By Zenak Matekenya

Dedza, September 9, Mana: Clement Mulombwa, the Leader of Members of Parliament (MPs) for Dedza and representative of Dedza South West Constituency, has criticized the district's councilors for postponing a MK4.2 million Dedza District Council meeting, which was adjourned to a later date due to the absence of MPs.

He made the remarks in an interview on Monday after the adjournment of the meeting whose agenda included the district’s lean season response.

Councilor for Mulundini Ward, David Benson asked the house to adjourn the meeting expressing concern over parliamentarians' failure to show up despite the previous meeting’s postponement from Friday, September 6, 2024, to Monday, September 9, 2024, to accommodate the MPs.

Speaking in an interview, Dedza District Council chair Stanley Manase said the house felt that the lean response item on the agenda was sensitive and needed the presence of MPs.

“Although we met the quorum, the house has agreed to postpone the meeting because there is an issue of relief food to be distributed to communities. The fear is that the MPs might have a contrary view of what can be agreed today,” he said.

In reaction, MP Mulombwa acknowledged that the parliamentarians received the full council invitation and in response proposed Monday or Wednesday for them to attend because parliament is in session.

He said the engagements at parliament still made it challenging for the MPs to show up on Monday saying each one of them belongs to at least two parliamentary committees where they face other commitments.

He added that when parliament is in session it is a requirement for every MP to reside in Lilongwe even during a weekend.

Mulombwa described the councilors' excuse as baseless saying full council meetings have taken place prior in the absence of all the MPs.

He therefore said standing orders are clear that the meeting is considered valid when the quorum is met.

“They are serving their own interests than those of the people because we never gave any directive that they should not meet in our absence. Last time, they demanded an adjournment, insisting on meeting the DC in private first,” said Mulombwa.

He said it’s sad that about MK 4.2 million has gone under the drain while people in the village are suffering from hunger.

Dedza District Civil Society Organization Chairperson Osborn Nyirongo expressed frustration with the development.

He said the full council exists to discuss pertinent issues that affect people and failure to hold such meetings as scheduled delays projects and affects the rural masses.

He urged the MPs and the councilors to improve their communication for the benefit of the people arguing that if proper communication had been made between the two parties’ likely the meeting could have taken place.

“It seems all councilors had no idea of what happened to their MP for them not to come,” he said.

Senior Chief Kachindamoto said it is important for every member of the house to be present during deliberations because it is a requirement in the line of serving the communities.

By Andrew Mkonda

Lilongwe, September 9, Mana: Lilongwe District Council says there is need to rehabilitate houses for Field Agriculture Assistants in all Extension Planning Area (EPAs) across the district in order to improve agricultural services.

Chairperson for Agriculture Service Committee, Councilor Matias Kamvala made the call on Monday during a full council meeting saying many of the Agriculture Field Assistants operate far from their working areas due to lack of proper accommodation.

“This country depends much on agriculture, but what we have seen is that there is no proper communication between the farmers and Agriculture Field Assistants in terms of guidance in their fields, which is bad,” he said.

He noted that many farmers are not aware of the modern farming practices because they are not taught by the Field Assistants, hence contributing to poor harvest.

Commenting on the matter, Senior Chief Kalumbu said apart from rehabilitating Field Assistant's houses, there is also a need to revamp dip tanks that were used for treating livestock from different diseases and parasites.

“This country used to have healthy cattle in the past because it was treated instantly whenever a certain outbreak like Newcastle affects the livestock,” he said.

Speaking in a separate interview, Lilongwe District Director of Agriculture Services Ezara Mbendera said the issue of housing for the Field Assistants is a big challenge to the agriculture sector as the houses in the rural areas are in a dilapidated state.

“I am so happy that this issue is coming out from councilors, traditional leaders and Members of Parliament because these are the owners of the development.

“So that means whenever we have a funding window where we can tap resources for the rehabilitation of houses they should be able to support agriculture-related projects such as rehabilitation of Field Assistants,” he said.

On the rehabilitation of dip tanks, Mbendera said dip tanks have the potential to improve livestock production in the district and the entire country saying currently, Assistant Veterinary Officers just move around to treat livestock either through spraying or other means.

By Maston Kaiya

Ntcheu, September 9, Mana: For Malawi 2063 vision to be achieved, it requires a human resource that is driven by skills development processes in the formal and informal sector, this is according to the Technical Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA).

The institution’s board chairperson, Pyoka Tembo said the major purpose of TEVETA is to contribute to human resource development through sustainable skills training and development.

“It is a regulatory body which was established in 1999 by an Act of Parliament.

“TEVETA's informal sector programme is aimed at equipping youth and disadvantaged groups in local communities with skills to enable them to become employable through wage or self-employment,” said Tembo.

Senzani Community Development Centre in Ntcheu is one such centre where informal apprentice skills are acquired.

The centre’s chairperson Elizabeth Zimpondera said various trades like carpentry and joinery, bricklaying, tailoring and fashion designing are offered to the youths in the community.

She disclosed that 138 girls and 117 boys have been products of the centre since 2015.

"The skills centre structure started with carpentry then tailoring and bakery. It is improving people's livelihoods in the rural areas and it is our wish to see this centre becoming a technical college," said Zimpondera and thanked TEVETA for refurbishing the facility after it got damaged due to cyclone Freddy induced floods in 2023.

Group Village Head Senzani hailed Tevet for refurbishing Senzani Community Skills Development Center and for offering various skills training to the people from his area.

He described the programme as part of capital for his people which can economically improve people's livelihoods in his area.

"We are a proud people, TEVETA has in fact given a form of capital to the students, the capital comes in different forms including skills acquisition," highlighted GVH Senzani.

