By Linda Likomwa

Phalombe, December 10, Mana: Participants for the Climate-Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (SC-EPWP) in Phalombe District have procured working tools and materials to help them in their work.

Speaking in an interview on Monday, CS-EPWP Project Facilitator in the district, Phalyce Maseya said all the 18 catchments in the district are done with procurement and they have already collected their tools and materials.

“Each catchment was allocated funds for procurement of tools, materials and first aid kit boxes and model catchments were allocated K8 million while larger catchments were given K12 million and all procurement processes were done by the Catchment Management Committee (CMC) while the council only provided technical support,” said Maseya.

Machemba Catchment CMC Chairperson, Ganizani Chimtengo said the tools and materials would assist them in discharging their duties and the first aid kits would help them in giving first aid treatment to those injured or those taken ill during the course of work before referring them to hospital.

“Ours is a model catchment and we have bought five first aid kit boxes as instructed and larger catchments have procured 10 and we have also procured personal protective gear like gumboots and gloves,” said Chimtengo.

The catchments have also procured wheelbarrows, buckets, cups, tree seedlings, sacks and watering cans, among others.

By Fostina Mkandawire

Salima, December 10, Mana: Minister of Information and Digitalization Moses Kunkuyu on Monday asked Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to release progress of corruption cases and arrests that have been made through the body's investigations.

Kunkuyu made the call in Salima at Kaphatenga Primary School Ground, during the commemoration of the 2024 International Anti-Corruption Day.

Kunkuyu said the public has the right to be updated on the progress of corruption cases that the body embarks on.

"It is always in the public domain when a person is arrested for corruption but such cases are not followed up," he said adding the public always holds ACB to account for every arrest made.

"Funds that are pumped at ACB are not meant for internal expenditures such as training and allowances but to pursue corruption cases until suspects are convicted," he added.

On his part, Acting Director General for ACB, Hillary Chilomba pointed out delays in remitting funds to the body even after receiving funding from the Treasury as one of their biggest challenge in the smooth operations of its services.

Chilomba also said many people are not coming forward to report corruption, describing it as a step backwards in the fight against corruption.

"People should not be scared of reporting corruption cases, no one is above the law, once a person reports a corruption case to us we will protect their identity, what we want is to be receiving reports from across the country," he said.

He also encouraged citizens to provide checks and balances on public institutions, especially at the district level when it comes to budgets and development projects.

"Every citizen has a role to play for the country to progress, the corruption fight should not be left to a selected few people, each citizen must be vigilant to follow cases of corruption," he said.

This year’s International Anti-Corruption Day is being held under the theme “reporting corruption a duty for all."

By Elia Chibwe

Lilongwe, December 9, Mana: Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Simplex Chithyola Banda, has underscored the need for the National Monitoring and Evaluation Policy in promoting transparency in planning and budgeting an action, as most of the actions will be done based on evidence.

Speaking during the launch of the National Monitoring and Evaluation Policy in Lilongwe on Monday, Banda said it is high time for the country to seek research and evidence based planning.

“Time is far gone that we can now be doing desk work; we need research based, evidence based in planning. For example, even when we are formulating the budget, we need to know how many people are there, what are their needs, so you do a lot of needs assessment.

“Why are you doing all those? It’s because you want to make sure that the action you are coming up with will actually tally with the needs on the ground. So, the monitoring and evaluation policy gives us a framework on how we can monitor an action, how we can evaluate the impact of action, the end result will be the results that are backed by data,” he said.

He said the launch of the policy marks a significant beginning of the journey of accuracy in terms of accountability and transparency when providing services to the general public.

He said the policy is the pathway to assisting people to measure their actions so as to know what needs to be done and what will be results and the ones benefiting.

“We need to know the impact of the action that we are doing. So, obviously we need to have your statistics as to measure whether the action is making an impact or not. Therefore, the policy gives us framework and its parameters on how we can measure an action and its result and impact.

“It also gives you the accuracy to planning as you can say poor planning means planning to fail. So, based on how you plan, you need to have data; you need to have statistics from measured action in the policy. This is a pathway that helps us to measure how we are doing things. Putting them under the national policy; you will standardize every action,” he said.

Representative for United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Malawi, Fenella Frost, said the policy aims to bring change in the country to achieve Malawi 2063 goals.

“Our work in performing monitoring and evaluation is not only about bringing change but also making a change that is positive and contributes towards an effective development trajectory for this country. 

“Monitoring and evaluation is there to understand what government is achieving, where and how improvements can be made to realize joint commitments in the aspirations of Malawi. It also goes beyond the global framework, it’s about demonstrating concrete impact in the critical sectors that support the population, including health, education, food security,” Frost said.

She said the policy is a reflection with global practices in development and management, which echoes the principles, laid in the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and improving public sectors of the country.

“It is my sincere hope that today’s launch of the policy is the beginning of an ongoing effort to make performance monitoring and evaluation a way to ensure continuous improvement in public sector, greater impact to our citizens in the country, and better value for money for government expenditure,” she said.

The launch was held under the theme of ‘Improving Public Sector Performance Through Evidence’.

