MANAonline
NYCOM launches consultation meetings on strategic plan development
By Rose Cross Mahorya
Mzuzu, May 16, Mana: National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM) on Thursday launched consultation meetings on the development of its 2024-2025 strategic plan.
Speaking in Mzuzu during the launching ceremony of the plan, Executive Director for NYCOM, Rex Chapota, said the plan should be youth-centred so that it can guide implementation of youth driven strategies for them to contribute to the country’s development.
Chapota urged the youths to have self-esteem, stand for what they feel will work for them and voice out challenges and propose solutions to the same so that they are incorporated in the plan.
"The consultations are not a once for all activity which is done to show off. I need young people in every part of this country to be sending in their views for the betterment of this strategic plan which will reflect a true situation concerning youths on the ground.
“This is your council; therefore, it must be driven to the future that you envision it to go," said Chapota.
He added that youths should look forward to more opportunities through NYCOM.
“We will soon be calling for applications for agribusiness grants from youths, and we are currently in the process of consulting for more affordable terms of conditions so that more young people access these grants," said Chapota.
Chairperson for Mzuzu Youth Network, Salome Kadazi, commended the council for consulting the youth on the development of the plan and said that the process will contribute towards the success of the plan.
"For a very long time, youths have been rarely consulted on issues affecting them, let alone on national development programs, a development that made it hard for youths to fully participate and benefit from such interventions,” said Kadazi.
She said the consultation should not be the end in itself but incorporate views as submitted by different stakeholders in the youth development sector.
“Youths need to be empowered financially if they are to contribute positively to the development of this country," said Kadazi.
Director of Planning and Development for Mzuzu City Council, Philemon Maseko, said it is high time youths were empowered and given a chance to be part of planning and decision making processes, as young people are part of the country's driving force.
The council's previous strategic plan expired in 2020.
2 murder suspects surrender to police
By Mwai Kumanda
Lilongwe, May 16, Mana: Two murder suspects who were wanted by Lingadzi Police in Lilongwe have voluntarily surrendered to police, fearing for their own lives.
Lingadzi Police Station publicist Sergeant Cassim Manda confirmed the development in an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Thursday.
Manda has since identified the two as John Gidala, 34, and Mavuto Jonas, 42.
“The two are suspected to have murdered a 27-year-old Madalitso Magwaya whose body was found in Lilongwe River near Kauma Township with both hands and legs tied.
“It is also believed that Gidala offered his bicycle to transport the victim to an unknown destination where they hacked Magwaya before throwing him into the river,” he said.
According to Manda, the two had been on the run for several days and became extremely fearful of their safety after hearing growing tension from the deceased’s family, hence surrendering themselves in the hands of the police.
The two will be taken to court soon to answer murder case, contrary to section 209 of the penal code which attracts the maximum sentence of death penalty.
Gidala hails from Lipalama Village in the area of Traditional Authority Chimutu in Lilongwe District and Jonas hails from Nkhuthe Village in Traditional Authority Chitukula’s area in the same district.
Watchman arrested for theft
By Martha Simchimba
Lilongwe, May 16, Mana: A 44-year-old security guard, Patrick Zgambo, is in police custody at Lilongwe Police Station for breaking into a church building where he stole electronic music equipment worth K3.5 million at Time of God Church situated opposite Kamuzu University of Health Sciences in Lilongwe.
Lilongwe Police Public Relations Officer Inspector Hastings Chigalu confirmed the development in an interview with Malawi News Agency and said the suspect committed the offense at his workplace on Wednesday and was arrested the same day.
Explained Chigalu: “The incident took place around 01:50 hours when the station's detectives who were on routine motor vehicle patrols along Kamuzu Procession Road, intercepted the suspect while carrying several travel bags on a bicycle.
“When the police searched the bags, they discovered that it was music equipment and upon being questioned, the suspect revealed that he stole the equipment at Time of God Church, where he was working on night shift as a security guard."
Meanwhile the police have since recovered all the stolen items that include 16 channel mixer, six microphones with their stands, and amplifier, among others.
