MANAonline
VP calls for transparency and accountability in NEEF resources
By Sheminah Nkhoma
Lilongwe, September 11, Mana: Vice President Dr Micheal Bizwick Usi has called on National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) to ensure transparency and accountability when disbursing funds in the country so that all eligible members can benefit.
Speaking on Wednesday during a meeting with NEEF members at Capital Hill in Lilongwe, Usi said there are many complaints from people who have been applying, saying they are unable to access the funds.
He said that people in rural areas are struggling financially, so there is need to serve them better so that they can have access the loans.
“As we know there are many Malawians who have applied for the loans, so we wanted to discuss the processes and challenges which NEEF faces when disbursing funds so that we can address them and make it easy for people to get the loans,” Usi said.
He said NEEF funds are not related to politics saying this is a government initiative to help and promote economic growth for Malawians.
“The funds are here to help poor Malawians to boost up their economic standards so it does not matter from which side of the country one belongs to or party they support, everyone should have access to the loan,” he stated.
In his remarks, NEEF Board Member, Dr Thabbie Chilongo said the meeting was important as they have discussed on how they can resolve issues which are on the ground without compromising the funds which are for public consumption.
“We want to assure the public that NEEF will always be responsible when disbursing funds so that it benefits people in different areas of the country,” said Chilongo.
He added that NEEF has introduced a new loan called “Vukani “which is a non-collateral loan that people from rural areas who cannot afford to give collateral can access.
Chakwera inspects devastated Mpatsa Primary School
By Robert Nayeja
Nsanje, September 11, Mana: President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera on Wednesday visited Mpatsa Primary School temporaly structures in Nsanje District.
The school relocated due to the devastation by the effects of Tropical Cyclone Freddy.
Member of Parliament for Nsanje, Kafandikhale Mandevana appealed the President to consider speeding up the construction works of the new school.
"Learners are facing challenges including lack of teaching and learning materials because they were all washed away during Cyclone Freddy," said Mandevana.
Chakwera also visited the old Mpatsa Primary School, which was buried in sand, and the president is presiding over the groundbreaking ceremony construction of the new school.
The President has fulfilled several engagements in Nsanje District which include welcoming of an inaugural train hauling 1.2 litres of petroleum products from Beira in Mozambique and inspecting of a newly constructed TB Ward at the district hospital.
SCTP uplifts lives of the elderly in Nkhata Bay
By Chisomo Kambandanga
Nkhata Bay, September 11, Mana: Elderly people in Nkhata Bay are praising the Social Cash Transfer Program (SCTP) for improving their lives, enabling them to meet their basic needs and providing financial security in their golden years.
In an interview on Tuesday during a media tour, Esther Kamanga, 68, from Makuzi cluster, Nabayoti Village in the area of Traditional Authority Malengamzoma, said her dream of having a house with a cement floor and electricity has become a reality through the program.
"At first, my house had no cement floor, and my grandchildren suffered from cough and respiratory issues. But thanks to SCTP, I have upgraded our home with a cement floor, iron sheets and currently targeting to finalize the windows. My grandchildren are now healthy and thriving," said Kamanga.
Kamanga added that she has also secured a solar system for electrification at K120,000 through monthly installment payments from the K42,000 she receives.
Another beneficiary, Cecilia Nyasulu, 65, from Tayambapo cluster in the area of Senior Chief Timbiri said she saved enough money through Village Savings Loan groups and has started constructing a three-bedroom house.
"When I enrolled in the programme in 2022, I started selling fish and joined a village bank. I used the proceeds to mold 15,000 bricks and have started building a spacious house for myself and my eight grandchildren," she said.
Nyasulu commended the government for increasing the transfers and urged fellow beneficiaries to invest part of the money for sustainability beyond the programme.
In his remarks, Nkhata Bay Principal Social Welfare Officer responsible for SCTP, Wisdom Mwafulirwa, said he was impressed to see the elderly testifying to the program's benefits.
"The program targets households, not individuals. It is wonderful to hear the elderly testimonies about the program's benefits. The programme aims to alleviate poverty, and it is currently making tangible difference," he said.
According to Mwafulirwa there are currently 6,475 households in Nkhata Bay benefiting from the program, and the district will retarget beneficiaries in 2026.
