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SPS's hope for macroeconomic stability
By Priscilla Phiri
Lilongwe, August 4, Mana: World Bank reveals that the country’s Social Protection System (SPS) is a strategic tool for macroeconomic stability.
This follows a launch of World Bank’s 19th edition of the Malawi Economic Monitor (MEM) recently in Lilongwe, under the theme ‘Reforming with urgency: Malawi’s path to economic stability.’
Presenting on a special topic of the MEM edition, titled ‘Investing in adaptive safety nets,’ World Bank’s Social Protection Specialist and co author of the report, Chipo Msowoya said there was rigorous evidence that Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) in the country has shifted from consumption to investment among the beneficiaries.
“SCTP has grown to become an investment by moving the needle around ownership of livestock and other small assets and allowing poor and vulnerable households to start investing in education, access to health for their households creating a path way that puts the future generation on a different trajectory compared to that of their parents,” he elaborated.
Msowoya from the report highlighted further on how the system has debunked the generalized idea that social protection systems create a dependency syndrome among its beneficiaries.
He said that the system has created a demand in digital services through E-payment that has enabled government to create financial inclusion among the beneficiaries.
“Government has transitioned from disbursing cash physically to electronic payments for both social cash transfer and public works wages through mobile money platforms and other traditional banking innovations which have prevented cases of fraud, speeded up the payments and allowed people that were excluded to become part of the financial sector,
Currently as it stands Malawi scaled up to delivering its social protection benefits across 10 districts allowing 440 households to use digital payments,” he said
He mentioned that the country has been one of the trail blazers in the world in bridging the nexus between Social Protection and disaster risk financing by leveraging on insurance systems to respond to common risks that the country faces especially drought.
World Bank’s Country Director for Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, Nathan Belete commended government and partners on the achievements made through social protection system.
“Social protection and adaptive safety nets not only provide an immediate response for the poor and vulnerable but it stimulates the economy more broadly as well as support the vulnerable households,
We wish for the progress to continue to be strengthened, improved and that government extends the coverage of the programme to more people that deserve and need to be part of the programme,” he said.
Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Jean Sendeza said Social Cash Transfer was the way to go for the country to recover from its economic crises.
“In as much as the country is making progress with this programme there is still need for government to work together with its partners to effectively help the vulnerable communities,” she noted.
Malawi Economic Monitor provides a semi-annual analysis of Malawi’s economic and structural development issues.
Farmers getting returns
By Yamikani Yapuwa
Thyolo, August 4, Mana: In the Serene Village of Maonga in Sub-Traditional Authority (STA) Mlenga in Thyolo District, farmers under Msuwadzi Catchment are quietly revolutionizing sustainable farming through agronomics and sustainable land management.
One family of Gyson Chipangula, who have been in farming since 1980 is proving that sustainability and prosperity can indeed go hand in glove.
Amidst their flourishing tree woodlot and a vibrant tea field, the Chipangula’s have not only practiced environmental conservation but turned fish farming into a lifeline for their family.
“My family has three fish ponds and our annual harvest stands at 360 kgs of fish, sold at K5, 000 per kilogramme translating into K1.8 million per year.
“This money has enabled us to buy settlement land, build a decent home and pay for our children’s education,” Chipangula said.
Apart from the economic gains, the family says through planting trees and tea, they have been able to reduce water run-off which causes siltation and gully erosion in their fields; thereby, conserving the environment.
Jenipher Chibani, who is into dairy farming shares a similar story of the Chipangulas, saying she was getting triple rewards from the venture by getting milk for sale, manure for her maize field as well as increased yields due to manure application from her two dairy cattle.
“My household is no longer the same since I started dairy farming in 2013. The cows give me 25 litres per day which I sell at K380 per litre bringing K285, 000 per month,” she claimed.
Chibani boasted that, “Moreover, the manure from the Cows have helped me a lot in increasing crop yield. So, you can see that I’m making money from milk and harvesting more because of using manure from the same cows.”
He added that even the nutritional status of her family members has improved, as they are able to eat balanced diet meals since she has the money and maize to allow her that luxury.
Additionally, other farmers from 13 villages under Msuwadzi Catchment are practicing sustainable land management activities where they are planting vertices grass, making stone bunds, constructing contour marker ridges, ridge alignment and gully reclamation, among others.
