MANAonline
Malawi and Mozambique discuss trans-border challenges
By Bishop Witmos
Mangochi, February 2, Mana: Malawi and Mozambique have agreed to strengthen their bilateral relationship up to the grassroots level.
The agreement was made on Friday during the joint technical meeting which attracted technocrats from departments of International Affairs, Defense, Police, as well as local government from both Malawi and Mozambique.
Speaking during the opening of the border re-affirmation and other trans-border issues meeting, which took place at Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi, Secretary for Foreign Affairs in Malawi, Benard Sande, said while the bilateral relationship between governments of Malawi and Mozambique is currently strong, that is not the case at the grassroots.
‘‘As you know the relationship between Malawi and Mozambique has greatly improved since His Excellency President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera ascended into office, that cordial relationship has trickled down throughout the high rank government in both countries.
“Unfortunately, on the grassroots, there is a problem. And our idea is that such a good bilateral relationship should go down to the grassroots so that people should interact freely and go about their livelihoods without any difficulties,’’ he said.
The meeting in Nkopola follows incidences in Mangochi where it was recently reported that some farmers in Makanjira were prevented from farming on their land.
But Sande said the agreements between the two nations in 2018 resolved that livelihood as well as settlements in the area of border reaffirmation should not be disturbed by both nations until the exercise was completed.
‘‘The problem in Makanjira arose because of border reaffirmation which found some Malawians to be in the Mozambican territory. As a result, people in the area were in December last year prevented from accessing the land on the Mozambican side.
‘‘However, after the border reaffirmation exercise previously, there were some agreements that were agreed that livelihood, as well as settlements in the area of border reaffirmation area cannot be disturbed, until the whole exercise of the border reaffirmation is completed. Unfortunately, people in Makanjira who have been farming in what now is known to be the territory of Mozambique were being prevented,’’ said Sande.
In his remarks, Director of National Institute for Sea and Land Boundaries for Mozambique, Armando Chavana, said his government is ready to cooperate in resolving challenges that communities in Makanjira are facing concerning the boundary territory.
‘‘We are aware about the reports where some communities in Makanjira have concerns regarding farming issues between territories of the two nations, and we are here to sort out such problems,’’ he said.
Apart from the issue of border reaffirmation, the meeting also centered on the problems that Malawians face when they move on some Mozambican route, particularly the Tete and Nyasa provinces.
This was triggered recently by the incident that happened in Zobwe where a Malawian truck driver was assaulted, and this is just one among many problems that Malawians face when using Mozambican routes.
Added Chavana: “On the issue of truck drivers who face challenges on some of our routes, we will go back to sensitize the police of the Republic of Mozambique to act peacefully with their brothers from the side of Malawi.’’
World Vision donates desks worth K141 million to schools in Salima
By Golden Kang’oma
Salima, February 2, Mana: World Vision Malawi, through its programme Give in Kind (GIK), has donated 294 desks worth K141 million to three primary schools in the area of Senior Chief Kalonga in Salima district.
Speaking on Thursday during the handover ceremony at Tungutungu Primary School, Programmes Manager for World Vision Salima Office, Chikumbutso Kumwenda, said the donation is aimed at motivating learners to remain in school.
He said: “Mostly we want to promote literacy and ensure that children have access to education in the country. We are working with different stakeholders to create a conducive learning environment for the learners.
“So these desks will go a long way to assist learners to come to school, especially girls, as well as increase enrollment and concentration levels while in class."
Salima District Principal Education Officer Elian Edwin Banda hailed World Vision for the support and appealed to the corporate world to help in supporting education in the country, as one way of giving back to their customers.
“This is a very good gesture in as far as promoting education is concerned. This will help our girls to fully take part in every activity happening in class as they can easily stand and seat,” said Banda.
He further said that the corporate world in the district is not doing enough in supporting education, citing banks, which he said forget that most of their customers are with the education sector.
“We have been knocking doors in their offices but no single bank has come out to assist, so it is my plea they should come out and bail out some of the schools which are in need,” Banda said.
Head teacher for Tungutungu Primary School, Elise Chilondora, said that with the desks received, they expect increased enrollment as there was no single desk at the school and learners were having difficulties, especially during rainy season.
