MANAonline
National Children's Commission appeals for financial support
By Sellah Singini
Lilongwe, October 02, Mana: National Children's Commission ( NCC) has appealed for financial support from partners and stakeholders to assist the commission in its institutionalisation and the discharge of its mandate.
Commissioner Julia Chimuna who is one of the commissioners of NCC appealed on Wednesday in Lilongwe during the stakeholder’s engagement meeting between the commissioners for the NCC and stakeholders from government and Non- Government Organizations (NGO’s).
Chimuna said, currently the commission is looking for almost three billion Kwacha for its operations.
She said the money raised will help the commission in discharging its mandate and making sure that it serves children in the country effectively and elevates their lives.
"The three billion will be divided into two parts. The first part is the institutionalisation of the commission and two billion kwacha is needed for that. The second one is specifically focusing on discharging of the commission's mandate, which is for the next six months and one billion kwacha is needed for that,” Chimuna said.
"The figure appears quite huge, but when we look at the issues that are in the children's sector right now, they're very bad. And also Malawi is rated poorly in terms of Children's Services," she added.
In his remarks, Deputy Director for Child Affairs in the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Justin Hamela said the commission will help in the coordination, enforcement and also holding different partners accountable in the delivery of services towards children.
"As you are aware, what led to the establish of the commission is the motion that was raised in parliament where it acknowledged the challenges that children are facing, but also limited services that are there to offer different kinds of services to children,
"so we look at it as a very important institution that would help and support the ministry in providing necessary services to children, " He said.
Hamela added that there is a need for more resources for the actual services at council level, where children are usually available and they are looking for such kinds of services.
Over 1.6 billion disbursed in single phase of SCTP in Nsanje
By Robert Nayeja
Nsanje, October 2, Mana: Over K1.6 billion has been disbursed to 7,000 households in a single phase of Malawi Government, Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) in Nsanje District as recipients receive K225,000 above according to family size and status of members.
Nsanje District Commissioner, Dominic Mwandira confirmed on Wednesday to Malawi News Agency, saying the just-ended cycle saw households receiving K225,000 while others received more.
“Other beneficiaries received K225,00o while others received as much as K300,000 per cycle," he added and advised the recipients to utilize the money wisely and invest where possible.
“Government has pumped in a lot of resources in various programmes including the Social Cash Transfer Programme," he added
Social Welfare Officer responsible for Social Cash Transfer Programme, Abdulrazack Duwa said despite that the new beneficiaries in the SCTP have only received the cash twice, there was positive feedback from the recipients.
“Some bought food, others have bought iron sheets, and some are investing the money in Village Savings and Loan,” he added and expressed optimism that life of the beneficiary households would improve as some of them were becoming economically self-reliant.
The disparity in cash among recipients occurs due to several factors that include household size and rate of vulnerability, according to Duwa
Nsanje District so far enrolled 7,000 households in the Social Cash Transfer Programme, a Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Project in Malawi which is meant to improve resilience among the poor and vulnerable population.
The SCTP is also meant to strengthen the national platform for safety nets.
Miss Culture appeals for donations to orphanages
By Joseph Mtendere Ligowe
Blantyre, 2 October, Mana; One of the finalists top ten Miss Culture Malawi, Esnath Natasha Muyenza appeals to people of goodwill and organizations to help her to raise financial resources and materials to enable her to donate to children in orphanages and other people in need of attention.
She told Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Tuesday that philanthropy was one of the requirements for the contestants in the Miss Culture Malawi to prove that contenders have the heart to give back to society.
“I am looking for any kind of donations such as sanitary pads, clothes, stationery, school bags, maize and rice just to mention a few,” she added.
Muyenza also added contenders in Missi Culture Malawi introduced the culture of reaching out to the vulnerable among them children in dire need of support to ensure they feel part of the community.
“Only orphanages and foundations will benefit from this initiative,” she assured would-be donors to her course.
Director of Courageous Kids Orphanage, Courageous Musasa said that they welcome Muyenza’s call and philanthropic intention, saying the intended donation will complement orphanages mission of caring for needy children.
“I thank Miss Culture Malawi for this initiative and in particular, Esnart for putting our foundation on the list of beneficial of donations and I am optimistic that this initiative will reduce the burden we have in most orphanages,” said Musasa.
All set for Mulhako Wa Alhomwe annual festival
By Pempho Nkhoma
Blantyre, October 2, Mana: Organizers of Mulhako Wa Alhomwe Annual Cultural Festival have confirmed that all is set for this year’s event scheduled for Friday 4th to Sunday 6th October at Chonde Cultural Village in Mulanje.
The event brings together Lhomwe people from within and outside Malawi to promote and preserve culture and this year’s gathering will be celebrated under the theme; United for a Common Purpose.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Tuesday, one of the organizers, Jubeck Monjeza, said the cultural festival is important to the nation as it brings unity among people of different tribes.
“We have invited people from different ethnic groups within Malawi and other countries including Zambia, Mozambique and South Africa,” he said, adding the festival preparations were in final stages.
“This year’s Mulhako will be different from previous editions as we keep on bringing in new things every year. We have added other Lhomwe foods that were not there in the past,” he added.
