By Manasse Nyirenda

Rumphi, February 6, Mana: Some communities in the areas of Traditional Authority (TA) Zolokere and Sub TA Chisovya in Rumphi have excavated storm drains and constructed check dams to help fight flooding and enhance farming in their areas.

GVH Kalindamawe in the area of TA Zolokere said in an interview on Monday that the area has always had flooding challenges which have constantly affected farming, leading to food insecurity.

He said villagers, through Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP), started making the drains last year to protect their farm lands from waterlogging and flooding.

"They [drains] have helped with draining water from our farmlands to the rivers which enables us cultivate our fields without challenges. Our harvest has also improved this year," he said.

CS-EPWP Designated Desk Officer for Ng'onga Catchment Area, Lazarus Chilongo, said communities at Beira in the area of STA Chisovya are similarly constructing check dams to protect their farms from being washed away.

"We are also trying to protect Beira Bridge which is a lifeline for people here. It links them to the Boma for trade and healthcare. We are working hard to slow the speed of water through the check dams to protect it," he said.

District Liason Officer for CS-EPWP in Rumphi, Hastings Makonokaya, said tree planting as well as storm drains and check dam’s construction are some of the interventions used in different catchment areas to restore degraded land.

CS-EPWP is Malawi Government Programme under Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods (SSRLP), facilitated by National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) with funding from Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) and the World Bank.

By George Bulombola

Mzuzu, February 6, Mana: Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture, Richard Chimwendo Banda says it is impressive to see most of the constructors working on government project back on sites after the Kwacha devaluation which lead to price escalation.

Chimwendo Banda was speaking in Mzuzu on Monday after touring construction works of the K17 billion magnificent Mzuzu City Council (MCC) civic Centre.

The Minister was impressed with physical construction progress of the Centre which is at 47 percent with elapse time at 55 percent.

“We could have done better as this project was supposed to be completed by February 2025. Government will do everything possible to sort out issues surrounding projects implementation in the city, including this Centre,” said Chimwendo Banda.

He added that once completed, the Centre will improve the city’s face and diversify the its revenue base as some the office spaces will be rented out to the public.

The Minister advised MCC to properly utilize funds to register remarkable development progression so that the council’s plans and vision are materialized for improved service delivery.

MCC Chief Executive Officer, Gomezgani Nyasulu, commended government for providing K2.3 billion towards the project in the 2023/2024 mid-year budget review.

“Initially, we were provided K800 million out of the K17 billion. We could not do much with this amount. We are pleased that government has also pumped in K2.3 billion. This will accelerate completion of the project.

“We have also been given about K4 billion for grading and maintenance of roads in the city’s unplanned areas which include Mzirawayingwe and Zolozolo,” said Nyasulu.

Nyasulu asked government to consider providing the Council with K11 billion to finish three road projects which are currently under way.

The three road projects of Mzuzu Government Secondary School-Matete- Luwinga- Mzuzu Coffee Office Road, Dunduzu-National Oil Company Road and Luwinga-Choma-Dunduzu, will serve as by pass roads thereby reducing traffic congestion in the city.

By Mary Makhiringa

Balaka, February 6, Mana: World Bank, Program Leader for Human Development in East Africa, Aneesa Arur, on Monday reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to continue supporting Malawi Government to achieve its development goals.

Arur made the remarks in Balaka during her official visit to Nanjiri catchment where she appreciated a number of environmental restoration activities supported by World Bank and implemented by Balaka District Council.

She said World Bank sees Malawi as a very important partner on issues of climate and economic shocks.

She said such issue are critical to the partnership and needs to be strengthened further.

 “We are extremely committed to supporting the Government of Malawi and the most vulnerable people by building their resilience and allowing them to build their human capital. One priority, going forward, will be to continue building adaptive social protection in Malawi.

“With what I have seen, I am sure that communities will bounce back faster from shocks so that it does not erode their livelihoods and by continuing to make progress towards prosperity reducing poverty and preserving our planet,” she said.

Arur acknowledged impact of climate change on livelihood and appreciated activities implemented under Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programmes (CS-EPWP) in Balaka.