Zgambo hails from Mzikubola Village in Traditional Authority Mabulabo in Mzimba district.
The suspect, who gained entry into the church by breaking a big window glass, will appear in court soon to answer unlawful breaking and theft charges.
Mehuca trains people in mental health issues
By Memory Khutuliwa
Blantyre, May 16, Mana: Mental Health Users and Carers Association (Mehuca) held a training workshop in Blantyre where participants were provided with comprehensive knowledge and skills to help them advocate for a Mental Health Bill expected to improve the welfare of people with psychological and intellectual disabilities across the country.
Speaking on the sidelines of the training workshop on Thursday, Mehuca Director Memory Bismarck told Malawi News Agency that the organization started in 2012 by Scottish men who were working with College of Medicine to advocate, train and offer awareness on issues to do with people with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities.
“We noted that there is a lot of stigma and discrimination against people with psychological and intellectual disability because most people fail to understand what mental health is all about. We are here to raise awareness by defining types of mental disorders so that people should know that depression, stress and anxiety are also mental issues,” she added.
Bismarck said that there are mental health laws that were came into being in 1948 and are still in use, adding that there is need to have new laws in place to protect people with psychological and intellectual disabilities against all forms of abuse, stigma and discrimination.
“The aim of this meeting is to educate and to find ways on how we can reach out to government so that a new law must be in place so that people with psychological and intellectual disabilities should have right in accessing social services easily,” she added.
She added that Mehuca’s challenges include limited funding which hinders the organization to reach throughout the country to raise awareness on issues of mental health, adding that the organization only reaches six districts.
One of the facilitators, Enoch Chilemba, said the training was relevant as participants discussed and looked into the possible Mental Health Bill which will be introduced in Parliament which in turn should empower Mehuca to populist it.
“People with psychological and intellectual disabilities meet various challenges when accessing social services in our communities. They are vulnerable to many challenges in their daily lives, such as sexual harassment and discrimination, which leads to low self-esteem," he added.
Chilemba added that there was need to find strategies that can be put in place to eliminate or deal with issues of mental health, citing public awareness campaign as one of the strategies to deal with issues that affect people with psychological and intellectual disabilities.
One of the people with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities, Rodger Kachimbili, said they face a lot of challenges in their communities, adding that their rights are often violated such that some sections of the society fail to regard people with psychological and intellectual disabilities as human beings.
“There are a lot of people with psychological and intellectual disabilities that have limitations in accessing social services. As an organization, we intervene so that rights of these people should not be violated,” he added.
He therefore asked citizens of goodwill and civil society organizations to help engage government to push the passing of the bill so that rights of people with psychological and intellectual disabilities should be respected.
Youths urged to spearhead community development
By Tawonga Moyo
Mzuzu, May 16, Mana: Youths in the country have been challenged to take a leading role in developing their communities to enable them acquire various skills and build strong support networks.
The call was made on Wednesday by Webster Ndhlozi who is founder and Chief Executive Officer for Web Champions Chiputula, an organization in Mzuzu City which conducts clean-up initiatives and trains communities on matters of hygiene.
Ndhlozi noted that when youths partake in various developmental activities at the community level, they will be prepared to take on leadership roles even at the national level or effectively collaborate with different organizations that deal with development.
“Partaking or volunteering in community development activities can provide youths with various opportunities whereby they can acquire skills in communication, problem solving as well as team work, which are essential in leadership roles.
“They can also gain a sense of belonging as well as make a positive impact by contributing to the overall wellbeing and development of their communities,” said Ndhlozi.
He then urged organizations to consider involving young people when they are implementing various development projects without necessarily considering years of experience, noting that such criteria hinder many young people from showing their potential.
In his remarks, Lunjikani Chirwa, who resides in Luwinga Mzuzu, concurred with Ndhlozi, saying youths possess creative ideas and by taking part in developmental projects, they can ensure that the projects being implemented align with their needs and inspirations.
