MANAonline
MERA drills journalists on Malawi`s fuel pricing mechanisms
By Stanley Nkhondoyachepa
Lilongwe, August 31, Mana: Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) says it is important for the media to understand how fuel pricing in Malawi is done so that the public gets information that is factual.
MERA Director of Economic Regulation, Patrick Uka, said this in Lilongwe on Saturday at the end of a media orientation on Malawi fuel pricing mechanism.
He observed that journalists play a critical role in information dissemination and, therefore, needs to be conversant with the technicalities involved in fuel pricing.
“It is important for journalists to understand how fuel pricing in Malawi is done since they are responsible for disseminating information to the public; this will help in the dissemination of information that is factual, truthful, balanced and fair” he said.
In his presentation, Uka highlighted the different elements that determine the fuel pricing in Malawi which, he said, include transportation costs and levies, among others.
“MERA is guided by two principles which are, cost reflective and uniform pricing which ensures that investors in the oil industry are getting fair returns, and also that prices of fuel are uniform in all parts of the country.
He said, currently, Malawi is using the Automatic Pricing Mechanism (APM), which takes into account the exchange rate, global fuel price changes, among others, noting that with the system, the cost of fuel changes to reflect the cost of importing the commodity.
Director of Information, Arthur Chipenda, said the orientation was organized as part of ongoing efforts to have a strong partnership between MERA and the media so as to create a well-informed public.
He said fuel is a strategic commodity, noting the orientation was necessary to equip journalists with knowledge on fuel pricing mechanism.
Chipenda hoped that the orientation will help the media to understand how fuel is priced and the factors that influence its pricing so as to help in factual reporting.
He orientation drew participants from different media houses from the central region.
Catholic Bishop urged youths to take part in politics
By Joel Chirwa
Mzuzu, August 31, Mana: Bishop Martin Mtumbuka of the Catholic Diocese of Karonga has urged Catholic youths in the country to be active in politics with the goal of attaining the common good of less privileged people.
Mtumbuka was speaking during a memorial mass service celebrated in honour of the former Vice President, Late Dr. Saulos Chilima, and eight others who died in plane crash in June this year.
He said young people need to borrow a leaf from Late Chilima who, during his life, was not only spiritually active but also played an active role in social life and promoted agenda of prosperous and development of the country.
"The church in its teachings espouses its adherents to contribute to national politics. You need to stand up to be counted in confronting wrong things.
“It is your God given right to take an active role in politics. However, you need to lean towards virtues of good governance that are for the common good of the less privileged people," said Mtumbuka.
He added that the country is going through a lot of social and economic challenges that warrant youth to take a bold step to advance principles of good governance.
“The church encourages its faithful to create a just society that has a common good for everyone. Therefore, church members especially young people need not to be spectators when they have what it takes to make a positive contribution to the national political agenda.
"It will be meaningless for you to complain and do nothing when politicians are mismanaging things yet your influence is better placed to improve lives of downtrodden and underprivileged people," he said.
He said Late Chilima inspired many people because of his vision which envisaged a developed and a prosperous Malawi.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the ceremony, Bishop the of Diocese of Mzuzu, John Ryan, said the event was organized for the family of Late Chilima to have closure.
"Considering the unexpected nature of the death of Late Chilima, we felt that it was essential to organize prayers so that Madam Mary Chilima and family should move on and have a closure to the loss of their beloved one," said Ryan.
Some of the people present during the ceremony included, wife to Late Chilima, Mary and family members, United Transformation Movement (UTM) Secretary General, Patricia Kaliati; former Vice President, Khumbo Kachali and President for Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), Enock Chihana.
The memorial which was mass was celebrated on the theme ‘Stay Awake,’ was jointly organized by Mzuzu and Karonga Catholic dioceses.
Council disburses K 119,366,518.51 under CECF
By Petro Mkandawire
Blantyre, August 31, Mana: Blantyre District Council through World Bank funded Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project (MWASIP) has disbursed about K119,366,518.51 into Community Environmental Conservation Fund (CECF) to support communities in the district to participate in various activities that are meant to restore degraded land.
