MANAonline
US citizen constructs 2 km slab road in NKhata Bay
By Chisomo Kambandanga
NKhata Bay, August 9, Mana: A citizen of the United States of America, Teneil Jayne has constructed a two kilometer slab road at Bwelero in the area of Sub Traditional Authority Mndola in Nkhata Bay to ease mobility challenges.
In an interview, Thursday during the road handover ceremony, Jayne said the challenges that people face in accessing medical services prompted her to mobilize resources for the project.
"I have stayed in Nkhata Bay for about eight years now. One of the major problems I noticed is transport for people to access medical services. Expectant women struggle hiking down the mountains as the roads are impassable, hence a stretch of the helping hand" she said.
According to Jayne, she witnessed people getting injured due to accidents as they hike down the hills.
"I commend the community and their leaders for their contribution towards the project with sand among other resources. Together with the little that I mobilized from family and friends we have made it," she said.
In his remarks, Nkhata Bay District Commissioner, Rodgers Newa commended Jayne for the gesture of improving the condition of the road as it has opened a door of opportunities to many.
"This is quite a welcome development. The terrain of Bwelero is hilly and it was extremely difficult to travel through it. We are today happy to witness the handover of this project.
Newa therefore invited more partners and well-wishers to continue supporting government's efforts in developing communities in the district.
Mary Banda, a resident from the area said the road has connected them to a number of services they have been failing to access with ease.
"For ages we have been failing to access this road either by car or foot. The situation was worse during rainy season. Now that it has been repaired we are grateful. We are now connected to hospitals, schools and even trading centres to transport agricultural products", she said.
Beliefs, a hindrance to political participation – APAM
By Wanangwa Tembo
Kasungu, August 9, Mana: Chairperson for Association of Persons with Albinism (APAM) – Kasungu Chapter, Caroline Zimkomola says beliefs against people with albinism are a major barrier to their full participation in politics.
She was speaking in Kasungu on Thursday during an elections stakeholders meeting on women's participation convened by the Catholic Centre for Justice and Peace (CCJP).
Zimkomola said there is need to remove the hindrance and has asked civic education organizations to help raise awareness on the rights of persons with albinism to demystify the myths, which have largely contributed to killings.
She said: “The mention of elections worries us because this is the period some people make evil schemes against persons with albinism resulting in abductions and deaths.
“It is for this reason that most people with albinism opt not to take part in political activities because they feel insecure even to attend political rallies.”
Zimkomola said persons with albinism have the potential to campaign, participate as voters and also contest for leadership positions, but are let down by superstitions.
“We need to seriously look at this issue because it borders on serious threats to the right to life.
“Communities on the other hand must be made aware through intensified civic education about the rights of persons with albinism so that there is a safe environment for everyone to take part in elections,” she said.
In his remarks, District Gender Officer for Kasungu, Humphrey Longwe said political structures must create a conducive room for women participation by ensuring that bottlenecks that discourage women to contest as leaders are cleared.
He said gender equality is not a favour towards women but a virtue that communities must accept and adopt as the correct way of living in a civilized world.
He said: Women’s perspectives, needs and interests must be adequately represented in decision-making processes, which ensures that policies and laws reflect the diverse experiences and challenges faced by all citizens.
“Gender-diverse leadership leads to better governance and more effective policies as women often bring different priorities and approaches to leadership which contribute to having more comprehensive policies.”
District Coordinator for CCJP, Hastings Kalima said the meeting was organized to reflect on the challenges women face in the political arena to increase the number of women in decision-making positions.
The meeting brought together members of the clergy, political and traditional leaders, civil society representatives, women groups and the media.
In all the general elections that happened in Malawi, women have performed badly such that their numbers in both Parliament and councils have been a source of concern for the country that is striving to promote and empower women.
Only 44 of the 193 Members of Parliament in the country are women, representing 23 percent.
HSAs cautioned on absenteeism
By Moses Nyirenda
Lilongwe, August 9, Mana: Lilongwe District Chief Preventive Health Officer, Paul Chunga has cautioned Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) working in Lilongwe to avoid being absent from their duties and scale up efforts in promoting good health in the country.
He made the remarks on Thursday in Lilongwe during an interface meeting with senior HSAs for Lilongwe, which was organized by Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN).
Chunga said in some areas HSAs do not report for duties yet they are supposed to do so on daily basis.
“Most HSAs do not report for duties and some report just for two hours and off they go, yet we are supposed to work from 1st January to 31st December unless you are on leave.
“You find that many communities are not visited by most of these HSA for several reasons, others live very far away from their catchment area with their families and because of this they fail to sustain paying transport which leads to absenteeism,” Chunga said.
