By Sylvester Kumwenda

Dowa, May 28, Mana: The Department of Disability and Elderly Affairs in the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare has tasked duty bearers in Dowa to promote advocacy and implementation of the new Persons with Disabilities Act of 2024 in their programming.

Chief Disability Affairs Officer, Joshua Mkwehiwa, made the remarks on Wednesday during an orientation on the Act for Dowa District Council and other stakeholders, held at the MANAC Conference Centre.

Mkwehiwa said the orientation aimed at informing the council on the new Act, which has repealed both the Disability Act of 2012 and Handicapped Persons Act of 1971.

“The objective of the meeting was to promote understanding and comprehension of the Persons with Disabilities Act by key officials of the district councils and to aid duty bearers in understanding their prescribed obligations and duties in line with the Act.

“Also, to highlight rights of Persons with Disabilities covered by the Act, to strengthen advocacy work of District Disability Forums (DDFs) for effective utilization of the new disability law. So overall, it aimed at raising awareness and promoting implementation of the law,” he said.

The orientation also aimed at informing the council on the establishment, role, power functions of Malawi Council for Disability Affairs (MACODA) under the Act.

He said the previous legislations have been repealed because of both administrative challenges faced and strides made in human rights issues.

“For example, The Disability Act of 2012 could not achieve its desired impact as the obligations to ensure the enjoyment of the rights of persons with disabilities was placed on the Minister responsible for disability affairs and not the appropriate duty bearers.

“The Handicapped Persons Act of 1971 was also outdated as it was enacted before the current Constitution was adopted. As such, the current practice of addressing disability matters from the human-rights and development approach conflicted this old Act, rendering it irrelevant,” he said.

Amongst others, the new Act aims at promoting and protecting the fundamental rights and freedoms of persons with disabilities, as enshrined in the constitution, and protecting persons with disabilities from inhuman and degrading treatment.

In an interview, MACODA District Manager for Dowa, Billy Maopa said the training was important in empowering stakeholders in the district.

The Act, he said has many benefits like enhancing the participation of persons with disabilities in social protection programs.

“There has been a cry that persons with disabilities are not adequately included in such programs like Social Cash Transfer.

“But now there is a provision in the ACT that mandates MACODA to ensure people with disabilities are well incorporated into these programs. So, it is a very welcome development,” said Maopa.

Speaking on behalf of the Director of Economic Planning and Development, Takondwa Katsabola said the ACT will enhance the already existing council’s inclusion strategies in place.

Also, that the council will make sure that the Act is adopted by all stakeholders in the district.

By chisomo Kambandanga

Nkhata Bay, May 28, Mana: District Commissioner for Nkhata Bay, David Gondwe, has urged Clads Construction Company to expedite construction of an operation theatre at Chintheche at Chintheche Community Hospital.

Gondwe made the call on Tuesday during a visit to the construction site of the theatre, which is currently underway. He emphasized the need for the project’s timely completion to ensure that communities can begin accessing services right at their doorstep.

According to Gondwe, construction works were due for completion on March 31, 2025 but it is disappointing to see that it is still at about 80 percent completion level.

“We are not pleased with the progress because considering the project’s duration; it is way above the days this project was supposed to be completed.

“This is one of the big projects which has many components and community members are patiently waiting to see it completed, hence you must treat it with urgency,” said Gondwe.

“I therefore advise you to come up with a realistic revised work plan and to ensure that all works are completed by the end of June this year without compromising quality,” he advised.

Managing Director of Clads Construction Company, Daniel Phiri, attributed the delay to procurement of treated timber and rains, which affected some of their operations but was quick to pledge that the project will be finished by the new deadline.

The K365 million Chintheche Community Hospital operation theatre is being constructed by Nkhata Bay Distric Council with funding from National Local Government Finance Committee.

By Dhumisan Khumalo

Mzuzu, May 28, Mana: 17 individuals, including three women have been arrested following violent incidents that occurred during demonstrations in Mzuzu on Tuesday.

According to Northern Region Police Public Relations Officer, Maurice Chapola, the arrests were made after a group of individuals broke away from the main body of peaceful protestors shortly after delivery of a petition to the office of the District Commissioner.

“After detaching themselves from the main group, the suspects began stoning motorists, damaging police and civilian vehicles, and erecting roadblocks where they demanded money from passersby,” said Chapola.

He added that all 17 suspects were apprehended on the spot by law enforcement officers and are currently in police custody.

The suspects are expected to appear in court by the end of the day to face several charges, including vandalism, unlawful gathering, malicious damage to property, and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

Police urges the community to maintain law and order, advising the public to exercise their right to protest in a peaceful and lawful manner.

By Manasse Nyirenda

Rumphi, May 28, Mana: Director of Education and Sports for Rumphi District Council, Fides Msowoya has said that community participation in Building Education Foundations Through Innovation and Technology (BEFIT) Programme is crucial for its sustainability in the district.  

Msowoya was speaking on Tuesday during the council’s review meeting of the programme with primary education advisors (PEAs) among other stakeholders.

