MANAonline
Lilongwe Council moves in to reduce disasters
By Andrew Mkonda
Lilongwe, July 4, Mana: Director of Planning and Development for Lilongwe District Council, Willard Chirwa, has stressed the need for members of the community in the district to be vigilant in preventing disasters by, among other things, avoiding cultivating and constructing along river banks.
He made the call Wednesday in Mponela during the opening of a three-day training workshop aimed at equipping members of District Disaster Risk Management Committee (DDRMC) on their roles and responsibilities in disaster management.
“Natural disasters will always be there, but we need to be vigilant and take precautionary measures to avoid effects of these disasters,” he said.
Chirwa urged the participants to take the training seriously saying it will assist them to understand what to do in responding to different disasters that may occur in the district.
Lilongwe District Disaster Risk Management Officer, Anganile Mbisa Kalonga, said it is sad that many people last year and early this year lost their property due to hailstorms.
Kalonga urged people in the district to start conserving the environment and build resilient houses that can withstand such disasters.
One of the community members in the area of Traditional Authority Kalolo, Peter Mbewe, said wanton cutting down of trees for charcoal production is a major challenge that is causing disasters in the district.
“In the past, when we were conserving the environment, we hardly experienced such disasters. We need to change our mindset in order to reduce these disasters,” he said
3,000 households were affected by disasters last year in Lilongwe district.
Ntchisi education authorities hail GESD
By James Mwale
Ntchisi, July 4, Mana: Education authorities in Ntchisi district have hailed the construction of a classroom block at Masangano Primary School in the area of Senior Chief Kalumo saying it will help retain pupils in school thereby reducing dropout rate.
The school’s Head teacher, Andrew Kalikuni, told Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Tuesday that before the classroom block was constructed, some learners could use the nearby Masangano Community Based Care Centre (CBCC) for classes.
“We could inconvenience learners at the CBCC every time we used their space and most of our learners could not concentrate on lessons due to noise from children at the Centre,” said Kalikuni.
He said learners from his school could occupy two rooms at the CBCC forcing children at the Centre to be congested in one classroom.
The K40.2 million classroom block was constructed between December 2021 to April 2022, along with a donation of 120 desks, under the World Bank Funded Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) project.
Appreciating the impact of the development, the district’s Senior Inspector of Schools, Hammex Malithano, said congestion of learners in classroom has been a long standing problem in the district that has led to demotivation of both teachers and learners.
He said: “Construction of the classroom block has significantly mitigated congestion and has resulted in improved attendance of learners and reduced dropout rate. It is my wish that donors of the GESD project increase funding so that many similar developments may be realized.”
According to Malithano the classroom block, which has a capacity of 60 learners each, has also positively contributed to the send and retain children in school’s campaign.
The campaign is underway in most of the district’s communities under which parents are encouraged to send their children to school than keeping them home to help with household chores.
TNM launches Mudziwathu community project in Thyolo
By Yamikani Yapuwa
Thyolo, July 4, Mana: TNM Plc on Wednesday launched Mudziwathu Community Project by handing over 11 dairy cattle worth K4.8 million to eleven families, in a pass-on project, under Tikondane Group in Traditional Authority (TA) Nchilamwera in Thyolo.
TNM Chief Technical Officer, Lloyd Gowera, said the launch marks the start of the implementation of community projects worth K318 million nationwide under the Mudziwathu initiative.
He said the initiative cements the company’s commitment to fostering sustainable development and economic empowerment among community members.
“The community project component of Mudziwathu initiative presents opportunities for communities to implement a project of their choice based on their allocated funds as accrued from using TNM services under each TA,” Gowera said.
Gowera asked the first beneficiaries of the pass-on project to take great care of the cattle to ensure they extend the same benefits to more families.
District Commissioner for Thyolo, Hudson Kuphanga, commended TNM Plc for the gesture saying it will add value to the food security efforts in the district.
“When they are raised well, they will keep on giving them milk thereby supplementing the food already found in the district. The money earned from selling milk will also help them alleviate hunger and poverty at household level,” said Kuphanga.
Kuphanga, therefore, directed the agriculture office to come up with guidelines to be followed by beneficiaries of the programme to ensure that they indeed pass-on the cattle to others for the programme to flourish.
He said the Council is ready to support them with all the technical extension services to ensure that the district has healthy livestock.
One of the beneficiaries, Dave Kasanga, expressed gratitude to TNM for the cattle saying the livestock will improve their economic status.
“Once we sell the milk, our families will be assured of money to take care of our families,” said Kasanga.
Through the partnership that Mudziwathu created with people at the community and national level, TNM is paying back one percent of its revenue generated from network usage towards development projects of people’s choice in the community.
Wirima inspects examination Centre’s in Nsanje
By Robert Nayeja
Nsanje, July 3, Mana: Minister of Education, Madalisto Kambauwa Wirima says government is impressed with the administration of Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations in Nsanje District.
