By Chisomo Kambandanga

Nkhata Bay, March 17, Mana: Chief Irrigation Officer for Mzuzu Agricultural Development Division, Tinkho Msimuko Mpezeni has disclosed that 200 000 fingerlings have been stocked in Linga Dam which is located in the area of Senior Chief Fukamapiri in Nkhata Bay District.

Speaking in an interview Saturday, Mpezeni said the stocking of fingerlings in the dam was started by the Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Michael Usi on January 24, 2024.

“130 000 fingerlings were stocked in January out of the targeted 200 000. Today I am glad to say we have finished the balance by stocking 70 000 fingerings.

“The stocking of the dam is a plus to us as an irrigation sector because it is promoting multipurpose use of the dam,” Mpezeni said.

Mpezeni added that the stocking of the fingerings will provide an alternative source of income to the communities surrounding the dam than relying on charcoal burning for survival hence contributing to catchment conservation.

In his remarks, Centre Manager for Mzuzu Aquaculture Centre who is also Zone Manager for Sustainable Fisheries Aquaculture Development and Watershed Management Project, David Mbamba said the country has high demand for fish due to rising population. 

“The cheapest source of proteins in Malawi is fish and with the increase in the population of people it is hard to meet the demand for fish that is out there. As such we want to make use all small water bodies by restocking fish which will increase production and ease its access.

“Plans are under way to make this a mega farm where we intend to introduce cage cultures. Besides that, people will still be allowed to do fishing in the dam for sale and consumption as long as they follow guidelines and use legal fishing gears,” Mbamba said.

One community member, Thomas Manda hailed government for bringing the irrigation scheme in the area, saying it has changed livelihoods of many people by increasing crop production.

By Martha Simchimba

Lilongwe; March 16, Mana: Malawi Legal Aid Bureau says it has expanded its operations in service delivery and human resource in the nine years of its establishment.

Malawi Legal Aid Bureau Director, Trouble Kalua, was speaking in Lilongwe on Friday during celebrations marking the Bureau’s nine years of existence.

He said the Bureau will continue to provide legal aid, legal advice and legal assistance including representation in any court, tribunal or similar body to the indigent in the country.

“As we speak we have made tremendous achievements. We have 48 lawyers and over 50 paralegals. This means our institution is one of the largest government department that operates under one roof.

“We have managed to register over 23,000 cases. We have also migrated from paper work to a new electronic case management system. This is a milestone for a government institution like ours to be able to collect data electronically," he said. 

Kalua said the Bureau is working with Malawi Law Society in implementing the probono scheme, collaborating with Women Lawyers Association and also passing the paralegal advisory services in a number of cases.

Law Expert, Ayuba James, commended the work that Malawi Legal Aid Bureau is doing by contributing to people’s awareness about the rights they have under the law.

“Considering that the Bureau is operating under very limited resources, I would say they have done a very tremendous job as they have increased people’s access to legal services particularly those that cannot afford to hire private lawyers; for this I give them credit,” he said.

The Malawi Legal Aid Bureau started its operations in the country on 15^th March 2015, with 35 employees. Meanwhile, they have over 200 employees in 21 districts across the country.

By Steve Chirombo

Dedza, March 16, Mana: One of the social media marketing companies in the country, in spiral, on Friday, led in the launch of the ‘Ndine Dolo’ campaign that seeks to enhance individual responsibility at household level in improving nutrition levels among communities in three Traditional Authorities (TAs) of Kamenyagwaza, Kasumbu and Tambala in Dedza district.

Speaking on the sidelines of the launch which took place at Kalilombe Primary School in the area of Inkosi Kamenyagwaza, Mackion Mpukusa Phiri, the company’s Lead Consultant, said through GIZ under its Food and Nutrition Security Program (FNSP) being implemented by Self Help Africa (SHA) in the area, the campaign launch intends to promote consumption of the six food groups more especially provision of eggs and milk to the under-5 children.