Communities under Kapichira Catchment, where the project is being implemented, will access the funds, on revolving basis, to engage in income generating activities other than charcoal production and selling to support their livelihoods.
Speaking during the disbursement of the funds to participating communities at Traditional Authority (TA) Kunthembwe, MWASIP District Coordinator, Owen Malimba, said the money will support communities to implement sustainable land management activities in 48 villages in TAs Kuntaja and Kunthembwe.
“This money is very important to the communities because it acts as a motivating factor for them to continue implementing different activities under the project such as soil and water conservation, gully reclamation among others. The money will address immediate community livelihood needs,” he said.
One of the participants, Judith Fumulani, who is also Vice Chairperson for Mulanga Catchment Management Committee in TA Kunthembwe said the money has come at an opportune time when communities have known and understood effects of climate change and importance of conserving the environment.
She pledged to continue participating in sustainable land management activities under MWASIP saying participating communities are looking forward to receiving the money to go into businesses in order to improve household income.
“We are motivated with this gesture. As the Vice Committee Chairperson, I will encourage those that are not participating in the project to start participating in MWASIP interventions as MWASIP is here to improve communities ‘livelihood,” said Fumulani.
CECF is a conservation benefit sharing initiative implemented by MWASIP to address immediate community livelihood needs.
MWASIP, which runs from 2020 to 2026, is being implemented in Blantyre, Neno, Balaka, Machinga, Zomba and Mangochi.
Drones to deliver health products too hard to reach areas in Karonga
By George Mponda
Karonga, August 31, Mana; A drone delivery company called Village Reach has been authorized to start delivering lifesaving health products to health facilities in hard to reach areas in Karonga to ensure equitable access to health facilities.
Speaking during a District Executive Committee (DEC) meeting Thursday, Senior Programs Officer for Village Reach, Innocent Mainjeni, said the organization has for the past 20 years been working on how to improve transportation of vaccines, medical drugs and laboratory samples in low income countries.
“People who live in remote or hard to reach areas have difficulties in accessing medical products and services and Karonga, being a disaster prone district, the drone delivery service will play a vital role in ensuring that health care services are not an option but a right for all,” said Mainjeni.
He said the drone delivery system will overcome challenges, which are associated with infrastructure and logistics thereby optimizing supply chain systems for them to be more effective and reliable.
Mainjeni explained that the drones made by an Australian company, Swoop Aero, are capable of covering a distance of 100 kilometers carrying a package weighing a minimum of three kilograms.
Director of Social and Health Services (DHSS) for Karonga, Dr. David Sibale, said the initiative will mitigate challenges in transportation of drugs and other small health service related items to facilities, which are far from the district hospital.
“This will greatly assist in making sure that supplies are readily available in health facilities around Wiliro, Kayelekera and Kaporo.
“I would like to urge community members to have a positive attitude towards this initiative as sometimes people associate new innovations with misconceptions,” Sibale said.
Karonga CSO Network elects’ new chairperson
By Felix Katemula
Karonga, August 31, Mana: Karonga based civil society organisations (CSOs), on Friday elected Edgar Phiri as new chairperson the network in the district.
Phiri replaces Jabess Nyirenda who served on the post for the past two years.
In his acceptance speech, Phiri said there is need for CSOs in the district to align their programs with Malawi 2063 so that they offer effective complimentary role in achieving the country’s development blue print.
Phiri, who is also Executive Director for Ukhondo Services Foundation (USEF), was thankful to members of the network for entrusting him with the responsibility of leading them.
“I, therefore, promise to lead the network without bias by being transparent and accountable in my duties,” said Phiri.
Nyirenda said, during his tenure of office, the CSOs executive committee worked hard to help civil societies in the district mobilise funding from donors as well as collaborating with the district council in many projects.
“We are ready to offer advice to the newly elected executive to ensure the network’s smooth operations," said Nyirenda.
Man arrested for murder in NKhata Bay
By Chisomo Kambandanga
NKhata Bay, August 31, Mana: Police in NKhata Bay have arrested Levison Chikopa, 43, for allegedly killing a 41-year-old business woman, Memory Chirwa, in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Fukamalaza in NKhata Bay.
