By Steve Chirombo

Dedza, May 19, Mana: Some elderly people who are benefiting from the Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) in Dedza have applauded the initiative, saying it is a transformative initiative.

On Monday in an ongoing SCTP pay parade in the district, the beneficiaries said the program has transformed their lives, as some are able to do small-scale businesses and also buy food during the lean season.

A beneficiary, Jackson Mvukuto aged 60, from Miyowe village under Traditional Authority (T/A) Chauma said although he faces old age challenges, he is still doing some small-scale businesses.

He explained: “I am into vegetable farming and own a few domestic animals which I bought after receiving the money. I am privileged because this is my seventh time getting the money. This programme has transformed my life.”

Another beneficiary, Mtumodzi Chimunga aged 97, from Chizwa Village, T/A Chauma, revealed that most of the cash given to older persons like her is used to buy food.

“I can no longer dig the soil and plant crops as I used before. I am mostly ill and this money supports me. I am doing animal farming which also assists me and the children I support,” she said.

Principal Social Welfare Officer, for Dedza District Council, Mtende Lungu said the essence of the programme is to support underprivileged people.

He said so far 19, 592 households have been earmarked to benefit from the programme’s three-month phases of April, May and June in all the eight Traditional Authorities (T/As) in the district.

“We are happy that the money is being used for the intended purpose of supporting vulnerable people,” stated Lungu.

SCTP is funded by the Social Protection Multi-Donor Trust Fund and the World Bank through the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) to address poverty shocks among the elderly and the ultra-poor.

Fostina Mkandawire

Salima, May 19, Mana: Government has reaffirmed its commitment to reducing sugar prices and increasing the commodity’s availability nationwide through deliberate policy actions and support for local production initiatives.

Speaking on Monday during an inspection of sugar production at Salima Sugar Company Limited, Minister of Agriculture, Sam Kawale revealed that the government is prioritizing the expansion of the sugar industry, with the Salima Sugar Company playing a pivotal role in these efforts.

“We are making a deliberate effort to enact supportive laws that ensure smooth sugar production. Our goal is to make sugar affordable and accessible to every Malawian.

“The government is leveraging the Greenbelt Initiative to open up surplus land for sugarcane farming, encouraging both local and foreign investors to participate in large-scale cultivation. The pending production Sugar Industry Bill is also expected to attract more farmers into sugarcane, by promoting high-value crops and enhancing public-private partnerships” said Kawale.

Salima Sugar Company, one of the state-affiliated firms under the Ministry of Agriculture, has faced several challenges since its inception but is now on a growth trajectory.

Executive Chairman for Salima Sugar Company, Wester Kosamu, expressed optimism about the company’s progress.

“We are currently producing sugar here in Salima and we expect to hit 22,000 metric tonnes this season. We also have 4,500 hectares of idle land that we are opening up to Malawians and potential partners for sugarcane planting,” said Kosamu.

The government’s strategic focus on production efficiency, expansion of arable land, and improved legislation aims to stabilize and eventually lower sugar prices, which has been a burden to many households in recent years.

With the combination of new investment, legislative backing, and expanded cultivation, the Ministry of Agriculture is confident that Malawi will not only achieve self-sufficiency in sugar but also ensure that every citizen can afford this essential commodity.

By Yanjanani Mendulo

Chiradzulu, May 20, Mana: Malawi Congress Party (MCP) aspiring Member of Parliament for Chiradzulu Nguludi Constituency, Winston Bergi, has pledged K1.7 million to support Mwaiwathu Support Group, a community of people living with HIV and AIDS from Maloya Village, Traditional Authority (TA) Likoswe in Chiradzulu District.

Bergi made the pledge on Tuesday after the group raised concerns about taking antiretroviral (ARV) medication on empty stomach due to lack of food, a situation which negatively affects their health and adherence to treatment.

Speaking in an interview, Mwaiwathu Support Group Advisor, Isaac Mazudi, said the support will go a long way in addressing the challenges faced by the 80 members of the support group.

"Apart from advising each other not to share medicine even within families, we also encourage each other to eat nutritious food so the medication can work effectively. The promised funds will help us start small businesses and use the profits to buy food," he said.

He said the group encourages members to remain strong, seek medical attention when needed, and not to delay in collecting ARVs once they run out.

One of the beneficiaries, Mary Saiti, said the support will bring significant change in her life.

"I will start selling farm produce such as tomatoes and vegetables, and I hope to make some profit to buy food," she said.

The group meets in one of the classrooms at Goleka Catholic Full Primary School and operates under the slogan "Ndife a mphanvu, a thanzi ndi opanda nkhawa."

By Dalitso Kampira

Thyolo, May 20, Mana: Farmers in Thyolo are expected to benefit from improved crop yields and reduced dependency on chemical fertilizers through a new soil health initiative being implemented by One Acre Fund.

Speaking on the sidelines of a briefing session with Agriculture Extension Development Coordinators (AEDCs) from all Extension Planning Areas (EPAs) in Thyolo, One Acre Fund's Government Relations Officer for Thyolo, John Matemba, said the intervention is necessary because many farmers have been struggling with declining yields due to poor soil health.

“Most farmers are not generating the yield we aim for because the soil has degraded over time. Through this Soil Health Initiative, we are encouraging farmers to use organic manure and adopt practices like burying green residues to rejuvenate the land,” Matemba said.

He added that the goal is to promote a culture of organic farming where chemical fertilizer is used as a supplement, not the primary input.

“We want to instil a long-term mindset of soil care among farmers. By maximizing manure, they can improve yields sustainably,” he explained.

He added that to ensure effective implementation, One Acre Fund is working closely with AEDCs to help spread the message to farmers across the district.

Yasinta Chasowa, AEDC for Dwale EPA, welcomed the initiative, saying the knowledge gained from the meeting will help them to guide farmers in timely manure production and application.

“This meeting is timely. It will help us support farmers in adopting best practices for manure production, which in turn will improve soil fertility and reduce over-reliance on fertilizers,” she said.

Thyolo District Land Resources Officer, Akusainda Msiska, also commended the initiative, noting that it will play a significant role in enhancing agricultural productivity throughout the district.

The Soil Health Campaign is a mass awareness drive targeting both One Acre Fund and non-One Acre Fund farmers, covering all Traditional Authorities and EPAs in Thyolo.

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.