Monjeza therefore appealed to people, regardless of their tribe to patronize the event in large numbers and assured them that there will be tight security to ensure order.
Apart from Lhomwe traditional dances, patrons will also enjoy dances from other ethnic groups that were invited to attend the festival.
Monjeza disclosed that there will also will be music from DJ Moda and performance by Chancy Namoyo and Austin Sikelemu, among others.
Namoyo has confirmed that he will perform at the event and assured music lovers of maximum entertainment.
The Mulhako Wa Alhomwe annual festival provides a platform to showcase diverse aspects of Lhomwe tradition, history, music, dance, craft and cuisine.
At Mulhako Wa Alhomwe festival, attendees have the privilege to taste and appreciate a variety of Lhomwe food including Kalingonda and Makaka (dry cassava) and traditional local brewery of medicinal, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks such as nthubulo, masese and kachasu among others.
Paramount Chief Gomani assures police of chief support
By Maston Kaiya
Ntcheu, October 2, Mana: Paramount Chief Gomani V of Ntcheu has assured police that the chiefs in the district will work hand in hand with the law enforcers to ensure that Ntcheu is a safe place to stay.
Paramount Chief Gomani V made the remarks on Tuesday during an interface meeting with Ntcheu Police on how the chiefs and police can combat crime in the district.
"I want to assure the police that as Maseko Ngoni Chief, I always want my people to be safe and protected from murder and all other criminal-related activities," said Gomani disclosing that he will encourage all his subordinates to take a leading role in sensitizing people against the vice in all the traditional and sub traditional authorities in the district.
Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani V appealed to the police to establish vibrant community policing forums as another way of combatting crime in the communities.
Officer-In-Charge for Ntcheu Police Assistant Commissioner Isaiah Mlowoka lamented the increase in suicide and murder cases in the district.
Mlowoka observed that although his office is sensitizing the communities, conducting school and church outreaches, and apprehending suspected criminals, still such cases are on the increase.
From January to September 2023, Ntcheu Police Station recorded 23 murder cases while in 2024 the station recorded 26 murder cases during the same period.
According to the police, most cases emanate from land disputes as well as mob justice.
JCM Power uplifts education and livelihood of community members
By Fostina Mkandawire and Lekereni Chinkhota
Salima, October 2, Mana: JCM Power has embarked on a project to construct a secondary school in Group Village Headman Kanzimbe in Salima district to promote education in the area and ease accessibility of quality education under their corporate social responsibility initiative.
Speaking during an inspection of the development on Wednesday, Community Liaison Officer for JCM Power, Levison Masamba said so far two classroom blocks and toilets have been constructed at the site.
He said after noticing the challenge that children were facing in the area to access quality education, the company thought it wise to assist with the school.
"Students from this community are travelling long distances almost 15 kilometres from here to access nearby secondary schools ," he said.
He added: "The community unanimously agreed to have a secondary school constructed in the area, to promote accessibility of education and to increase the number of students accessing secondary education in the area."
Masamba added that the company plans to add more classroom blocks in due course and other education facilities to provide the best education to the students of the community.
"We have now constructed classroom blocks and toilets and plan to construct teacher's houses by next year. This year we will also be procuring desks for the school,” he said.
JCM Power has done several restoration activities to the benefit of the community including compensating the locals to buy new land, tractors to plough the new land, provision of needed fertilizer, soil testing and provision of livestock to enable households meet their needs.
Principal Education Officer for Salima District Education Office, Eliam Banda commended JCM power for the initiative, citing that long distance to access education was a challenge for students in the area.
"We appreciate such initiatives which show that stakeholders are taking interest in promoting education in the district. Government appreciates efforts from stakeholders because good collaboration and coordination yields more fruits," he said.
The newly constructed school blocks and toilets are worth K114 million.
The opening of the school will depend on when the education division office will select students to commence classes at the school.
New school block motivates learners
By Andrew Mkonda
Lilongwe, September 17, Mana: Head-teacher for Mlodzezi primary school in Traditional Authority Chadza, Rapheal Nyondo has hailed Lilongwe district council for constructing a modern school block at the school worth K37 million saying this will help to increase enrolment at the school.
Nyondo was speaking on Monday, when officials from Lilongwe district council and the media visited the project to appreciate its progress.
“This school was constructed a long time ago. Some of the old school blocks were constructed by parents from this area. So, having this modern school block here is a morale booster to our learners,” he said.
He further said before the new school block was constructed, the enrolment was very low, but now the school has over 1500 learners.
The head-teacher, however, asked other well-wishers to continue assisting the school saying it still needs additional blocks and teacher’s houses.
Speaking in a separate interview Chairperson for Mlodzezi primary school, Jim Kabekele said the classroom block has come at the right time when the learners were learning under trees due to lack of school blocks.
“Let me take this opportunity to thank government for the different developments that it is undertaking in the area, including at this school. This is what we have been looking for, for so many years,” he said.
Kabekele then urged parents and learners to take good care of the infrastructure so that it benefits even the generation to come.
