By Lisa Lamya

Blantyre, September 11, Mana: Deputy Programme Manager for Malawi National TB and Leprosy Elimination Programme Dr. Kuzani Mbendera has said Malawi is making considerable progress in the fight against tuberculosis (TB) and leprosy.

Speaking on Tuesday in an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana), Mbendera said that Malawi’s treatment success rate for TB stands at 90 percent on average, attributed to new interventions in the fight against the disease that are proving to be effective.

He cited the phasing out of toxic drugs for multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and the rolling out of new drugs as some of the milestones that have helped Malawi fight TB.

"Initially, the treatment for MDR-TB was from 18 to 24 months, but we have managed to introduce new drugs, which patients take for a period of six months, and for drug-sensitive TB, the treatment period has been shortened from 6 months to 4 months if a child is suffering from a form of TB that we feel is not severe," he said.

Mbendera also mentioned the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) as part of software packages that help healthcare workers read X-rays and make predictions about the likelihood of TB.

“Currently we have two AI software programmes running in the country; one is called CURE AI and the other is CAD for TB," Mbendera stated.

Health expert George Jobe described it as the successes that have come out of the interventions.

“It is pleasing to note that the treatment period has been shortened, unlike in the past when it could take two years or one and a half years to finish.

“We would want to commend the Ministry of Health through the TB Control Programme for this success, donors, and all Malawians going for screening and those on treatment; this is a shared success," Jobe added.

Jobe further stated that the current success rate gives hope that the country can end TB, and there’s a need to continue with the interventions and intensify awareness campaigns.

By Hastings Yobe

Lilongwe, September 11, Mana: Kawale Police Station on Wednesday received a significant boost with the donation of an HP laptop from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nancy Tembo.

The donation that has thrilled Officer-In-Charge, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Davie Chilalire, and his team.

"We are grateful for Honourable Tembo's support. This laptop will greatly ease our operational challenges," ACP Chilalire said.

Tembo, also a Member of Parliament for Lilongwe City South West, inspected the station's offices and cell rooms, gaining a first-hand understanding of law enforcers' challenges.

Impressed by the station's proactive approach, Tembo pledged continued support.

"The station's dedication to serving the community is commendable. I will continue to support initiatives enhancing public safety," she said.

By George Bulombola

Mzuzu, September 10, Mana: Mzuzu City Council (MCC) in a bid to improve communication within its jurisdiction, Tuesday launched K455 Million road re-gravelling and grading initiative targeting selected earth roads in its 14 wards.

Speaking during the launching ceremony of the initiative at Mzuzu Upper Stadium, Chief Executive Officer for MCC, Gomezgani Nyasulu said it is the council’s vision to have all roads passable for improved service delivery and communication.

He said the project would be implemented using public resources, as such the council was compelled to launch it in the presence of all relevant stakeholders to deepen decentralization concept by enhancing transparency and accountability in managing public projects.

“We have also handed over contractors which have been awarded contracts to work on these roads to communities as a way of empowering them in monitoring the implementation of the project as we provide high level technical back stopping so that we have quality roads,” said Nyasulu.

He then commended government for providing the resources for the project as the council strives to resuscitate its network.

“In appreciation of the dire need for good roads in the city, the council through the project has targeted selected roads as not all can be worked on at once,” said Nyasulu.

Nyasulu added that most of the roads in the city have been over-graded and have turned into water path-ways as all the soils that support the roads have been washed away by rains hence the inclusion of the gravelling component so that the road surface is uplifted.

Commenting on some road construction projects, which have stalled for some time, he assured the people of Mzuzu that the roads will be completed; saying government is committed to having all roads’ projects completed.

“We just working on a few technical and contractual issues and once we have resolved them, we should be going back to the projects and will all be finished within this year,” he said.

Mayor for MCC, Brian Nyasulu said the council’s Planning Department will always be on the ground to ensure that contractors deliver according to contractual agreed specifications to ensure a quality and durable road network.

