MANAonline
Government justifies delays over construction of Bangula-Marka railway
By Robert Nayeja
Nsanje, May 3, Mana: Minister of transport and public works, Jacob Hara says redesigning of Bangula- Marka railway has delayed the construction works of the rail way in Nsanje District.
Hara was speaking after he inspected construction works of the railway underway in the lower shire district.
He said cyclones have forced the engineers to redesign the project to avoid railway wash away in the future
“Lucky enough cyclones came before we had gone far with the project. A lot of streams were developed and rivers changed directions which has forced us to raise the railway design and also to construct additional bridges that were not on the first design,” he said.
He assured people in the district that government will provide all necessary support to the contractor in order for the project to move faster so that people in the country should start enjoying the benefit of railway transport.
"The price of commodities will go down as the cost of transporting goods on railway is cheaper than road transport.
"As government we will provide all necessary support so that the project should be completed," said the minister.
Hara assured people that by the end of this year a locomotive from Beira will be able to reach Nsanje Boma.
He said: “We want to import fertilizer through railway this year. We may have delayed with the project but we want to construct the railway that will be resilient to natural calamities like floods that are common in the district. To achieve this, we had no choice but to change the designs because of the experience we learnt from Cyclone Freddy.”
The minister said the redesigning and the devaluation of the kwacha has forced the project cost to be revised.
Speaking during the ministerial visit, Project Manager at China Railway 20 (CR20) Zhinan Gua. Said once all resources are in place the first part of Marka- Nsanje will be completed by September this year.
Senior Chief Chimombo appealed to government to make sure that there is speed in the construction works of the project, saying the railway line will unlock economic opportunities of people in Nsanje and the whole nation.
“There will be cargo from Mozambican port of Beira coming here to Malawi and some people will find job, others will be doing business and it will lift the face of Nsanje as it will invite investors in various fields," he said.
He appealed for good working relationship between government and the contractor to speed up the construction works.
Minister to engage MNCS on stadium gate collections
By George Mponda
Karonga, May 4, Mana: Minister of Youth and Sports, Uchizi Mkandawire says he plans to discuss with Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) officials to consider stopping collection of a percentage of gate receipts during football matches at district stadiums.
The Minister said this at Karonga Stadium, Friday where he went to inspect the facility which was opened in 2018, following media reports describing the stadiums of poor state.
He said district councils are facing a lot of challenges to repair their stadiums due to inadequate financial resources.
Mkandawire said: “The revenue councils collect from matches should be enough to cover the cost of repairs but it is shared among several stakeholders.
“This is why I will engage the Malawi Council of Sports Council to stop collecting their percentage from stadium gate collections in order for district councils to have enough money for repairs."
He asked Karonga District Council to engage communities in solving the problems rocking the district’s stadium, warning that community members, teams and the district council will be negatively affected if Football Association of Malawi (FAM) bans the stadium from hosting games.
In a separate interview, general secretary for Karonga United FC, Ramsey Simwaka said they bank on the mercy of FAM officials who authorize teams to use Karonga Stadium in its bad state, due to scarcity of stadiums in the northern region.
Karonga Stadium Manager, Wilson Ngwira blamed farming activities around the stadium for causing water to flood inside the facility.
"The stadium has ponds outside which are used to drain water from the facility's drainage system. Unfortunately, the ponds are full of silt because local people are cutlivating rice around the ponds," Ngwira said.
"The stadium was also constructed on a water logged site and Karonga ground water has high iron content which is also causing the iron poles around the stadium to corrode quickly. Community members have also been vandalising toilets, wire fences and electrical equipment," he added.
Dedza DEST urged to be professional ahead of 2025 polls
By Steve Chirombo
Dedza, May 3, Mana: Director of Administration for Dedza District Council, Chris Salaniponi, has advised members of the District Elections Supervisory Team (DEST) to be professional in handling electoral matters in the district in light of the forthcoming 2025 general elections.