He added that the HSAs are supposed to work according to their work plan but most of them barely follow the plan.
He further cautioned the HSAs to avoid being absent for duties and upscale their efforts in promoting good health in the country saying they have a lot of work do which include; sanitation and water quality promotion as well providing health education in the communities.
Chunga applauded MEHN for constantly engaging HSAs on various health related issues such as vaccination of under-five children through its vaccination project, which it is implementing in the country with financial support from Global Alliance for vaccines and Immunization (GAVI).
MEHN Assistant Project Officer, Tumpale Kalobo said as an organization they are committed to working with the HSAs in order for them to cordially work with Mother Care Groups (MCGs) in the vaccination of the under-five children and make sure that all children are vaccinated against diseases such as Measles and polio.
MEHN is supporting the vaccination work of under-five children through MCGs, which scaled up vaccination efforts by among other things making door-to-door visits to encourage mothers to take their children to the clinics for vaccination.
British High Commissioner satisfied with DCCMS operations
By Petro Mkandawire
Blantyre, August 8, Mana: British High Commissioner to Malawi, Fiona Ritchie, has expressed satisfaction with the operations of the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS), saying department provides accurate weather forecasts accessible to everyone across the country.
She said the weather forecasts and DCCMS systems are particularly essential to farmers about climate change for future planning and preparation of the agricultural calendar.
Ritchie was speaking Thursday during a tour of the DCCMS in Blantyre to appreciate how the department operates and how they disseminate information to their end users.
She said during the tragedy and the devastation of Tropical Cyclone Freddy they saw how important it was to have DCCMS as the weather forecasts helped people evacuate their villages and get to safer places.
She added that farmers understand the impact of climate on their crop production and livelihoods easily through community engagement to plan easily for their agricultural activities.
“I have met the most dedicated team of people who are really passionate about their job, as we see increased climate shocks affecting Malawi, DCCMS has a real vision for how it can get out there and tell the country about the importance of weather forecast and how farmers can utilize it in boosting agricultural activities,” said Ritchie.
She said it is critical to witness the partnership between the British and DCCMS that demonstrates the importance of contacts and information sharing, encouraging other partners supporting the Department.
She pledged that the British High Commission is geared to upgrade studio equipment used at the DCCMS to disseminate information.
Director for DCCMS, Dr Lucy Mtilatila, said the UK Meterological Office has been providing support to their department, citing the 20 years support the department has enjoyed including the setting up of the Television Studio which helps in broadcasting of climate change information to the end users.
“Our work is to inform people and share messages related to climate and give warnings, the UK support helps us reach as many people as possible and we will continue doing our best to make sure that the disseminated information is accurate and perfect for people to utilize it,” said Mtilatila.
During the visit, Ritchie visited the National Meteorological Centre, Communication Saver Room and DCCMS Television Studio where she presented today’s weather forecast for the country.
MWASIP, a reflection of nation's 2063 ATI strategy
By Andrew Phiri
Balaka, August 8, Mana: It is Friday afternoon around 3:30 pm, Sani Sofiti from Mtendere Village Level Action Plan (VLAP), Group Village Head (GVH) Kampeni under Traditional Authority Nsamala in Balaka district is busy with other members renovating stone bands.
Standing 200 metres away, one would think it is a fort at military base. But to Unyolo, this is a land restoration technique that slows down high speed water from the hills that wash away the fertile land his ancestors bequeathed him.
His land, located in the East from hilly area and South down to Shire River, Unyolo says he is well aware of the evils of mud slides; hence, is committed to renovate the stone bands to protect his land and the entire community.
“The problem of soil erosion is history in our area because we have stone bands and natural forests that we restored in all uplands down the streams. Every farmer has box ridges in their fields to allow proper infiltration of rain water,” he testifies.
Just like other members in Mtendere VLAP, Unyolo only shares 25 percent of modern agricultural practices learnt from Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project (MWASIP).
Implemented by the Government of Malawi with support from the World Bank, MWASIP in Balaka aims to restore about 10, 000 hectares of degraded land along Shire river areas starting from 2022 to 2026, by taking onboard farmers with three main components; land restoration, watershed services and technical support.
Sharing another experience related to Unyolo is Chimwemwe Jimmy, 22-year-old-girl from Mtola VLAP in GVH Lupanga TA Nsamala.
She stands in her garden filled with box ridges and swales.
As a youth, she said MWASIP has helped her to panel bit her future because she is optimistic to harvest more yields from her modern farming.
