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Feature: CZ disaster-hit households find solace in CRI
By Kondwani Magombo
Lilongwe, April 25, Mana: At the age of 84, Veronica Sintchaya has a deceiving gait and agility of a 50-year-old. She's a retired teacher, having bidden farewell to chalk, board, and duster in 1996, three years after she lost her husband in 1993.
Upon retirement, Sintchaya went to settle at her home village, Chimpesa, Group Village Headman Kumitete, Traditional Authority Onga, Chiradzulu, where she's a member of a small scale farmers’ club called Nthambi.
During a recent media visit, the octogenarian’s shared secret to her enviable fitness, even at 84: “A balanced diet, comprising the six food groups and, most importantly, a ‘decent’ breakfast in form of porridge.”
But during the 2023 consumption year, Sintchaya did not have the luxury of having as much balanced meals, and as much ‘decent’ breakfasts due to Tropical Cyclone Freddy, which eroded the old woman’s cropland away and left her with too little to live on.
“It was one of the worst disasters I’ve ever witnessed,” explained Sintchaya. “Most of our crop fields were washed away just a couple of weeks ahead of harvesting period.”
The senior citizen was not alone in this predicament; scores of people in her village, and Chiradzulu as a whole, suffered the same blow and they were left with very little, or nothing at all, for their survival.
But this 2024 consumption season, Sintchaya, like many others in her club, is among thousands of smallholder farmers in the district who have beaten the El Nino odds and they have harvested enough maize to get them beyond the next consumption year.
The old woman, alone, has yielded 20 bags of the staple grain, including yellow maize, and she is happy to have restored her favourite breakfast back on the daily menu.
All this abundance is courtesy of Crisis Response Initiative (CRI), a one-year window that the government of Malawi successfully created in 2023 with funds from the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD).
The project is initially aimed to support 73,850 rural farmers (among them 50 percent women, and 25 percent youth) that were highly affected by the Tropical Cyclone Freddy in three Sustainable Agriculture Production Programme (SAPP) districts of Blantyre, Balaka, and Chiradzulu.
According to the project’s documents, IFAD pumped US$5.06m (MK8.68bn) into CRI to complement government’s effort of ensuring that the targeted rural farmers are able to access inorganic fertilizer through the Affordable Input Programme (AIP).
The development saw the identification and formation of clubs in the affected areas through the Ministry of Agriculture structures, for them (clubs) to access fertilizer, seed (maize, soybean, and maize), and livestock (goats, chickens and rabbits), depending on assessment of individual club members’ needs.
The 20-member Nthambi Club got six bags of fertilizer (three NPK and three Urea), and 100kg of maize seed, including thikinya (yellow maize).
Since the fertilizer was not enough for the 20 members, with the help of Martha Sitolo, Agricultural Extension Development Officer (AEDO) for Thumbwe Extension Planning Area (EPA) under which the Nthambi Club falls, the club produced more bags of organic fertilizer popularly known as Mbeya.
“From the three bags of NPK, and the three bags of Urea, we produced 15 bags of NPK, and 15 bags of Urea, and we shared amongst ourselves such that each member got 35kg of each type of fertilizer,” explained the youngest member of the club, Chimwemwe Bakali, 23.
Like Sintchaya, the oldest member of Club, Bakali, a form 3 student at Masalani Community Day Secondary School in the area, has, this 2024 consumption season, harvested 20 bags of maize from a 0.5ha piece of land using the Mbeya fertilizer.
“I’m very excited with my harvest,” explains Bakali, who had been left to look after a family home and siblings in 2023 as the parents were residing in Blantyre where they were working.
“Before the Cyclone, I used to get a maximum of 15 bags from the family’s total cropland, most of which was affected by Cyclone Freddy. After the cyclone, last year, our yield dropped to less than 5 bags, but with the use of Mbeya this year, I’ve harvested 20 bags of maize, just on a 0.5ha piece of land!”
Such stories of success are also shared by the rest of the members of Nthambi Club, including the chairperson, Rhoda Kazembe, who also speaks highly of the Mbeya fertilizer and accompanying new technologies that the AEDO, Martha Sitolo, equipped them with.
Elsewhere, within Thumbwe EPA in Chikamgwere Village, GVH Kumitete, TA Onga, members of another club, Mlambe, have all the reasons to stand and walk tall as the groundnut seed they received from the CRI project has promised a good harvest.
According to the AEDO, every member was given 30kg of groundnut seed which can give each one of them at least nine bags of shelled groundnuts.