SCTP is Malawi Government's program being implemented across the country through the National Local Government Finance Committee with financial support from the Multi-Donor Trust Fund and World Bank.
Chakwera inspects newly constructed Nsanje multi-drug TB Ward
By Robert Nayeja
Nsanje, September 11, Mana: President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera on Wednesday inspected the newly constructed multi-drug Tuberculosis (TB) Ward at Nsanje District Hospital.
The ward is expected to provide health services to those that have developed resistance to TB drugs.
Construction of the TB Ward has cost K240 million.
During the inspection, Chakwera and the First Lady, Madame Monica Chakwera also cheered patients at the hospital.
Malawi hosts first-ever Africa Senior Enlisted Leader’s summit
By Elia Chibwe
Lilongwe, September 10, Mana: U.S. Charge d’Affaires Amy Diaz on Tuesday underscored the significance of hosting the Africa Senior Enlisted Leader’s Conference (ASELC), saying it will assist in building strong relationships and collaboration and encourage Non-Commission Officers (NCO) to be the backbone of the militaries.
Speaking during the conference in Lilongwe, which was held under the theme, Diaz said the conference would enable addressing challenges across the African continent and wars that occur across the world.
“High global conflicts like terrorism issues in Mozambique, civil wars, conflicts across the African continent as well as wars like the invasion of Ukraine and conflicts between Israel and Gaza have put more pressure on militaries and security forces around the world which is why it is even more important that we forge strong relationships and promote security collaboration,” she said.
She said the theme of the conference encapsulates the essential qualities that define outstanding NCOs and highlights their shared commitment to leadership, excellence and collaboration.
“The NCOs we welcome today are the backbone of our military forces. They are the bridge between strategic vision and operational success. Their ability to lead, mentor and inspire is essential for maintaining the readiness and effectiveness of our forces.
“The capable NCO is a skilled practitioner who translates training into tangible results. The competent NCO brings a depth of knowledge and dedication that drives operational excellence and the credible NCO earns respect through unwavering integrity and reliability,” she said.
US African Command (US AFRICOM) Command Senior Enlisted Leader, Sergeant Major Michael Woods, said the conference plays a key role in resilience, reliability and trustworthiness among countries.
“This is where we come to collaborate, the goal is to come here and give as much as we should take, so we can go back to our countries, more reliable, more resilient, more trusted. So I would say that the level of importance we put on this is absolutely good,” Woods said.
Commander for Malawi Defense Force, General Dr Paul Valentino Phiri highlighted that the event is significant in venturing and forging an understanding of enlisted members from Malawi Defense Force and across the country.
“The conference is going to venture and forge an understanding of our enlisted members that are from MDF and across Africa on issues that obtain in the management of soldiers, specifically during peacetime and also during the conference over and above that to also understand the dynamics of conference and region and also beyond as continent,” Phiri said.
He said the conference would address issues to do with conflict management, the approach to the management of troops in terms of what they obtain in the battlefields and also standards that should be adhered to during peacetime.
In his speech, Phiri urged attendants to use the event as an opportunity to exchange insights, share best practices, and develop strategies that would enhance their collective security efforts.
The conference was organized by US AFRICOM under the theme “The Capable, Competent and Credible NCO”.
Education Ministry sounds SOS
By Steve Chirombo
Dedza, September 11, Mana: Secretary for Education, Mangani Chilala Katundu on Tuesday called for support from various development to help some struggling institutions that are in hard-to-reach areas.
He made the call when Deputy Minister of Education, Nancy Chaola Mdooko, visited Lulwe Community Day Secondary School in Nsanje located in the mountainous area not less than 20 kilometres from Marka, under Traditional Authority Ndamera.
The school which is among many other struggling education facilities in the country has serious water challenges among others.
“We are working hard and giving our best effort to have such challenges like that of Lulwe dealt with. We call upon well-wishers, individuals and our partners to render their support wherever possible. We hope that our efforts at the ministry will bear some fruits,” Katundu said.
Chairperson for the Area Development Committee (ADC), Sumaili Mavutike, said several initiatives including to drill a borehole close to the school have failed by various borehole drilling companies.
“As a community together with the Parents Teacher Association (PTA), we resolved that all students must carry a five litre bucket of water as they come to school which they would use for drinking and other hygiene uses,” he said.