"With the dry weather that we experience here in Balaka, our previous harvests have been always poor. But this project has trained us to make Mbeya manure, swales and check dams to prevent fertile soil from being washed away down to Livilivi river," she said.
Added Jimmy: "We also have fruit gardens so that we should restore our nutrition status."
The modern agricultural experience that farmers under MWASIP in Balaka are sharing would compel one to fast forward the weather to reach rainy season in order to see their green fields.
However, that is not the case as the project also incorporates irrigation farming under the component of watershed services by encouraging farmers to practice Farmers Field Schools (FFS).
Nsamala FFS found in Livilivi Extension Planning Area (EPA) under Chidala section testifies the fruits of MWASIP because apart from practicing matching agriculture, they also own maize irrigation farm.
Steve Banda is Agricultural Extension Development Officer (AEDO) for the area and he explains how Nsamala FFS has managed to assimilate MWASIP objectives.
"In FFS, we give power to farmers to identify the problems affecting agriculture in their area, analyze it and find solutions. Through this strategy, we have many farmers that we move along with in whatever we are discussing starting from the grassroots of challenges they are facing until they find solutions," he said.
Banda adds that despite the El nino dry weather that has affected many parts of Malawi including Balaka in the 2023/2024 growing season, farmers under Nsamala FFS will harvest reasonable yields from their irrigation farming.
"You can see that the weather is very hot but the maize in this irrigation farm is strong and fresh, a sign that farmers will harvest more yields, courtesy of MWASIP," he assured.
What MWASIP is doing in Balaka is a reflection of embarking in Malawi 2063 vision since apart from equipping farmers with modern agriculture, the program is also promoting the adoption of agribusiness.
MWASIP Project Coordinator for Balaka, Lucreshia Matekenya said among other things, the program is committed to providing financial grants to farmers so that they should engage in agribusinesses such as piggery, beekeeping and fish farming.
"We believe that the financial assistance that will be provided to these farmers will capacitate them to transition and sustain the values of MWASIP because they will be able to make more money on their own," she said.
She adds that the project targets to give matching grants to 200 farmer groups and 60 agri-enterprises to enhance agricultural based livelihoods and boost household incomes.
Director of Agriculture for Balaka, David Ali, hailed government through MWASIP for implementing such a visionary project.
He said just like MWASIP, the district is also committed to roll out various modern and sustainable agricultural interventions such as Agriculture Commercialization Project (AGCOM 1) and Sustainable Agriculture Production Project (SAPP 1).
"Through projects like MWASIP, AGCOM 1 and SAPP 1, government is spending billions of kwachas to provide financial grants to farmers in the country including Balaka district so that they should venture into modern agribusiness," he said.
According to national Agenda 2063, Malawi aims to promote the sectors of Agriculture, Tourism and Industry (ATI) strategy hence MWASIP promotion and adoption of modern farming through land restoration, watershed services and financial services to farmers which plays a pivotal role in restoring the economic backbone of Malawi, agriculture.
Public buses to resume using Dedza bus depot
By Zenak Matekenya
Dedza, August 8, Mana: Dedza District Council Director of Administration, Dr. Chris Salaniponi says rehabilitation of five Kilometres Dedza ring road will compel bus operators to resume using Dedza bus depot.
The depot has a fence, security personnel, flush toilets, a waiting area, waste bins, a concrete slab, shops, a nearby fueling station and other basic needs for passengers and operators, but was shunned for about three years due to poor road condition.
“When the road is complete, it will be business as usual. Buses will be compelled to go through the town unlike now, where they pass through the main road,” he said.
He said the council stands to benefit through revenue collected from the bus operators using the bus depot.
“It has been quite long since we stopped collecting revenues from the depot. But I know that resuming the depot operation is going to boost revenue collection for the district,” he said.
Public Transport Association of Malawi chairperson, Moses Chauluka says 10 to 15 buses operate on daily bases between Blantyre and Lilongwe and pay an average of MK3,000 for each stop they make at a district bus depot.
“We see no problem for buses to pass through the bus depot. The purpose of diverting through the bus depot is to serve the passengers, so we see no problem,” said Chauluka.
Dedza bus depot Chairperson, Alex Maudzu, said most business at the depot are on the verge of collapsing due to lack of business after buses stopped using the depot.
Kamtukule hands over staff houses to Lake Malawi National Park
By Ernest Mfunya
Mangochi, August 8, Mana. Minister of Tourism, Vera Kamtukule, on Wednesday handed over two newly constructed staff houses to rangers at Lake Malawi National Park in Monkey Bay, Mangochi.
The houses, have been constructed under the Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project (MWASIP) with funds from the World Bank.