Apart from Tungutungu, some of the schools that have received the donation are Mgoza and Tchuwa Primary Schools.
NGO intensifies cervical cancer fight
By Andrew Mkonda
Lilongwe, February 2, Mana: Mothers2mothers, a non-governmental organization, has underscored the need for different stakeholders who are implementing health related issues in Lilongwe to join hands in curbing the spread of cervical cancer among adolescent girls and women.
The organization’s Project Manager Yvonne Sunduza made the call on Thursday when she was presenting the project to members of the District Executive Committee (DEC).
Sunduza said the project, if well implemented, is expected to reach about 10,000 girls and women of the reproductive age in Traditional Authorities Kabudula, Masula and Tsabango in the district.
“We want to support these girls and women by imparting correct cervical cancer messages, more especially in hard-to-reach areas where they have no access to such messages like those living in urban areas.
“It is sad that many girls and women are dying of cervical cancer in silence due of lack of knowledge and correct information on early screening and detection of the disease,” she said.
Sunduza then disclosed that apart from imparting knowledge of cervical cancer among girls and women, the project will also link them to service providers so that they go for early detection of the disease.
Lilongwe District Senior Health Promotions Officer Richard Mvula thanked the organization for the initiative, saying it has come at the right time when many women are continuing losing their lives due to cervical cancer.
Mvula said cervical cancer can be cured if it is detected at an early stage, hence urged women and adolescent girls to find time for cervical screening so that they reduce the prevalence rate of the disease.
Mvula further encouraged parents and guardians to allow their adolescent girls to go for cervical cancer vaccination.
According to World Health Organisation, estimates indicate that every year 4,145 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the country and 2,905 die from the disease.
KDH moves to promote sexual and reproductive health
By Abubakar Kanjoka
Kasungu, February 1, Mana: District Environmental Health Officer for Kasungu District Hospital (KDH), Rudolf Zinkanda Banda, says intensifying behavior change communication interventions is key to improving access to sexual and reproductive health related services by youths.
Banda made the remarks on Wednesday in Kasungu when KHD was disseminating its Integrated Social and Behavior Change Communication Strategy for 2023 – 2027 to stakeholders in the district.
Said Banda: “Health seeking behavior among the youths in Kasungu is very worrisome, more especially when it comes to sexual health and reproductive. This is a result of lack of knowledge, shyness as well as attitudes and perception in general.
“As such, the district is recording high figures of early pregnancy, and many of the victims of sexually transmitted infections are now the youths. So there is need to intensify social behavior communication interventions targeting adolescents.”
Banda urged the stakeholders to adopt the crafted strategy in coming up with more interventions targeting the youths in order to change their attitudes towards accessing sexual reproductive health services.
Family Planning Practitioner for KDH, Lydia Msowoya, said parents must be agents of change by being in the forefront sharing sexual reproductive health information with their children, as one way of encouraging them to adopt positive behavior.
“If we are failing to open up to our own children, who will guide them? We need to have serious talks with our adolescent children on how they can prevent early pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections because that is the critical stage,” Msowoya said.
Chairperson for Kasungu Civil Society Network, Braxton Banda, applauded KDH for sharing the strategy, saying it will help to bring about coordination between all partners working towards uplifting health services in the district.
With financial support from Momentum Tikweze Umoyo Project, KDH has developed the strategy to guide interventions addressing all health-related problems present in the district, including sexual reproductive matters.
1,077 metric tonnes of maize flour to be distributed in Chiradzulu
By Clarabella Chipolonga
Chiradzulu, February 1, Mana: Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) says it is set to distribute maize flour to households that are facing food insecurity in Chiradzulu district through the second phase of the Lean Season Response programme.
Dodma revealed this on Wednesday during an interface meeting with Chiradzulu District Council.
Speaking in an interview, Deputy Director for Disaster Response, Fyawupi Mwafongo, said the development comes after government managed to mobilize resources to support the vulnerable households in the district.
"Government under the Contingent Emergency Response has managed to secure funds from the World Bank which has been used to buy maize and maize flour that will support food insecure households that were registered by the district council," said Mwafongo.
He further said that all the arrangements for the distribution are at advanced stage despite facing few challenges, adding 1,077 metric tonnes of maize flour is expected to be distributed.