According to the school’s Deputy Headteacher, Samuel Luwisi, Lulwe CDSS was established in 2017 and has a current enrollment of 205.
Apart from issue of water, the school lacks enough classrooms, desks and needs a laboratory to allow students to study science subjects.
On her part, the Division Manager for the South West Education Division (SWED), Mary Mmangisa, thanked the deputy minister for her visit to the school describing such visits as rare dedications.
“We feel energized as a division that our seniors have heard our concerns,” she said.
Mangochi District Council distributes relief maize to 425 households
By Ernest Mfunya
Mangochi, September 11, Mana: Mangochi District Council on Tuesday distributed 50 Kilograammes bags of relief maize to 425 households affected by hunger in the areas of Group Village Heads, Issa Mponda and Mitanga, under Senior Chief Mponda.
Speaking after distributing the relief maize, the District Risk Management Officer for Mangochi, Maria Joseph explained that the distribution was in response to reports of people eating the roots of plants due to food scarcity.
She said the council conducted an assessment in the district and requested assistance from the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA), which promptly provided the relief maize.
“Following our assessment we reported the matter to the Department of Disaster and Management Affairs requesting for urgent assistance of food. DODMA responded swiftly by sending us this maize we are distributed today," Joseph said.
She commended DODMA for their swift response, demonstrating the government's commitment to preventing hunger-related deaths and further urged beneficiaries to use the relief maize wisely to serve the intended purpose of providing food at household level.
In her remarks, one of the beneficiaries, Chrissy Ojesi, 59, expressed gratitude for the relief maize saying due to dry spells and poor rainfall patterns caused by El Nino, her family failed to harvest enough maize that could last them a year thereby compelled to eat wild tubers that put their lives in danger.
“I am happy that I have received this maize because I had no food at home. This maize will assist me and my six children who usually sleep on empty stomachs,” she said.
Wyson Matebule, a 48-year-old resident of Group Village Head Mitanga, said that with schools reopening soon, he was concerned about providing food for his eight children when they return from school.
“The relief maize has come at the right time such that I am relieved to have food for my school-going children,” said Matebule, adding the relief food assistance was timely.
Each year government through DODMA distributes relief maize to vulnerable households affected by hunger.
Meanwhile, the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) indicates that the number of people in need of food assistance in the country has increased from 4.2 million to 5.7 million during the lean period from October this year.
Construction of health center and water supply stirs excitement
By Andrew Mkonda
Lilongwe, September 11, Mana: Community members from Senior Chief Mazengela in Lilongwe have expressed excitement with the construction of Chigodi Out Patient Department (OPD) and water supply in the area.
The K85 million health facility has been constructed with funds from the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) project and is expected to serve a population of over 23,000 people.
Speaking Tuesday in an interview, Councilor for Mazengela ward Edward Simoko said the construction of the health facility is a dream come true for people in the community.
“We thank the government together with our Member of Parliament Eisenhower Mkaka for the initiative which will ease the long distances that people in the area were covering to access health services at Kamphata and Nkhoma health centres respectively,” he said.
Another community member Grace Kathumba said the facility will enable women to access the antenatal and under-five services.
“We are so happy with the coming in of this health facility because it will enable us to meet clinicians regularly and learn more on issues of family planning,” she said.
Member of Parliament for the area Eisenhower Mkaka said he is committed to bring health service delivery closer to the community.
“As you may be aware, the recommended distance from one health centre to the other, is five kilometres, but people from this area have been accessing health services very far from here,” he said.
Lilongwe District Commissioner Dr Lawford Palani said he was pleased to see the completion of the health facility in the area as it will improve people’s access to healthcare services, especially expectant mothers.
“This health post will cover a lot of health issues including nutritional value programmes and under-five clinics. So it is a big achievement to us as a council since this facility will reduce issues of malnutrition in the area,” he said.
Currently, the construction of maternity wing at the health post has also started and is expected to be completed in November this year.
GESD is World Bank funded project which is being implemented by the government through the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) in all districts across the country.
NWRA sounds an SOS for communities in Mangochi
By Bishop Witmos
Mangochi, September 11, Mana: National Water Resources Authority (NWRA) has appealed to communities that were affected by the rising levels of Lake Malawi and Shire River in Mangochi to relocate to safer places as it is anticipated that water in the two water bodies will rise more in the coming hydrological year.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Water Resources Authority, Engineer, Dr. Dwight Kambuku appealed on Tuesday for a tour of editors and media managers from media houses in the southern region to appreciate the water situation in Mangochi that displaced many families from their houses following rising water levels in the Lake Malawi and Shire River this year.