Salaniponi made the call Friday during a meeting between officials from the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) and DEST members where, among others, the two sides shared some developments that have taken place and also expectations from each other.
He pointed out that members need not to be political partisans instead they need to leave their political affiliations aside when discharging their duties.
“The elections are a national event and the way we present ourselves will be a seed on the outcome of the polls. As DEST members, we are entrusted in defusing the pressure during the electoral period and not vice versa.
“On the other hand, let’s work together. Electoral processes can’t be done by one person. Let’s work as a team,” he said.
He commended MEC for organizing what he termed as an insightful engagement adding the forum reminded members of their important roles during the elections while calling on members to use previous challenges as stepping stones on how they will improve in the next elections.
MEC Director of Electoral Services, Hastings Bota, said the electoral body appreciates unwavering commitment and support that DEST members provide before, during and after every election.
He said DEST, is one key stakeholder when it comes to the electoral body’s achievement of its mission, vision and mandate.
“You have been instrumental in managing the delegated electoral authority,” he said.
Nutrition unit set to boost coordination in Salima District
By Fostina Mkandawire
Salima, May 3, Mana: A nutrition unit constructed with financial support from Germany Cooperation at Salima District Council is expected to enhance service delivery and nutrition coordination among sectors.
A nutrition unit is a facility that takes care of all malnutrition cases and diet related issues with an aim of improving people's health and help them make better dietary choices.
Speaking during the handover ceremony in Salima District on Thursday, Country Director for German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), Alan Walsch, described the unit as a pace setter in the country because it is the first of its kind in all the district councils.
He said having a unit where nutrition officers from education, agriculture, health and secretariat will enhance idea sharing, collaboration and problem solving will enable communities to be well informed on nutrition issues.
Walsch said they noted office space challenges in most district councils, therefore, constructing offices where all players in the nutrition field should be confined would solve most of the challenges.
He said Salima was identified as the first district to pilot the project, describing it as an enduring asset which will surpass the lifespan of the Food and Nutrition Security Programme (FNSP) in which the facility has been constructed under.
"While people and programs may change, this building will remain a stable and valuable resource for years to come he said.
"We took great care to ensure that the building's design and placement were environmentally conscious, preserving the beauty of the surrounding trees,” he said.
Walsch said they are expecting to see communities coming to the facility to access nutritional help from officers housed under the facility.
District Commissioner for Salima, James Mwenda, said nutrition requires concerted effort of multiple sectors.
"The new office building will serve as a hub for nutrition officers from different sectors, establishing a permanent base for the Salima District Nutrition Unit. We are privileged to be the first district to have this facility," he said.
Mwenda emphasized that the Council will put in place maintenance measures so that the unit serves its intended purpose and not abused.
Three motorcycles were donated to ease mobility challenges of nutrition officers.
The Food and Nutrition Security Programme (FNSP) has been active in Salima District since 2015 and strives to enhance nutrition outcomes and also working at multiple levels, empowering communities, supporting districts, as well as national policy.
Men cautioned against impregnating women with mental illness
By Linda Likomwa
Phalombe, May 3, Mana: Phalombe District Social Welfare Office has expressed concern over men who continue to impregnate women with mental illness saying this is accelerating cases of abandoned children in the district.
In an interview on Thursday, Acting Social Welfare Officer, Stanley Gundeni, said his office started receiving cases in 2021 and so far nine have been reported.
He said the situation has led some of the women to abandon their children at the hospital soon after giving birth.
“Three women run away from the hospital soon after giving birth abandoning their children. We had to take them to Chisomo Children’s Home at Bvumbwe in Thyolo for care; two children have been adopted at Chiringa and one died during the adoption process,” said Gundeni.
He said most of the women impregnated are those who cannot speak and are illiterate which makes his office difficult to trace the perpetrators.
Gundeni has since asked government and Civil Society Organizations to support his office in constructing a home so that children can be taken care of within Phalombe than sending them to other districts.