Land Resource Conservation Officer for Thyolo District Council, Madalitso Uledi said all the benefits that Chipangula and Chibani are waxing lyrical about are some of the positives that come with the adoption of Integrated Catchment Conservation and Management (ICM) both at individual household and catchment levels.
“Sustainable land management activities and well managed crop, livestock and fish farming are interlinked, supporting ecological resilience and food security,” she stated.
“Sustainable land management enhances soil fertility and water availability which helps to have adequate water for fish farming, crop production and more feed for animals.”
“In the same manner, crop, livestock and fish farming provide food and materials which enhance soil fertility and climate resilience; hence, the need for farmers to adopt these agricultural practices,” she explained.
Blantyre Agriculture Development Division (ADD) Chief Land Resource Conservation Officer, Medson Thole noted that adoption of interventions to conserve the environment enhance availability of water in the soil making it easy for all sorts of farming to thrive.
“We are talking of interventions and technologies like planting trees in upper catchment, constructing marker ridges to control erosion, manure making, gully reclamation and agronomics.
“In the long run, farmers start to harvest more yield for the whole catchment as these help to restore the land, enhance soil moisture as well as increase soil fertility,” he said.
Bearing in mind that land is a very scarce commodity in Thyolo, Thole feels that integrated catchment conservation and management provides a chance to farmers to restore the eroded soil since they do not have any other place to open up new farms.
Team Leader from Lujeri popularly known as Nchima Tea and Macademia Estates, Hannock Maluwa pointed out that promotion of ICM in the district was necessary in easing the pressure that people exert on natural resources owned by estates.
“If people are planting trees in their farms and along river banks, cases of people stealing logs of trees from forests belonging to estates will reduce,” he observed.
Maluwa added that, “Even encroachment on company land and opening up farms since their fields cannot longer be productive since the soil has been degraded will stop since soil fertility will be restored.”
Acting Director of Agriculture and Natural Resources for Thyolo District Council, Mphatso Kafuwa admitted that there are a number of things that have gone wrong with the environment; hence, scaling up good agricultural practices and interventions in all the Extension Planning Areas (EPAs) in the district.
“We want these modern agricultural methods to be done in the farmers’ fields, in the villages as well as in the mountains where gullies need to be reclaimed,” he emphasized.
“We will tirelessly work with Agriculture Extension Development Coordinators (AEDCs) from all EPAs, chiefs, village natural resources committees and village agricultural committees to promote all these technologies across the district,” he stressed.
Kafuwa has aspired the Council where every household achieves food sufficiency and being able to even sell to others and earn tangible income just as the Chipangulas and Chibani are doing.
“We want to reach a point where all the degraded land has been restored; all the gullies have been reclaimed and our forests are back to how they used to be several years back,” he said with a trace of hope loaded in his voice.
Honey providing farmers a lifeline
By Joel Phiri
Mzimba, August 4, Mana: When Blasco Nkhata, 51, of John Chumia Village in Traditional Authority (TA) Kabunduli in Nkhata Bay decided to call it time on his borehole drilling business in 2012 in Salima, he decided to go back home to occupy the house that had been left idle by his late parents.
“I was owning Mazi Drilling Company and was based in Salima. But when the machinery worn out and I had no funds to continue running the business, I just decided to relocate to my home village.
“My relocation was partly because my parents had all passed on and the house was lying unoccupied in Nkhata Bay. I decided to come and occupy it,” he said.
Now back home, Nkhata had no readily available works to do to keep going hence having Movwe Forest Reserve just behind his house, the first thought that came to mind was venturing into the making business.
“I recall that back in the 1980s when I was doing my secondary school at Lwazi Malawi College of Distance of education (MCDE), some forests in the district suffered greatly at our merciless hands as we were into serious charcoal burning and selling. I paid my tuition using money made from burning charcoal and selling,” Nkhata reminisces.
So, when all the shove came to a push in pursuit of what to do to survive financially, the only business, he could think of was that of felling trees and making charcoal. But, just at a time, he thought of starting cutting trees for charcoal, something happened that changed his course of action.
Modern Cooking for Healthy Forests (MCFHF) came around the same time and introduced Bee keeping to some communities in Nkhatabay.