One such happy members of Thumbwe Club is Maria Yakobe who is expecting to get not less than 10 bags of shelled groundnuts from her 0.3ha piece of land.
“The 10 bags of shelled groundnuts will give me a lot of money, enough to enable me buy a number of bags of fertilizer and multiply it using the Mbeya method, and make a kill of a harvest next year,” Yakobe outlines her plans.
Some clubs under Thumbwe EPA received goats while some got chickens in a pass-on program to reach out to as many rural farmers, who were affected by Cyclone Freddy, as possible.
According to the Sitolo, the clubs are all doing fine and the benefits of the CRI project are in plain sight for all to see.
“We are also training the club members to go into loans and savings practice so that, come next growing season, they should be able to buy more fertilizer and other related inputs with the proceeds from the savings,” explained the AEDO.
According to Director of Agriculture Services (DAS) for Chiradzulu district council, Cyclone Freddy washed away 14,000ha of the district’s 50,000ha cropland; thousands of livestock; property and lives.
Over 3,000 hard-hit households from the district’s three EPAs; Thundwe, Mombezi, and Mbulumbuzi, were identified to participate in the CRI project, and they have all registered success in their various interventions – be it livestock, or crops, according to Zingeni.
“The households that are participating in CRI’s various interventions are doing fine,” explained Zingeni. “For instance, we are expecting a yield of 4,000MT of maize from CRI participating households – that is on top of the estimated 30,000MT of maize that we are expecting from the district as a whole,” he added.
Within the additional 4,000 MT of maize that CRI households will contribute to the district’s grain stock is the 1MT (twenty 50kg-bags) for the 84-year-old Sitnchaya, the oldest member for Nthambi Club.
Perhaps, the little contribution – yet huge at individual level – explains the excitement that Sitchaya displayed on the day the media team visited the Club,
“I’m short of words: With my plentiful thikinya stock, I’m able to take my breakfast porridge every day, and this has also improved my sight!” explained the senior citizen of Chimpesa Village.
“Cyclone Freddy left us in dilemma, but CRI has rescued us: the new task that we have, now, is to consume the food that the project has heaped on us!” said the old woman lightly, her face awash with joy.
Railway construction project takes shape in Nsanje
By Robert Nayeja
Nsanje, April 24, Mana: Authorities in Nsanje have expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Bangula-Marka railway construction project.
Nsanje District Commissioner Dominic Mwandira said there is good progress and people in the district were geared to have project completed on time.
"The project is expected to open up a lot of business opportunities in the district once completed and people are happy to see that the project is taking shape," Mwandira added.
Mwandira, therefore, appealed to the communities to continue providing support to the contractor so the project should be implemented smoothly.
Senior Chief Chimombo also echoed Mwandira's sentiments, saying the economic status of his subjects has improved as some people have secured casual work at the project site.
"Those that have been employed by the contractor are able to support themselves and their families. We know that once this project is completed there will be a lot of activities taking place that will empower communities at large.
“There will be cargo from Mozambican port of Beira coming here to Malawi. This project will benefit all Malawians, not only the people from Lower Shire," Chimombo added.
Chimombo said the construction of the railway line has driven many to engage in various economic activities in the district as people are investing in construction of lodges and other businesses.
"People of Nsanje would like to thank President Lazarus Chakwera for making this project a reality.
"I'm very delighted that the project is making good progress and this will help to revive the lost economic glory of our beloved district," Chimombo added.
Group Village Head Ndenguma concurred with Chimombo, adding that the damage of the railway line fueled poverty in the district.
"In those days at least four trains were coming to Nsanje and four trains were leaving Nsanje before the civil war in Mozambique broke out. I recall that I used to go to railway station to see the train. There were a lot of business activities taking place at the station," Ndenguma said.
He added: “Some people were sailing clothes from Mozambique and others were selling chickens and goats. In fact, it was a market day when a passenger train was coming to the district."
Ndenguma, therefore, appealed to communities to take ownership of the project and refrain from theft of construction materials.
Government is constructing a 72-kilometre railway line in the district, which is connecting to Mozambique, a project that is designed to end within 18 months.
NRB targets 30,971 in Rumphi
By Manasse Nyirenda
Rumphi, April 24, Mana: National Registration Bureau (NRB) says it is expecting to register 30,971 first time national ID applicants in National Identity Card (ID) Outreach and Community Death registration underway in Rumphi district.
