MANAonline
PAC urges electoral partners to intensify voter registration mobilization
By Benedicto Maguda
Blantyre, November 20, Mana: Public Affairs Committee (PAC) has appealed to electoral stakeholders in Malawi to take active role in encouraging eligible voters to get registered in the current voter registration in readiness for the 2025 General Election.
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) currently is in phase 2 of the voter registration in preparation for 2025 polls when registered voters will elect president, members of parliament and ward councilors.
Spokesperson for Public Affairs Committee, Bishop Gifford Matonga told Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Tuesday that many stakeholders are not doing enough to mobilize people on voter registration.
“There are a number of factors that are causing such low turnout in most registration centers; this is so because stakeholders are not doing well in voter civic education and mobilization. People are supposed to be well educated on issues to do with voter registration,” he said.
Matonga therefore asked church leaders, chiefs, non-governmental organizations, and all stakeholders to take part in encouraging people to go and register for 2025 elections.
In a separate interview, Councilor for Chisenjere Ward in Zomba, Gift Chilipa said it is true that people are not coming out for registration as compared to the last general elections.
“Despite MEC and NICE doing awareness, people are not coming in large numbers. This is worrisome but we are trying our best to deliver the messages about the importance of voter registration in places such as churches and mosques,” added Chilipa.
Second round of voters’ registration is underway in Nkhata Bay, Rumphi, Likoma, Kasungu, Kasungu Municipality, Dowa, Mchinji, Ntcheu, Zomba, Zomba City, Blantyre, Blantyre City and Thyolo.
MOAM addresses passenger’s concerns
By Pempho Nkhoma
Blantyre, November 20, Mana: Minibus Owners Association of Malawi (MOAM) has clarified that the current transport fare hike is not permanent and has assured the public that the fares will get back to normal once the fuel situation normalizes.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Wednesday, General Secretary for MOAM, Coaxley Kamange said for now people need to understand the situation, saying the raise in fares is due to the current fuel crisis.
“With the fuel situation, some people are buying at higher prices from the black market while others are finding fuel from far places which forces them to raise the transport fares to break even with what they have spent,” he said.
However, Kamange condemned other minibus operators who still charge higher transport fare despite buying fuel at recommended pump prices.
“We appeal to those that have bought fuel at standard prices to charge normal fares so that they will not be disadvantaging passengers,” he added.
In a separate interview, President for Passengers Welfare Association of Malawi (PAWA), Don Napuwa expressed disappointment with the situation, saying fuel shortage does not imply change in prices.
“They are taking advantage of the situation to benefit more because the shortage of fuel does not mean that that the price has to change,” he said.
Napuwa urged government to intervene, saying it is government’s responsibility to look into issues of transport for its citizens.
“Public transport needs to be handled by government because leaving it to the private sector is not helping the passengers, our friends in other countries like United States of America (USA) and South Africa have robust public transport systems managed by the government and they do not experience such issues,” he said.
There has been a rise in the fares by minibus operators in the country where in some cases passengers are being asked to pay between K700 and K1000 on a distance that normally cost K500.
Beneficiaries applaud government for timely lean season response
By Salome Gangire
Neno, November 20, Mana: Beneficiaries of the 2024/25 Lean Season Response Programme in Neno District have expressed gratitude to government for the timely delivery of maize under the initiative.
Speaking on Wednesday at Chilimbondo Court in the area of Traditional Authority Dambe, one of the beneficiaries, Jenipher Zinongwa from Khomera Village commended government for the timely intervention, noting that the food aid for November has arrived just as they needed it, following a successful October distribution.
“This year’s programme is very organized as we are receiving the maize distribution in time. We have now received maize distribution for the month of November as we did in October. In the past, we used receive maize for a particular month in another month which was not good,” she said.
Zinongwa said the response has eased their struggles during the lean season.
“We are thankful to the government for the timely support. Many families in our area were on the brink of hunger, but receiving maize in October and now November has brought us the much-needed relief,” she said.
Another beneficiary from Mkoka Village in the area of Traditional Authority Symon, Chakuda Bauleni emphasized the impact of the initiative, stating that the support is very important because this is the time of the year when most families have exhausted their food stocks.
“The fact that the maize has come on time shows that government is prioritizing the needs of its people,” Bauleni said.
Bauleni also noted the smooth distribution process, lauding the collaboration between government officials and community leaders.
Neno District Disaster Risk Management Officer, Brighton Mphinga said the implementation of the 2024/25 Lean Season Response Programme is progressing very well in the district with the maize being supplied on time.
Mphinga said the programme is targeting 13 868 food insecure households in the district.