Councilor for Chiputula Ward, Hiwett Mkandawire and various block leaders drawn from the wards commended the council for initiating the project, which the described as a timely intervention considering that rains onset is just near. 

The projects have been awarded to Mungo Civil Engineering, Three Sisters Engineering, Chief Civil Engineering, Uhuru Civil Engineering, Shalome Investments and Mphamba Civil Works.

By Lily Kampani

Liwonde, September 10, Mana: Malawi Fertilizer Company (MFC) has committed to supporting farmers in the country to increase soil productivity by providing quality soil-specific fertilizer called ‘Super Fert fertilizer’ that will contribute to enhancing crop yield in Mega farms.

Speaking on Tuesday in Liwonde during a Mega farm tour of their state-of-the-art, Liwonde fertilizer terminal, MFC General Manager, Chris Keen said their company aims to provide tailored blends, water-soluble and organic fertilizers as well as expert advice to mega farmers on the best fertilizer to use for their crops and soil.

“This event was necessitated from a combination of a drive from Mega farms to find technical solutions for the mega farmers and to look out for people who were willing to look seriously to providing the technical advice to the mega farmers while at the same time providing the product to them.

“As a fertilizer company ourselves, it is extremely important to look at these mega farmers as they are our future and see how we can put hands together and use our expertise to help them and make them more productive”, Keen explained.

Keen emphasized that they would ensure that the fertilizers are affordable to mega farmers as an investment in their productivity.

“As with any of our technical support, there is a range from a cost-effective solution where the farmer can pay minimal in terms of analysis cost and other costs for technical expertise.

“This might include someone that is starting from a more ground reach basis right up to potentially technical services and Agri-economic services of precision farming which entails hundreds of soil samples and a lot of intervention from the business, that is catered towards a higher level of farming, so it’s something that will have to be tailor-made for each of the farmers”, he said.

Chairman for mega farmers in Mponela, Jonathan Kamakanda described the event as enriching and beneficial to promoting crop productivity and increasing their technical expertise on best farm practices.

“We have come to learn and understand the nature of the different soils we have in Malawi and what kind of fertilizer is best suited to it to improve our yield”, said Kamakanda

Kamakanda further said they have been assured of the cost-effectiveness of acquiring the expertise and the fertilizer, which won’t hinder them in accessing these important services and products.

Chief Agri-business Officer for Mega farms unit, Macdonald Chikhawo said MFC has imparted knowledge to the farmers on how they can get inputs that are tailor-made and how to improve on the productivity component.

“Farmers have been encouraged to use fertilizer based on the soil testing because now they will make well-informed decisions as to what specific types of fertilizer, they should get for their fields so they can attain the ultimate goal of improved productivity”, Chikhawo said.

He further stated that their farmers are linked to markets where they can sell their products so they can enjoy the benefits that NFRA (National Food Reserve Agency) is offering to the Mega farmers of selling their produce at good market prices.

The Liwonde fertilizer terminal can produce fertilizer at 120mt per hour and has a market share of approximately 45 percent across all sectors.

By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, September 10, Mana: Chitipa District Hospital (DHO) has confirmed one case of cholera and nine suspected cases at Kapenda Health Centre in Senior Chief Mwabulambya in Chitipa District.

In an interview, Chitipa District Hospital Spokesperson, Masida Nyirongo, confirmed the cholera outbreak.

Nyirongo said that patients at the health centre have been presenting with signs and symptoms of cholera and are all receiving treatment at the health facility.

“Cases have been increasing and we have ten cases as of today (Tuesday). Results of one suspected case from the laboratory indicate positive. So once one is cholera positive automatically it is an outbreak,” Nyirongo said.

He said that Chitipa DHO staff are on the ground at Kapenda to assess the situation.

Senior Chief Mwabulambya expressed concern with the news, saying it also occurred same time last year.

He further said that there is a need to engage all stakeholders to support the health workers to go on the ground and sensitise the masses on the importance of having pit latrines and practicing good hygiene.

Last year Chitipa district registered 96 cholera cases and three deaths, which hit the northern part of Chitipa district.