“Youths bring fresh perspectives, energy and innovative ideas that can drive positive change. As such, taking part in projects can empower them to take ownership, thereby build their capacity and confidence in readiness for future tasks,” said Chirwa.
Among other initiatives, Web Champions Chiputula has been clearing wastes in most parts of Chiputula’s drainage systems, as well as handing out cash prizes to households which excel in hygiene.
Mpamba Market sheds spur businesses
By Chisomo Kambandanga
NKhata Bay, May 16, Mana: In the outskirts of Nkhata Bay town, about 10 kilometres from the beautiful scenery of Lake Malawi, lies a busy trading centre called Mpamba.
Wedged between several beautiful hills, including the famous Kandoli Mountains, Mpamba enjoys a cool breeze that wheezes down from the thick surrounding forests.
A few miles away are stretches of Kaning'ina and Kandoli forests which further influence the weather conditions for the place and that of neighbouring area like Chikwina, Thanula, Kangoyi and Mzenga.
With such usually-rainy weather conditions that go all year round, these areas have turned into a production hub for bananas, maize, cassava and mangoes which find their way to Mpamba for better market.
“Here, everyday day is a busy day. Many people come here on daily basis, seeking to buy produce especially bananas, maize and cassava,” says Naomi Jere, a banana supplier.
She says Mpamba has become a busy trading area and attracts traders from as far as Lilongwe and Mzimba and those from nearby places like Mzuzu and Nkhata Bay town.
“Our biggest challenge was that we did not have proper market sheds, being an area that receives rains almost throughout the year. So doing business on the open was not easy,” she says.
Nkhata Bay District Council authorities also noticed this gap that existed and planned to construct modern market sheds to help boost business activities at the district’s most famous trading centre.
Nkhata Bay Director of Planning and Development Edgar Chihana says Mpamba deserves modern market sheds because it is fast growing into a very important trading area, supplying produce far and wide.
“As a council, we noted the potential that Mpamba has in terms of trading activities and decided to quickly move in and construct better market sheds.
“I’m happy to report that all what we wanted has been achieved. Vendors are doing business all seasons and revenue collection for the council has been simplified. This is driving to the growth of this agro-based community besides improving the service delivery of the council,” he said.
In random interviews, market users expressed satisfaction with the facility which was ofificiary handed over to the community in September 2023.
Martha Banda, a 45-year-old tomato vendor, praises the structures for their quality and the convenience they offer to both sellers and buyers.
She said: “I ventured into tomato business a decade ago. It was not easy considering that I was conducting my business on an open space and that meant braving rains almost on daily basis.”
She said that such situations nearly forced her to quit the business.
“When my husband died, his relatives grabbed all the property we had so I had no choice but to proceed with the business that I use to take care of my children despite the challenges that were there due to the absence of market sheds,” she says.
Until the opening of the new market structure, Banda has seen her business blossom.
“I am able to provide for my family with ease. I’m paying school fees for my children and I have secured a plot.
“I plan to build a good house before end this year,” she said.
Not only that, Banda has also managed to buy two goats and two pigs, toping up on the chicken farming that her late husband introduced to her.
“The new market shed is providing an environment suitable for all weather conditions. I continue making sells even during rain. On a good day I make up to K40,000 in profits,” she said.
On his part, 40-year-old beans and fish seller Thomas Phiri said the new market sheds are an encouragement to him, as he has gained more customers for being stationed at one place.
"The coming in of these market sheds has helped me to gain more trust from my customers, as I am always found at one place. Everyday I receive new customers and that is an encouragement to me to keep on diversifying what I sell to keep on realizing more profits," Phiri said.
Chairperson for Mpamba market, Soko Banda, says he is overwhelmed with the messages he usually gets from the buyers and sellers at the market which all show satisfaction.
“We are excited to have this market and we will appreciate even more if the council can construct a fence and a car park,” he said.
Acting Director of Trade and Commerce at Nkhata Bay District Council, Thanila Gondwe, said they are pleased to see traders utilising the market with happy faces.