She was encouraged having seen the far reaching impact of the Climate Smart Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) and the impact it has brought on the lives of the communities, on agriculture as well as the future of the children.

“Above all, the biggest impression I have is the spirit of dynamism among all people in Malawi; they are able to see these opportunities, use the money they receive wisely on their children’s education and nutrition as well as use the income they have to build their own businesses and grow the prosperity of their families,” she added.

Meanwhile, Arur has disclosed that plans are already advanced to increase wages of participants of the Social Support for Resilience Programme to meet the current economic hardships in Malawi.

Poverty Reduction and Social Protection Director in the Ministry of Finance, Kettie Longwe, said that wedges are currently under scrutiny so that they are revised further.

“Currently, we have just revised the transfer levels for the Social Cash Transfer Programme beneficiaries, and we already recommended on the revision of wedges for CS-EPWP and soon it will be announced at the higher steering committee to meet this month,” she said.

Balaka District Council Chairperson, Osman Mapira, thanked World Bank for the support it gives to councils in the country saying World Bank funded programmes help people improve livelihoods.

 “Balaka is one dry area; the program is helping harvesting rain water which is increasing agricultural yield to people. Our youth are also being trained in various vocational skills through COMSIP, which is economically helping them,” he said.

In Balaka, 18,200 households are participating in the CS-EPWP by working in 18 micro catchments.

By Elia Chibwe

Lilongwe, February 6, Mana: Germany and Malawi governments have signed a bilateral agreement for a EUR 16 million (about K30 billion) additional financing through KFW to implement reproductive health activities phase III under the N’zatonse Programme.

Speaking during the signing ceremony on Monday, German Ambassador to Malawi Ute Konig said Germany is committed to continue supporting Malawi to increase accessibility of contraceptives to women in rural areas following strides made by Malawi on contraceptive uptake.

“We noticed that women in Malawi are very good in uptake of contraceptives as compared to all Sub Saharan countries. So, we see success of our joint cooperation and that is why we have decided to continue this cooperation with additional funding of EUR 16 billion we are signing today,” Konig said.

She said access and use of contraception has helped Malawi improve women’s health and socio-economic wellbeing.

Minister of Health, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, hailed government of Germany for the financial support which, she said, is going to address challenges and issues in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) especially on women and adolescents.

“Let me express our sincere gratitude to the people and government of Germany for the support given to us towards the health sector mainly in SRHR among women and adolescents,” Chiponda said.

She said the funding is going to strengthen provision of services in rural areas where the Ministry is going to work with PSI and some other implementing partners.

Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Simplex Chithyola Banda, gave an assurance that government will utilize the resources for its intended purpose.

“There is the need for accountability and transparency in utilization of resources. From now, we want to regain donor confidence that any intervention will be used for the intended purpose.

“The programme will improve the health of young people because they will be able to access sexual reproductive health services and will also assist reduce overpopulation in the country,” said Chithyola Banda said.

Germany, through KFW, has been supporting N’zatonse program since 2013 whose target group includes women and men of reproductive age in hard to reach areas, with a special focus on youth.

Cumulatively, between 2013 until this new phase III, Germany has committed EUR70.5 million towards the N’zatonse programme.

By Joel Phiri

Mzimba, February 5, Mana: Public Relations Manager for Northern Region Water Board (NRWB), Edward Nyirenda says vandalism of water infrastructure in Mzimba south poses great danger to sustainable provision of potable water to communities.

Nyirenda’s remarks are coming in the wake of reports that some unknown criminals are tampering with water transmission line in the district.

According to the Board’s Scheme Manager for Mzimba, Gregory Mwale, vandals have been targeting water transmission line, particularly the main water line which transmit water from the Machecheta Treatment Plant along the M1 Road to the primary tank located near National Food Reserve Agency office in the district.

‘‘The vandals are tampering with the infrastructure by removing bolts, nuts and metallic clamping strips designed to secure the pipes to concrete pillars, particularly at vulnerable points such as river crossings and gullies,’’ said Mwale.

Speaking in an interview on Monday, Nyirenda said the unscrupulous people behind the vandalism risk putting hundreds of community members in Mzimba at risk of dry taps.

