By Blackson Mkupatira

Chiradzulu, April 20, Mana: Chiradzulu District Commissioner, Francis Matewere, has commended the Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) for improving the livelihoods of vulnerable people in the district.

Speaking in an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Tuesday, Matewere said through the cash transfers, SCTP has been instrumental in enhancing the financial stability of beneficiaries, enabling them to start small-scale businesses and provide for their families.

“We have many government initiatives aimed at alleviating poverty in the district, but the good thing about SCTP is that it targets the most vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, people with disabilities, and child-headed households,” he said.

Matewere expressed gratitude to government and the World Bank for the financial support, saying many households on the programme can now buy food, send their children to school, and take part in income-generating activities that are improving their homes.

Chiradzulu District Council Principal Social Welfare Officer responsible for SCTP, Tellinus Malamba, said apart from the cash transfers, beneficiaries are also equipped with business management skills and are encouraged to save and invest their money for sustainability.

"We are pleased that many people are using the money wisely by starting small businesses. This has empowered them economically and reduced dependency," she said.

One of the beneficiaries, Grace Mideliko, a single mother of three from Traditional Authority Sandracki, said the initiative has helped her build assets and support her children’s education.

“Now my household is food secure. I own two goats and six chickens. I have renovated my house, and can afford school fees, textbooks, and other essential items for my children.” she said.

In Chiradzulu, the programme began in 2018 with around 6,000 beneficiaries who have since graduated. It is now supporting 9,902 beneficiaries across all nine traditional authorities.

By Pempho Nkhoma

Blantyre, May 19, Mana:  Waste Advisers organisation has emphasized the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to ensure progress and sustainability of waste management activities in Blantyre City.

Waste Advisers, are currently working with secondary schools, and have worked with Blantyre City Council in installation of waste separation bins in markets and streets within the city for waste separation and recycling.

Waste Advisers Project Officer, Khumbo Butao, told Malawi News Agency (MANA) in an interview on Monday, that through the European Union (EU) Building Better Project, they are working with stakeholders to develop a Malawi Circular Economy Network which will address waste management issues among others.

“We are working with the education sector to build citizens who will be ambassadors of waste management. Our goal is to increase organic and inorganic recycling rates, strengthen the role of informal waste pickers and support local enterprises that upcycle waste to reduce the volume of waste going to landfills,” he said.

Butao added that proper waste management in the city has numerous benefits including reduced environmental pollution, improved public health, job creation in the recycling sector and contribution to a circular economy.

 “Waste management is a community responsibility and everyone has a role to play. By working together, Blantyre can become a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable city for future generations,” Butao said.

He denounced lack of public knowledge, vandalism and limited infrastructures for waste segregation and recycling, saying it is affecting the progress of waste management.

Waste Advisers is addressing these issues by supporting infrastructural development through pilot projects, advocating for policy support and conducting continuous community clean-up campaigns.

Environmental activist, Charles Mkoka, stressed the need for promotion of circular economy practices where waste is reused and recycled rather than dumped, arguing it reduces pressure on landfills.

“We need to encourage community clean-up initiatives and waste sorting at household level. We have to increase the number of designated waste collection points and improve regular garbage collection by establishing more recycling and composting centres,” Mkoka said.

Waste Advisers has supported production of functional items such as school desks and compost from waste.

By Augustus Nkhwazi

Mzuzu, May 19, Mana: The first quarterly report for 2025 released by Malawi Police Service (MPS) recently, shows a sharp rise in cases of violence against older persons in Malawi this year as compared to a similar period in 2024.

Deputy Public Relations Officer for the MPS, Harry Namwaza, told Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Saturday that the cases have risen to 13 in 2025 from 12 last years.

Namwaza said most of the violence towards the elderly resulted into murder.

"Break down of the cases for the first quarter of 2024 include nine murder cases, two assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one poisoning", said Namwaza in a written response through WhatsApp.

For the first quarter of 2025, Namwaza stated that seven of the cases were murder, two assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two malicious damage, one arson and one unlawful wounding.

He further said most of those that suffered the violence were of the age range from 60-90 years old.

Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) Chairperson, Gift Trapence, has since expressed concern with the increase in cases of violence against the elderly.

Trapence said this calls for government and different stakeholders that includes Ministry of Gender, MPS, traditional and religious leaders, as well as the civil society, to have concerted efforts in creating awareness amongst Malawians for the protection of older persons’ rights.

"It is now high time that we have a robust national action plan that can be funded by different stakeholders to make sure that the rights of the elderly are put at the centre," he stated in a written response to Mana on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Executive Director for Malawi Network of Order Persons (MANEPO), Andrew Kavala, says the statistics from the MPS first quarterly report highlights systemic gaps in the protection of older persons. He notes that high prevalence of murder at 75 percent of the violence in 2024 and 54 percent in 2025 indicate severe targeting of the elderly.

"This suggests inadequate preventive measures such as poor law enforcement focus on elder-specific crimes and weak deterrents such as lenient penalties," he stated.

Kavala, who is also a Human Rights Commissioner, added that there are limited support systems taking into consideration the age range of those who suffered the violence which he said includes individuals who may live alone, lack mobility, or face social isolation as a result, perpetrators take advantage to exploit or harass them.

The MANEPO Executive Director has recommended the need to strengthen legal frameworks.

He said the Judiciary should make it intentional to provide stiffer penalties for crimes against older persons.

He further suggests an enhanced law enforcement where deliberate efforts are made to sensitize police officers across the country to handle elder abuse cases with sensitivity and prioritize patrols in high-risk areas such as isolated neighborhoods.

