MANAonline
Ministry of Gender drills reporters and editors on Social Protection Programmes
By Eunice Disi Lole
Lilongwe, August 20, Mana: Chief Social Welfare Officer for Ministry of Gender Chifundo Nanchukwa has stressed on the critical need for media practitioners to be furnished with the right information as they play a very crucial role in disseminating information to the public.
Nanchukwa made the remarks on Tuesday during a one day orientation session on Social Protection Gender Empowerment and Resilience Project (SP-GEAR).
“We called editors and reporters from various media institutions so that we could sit down with them and orient them on the Social Cash Transfer Programmes that are being implemented in Malawi by the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare in all 28 districts.
Editors play a key role in editing stories that reporters bring on their desks and if they have an understanding on Social Protection (SP) programmes they will be able to provide the necessary support in publishing stories that contain the right information that will contribute to reducing poverty in the country.
Speaking during the orientation economist from the Ministry of Finance, Elisha Limbe, reviewed that approximately 10% of the population in the country falls under ultra-poor and incapacitated category thereby highlighting the need for support to improve their living standards.
Currently, there are a number of social protection programmes that the government is implementing through various ministries and these include, social cash transfer, school feeding programmes, older person’s act among others as a way of reducing poverty, hunger and starvation in the country.
“There is need for the media and government to work together in implementing social protection programmes effectively,” he said.
The orientation which targeted editors and reporters from different media institutions was organized by the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare with support from UNICEF.
Campaign scales up adoption of digital financial services
By Wanangwa Tembo
Kasungu, August 19, Mana: It is month end and salaries are in. Like many others, Jimmy Yosofati, a primary school teacher residing in the populous Chitete Township of Kasungu Municipality rushes to the bank to make withdrawals.
The banking hall is full and there is an equally long and snaking queue at the auto-teller machine (ATM). Yosophati joins the queue on which he stands for about an hour before his turn comes.
As he cashes out a bundle of MK5000 notes, he knows he has to spend another good time on another queue, now to pay water bills at the nearby water board payment point domiciled at the Malawi Post Office building.
“In Malawi, you have to queue for everything. You have to queue to deposit money. You have to queue to get the same.
“At the bank, at the filling station, at water board and everywhere you have to stand long hours on the queue,” he laments as he wipes some beads of sweat off his face.
Yosophati has a long day because after paying water bills, he has to join another queue to purchase electricity units.
The circus will repeat the other month.
Malawi is one of the countries where there is low adoption of digital financial services with the majority stuck with the traditional cash payment system which the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) says is not only costly but also that it drains the scarce forex.
For example, RBM spent over MK23 billion last year to reprint damaged currency notes, according to Deputy Governor Macdonald Mafuta Mwale.
“These printers and suppliers are paid in dollars which means the country is losing a lot of forex just to replace damaged notes.
“If more Malawians adopt digital financial services, our projections show this figure will go down as there will be no demand to print more notes,” Mwale said.
He was speaking in Kasungu during the launch of a national awareness campaign on using digital financial services.
The campaign, which seeks to achieve a cashless economy where individuals can make financial transactions without using cash for an extended period, is being implemented by the Ministry of Finance through the RBM with financial support from the African Development Bank.
Funded to the tune of $14.3 million, the campaign which started in July will cover all the country’s 28 districts to scale up use of digital payment methods amongst communities.
“The world is going digital; why should Malawi be left behind? It is important now that we should encourage the population to go digital.
“One is for safety, efficiency and effectiveness when it comes to transferring of money, payments of bills and payments for any other goods or services.
“If we use more of the digital methods, then our demand to produce the actual Kwacha will go down and the bill to produce will also go down and we save the already scarce forex,” Mwale said.
He said it is high time Malawians adopted the modern ways of transacting which are convenient, reliable and secure.
“Keeping money in houses is not safe. Consider incidences of fire, for example. With digital platforms, safety is guaranteed and transacting is also simplified as you can pay while in the comfort of your house and the supplier with bring the goods for you,” he said.
Adding: “As we go digital, there are some people trying hard to manipulate the system so that they scam others. So there are those risks and we have to teach people on how they can be protected from such scams.
“There are also issues of unreliable networks. These are the issues we need to address as we run the campaign. People adopting digital methods should have minimal encounters with such challenges.”
