (goats).
DC appeals for dedication to public service
By Beatrice Bangula
Blantyre, October 14, Mana: District Commissioner (DC) for Blantyre, Alex Mdooko, has appealed to staff at Blantyre District Council to embrace team work and hard work in order to effectively serve the public in the district.
He was speaking Monday at Palm Valley in Blantyre during a five-day review meeting for district planning and implementation support team and departmental heads for the Council.
Mdooko said team work and hard work are key to achieving the country's development aspirations.
"All sectors should be able to ask themselves if they have delivered as we are reflecting what every sector has done. At the end of every month, ask yourself if you have done well or not.
"Let's dedicate ourselves to duty by making sure all projects are implemented on time. Projects should not take longer than expected; we should not deliberately delay them, let's work hard in unity to serve the people," he said.
BCC Director of Planning and Development, Melayi Mhone, said the meeting is important as it will help in assessing progress, identifying gaps and plan for areas requiring improvement.
"Every head of department is presenting what they have done, challenges faced and lessons learnt. By the end of this meeting, we will be able to know achievements and challenges by departments. Moving forward, we will be able to know what needs to be done," she said.
Blantyre Desk Officer for Transforming Agriculture Through Diversification and Entrepreneurship (TRADE), John Nyangu, said the meeting will assist in getting insights from members, developing a work plan and plan for the next implementation period.
The review meeting has been financially supported by TRADE.
Blantyre City Council call for action against street vending
By Agatha Kadzinje
Blantyre October 14, Mana; Blantyre City Council (BCC) has called upon residents and stakeholders to join hands in combating street vending in the city.
BCC Chief Executive Officer, Dennis Chinsewu, told Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Monday that there is excessive street vending in the city such that the Council consistently enforces relocation of street vendors to market places.
He, therefore, asked residents to desist buying from street vendors if the city is to be kept clean.
“In addition, people that are selling items along the roads do not have passion for their city because most of them end up littering as well as causing congestion,” he said.
Chimseu said there is enough space to accommodate every seller at Blantyre Market and it is unfortunate that street vendors choose to sell along the streets.
He disclosed that the Council is losing a lot of revenue because of Peak Street vending in the city.
Blantyre Central Market Chairperson, Black Binya, told MANA in a separate interview that the rise in street vending is killing business in the main market.
Binya added that vending outside the market is “unfair trading technique” that the street vendors employ to capture buyers before they go into the main market.
He believes that there is enough space in the market to accommodate every seller including those doing business in the street.
“It is surprising that some people choose to sell outside the market. The Council should use its powers to bring the vendors back to the market,” he said.
Binya feared that more vendors will opt to sell along the streets if the Council fail to move them from streets.
One of the street sellers, Elitaniya Ntawali from Mbayani Township said she opted to sell along the streets to capture buyers before they chose to go to the main market.
Ntawali explained her reluctance to relocate to the market, believing she sells more along the streets that in the main market.
“Most people don't go to the main market. l experienced this when I had a stall there. I, therefore, decided to move my business to the roadside to increase sales,” she explained.