Spokesperson for NKhata Bay Police, Kondwani James, said Chirwa went missing on August 16, 2024.
"When the matter was reported at Chintheche Police Post, we intensified investigations that led to the arrest of the suspect by Sharpevalle Police in Ntcheu where he fled to on August 23 and was handed over to Nkhata Police on August 28," said James.
According to James the suspect told the police that he killed the woman together with his accomplice populary known as Mpezepeze who is still at large.
James added that the two enticed the woman to buy cheap rice at Kaulabwe where they did the evil act.
Further investigations reveal that the suspects robbed the deceased of her money before killing her.
Chikopa then, on August 29, led the police to where they damped the body within Kaualambwe area.
He has since been charged with robbery and murder.
Meanwhile, police in the district are urging community members to help in providing information that may lead to the arrest of the remaining suspect.
Chikopa hails from Jordan 2 Village in the area of TA Ganya in Ntcheu District.
Fomo FC out of the relegation zone
By Pempho Nkhoma
Blantyre, August 31, Mana: Mulanje based, Fomo FC have increased their chances of staying in the TNM Super League after a 1-0 victory when they visited fellow strugglers Bangwe All Stars on Friday at Mpira Stadium in Blantyre.
The lions of Sapitwa have secured their first away win of the season, which helped them move to safer zone on the log table.
It was a balanced affair as both teams displayed good football and create chances but it was the visiting team that found the back of the net after 25 minutes of play.
Fomo FC took the lead through Hassan Hussein who headed home Hassan Luwembe’s well-crafted cross beating Bangwe All Star’s shot stopper Precious Mlotiwa.
The home team pushed for an early equalizer through Bright Munthali and James Msowoya but the visitor’s defence was very organized and the game went to half time with the visitors leading 1-0.
At the break, Bangwe All Stars made three changes bringing in Gabinho Daud, James Tambwali and Shukulan Goba to replace Kondwani Chilembwe, Bright Munthali and Beston Jimu respectively.
The second half was barren as both teams failed to convert their chances into goals and after playing 90 plus added minutes, the game still ended 1-0 in favor of the lions of Sapitwa.
After the game Fomo FC Coach, Elvis Kafoteka, praised his charges for the win saying that it was a difficult match and they have shown the fighting spirit.
“Let me congratulate the boys for the fighting spirit because they have done what we taught them in training, I think it is better that we take this win as a stepping stone so that we should continue working hard because the battle is still on and we are not safe,” Kafoteka added.
On his part, Bangwe All Stars Head Coach, Rodgers Yasin, accepted the defeat saying that it was not their day.
“It is very unfortunate that we have lost this game, we were not supposed to lose but that is how football goes. We will work out and see how we will go because we still have more games,” he said.
For his outstanding display, Fomo FC Midfielder, Chembezi Chihoma, was voted man of the match.
This means that Fomo FC has moved from number 14 to 13 with 18 points after playing 19 games while Bangwe All Stars remain on position 15 with 12 points from the same number of games.
Do not sell relief items, beneficiaries advised
By Felix Katemula
Karonga, August 31, Mana: Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) has advised households who have received assorted relief items in Karonga against selling them but rather use them for the intended purpose.
Operations Coordinator for MRCS, Loius Solomon, was speaking Friday during a distribution exercise of relief items which included solar powered lights, blankets and mats to 100 households who survived floods at Nyungwe in the area of Traditional Authority Mwilang’ombe.
“We have targeted the needy such as the elderly, child-headed families and people with disabilities so that they are cushioned in one way or another.
As such, our expectation is that you who have received these items will use them for the intended purpose,” Solomon said.
He was optimistic of more support to the survivors in complimenting government’s efforts to ensure that affected households rebuild their lives and live normally.
One of the beneficiaries, Rista Mwafulirwa, urged other organizations to emulate the gesture as there are still more needy people who were affected by floods last year.
“These items have come at a time we needed them most. The floods affected us greatly and this assistance will improve our day to day life. My house will have solar lighting now which I could not afford to buy on my own,” said Mwafulirwa.