Mwale said government will work hand in hand with the service providers to improve network signals to ensure that there are reduced challenges that discourage people from adopting these technologies, which include phones, internet, ATMs, banks, points of sale and digital village banking, among others.
The campaign has identified women, persons with disabilities, youths, small to medium enterprises, internally displaced people, the illiterate and the rural population as the targeted marginalised audiences.
“We want to get to every corner of the country raising awareness about the opportunities available in the digital financial services.
“For example, people think we need to withdraw cash on ATMs or Mpamba and Airtel Money agents and go somewhere to pay bills yet you can do that without necessarily withdrawing the money,” said Joshua Kunkumbira, the campaign lead person for Kasungu and Dowa.
He added: “Rural communities, including those in village banks and recipients of social cash transfers, need to be educated on the benefits of digital financial services, such as using Airtel Money, Mpamba, and bank accounts for transactions.
“Village banks must go digital. The youths that are engaged in businesses must be encouraged to transact digitally and not forgetting persons with disabilities whom we must identify and ask them about the challenges they encounter so that they are addressed.”
Kunkumbira also said the campaign will tackle issues of fraud and phishing schemes, over indebtedness, social engineering scams, data and identity theft and emerging innovations so that digital service users are protected from evil schemes.
“So in specific terms, we want to create awareness of digital financial services among the general public in order to increase usage and adoption.
“We also want to reinforce consumers trust in digital finance services opportunities and help local populations to better deal with the associated challenges, and also change perceptions and build awareness of risks, available consumer guidelines, costs and benefits in order to gain acceptance and utilisation among users.”
African Development Bank representative, Albert Mafusile said the Pan-African development and financial institution believes that digital financial services are safe, efficient and cost-effective.
“It is our hope that through the use of digital financial services, the Malawian public will enjoy the safety associated with the transactions which give you freedom to do anywhere as long as you have network.
“It is in our interest to see that these services are provided efficiently to those that use them,” Mafusile said.
He said while access to digital financial services in the country is growing, the services have not yet reached everyone hence the need for awareness raising activities.
“This campaign gives the opportunity to financial services to showcase what they offer and as the public get educated, it will be easier for them to start using them.
“For us, we want an inclusive financial services sector that does not leave anybody behind. And it is our hope that the partnership that African Development Bank has with Malawi will continue to grow,” he said.
Lack of information, fear of fraud and poor network feature highly as factors discouraging people like Yosophati to adopt and use digital financial services in the country.
As of March 2024, fraud on mobile money had decreased by 53 percent from MK28 million to MK13 million and 15 percent from MK2.7 million to MK2.3 million on Airtel Money and TNM Mpamba, respectively.
Parliamentary Committee on Media, Information and Communication described the decrease as a positive step towards promoting digital financial services.
Malawi and India discuss high tariffs on exports
By Gift Chiponde
Lilongwe, August 20, Mana: Minister of Trade and Industry, Sosten Gwengwe, has underscored the necessity for Malawi and India to address pivotal trade issues, specifically the exorbitant tariffs impacting Malawi's exports of mangoes and macadamia nuts to India.
Gwengwe made the remarks during a meeting with India's Minister of State, Shir Kirti Vardan Singh, at the 19th CII India Africa Business Conclave, currently being held at the esteemed Hotel Taj Palace in New Delhi, India from August 20th to 22nd, an event to which the minister was invited by the Indian government.
During the meeting, Gwengwe highlighted the obstacles posed by the prevailing high tariffs that have substantially impeded the competitiveness of Malawi's agricultural exports in the Indian market.
He emphasised the importance of mango and macadamia exports for Malawi's economy, particularly for smallholders who rely on mango and macadamia nut cultivation for their sustenance.
The deliberations were aimed at reaching a consensus and negotiating reduced tariffs or other trade facilitation measures that would empower Malawian exporters to penetrate the Indian market more effectively.
Both parties conveyed a strong commitment to bolstering trade relations and exploring avenues to fortify economic bonds between the two nations.
The Indian Minister of State acknowledged the raised concerns and exhibited readiness to collaboratively address the issues for the mutual benefit of both countries, underscoring India's keen interest in nurturing closer economic partnerships with Malawi and other African nations.
The meeting signifies progress in dismantling trade barriers and potentially unlocking new opportunities for Malawian agricultural products in the Indian market.