“Already, we can see the fruits of this project. Mpamba Market has boosted revenue collection as it becomes easy for ticket sellers to do their work. On a good market day, we are able to collect K50,000 on average, which was not the case before,” Gondwe said.
Mpamba market sheds have a capacity of 120 vendors with good spacing, allowing people to pass each other without problems.
It is a twin of Chintcheche Market under Senior Chief Malanda, which is also rendering hope and survival to the buyers and sellers from southern part of the district and those from Dwangwa, Nkhotakota and Salima.
In his remarks, spokesperson for the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Patrick Botha, said construction of markets like Mpamba is in line with MW 22063.
"So when we talk of MW2063 we are talking of three key pillars, namely Agriculture Commercialization, Industrialization and Urbanization. When you look at the three, you will see that provision of a modern market plays a very crucial role in terms of access to market but also urbanisation as you know the coming of the market also brings about other components and complementary amenities.
"The availability of a market will also make producers produce more quality products in order to be competitive," Botha said.
Nkhata Bay District Commissioner Rodgers Newa assures vendors that the council will keep lobbying for funding for more market sheds at Mpamba.
“As a council we need to take care of all communities in the district. Mpamba is a big community. Much as we have provided them with these two sheds, that’s not enough. The future plan is to increase the number of sheds to almost six and to properly accommodate the vendors.
We will keep on lobbying for more funding so that we can keep on responding to the needs of the people,” Newa said.
Funded through Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) project to the tune of K60 million with support from Multi-Donor Trust Fund and World Bank, the market is expected promote trade and create wealth in line with the 2063 vision.
Staff house brings relief at Chima Health Centre
By Ireen Mseteka
Likoma, May 16, Mana: Director of Health and Social Services (DHSS) for Likoma, Dr Gracewell Mathewe has described construction of a staff house at Chima Health Centre in the district as a milestone in health service delivery at the facility.
He said the K18 million house, constructed using Government to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) funds has reduced accommodation challenges at the facility and has led to improved provision of health services.
in an interview Thursday, Mathewe said before construction of the staff house, all health workers were residing far away from the Health Centre hence patients were not getting health services at the right time.
“It is important for staff to reside near their work place, however, before the construction of the house, all staffs used to live far away from the Health Centre. This affected their service delivery because patients could not be assisted on time.
“I felt it was important, together with the management for the district, to lobby that the first chunk of GESD Project funds should go towards the health sector. I am happy that all sectors involved including the council approved that the money should go towards the construction of the house,” Mathewe explained.
Nurse and Midwife Technician for Chima Health Centre, Lyson Kasakatiza thanked the council for the house saying it has helped in improving quality of health services to community members.
“People are able to access health services anytime including at night and during weekends unlike in the past when I used to stay away from the health center. It was challenging to walk long distances every day because I could reach at work tired,” he said.
Director of Public Works (DPW) for Likoma, Shadrick Msiska said the council has constructed a second staff house at the facility which was expected to be handed over by the end of this month.
Journalists drilled on Obstetric Fistula
By Wongani Mkandawire
Nkhotakota, May 16, Mana: National Coordinator for Freedom from Fistula, Margaret Moyo has hinted that orienting journalists would help in disseminating information about obstetric fistula.
Speaking during the capacity building training of journalist on obstetric fistula prevention, treatment and social reintegration which will be done through radio programmes and news articles in Nkhotakota District, she said the Media plays a vital role in disseminating information to masses as such capacitating journalists on obstetric fistula prevention and treatment would help to enlighten communities.
''I believe the Media has power to disseminate information and involve the community into different programs," Moyo explained.
She stressed that the strategy of using patient ambassadors is going on well as they help to identify clients in the fight to end obstetric fistula.
One of the trained journalists from Umunthu FM, Dyson Kamwana said the training was an eye opener to Journalists as it has imparted them with skills on how they could professionally report about obstetric fistula.
"We lacking the capacity on how we can report about obstetric fistula in newsrooms, this training has posed as an aye opener to us as we have been sharpened on how we can present the issues surrounding fistula professionally," he admitted.