“We would like to thank government for distributing the maize under the lean response in time as we are distributing maize for the month of November, having successfully distributed supplies for October,” Mphinga said.
He said the maize distribution under the programme has resulted in maize prices stabilizing on the market forcing some vendors to lower their prices.
According to Mphinga, Neno is among the districts that will receive the response for six months starting from October 2024 to March 2025 alongside Mwanza and Blantyre districts based on the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) report.
He said the response follows the MVAC report, which projected that 5.7 million people will be food insecure in the country.
President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera on May 23, this year declared a state of disaster in 23 out of the 28 districts in the country due to hunger, which was caused by El Nino weather phenomenon.
Organization hands over borehole to Chitipa communities
By Andrew Gondwe
Chitipa, November 20, Mana: A local organization in Chitipa, Tubepoka Development Initiative (TDI) has drilled a K12 Million borehole at Ngatele village in Senior Chief Mwabulambya in Chitipa to ensure that communities have access to clean and safe water in the area.
Speaking during the handover ceremony on Tuesday, TDI's board chairperson, Island Mtambo said the intervention follows increased cases of waterborne diseases in the area owing to lack of access to clean and safe water.
"We believe the borehole will help transform the community as people will have improved access to safe and clean water and will also enhance opportunities for infrastructure development," Mtambo said.
He added that the borehole will help reduce the long distance women and girls used to travel to fetch water from unprotected sources.
Mtambo urged the community to cultivate a sense of ownership for the borehole by maintaining it to ensure sustainability.
One of the beneficiaries, Lolass Nyondo of Ngatele Village applauded TDI for the borehole in her area saying it will help reduce various challenges such as water borne diseases.
"We used to fetch water from unprotected sources shared with domesticated and wild animals making it unhealthy and unreliable. We are thankful for having one," she added.
She asked TDI and other stakeholders to drill more boreholes in the surrounding areas as shortage of safe and clean water was a big challenge.
The borehole is set to address water related challenges among 374 community members.
Since 2012, TDI with funding from Willow Creek Church of America have drilled 46 boreholes within the Ilanga-Njerengwa area in Senior Chief Mwabulambya in Chitipa district.
Farmers hail CS-EPWP for enhancing crop production
By Aliko Munde
Chitipa, November 20, Mana: Some participants under Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) in Chitipa District have hailed the programme saying it has assisted local farmers to replicate what they are learning in the programme to their fields.
One of the participants, Steven Mughogho of Wanjenjema village in Traditional Authority (TA) Nthalire in Chitipa District says through the programme he has constructed swales and contour ridges in his garden to help fight land degradation.
Mughogho, who is under Thete catchment, says his farmland had a lot of gullies and after learning how to construct swales and marker ridges, loss of topsoil in his farmland is a thing of the past.
“Since I started making my own manure, constructing swales, marker and contour ridges in my farmland, I have noticed that topsoil, which I used to lose is intact,” Mughogho said.
Another participant, Alice Nyondo said the last farming season she realized higher maize yields than her neighbours because she applied what she learns from public works programme.
“I constructed swales which helped hold water and made my farmland wet hence my crops were able to survive during last year's dry spell,” she said.
Agriculture Extension Development Officer (AEDO) for Kavomolo, Solomon Mbale said on manure making and application, a number of farmers are able to harvest more yields without chemical fertilizers.
CS-EPWP is a component of the Social Support for Resilient Livelihood Programme (SSRLP) supported by the World Bank and the Social Protection Multi-Donor Trust
Fund.
Blantyre Youth Office urges comprehensive drug abuse solutions
By Agatha Kadzinje and Hope Chimwala
Blantyre, November 20, Mana: Research conducted by University of Malawi (UNIMA) and the University of Stirling in Scotland has revealed a high alcohol consumption among youth and women in Africa, attributing the problem to advertisement strategies and branding employed by beverage companies to sell their products.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Wednesday, Blantyre District Youth Officer, Peter Mizedya concurred with the researchers' call to action, emphasizing the need for new policies regulating alcohol advertising to help reduce alcohol-related deaths in the region, including Malawi.
Mizedya added that many young people also engage in excessive drinking habits due to unmet expectations they had while growing up.
“When these expectations are not met, often due to various hardships such as unemployment, frustration and anger comes in. This makes young people give up easily on life and become more susceptible to being swayed into drug and alcohol abuse,” he added.
Mizedya said Blantyre District Council will continue working with youth clubs to reach out to young people in the area on issues of drug and alcohol abuse.