Dowa District Council has new chairperson
By Sylvester Kumwenda
Dowa, August 20, Mana: Dowa district council has elected Councillor Gift Nkhono Songeya of Kayembe ward as its new chairperson in elections held on Tuesday during a full council meeting.
Songeya got eight votes, beating closest contender Eliza Chulu who got five votes while Richard Kasanje got four votes and Billy Mtika came last with two votes.
In an interview after being sworn in, Songeya who went into the votes with a call for youth empowerment, said he was excited to be elected council chairperson.
"Being a chairperson comes with a lot of responsibilities emanating from the trust of my fellow elected members.
"Going forward, there are several areas I would like to focus on, for example, water. Dowa has water challenges due to its geographical composition, so I would like to see efforts in provision of potable water to the rural masses intensified.
"Also as an agro based district, we would like to see how best we can help our farmers, not only to ensure food security, but also that farmers benefit a lot from their produces and improve their livelihoods," said Songeya.
He then called for unity amongst all the elected council members and secretariat saying that whatever they may be doing, the guiding spirit must be the development of the people especially in rural areas.
Songeya has replaced Councillor Mayamiko Kambewa of Mponela ward who served from August 2023 to August 2024.
Kambewa in his remarks wished the new chairperson success during his new tenure and also thanked the council for what he described as an opportunity to serve the people of Dowa.
"I have served for the maximum of two years which was filled with tremendous success including scooping number one in the Local Assembly Performance Assessment which is no mean achievement.
"But I wish my successor all the best as he assumes office. My advice for him is to work closely with the District Commissioner who is always eager and available to work on issues about the development of the district. Also for him to be dedicated, hardworking, selfless, and prioritize the needs of the district above anything else, " he said.
Holesi Madeya of Chiwere Eastward got six votes and has been elected council vice chairperson after defeating other contestants like Alfred Vinthenga who got five votes, Richard Kasanje with four votes and George Wailesi who received two votes.
Dowa First Grade Magistrate Yohane Nkhata administered the oath of office to the new chairperson and vice chairperson, in the elections which were presided over by Malawi Electoral Commission officials.
Mwanza West legislator condemns food handout dependence
By Brian Wasili
Mwanza, August 20, Mana: Mwanza West Constituency, Member of Parliament, Joyce Chitsulo has condemned laziness among some people in her area who wait for government’s handouts instead of working hard in their field to provide food for their families.
Chitsulo said this when she presided over this year's Catchment Conservation Management district launch at Chimwalira community ground, Thambani Extension Planning Area (EPA)in Traditional Authority Govati on Monday.
“We have a lot of households that are food insecure year in and year out yet they have ability to work in idle wetlands where they can do irrigation farming,” said Chitsulo.
She also deplored depletion of Thambani Forest Reserve through charcoal, saying such loss of forest cover contributes to climate change, resulting into erratic rains.
In his remarks, Senior Chief Govati asked farmers to start preparing their gardens for the rainy season so that they should plant maize and other crops in good time and further encouraged the farmers to make manure to avoid panicking when the rains start.
“You should not only depend on crops. Keep small livestock for consumption and to broaden income at your households,” added the senior chief.
District Director of Agriculture Environment and Natural Resources, Feston Kwezani urged farmers in Mwanza West Constituency to put into practice what was showcased at the Catchment Conservation Management launch so that its purpose should be achieved.
Before the launch, Chitsulo and other invited guests toured Manjenje and Makhutu irrigation schemes, manure making, goat and fish farming, bee keeping and catchment conservation activities among others.
Hunger Project and World Vision Malawi supported the launch which was held under the theme: Integrated Catchment Management and Conservation for Enhanced Climate Resilience, Improved Livelihood, Food and Nutrition Security.
Council wants safe, potable water for communities
By Richard Kagunda
Kasungu, August 20, Mana: Kasungu District Environmental Health Officer, Rudolf Zinkanda Banda says access to safe and potable water is an entitlement that every individual must have regardless of where they live.
During a meeting organized by Water for People in Kasungu on Tuesday, Banda said proper sanitation and healthy living cannot be achieved in the absence of safe and potable water in homes.
“It is our wish to see that every individual has access to good quality water because health living and national development can only be achieved by those that are living a healthy life and safe water plays an important role towards that.