Speaking during the handover, Kamtukule urged rangers to take good care of the houses as they are a significant asset to improving their welfare.
“Regard these houses as your own not government’s. I want to see these houses in good condition when I come again in the next six months.
“It is not government which will suffer once they are in bad state. You will have to look for accommodation outside the park once the houses become inhabitable and this will be an inconvenience and expensive on your part,” said Kamtukule.
The Minister pledged government’s commitment to providing rangers with good accommodation saying more houses will be constructed in line with the Malawi 2063 enabler on human capital.
She, therefore, hailed MWASIP and the World Bank for supporting her ministry, through the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, to construct modern houses for the rangers.
MWASIP Monitoring and Evaluation Technical Team member, James Kumwenda, commended the Department of National Parks and Wildlife for prudently utilizing the Performance Based Grants saying it is in line with the project’s objective.
MWASIP provides Performance Based Grants amounting to US$3 million to institutions that focus much on watershed management.
“We have three national level institutions namely; Department of National Parks and Wildlife, Department of Forestry and National Water Resources Authority. We also provide grants to local authorities within the project impact area.
“Department of National Parks and Wildlife triggered the grant after fulfilling performance based indicators measured annually using a scorecard,” Kumwenda said.
Councilor Martin Milanzi, who represented Chairperson for Mangochi District Council, said construction of the houses was a significant and timely move, anticipating that the houses will motivate the rangers to be dedicated to their duty of patrolling the park since they will be residing within the park.
Milanzi has since asked government, through Ministry of Tourism, to construct more houses for the rangers saying deployment of additional rangers in the protected area will intensify patrols to prevent people from illegal fishing and destroying the forest in the park.
Lake Malawi National Park is the world’s first fresh water national park and a world heritage site which is home to rare fish species.
Kvuno, Solidaridad for improved data sharing in agriculture
By Patricia Kapulula
Lilongwe, August 8, Mana: Stakeholders in the agriculture sector have been called upon to improve on coordination and maximise on the benefit of sharing data in order to address repetition of same activities at the expense of others.
Digital Innovations Lead for Solidaridad Southern Africa, Candice Kroutz-Kabongo told journalists in Lilongwe on Wednesday along the side lines of the FANRPAN Annual Multistakeholder Policy Dialogue that although requirements for farmers to provide data has increased over the years, coordination among organisations in as far data sharing is concerned has not yet been maximised.
She proposed an open farm data ecosystem where stakeholders within the agriculture sector can share the data they collect.
“The level of duplication of efforts and consequent lack of impact for those efforts is the problem that we need to address through data sharing.
“We are spending our resources repeating same activities across organisations when there are others that need to be done such as climate shocks and early warning systems,” she said.
Kvuno Country Operation Lead for Malawi and Mozambique, Igo Manuel, appealed to stakeholders to have a holistic view of farmers they support and make decisions that benefit those farmers.
He said it is for this reason that coordination in the sector is important as it can bring the cost of operation down for everyone hence benefitting the people they serve.
“We want to showcase how we can share data across various organisations so that we can maximise efforts. So, we believe that Kvuno is practical and real case of what can be done with open data sharing platform,” he said.
Solidaridad and Kvuno developed digital farmer identity with each farmer that works with them. The farmer ID captures all the information about the farmer such as their name, what crops they cultivate and how much they are making selling those crops.
Given Phiri, Programs Manager for Kvuno Malawi, said farmers can benefit a lot through digital.
“Kvuno is here to showcase to farmers that, through digital, they can find markets and messages on how to improve farming.
“Malawi has started paying cotton farmers through the bank which has proved safe and successful as it has no risks both to the buyer and farmer,” Phiri said.
According to Phiri, Malawi has reached out to 816 farmers involved in cotton seed multiplication in Salima, Nkhotakota and some parts of Balaka with digital services.
Kvuno, is a social inclusive business that utilises digital tools and technology to empower smallholder farmers for wealth creation through farming.
Solidaridad introduced Kvuno, incorporating its interventions, shaping the relationship with farmer-facing organisations.
10 behind bars for theft in Balaka
By Andrew Phiri
Balaka, August 8, Mana: Police in Balaka have arrested ten people whose ages range from 18 to 78 years, suspected to have committed various offences in the district.
Balaka Police Station Public Relations Officer, Gladson M'bumpha said the suspects were arrested on Wednesday, August 7, 2024 during an intelligence driven operation conducted within Balaka town and surrounding areas.
“Among the arrested suspects, five have been arrested for theft by servant, three for theft, one for receiving stolen property and another one for fraud and the other one for false pretense,” he said.