He said, currently, his organization is undertaking community based programs towards establishing helplines for older persons, intergenerational programming aimed at promoting activities to reduce isolation and data driven policies that will see to it that there is regular publication of crime statistics.

"By addressing these gaps holistically, Malawi can shift from reactive measures to proactive protection, ensuring dignity and security for older persons," Kavala said.

By Yankho Kandio

Salima, May 19, Mana: Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) has announced the launch of a new initiative called “Rise for Peace”, targeting youth in the fight against political violence ahead of the 2025 general elections.

CHRR Project Officer, Maxwell Mvula, announced the initiative during a District Executive Committee meeting on Monday, and he described the initiative as a strategic response to the risk of electoral violence.

“The goal is to mobilize the youth to work against political violence ahead of the general elections. We want to equip both peer educators and party-wing leaders on issues of peace building, conflict resolution and conflict management.” Mvula said.

Although CHRR had initially hoped to implement the project across all Salima constituencies, resource limitations have confined its scope to Salima Central, according to Mvula.

He added that that the choice of Salima Central was also informed by its status as a political hotspot.

“We already have the structures, personnel, and community networks in Salima Central, which makes it feasible to launch the project here,” he said.

The Rise for Peace project is being implemented in three districts; Salima, Karonga and Mangochi with a total budget of MWK 121.3 million, with each district allocated MK40.3 million, exclusively for activity-based expenditures.

Expected outcomes include the empowerment of youth to mitigate potential electoral crises.

 “We want to see empowered youth in Salima Central who can prevent up to 80 percent of the anticipated political and electoral violence in 2025,” said Mvula.

The project also aims to foster constructive engagement among youth across political divides, and ensure inclusive civic education.

“Young men, women, and youth with disabilities are often excluded from electoral processes. This time, we want to make sure they are fully involved in all electoral activities leading up to September 16, 2025.” he said.

District Elections Officer for Salima, Alinafe Chisenga, commended the initiative, saying violence derails electoral processes.

"We appreciate every initiative that is channeled towards raising awareness against violence during elections, what we hope is a credible electoral process," she said.

The Rise for Peace initiative marks a critical step towards peaceful and inclusive elections in Malawi.

By Petro Mkandawire

Blantyre, May 19, Mana: Ministry of Lands has deployed 319 land clerks and 34 land registrars in districts and Traditional Authorities (T/A) across the country to enhance customary land registration.

Public Relations Officer for Ministry of Lands, Mphatso Mkuonera, told Malawi News Agency on Monday that 34 district land registrars will be working in all councils and municipalities, while 319 clerks will be based at T/A level.

"The land registrars will also be working as secretary to the district land tribunal in each district while the 319 land clerks will also be working as secretaries to the customary land committees and customary land tribunals," said Mkuonera.

He added that the officers, in collaboration with selected village committee, will be responsible for resolving land related disputes, and that where one is not satisfied with the outcome, they can appeal to customary land tribunal based at T/A level.

“After this level there is a district land tribunal and the central land board as the higher authority for appeal,” he added.

The Customary Land Act (2016) and attendant regulations (2018) create land committees whose members are expected to be nominated by the communities themselves.

The committee ensures that all other categories of land and their respective boundaries within the jurisdiction of the group village head of the area are clear and known. This arrangement replaced the old system where traditional leaders were the ultimate authority over customary land.

Traditional Authority Kunthembwe of Blantyre has, since, expressed gratitude for the deployment of the officials, saying they will be key in reducing land disputes.

He said the development has come at a right time as he receives more than 10 land-related cases every month.

"When it comes to land-related disagreements people think that we, traditional leaders, are corrupt.  The coming in of government officials in our communities will promote access to land related justice," said Kunthembwe.

By Fostina Mkandawire

Salima, May 19, Mana: National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM) has launched a transformative initiative aimed at equipping young Malawians to become peace champions in a proactive move to foster peaceful democratic participation ahead of the September 16, 2025 general elections.

The initiative, which kicked off Friday with a two-day message development workshop in Salima, brought together key stakeholders from government, civil society, and community leadership to strengthen youth participation in peace building.

Speaking at the official opening, NYCOM Director of Finance and Administration, Ernest Mangani, called on stakeholders to view the youth not as tools for political violence, but as architects of peace.

“Our young people must not be reduced to pawns in political conflicts. They are the cornerstone of Malawi’s peaceful development,” said Mangani.

He said the initiative aligns with Malawi 2063 and is a direct contribution to the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 2250 and the African Union’s Continental Framework on Youth, Peace and Security.

The workshop provided a platform to co-create messages that encourage youth to engage constructively in the upcoming elections.

“Our mandate goes beyond youth representation, we are here to mobilize, educate, and empower the youth to be genuine agents of positive change. This is about ensuring they transition from passive participants to active shapers of Malawi’s democratic future,” he said.

NYCOM Programs Officer, Solomon Mlinda, elaborated on the project's objectives, noting that the initiative is not only about preventing violence but also creating a sustainable framework for youth empowerment.

“We are building capacity of young people to be peace ambassadors. Through advocacy, education, and inclusive participation, we aim to redirect their energy from being manipulated to being leaders in their own right,” said Mlinda.

One of the participants Traditional Authority (TA) Maganga commended the initiative and recognized the urgency of the matter, noting the growing concerns of political manipulation among youth in previous election cycles.

She said supporting NYCOM’s peace building agenda will affirm the role of youth as key partners in safeguarding Malawi’s democracy.

“When young people are empowered to resolve disputes and promote unity, they become the strongest pillars of our democracy,” she said.

The workshop was attended by representatives from the Department of National Unity, the Malawi Electoral Commission, Malawi Police Service, Malawi Peace and Unity Commission, National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE), Youth and Society (YAS), and various youth leaders.