MANAonline
Officials commend African Parks On Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve.
By Innocent Chunga
Nkhotakota, April 20, Mana: District Commissioners and Traditional leaders from Mzimba, Kasungu, Ntchisi, and Nkhotakota have commended African Parks (AP) for outstanding management of the Nkhotakota wildlife reserve which has improved tourism activities in the district.
This was highlighted on Friday afternoon during a Joint Liason Committee meeting on the reserve’s management held at the Nkhotakota district council's chamber.
Joint Liason Committee Chairperson chief Inkosi Khosolo said he believes that with a cordial relationship with stakeholders from the districts that surround the reserve, African Parks will continue having great achievements in the management of the wildlife reserve boosting tourism activities.
"We have seen through the presentation of their report today, that they are indeed doing a great job, animals are everywhere even trees are growing back in the reserve hence we as communities will continue providing support in protecting the protected site," said Khosolo.
Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve Parks Manager David Nangoma, said an increase in the population of animals in the reserve has brought huge improvements in tourism activities.
He told the officials that the recent survey show that the population of animals especially elephants has risen to 800 from 500 in the last survey of 2017.
"The population of animals is high, when tourists both local and international are coming, they are coming to see wildlife, as you are aware the reserve is vast with small numbers of animals, on one sight it might appear like we do not have animals in the reserve but we do,” added Nangoma.
He further said they are establishing Navunde stopover just after the Bua bridge towards Dwangwa on the M5 road in the reserve to help tourists easily see animals around the area.
District Commissioner for Nkhotakota Ben Matengeni Tonho said the council would continue to support African Parks for them to continue having great achievements in the management of the wildlife reserve.
African Parks is a non-profit conservation organisation that manages Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve, Liwonde National Park, and Majete Wildlife Reserve in the county.
Malawi calls for lifting of Zimababwe Sanctions
By Sarah Munthali and Moses Nyirenda
Lilongwe, April 20, MANA: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nancy Tembo has reiterated Malawi’s support to the call by the SADC Heads of State and Government for the immediate lifting of prolonged economic sanctions against Zimbabwe.
Speaking during the 44th independence day celebrations of the Republic of Zimbabwe in Lilongwe on Friday, the minister said government is concerned by the sanctions which were imposed by some countries on the Republic of Zimbabwe.
“You will recall that the Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) which was held in the United Republic of Tanzania in 2019, designated 25th October as the date on which all SADC member states should collectively voice their disapproval of the sanctions through various activities and platforms until the sanctions are lifted.
Although the date has since passed and that it will also come later this year, I would like to reiterate Malawi’s support to the call by the SADC Heads of State and Government for the immediate lifting of prolonged economic sanctions against Zimbabwe,” she said
“For a developing country like Zimbabwe they do not need sanctions, we want Zimbabwe to develop, the country must develop to pull people out of poverty, with sanctions it is very limiting and there is no free flow of goods,” Tembo said.
The minister then hailed the strong bilateral relations and cooperation between Malawi and Zimbabwe which she said dates back to pre-independence period.
She said bilateral relations between Malawi and Zimbabwe are further enhanced through cooperation under the Malawi/Zimbabwe Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPCC), which covers sectors, which are mutually beneficial to the two countries. The sectors include trade; customs; transport and communications as well as defence and security.
In her remarks Zimbabwean Ambassador to Malawi Dr Nancy Saungweme applauded the support the government and people of Malawi towards the removal of all sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.
“The sanctions have negatively impacted on the economy and the livelihoods of the general people and must be removed immediately and unconditionally, I call on our friends in the region and the international community at large to partner with us in implementing Zimbabwe’s National developing strategy for our mutual benefit
Saungweme said before the sanctions were imposed on Zimbabwe trade practices between Zimbabwe and Malawi were going on well but after the sanctions everything changed.
“Before the sanctions we had good trade relationship with Malawi then after the sanctions, we could not produce the things we used to produce, because with sanctions it means you have been cut your legs and you cannot walk anymore,” Saungweme said.
The Ambassador said the 44th anniversary of Zimbabwes independence being held under the theme Zimbabwe@44: Unity Peace and development towards Vision 2030 seeks to transform Zimbabwe to an upper middle income economy with a per capital gross national income of over US5000 by 2030 from the current US1440, 28.
Zimbabwe attained its independence from the British rule on 18th April 1980.
Rays of hope celebrates success on inclusive education in Mchinji
By Monica Banda
Mchinji, April 20, Mana: Programme director for Pamodzi for Inclusive education in Southern -East Africa (PIESEA) Kamwana Muyaya has said the project has made an impact in improving inclusive education in Mchinji district most especially in the targeted zones of Walilanji and Mkanda area.
He made the remarks on Saturday at Mkanda Primary School during a meeting which Rays of Hope who are implementing PIESEA had with community members in Traditional Authority (T/A) Mkanda in Mchinji.
“As we are closing the project which started in 2022, we have seen some achievements, for instance we have managed to bring back to school children with disabilities, who were being hidden in their homes by their parents.