“In these clubs, we ensure that youths are involved in many activities, including sports, village savings and loans (VSLs), and agricultural initiatives, which are both educative and informative for them,
“These activities aim to keep them engaged while educating them about the dangers of drug abuse, including alcohol consumption. There are young people in youth clubs who are battling with various addictions and others that are involved in prostitution,” he added.
Mizedya emphasized that alcohol consumption was a serious concern as it diminishes productivity of the country’s youths.
“We are losing productive young people who could have contributed significantly to this country and their families. We therefore, urge organizations to incorporate drug abuse initiatives into their youth programmes,” he said.
He also highlighted limited number of trained therapists in youth clubs, noting that counselling provided in youth clubs was inadequate to address issues of drug and alcohol abuse among the youths.
“There is counselling in youth clubs to help young people battling addiction. However, there are no trained psychologists to provide professional therapy, and this is one of the challenges we face,” said Mizedya.
In a separate interview, Psychotherapist and mental health advocate, Catherine Thangalimodzi said there could be a lot of causes of high alcohol consumption and addiction among the youth apart from the marketing strategy that has been established as the main cause.
“Some of the issues we could look into are; unemployment, relationship challenges, the way families deal with problems of their loved ones and unsatisfied emotional needs,
“Youths choose to take alcohol as a way of trying to ease and numb their pain when these emotional needs have not been met,” she said.
Thangalimodzi added that beer consumption has devastating impacts on the lives of the youth as alcohol may instigate health problems, among others.
“We have to understand that there are high risks related to high levels of alcohol consumption such as addiction, increased cases of road accidents due to poor driving, and also liver and kidney problems,” Thangalimodzi added.
The research is titled; Regulating alcohol packaging and supply to protect health in sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from policy systems in Malawi and Uganda (RAPSSA).
Synod of Livingstonia graduates 30 caregivers, six mentors
By Tawina Kuluweya
Mzuzu, November 20, Mana: Church of Central. African Presbyterian (CCAP) Synod of Livingstonia in alignment with its Early childhood development (ECD) program on Tuesday graduated 30 caregivers and six mentors from Nkhatabay after three weeks of training in Early Childhood Development (ECD) at St. Andrews CCAP Church in Mzuzu.
Speaking at the event General Secretary for CCAP Synod of Livingstonia, Reverend William Tembo highlighted on the importance of the ECD program saying it helps to raise a responsible generation.
“As a nation we have to start preparing the younger generation so they can be mentored, have good manners and be responsible citizens at a tender age”
Tembo also thanked World Vision and the government for supporting the synod in its ECD programs
“As a synod we thank the government and World Vision for supporting the ECD programs in an effort to improve the quality of early childhood education in Malawi”.
In her remarks, Chief Child Affairs Officer in the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, Martha Namalomba who was the guest of honor at the ceremony thanked all caregivers in the country and advised them to preach the importance of early childhood education
“As a ministry we would like to thank our partners, child protection officers and all the caregivers as they are doing a good job in making sure that our children are getting quality education, we also encourage them to teach the parents the importance of ECD.
She said government is trying to motivate the caregivers by giving them an honorarium.
“As government we have started giving the caregivers an honorarium in order to motivate them so that they work with confidence. As of now, 2000 caregivers in the country are already on the payroll and we are looking forward to adding more” Namalomba said.
One of the graduates, Janet Mamba who has been teaching in nursery school for over 23 years said she has learnt a lot from the training which will benefit her and she will also teach her fellow teachers.
Chitipa communities urged to source tree seeds locally
By Aliko Munde
Chitipa, November 20, Mana: Chitipa District Forestry Office has urged communities under Climate Smart Enhance Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) in the district to start collecting tree seeds locally to ensure high survival rate when the seedlings are planted.
In an interview, District Forestry Officer for Chitipa, Daniel Mbeu said if communities start collecting seeds locally they will have fresh seeds that have adaptive characteristics leading to higher survival rate.
“We are encouraging participants under community contribution of CS-EPWP to start collecting seeds from their forests. This will help to reduce expenses they incur and the seeds germination rate is good," he said.
He noted with concern that some of the seeds which communities procured had poor germination rate hence the need to start collecting seeds locally, which he said has proved to be the best.
“Those communities that collected seeds locally and planted, the germination rate are very encouraging. That is why we are encouraging communities in different catchment areas to emulate the same,” he said.
One of the participants at Yamba catchment, Lyson Silumbu said local collection of seeds has helped raise 18, 000 seedlings for the catchment area.
Silumbu said local collection of seeds has assisted the area save money, saying they have only spent on procuring polythene tubes.