M'bumpha added that meanwhile, police have recovered some of the stolen property such as Aluminum conducting wires whose value is yet to be established.
All the suspects hail from Balaka district and will appear before court soon to answer charges leveled against them, according to M’bumpha.
Seeds of success: Zomba and Mangochi farmers flourish with support from SMEDI, CIAT, and USAID
By Patience Longwe
Lilongwe, August 8, Mana: In the heart of Malawi's Zomba and Mangochi districts, small and medium enterprise farmers are witnessing a remarkable transformation thanks to the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Institute (SMEDI) and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), together with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), who are turning their visions into reality, aligning with Malawi's 2063 vision of becoming an industrialized upper-middle-income country.
Chipiliro Mpumira, a determined farmer from Chitenjere 1 village in Zomba Malosa under Traditional Authority Malemia, embarked on her banana farming journey in 2023. Despite her aspirations, challenges like limited land and encroachment of animals hindered her progress. However, training from SMEDI and a grant from CIAT with USAID's help changed everything.
"With the grant, I was able to fence my farm and expand my land. Now, my banana sucker production has significantly increased," Chipiliro shared, beaming with pride. Her story is a testament to how targeted financial support and training can unleash the potential of small-medium-scale farmers.
Thokozani Nkhambure, from Nsangeni village in Zomba, T/A Malemia, once a fresh vegetable seller, now manages Inozandi fish farm. The transformation in her business is profound.
"Before SMEDI, CIAT's, and USAID's intervention, I struggled with insufficient funds and could only manage a small fishing pond. Now, I've added more ponds and materials, and the business skills training has equipped me to compete effectively and plan strategically," she said.
Despite these gains, Nkhambure highlighted a persistent challenge; sourcing fish feed: "We don't have local shops selling fish feed, so we have to get it from Lilongwe and Blantyre, which strains our budget," she explained. Yet, her resilience and resourcefulness remain unwavering.
Rita Kumweda, from Matawale in Zomba, T/A Mwambo, who runs Para Enterprise, focuses on mushroom farming. The grant she received allowed her to complete a mushroom house and acquire essential equipment.
"Since February, we've been harvesting up to 20 packs of mushrooms daily, and we're now supplying major shops. I owe this success to SMEDI, CIAT, and USAID," said Rita, reflecting on her journey from a small-scale farmer to a successful entrepreneur.
Chisomo Chimkondenji from Kalonga village in Mangochi, T/A Mponda, ventured into a nursery school called Historic Academy.
"The training taught me how to keep records whether I am making profits or not. All thanks to SMEDI, CIAT, and USAID for the grant. I have built these three blocks where children are learning, and it has helped me to open a Facebook page where I can reach out by marketing to people around Mangochi and other areas," shared Chisomo.
Rashion Nikisi from Namwera Village in Mangochi, T/A Jalasi, owner of Rahawe Bee Farming, embarked on his bee farming journey in 2011. His farming progress was hindered facing challenges like people cutting down trees and stealing honey from his hives. However, training from SMEDI and a grant from CIAT and USAID changed everything.
"With the grant, I was able to buy materials that I use when processing the honey," he said.
Sharon Kumwembwe, Assistant Youth Officer for Zomba District Council, emphasized the broader impact of these initiatives.
"In an era of high unemployment, this program has provided a platform for youth to showcase their capabilities. They're now entrepreneurs and CEOs, having gained essential skills, knowledge, and market exposure," she noted.
Kumbukani Manda, Mangochi District Youth Officer, highlighted the importance of accelerating youth self-help initiatives as one of a kind in Mangochi since the district has a high unemployment rate.
"We believe that such initiatives are the only way to improve and empower the youth economically," said Manda.
SMEDI's Board Chairperson, Henry Chete, highlighted the unique approach of providing grants alongside training.
"After the training, grants enabled the youth to purchase materials, install irrigation systems, and more. Their success stories are a testament to the program's impact," he said.
Overall, 74 participants from various Traditional Authorities in Zomba and Mangochi have been trained in design thinking, climate-smart business models, marketing, communication, pitching, and business plan development. Grants up to MWK4.2 million from CIAT have further empowered them.
The support from SMEDI and CIAT aligns seamlessly with Malawi's 2063 vision, emphasizing inclusive wealth creation and sustainable economic growth. By investing in small-scale farmers, these organizations are not only improving individual livelihoods but also fostering a future where agriculture plays a pivotal role in the nation's economic transformation. As these farmers continue to thrive, their stories inspire a broader movement towards agricultural productivity and commercialization, showcasing the power of strategic support and the indomitable spirit of Malawi's small-medium-scale farmers.
