By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, May 15, Mana: Traditional leaders surrounding Kavomolo Primary School in the area of Senior Chief Mwenewenya in Chitipa have applauded Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) for funding a K30 million teacher's house construction project at the school.

In an interview on Wednesday in Chitipa, Group Village Head (GVH) Mwenenyimbiri said some teachers were walking long distances to and from the school due to shortage of teacher's houses at the institution.

He said that the teachers who were staying in rented houses were reporting for duties late thereby compromising their performance.

“Apart from easing the shortage of teacher's houses at the school, the house has also added beauty to the area,” Mwenenyimbiri said.

Head Teacher for the school, Peter Munkhondia thanked Chitipa District Council for constructing the teacher's house which was is a motivation to teachers.

“We have a shortage of teachers’ houses here but with the construction of this house we are motivated and teaching is now becoming exciting,” he observed.

Director of Education, Youth and Sports for Chitipa District Council, Clement Nyirenda said that one of the factors that was lacking in public institutions such as schools is accommodation.

“The Council and its partners are able to build school blocks, forgetting teachers’ houses and this makes it hard for us to deploy teachers to in rural areas,” he said.

Nyirenda said that if the council and partners continue building more houses, the issue of equitable distribution of teachers would be achieved.

GESD is funded by the World Bank, which is aimed at strengthening local authorities’ performance, responsiveness to citizens’ needs and management of resources for improved service delivery.

By Vida Msiyo

Blantyre, May 15, Mana:  Nankumba Community Based Organization (CBO) at Mbame in Blantyre will shortly donate firewood to Mpemba Reformatory Centre in the district after observing that the Centre was in dire need of firewood for cooking.

Nankumba CBO Chairperson, John Machika disclosed this to Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Wednesday in Blantyre saying the CBO saw it crucial to donate the firewood to support the welfare of young individuals whom he said need well prepared meals in the course of reformation for the better future.

“Our goal has always been to support our community and reduce burdens wherever possible. We saw it fit to compliment government’s effort in providing resources for the center,” he added,

Nankumba CBO which boasts 10,000 mature trees in their woodlot, intends to donate more than 1 tonne of firewood to Mpemba Reformatory Center in due course. 

“With our woodlot, we now boast about 10,000 mature trees and this is why we are ready to reach out to various sectors within our community. We observed frequent appeals for firewood in schools that often request K200 contributions from parents for School Feeding Programme,” he added.

Machika said Nankumba CBO was compelled to step in after learning that there was shortage of firewood at Mpemba Reformatory Centre whose need for firewood was similar to all other schools at Mpemba/Mbame area.

“The firewood is ready but our primary requirement is transportation to deliver the firewood to Mpemba Reformatory Centre,” he added.

A Community member, James Chabwera hailed the CBO for wishing to provide the firewood to the Centre.

He said this would help to reduce their spending on firewood needs.

 The CBO was established in 2015, dedicated to serve the community at TA Somba through various community level interventions such as child care and other vulnerable section of the society.

By Wongani Mkandawire.

Nkhotakota, May 15, Mana: Illovo Sugar Company in Nkhotakota has donated patrol equipment to Gwinthi Crime Prevention Panel in Dwangwa.

At the hand-over ceremony, Illovo Sugar Company Community Policing Coordinator, Martin Malisawa advised the CPP members to be a united team and secure people and property within their locality.

"Be like a bunch that no one breaks, it is the wish of the company to make sure that communities around the Estate's sugar fields are well-secured. It is only when people are well-secured that they have time for developmental activities," he said

Malisawa said patrols should be scaring people with evil intentions in the sugarcane fields. 

He encouraged them all, not to hesitate arresting whoever is found stealing or selling the Illovo sugarcane.

The Company Coordinator assured the people that the company realizes its corporate responsibility and that communities living around the estate should be supported.

Group Village Head (GVH), Gwinthi thanked Illovo Sugar Company for such a gesture.

"These people have worked as community policing members for a long time guarding and patrolling sugarcane fields for local farmers. There was no benefit either for the community or themselves.

“With your coming as Illovo sugar company, we have already started noting the fruits and we appreciate, you are a friend indeed," he said.

Gwinthi pledged total support and to ensure that men are always watchful.

Community Policing Coordinator for Nkhunga Police Station, Sub Inspector, Patrick Mwale advised the CPP members to work professionally when discharging their duties.

He warned them never to betray one another or start wrangles because of the equipment but to unite and develop teamwork for the benefit of their own community.

The equipment includes one hunter pedal bicycle, 10 pairs of gumboots, 10 reflective vests, one rechargeable torch, and whistles are worth K500,000.00.

By Tracy Mtegha

Mzuzu, May 15, Mana: Malawi Education Reform Programme (MERP) intends to construct 10, 900 school blocks in primary schools in Mzuzu and across the country in order to provide conducive teaching and learning environment

In an interview on Tuesday in Mzuzu, Construction Desk Officer for the programme, Perhaps Nyungu said construction of the blocks were already under progress in Mzuzu City targeting 24 schools with a block each.

“We borrowed this concept from Malawi Education School Improvement Plan (MESIP) and currently construction 10 school blocks are under construction in Mzuzu City.

This initiative was hatched as a solution to high learner classroom ratio between Standard 1 to 4 so that we create conducive learning environment thereby enhancing the interest in learners to go to school,” he said.

