MANAonline
Journalists asked to be proactive in fisheries reporting
By George Mponda
Mzuzu, February 29, Mana: Chairperson for Association of Environmental Journalists (AEJ) in Malawi, Matthews Malate, has urged journalists from districts along the lakeshore to be proactive in reporting fisheries issues.
Speaking in Mzuzu Tuesday at the opening of a five-day fisheries media training organised by PACT-Malawi under a project called ‘Restoring Fisheries and Sustainable Livelihoods in Lake Malawi’ (REFRESH), Malata said the media plays an important role in fisheries in the country.
Malata said; "Before REFRESH project, it was rare to see journalists writing stories concerning fisheries but now, through various interventions under the project, fisheries issues across the country are being reported.”
"However, there are still gaps. That's why trainings such as these are important to make sure that journalists are reporting from an informed point of view," he added.
Principal Fisheries Officer responsible for research at the Ministry of Forestry and Natural Resources, Salim Mb'alaka, hailed the project for its unwavering support towards fisheries department in Malawi.
"Indeed, such trainings are important to media practictioners for them to engage officials and properly bring out information to the public which will benefit the industry in our country," M'balaka said.
Mb'alaka also hailed REFRESH project for donating a patrol boat to the fisheries department in Salima and for funding a recent biomass fish troll survey conducted by government.
One of the participants, District Information Officer for Nkhata Bay, Chisomo Kambandanga, said fisheries is an important sector that contributes to the livelihoods of people but it is under threat through various forms of malpractices.
"There is illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing which is having adverse effects on fish that Malawians depend on for food, nutrition and their livelihoods. Journalists need to take an active role in ensuring the fisheries industry is sustained," said Kambamdanga.
CISANET lauds SONA, national budget
By Moses Nyirenda
Lilongwe, February 29, Mana: Civil Society Agriculture Network (CISANET) has commended the State of Nation Address (SONA) and the proposed 2024/2025 national budget saying the two highlight government’s commitment towards promotion of the agriculture sector in the country.
Speaking during a press briefing in Lilongwe on Wednesday CISANET Board Chairperson, Herbert Chagona, said both the SONA and the national budget hint on promotion of the country’s agriculture sector.
CISANET organized the press briefing to give its response to the SONA and national budget.
“We have looked at both statements and we conclude that the budget is one of a kind that demonstrates government’s commitment to promoting agriculture, food security and climate resilience in the country.
“The statements also recognize that the sector is one of the engines for economic growth and poverty reduction,” Chagona said.
He said CISANET is glad to see that most of the inputs made by stakeholders in the agriculture sector have been included in the budget.
He said the allocation of K497.75 billion in the national budget, which translates 8.3 percent of the total budget, towards the fulfillment of the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods in which Heads of State under African Union resolve to, among other things, allocate 10 percent of public expenditure to agriculture is a positive development.
He, however, said government could have increased the budget for agriculture in order to address the challenges affecting the sector.
“For our country to realize the expected development in the sector, 10 percent would have been ideal. Government should make deliberate efforts to increase the allocation to at least 15 percent of the total budget.
“This would help in ending hunger, halving poverty and enhancing resilience to climate vulnerability among other expected outcomes in the sector,” he said.
Chagona emphasized on need for government to come up with strategies that would help improve food and nutrition security which includes Affordable Inputs Program (AIP) reforms as well as creation of mega farms and market linkages, among other things.
CISANET National Director, Gift Numeri, encouraged government to promote the adoption of modern and appropriate technologies to keep up the global production levels and standards by increasing resources towards improving extension services in the country.
All is set for women's day of prayer
By Memory Kanjira
Blantyre, February 29, Mana: Women’s World Day of Prayer National Organizing Committee Vice Chairperson, Rose Kameza Muyaya, says all is set for the day whose prayers will take place on March 1, 2024 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
It is expected that First Lady Madame Monica Chakwera will be guest of honour.
“We are well prepared. We have been meeting every Sunday afternoon for this day because it is a great day for women,” Muyaya told Malawi News Agency (MANA) in an interview on Wednesday.
She said the prayers are important as they bring women from all religions together to highlight challenges they face in their respective religions.