"The preparation started in 2023, only that we had been facing logistical, procurement issues and the necessary procedures to get the flour but we are assured by World Food Program (WFP) that the supply will start in the next two weeks hence our coming to ensure that all arrangements are in place so that when the delivery starts we should be able to move on the ground to distribute,” he said.
In his remarks, Desk Officer for Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme in Chiradzulu, Chimwemwe Hara, said the programme will help beneficiaries to be healthy and effective.
"As a council, we are ready and waiting for the distribution to start, knowing that the flour will help people from this district to have food until they harvest," said Hara who is also the Land Resources Conservation Officer for Chiradzulu.
Over 21,550 food-insecure households are to benefit from the programme and each household will receive a 50 kilogramme bag of maize flour, and the procurement and delivery of the flour will be done by WFP.
Committee proposes improved conditions in prisons
By Solister Mogha
Zomba, February 1, Mana: Presidential advisory committee on pardon of prisoners has appealed to prison authorities for better living conditions of inmates in the country's prisons.
The committee, led by Minister of Justice Titus Mvalo, made the appeal Wednesday in Zomba during a tour of Zomba Maximum Prison to, among others, appreciate living conditions of prisoners, apart from learning more about correctional services the Malawi Prisons Service offer.
Speaking after the tour, Mvalo, who is the chair of the committee, said having visited Maula and Zomba Maximum Prisons, there was need for the country to completely change the way prisoners are treated and provide them with quality services.
The minister further said it was better to provide the prisoners with quality service, adding that this was not an era for the prisoners to sleep on the floor.
The presidential advisory committee on pardon of prisoners also observed that cells at Zomba Maximum Prison were poorly ventilated and have no sanitary facilities such as toilets.
"The committee is sad to learn about the conditions in which inmates are living. Just imagine 60 prisoners being congested in a room meant for 20 people. Additionally, there are people who have stayed for more years on remand and some are too old to be in the cells," Mvalo said, adding the committee will brief the president about what it learnt during the prison tour.
As a way of addressing congestion in prison, Mvalo said there was need to utilize provisions which allow a prisoner released but advised to follow set conditions.
"Within our constitution, there are provisions that allow the court to offer conditional sentences. We however rarely implemented these provisions," he said and expressed satisfaction with reform services that the prison offers despite facing challenges.
Deputy Commissioner of Prison Service responsible for Legal Affairs and Operations, Baziria Chapuwala, acknowledged the conditions in the prisons and said prisoners too deserve better life.
"It is our hope and expectation that the committee would report what they found to the President so that changes are made," he said.
The advisory committee recommends to the head of state as to which prisoner should be pardoned, having fulfilled all the required conditions with the president having the power to choose who should be released.
Zomba maximum prison currently has 2,016 inmates.
The Phinifolos’ compassionate plea amidst life struggles
By Vincent Khonje
Mchinji, February 1, Mana: In Wayisoni Village, at Matutu within Tradition Authority (T/A) Mduwa in Mchinji, 60-year-old Severiano Phinifolo and his 51-year-old wife, Magadalena, confront not only the challenges of physical disabilities but also the harsh reality of living in desperate and impoverished conditions.
The couple, bound by a wheelchair and crutches, respectively, seeks assistance from benevolent individuals to alleviate their distressing circumstances.
Severiano and Magadalena endure the absence of a proper dwelling, residing in a meagre shack constructed from reeds and thatched with grass.
The couple's daily struggle for survival forces them into a dependence on begging and the sporadic piecework that Magdalena manages, despite her growing weakness due to the enduring pain from childbirth scars.
"We only eat once, in the evening, when going to sleep. We lack a proper place to sleep, enduring the wet floor during the rainy season. It is tough, but we manage somehow," shares Phinifolo.
Phinifolo explains that he had always lived a better life despite his disability when he lived with his family in Group Village Mduwa.
However, things turned worse when his parents died and relatives chased him and took away the land his father had.
“My brothers who are able-bodied moved to Zambia and my sisters got married; we were left to survive on our own so we found ourselves here at Wayisoni Village in Matutu,” says Phinifolo who has been in Matutu since last year.