“Local collection of seeds is good because the germination rate is very good. And the seedlings are growing very healthy,” Silumbu said.
CS-EPWP is a component of the Social Support for Resilient Livelihood Programme (SSRLP) supported by the World Bank and the Social Protection Multi-Donor Trust Fund.
Five TAs in Thyolo declared ODF
By Yamikani Yapuwa
Thyolo, November, 20, Mana: Five Traditional Authorities in Thyolo District have been officially declared Open Defecation Free (ODF), marking a significant milestone in improving public health and sanitation in the district.
Speaking during the declaration on Tuesday, Thyolo District Council Chairperson, Councilor Petro Bowman commended the traditional authorities Nanseta, Ngolongoliwa, Kapichi, Changata, and Khwethemule for their commitment and hard work in achieving the ODF status.
“This is not just about having latrines in every household. This is about restoring dignity, improving health, and creating cleaner communities free from preventable diseases,” added Bowman.
The Council Chairperson said the ODF status was a significant step forward to public health but requires continuous effort to sustain.
“We must remain vigilant by maintaining proper hygiene practices and ensuring every household continues to use and care for their latrines.
“This is the only way we can protect ourselves from diseases like cholera,” he said, while acknowledging a recent cholera case recorded in the district.
He urged other traditional authorities in Thyolo District to emulate the ODF declared areas, saying the remaining traditional authorities should priorities sanitation and hygiene practices in their localities.
Traditional Authority Nanseta expressed commitment to maintaining the ODF status in his jurisdiction.
“We will work tirelessly to ensure that this status quo is upheld. Our people have embraced these changes, and we will continue to promote good hygiene practices to protect our communities,” said Nanseta.
Thyolo District Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) Coordinator, Judgement Kumwenda said the district has made commendable progress in sanitation efforts.
“This achievement shows that we are on the right track in ensuring access to safe sanitation for everyone.
“Good WASH practices are critical for overall well-being. They not only reduce the risk of diseases such as diarrhea and cholera but also improve productivity and contribute to economic development,” said Kumwenda.
The WASH Coordinator added that improved sanitation practices promote better learning for children, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance the quality of life for families.
According to Kumwenda, the declaration follows years of collaborative efforts involving community members, natural leaders, and WASH partners, including Habitat for Humanity and Self Help Africa.
“These organizations provided technical and financial support to ensure the successful implementation of sanitation projects across the traditional authorities,” he added.
Adult literacy classes empower Mzimba women
By Joel Phiri
Mzimba, November 20, Mana: Women in Traditional Authority Khosolo in Mzimba have expressed excitement with adult classes they attend at Rukulu Primary School, describing them as empowering and enlightening.
Speaking on Tuesday at Rukulu Primary school in the area during one of such lessons, a learner, Elizabeth Jere from Thomas Tembo Village said she decided to enrol for the afternoon classes because she had challenges with numeracy and literacy skills.
‘‘I dropped out of school way back when I was a girl due to lack of school fees. As you might be aware, education in the 1980s was not for free as it is today, so I failed to proceed with it’’, said Jere.
Jere said before enrolling for the adult classes, she had problems with budgeting for her business.
‘‘I had problems counting and reading. My fritters business almost collapsed. But now I can write, count and explain issues. These adult lessons have helped me’’, she said.
Another beneficiary of the adult classes, Christina Gondwe said the reading and writing skills she has gained have opened her eyes to the world of many possibilities.
‘‘I used to ask strangers whenever I was travelling due to illiteracy. But now with this adult lessons we are able to read and we no longer ask fellow travellers about where a car is going because I am now able to read and write.
“Even my business of selling clothes is now thriving because I no longer struggle with calculations and other transactions’’, she said.
Margret Kaunda, a tutor at the school said the adult learners are taught many subjects and skills.
‘‘We teach them how to set up a business, identify a market, savings and loans groups and hygiene and modern agriculture techniques. Many are coming to attend these classes and learn these skills which are pivotal in their life’’, She said.
She however said most men do not attend adult literacy classes as compared to women and appealed to men to join.
‘‘I would like to appeal to everyone starting from 15 years to come and attend these classes and open their minds to the world’’, said Kaunda.
In a separate interview, Assistant Community Development officer for Mzimba, Godfrey Shaba said male participation is one big challenge that adult classes face.
‘‘It could be because they are income earners for their families so they have difficulties finding time for the classes” he said.
Shaba however encouraged men to find time and attend the classes, observing that such classes run in the afternoon hours when many people have time.
According to Shaba, there are about 238 adult classes across all traditional authorities in Mzimba South.