“These prayers help to bring women together to discuss the word of God and how they should live a Godly life. This day is, therefore, a precious day,” Muyaya said.
The 2024 Women's Day of Prayer will be held under the motto, ‘I Beg You, Bear with One Another in Love’ taken from Ephesians 4:1-7.
The day is celebrated across the world on the first Friday of March every year.
Kasungu targets 90% immunization coverage
By Abubakar Kanjoka
Kasungu, February 28, Mana: District Environmental Health Officer (DEHO) for Kasungu, Rudolf Zimkanda Banda, has stressed the need to have more Mother Care Groups (MCGs) in hard to reach areas to help create demand for vaccination uptake among children in the district.
He made the remarks on Wednesday in Kasungu when Malawi Equity Health Network (MEHN) interfaced with health stakeholders on its four-year ‘Health System and Immunisation’ Project.
The project focuses on imparting MCGs with knowledge and expertise on how they can advocate, track and register under five children for vaccination so as to improve access, quality and utilisation of vaccines and immunisation.
Zimkanda said that since the establishment of 33 MCGs under the immunisation project, the district has achieved 80 percent immunization levels amongst under five children.
He said: “We appreciate the voluntary work that these MCGs are doing in encouraging mothers to take their under five children for vaccination. This has largely boosted the immunisation coverage and helped the district to record a decrease in diseases that affect children, such as measles and whooping cough.
“We would want to reach more than 90 percent of children, and this can easily be achieved if more of such MCGs are established to help advocate and create more demand in the communities.”
Council Chairperson for Kasungu, Mwambilaso Mbedza, commended the project, saying it has helped to build capacity for women through the formulated MCGs.
She said she will lobby for funds for the construction of more health facilities to reduce distances that people travel to seek healthcare services in the district.
One of the MCGs representatives, Sarah Munthali from Kavukula MCG, commended the engagement, stating that it has given them a chance to air out challenges which they encounter in executing their voluntary duties of promoting good health in the district.
“I am happy that all responsible parties are here today, and it is my hope that the issues that have been raised will be tackled and that we will be assisted with materials, such as safety boots and bicycles for easy transportation,” she said.
MHEN is implementing the ‘Health System and Immunisation’ project in nine districts, including Kasungu, where the initiative is being implemented in conjunction with Good Health Organisation.
3 arrested for conspiracy, trespass
By Edna Moyo
Phalombe, February 28, Mana: Police in Phalombe are keeping in custody three men for conspiracy to commit felony and criminal trespass at Nkhulambe Health Centre in the district where they allegedly wanted to load a container into a lorry without permission of the health authorities.
Phalombe Police Station Public Relations Officer Jimmy Kapanja identified the three as Patrick Chatika, 42, from Ngani Village, Traditional Authority Khumpha in Likoma District, Harrison Njatula, 71, from Kasapato Village, Traditional Authority Ganya in Ntcheu District and Chikondi Kachepa, 24, from Namaonya Village, Traditional Authority Nsabwe in Thyolo District.
“On February 27, 2024, around 07:00 hours, the driver and his assistant went to Nkhulambe Health Centre on a lorry, Leyland DAF registration number RU 3272 with an attempt to load a 20-feet container at Nkhulambe Health Centre,” Kapanja said.
He said police officers at Nkhulambe Police Unit became suspicious of the act and asked the men to show documents of approval to carry the container that was modified into an office.
“They failed to show any document but said they were sent by the owner of vehicle they were using who was in Blantyre by the time of the incident,” Kapanja explained.
He added that when Phalombe District Health Office was contacted, the office denied any knowledge about people sent to transfer the container from Nkhulambe Health Centre.
Nkhulambe Health Centre suspended its operations following Tropical Cyclone Freddy induced rains which damaged the facility.
Police arrested the owner of the lorry the same day (Tuesday) at night, according to Phalombe Police publicist.
All the suspects will appear in court soon to answer the charges leveled against them.
Ministry to continue engaging stakeholders on amended land laws
By George Bulombola
Mzuzu, February 28, Mana: Ministry of Lands says it will continue engaging stakeholders on the implementation of amended land laws amidst resistance against the intervention by some sections of the society.
The remarks were made recently in Mzuzu by the minister responsible, Deus Gumba, during a sensitization meeting on amended land laws for traditional authorities and district commissioners drawn from the north.