Nyirenda said the Board has taken swift and decisive action together with the police to apprehend the suspects.

‘‘We are also embarking on sensitization of the communities along the pipeline to jealously guard the infrastructure and report anyone vandalising it,’’ he said.

Mzimba district Water Officer Jacob Mkandawire noted that water is life and tampering with water infrastructure is the same as killing people.

‘‘This tendency is uncalled for. Let people learn to take care of infrastructure. The destruction of water infrastructure will negatively affect the sustainable provision of water to people. This is regrettable,’’ Mkandawire said.

Public Relations Officer for Mzimba Police, Peter Botha said as police they are willing to embark on investigations to get to the bottom of the issues.

By Brian Wasili

Mwanza, February 5, Mana: Female participants from Khudze Catchment in Mwanza district that area under Climate Smart – Enhanced Public Works (CS – EPWP) have formed a Village Savings and Loans (VSL) group aimed at investing wages they receive as one way of multiplying it thereby addressing financial challenges at household level.

In an interview during a media tour on Saturday, Chairperson of M’bawa VSL group, Lucy Alfred said the group was formed in January 2023 in order to bring their money together because they wanted it to grow and be able to meet their needs.

“We agreed not to spend it but invest in the VSL intervention so that when multiplied we could buy what we would not afford before and we will continue doing so with the subsequent wages,” said Alfred.

After working for 24 days, each of the 17 members receives K28,800 as wages for participating in various tasks such as construction of check dams, gully reclamation, making swalleys, afforestation and natural tree regeneration management when the programme first rolled out last year.

The media visit which was supported by National Local Government Finance Committee through Mwanza District council was aimed at appreciating the impact the programme was making.

 One of the VSL members, Jeany Mpapa said she got K114,000 after investing and used it to pay school fees for her child and bought timber for her house which is under construction.

“I also bought four chickens which have now multiplied to twenty. I find it important to invest in the VSL because it can look small but when multiplied you can do big things,” said Mpapa.

Meanwhile the group which is supported by Community Savings and Investment Promotion (COMSIP) has got over K1 million in its bank account.

In his remarks, Director of Planning and Development (DPD), Emmanuel Sohaya said one of the objectives of the programme is to ensure that the environment is conserved and at the same time livelihood of the communities is also transformed.

“The communities should not only look at how much they are given as wages at the end of the work but also the significance of the assets created in their areas under this programme” said Sohaya.

He commended the participants of Khudze catchment for investing what they got in the first cycle of the programme.

By Lyte Ali

Mangochi, February 5, Mana: Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA) has distributed maize to over 4, 000 households under the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Nankumba in Mangochi as a way of easing hunger situation in the area.

This is in response to an assessment conducted by Mangochi District Council which revealed that over five group village headmen in the area were food insecure.

The assessment followed a recent video clip which was trending on social media about food insecurity in the area and showed hunger stricken people threshing grains from grass for food.

Speaking during the distribution exercise on Saturday, Commissioner for DoDMA, Charles Kalemba said his department is committed to reach out to all hunger stricken households in the country.

"I would like to thank those who publicized the clip which depicted some communities under T/A Nankumba threshing grains from grass which they were processing in order to make a meal.

"When we saw the clip, we asked Mangochi district council to do an assessment on food situation in the area, and they found out that communities are indeed food insecure, hence our coming to rescue them’’ he said.

Kalemba assured communities in Mangochi of continued support through the on-going Lean Season Response Programme where needy people in the district are currently receiving a 50-kilogramme bag of maize per household.

He therefore advised duty bearers and citizens in the district to ensure that the relief items are going to the intended beneficiaries.

According to the Disaster Risk Management Officer for Mangochi, Maria Joseph, so far over 70,000 households in Mangochi have been reached with the lean season response programme.

One of the beneficiaries, Patricia Yohane expressed gratitude towards the initiative saying it is a timely rescue from the unbearable conditions that people have been experiencing.

"I would like to thank government for coming to our rescue barely few days after it was reported that we are facing food shortage. From here, my family will no longer rely on grains from grasses as food’’ she said.