According to statistics, Nkhotakota is one of the districts that is registering high cases of obstetric fistula citing seven cases of fistula that have been treated by the Bwaila Fistula Centre in Lilongwe hence there is need of more commitment.
Apart from treating women with fistula, Freedom for Fistula gives psych-social support for the patients to overcome the trauma that they have been facing in the communities that they are coming from.
Freedom from Fistula with funds from Government of Iceland is implementing a three-year project called Empowering women with obstetric fistula to ensure access to quality obstetric fistula care and social reintegration in Nkhotakota.
Chizumulu Ward councilor defects to MCP
By Ireen Mseteka
Likoma, May 16, Mana: Councilor for Chizumulu Ward in Likoma District, Barnabas Sambamo has defected from opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to Malawi Congress Party (MCP).
He is Vice Chairperson for Likoma District Council and was welcomed into the party during a political rally held at Same Ground at Chizumulu on Wednesday.
In an interview after the rally, Sambamo said he decided to join MCP because of the party’s emphasis on national development.
“MCP as one of the major parties in the Tonse Alliance led administration, focuses and puts much emphasis on people’s welfare and national development hence I have decided to join and support its development agenda,” he said.
Sambamo said he was planning to contest for the ward on MCP ticket during the 2025 General elections.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Likoma, Ashems Songwe said Sambamo and other 60 members from DPP, UTM and United Democratic Front (UDF) were ushered into the party during the rally.
“Councilor Sambamo told the gathering that he was motivated by the MCP led government’s focus, determination and commitment to developing Likoma Island as evidenced by the ongoing developments such as the modern port project, construction of a health center and primary school blocks and many more,” he said.
Songwe said MCP was attracting more people because of development projects which the government was implementing in the country.
Food insecure families being assisted by CARD
By Mary Makhiringa
Balaka, May 16, Mana: Churches Action in Relief and Action (CARD) Executive Director, Melton Luhanga on Wednesday said the launch of the Enhanced Climate Resilience for Improved Income and Food Security Project will help in alleviating serious food insecurity people in Balaka area facing.
At least 109,340 farmers in Balaka are food insecure following destruction of 27,000 hectares of maize due to dry spell in the 2023/2024 agricultural season as a result of El Nino weather pattern which affected most districts in Malawi.
Speaking at Zalimu Village in Balaka after the official launch of the project, Luhanga said the project will look into issues of environmental management and food security.
Said Luhanga: “Balaka is one of the districts that is frequently affected by different calamities, just this year, the district had the El Nino phenomenon which caused severe drought and at some point, the district was also affected by floods.
“We feel different disasters periodically affect the district because climate change and its effect is coming to its climax, so we thought we could invest in this produce to reduce the shocks that come due to the climatic effects.”
According to Luhanga, the project is targeting 1,200 families with 60 percent of them being female headed.
“At the end of it all, we would like to see environmental management highly improved in the area as well as seeing that there is a lot of inclusivity in development with people being food secure and focusing on developing themselves,” he added.
In the project, farmers will be given state of the art solar powered irrigation pumps which will be used all year round as well as distribution of five goats to 300 families on a pass on programme.
Member of Parliament for Balaka South, Ireen Mambala hailed CARD for the initiative, anticipating that it will go a long way in in addressing the food situation in the area.
“It is encouraging that the project has incorporated a lot of women. This is a positive attribute as mostly it is women who feel the impact of food insecurities because they mostly bear the burden unlike men,” she said.
One of the benefiting lead farmers, Regina Eliya said that agricultural activities were always jeopardized by dry spells.
She hailed CARD intervention saying this was timely and ideal among people in Balaka as modern solar pump irrigation will help the farming families to be food secure all year round.
She therefore called upon all beneficiaries of the goat pass on programme to be responsible enough to make the programme reality in meeting its intended objectives.
Chief Agriculture Extension and Natural Resource (CAENRO) David Alli said Enhanced Climate Resilience for Improved Income and Food Security Project will run for three years.
