By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, May 23, Mana:  Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Tourism, Chauncy Simwaka says embracing and implementing guidelines for Protected Area Management Effectiveness (PAME) is key in achieving efficiency in the conservation of wildlife.

He said this on Thursday when Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) and Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) jointly launched the PAME guidelines in Kasungu.  

With funding from Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management (BIOPAMA) programme, MUST and DNPW have developed the first ever guidelines for assessing the effectiveness of the management of protected areas to help improve biodiversity conservation through information sharing.

Said Simwaka: “These guidelines are the hope for the future of protected areas and a testament to our commitment to safeguarding wildlife.

“I urge everyone to internalise and integrate them in the management practices so that they have a lasting impact on the management of wildlife.”

He said it is pleasing that Malawi has become the first nation to come up with such guidelines in the sub-Saharan Africa, pointing out that some countries will be coming to learn from it.

In his remarks, MUST Head of Biological Sciences Department, Petros Chigwechokha, said the institution is proud to have taken the lead in the development of the guidelines.

“As an institution of higher learning, we promote excellence. We promote research that is geared towards the conservation of biodiversity.

“In this case we partnered with DNPW to develop the guidelines which are the first in this part of Africa and we are proud of that,” Chigwechokha said.

He said MUST is a key partner in the conservation of wildlife and will support the implementation of the guidelines through various means including training of DNPW staff to ensure there is effective management of protected areas.

The guidelines are also expected to help improve protected area management by harmonizing procedures for conducting PAME assessments and guide on the allocation of resources to protected areas in need, based on priorities identified systematically.

The BIOPAMA programme is an initiative that helps African, Caribbean and pacific countries to address their priorities for improved management and governance of biodiversity and natural resources through provision of tools, services and funding to conservation actors.

Malawi is a signatory to various regional and international agreements including the SADC Protocol on Wildlife Conservation, which strengthens the country’s commitment to protected area management and conservation.

By Mtsano Chasweka          

Mulanje, May 24, Mana: The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) says it will construct an ICT laboratory at Chinyama Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in Traditional Authority (TA) Tombondiya in Mulanje district through Connect a School Project.

Speaking on Wednesday during a ground breaking ceremony at Chinyama CDSS, MACRA`s Deputy Director of Consumer Affairs, Kelious Mlenga said the Connect A School Project implemented by Malawi Government under Universal Service Fund will construct computer laboratories in schools to increase ICT access.

“This digital inclusion will bridge the gap as 6 million children from government schools have no access to internet services,” said Mlenga.

In his remarks, Member of Parliament for Mulanje Bale, Victor Musowa applauded MACRA for the initiative saying access to computer literacy and utilization of ICT will motivate students, thereby improving education standards in the rural areas.

“It is an achievement to have access to technology in this digital era. We will own it and embrace it and l am sure that the community will be transformed,” said Musowa.

Chinyama CDSS, Head teacher, Bernard Nkombezi assured MACRA, local leaders and the community that the school authority will properly manage the computer laboratory to ensure it serves its intended purpose for the benefit of students and the community.

Apart from Chinyama CDSS, Chimwala and Salabango CDSS will also benefit from the project.

75 schools in Malawi will benefit from Connect a School Project in the first phase.

By Moses Nyirenda

Lilongwe, May 23, Mana: Centenary Bank has urged its customers to stay vigilant against fraudsters who are impersonating as Centenary Bank staff to defraud customers.

In a press statement released on Thursday by the bank, the bank's Head of Risk, Sylvester Chalira, said as a bank they have noted fraudulent activities that are being made by the impostors.

 “Centenary Bank has recently become aware of fraudulent activities involving individuals impersonating Centenary Bank employees; these fraudsters are creating WhatsApp groups requesting cash as processing fees for loans.

“They also contact unsuspecting individuals through phone calls, emails, or messages, claiming to be bank representatives, and attempt to deceive them into revealing sensitive information or transferring funds to the fraudsters,” Chalira said in a press statement.

He urged the customers and the general public to be cautious when dealing with any requests for personal or financial information, especially over the phone or through electronic communication channels.

Chalira also advised customers to safeguard their money by keeping their Mobile Banking, Internet Banking, Agency Banking, and ATM PINs, as well as passwords, safe and take care when doing transactions.

 “Customers should also check their surroundings when transacting at ATMs to ensure no one is observing them entering their PIN.

“Customers must not share these private details with anyone under any circumstances. Our staff will never ask a customer for their password,” Chalira stated.

He also said customers should call the Centenary Bank toll-free number, 358, if they suspect their account has been compromised and to report the incident to the police.

One of the Centenary Bank customers, Danyeka Francis, advised Centenary Bank to tighten its security system to safeguard its customers from the fraudsters.

Centenary Bank currently has 14 branches across the country, including Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu, Zomba, Mangochi, Dzaleka, Madisi and Kasungu.

The bank has over 300 agents, 30 ATMs, three forex bureaus and a microfinance division. The bank offers a full range of banking products and services, as well as Bancassurance and Microfinance products.

By Moses Nyirenda

Lilongwe, May 23, Mana: Rotary Club of Bwaila-Lilongwe President Hafez Jamal has said his rotary club, through its project dubbed Ndiphunzire, is committed to supporting tertiary needy students with tuition fees in order for them to complete their education and become responsible citizens.

He made the remarks on Thursday when his club donated a cheque worth K800 thousand to two students at Malawi College of Health Sciences (Lilongwe Campus) to cover their tuition expenses.