Shift Y Head Teacher at Chiputula Primary School in Mzuzu, Mazganga Banda said the project would reduce congestion of learners in classrooms.

“We have 3,460 learners and 56 teachers which means one teacher serves 70 to 80 learners in a class, yet we are supposed to have at least 60 learners for one teacher,” he said.

A Standard 8 learner at the school, Modester Chikwanje applauded government for the project saying the initiative would boost the learners’ interest in education.

“As a leaner, I will make sure that I take care of the classrooms for it is a privilege to us, as beneficiaries of this project,” she promised.

Some of the schools which have already benefited from the program in Mzuzu City include, Geisha, Zolozolo, Kawuwa, Chiputula, Katoto and Ching’ambo

The Project started in March 2022 with financial support from World Bank and is expected to be finished December 2025

By Martin Chiwanda

Machinga, May 15, Mana: Communities around Mgonachawu Primary School at Traditional Authority (TA) Liwonde area in Machinga have cherished construction of a classroom block at the school under the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD), saying the structure has improved learner enrollment and reduced absenteeism.

One of the parents, Jamia Ligomeka told Malawi News Agency (Mana) in an interview Wednesday that said the classroom block which accommodates Standard 1 and 2 learners and has provided a conducive learning environment, adding that parents were able to send their children to school on assurance of safety.

"We are now comfortable to send our children to school. We cherish that our children learn under secure environment and I'm extremely happy with what the council has done," she added.

Mgonachawu School Head Teacher, Loveness Chikopa said that enrollment in standard 1 and 2 classes has increased since the commissioning of the classroom block four months ago.

“In standard 1, number of learners has double from 164 to 214, within the four months,” the Head Teacher disclosed.

“Our school was constructed about two years ago but classes were conducted under trees.  Attendance was very low by then. When Machinga District Council constructed this classroom block, attendance is overwhelming and we are still registering new learners," she recalled.

Councilor for Mbonechera Ward, Jenala Makunganya said a similar project was undertaken at Masidi Primary School where for 15 years, the school had no block, making it hard for learners to access better education.

Chairperson for Machinga District Council, Councilor, and Cidreck Stande said the district has transformed within the few years as a result of numerous projects contracted with GESD funds, adding that it was pleasing to see the Council continuing receiving funds for bridge construction, an advantage to children who faced many difficulties when crossing rivers to school.

He said the district recently received K750 million funds and this year the district was yet to receive K1.8 billion.

Stande said apart from school blocks they have constructed bridges among others that have improved mobility of school going children who faced difficulties to go to school.

"We have lined up several development projects in readiness for next funding. We want to see   development that shall improve people's lives,” he added.

District Councils are implementing development activities through GESD with financial support from the World Bank.

By Pempho Nkhoma

Blantyre, May 15 Mana: Blantyre based Body Project Fitness Centre has organized an aerobic session called the Blue Shades on May 18, 2024 at Kamuzu Stadium which is open to city residents ahead of a half marathon dubbed “Be More Race” to take place next month in Lilongwe.

Fitness Trainers Team Leader at Body Project Fitness Centre, Chandy Chidothe told Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Wednesday that the event is called Blue Shades because of the corporate colours of a sponsor, Standard Bank.

He called those that are expected to participate in the aerobic session to wear “something blue” adding that the session was meant to promote an annual “Be More Race” 21 kilometres marathon expected to take place on June 15, 2024 in Lilongwe.

“This is about a half marathon and those who want to participate in the marathon will buy tickets on the day,” Chidothe said.

He added that those willing to participate in the blue shades would have fun and keep fit on top of being accorded opportunity to learn more about the forthcoming half marathon.

Chidothe said those that would patronize the aerobic session would take part in different sets namely cardio box, functional exercise and high intensity interval training and later open air aerobics.

“Those that are coming should expect a mixture of fun and nonstop intense workout that will keep them sweating," he pointed out.

One of the participant, Ken Maulukira said that he was looking forward participate to become physically fit.

“I would like to be fit and this is why l want to participate in the events. I cannot miss the Blue Shades," he added.

Body Project Fitness Centre held a similar session in Lilongwe on May 1, 2024 and expects to hold another Blue Shades in Mzuzu.

By Margret Kalua

Nkhata Bay, May 15, Mana: Communications Manager for Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), Bright Sonani has said the Authority was set to roll out physical house and property numbering exercise in Nkhata Bay District.

He said the exercise was under National Addressing System (NAS) project being implemented in the country.

Speaking on Tuesday during a NAS sensitization meeting in the district, Sonani asked for stakeholder collaboration in sensitizing communities about the exercise.

"We have been implementing the NAS project with several components namely; post codes, street naming, house and property numbering.

“We have solely come to sensitize and inform stakeholders at Nkhata Bay Boma that we are set to embark on physical house and property numbering in the district and any day we will be on the ground," he added.

Sonani urged local authorities to own the project and be in the forefront in preventing vandalism and theft of the physical NAS structures.

Principal Administration Officer for Nkhata Bay District Council, Moses Jere said the project was critical to development, saying it would improve service delivery and enhance timely response to emergencies.

"For council to do developmental activities, we need to know where people stay or can be found. Issues of response to health, communication, detection of criminal activities will be made easier," he said.

Senior Chief Nkumbira hailed MACRA for the project, saying it would act as a wakeup call for Nkhata Bay residents and chiefs to start building and allocating plots in line with development plans of the district.