“Eggs have high nutritious value and these are easier to find within the localities. So, we want to remove the notion that has been there for some time of just keeping instead of eating them. We want to achieve behavioral change by removing the bad cultural and traditional issues surrounding this,” he said.

On his part, McPherson Mwakhwawa, Director of Planning and Development (DPD), for Dedza District Council, said malnutrition is a serious issue across all the T/As in the district citing lack of food diversification as one major factor.

“We need to diversify the food we eat at household level for pregnant and lactating mothers as well as children. At the end of the project, we expect an improvement in nutrition status not only to the targeted audience but the whole communities.

Taking his turn, Inkosi Kamenyagwaza, said as chiefs they have joined the campaign where among others they will take the messages to the communities so that they should improve by preparing nutritious foods.

He said for some time, his communities have held misconceptions that expectant mothers should not eat eggs or else they will give birth to a child with a bald head and that children were denied the same saying they may experience stomachache.

“We will be engaging communities in various local meetings so that we keep sensitizing them on the importance of feeding their children all required six food groups including eggs and milk,” he emphasized.

By Andrew Mkonda

Lilongwe, March 15, Mana: District Commissioner for Lilongwe Dr. Lawford Palani has urged people in the district to embrace hygiene by among others sweeping and cleaning their premises.

Dr. Palani made the call on Friday during a clean-up day the council organized for its members of staff and stakeholders.

He said government under the leadership of President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera is geared to see every public place clean and tidy.

 "I participated in the clean-up exercise to lead as an example so that people should also emulate the gesture and replicate it in their homes, workplace and their surroundings," he said.

He then urged Members of Parliament, traditional leaders and councilors to emulate the gesture by encouraging their people in their areas, more especially in public markets to always be tidy.

Dr. Palani said having a clean environment in places like markets is crucial as most people patronize such places, which if left unattended to, can spread a number of water borne diseases such as cholera.

One of the vendors Christopher Chipanje who also took part in the sweeping exercise, thanked the council for the initiative saying it will go a long way in making public places such as markets clean and tidy,

Chipanje asked the council to provide them with bins and pit latrines saying in the absence of these hygiene is compromised in several markets in the district.

Lilongwe district is one of the districts that registers cases of cholera each year due to lack of hygiene in several public places such markets.

By Manasse Nyirenda & George Bulombola

Mzuzu, March 16, Mana: State Residences Director of Communication, Kent Mphepo, has advised media in the country to be in the forefront in popularizing and creating awareness about Malawi 2063 (MW2063) for popular participation for its realization.

Mphepo was speaking during a media interface at Mzuzu State Lodge.

The meeting geared at debriefing the media on the President’s engagements during his two-week stay in the northern region.

He said to make MW2063 a reality, the President is focusing on Agriculture, Tourism and Mining to fast track the country’s development.

"We rely on media to lead in spreading this information so that people actively participate in projects which can lead to the attainment of the country’s blue print,” said Mphepo.

Presidential Press Officer, Anthony Kasunda, said to demonstrate his commitment to the MW2063, President Chakwera visited several development projects in the region to have firsthand information of people's challenges and share with them what government is doing in addressing the same.

Among others, the President, lead Malawians in commemorating Martyrs Day in Nkhata Bay before visiting Karonga where he cheered flood survivors, inspected Karonga Town Water Supply System, Nthola-Illola Rice Processing Plant and a 1,000 hectare Wowve Irrigation Scheme.   

He also inspected Thazima Gravity Fed Water Supply Project which, when completed, will serve about 18,000 people.

The President also officially launched Rumphi, Mchinji and Chikwawa Teachers Training Colleges at a function which took place at Rumphi TTC.

The President then travelled to M’mbelwa District Council where he inspected construction works of Mzimba Stadium, the council’s office complex before visiting Paramount Chief M'mbelwa Headquarters at Edingeni and other projects in the district and Mzuzu City.