In an interview on Tuesday, Rumphi District Commissioner Emmanuel Bulukutu said the turnout was good and that he expected the exercise to meet set targets.
"We have seen the youth who were not able to register last time coming to the centres to register.
"We have had few challenges, especially on death reporting. Few are coming to report. This is the area that needs more sensitization," he said.
One applicant, Wysom Suweta who came to renew his national ID, said he was optimistic he would get his card renewed.
"A national ID is a critical tool for our day to day transactions. For example, it is required at banks and to access farm inputs under Affordable Inputs Programme," he said.
Another applicant, Asha Nyirenda from Mlongoti Village in Traditional Authority (TA) Chikulamayembe, said she went to one of the Centre’s to replace her damaged national ID for easy identification and to be eligible to vote in presidential, parliamentary or local government elections.
Figures from NRB office in Rumphi show that about 7,543 new ID applicants and 11 community deaths had been registered by April 21.
Registration in National ID Outreach and Community Death started on April 15 and is expected to conclude on April 29 this year.
New school block improves learning in Salima
By Fostina Mkandawire
Salima, April 24, Mana: Construction of a K47 million school block at Thundu Primary School in Salima district has increased the number of learners who will be learning in classrooms, a development which will improve the quality of education.
Thundu Primary School block project is being constructed under the District Development Fund (DDF) at the school which is located on the outskirts of Salima town in Group Village Headman Daniel under Traditional Authority Maganga.
Speaking in an interview with Malawi News Agency on Monday, Headmistress for the school, Elizabeth Ndelemani, emphasized that the development will enhance delivery of quality education at the school.
"Learners were deprived of their decency by learning under trees; their notebooks and clothes were mostly dirty due to sitting on an untidy place," she said.
She said learners were being distracted during lessons more especially during rainy season, a development which was affecting performance of learners.
"Our capacity has increased because we have classrooms that can house about 1,249 learners’. In the past we used to refer other learners to a school that is about 20 kilometers from this community, a development which posed a threat to their security and safety," she said.
On his part, Salima District Council's Director of Education, Youth and Sports, Alfred Hauya, highlighted that quality education cannot be fully actualized without having adequate classroom blocks, emphasizing that the construction of classroom blocks will assist the learners to attain quality education.
"The education sector appreciates efforts towards infrastructural development in schools. Taking into consideration that Salima is a hot district and prone to flooding, learners cannot attain quality education by learning under trees," he said.
Chairperson for Thundu Primary School's Parent Teacher Association, Emmanuel Lifa, said as parents they were worried of the welfare of their children because they were not learning in a conducive environment.
"When we were informed as parents of the construction of this school block, we welcomed the idea and we were part of the processes of the construction by assisting in drawing water for the constructors and also ferrying building blocks," he said.
School Management Committee Chair Sophia Mayere said as a committee that oversees that the school's property is well taken care of, they will ensure that the school block and other facilities are properly maintained and protected from vandalism.
Mayere further commended the commitment that the surrounding communities showed during the construction of the facility, saying it signified ownership of the project.
Upgrading of Thundu Primary School commenced in January 2023, and the school block consists of two classrooms furnished with 30 desks each and two administration offices, among others.
Mzuzu Youth Centre contractor urged to fast track project
By Tawonga Moyo
Mzuzu, April 23, Mana: District Youth Officer for Mzimba North, Misheck Msokwa, has urged DEC Construction Limited, which is the contractor responsible for the construction of Mzuzu Youth Centre, to fast-track the project, saying the current progress is slow and raises a lot of questions.
Making the call in an interview on Friday, Msokwa said the project is much anticipated by youths in the city, hence a need for the contractor to take it seriously.
“We were first assured by the contractor that the project will be completed in October 2023 but that changed due to a number of challenges and the project time was extended to July 2024.
“However, with the current progress of the project, it’s impossible for it to be finalized within two months. Youths in Mzuzu are now afraid that this project won’t be completed soon,” said Msokwa.
Msokwa then called upon government not to change the contractor but rather engage the same one and offer the support needed, saying the project has already delayed for long and any change will worsen the delay.
“If by any chance government is contemplating on changing the contractor, I may not encourage that as it will mean starting again the whole process. My plea to government is that the project doesn’t go beyond 2024,” he said.
In his remarks, one of the youths from Masasa Area, Timothy Gama, said he was eagerly waiting for the completion of the project as it will help to keep young people busy with things that can uplift their lives.
“When young people are idle, chances are high that they can get influenced negatively and indulge in inappropriate behaviours. However, the youth centre will provide a platform for young people to meet and teach each other skills which they can use to uplift their lives and families,” said Gama.