By Leah Malimbasa

Chikwawa, September 10, Mana: President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has encouraged farmers in Chikwawa District to take advantage of the Shire Valley Transformation Programme (SVTP) to realize desirable fruits and transform their lives.

Chakwera was speaking on Tuesday during his visit to the SVTP site where he was briefed on the significant progress made by the initiative aimed at transforming agriculture in the country.

Project Coordinator for SVTP, Dr. Stanley Khaila pointed out that by June 2025, at least two cooperatives in the area will begin irrigating their farms using the infrastructure developed under the programme.

The initiative, designed to transform farming in the rift valley from reliance on rain-fed agriculture to irrigation, is expected to not only boost food security but also enhance the livelihoods of small-holder farmers.

Chairperson of Kambadwe Cooperative, Samso Beyadi expressed gratitude to President Chakwera and the First Lady Madame Monica Chakwera for the visit and for supporting the agricultural transformation effort.

Beyadi observed that the project has the potential to significantly improve the lives of cooperative members by boosting food production, increasing incomes and creating jobs in the valley.

At the time of leaving the SVTP, President Chakwera took a moment to offer words of encouragement to the farmers.

He emphasized that the programme, once fully operational, would bring tangible benefits to the community, a message that further energized the farmers.

By Priscilla Phiri

Lilongwe, September 10, Mana: Vice President Dr Michael Bizwick Usi has called on Malawi’s forestry sector to put into action the structures designed for forest conservation, emphasizing their importance for the country’s economic development.

Speaking at the launch of the Forest Plantation Fee Structure Report and a Public-Private Engagement on Forest Plantation in Lilongwe on Tuesday, Usi highlighted the misalignment of current forest pricing policies with community needs.

He pointed out that this misalignment has led to a minimal contribution of forests to Malawi’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“The implication of our forest policy pricing demands immediate action. Over the past five years, the forestry sector’s contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been a mere 0.1 percent.

This low contribution is a reminder of the gaps in policy enforcement and evaluation of forest resources, hindering both revenue collection and sustainable waste management,” Usi stated.

Recognizing these challenges, Usi mentioned that Modern Cooking for Healthy Forests (MCHF), with funding from USAID and in collaboration with MwAPATA, conducted a comprehensive study on Malawi’s forest fee structure, which aimed to assess whether revenue generation can sustain production.

“This study provides evidence to decision-makers, comparing the current fee structure with those in the Sub-Saharan Africa region to guide the establishment of an effective and competitive fee structure,” he said.

Usi also stressed the need for effective implementation structures and a conducive environment for private sector participation, which he deemed crucial for the success of environmental initiatives in the country.

He further instructed the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change to name those involved in corruption within the forestry sector to address the corruption challenges currently affecting development.

Echoing Usi’s sentiments, MwAPATA Executive Director William Chadza emphasized the importance of the study, noting that it highlights the status of the country’s forestry sector in economic development.

“The research on assessing forest plantation fees and prices was undertaken to make a comparative analysis of our prices with those in other Sub-Saharan regions.

 “This will inform decision-making on how forestry and plantation contribute to the social and economic development of the country and how it can be enhanced,” Chadza said.

He also urged authorities to allocate sufficient resources to the forestry sector to manage the country’s forests effectively.

By Leah Malimbasa

Chikwawa, September 10, Mana: President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has encouraged Malawians to consider patronizing Majete Wildlife Reserve as one way of supporting the country's tourism industry.

The President was speaking in Chikwawa when he together with First Lady, Madame Monica Chakwera visited the game reserve.

Before the tourist attraction, the president also inspected construction works at Kandeu Secondary School, which is being constructed under the Secondary Education Expansion for Development Project.

 Meanwhile, President Chakwera is inspecting the construction of a water treatment for the flagship Shire Valley Transformation Project in Chikwawa.

Later in the day, the Malawian leader is expected to switch on electricity at Pende Primary School in the area of Traditional Authority Kasisi under the Malawi Rural Electrification Programme (Marep 9).