By Prisca Promise Mashushu

Lilongwe, December 9, Mana: Students at Likuni Boys Secondary School have been encouraged to continue maintaining discipline and hard work in order to excel in their education.

This was revealed Sunday during the inspect and interaction between Likuni Boys Alumni Association and the current students at the school.

Chairperson for Likuni Boys Association Alumni, Chris Kambani, said the association thought of visiting the school to inspire students to work hard and fulfil their dreams by following their footsteps.

He said the school has tremendously improved for the past years due to support from the alumni and other stakeholders hence the need for students to utilise the resources available to have better results.

“As an association, we thought to visit and inspect the school so that we know some of the challenges the school is currently facing before taking an initiative to help as one way of promoting quality education.

“This is the first time we have managed to visit the school, but we are planning to do this annually in order to inspire and instil hard work on the current students so that they can pursue different careers easily in the future,” he said.

One of the alumni members, Mzonde Mvula, who is working at the High Court as a judge under criminal division, said their presence at the school will encourage students to work hard by knowing where they are coming from and where they are going so that they fulfil their dreams.

“Since our time, Likuni Boys has a history of having discipline. l would like to encourage students to maintain it by following the school protocol and avoid vandalism of the school property,” said Mvula.

The school representative, Bonface Chirambo, said the coming of the alumni is important to the current students especially the program of assisting needy students with fees as well as buying essential resources that will be used by the school.

“The alumni will help students to be well behaved and disciplined which will help them excel in their education,” he said.

The alumni has promised to continue supporting the school and inspire students that are currently studying at the school.

By Gift Chiponde

Lilongwe, December 9, Mana: Ministry of Lands has raised concerns about individuals, particularly in Lilongwe, occupying and developing public land without authorization.

A statement released on Monday and signed by Secretary for Lands, Devie Chilonga, has pointed out that the areas most affected include Area 12, 10, 43, 46, and 47, where residents are extending their plots by encroaching on dambo areas and tree belts without proper authorization.

According to the Ministry, this behavior violates Section 20 of the Land Act, which states that any person who uses or occupies public land without a valid grant, lease or other authorization from the Minister commits an offense.

Section 54 of the Physical Planning Act states that any individual who subdivides land or enters into a subdivision agreement, or commences development without the required grant of development permission, commits an offense.

 "Upon conviction, the offender shall be liable to a fine of K500, 000 and imprisonment for three years. In the case of a continuing offense, an additional fine of K2, 000 may be imposed for each day the offense continues after conviction.

Furthermore, the Ministry has reminded the public that constructing buildings in road reserves, river reserves, forest reserves, or open spaces is unacceptable.

The Ministry says it will support local councils in stopping or demolishing any unauthorized developments in unplanned areas in contravention of relevant legislation including the Land Act, Physical Planning Act, Water Resources Act, Public Roads Act and Environment Management Act, among others.

The Ministry has, therefore, issued a warning to developers who have extended their plots without authorization, indicating that they are in breach of their agreements and risk having their leases terminated.

"Therefore, the Ministry and local government authorities will continue to protect public land by issuing eviction orders. If necessary, they will prosecute the encroachers.

“Additionally, city and district councils are legally mandated to enforce actions, including the demolition of any structures built without authorization," the statement emphasized.

By Sheminah Nkhoma

Lilongwe, December 9, Mana: National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM) has launched a K100 million agricultural cooperative grant to help young farmers in developing their agricultural businesses.

Speaking at the launch in Lilongwe on Monday, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Simplex Chithyola Banda, said government is committed to achieving the Agriculture, Tourism and Mining (ATM) strategy and the Malawi 2063.

He said empowering young people to venture into agricultural productivity aligns with the ATM strategy’s goals of transforming agriculture into productive, market driven sector that contributes to food security, job creation and economic growth.

“This program will equip young people with resources and opportunities to drive agricultural productivity, commercialization and innovation by contributing to a self-reliant and industrialized Malawi,” said Banda.

He stated that government is determined to break barriers and create an enabling environment where young people can thrive as many are unemployed.

He said the coming in of the grant will enable them boost their agriculture business so that they can attain enough income.

Banda has, therefore, urged the youth to use the funds for the intended purposes, to be transparent and accountable as well as work diligently to grow the cooperatives into successful enterprises.

NYCOM Executive Director, Rex Chapota, thanked government for the support provided to the Council saying it will transform small-scale groups who are already working in the agriculture sector.

“It is the vision of the Council that is in line with the Malawi 2063. The Council should help and support youth from rural areas to contribute to the economic development through entrepreneurship. So, the grant will boost local youth,” said Chapota.

He highlighted the need for more support to the youth as they constitute 70 percent of people in the country hence the need for collaboration between government and the private sector to support the youth development.

One of the beneficiaries of the grant, Francis Chirambo who is into fish farming said the grant is a milestone to their group as it will help them innovate some fish ponds.

Chirambo’s group aims to have a tin fish factory.

18 youth are roups are set to benefit from the grant as it is designed to provide essential funding and technical support to youth-led projects in the agriculture sector.