Gama also noted that the youth centre will help to unearth talents in young people who are yet to discover it for themselves, thereby contributing to manpower development.
Another youth, Chifundo Nkhoma, expressed optimism that once completed, the centre will help in the reduction of early marriages and unwanted pregnancies as it will provide a platform for young people to pour out their issues freely and gain various expertise.
Government handed over the K19.7 billion Mzuzu Youth Centre construction project to DEC Construction Limited in August 2022.
Project Manager for DEC Construction, Elad Malaonda, did not comment on the matter despite sending him questionnaire and reminding him through phone calls.
NICE Trust urges CSOs to create awareness on new electoral laws
By George Mponda
Karonga, April 23, Mana: National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Trust has urged Karonga based civil society organizations (CSOs) to raise awareness of new electoral laws as the country prepares for 2025 General Elections.
Speaking on Tuesday during a meeting with representatives of the CSOs, NICE Trust Programmes Officer for Karonga, Mabvuto Mkandawire, said most stakeholders are not aware of the new laws, especially the change of polling hours.
"A lot of voters were during the recent Local Government by-elections in the district turned back as they did not observe polling time. They did not know that polling time was rescheduled to 6am to 4pm not 6am to 6pm, as was in the case in the past.
“Hence, the need for CSOs which have been oriented on the newly gazzetted ward and constituency boundaries, Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Calendar for the 2025 General Election and Political Parties Act of 2018 to help in creating mass awareness on the development," said Mkandawire.
In his remarks, District Elections Officer for Karonga, Elias Nyirenda, bemoaned a tendency by some attendees of such meetings who do not pass on information to the citizenry.
"The 2025 General Election will follow the new laws; therefore, it is essential that voters are made aware of the laws," Nyirenda said.
Chairperson of Karonga CSOs Network, Edgar Phiri, said that the organizations should be proactive in awareness creation for the elections to be credible and peaceful.
"We also appeal to MEC to present the laws in vernacular languages so that people in Karonga and the country as a whole understand them,” said Phiri.
Community members describe new health facilities as game changer
By Mary Makhiringa
Balaka, April 23, Mana: People in the area of Traditional Authority Nkaya in Balaka have applauded Balaka District Council for constructing the K93 million health post and described this as game changer.
Since time immemorial, people from Nkaya, used to walk over 42 kilometres for medical help at Balaka District Hospital, or chose to go on 20-kilometre journey to Phimbi Health Centre.
The situation compelled Balaka Council to collaborate with other relevant authorities to construct a health post in the area using the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) funds.
Speaking in an interview to Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Tuesday, Alinafe Salibu from Nkaya Village bemoaned the long distance from Nkaya to Utale, Phimbi Health Centre or Balaka District Hospital as too challenging, adding that a lot of people lost lives in the process of seeking medical attention from distant facilities.
Said Salibu: “I was born in Nkaya, and grew up here as well, I saw people losing lives because of being denied access to medical help.
“The health facility that has been constructed is a game changer that will help us here and as a way of appreciating for this, we will guard over it by not allowing vandalism of any of the things in this facility,” she added and asked government to provide essential drugs at the new health facility to prove a game changer.
“I ask government to provide all essential drugs at the facility so that each time people go for medical help, they should be assisted so that going to Balaka DHO should only be in scenarios where one has been referred to meet specialists,” he added.
Director of Health Services at Balaka District Council, Dr Chimwemwe Thambo, said Ministry of Health has the intention to construct health facilities closer to communities.
“Construction of these health facilities will ensure that many people receive treatment without walking long distances,” Thambo said.
Director for Planning and Development for Balaka Council, Chris Nawata, said the local authority was excited with the new facility, saying it will accommodate the actual needs of the communities.
“We will soon construct staff houses so that health personnel should stay closer. As of now, services like Under Five Clinics can commence,” he said.
With funding from the World Bank, the National Local Government Finance Committee is assisting best performing councils with programme based funds.
Chikwawa embraces Community Development Month
By Willy Kadewere
Chikwawa, April 23, Mana: District Community Development Office in Chikwawa is in the Community Development Month (CDM) and is mobilising communities to work in self-initiated development activities as part of its reform agenda.
District Community Development Officer Maxmoss Governor described the CDM as innovative approach to foster community engagement in self-initiated development activities, devoid of external support, adding that April was designated as the official month for the community led activities.