Councilor Godfrey Chinkhota of Likudzi Ward said the centre has reduced travelling distances for people to acquire technical and vocational skills at Ntonda Technical College.

"TEVETA has brought technical and vocational training to the rural communities. In the past our youths had to travel a long way to Ntonda to acquire the skills and we do not take this for granted," said Chinkhota.

He has however asked TEVETA to have electricity connection and bring in electrical equipment for welding lessons and other trainings.

Patrick Benford and Triza Mluta who are graduates of the centre said life has become smoother with the tailoring and designing skills acquired from the place.

Ntcheu district Director of Education and Sports Dorothy Banda Masudi said the need for skills training to achieve the 2063 vision of self-reliance is very high.

"There are some youth who have not gone to colleges but have skills, so this is the way to go," said Masudi and commended TEVETA for the programme.

She observed that communities also need other training such as computers for more development in all the communities.

By Solister Mogha

Zomba, September 9, Mana: Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) and the National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Trust in Zomba have intensified election awareness campaign with the aim of keeping communities informed about elections.

Among others, the campaign focuses on new election laws, voter registration, campaign period and the need for the citizenry to make right choices.

Speaking on Monday in the area of Traditional Authority Nkagula, NICE District Civic Education Officer, Kondwani Neba said as the country heads towards elections, it was important that communities are empowered with the right information.

Neba said election is a critical exercise and in democracy where people are free to choose who they want, the right and access to information is key.

"We have just started but awareness campaigns will continue until we reach out to every corner of the district. It is our expectation that people will be well informed and make informed decisions when voting," said Neba.

District Elections Clerk fo Zomba District Council, Lionel Chikopa said apart from community meetings, there will be outreach meetings in markets and other key points.

"We will also have the mobile van which will go around. In addition, we have planned for radio programmes," said Chikopa.

Group Village Head Kumbwana hailed the two institutions for the awareness campaign, saying the awareness will enable voters to choose candidates of their choice wisely.

Kumbwana said many people are not aware of the new changes and appealed for more meetings.

Apart from election issues, the meetings also discussed the need for the citizenry to participate in development programmes.

By Manasse Nyirenda

When suffering knocked on Rodgers Msiska's door, to quote Nigeria's literally icon, Chinua Achebe, it settled in his house for many years as he struggled to feed his family till he became a beneficiary of Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP).

Many Malawians, both in rural areas and cities, share this sense of hopelessness, however, when their circumstances improve, the resulting smiles can be seen and felt from miles away.

A 2023 World Bank Malawi Poverty Outlook shows that the proportion of people living on less than $2.15 per day increased to 71.7 percent in 2023. This is expected to increase to 72 percent in 2024.

To this effect, the Government of Malawi in partnership with Multidonor Trust Fund (MDTF) through the World Bank are pooling resources together to cushion the ultra-poor in Malawi through SCTP.

Rodgers Msiska, 62, is one of at least 3,600 beneficiaries in Rumphi district who have been given a lifeline through the SCTP. He comes from Thenda village in the area of Traditional Authority Mwahenga.

After receiving the money, the beneficiaries are encouraged to join Village Savings and Loans (VSL) groups to grow their income and have access to loans which they may use to build more profitable and sustainable businesses and assets.

"I joined a VSL group and was able to access a loan with which I bought some goats. When they started multiplying, I sold some of them and bought fertilisers for my tobacco field.

“I made some money, though I cannot remember the exact amount. I replaced the grass roof of my house with iron sheets and the wooden window frames with steel frames. I also floored it with cement," Msiska says.

He further says 2024 has been the most profitable year since he started benefiting from the programme. He has made over MK3 million from this year’s tobacco sales.

His face brightens as he explains that he now owns a satellite television set and is able to watch several channels right in his village house.

"If you work for a television station or radio I will be able to watch my story on my home television. I also own a radio now. My life is no longer the same. I am able to take care of my wife, two sons and a grandson," he proudly says.

Msiska adds that he is now dreaming of owning a motorcycle because he is tired of walking and wants to use it for transportation around his town, Chivungulu.

His story isn't one of rags to riches, but more like that of a marathon runner finally being given shoes to give him a fair shot at winning the race. Now, with a solid capital base, he has the foundation to pursue his dreams.

Another Social Cash Transfer Programme beneficiary from Sub Traditional Authority Chisovya, Boniface Chirambo, says he was struggling to provide for his family before he got enrolled into the programme.

He says after completing his welding training he struggled to find clients because he did not have a welding machine. He adds that since he bought his own machine in instalments from the programme’s receipts, his welding business is doing well and he is able to meet most of his family's needs.

"I struggled to provide for my family. I struggled to find food and clothes for my children, but all that has changed. I am now able to take care of my family.

"I repair wheelbarrows, oxcarts, make hoes and many others. On a very good day I earn at least MK20, 000 while on a bad day I take home at least MK5000," explains the father of three daughters.

On her Part, Lucy Nyasulu, 31, from Madumura village in Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe said her family was trapped in deep poverty before being selected to be one of the SCTP beneficiaries.

"At the time I became a beneficiary, we were living in a shack and struggling to find food for our family. But once we got enrolled, we worked very hard to transform our lives for the better by venturing into farming using Social Cash Transfer money," she said.

She said she joined village loans and savings groups which made her earn interests on her savings which she later invested in farming.

She has since earned over MK5 million from tobacco farming and has built a house and also owns a hair salon business.

The mother of three is now focusing on growing more tobacco to earn more money and transform her home’s well-being.

District Social Welfare Officer for Rumphi, Zindaba Lungu, says the programme has brought relief from the burden of poverty in beneficiary households.

“Many beneficiaries have built decent houses, bought livestock and own thriving businesses which have helped lessen the burden of poverty in the communities,” Lungu says.