We have seen the issue of Mayamiko Grant a 20-year-old and Jeneleti Yotamu who were not being given access to education but now they have started going to school," said Muyaya.
He added that this shows that there is great progress in the project and that people have been trained in terms of sustainability.
Sports Officer for Mchinji district council Martin Panyanja expressed his satisfaction with what Rays of hope has done in Mchinji.
“Implementing a project in two school zones is a big challenge but they managed to do it properly, whereby we have seen the outcomes to be positive. We are able to record close to 600 children with disabilities who are now back in schools," Panyanja said.
Chairperson of champions group for mkanda Bonface Malenga, comended Rays of Hope for the intervention saying it has really brought good and commendable results in the area.
“We have been trained on equality between persons with disabilities and abled people. We will continue sharing our experience and skills to others so that a lot of people with disabilities are being educated," Malenga said.
NGORA to conduct capacity gap assessment
By Levison Lester
Lilongwe, April 19, Mana: Non-Governmental Organization Regulatory Authority (NGORA), with support from the British High Commission, is set to conduct capacity gap assessment in order for organisations to sustain socioeconomic developments in the country.
Speaking during a meeting with NGO representatives at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe on Friday, NGORA Chief Executive Officer, Edward Chileka-Banda, said the regulatory body, together with NGOs, will identify issues that necessitate capacity building gaps.
He said despite NGOs doing enough in achieving socio economic development in the country, there are still gaps in governance and compliance.
Government, through NGORA, has committed K1 billion to help in dealing with issues arising from capacity gaps so that NGOs should be able to attract more funding from donors.
"There has been accusations and counter-accusations about capacity issues in NGO sector. People argue that local NGOs lack capacity to manage donor funds.
“As government, we have also noticed that there is a challenge of sustainability of projects. When a project comes to an end, there is low continuity, and communities go back to the same situation hence the need to address capacity issues,” he said.
British High Commission has given Robin Macgregor, a consultant, the task to help NGORA assess capacity gaps.
Mzuzu City residents commemorate World Aids Day
By Tracy Mtegha
Mzuzu, April 19, Mana: Residents of Mzuzu City and surrounding areas on Friday gathered at Kavibale Primary School Ground to commemorate World AIDS Day with a call for enhanced prevention of the pandemic.
Member of Parliament for Lilongwe West, George Zulu, who represented Speaker of Parliament, Catherine Gotani Hara, asked communities to come up with measures that work better for HIV prevention.
He said community members should to be involved in raising awareness about the pandemic and propose what should be promoted and discouraged in the fight against HIV in order to achieve zero new HIV infections by 2030.
“As we continue fighting the spread of HIV and other epidemics, we should also avoid stigmatizing and discriminating against people with HIV and AIDS and refrain from promoting practices which facilitate new HIV infections,” said Zulu.
Director of Health and Social Services for Mzimba North, Dr Naomi Mulwafu, said apart from letting communities lead in the fight against the pandemic, people should also use all the preventive measures to contain the pandemic by, among others, practicing abstinence, faithfulness and condomising.
Mulwafu urged people living with the virus to continue adhering to anti-retroviral therapy for enhanced effectiveness of the therapy and good health.
World AIDS Day is celebrated on December 1 annually.
The event was commemorated under the theme ‘Let community lead in the fight against HIV and AIDS’.
Ministry of Education donates bicycles to female teachers in Balaka
By Mary Makhiringa
Balaka, April 19, Mana: Ministry of Education, through Malawi Education Reform Programme (MERP), has donated 20 bicycles to 20 female teachers in Balaka District as one way of motivating them to teach in the hard to reach areas.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Balaka District Principal Education Officer, Baxter Chakwera, said government has made the initiative as one way of easing mobility challenges teachers in hard to reach areas face when discharging their duties.
He said when female teachers go too hard to reach areas they will motivate learners and the community that it is possible for a girl child to excel in life.
“Apart from the bicycles, these teachers will also be getting a top up allowance of K50,000 and state of the art house with solar electricity that will be built in the schools for the female teachers,” said Chakwera.
According to Chakwera, many hard to reach schools are being shunned which deprives learners from getting quality education.
One of the female teachers who has benefited from the initiative, Shamillah Billy, from Nambira Primary School said the move will motivate more teachers to discharge their duties even in hard to reach areas.
“I was teaching at Mpilisi Primary School, but decided to go to Nambira Primary School and I am the only female teacher at the school.
“The bicycle will go a long way in helping me reach my duty station on time as I am waiting for government to construct a house at the school,” she said.
School libraries to boost learners’ performance in Likoma
By Ireen Mseteka
Likoma, April 19, Mana: Chief Education Officer for Likoma District, Zimulange Mhango, says construction of Chima and Same Primary School libraries in the district will help improve performance of learners once completed.
In an interview on Thursday, Mhango said the libraries, which are being constructed with finances from Constituency Development Fund (CDF), will provide education resources for both learners and teachers.