He expressed concern over some residents in Mangochi who have relocated back in flood-prone areas, describing the relocation as a disaster in waiting.
“The Department of Climate Change and Metrological Services has predicted that the country will receive more rainfall because of La Nina this year. We expect to receive 475.22 millimetres of water above sea level in Lake Malawi, which is 22 centimetres higher than that of last year, and the situation will be worse,
“As such we encourage residents to relocate to safer places because if they hesitate, we should expect the same bad scenario as it was the case in last hydrological year,” said the NRWA CEO.
Kambuku therefore called on the media to come in with stories and radio and TV programmes that should raise community awareness on the impending scenario of rising water levels in Lake Malawi and Shire River.
In his remarks, CEO for Mangochi Municipal Council, Ernest Kazokoya said that the situation in the flood-prone areas of Lake Malawi and Shire River remains bad though some people were settling back.
“The situation along most Lakeshore areas is still bad as water levels remain high. It is just unfortunate that some people are still moving back to such low-lying areas,” he added.
Kazokoya therefore asked all those who would like to construct houses to consult the council for better places to build houses.
“As a council, we still have more other better places for staying,” he said after taking editors and reporters to places where people constructed houses that are still waterlogged due to rising levels of the Shire River.
The rising levels of waters both in Lake Malawi and Shire River left 810 households homeless in Mangochi as their houses submerged into the water.
Currently, closer to 20 households are still residing at a camp.
Malawi Editors Forum, Secretary General Gracian Tukula said was grateful to NRWA for supporting editors and media managers' tour of Mangochi, saying this allowed the team to appreciate the damage that was caused by the rising water level in Lake Malawi and Shire River.
He said editors need to be on top of things for effective behaviour change communication that should come from news stories and radio and TV programmes to trigger positive practices, citing relocation of people from flood-prone areas to safer locations.
Organisation motivates best PSLCE students in Thyolo
By Dalitso Kampira
Thyolo, September 11, Mana: Shire Highlands Development Trust, through its "Edukans" project, has provided school materials to top-performing students selected to various national and boarding secondary schools under the Mpinji Zone, as a way of motivating them.
The donated items included suitcases, hardcovers, instruments, soap, and varying amounts of money based on student performance.
Presenting the materials on Tuesday, the Secretary General of Shire Highlands Development Trust, Limbani Nsapato, said the initiative aims to inspire both learners and teachers to improve their performance.
"This support will help the students excel at the secondary school level, potentially leading them to progress to the university.
"It also serves as motivation for teachers to continue equipping students with the skills needed to achieve high grades, which can earn them further recognition and rewards," said Nsapato.
Nsapato further emphasized the Trust's commitment to supporting educational programmes across the region, including Thyolo District.
The Coordinating Primary School Advisor (CPEA) for the district, Evelyn Kanyidzira expressed gratitude for the organization’s support, noting that it serves as a significant encouragement for the students to strive for excellence.
"We are here today to celebrate your hard work and dedication. We are grateful for uplifting Mpinji Zone to be among the top-performing zones. God truly rewards those who diligently pursue their goals, as demonstrated by your achievements today," said Khanyizira.
Khanyizira also urged teachers, headteachers, and Primary Education Advisors (PEAs) to continue their efforts of providing quality education in the zone and throughout the district.
One of the best performers from Naming'omba Primary School Rodwell Chimwaza , who has been selected to Robert Blake Secondary School expressed gratitude to his parents and teachers for their support.
"I am grateful to my parents and teachers for their encouragement and support. I am thrilled to be going to one of the best secondary schools in Malawi. It has been a challenging journey, filled with hard work and sleepless nights, but I am proud to have made it," said Chimwaza.
He also encouraged his fellow students to remain committed to their studies and avoid engaging in immoral behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and premarital sexual relations while in school.
Mpinji Zone achieved an impressive 87 percent pass rate, making it the top-performing zone in Thyolo District.
The top three primary schools in the zone are Maonga, Mbandanga, and Naming'omba, with pass rates of 100 percent, 99 percent, and 95 percent, respectively.