“As a country, we have been struggling with cholera outbreaks and one of the contributing factors was that a good number of people were unable to access safe and potable water,” he said.
Banda applauded Water for People for complementing government efforts in ensuring that communities have access to safe and clean water.
The non-governmental organization is set to pilot a project called Wash System for Health (WS4H) in Kasungu, Dowa and Chikwawa by rehabilitating non-functional water pumps.
Senior Sustainable Manager for the organization, Joseph Magoya, said the project stands to benefit many people in Kasungu and beyond.
“Our programme intends to further strengthen some of the systems that were already being implemented in the district. For example, Pump Aid has a social enterprise part called Beyond Water, which is implementing professional management of water pumps in rural communities in Kasungu.
“So, our project intends to rehabilitate non-functional water pumps in the areas where Beyond Water is already implementing its projects and then extend to other areas in due course,” he said.
On his part, Chikondi Kaomba who is programme manager for Pump Aid, the mother organization that owns Beyond Water, said his organization is geared towards providing safe and potable water to the masses.
“Before we started the project as Beyond Water, about 40 percent of water pumps in the area of our operation were non-functional. But with our intervention, the figure has gone down to 5 percent meaning 95 percent of the water points are now functional.
“So, as we collaborate with Water for People, the plans are to reach out to more areas,” Kaomba said.
DoDMA disburses MK200 million to councils
By Paul Madise
Lilongwe, August 20, Mana: The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) has disclosed the disbursement of MK200 million to councils in the country for sensitization and beneficiary targeting for the 2024/25 Lean Season Food Insecurity Response Programme.
Chipiliro Khamula, Public Relations Officer for the DoDMA has told Malawi News Agency about the development highlighting the disbursement of funds ranging from MK2 million to MK20 million depending on the population expected to benefit from the program.
Khamula has also stressed the significance of the exercise in identifying the most vulnerable and right beneficiaries for the program.
"According to the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee, a total of 5.7 million people are projected to be food insecure between October this year and March 2024 and will require food assistance," he said.
Malawi Government, through DoDMA and various humanitarian partners, has been mobilizing financial and in-kind resources following president Dr. Lazarus Chakwera's declaration of State of Disaster in 23 districts of the country due to effects of EI Nino weather phenomenon.
"So far, resources (cash and in-kind) amounting to over MK190 billion have been mobilized," Khamula expressed.
According to Khamula, DoDMA will further the collaborative efforts with the department's stakeholders in mobilizing the remainder.
Deputy Minister of Local Government opens southern region quarterly coordination meeting
By Evance Chisiano
Blantyre, August 20, Mana: Deputy Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture Owen Chomanika opened southern region quarterly coordination meeting for local authorities and its development partners on Thursday in Blantyre where he called for proper coordination on service delivery for citizen satisfaction.
The southern region’s coordination meeting is the first of a series of meetings, which the ministry will also hold in Dowa and Mzuzu to institutionalize regular engagement with local government authorities to address challenges with management and coordination of council operations.
The Deputy Minister said proper coordination among council staff, elected councilors and members of parliament and non-governmental organizations can easily ensure implementation of projects and quality service delivery to citizens who always believe that local authorities have capable human resource and adequate financial capacity for quality service delivery.
“We have the duty to serve the people whose expectations is to be served better and adequately. They live to our expectations,” Chomanika added.
He observed unsatisfactory service delivery in some councils, which arise from low staff commitment at council secretariat and members of parliament neglecting their mandatory roles to serve people in their respective areas.
The Deputy Minister said quarterly coordination meetings provide room for local authorities to reflect on their successes and shortfalls and discuss ways and means of improving service delivery through coordination with other players in development.
Chomanika therefore expressed hope that the meeting in Blantyre will come up with resolution of proper coordination for improved service delivery in line with the Ministry of Local Government mandate and decentralization policy and guidelines, which the local authorities should abide by.
Secretary for Local Government, Unity and Culture, Richard Hara said the quarterly coordination meeting were crucial since they started in 2020 as they remind local authorities of their statutory obligations in service delivery.
“We cannot serve people better if we are not well coordinated in our respective councils. Let us create a conducive environment that should satisfy the citizens we serve. If we cannot serve our people better, they cannot trust us,” Hara added.