In random interviews, most people said beliefs are fueling such tendencies saying others think sleeping with a mentally challenged woman grows their businesses grow hence getting rich.
One of the men in the district, Mabvuto John, said he was once told by his friend to sleep with a mentally challenged woman for his business to do well.
He said this shows that most men are doing it with other purposes than quenching their sexual desire.
He noted that children raised by women with mental illness cannot grow well since they lack parental care like providing basic needs and sending them to school.
Traditional leaders in the district have since pledged to address the issue during community gatherings to avoid further abuse of women with mental illness and their children.
Farming activities blocks Karonga stadium's drainage systems
By George Mponda
Karonga, May 3, Mana: Farming activities around Karonga Stadium have contributed to water flooding at the facility which was opened in 2018.
Stadium Manager for Karonga Stadium, Wilson Ngwira, was speaking Friday when Minister of Youth and Sports, Uchizi Mkandawire, inspected the facility following media reports of the stadium’s poor state.
"The stadium has water ponds outside which are used to drain water from the facility's drainage system. Unfortunately, the ponds are full of silt because local people cultivate rice around them.
“The stadium was also constructed on a water logged site and Karonga ground water has high iron content which quickly corrodes iron poles around the stadium. Community members have also been vandalising toilets, wire fences and electrical equipment,” said Ngwira.
In his remarks, Mkandawire said Karonga District Council owns the stadium hence the need to engage the community to address such challenges.
“The Council is expected to utilize the facility for revenue generation and invest them in maintaining shape of the stadium.
“If Football Association of Malawi (FAM) bans the stadium from hosting games; teams, community members and the Council will be affected hence the need to ensure that the facility is always in good condition,” Mkandawire said.
The minister commended the Council for its efforts in repairing some of the damages caused by heavy rains.
He pledged to engage Sports Council of Malawi to stop collecting any percentage of gate collections for the Council to have enough money for repairing the facility.
Catholic men urged to be exemplary in society
By Brian Wasili
Mwanza, May 3, Mana: Catholic men in the country on Wednesday joined the rest of the catholic community at St Paul’s Parish in Mwanza in celebrating World Labour Day, which is also St Joseph the Worker Day.
Speaking during mass to commemorate the day, Archbishop of Blantyre Archdiocese, Thomas Luke Msusa, urged Catholic men to preserve their integrity by being exemplary to society and their families so that their children are groomed into responsible and productive citizens.
“We cannot develop as a country if men are not responsible and patriotic and this starts from the family whereby one is brought up,” said Msusa.
In an interview, Catholic Men Association National chairperson, Gibson Mkanda, of Kagwa Parish in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe commended men in the Catholic Church for accepting the calling to serve God through the association.
Chakwera leaves for USA
By Eunice Disi Lole
Lilongwe, May 3, Mana: President Dr Lazarus Chakwera Friday morning left for the United States of America (USA) to attend the US-Africa Business Summit which will be held from May 6 to 7, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.
In an interview at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA), Chakwera described the summit as critical saying it is going to give chance to Malawian and American business people to enter into business agreements.
“I am happy that, as a country, we can benefit from American investment just like we already are. I look forward to this summit because I believe that our Agriculture, Tourism and Marketing (ATM) Strategy can be boosted by Americans coming over to help us through partnerships,” said Chakwera.
In addition to partnerships, the summit will provide an opportunity for Malawi to court foreign direct investments into its economy and the post disaster response plan that was launched few days ago.
Apart from the summit, Chakwera will also hold bilateral talks with various leaders in the US Government and business community.
The talks will focus on strengthening Malawi-USA cooperation in the achievement of Malawi’s economic self-reliance through substitution of imports and aid for the export and trade value added products in line with Malawi 2063 which includes; the capitalization of the ATM Strategy towards wealth creation, job creation and food security and the promotion of Malawi’s fight against corruption through strong law enforcement agencies that execute their constitutional mandate without political interference from local or foreign powers.