MRCS is implementing Flood Response Project with funding from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
The project is expected to reach out to 724 beneficiaries in Karonga.
NICE encourages women to pursue political positions in 2025 elections
By Wellington Sibale
Neno, August 31, Mana: The National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Trust has called upon women across the country to contest for elective political positions in the 2025 General Elections saying they have potential to transform the country.
NICE Executive Director, Gray Kalindekafe, said studies show that women are more development conscious, less corrupt and understand societal needs better hence the need to put them in key leadership positions.
He made the remarks on Friday at Neno Community Hall during orientation of trainers (ToT) of trainers for the Gender Technical Working Group in Neno as part the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nthawi Yawo Project which NICE Trust is implementing in partnership with Centre for Civil Society Strengthening (CCSS).
“The need for more women in public office and electoral positions is rooted in our democratic principles which emphasizes majority rule. Women make up a significant portion of our population and women have a reputation of honesty and address community needs,” Kalindekafe said.
He observed that women's participation in political leadership is not just a matter of fairness but crucial for national development, saying women have unique perspectives, experience in decision-making and provide solutions to various social challenges.
Kalindekafe, therefore, pointed out the role of ToT in this mission, stating they are crucial, as they will pass on the knowledge, skills and confidence needed for female aspirants to navigate the political landscape successfully.
Neno District Council Gender Officer, Gertrude Mphande, expressed hope that the training will help new female aspirants to better understand on ways of wining electorates’ trust for a good vote.
“Neno currently lacks female parliamentarians and ward councilors. This training could be a step towards electing female MPs or ward councilors. More awareness campaigns are needed to change perceptions of women in politics,” she said.
Since Malawi adopted multiparty democracy in 1994, the number of women in politics has significantly increased. Women representation in the national assembly has grown from 5.65 percent in 1994 to 22.92 percent in recent years.
Despite challenges such as cultural barriers, economic constraints, political violence and intimidation, NICE, CCSS, and UNDP remain committed to support all efforts meant to increase women participation in politics by providing the necessary resources and support.
The one year, Nthawi Yawo project aims to empower women aspirants with knowledge and skills in resource and community mobilization and public speaking.
The project also seeks to provide leadership skills to enable women aspirants run successful 2025 campaign to increase the number of women in elective positions at both council and national assembly.
MACRA introduces National Addressing System in Machinga
By Charlie Ligomeka
Machinga, August 31, Mana: Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) is set to introduce National Addressing System (NAS) in Machinga where houses will be numbered, streets and buildings named for efficient goods and service delivery.
MACRA Director of Postal and E-Commerce, Kondwani Katchika, disclosed this on Friday at Liwonde, Machinga during stakeholders meeting with District Executive Committee members, traditional leaders and other district civil society organizations.
He said Malawi does not have comprehensive addressing systems that can easily identify a person by street, building or a house.
He expressed concern that the gap affects delivery of services in time of emergencies.
Katchika said following the Communication Act of 2016, Section 124, MACRA is mandated to manage and regulate addresses and postal codes.
He said there is need for Malawi to have a system that should number houses and buildings, name streets and other infrastructures for easy identification to improve service delivery.
“We had traditional addresses but they are not matching with the economic developments that are happening worldwide.
“With the coming of NAS, people now understand why we need the system. There are times when a person purchases a product online and get stuck when asked where to put postcode,” Katchika said.
He appealed to people to avoid vandalizing all physical features that will be installed along streets, saying such features will be installed to easily assist in locating people and places.
Senior Chief Mposa hailed MACRA for introducing the system saying growing population and increased number of infrastructure warrant a comprehensive addressing system as is the case with other countries in the Southern African.
“With the growing population and a lot of infrastructural development, traditional system is not ideal to locate a person or a place. It becomes time consuming and very involving for service providers to reach exact destinations in time of emergences,” Mposa said.
He, therefore, pledged that chiefs in Machinga will play a significant role in raising awareness on the importance of NAS to their subjects so that they should understand and embrace the system.
NAS benefits includes, provision of verified proof of residence and increased accuracy in population and housing census information collection as a result of accurate numbering and naming of physical infrastructures.