Nkhata and colleagues embraced the idea and formed Movya Beekeeping Club.
According to him, they thought about climate change-induced disasters and changes in weather patterns and that thought alone influenced his change of heart and they had to give beekeeping a chance.
This is how Movya Beekeeping Club was established.
“Having realised the consequences of deforestation on our everyday livelihood such as floods and unpredictable rainfall patterns, we decided to guard against charcoal burning. We thus opted for bee keeping and now we don’t regret,” Nkhata explained, a leader of Movwe Beekeeping Club which has 26 members.
The Club has 84 bee hives strewn across Movya forest reserve which covers 20 hectares of land.
Nkhata said as members of the club, they make sure Movya forest was being guarded against invasion by charcoal makers because their honey-making business would be pushed into oblivion if trees become extinct.
So far, since MCFHF came into the district, several bee keeping clubs have emerged and there is Makwezu Youth Club, Kaning’ina Bee keeping Club and Manolo Beekeeping Club in the area of TA Timbiri.
MCHF official, Wezzie Chisenga said Bee keeping provides a sustainable income source and incentivises forest protection and restoration.
All the clubs are working hard to protect forests from where they earn a living from the beehives they pegged in tree branches.
Manolo Bee keeping Club treasurer, Gertrude Chande explained the symbiotic relationship that exist between conserving trees and making money from honeybees.
“Bee keeping farming survives on having trees. Honey Bees feast on flowers found in some trees so we have to protect the trees if we have to sustain our livelihood we earn from beekeeping,” she said.
The benefits of raising honey Bees have been lifesaving.
According to Nkhata, most members of Movya Beekeeping Club have built houses and some have changed the roofs from grass thatched to iron sheets.
“The last harvesting season was in January and we sold honey worth K1.4 million. The same has been the trend in previous years and when we share the profits most members invest in sensible things like housing and starting small-scale businesses to keep them going,” he said.
Nkhata had to reroof his late parents’ house which he found in great ruins.
“It was all because of honey which we sale to traders across the country that it was possible I roofed the house with iron sheets,” he added.
Nkhata said they produce wax candles and mosquito repellents from the honey.
“Honey is serious and profitable business. Instead of desecrating our fast waning forests I would urge those still clinging to felling trees for a living to switch to beekeeping they won’t regret,” Nkhata, a father of two pointed out.
According to member of Makwezu Beekeeping Youth Club from TA Timbiri, Jacob Mhone, they sale the honey they harvest to Manolo Bee keeping Club and the proceeds have been used to sponsor most of its members in various secondary schools.
Bee keeping clubs earning an income from them do not just get preoccupied by fixing their Bee hives in trees in the forests and taking home bucketful of honey, no. The club members take care of the forests by planting trees. They guard it against invasion by charcoal burners.
One of the members of Manolo Bee keeping Club, Gertrude Chando said climate change has greatly affected the output of honey.
She said weather changes affect life of honeybees which tend to run away when it’s too cold or too hot.
“When it rains heavily as it did this year we were affected much as we did not manage to harvest the way our buyers want. Like in 2022, we harvested over 80 kgs but last year and this year it’s not promising due to weather as it has been too cold,” Chando noted.
District Senior Forest Officer (DFO) for Mzimba, Dorothy Shaba has appealed to farmers involved in Bee keeping to conserve trees in the forests.
Shaba said Bee keeping farming was dependent on trees on whose flowers bees feast and cutting down of trees could result in the total downfall of their enterprises.
“Once you cut down the trees the bees won’t be able to find flowers and your businesses will be affected. So you should conserve forests from where your business in beekeeping gets its life,” she warned.
Shaba said the integration of beekeeping with forest restoration efforts has created a win-win situation.
She said communities are motivated to protect forests as they directly benefit from the resources.
Nkhata concluded that, “I used to fell a lot of trees in the past to make charcoal enough to earn K30,000, these days from just three beehives where I harvest honey filling 20 litres, I make over K60,000 as we sale 1 litre at K3,000.”
Farmers in Balaka applaud MWASIP for restoring 10,000 hectares
By Andrew Phiri
Balaka, August 3, Mana: Farmers along the Shire River basin in Balaka District have expressed optimism that the adoption of land restoration and forest conservation practices under Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project (MWASIP) would enable them realize increased agricultural yields.