Chairperson for Nyika Media Club, Feston Malekezo, was optimistic that the engagement would pave way for a better working relationship between government institutions, including State House, for effective sharing of information with the public.

He asked the State Residences communications team to always share the president's engagements in advance for effective planning and coverage.

The President has since wound up his tour in the region and is expected to travel back to Lilongwe on Saturday.

By Petro Mkandawire

Blantyre, March 16, Mana: Tsogolo La Ana on Friday launched a K87 million project for the construction of an extension to Maria Primary School in Traditional Authority (TA) Kuntaja in Blantyre.

Maria Primary School, which was constructed by Tsogolo La Ana in 2022, has a total enrolment of 517 learners from Standards 1 to 4.

The organization plans to add a school block with additional four classrooms to make it a full primary school.

Speaking during the launch, Tsogolo La Ana Executive Director, Lucy Maunde, said they decided to extend the school to a full primary school after a huge demand by community members.

She said when children reach Standard 5 they have nowhere to go which results in school dropout.

“We want to update the school to a full primary school since we have observed an increase in school dropout due to long-distances travelled by learners in a bid to access further education in the nearest schools which are almost eight kilometres away with rivers between.

“Development of newly added school blocks will alleviate some challenges at this school. We will also provide 100 desks, learners and teachers guide books and teachers' chairs, among others,” said Maunde.

She, therefore, urged community members to work hand in hand with them in construction of the new school blocks saying when community is actively involved in education, they provide additional resources, support and accountability to schools which leads to better learner’s performance.

Group Village Head Kalombola encouraged the community to take part in education activities saying their involvement aids in identifying local education issues and develop strategies to resolve them.

“Through school committee, I reach out to community members and encourage them to actively send their children to school since this contributes to the betterment of the society and boosts opportunities within the community,” said the village head.  

Primary Education Advisor for Dziwe Zone, Snowden Chimaimba, expressed gratitude for the project.

He said education is a powerful force that drives personal growth and development and empowers individuals to identify their passions and strengths, enabling them to pursue meaningful careers and contribute to society.

“This initiative will instill a renewed sense of hope in the community and promises a brighter future for learners. I am grateful for this project because it will lessen distances to accessing education,” said Chimaimba.

He appealed to well-wishers and stakeholders to come in and help the school with feeding programme and a borehole as the school lacks potable water.

Tsogolo La Ana, with funding from ABC Association of Germany, is implementing Tsogolo La Ana project in Blantyre rural, Chiradzulu, Phalombe, Lilongwe, Mulanje, Thyolo and Salima to improve education and help the underage attain basic education.

By Noel Chimwala & Young Fombe

Zomba, March 16, Mana: Media practitioners from various media houses have been urged to take a leading role in ensuring climate justice by advocating for implementation of legal frameworks that safeguard the environment and protect vulnerable communities.

Aaron Kandiwo Mtaya, Programmes Officer for Catholic Development Commission (CADECOM), made the call in Zomba during a one-day training on climate and seed justice.

“The media has an essential role in achieving climate justice and this training's focus is on amplifying communities' voices to spur action on climate change management,” said Mtaya.

Mtaya expects the trained journalists to document climate injustices in their districts and share them with the public to drive more action in addressing the issues.

Journalists have been empowered with knowledge on climate justice, legal environmental strategies and their responsibility to educate communities on the impact of climate injustices on human rights.

He, therefore, encouraged communities to intensify efforts in mitigating climate change and protecting the environment.

Holyce Kholowa, a participant from The Nation Publications Limited, praised the training for equipping journalists with accurate reporting skills on climate justice saying this will enable them advocate effectively.

CADECOM with support from Irish Aid, through Trocaire, is implementing a five-year advocacy programme as part of the Irish Aid Civil Society Support Programme.

The programme aims to enhance the capacity of women and youth to engage effectively in policy and climate change processes.