According to research on the implementation of national land laws conducted in December 2023 by Ungweru Organization in some parts of Mzimba, level of awareness on the laws is at 96 percent.
It also revealed that cultural practices favour male heirs when it comes to land inheritance thereby posing challenges in land distribution, hence limiting women’s access to land.
The report which is authored by Ungweru Organization also indicated that some cultural attitudes pose challenges in implementing the laws.
Gumba said engagement is a long going process which the ministry will continue undertaking, adding that the academia, traditional leaders themselves and interest groups, among others, were involved and consulted on the laws.
“Where change takes place, it takes a while for people to understand what you are trying to address and these laws are in the interest of common Malawians,” said Gumba.
Commenting on recruitment of land registrars and clerks, the minister said the registrars will be based at district council level while the clerks’ will be stationed at traditional authority level, as a way of bringing land management services closer to the people.
“These are technical officers who bridge the gap between traditional leaders in terms of understanding what the land laws are talking about,” he said.
He added that the laws, among others, highlight that only bonafide Malawians should have land and foreigners who are serious investors can also have land through Malawi Investment Trade Centre.
Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe said the tradional leaders are excited with the amended land laws, as they will discourage sale of land to foreigners.
“Land is the most valuable resource; as such, there is need for it to be regulated and our expectations are that there will be reduced land disputes as all land parcels will be registered.
“We however advise government to enhance awareness on the laws for people to understand them well,” said Chikulamayembe.
DC asks CSOs to share work plans with the council
By Salome Gangire
Neno, February 28, Mana: Neno District Commissioner (DC) Rosemary Nawasha has asked Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) working in the district to share their work plans with the council for easy monitoring of their projects.
Nawasha made the call on Tuesday when she met with the CSOs working in the district.
“The council’s expectation is that you should be sharing working plans and budgets with the council and share quarterly progress reports so that the council should be aware of what is happening on the ground and, similarly, the council will also be sharing its budget and progress reports so that you also monitor us,” she told the representatives of the CSOs.
The DC therefore encouraged the CSOs to register with Non-Governmental Organisation Regulatory Board (NGORA) as government encourages councils to only accept NGOs that are registered with the authority to work in districts.
She added that the CSOs also need to sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the council so that they complement one another.
Nawasha said the council also expects NGOs to implement projects based on the District Development Plan (DDP) and Social Economic Profile (SEP), as it outlines needs of the communities.
“I am also imploring NGOs to be implementing flagship projects, as this is what government is advocating. For example, if you’re building a school block, build also teachers houses plus Water, Sanitation and Hygiene facilities for leaners as a full package that should have an impact,” she said.
Nawasha added that Neno District Council expects that at the end of projects, NGOs should hand over project assets to the council so that there should be continuation of programmes even if the project phases out.
Director of Planning and Development (DPD), Charles Lomoni, emphasised the need for all NGOs working in the district to register with NGORA, saying non-registered organisations were operating in the district illegally.
Chairperson for Neno CSOs, Samson Njolomole, concurred with the DC, saying all CSOs working in the district need to sign MOUs, saying it becomes difficult to evaluate impact of projects that are implemented by NGOs that have not signed MOUs with the district council.
Minister impressed with e-payment on SCTP in Nkhotakota
By Innocent Chunga
Nkhotakota, February 28, Mana: Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Jean Sendeza, has expressed satisfaction over the progress of the electronic payment method in the implementation of the Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) in Nkhotakota District.
Speaking after visiting some of the beneficiaries of the social cash transfer programme in Sub Traditional Authority Kamphambale at Dwambazi on Tuesday, Sendeza said the adoption of the system has assisted beneficiaries in budgeting and enhanced security in the disbursement of funds, among other areas.
She said the programme is a milestone in improving food and economic security levels of ultra-poor and labour constrained households in the district.
Meanwhile, the minister disclosed that government will soon start registering new beneficiaries in the programme, following its decision to increase the number of beneficiaries to help address challenges the ultra-poor families face in the country.
"Let me take this opportunity to advise and urge all responsible officials at the district council to ensure only deserving beneficiaries are registered," said Sendeza.