Implemented by the Government of Malawi with support from the World Bank, MWASIP in Balaka aims at improving agricultural activities by restoring 10,334 hectares of degraded land along the Shire River areas starting from 2022 to 2026.
Speaking after touring different sites, MWASIP District Project Coordinator for Balaka, Lucreshia Matekenya, said the project has three main components; land restoration cover, watershed services and technical support to farmers.
Matekenya said since the start of implementation of MWASIP in 2022, farmers are able to practice modern conservational agriculture while others were getting financial grants that will enable them to venture into agribusinesses such as piggery, beekeeping and fish farming.
“Farmers are able to construct swales, box ridges and matching to increase water infiltration and also constructing stone bands to reduce the speed of running water; hence, reducing soil erosion.
“Apart from conservation agriculture, farmers have also embraced Farmers Field Schools (FFS); whereby, they are able to select a topic to discuss by identifying agricultural challenges, analyze it and find solutions,” she said.
Chairperson for Mtola Village Level Action Plan (VLAP) in Traditional Authority (TA) Nsamala, Andrew Galimoto, said they have constructed check dams, own forests and produce Mbeya manure, courtesy of MWASIP.
Galimoto said: “As you can see, this land is steep which means when rain comes all water runs down without proper infiltration. So, these swales and box ridges help to hold the water; hence, reducing soil erosion and increasing its fertility.”
Sani Sofiti from Mtendere VLAP under Mpilisi Extension Planning Area in TA Nsamala, hailed the project, saying they have restored natural forests and also constructed stone bands to reduce the speed of running water.
However, Sofiti cited limited membership as a challenge to their group since some people left the group because they had little knowledge on the long term benefits of this programme.
Balaka District Director of Agriculture, David Ali, commended the development, noting that farmers across the district have generally embraced the project.
He said adoption of land restoration and forest conservation practices will serve future generations of the district.
NLGFC Board impressed with livelihoods support impact of SSRLP-Tidzidalire beneficiaries
By George Bulombola
Mzuzu, August 3, Mana: Vice Board Chairperson for National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC), Lilian Khofi, says village savings and loans (VSLs) groups have a remarkable impact in improving people’s socio economic status.
Khofi was speaking Friday when members of the board toured savings and loans groups in Mzuzu in concluding a monitoring visit to appreciate the impact of District Development Fund and Constituency Development Fund.
They also monitored the impact of Governance to Enable Service Delivery and Performance Based Grants (GESD-PBG) social support programs and Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Project (SSRLP-Tidzidalire) in Chitipa, Rumphi, Nkhata Bay and Mzuzu City.
Beneficiaries of Covid-19 Urban Cash Intervention in 2021 and the current Price Shock Response mobilized themselves to inject and invest money through formation of the VSL groups as a way of sustaining their Livelihoods.
Khofi said the committee is impressed by women run businesses as a direct impact of the cash injections leading to mushrooming of business as impact of the social protection programs.
“I am pleased to note that they have worked hard to grow their money which they invested in VSLs groups that were established under the SSRLP-Tidzidalire Project with technical assistance from Community Savings and Investment Promotion (COMSIP).
“The groups are scattered across the country hence the need for members to be sharing challenges and successes so that those lagging behind should be assisted to move forward. I am impressed with what I have seen in all the districts,” said Khofi.
COMSIP Chief Executive Officer, Tenneson Gondwe, was impressed by the delegation’s tour to the groups.
“Our role is to assist beneficiaries to be resilient to shocks through sustainable utilization of the money which they get through interventions that were previously meant for rural populations.
“Currently, we have seen a shift in the approach as SCTP is also introduced into cities due Covid-19 and price escalation resulting from Kwacha devaluation, hence cushioning mechanisms to protect people in such areas from such shocks,” said Gondwe.
He added that COMSIP comes in to build beneficiaries’ resilience and capacity enhancement for them to have economic strength at household level.
Chairperson for Timasilira Savings and Loans Group in Mzuzu, Fanny Siyeni, said through technical assistance from COMSIP, the group’s operations are up to date as members have access to loans at low interest rates since they own the capital.
“We have businesses at both individual and group levels to ensure that we continue sustaining and benefiting from our savings which we raised from social protection programs,” said Siyeni.
