By Lyte Ali

Mangochi, May 17, Mana: Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency (CSAT) has appealed to community journalists in the Eastern Region to write stories focusing on parliamentary proceedings to keep communities aware of issues good governance.

Citizen Engagement Manager for CSAT Moffat Mphweya Phiri said CSAT established that community radios do not focus on what Members of Parliament (MPs) discuss when parliament is in session.

Phiri made the call on Thursday in Mangochi at the end of a media training on Access to Information Law under Parliamentary Support Programme.  

"As CSAT, we saw a gap that most of the community radios in the country do not pay attention on parliamentary reporting. We note that the proceedings are mainly covered by few national radio stations,” he added.

He said that CSAT therefore felt the need to engage community radios to raise awareness on the need to adequately report on parliamentary proceedings.

“We felt it necessary to empower community journalists so that they should have knowledge on Parliamentary Support Programme and how to access as well as report parliamentary proceedings," the Citizen Engagement Manager said.

Phiri added that the media training was aimed at identifying and addressing barriers in accessing parliamentary information to reach communities in rural areas.

In her remarks, Head of News at Dzimwe Community Radio in Mangochi, Maureen Kawerama commended CSAT for the training which she described as an eye opener.

She said that for a long time Dzimwe Community Radio were left out in parliamentary reporting, adding that her media house did not know procedures to follow in accessing parliamentary proceedings.

"As community journalists, we felt left out on parliamentary reporting as we did not know how to access information in parliament. This training has helped us know procedures to follow when accessing information on parliamentary proceedings,” she added.

Kawerama therefore said that community radios will be able to cover parliamentary proceeding to keep communities well informed on issues of national importance.

Journalists from different community radio houses based in Mangochi, Balaka and Machinga attended the training.

By Beni Bamusi

Thyolo, May 17, Mana: Thyolo National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Trust and Thyolo Police have urged political party’s followers in the district to maintain peace and harmony during 2025 general elections campaign to ensure violent free and credible polls.

The appeal was made on Thursday, during a stakeholder engagement with Thyolo Multi-Party Liaison Committee (MPLC) on a peace building organized by the Trust in the district.

NICE Trust. Programmes Officer for Thyolo and Chiradzulu, Moses Kaunda stressed the importance of peace and harmony in electoral process, saying political parties in the district should refrain from confrontational politics that often lead to burning of party campaign materials and other party properties. 

"Peace is paramount. There is need to ensure that the peace is maintained. Political violence only illustrates immature democracy," said Kaunda, adding that party representatives need to convey to their followers’ the importance of maintaining peace during campaign.

Thyolo Police Officer In-Charge (OC), Francis Chisoti said the engagement with the MPLC was the most effective way to deal with political violence among party members.

 “The meeting has provided room to strategies how the district should handle issues of political chaos if they erupt,” said Chisoti, adding that it was important for leaders of political parties in the district to work together and share strategies that should help in preventing violence during political meetings ahead of the general elections.

“As police, this committee is a security strategy, any problem emanating from the ground regarding disagreements can ably be resolved by the committee.

“We have proposed that party representatives should conduct joint sensitization meetings in trading centers that we are one in principle despite having different political parties,” he said.

He further warned perpetrators of political violence that police will arrest and take them to court, saying crime and disorder in society affect development.

A MPLC member, Charles George said the engagement meeting was relevant and timely, saying it provided a forum that promoted a spirit of coexistence among political parties.

Political party’s representatives, Thyolo MEC officials, CSO representatives among others attended the MPLC engagement meeting.

By Fostina Mkandawire

Salima, May 17, Mana: In an effort to promote financial inclusion and equality, Microfinance institutions have been urged to develop policies that ensure that women have access to financial services.

Reserve Bank of Malawi Executive Director, Mercy Kumbatira, made the call on Thursday, and during an inaugural ‘Women in Microfinance Meeting’ organized by Malawi Microfinance Network, in Salima district.

Kumbatira said it is unfortunate to note that women are preferring informal financial institutions popularly known as "bank nkhonde" a development that is putting them at risk of financial insecurities, adding that most of these groupings are not registered.

"These women groupings where money is kept are not registered therefore if money is misappropriated it is difficult to lay claims to recover the loses," she said.

She said the higher percentage of women accessing and using informal financial services, specifically village banks, is an indication of a high and unmet demand for financial services and products by women.

On this point she said it is important for financial institutions to revisit their policies so that women should move from preferring informal financial services to preferring formal financial services and create demand for women to have access to financial services.

She therefore said Microfinance Institutions should continue challenging traditional gender norms by promoting financial inclusion adding that when women gain control over financial resources, they make financial decisions which positively impact their families and communities.

Kumbatira said the Reserve Bank is complimenting efforts made by Microfinance Institutions such as development of a Gender Inclusive Finance Roadmap to address the gaps hindering women from accessing formal financial services.

Concurring with Kumbatira, Malawi Microfinance Network Chief Executive Officer, Duncan Phulusa said bringing together women in Micro Financing will help in bringing solutions to challenges that women are facing when trying to access financial services.

Phulusa said the meeting provided networking and mentorship opportunities for building professional networks among women working in the financial services.

"This conference has provided an opportunity and a platform for all stakeholders to engage and chart a way for leadership, empowerment and embracing talent in the microfinance sector, as in doing so, plays a crucial role in shaping the industry and promoting financial inclusion," he said.

Malawi Microfinance Network acts as a resource Centre for Microfinance Institutions and other stakeholders to access a wide range of information on Microfinance within and outside Malawi.

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.

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.

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.