He then urged other well-wishers to emulate what the council has done through District Development Fund (DDF) by supporting the council so that it achieves its dream of transforming the learning environment in different schools in the district.
Lilongwe District Director of Public Works Sydney Chiphaka said it is the wish of the council to transform the learning environment of many schools in the district by constructing modern infrastructure.
“I can assure you, we will reach out to all schools that do not have proper structure suitable for learning through different interventions,” he said.
The K37 million Mlodzezi classroom block has been constructed with District Development Fund (DDF).
Minister of Tourism calls for mindset change by agencies
By Bishop Witmos
Mangochi, October 2, Mana: Minister of Tourism, Vera Kamtukule challenged government and private sectors to be at the helm of propelling the attainment of the country’s development blue-print of Malawi 2063 vision.
Speaking during the Leadership Summit at Sunbird Nkopola in Mangochi this week Kamtukule said that the realisation of Malawi's 2063 development agenda cannot be achieved if public and private sectors fail to embrace mindset change.
She therefore asked government and private sectors to align their strategic plans in line with Agriculture, Tourism and Mining (ATM) strategy.
‘‘Realisation of aspirations of 2063 Malawi development agenda will not be accomplished if government is working in isolation. Each one of us, both the government and private sector, must align themselves to 2063 through agriculture, tourism and mining to move towards transformation.’
‘‘Let us focus on ourselves as we want to become a middle-income economy. For us to achieve that we need everyone on board,’ she said.
Kamtukule however expressed satisfaction with progress of the Malawi Implementation (MIP-1) for the first five years by both government agencies as well as private sector, saying they are making strides.
‘‘As government, we feel that we are on the right track during the five years of MIP-1, but a lot also needs to be done if the desired outcomes are to be realized,’’ she said.
The leadership conference was organized by Wealth Magazine, a local entrepreneur and business marketing publication, under a theme, Aligning ATM strategy towards Malawi 2063: the leadership perspective’.
In his remarks, Head of Research at National Planning Commission (NAC) Andrew Jamali said it was pleasing to note that alignment of Malawi strategies was taking shape.
‘‘As a commission, we are happy that Malawi has set goals and that our strategies are taking shape. That is what we want,’’ said Jamali.
Wealth Magazine, Executive Manager, Harry Chima urged technocrats to share knowledge and skills to push the ATM strategy and the Malawi 2063 aspirations forward.
Over 500 heads of government agencies and the private sector attended the conference.
Museums and Monuments promoting education and tourism
By Pickson Chipeso
Lilongwe, October 2, Mana: Deputy Director for Museums and Monuments responsible for Education and Outreach services in the Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture, Yohane Edward Nyirenda has said it’s high time the country started investing in museums and monuments as they are a center of education and tourism.
Speaking in an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Tuesday, Nyirenda said museums and monuments have exhibitions for the People to see as they are education resources.
"These provide some insights into Malawi`s history, art as well as natural heritage which fosters understanding and appreciation about our country" he said.
Nyirenda said Museums and monuments collaborate with education institutions for research and have some of memorandum of understanding (Mou)with Universities in Malawi like Mzuzu and Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST)
He said museums and monuments involve the local community in its programming which fosters social cohesion and encourages participation of people in heritage and cultural events.
Traditional Authority (T/A) Kambwiri of Salima said Museums are helping on development through tourism because it attracts tourists and help to keep Malawi`s history for the coming generation.
Word springs Youth Ministry to hold a youth conference
By Vida Msiyo
Blantyre, October 2, Mana: A youth conference aimed at achieving holistic empowerment organized by Word springs Youth Ministry, will take place on October 5 at Golden Peacock Hotel in Blantyre.
One of the organizers for this conference, Felix Chayang'ana, said in an interview on Wednesday that the event aims to cultivate youth with a strong foundation in the word of God, equipping them with the skills and knowledge they need to become effective leaders and make a positive impact on their communities.
“We believe the word of God offers solutions to all challenges we face, whether in relationships, finances or finding true satisfaction which only comes through Jesus. The conference will enlighten us of the path to follow as youths so that we can have positive impacts in this world,” Chayang’ana said.
He continued to say attendees will also enjoy a diverse range of activities, including music, praise and worship and a performance by one of Malawi’s top gospel artists who will mesmerize the day.
“We will have Paul Kachala on this day as our guest artist. He will take us to great levels just like he always does when it comes to worshiping the Lord. Twinlight, Musicforth, Chigo, and a spoken word session by Brave will be among the highlights,” He added.
Brave Louis Lobe, popularly known as Brave, who is among the performers and will entertain attendees with his spoken words, said he is so excited about the event, and he has promised to deliver the best.
“I am deeply grateful for this opportunity. With anticipation, I look forward to sharing my words at this event knowing that each performance is a sacred chance to grow and offer more in service to the Lord. I trust this event will be a powerful experience of upliftment and grace and I cannot wait to be part of it,” he said.
The event promises a day of spiritual growth and practical life lessons under the theme ‘Jesus is the Real Satisfaction (JITRES)’.
A raffle draw with exciting prizes, including a laptop, hotplate, kettle and shopping vouchers will also be part of the event. Raffle tickets are available for K2,500.