Wirima was speaking at Nyamadzere Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) after inspecting the administration the Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examination at the Centre.
She expressed satisfaction with how the examinations are being administered,
“All candidates are sitting on desks and taking the exams from classrooms. In fact, all is well which guarantees smooth administration of exams. So far no challenges have been registered,” she said.
Wirima expressed government commitment to improve education standards in the district and the country as a whole.
“We know that Nsanje has not been doing well in exams. The ministry is working tirelessly to eradicate some challenges affecting education in the district and the nation at large. Currently, government has employed and deployed additional teachers to Nsanje District as one way of reducing teacher pupil ratio,” said Wirima.
She said government is also implementing a number of interventions such as construction of additional class rooms, among others,
“We hope that with such kind of interventions all challenges facing the education sector will be eradicated.” She said.
Wirima assured people in the district that government will finalize construction of a girls’ hostel at the institution as one way of improving education delivery in the district.
Nyamadzere CDSS Head Teacher, Leah Zambasa Nyowani said she was happy with the news that construction of a hostel whose works stalled will be completed.
“Most leaners travel long distance to this school which affect their learning process. I’m glad that the minister has assured us that government will finalize the project soon,” she said.
During the visit, Wirima also inspected Kadabwako and Magoti examination Centre’s in the district
SCTP beneficiaries in Likoma asked to use money wisely
By Ireen Mseteka
Likoma, July 3, Mana: Principal Social Welfare Officer in the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Gilbert Kaponda has asked social cash transfer program (SCTP) beneficiaries in Likoma District to use their money wisely to sustain their livelihoods.
Kaponda made the call in an interview on Wednesday.
He urged the beneficiaries to start small scale businesses and join village saving loans (VSL) groups where they can be able to make savings and access soft loans.
“They also need to embark on other interventions like manure production in order to boost their agricultural productivity while reducing their dependency on affordable input subsidy program. Above all, they need to enroll their children in school in order to break the cycle of poverty,” said Kaponda.
One of the beneficiaries, Veronica Kumpolota said she has invested her money in a small scale business, saying she trades in rice, fish, soap and other items.
“I have a disability so I cannot manage going to the market to sell the stuffs. My daughter helps with ordering the goods for me. We are surviving through the business,” said Kumpolota.
She thanked government for the program saying it has saved many households that did not have capital to venture into small scale businesses to make ends meet.
Another beneficiary, Stanley Mwinama said through the program, he has managed to plaster his house.
“Recently, I received K116 000 from the program. I managed to buy some bags of cement and I plastered my house. It had not been easy to complete my house,” said Mwinama.
Government through Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare is implementing SCTP, a safety net program targeting ultra-poor households.
Mwanza traditional leaders sensitized on fistula
By Brian Wasili
Mwanza, July 3, Mana: As a way of scaling up message dissemination about fistula, chiefs in Mwanza District have been sensitized on signs and symptoms and dangers of fistula, so that their subjects should have accurate information.
Speaking during a sensitization meeting with the local leaders in the district on Tuesday, Mwanza District Hospital, Safe Motherhood Coordinator, Patrick Ganizani said that engaging traditional leaders in the fight against the disease would be the right approach to take, since these live with people who suffer in silence in their areas.
“People we are targeting stay in the communities. The chiefs are in a better place to carry the message to their respective community members,” said Ganizani.
A health worker at Mwanza District Hospital, Rhoda Golowa hailed the meeting saying it provided her with extra knowledge about the disease such that she will encourage women in her catchment area to go for fistula testing.
‘Now that I have gained extra knowledge about the disease, I will be able to explain to women and young ladies about effects of the disease so that they should come out for testing and get necessary treatment,” added Golowa.
Inkosi Kanduku Maseko who also attended the meeting, commended the organizers for the meeting, saying it helped him to get insights on the disease and current status in the district.
‘We are going to share the same information to our subjects and I am sure this will trickle down very well in our respective areas,” said Kanduku.
Fistula is a non-communicable disease which affects women of child bearing age and mostly occurs from an injury which occurs during delivery.
This year, Mwanza District Hospital referred 11 fistula patients to Bwaila Hospital in Lilongwe for treatment.
Thyolo District Council Lauded for Quality Infrastructure
By Yamikani Yapuwa
Thyolo, July 2, Mana: Executive Director for the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC), Kondwani Santhe, a delegation from the World Bank and officials in Ministry of Finance’s, on Tuesday visited Thyolo District Council to appreciate projects being implemented under Governance to Enable Service Delivery GESD)
Speaking after touring Namatuni and Mtambanyama Health Posts, Santhe commended Thyolo District Council for the high-quality infrastructure projects.
“We are impressed with the quality of the infrastructure here for both GESD as well as other projects,”
“The projects here are well-constructed and demonstrate excellent planning” said Santhe.
He hailed the council for reserving space within the project site at Namatuni Health Post for future expansion, which he said shows foresight and strategic thinking.
Thyolo District Commissioner, Hudson Kuphanga said the council is commitment to ensure that infrastructures built are of high standards to meet people’s expectations.