Jamal said they, as rotary club, are passionate about transforming lives of those who are less privileged which include needy students.

“As members of rotary club and on a personal level, we are driven by a profound passion to uplift the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves and it includes needy students.

“We believe that by supporting needy students, we are not only contributing to their personal growth but also investing in the future of our community and nation. Today’s gesture is a small demonstration of that commitment,” he said.

Jamal added that through their project they are eyeing to reach out more tertiary schools in the country to support students from underprivileged families.

“With our Ndiphunzire project, for the past years we have been helping Malawi College of Health Sciences students and Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and we are aiming to reach more schools depending on amount of money we can fundraise.

“We are trying our best to fundraise at least a big amount of money to cater more schools,” he said.

In his sentiments, principal for Malawi College of Health Sciences-Lilongwe Campus, Denis Nyirenda, commended Bwaila-Lilongwe Rotary Club for supporting needy students at his school, saying that the support will help the students to finish up their studies and help their families, societies as well as the nation at large.

He urged the corporate world, including individuals and organizations, to emulate what Rotary Club of Bwaila-Lilongwe has done, emphasizing that at his school there are more needy students who need financial support to cater for their education.

A Malawi College of Health Sciences third year student, who is a beneficiary of the recent support by Rotary Club of Bwaila-Lilongwe, Agnes Kafotokoza, expressed gratitude for the assistance.

“I just want to thank Rotary Club of Bwaila-Lilongwe for what it has done. To us it is a great opportunity; since the beginning of our studies we have been struggling to pay school fees,” Kafotokoza said.

By James Mwale

Ntchisi, May 23, Mana: The Connect a School Project under which Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) is constructing computer laboratories in 75 schools is expected to retain learners who transfer from Kayoyo Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) to other schools to attain computer lessons.

Member of Parliament for Ntchisi North East, Olipa Chimangeni, made the remarks Wednesday at the school’s laboratory construction site where she presided over its ground breaking ceremony in the area of Senior Chief Nthondo.

She said students transfer to schools with computer labs where they would complete their computer syllabus leaving Kayoyo CDSS which had no laboratory despite having the competent teachers and enough books recommended for secondary school computer syllabus.

She said upon completion the learning facility will also serve as a motivation Centre for young girls in her constituency, through exposure to the internet, to be ambitious and work hard towards their goals.

“Most of our young girls have never been out of their villages, let alone visited Lilongwe. This has been a backward challenge because they have not been exposed to women living successful lives from whom to draw ambitions.

“This internet providing facility, upon completion, will expose them to a lot of women living lives of opulence around the country and the world, from whom they will draw motivation,” said Chimangeni.

Kayoyo CDSS Head Teacher, Jonathan Kaboni, echoed the legislator saying it is every teacher’s wish to have their students advance in life, and modern times, technology advancement is central to almost every aspect of a person’s life.

He said this wish has, for a long time, been frustrated by lack of a computer and internet service proving facility that is being constructed at his school.

“We thank MACRA for considering our school in the first phase of the project implementation. Not only our students will benefit from the facility, but also all households living within 200 metres of the facility who are expected to enjoy free internet for the first three years of its operation,” said Kaboni.

MACRA Procurement Manager, Alfred Chibwana, said the project was inspired by the realization that technology is no longer a necessity but a human right which is also central to achieving Malawi 2063 through digital inclusion by connecting people to the internet with education and business benefits.

He said 73 CDSSs, two secondary schools and one primary school have been targeted in the first phase, with 60 more schools to follow in the second phase.

By Emily Kaliwo

Chiradzulu, May, 23, Mana: School authorities at Chigodi Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in Chiradzulu, have hailed Malawi Communication Authority (MACRA) for its intention to construct computer laboratory to help the school access important information to achieve quality education.

Chigodi DCSS Deputy Head Teacher, Dereck Keyala, made the remarks Wednesday when MACRA launched construction of the computer laboratory under the Connect-a-School Project which is being implemented in all districts across the country to improve access to information through internet.

“We are happy because of this facility as it will enable us access relevant information for teaching because materials become scarce sometimes,” he said.

Keyala urged the contractor to build quality structure that should benefit the school and surrounding community for a long time and generations to come.

Senior Chief Likoswe thanked MACRA for deciding to construct the facility at a school in his area.

He expressed hope that the facility will benefit students and the community in accessing important information through internet.

MACRA Deputy Director of Broadcasting, Kelton Masangano, said the project is meant to improve ICT access and learners’ performance in rural areas so that they should be on the same level with their urban counterparts.

"Research showed that due to lack of ICT facilities in rural areas, learners in urban areas were always above in terms of school performance. So, this project will help all learners to be on the same page,” said Masangano adding that the project will also bring electricity and a lot of positive change in the area.

Masangano urged learners to be responsible for the project as the facility will not belong to MACRA but the community.

Member of Parliament for Chiradzulu Central, McTimes Malowa, was happy to see that Universal Fund has trickled down to Chiradzulu.

"I am happy that we are going according to our plans and people are ready to benefit more from this project,” he said adding that all leaders in the district will join hands to ensure that the computer laboratory is used for the intended purpose for the good of the area and the district.

Malowa was hopeful that internet connectivity at Chigodi CDSS will attract development interventions such as tap water, electricity and a tarmac road.

Apart from Chigodi, MACRA will also construct another computer laboratory at Mbulumbudzi CDSS at Traditional Authority Mpama in the district.