With the little money they kept while in GVH Mduwa, they asked for a piece of land which they purchased and it is where they have erected the small shack they call home.
The new location is where they are facing a lot of challenges.
Compounding their plight, the couple takes on the role of caretakers for their granddaughter, Yankho, who embarks on her daily journey to school on an empty stomach.
Yankho, a six-year-old standard-two learner at Chitunda Primary School, unfortunately, is used to the life of waking up in the morning, fetching water from their neighbor’s well, taking a bath, and heading to school without eating anything.
To make matters worse, Chitunda Primary School has no school feeding programme making her endure a half day of classes on an empty stomach.
Magadalena reveals: "My daughter trekked to Zambia, and we do not hear from her. However, she left us with her child, and we are struggling to provide for her in these challenging conditions."
Driven by desperation, Phinifolo crafts wooden sieves in an attempt to sustain the family, yet his business faces considerable challenges—people are not buying.
Meanwhile, one of the couple's two children pursues a law degree at the University of Malawi, offering hope for the family's future; however, financial constraints leave him to fend for himself, relying on the support of well-wishers.
“We gave birth to two children, my daughter who is in Zambia, and my son who got lucky and found a place to study law. I cannot lie, I am unable to support him and his progress towards education is possible because of other well-wishers,” said Phinifolo.
The son, Madalitso, does not even visit during holidays as he cannot afford money to and from Mchinji resorting to staying behind at school or sometimes at his uncle’s in Mtandire Lilongwe.
However, the couple and the son who is in his second year now, constantly get in touch, thanks to a small phone Phinifolo has.
Despite their hardships, the couple remains excluded from social support programs, having missed out on both the Agriculture Input Programme (AIP) and the Social Cash Transfer (SCT).
Principal Social Welfare Officer Emmanuel Gerevazio states: “For now all we can ask for is support from well-wishers while we are looking for ways of how to respond to the situation. On having the couple on SCT, the programme enrollment process is very much rigorous, there are thousands of ultra-poor households in Mchinji and only a few have access.”
SCT beneficiaries are selected from the Universal Beneficiary Registry (UBR), adding to the challenge of enrolling anyone into the program.
Village head Wayisoni said as a village they feel for the family, but, despite the empathy, the village is grappling with its difficulties this year, relying on mangoes that are also dwindling in supply.
"No one in this village qualified for AIP, and most people have no food, resorting to eating only once. We are powerless to help; they need well-wishers," concludes VH Wayisoni.
Malawi Council for the Handicapped (MACOHA) facilitator for Mduwa, Violet Kawere, acknowledges her awareness of the couple's challenging circumstances and affirms that MACOHA has maintained regular contact.
Kawere notes that MACOHA's assistance has primarily involved facilitating the acquisition of a wheelchair to enhance Phinifolo’s mobility.
"As others have already emphasized, the appeal is directed towards well-wishers to lend their support to the family and alleviate them from the profound poverty they are facing," says Kawere.
Despite the hardships, there is a silver lining in that the small piece of land they reside on is owned by the family, and they cultivate maize; however, the yield may not be sufficient to meet their needs in the long run.
Additionally, the family benefits from the generosity of a caring neighbor, Mary Katsabola, who allows them to fetch water from her well, addressing their sanitation requirements.
The couple's aspirations extend beyond immediate relief, encompassing a stable source of food, a proper dwelling place, and support for their granddaughter's education.
Phinifolo and his wife also hold ambitions for their son's education, expressing a willingness to support him. However, their hands are tied, as they currently have no means to secure funds for this purpose.
They remain optimistic and continue to look to well-wishers who can extend a helping hand to lift them out of the deep seas of poverty.
NLGFC commends Nkhotakota District Council on revenue collection
By Wongani Mkandawire
Nkhotakota, February 1, Mana: National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) has commended Nkhotakota District Council for showing indicators of preparedness in their 2024/2025 budget submission with a high level of completion in projects.
Speaking during the budget discussion held with council officials at Grand Palace Hotel in Mzuzu, NLGFC Budget Analyst Jonathan Banda said the Council has shown high levels of preparedness in local revenue, especially on property rates.
“The Council has done consultations on property rate collection using the flat rating. As NLGFC, we are here to guide them on such issues,” said Banda commending Nkhotakota district council for being ahead of time.
