By Ireen Mseteka

Likoma, October 21, Mana: Social Cash Transfer Program (SCTP) in Likoma has migrated from manual to electronic payment with the aim of ensuring that all beneficiaries of the initiative receive their stipends in time.

Speaking Monday when he briefed District Executive Committee for Likoma on the development, Principal Social Welfare Officer in the Ministry of Gender who is responsible for manual and electronic payment in the SCTP, Gilbert Kaponda said the development will be effective immediately.

“We want to introduce electronic payment so that all the beneficiaries of the program start receiving their stipends electronically

We are also introducing to you TNM Plc as a service provider through E- Payment Platform who has taken over payment activities from the council because of their mobile money solution and soon they will start registering the beneficiaries,” said Kaponda.

He said Likoma as a district has enrolled 303 beneficiaries saying their cohort was on-boarded in December 2023 hence the program will take them through for four years until December 2027.

Director of Education, Youth and Sports (DEYS) for Likoma District Council, Zimulange Mhango welcomed the E-Payment initiative saying it will curb some of the challenges, which were encountered during manual payment.

“This is a welcome development, as you are aware that this district consists of two islands Likoma and Chizumulu and people were served at different times because we could not cover both islands at a single pay palade.

With this development all the 303 beneficiaries will be accessing their money at the same time besides that the intervention will also address security issues, the money will be secured as it will be going directly to the beneficiaries,” said Mhango

TNM Plc Acting Regional Manager for the north, Bright Banda pledged that his company will ensure that the initiatives never face network and theft involving e-transaction challenges.

“We will make sure that the program is implemented smoothly without any problems, our agents will be placed in all areas across the district so that our services are easily accessed,” said Banda.

By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, October 21, Mana: Voter registration exercise in preparation for the 2025 General Election in Chitipa District has rolled out on a good note with no challenges registered so far in all the 183 registration centres.

District Commissioner for Chitipa, MacMillan Magomero said that he is impressed with the operations of voter registration centres, which he has been to, saying everything is going on well.

“As a district, we have started well. And we have not had any challenges so far. Though we have noted low turnout, we hope this will improve since is this is the first day of the exercise good,” Magomero said.

Chitipa Model Primary School Centre Supervisor, Gloria Mbotwa said she is optimistic that more people will turn up for the exercise in the coming days within the registration period.

“People are coming at a slow pace because it is the first day but all in all we have started well without any challenges,” Mbotwa said.

By Chisomo Kambandanga

Nkhata Bay, October 21, Mana: Acting Director of Malawi National Association of the Deaf (MANAD), Malonje Phiri has said the organization plans to open a sign language training centre in Nkhata Bay to address challenges encountered by deaf children in the district.

She was speaking on Monday in Nkhata Bay when she closed a three-day training for parents and Nkhata Bay District Council officials on sign language.

 Phiri said that most teachers and other stakeholders in delivery service setups cannot communicate through sign language, hence the idea to open the centre.

"We have trained various government departments such as Health, Education and Police on how they can serve the deaf through effective reciprocal communication.

We, therefore, invite those interested to attend sign language classes once the centre is opened next year so that we minimize communication barriers with deaf people," said Phiri.

Chairperson of Parents of the Deaf in Nkhata-Bay, Jonathan Hara commended MANAD for the training.

“We are however waiting for the centre to be opened as this initiative will ensure that our children access education, health and other social services that will make them become reliable citizens of this country, " Hara added.

Director of Administration for Nkhata Bay District Council, James Tembo said the training has been an eye opener to many, attributing to be a catalyst towards achieving inclusive development.

By Wongani Mkandawire

Nkhotakota, October 21, Mana: Communities in Nkhotakota say Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Program (CSEPWP) has improved livelihoods and restored the environment, benefiting them in return.

Speaking to Malawi news agency on Monday, Weluzani Jolamu from Kwenda village in Bua catchment in the district says money earned from the program has been a lifeline for his family over the years.

"This money from Climate Smart Works has allowed us to meet our basic needs and even start saving for the future," he explained.

Jolamu added that in addition to the financial benefits, the CSEWP has also had a positive impact on the environment. The project also emphasizes on forest management efforts and has resulted in increased access to firewood and shade around their villages.

Eliza Phiri from Chilingali catchment says the benefits are huge and that her community appreciates works like gully reclamation and the creation of water harvesting swales which were unknown to them but now they depend on these methods during farming to yield bumper harvests.