"We will continue to follow the required guidelines so that projects in the district stand the test of time," he said.
Kuphanga attributed the council's success to unity among sectors involved in project implementation.
The joint monitoring visit was meant to evaluate progress and impact of the Performance-Based Grants (PBG) funded projects in Thyolo District.
NLGFC satisfied with active community participation in CS-PWP in Blantyre
By Petro Mkandawire
Blantyre, July 3, Mana: National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) Cluster Coordinator for the South, Henry Hunga, has expressed gratitude over communities’ active participation in various interventions under Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) sub catchments of Blantyre.
He expressed the appreciation during a tour of Linjemesi catchment in Traditional Authority (TA) Makata and Chilambalare catchment in TA Kapeni in Blantyre.
He said structures which communities are constructing under the programme in most micro catchments will reduce risks of natural disaster, improve water conservation thereby improving food security.
He was hopeful that communities will continue adopting best practices in catchment conservation for improved livelihood as CS-EPWP was meant to create visible, durable and quality assets within micro catchments that should improve household food security.
The monitoring team visited the micro catchments to assess quality of assets and number of sub projects being implemented in the current circle, assessing implementation of works in line with the programmme calendar.
The team toured Linjemesi and Chilambalare micro catchments to assess number of participants and see programme achievements that can help improve CS-EPWP implementation.
“We have witnessed what communities are doing and this is an assurance that there will be sustainability beyond the programmme support. We have seen durable and high quality assets. l can confirm that all sub projects under CS-PWP in Blantyre are being implemented in line with agricultural guidelines as well as project plains,” Hunga said.
He said chances of extending the programmme are very high as CS-EPWP is there to build community capacity to respond to effects of climate change.
Chilambalare Catchment Management Committee Secretary, Bernard Banda, said CS-EPWP has helped most farming households to realize good harvest after constructing check dams and digging swales which slow run-off and in turn protecting crops from being washed away.
“We have benefited a lot since the introduction of CS-EPWP. We are now growing crops and harvesting more because we are able to retain and harvest water for irrigation. This was not the case before the introduction of this programme,” he said.
Chilambalare catchment, which has some areas under natural tree regeneration, gully reclamation, contour maker construction and river bank, is comprised of 1,010 participants with 257 hectares of land that covers Manjombe, Jamusoni and Mchere villages in TA Kapeni whereas Linjemesi catchment has 568 participants with 377.5 hectare under natural tree regeneration, gully reclamation, contour maker construction and river bank protection.
CS-EPWP is being implemented by NLGFC in all districts of the country with funding from World Bank.
Four arrested over illegal mining activities
By Joel Phiri
Mzimba, July 3, Mana: Police in Mzimba have arrested four people for allegedly being involved in illegal mining activities at Chikosera Village in the area of Traditional Authority Chindi in the district.
Mzimba Police Station Deputy Public Relations Officer, Constable Maria Banda, identified the four as John Vasco, 27, from Traditional Authority (TA) Ngabu in Chikwawa; Abudla Lattif Bato, 31, from Namwera Village, TA Jalasi in Magochi; Lingford Makamo, 61, from Gomani Chirwa Village, TA Chindi in Mzimba and Emanuel Phiri, 25, from Dinawanga Village, TA M'mbelwa in Mzimba.
According to Banda, the four were arrested after police received a report that some people were indulging in illegal mining.
"Following the tip off, we sent detectives from our office, in the company of mining officers, who managed to arrest the four. Investigations are still under way to arrest others," said Banda.
The four will appear in court soon to answer charges of conducting illegal mining activities which contravenes the Mining Act.
Rumphi District Hospital plans to produce own food
By Manasse Nyirenda
Rumphi, July 3, Mana: Rumphi District Council Director of Health and Social Services, Dr Arnold Jumbe, says the facility plans to start producing its own maize and rearing livestock in the next farming season as one way of supplementing government health budget.
He disclosed the plans Tuesday during a Parliamentary Committee on Health visit to the facility to appreciate nutritional service provision to patients.
“Government funds will never be enough and as a facility we need to do something to support government’s efforts as part of our reform areas,” Jumbe said.
He added that the facility's paying section will also start providing maternal services to those who can pay to raise more funds in order to improve healthcare provision at the facility.
In an interview, team leader of the Committee, Eurita Valeta, said there have been allegations that in some health facilities patients only get one meal a day.
She said as one way of establishing facts, various teams have been dispatched to different health facilities in selected districts to assess the situation.
"We will be meeting Ministry of Health on Thursday to brief them on our findings and map the way forward," she said.
She commended Rumphi District Hospital on their plans to start producing their own maize and rearing livestock which, she hopes, will improve patients wellbeing at the facility.
Rumphi District Hospital started operating in 1970 and currently serves as referral facility for the district.
It provides services to at least 250 patients a day.
The district has a population of about 254,000 according to National Statistical Office (NSO) projections.