He said urban councils are able to raise high revenues as a result of property rates, stating that it is the right direction to take to boost local revenue for local councils.
Nkhotakota District Council also intends to upgrade its flagship lodging building, Sitima Inn, into a two-star hotel as part of its plans to increase local revenue.
In an interview, Director of Finance for Nkhotakota District Council Khumbo Masankhula said the Council is prepared to increase its resource base by broadening revenue streams.
He indicated that the Council has put in place strategies that will see it collecting more in the ensuing fiscal year and beyond.
Nkhotakota District Council has collected K171,000,000 of the targeted K196,000,000 revenue representing 87 percent.
With two months left to reach the desired target, the Council is optimistic to reach the 100 percent revenue collection target.
MOMENTUM donates medical equipment, supplies to Chitipa DHO
By Aliko Munde
Chitipa, February 1, Mana: MOMENTUM Tikwese Umoyo Project on Tuesday donated medical equipment and supplies to Chitipa District Health Office (DHO) as one way of contributing towards the reduction of maternal and neonatal deaths in the district.
District Data Officer for the project, Naomi Mkhutche said the items are meant to improve health service delivery to expectant mothers, newborn babies and under-five children.
“Chitipa is one of the districts with high maternal related deaths. As a project, one of our goals is to reduce these deaths, hence the donation.
“We will make sure that the items are delivered in specific health facilities and are used appropriately,” said Mkhutche.
Matron for Chitipa District Hospital, Nie Nyirenda, saluted the project for the donation which she described as a timely intervention.
She said the hospital is overwhelmed with referral cases from the district’s farthest health facilities such as Nthalire, Wenya and Misuku some of which are 120 kilometres from the boma.
“We may have the knowledge and skills on how to handle such cases, but this cannot work without equipment. The equipment will help in self-delivery for mothers and care for the neonates,” said Nyirenda.
Nyirenda assured the organization that the equipment will be taken care of, for it to last long and serve the intended the purpose.
Director of Administration for Chitipa District Council, Clement Gonthi, said the donation is timely and was hopeful that it will contribute towards the reduction of referral cases from health centres to the district hospital as well as from district hospital to Mzuzu Central Hospital.
The donation, which is worth US$ 472,005.82, includes examination couches, suction machines, autoclave sterilizing machines, ultrasound mobile scanning machines, anti-shock garments, foetal scopes, blood pressure machines, anglepoised lamps, oxygen concentrators and cylinders.
A similar donation has been made to Salima, Nkhotakota, Kasungu and Karonga.
Blantyre District Council recruit’s enumerators
By Memory Kutengule Chatonda
Blantyre, February 1, Mana: Blantyre District Council has recruited 130 temporary enumerators to collect data of all the households in the district for the Unified Beneficiary Registry (UBR).
Blantyre District Council Principal Social Welfare Officer, Kumbukeni Kauwa, disclosed this in Thyolo on Tuesday during training of trainers for District Training Team and District Social Support Committee.
Kauwa said the enumerators are expected to conduct the exercise for a period of 30 to 42 days targeting household members, regardless of status, in the areas of eight Traditional Authorities in Blantyre.
"This exercise is very crucial because it will provide the district with consolidated information on the socio-economic status of households which will help in determining the potential eligibility for social programmes such as Social Cash Transfer and Climate Smart Public Works, among others," he said.
Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Chief Social Welfare Officer, Anastazio Matewere, said currently apart from Blantyre, three other districts of Lilongwe, Rumphi and Kasungu are also conducting a similar exercise.
He urged the enumerators to exercise professionalism and integrity to achieve the desired results.
"Enumerators should be patriotic enough to collect data that will represent the real situation of the households being interviewed. In the end, we want those who deserve to be in an allocated programme, thereby reducing inclusion and exclusion errors that occur when selecting households for different programmes," he said.
One of the enumerators' supervisors, Nozghechi Hara, thanked Blantyre District Council for organizing the training to orient them on their roles in the management of data collection.
She said they will ensure that every household has been registered during the period and that information collected is accurate.
In an interview, one of the enumerators, Chilungamo Missi, pledged to collect quality data and make timely submission of it.