District Community Development Officer for Nkhotakota, Ellina Lukasi emphasized the importance of the CSEWP as a component of the social support for resilient program that has empowered communities to take ownership of their development and improve their livelihoods and resilience to climate change behaviors.

“This program is a shining example of how communities can address both economic and environmental challenges around them. By providing financial support, promoting sustainable land management practices, and fostering community empowerment, the government is through the program, making a lasting impact on the lives of people in the district,” added Lukasi.

Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Program is part of the social support for resilient livelihood program funded by the World Bank and multi-donor trust fund.

By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, October 21, Mana: National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Public Trust Programmes Officer for Kasungu, Pilirani Chaguza has appealed to youths in the district to register in large numbers so that they vote in the next year’s general elections slated for September 16, 2025.

The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has started the first of the three-phased voter registration and in Kasungu; the exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 9 to 22 November.

Speaking Sunday during an awareness and sensitization rally at Kamphungu in Kasungu West Constituency, Chaguza said the forthcoming elections are a chance the youths must utilise this exercise to shape the future they desire to have.

“Voting is one of the rare moments that guarantee citizen participation in shaping the democratic destiny of a nation. This is your chance as youth to take part in making a very important decision for your country.

“Remember that the more people participate in elections, the stronger the mandate that is given to those elected as leaders, and the more confidence and trust given to them and the systems they operate under. So we must register and vote,” Chaguza said.

He said the new electoral laws demand that a person must register with the National Registration Bureau to qualify as a voter hence asked the youths to make sure they register for citizen identification.

Chaguza also sounded a warning against the perpetuation of violence, calling for peace and tolerance in all the stages of the elections.

“We must refrain from being used as agents of violence. Youths must be champions of peace,” he said.

Speaking earlier, Group Village Head Serenje encouraged women and girls to go beyond mere voting, urging them to contest as candidates so that they acquire leadership positions.

“For girls and women, your participation in elections must not be limited to voting. This is our opportunity to also contest as candidates,” he said.

Serenje said traditional leaders have a big role in ensuring that there is peace in the electoral process hence asked his fellow chiefs to champion political tolerance.

MEC is conducting voter registration in three phases from 21 October to 11 December this year and NICE is mobilising people for the exercise.

By Lyte Ali

Mangochi, October 20, Mana: Mangochi District Council has launched a participatory forest management plan to take communities on board in planning and implementation of strategies that will help to bring back forest cover thereby protecting biodiversity for communities improve livelihood

The launch took place over the weekend at Mtakataka Community ground at Traditional Authority Chowe. Senior Chief Chowe welcomed the participatory forest management plan, saying this was the right approach to preserving the remaining forest and recovering lost forest cover in the district.

He said forest management was a collective responsibility, adding that community participation through enforcement of bylaws was an important measure to address deforestation.

Senior Chief Chowe said bylaws and other Acts will surely bring perpetrators to book and further appealed to fellow chiefs in the district to exercise their authority by being at the forefront of enforcing bylaws so that their subordinate chiefs and subjects are environmentally conscious and responsible enough  in conserving and protecting forests

"Let us take ownership of our forests and work together to preserve them for future generations. As chiefs, we must help to sensitize our subordinates to recognize the value of our forests beyond just timber and charcoal,

“Forests also provide us with clean air, water, and food. It is our duty to protect them,” Chowe said as he addressed those who attended the launch.

He warned that those found cutting down trees irresponsibly will face consequences, emphasizing the need for collective action against all human activities that destroy forests, citing encroachment into protected forests and village forest areas for charcoal and timber production.

Speaking at the event, Assistant District Forest Officer at Mangochi District Council, Mangochi, Mary Kamanga said that the district intends to empower local communities to manage their forests effectively, ensuring tree regeneration and conservation of natural resources.

She explained that participatory plans will guide community-level forest management structures in sustainable forest management and utilization.

“Many forests in the district have been heavily depleted, leading to numerous problems, including loss of livelihoods. As such, through the participatory plans, in the next five years we want to recover all community forests with more trees, both through natural tree regeneration and new plantings," Kamanga said.

Mangochi District Council, Chairperson, Councilor Abdullah Yusuf hailed the initiative, saying this was crucial measure to conserve the environment in line with Malawi’s development aspirations.

To deal with land degradation the council chair added that communities should be responsible enough to conserve the forests for numerous benefits.