Some of the beneficiaries in the district said they have managed to construct decent houses and venture into farming and livestock production using money they received from the programme through TNM Mpamba and joining Village Savings and Loans (VSL) groups in the area.
In his remarks, TNM Mpamba Ltd. General Manager Christopher Sukasuka said his company has committed to support government in various projects, including Social Cash Transfer for smooth implementation of the project in the country.
Currently, the programme supports about 7,800 households in Nkhotakota.
The programme is being implemented by the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) through the district council with funding from Social Protection Multi-Donor Trust Fund and the World Bank.
Kawale launches K11.7 billion irrigation scheme construction in Rumphi
By Manasse Nyirenda
Rumphi, February 28, Mana: Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale has launched an K11.7 billion Chipofya Irrigation Scheme at Bolero in Rumphi, which is expected to benefit at least 4,559 people around the area.
Speaking during the launch on Tuesday, Kawale urged communities targeted with the scheme to produce enough for themselves and the country at large.
He said the project, the biggest under Programme for Rural Irrigation Development (PRIDE) irrigation schemes, is in line with Malawi 2063, which focuses on prospering together and living no one behind, including the rural communities.
In an interview, Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe said the project will help improve food security in the area, as people will be able to grow various crops throughout the year.
"There is a big challenge with rain fed agriculture because whenever the rains are poor our people experience hunger.
"However, with this scheme, people will be able to grow and harvest up to three times in a year. This means food security for our people in this area and beyond," he said.
Chikulamayembe also warned that those caught vandalizing or stealing materials meant for the project will face the law.
Team leader for the joint venture contractors consisting of MABLO, Mount Camel and PAM, Noel Maluza, assured people in the area that they will deliver the highest quality of work.
Chairperson for water users’ association, Robert Gondwe, said the people in the area are very happy and looking forward to improving their livelihoods through the scheme once completed.
The scheme will cover 983 hectares of land and is expected to be completed in 12 months.
PRIDE Project is funded by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Malawi Government.
Department of Forestry calls for collaboration to restore environment
By Mary Makhiringa
Balaka, February 28, Mana: Deputy Director of Forestry, Ted Kamoto, on Tuesday called for concerted efforts in the fight against deforestation and further asked people in the district to embark on restoration of the environment, as Balaka plans to plant 1.5 million trees this forestry season.
Kamoto said the Department of Forestry alone cannot manage but different players and sectors need to join hands towards the course so that the country’s environment is restored.
He made the remarks in Balaka during the district tree planting launch which took place in Traditional Authority Kachenga.
Said Kamoto: “As a department, we believe that the road towards restoring the environment goes beyond charcoal confiscation but make the people understand why it is important to have trees standing but not turning it to charcoal.
“We are having trees diminished year in and out and the climate related challenges that we are facing are problems that we have created ourselves, and together we need to change this to have a country that has trees.”
He has further asked for rescheduling in the tree planting, considering that climate is changing with delayed rainfall.
“If we look at the theme this year, it is about how do we bring in innovations to make sure that trees survive after planting. We should think of box ridges and other methodologies so that we keep more water for the trees to grow,” he said.
District Commissioner (DC) for Balaka, Tamanya Harawa, urged all to conserve the environment, describing it as a gift that God gave man.
He said: “I will take you back to the Bible and Quran where God first created the environment and later created man who was given the responsibility of taking care of it with all his might.
“Let us try to see the world as it used to be that time; a lot of trees, people had anything as fruits were all over. Look at the same now, it is a shame, let us take care of the environment as it is our obligation from God the creator.”
Harawa said Balaka planted a lot of tree seedlings but some did not survive due a number of factors that need to be looked into.
“If we continue depleting it at the level we are, just know we have a case to answer with God; nature itself fights back, and that is why we are experiencing all these environmental related calamities.
“Last year, we planted two million trees and survival rate was 87 percent. We lost 13 percent, which was not impressive and l know we can do better,” he said.
The DC further said his office has put deliberate by-laws to make sure that trees are protected, and he asked political leaders to also take active role in incorporating issues of environmental conservation in their political manifestos.
The 2024 tree planting season was held under the theme, “Forest Innovation in Action: Reforestation for a Sustainable Tomorrow”.
It is expected that the district will plant 1.5 million trees, and so far 983 thousand trees have already been planted.