Mwanza SDAs urged to be committed to God’s work
By Brian Wasili
Mwanza, August 3, Mana: Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church members in Mwanza District have been called upon to be prepared to serve God submissively as the earth is not their permanent home because God is about to judge the world.
Pastor for Mwanza District SDA Church, John Muhoko, made the call on Saturday at the end of a five-day annual prayers under the theme: “Camp Gathering” held at Mwanza Main SDA Church.
“As you can see here that we are sleeping in temporary grass shelters to symbolize the Israelites moving from Egypt on their way to the Promised Land of Canaan,” Muhoko who is also Pastor for Mwanza Main SDA Church said.
Muhoko added that signs of the last days have been fulfilled, meaning that Jesus is coming soon; therefore, it was important for Christians to avoid sins and instead submit themselves to God.
Chairperson of the organizing committee of the prayers, Kingsley Chabwera, thanked members for the support rendered towards preparation of the event.
“Although we are going through financial crisis, but the congregants voluntarily mobilized their resources so that the ceremony should not fail,” said Chabwera.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA), a member of the church, Takondwa Mambere, described the function as a revival in his spiritual life, saying during the prayers he was reminded of the importance of tithing as a sacrifice to God.
“I have been encouraged to give tithe to God because it is said that you end up being rewarded in multiples by God. So, I want to be blessed at my household,” said Mambere.
In her remarks, a young lady Simbisayi Yamikani who also attended the prayers, asked her fellow youths not to shun away from serving God by being taken away by youthful life but rather be responsible.
“Saving God does not look at the age of a person but it is the way of seeking God’s blessings,” said Yamikani.
This year’s theme of prayers is: “Jesus Christ Is Coming Soon” taken from the book of Matthews 24 verse 26 and guest speaker at the function was Pastor Yohane Grant from Chikwawa.
About 1,500 members drawn from 17 congregations such as Mwanza Main, Mwanza Central, Chimwangoni, Chimwachawa and Kankhonde under Mwanza District SDA Church.
Ministry of Health geared to decongest district hospitals
By Willy Kadewere
Chikwawa, August 3, Mana: Deputy Minister of Health, Halima Daud, has expressed the need to upgrade various health centres in Chikwawa District to address the challenge of congestion district hospitals across the country face.
Daud made the remarks in Chikwawa on Friday after inspecting health service delivery at the district hospital.
“The ministry is planning to upgrade some health posts and construct more health posts at each traditional area level to enhance service delivery accessibility and decongest district hospitals.
“The ministry appreciates service delivery at various district hospitals and the challenge that most of these hospitals face is congestion,” Daud said.
She added that after upgrading the health centres, the respective facilities will start offering major health services that will help reduce congestion at district hospitals.
Director of Health and Social Services for Chikwawa, Dr Grace Momba, commended Daud for the visit, saying through the visit they have learnt a lot in terms of how they can handle some of the challenges the hospital is facing.
Momba added that the Deputy Minister has also seen for herself how health services in Chikwawa are being delivered to patients.
Before visiting Chikwawa, Daud also visited Nsanje District to appreciate health service delivery in hospitals.
Upgrading of health centres to reduce congestion in district hospitals
By Robert Nayeja
Nsanje, August 3, Mana: Deputy Minister of Health, Halima Daud, says government will upgrade some health centres across the country as one way of reducing congestion in the district facilities.
Daud was speaking on Friday in Nsanje after inspecting health service delivery at the district’s main health facility.
She said once health centres are upgraded to community hospital level, they will be capacitated to offer major health services like scanning and admissions which will help ease congestion at the district hospital.
Daud, therefore, commended Nsanje District Health Management Team for maintaining cleanliness at the facility.
Chairperson for Nsanje District Council, Mike Kafalachi, attributed improved cleanliness at the district facility to good management.
Member of Parliament for Nsanje Central, Kafandikhale Mandevana, asked government to increase funding to the district hospital as it also serves people from neighbouring Mozambique.
“The funding is not adequate because the catchment population for our district is big as the hospital offers health services to people in neighbouring Mozambique,” Mandevana claimed.
He also asked government to increase the number of Disease Control Surveillance Assistants (DCSAs) in the district.
During the visit, Daud inspected health service delivery at maternity, male and female wards at the district hospital.