"The libraries are at the Centre of teaching and learning. These libraries will provide education resources for both teachers and learners, which will lead to improved performance in schools.
"Communities prioritized construction of libraries because they value quality education. Once completed, learners have responsibility to pay back by ensuring that the facilities are properly utilized," said Mhango.
He thanked Member of Parliament (MP) for Likoma, Ashems Songwe, for his efforts in improving education standards in the district saying, leaners can only enjoy quality education if resources are made available.
Likoma District Council Chairperson, Ernest Gulu, said construction of primary school libraries will also enhance reading culture among the learners.
“We thought of constructing libraries in two primary schools to improve education standards. The idea is to ensure that every school should have advanced libraries that will have computers and books. We are looking forward to having them connected to the internet," explained Gulu.
He noted that in the absence of libraries, studying is becoming a challenge to most learners in the district hence affecting their performance in schools including writing and speaking good English.
Moses Dossi remains off to Chikwawa for burial
By Arkangel Tembo
Blantyre, April 19, Mana: Choir members from St Pius Catholic Church were singing, "A Mpingo tsalani ngakhale mundikonda, Ambuye tsogoleleni ndili ndekha,” as the brown casket carrying the remains of late Moses Dossi, a former Member of Parliament (MP) and cabinet minister, was taken inside the church.
Pall bearers were moving in a slow pace while in the background women could be heard crying.
Leading the procession were four priests moving slowly to the altar.
Inside the church, speeches of the bereaved family including the deceased’s children, church members and the Parish priest were made.
At least each and everyone who made a speech described the late Dossi as a dedicated man to the nation and the church.
After the mass the remains of the late Dossi were taken outside the church and people moved out of the church in dejected mood as choir members were changing tunes from A to B.
"Tinali awiri dzana, tinali awiri dzana tinali awiri dzana koma ndatsala ndekha ocheza naye palibe," choir members sung while the casket was being taken outside.
At exactly, 11:20am, the white Mnthunzi hearse left St Pius Church for Chapananga in Chikwawa District where late Dossi will be laid to rest on Saturday.
The late Dossi died Thursday morning at Blantyre Adventist Hospital in Blantyre.
The late Dossi served as MP for Chikwawa West from 1999 to 2004.
During his tenure, he also held the position of Minister of Sports in the Bakili Muluzi administration.
Agriculture key to economic growth – Chakwera
By Eunice Disi
Lilongwe, April 19, Mana: President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has emphasized on the need to exploit opportunities in the agriculture sector as a key factor to accelerating Malawi’s economic growth.
Chakwera made the remarks in Lilongwe on Friday during the official opening of the Agriculture Investment Conference.
He said Malawi’s economic growth depends on agriculture hence the need to invest more in the sector.
“Malawians need to invest more in agriculture as it is the driving force of our economy. I am impressed with the agricultural products that we have as a country; indeed, Malawi is very wealthy.
“Agriculture is for everyone; richest people like Bill Gates invest their money into farming and you that claim to be educated do not want to do the same but want to be in offices,” said Chakwera.
He condemned the primitive kind of thinking where people consider agriculture as for the rural and poor people.
Chakwera appealed to the youths, as well as women, to join hands and combine their smaller scale farms into mega farms which promotes the use of mechanization.
He, therefore, encouraged Malawians not only to depend on rain fed agriculture but also venture into irrigation farming.
Minister of Agriculture, Sam Kawale, concurred with President Chakwera that agriculture plays a pivotal role in stimulation of economic growth.
“Our task is to make sure that agriculture sector thrives in increasing production for domestic use and import substitution through agro processing; that it is mechanized thereby generating forex for the country,” said Kawale.
The two-day conference runs under two objectives of attracting any Malawian with farm land above five hectares to invest in commercial farming by introducing them to various profitable agriculture value chains and supporting services including financing and viable off taker markets, among others.
MOC trains 20 sports administrators in Phalombe
By Doreen Kachingwe
Phalombe, April 19, Mana: Malawi Olympic Committee (MOC) has highlighted the need for sports administrators to have adequate skills for them to execute sports professionally in various sectors.
Phalombe District Council in partnership with MOC organized a three day Sports Management and Development training for 20 sports administrators in sports management and development which ended on Thursday.
In an interview with MOC President, Jappie Mhango, said well-trained sports administrators can help those in the technical areas and athletes with improved execution of sports development activities.
"Sports is divided into three different groups which are administrators, coaches and players, so if there is no good relationship between these three groups, sports industry cannot bring any impact in the country. This training will help sports administrators to gain new skills on how to handle issues in as far as sports in concerned," he said.
Phalombe District Sports Officer, Edward Malumero, hopes the administrators will use the sports management skills acquired to improve sports development in the district.
“Administrators are responsible for making decisions and policies with regards to sports development. We believe that after training them they will be able to execute sports management skills acquired to improve the way we organize and administrate sports activities in the district," explained Malumero.
Phalombe District Council is expecting to produce athletes who can represent the district at regional or national level as a result of the training.
The training is targeting 120 sport administrators in the district.