Non-Governmental Organization Regulatory Authority (NGORA) Chief Executive Officer, Edward Chileka Banda observed that huge sums of financial resources go to councils through non state actors but with minimal impact.
He therefore called for proper coordination between NGOs and local authorities to ensure that finances that go to local authorities have impact on the citizens.
“We are also concerned that donor partners through NGOs provide huge financial support yet Malawi is still poor,” Banda said and pledged that NGORA will work with local authorities to track donor investment.
The Southern Region Quarterly Coordination Meeting will also allow Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture to provide strategic direction and policy guidance to local authorities on how they should deliver services per their statutory obligations.
District Commissioners, city and municipal chief executive officers, Members of Parliament, ward councilors, city and municipal mayors, officials from National Local Government Finance Committee, National Local Government Service Committee, National Aids Commission, NGORA among others attended the Southern Region Quarterly Coordination Meeting.
CSEPWP's new working arrangement excites KK beneficiaries
By Wongani Mkandawire.
Nkhotakota, August 20, Mana: Beneficiaries of the Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CSEPWP) in Nkhotakota district, have expressed happiness with the new implementation plan of the programme stating it will accelerate personal development.
Speaking to Malawi News Agency on Monday, Weluzani Jolamu, of Malembo Village in the area of Traditional Authority Mphonde said, the new continuous working of 120 working days will guarantee frequent payment disbursement every 30 days to beneficiaries thereby accelerating their personal development over the long working period.
Jolamu said that in the previous cycles, beneficiaries were working 24 days and getting paid and then waiting for another 30 days before working, while now, they will work for 120 days continuously and be paid every 30 days of that working period creating a consistent source of income for personal development.
Jolamu added that besides the direct cash financial benefit, the works will also benefit their environment as this will enable people to do more work on forest restoration and land conservation which in turn can benefit their farmlands by increasing agricultural output.
Muyotamu Bakali of Kwenda village concurred with Jolamu that CSEPWP has directly impacted their households and is excited with the new implementation as this will mean more benefits for them and their environment.
Bakali commended the programme saying many people are now able to buy fertilizer and realising bumper harvests as a result of soil conservation activities, and better housing resulting from funds earned from the programme.
Lands and Resources Officer for Nkhotakota Arthur Chiwayula said his office is prepared to work hand in hand with the communities to make sure the implementation of the new working cycle is successful and shows fruitful results for the betterment of the communities.
Nkhotakota district has over 17,000 beneficiaries in the World Bank-funded programme that is being implemented by the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC).
Authorities pledge uninterrupted services as Chilomoni facility undergoes renovations
By Alex Kachingwe
Blantyre, August 20, Mana: Blantyre District Health Office (DHO) has vowed to take full responsibility and work very closely with management of Chilomoni Health Centre in ensuring that there is safe maternity delivery services during the period the facility’s maternity wing undergoes renovations.
Last week Friday, Blantyre DHO entered into an agreement with Mitsidi Health Centre through signing a Memorandum of Understanding to allow maternal cases from Chilomoni Health Centre to access maternity delivery services at the former.
Following the development and to ensure safe motherhood, District Health Promotion Officer, Chrissy Banda told Malawi News Agency (Mana) that all maternal mothers from Chilomoni, Chirimba, Mbayani, Pensulo and nearest townships who rely on Chilomoni Health Centre for maternity services, should not be stressed on how they can access the services at Mitsidi Health Centre.
Banda said Blantyre DHO will provide all the necessary resources like; own staff to work in provision of maternity services, transportation services, medication, equipment required for deliveries and contribution to cover overhead costs at Mitsidi.
She added that all maternity delivery services to be provided at Mitsidi Health Centre will not be different from the services maternal mothers used to get at Chilomoni Health Centre.
Facility In-charge at Chilomoni Health Centre, Trinity Kaliwamba concurred with Banda, saying it is only the maternity delivery service which is being transferred to Mitsidi Health Centre, but all other necessary services meant for expectant mothers like medical checkups (scale checkup) will be accessed at the facility.
Kaliwamba added that the facility (Chilomoni Health Centre) receives and treat an average of 20 maternal cases per week.
The renovation of the maternity wing with funds from AMECA Trust has come to increase accommodation space from maternal cases who seek maternity delivery services at Chilomoni Health Centre.