Conference to improve agricultural policy, food systems
By Leonard Masauli
Lilongwe, August 3, Mana: Principal Secretary Responsible for Irrigation in the Ministry of Agriculture, Eng. Geoffrey Mamba, has said the 2024 Annual Regional Policy Dialogue, set to take place in Malawi, will significantly improve the country's agricultural policies and transform food systems in response to climate change impacts.
Mamba expressed these sentiments during a media briefing held at the National Planning Commission (NPC) offices in Lilongwe on Friday.
He noted that Malawi, affected by climate change events like El Niño, is optimistic that the conference, scheduled for August 6-9, will provide valuable insights for enhancing agricultural policies and food systems.
“The conference will be pivotal for various stakeholders to examine agricultural policies, evaluate their implementation, challenges and provide recommendations.
"This aligns with Malawi 2063, and the Ministry of Agriculture is eager to preside over this important event,” said Mamba.
He emphasized that government is actively working to improve food security in Malawi through initiatives like the Affordable Input Programme and by promoting commercial farming via the mega farming project.
NPC Research Manager, Andrew Jamali, highlighted the importance of the agricultural dialogue, particularly in relation to Malawi 2063, saying the country has been focusing on agricultural productivity and commercialization under Pillar One of the vision.
"One of the key issues is identifying evidence for transformative policies in food systems transformation.
"With international participants, regional bodies and national experts, this forum is very timely, especially considering the challenges Malawi faces, such as El Niño and limited fiscal space,” said Jamali.
Director of Business Development at the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN), Francis Hale, said climate change has exacerbated issues like El Niño, affecting countries such as Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi.
“Agriculture and food systems are crucial for socio-economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa, providing livelihoods and contributing to national economies.
"However, they face challenges like climate change, pests, diseases, natural disasters and unsustainable practices that threaten their sustainability,” said Hale.
He added that the dialogue would also provide a platform for discussing biotechnology's potential in African agriculture.
“Despite its immense potential, African agriculture is yet to fully embrace modern technologies like biotechnology, which could sustainably boost productivity and address climate change challenges,” he said.
The Annual Regional Policy Dialogue event is being organized by FANRPAN in collaboration with the Malawi Government, CISANET and NPC.
Kamtukule decries attacks against game rangers
By Manasse Nyirenda
Rumphi, August 3, Mana: Minister of Tourism, Vera Kamtukule, has described attacks against game rangers as counterproductive to wildlife conservation.
Kamtukule was speaking Friday at Rumphi Boma during at a joint Wetlands, Wildlife and Rangers Commemoration Day.
She said there have been several cases of rangers being attacked in the line of duty with some losing their lives.
“If people attack rangers and then animals come out of their designated areas; do you think rangers will have the spirit to protect people from such animals? They are humans as well and have right to life like each one of us.
“2023 was one of the worst years for rangers. We are working with various stakeholders so that those who violate laws get stiff punishment,” said Kamtukule.
The minister presented awards to some rangers for their dedication and outstanding performance.
“These awards given to show that rangers’ dedication to work in protecting nature is being noticed and to keep them motivated,” she said.
She, therefore, appealed to organizations involved in natural conservation interventions to be serving community members around their areas for them to also enjoy benefits of conserving nature.
The minister cited the Nyika-Vwaza Gravity Fed Water Supply Project as an example of improving relations between nature and communities where everyone wins.
The project will tap water from Nyika National Park and is expected to benefit at least 18,000 people surrounding the park and Vwaza Game Reserve.
Chairperson for Rumphi District Council, Happy Chirambo, thanked government and stakeholders for erecting fences around Nyika National Park and Vwaza Game Reserve which, he said, has improved relations between communities and rangers.
He added that people now feel secure and have no reason to attack rangers and animals in the protected areas.
Country Manager for African Parks Malawi, Samuel Kamoto, said they record an average of three cases of attacks against rangers annually.
He said they have put in place several initiatives, such as supporting irrigation schemes and scholarships, aimed at improving relations with communities surrounding protected areas.
Kamoto urged people to understand that rangers protect natural resources on behalf of the people and they need their support.
The event, which commenced with a solidarity march from Kawajawaja to Rumphi Police Ground, provided a podium for sharing experiences in nature conservation amongst different stakeholders.