“This is meant to promote citizen participation in several community development activities. Community Development Office in Chikwawa is facilitating the activities in all traditional authorities,” said Governor.
He added that the CDM was important to the community as it addresses problems people face in their communities.
“CDM takes a bottom-up approach. In this way, communities have been empowered to prioritize development activities they think would help them and transform their lives,” the Community Development Officer .
Governor said CDM is part of the reform and expressed hope that the community-initiated activities will remain that way to community members.
“Through the community development reform, we established a community development month in which several community initiated development activities are done. With these activities, there has been positive development and transformation in the communities," he added.
Environmental District Officer for Chikwawa, Levison Mafuta, hailed the community development office, saying CDM complements the environmental sector’s clean-up exercises in all public places in Chikwawa district to maintain hygiene.
"As the Environmental District Office, we are really satisfied with what our colleagues are doing. We have a similar role in making sure that people are practicing hygiene," said Mafuta.
He however urged all people in Chikwawa to embrace the initiative, as it will help their families.
Bush clearing, a clean-up exercise in market places, and creating firebreaks in forests are some of the activities done in the CDM.
Amref bails out Phalombe Hospital with K32 million medical supplies
By Tikondane Vega
Blantyre, April 23, Mana: Amref Health Africa has donated medical equipment valued at K32 million to John Chilembwe Hospital in Phalombe District as one way of complementing government in her efforts to improve health service delivery.
The equipment includes weighing height boards, wheelchairs, examination lamps, oxygen concentrators, drug trolleys, electric autoclaves and BP machines.
Speaking on Tuesday, Amref Project Manager Young Samanyika said the donation is meant to support health facilities impacted by 2023 Tropical Cyclone Freddy in the district.
“Nearly six health Centre’s in Phalombe were hit hard by floods and mudslides. Despite the passage of time since the devastating floods, communities in Phalombe still grapple with its aftermath. In response, Amref has procured medical equipment to support affected families.
“The current donation is projected to be K45 million since more equipment like beds and mattresses were yet to be supplied, but for today it is K32 million. We are doing a lot in Phalombe; for example, we are currently rehabilitating Phalombe Health Centre and this alone will cost us approximately K50 million,” said Samanyika.
He said that Amref expects the donation to improve the running of services at the hospital, adding that the materials should be put into good use so that it benefits the majority in communities.
On his part, Human Resources Officer for the hospital, Fred Kaipa, commended the organization for the support, describing it as timely.
Kaipa assured Amref and other partners in the health sector of prudent use of any support rendered to the hospital, adding that the materials will complement the facility's efforts towards strengthening delivery of good quality health services.
He said: “We commend the organization for the donation. This will help in addressing some of the challenges that our hospitals face in health service delivery. The donation will help in reducing some of the problems that we experience and we are very grateful.
“I must say Cyclone Freddy really affected our health Centre’s across the district and many things are yet to be replaced. Others should emulate the good gesture by Amref Health Africa in strengthening health systems.”
Amref is the largest Africa-based international health development organization delivering health services and training to over 30 million people annually in 35 countries in Africa.
The Malawi office is part of the bigger Amref Health Africa that was established in 1957 with its headquarters in Kenya. Amref Health Africa in Malawi was established in 2012 and is committed to catalyze and drive community-led and people-centred health systems while addressing social determinants of health.
Agro dealers warned against contravening farm gate prices
By Sheminah Nkhoma
Lilongwe, April 23, Mana: Police in Lumbadzi have warned agricultural produce traders against contravening the minimum farm gate prices for strategic crops for 2023/2024 Agricultural Season.
The call was made on Monday during a monitoring exercise conducted by Lumbadzi Police Station’s community policing branch at Lumbadzi, Mchepa, M’bang’ombe and Chitukula Trading Centres.
Speaking during the exercise, Inspector Ellen Maseko Kayenda appealed to the traders that they are strictly expected to buy the commodities at no less than the recommended farm gate prices set by the government through the Ministry of Agriculture.
"Failure to adhere to these minimum prices is a criminal offense under the laws of the country and perpetrators will be dealt with accordingly," Kayenda said.
Kanyenda further highlighted that police will continuously monitor and enforce compliance to the set minimum prices in order to ensure that farmers are not exploited by unscrupulous traders.
She however urged the public to make sure that they buy and sell their products at the recommended price by the government.
On April 5 this month, Ministry of Agriculture announced the 2023/2024 recommended farm gate prices for selected crops in the country, such as maize, soya beans, cassava and sunflower, just to mention few.