The President and the First Lady, Madame Monica Chakwera, were seen off by Vice President Dr, Saulosi Chilima, cabinet ministers and other senior government officials.
Chakwera, will from USA pass through Nairobi, Kenya where he is expected to address the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Summit on May 9, is expected to return to the country through KIA on May 10.
Chakwera leaves for USA
By Eunice Disi Lole
Lilongwe, May 3, Mana: President Dr Lazarus Chakwera Friday morning left for the United States of America (USA) to attend the US-Africa Business Summit which will be held from May 6 to 7, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.
In an interview at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA), Chakwera described the summit as critical saying it is going to give chance to Malawian and American business people to enter into business agreements.
“I am happy that, as a country, we can benefit from American investment just like we already are. I look forward to this summit because I believe that our Agriculture, Tourism and Marketing (ATM) Strategy can be boosted by Americans coming over to help us through partnerships,” said Chakwera.
In addition to partnerships, the summit will provide an opportunity for Malawi to court foreign direct investments into its economy and the post disaster response plan that was launched few days ago.
Apart from the summit, Chakwera will also hold bilateral talks with various leaders in the US Government and business community.
The talks will focus on strengthening Malawi-USA cooperation in the achievement of Malawi’s economic self-reliance through substitution of imports and aid for the export and trade value added products in line with Malawi 2063 which includes; the capitalization of the ATM Strategy towards wealth creation, job creation and food security and the promotion of Malawi’s fight against corruption through strong law enforcement agencies that execute their constitutional mandate without political interference from local or foreign powers.
The President and the First Lady, Madame Monica Chakwera, were seen off by Vice President Dr, Saulosi Chilima, cabinet ministers and other senior government officials.
Chakwera, will from USA pass through Nairobi, Kenya where he is expected to address the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Summit on May 9, is expected to return to the country through KIA on May 10.
Private sector asked to finance the health sector
By Sellah Singini
Lilongwe May 2, Mana: Chief of Health Services–Technical in the Ministry of Health Dr. Lilian Chunda has asked the private sector in the country to finance the health sector in order to ensure that every Malawian is able to access high-quality healthcare services.
Chunda said this in an interview with journalists on Thursday in Lilongwe after a breakfast meeting on health financing which was organized under the theme “Unlocking Sustainable Healthcare Financing for Malawi: Leveraging the Private Sector”.
Chunda said, almost half of the health budget comes from the donors and instead of depending on the donors there is need to promote domestic revenue collection from government as well as the private sector so that the health system should not collapse when donors are pulling out.
“Health delivery is not cheap. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), health sector is supposed to spend almost 86 dollars per capital in terms of expenditure per patient but what we have in Malawi is half of that. And you only find that 10 percent of that goes to the actual service of the provision of patient care.
Some of the health services that we have are very expensive and as a ministry we cannot manage to do those things on ourselves so this is why we want the private sector to help us. They can help us in terms of the actual health service delivery for example doing Cardiology services, investing in infrastructures, helping in referral systems as well as supporting research and other innovations,” She said.
In his remarks, Chief Executive Officer for Press Trust Gibson Ngalamila said Press Trust has been involved in financing health initiatives both in private and public sector since 2001.
He said, in 2001 Press Trust saw a need to establish a tertiary health institution in the name of Mwaiwathu Private Hospital with an aim of making specialist care accessible in Malawi.
“We achieved that, but the facility itself is still very small as the ministry is saying that we need to expand services. We need to go into Oncology, Cardiology and many more. We have taken over the Orthopedic services and we are doing Dialysis but that is not enough because the population has increased and we are only available in Blantyre. We want to expand in Blantyre and we also want to move the services to Lilongwe,” Ngalamila said
Therefore, the ministry is calling us upon to mobilize funding from the private sector to build a business that can provide tertiary healthcare services to Malawians so that we do not refer a lot of Malawians outside the country such as India, South Africa and such other places,” He added.
He therefore urged the private sector to work together so as to lessen the financing burden the Ministry of Health faces.