She said the programme has improved learner enrollment, enthusiasm, and interest of the learner in education.

“Community participation is very important for the sustainability of any programme. So far we have already witnessed community members contributing resources toward wage payment of security guards in schools.

“We are also considering incorporating activities from the programme into our council-level budget as a way of sustaining the gains achieved through the intervention,” she explained.

Coordinator for BEFIT in Rumphi, George Mlowoka said the project has improved reading and numerical skills besides reducing absenteeism among learners.

He added that he was optimistic that the programme will be sustained due to the involvement of various stakeholders at both council and community levels.

A head teacher of Lwatizi Primary School, Alice Mkanadango said the learners who have been benefiting from the programme in the last two years have developed an increased interest in learning.  

Learners under the programme use tablets to learn numerical and reading skills at their own pace of comprehension.

BEFIT is a government of Malawi owned and led programme aimed at enhancing foundational literacy and numeracy skills among learners in standard 1 to 4 across all public primary schools in Malawi using specialized applications on android tablets.

By Francisco Hermes

Balaka, May 28, Mana: The Centre for Alternatives for Victimized Women and Children (CAVWOC), in collaboration with Oxfam Malawi, has oriented key stakeholders in Balaka District—including the police, judiciary, health officials, social welfare officers, and the media—on the implementation of mobile courts to enhance justice delivery for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (GBV).

CAVWOC held a two-day workshop in the district where its Programmes Manager, Treassar Msokera, expressed hope for effective delivery of justice in Balaka after orienting the stakeholders, saying the training equipped the stakeholders to handle GBV cases using survivor-centered approach.

“This training has highlighted several systemic obstacles that have been preventing sexual and GBV survivors in rural communities from accessing justice. We therefore hope that this transformative approach will help law enforcers and courts to deliver justice conveniently.

“We expect that all stakeholders will now collaborate using skills and knowledge they have gained during the training plus their existing expertise. We believe this will help them to handle cases related to GBV in their respective sectors and in the community," she added.

Msokera said the training also enlightened stakeholders on how they should expand GBV survivors legal services access through mobile court systems.

Officer In Charge for Utale Police Unit, Inspector Chrispin Gondwe hailed CAVWOC and Oxfam for orienting the police and other stakeholder, saying this will improve collaboration among all structures in delivery of justice on GBV survivors.

“We need to be together as one team for us to proceed with the cases until justice prevail,” he added.

Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) reporter, Hellen Luwayo, said the training was crucial as it enabled her to understand how the media should report objectively on GBV issues in relation to delivery of justice.

By Sylvester Kumwenda

Dowa, May 28, Mana: District Commissioner for Dowa, Stallichi Mwambiwa, has called for continued teamwork, integrity and dedication amongst Dowa District Council staff in order to improve the council’s operation and service delivery in the 2025/2026 financial year.

He made the remarks Tuesday when the council held its first quarterly management meeting in the 2025/2026 financial year to strategize how the council will conduct operations and implement its activities during the financial year.

Mwambiwa said it is important for head of sectors at the council to meet before spending any money allocated to them.

“This is a new financial year and we have just received our first funding. Before we start our expenditure, there is need for us to meet to remind each other of our obligations, expectations and responsibilities.

“We should also continue to uphold our work ethics, values and observe integrity in anything we do throughout the year so that we, on behalf of government, better serve the people of Dowa,” said Mwambiwa.

He commended the staff for working tirelessly, which, he said, has made Dowa amongst the best performing councils in recent years.

“That is why we need to continue with teamwork and collaboration in order to achieve intended results,” he said.

According to Mwambiwa, the meeting also provided staff with an opportunity to reflect on what worked best, rectify problems, and brainstorm on solutions on potential challenges that may be anticipated.

This, he said, would enable all sectors to be on the same page in activity implementation.

Director of Finance, Martin Mbaya, reminded the staff of the need for proper documentation and adherence to all procurement procedures.

Mbaya also reminded sectors to commit their contributions to integrity activities, like HIV and AIDS, and others from their funding.

Director of Sports and Youth, Christopher Kumikundi, said the meeting will help the council kicks-tart the financial year on a good note.

“This is an important meeting as it has given us a synopsis on the do’s and don’ts so that every money, resource, and even time is used for the intended purpose throughout the year,” said Kumikundi.

By Innocent Chamtulo

Mulanje, May 28, Mana: Plan Malawi has donated a motorcycle to Mulanje Police Station to address transport challenges as the law enforcers respond to cases of child rights violation.

Plan Malawi Programmes Area Manager, Jane Mweziwina, said the donation was done after the organization observed that the station had transport challenges when handling child-related cases.

“We realized the importance of partnering with the police to enhance the fight against child abuse. This motorcycle will enable the police to respond to emergency situations,” she said.

Mulanje Police Officer-in-Charge, Moses Chibwe, expressed gratitude over Plan Malawi’s donation saying the gesture has come at time when there is dire need to respond to child issues in far to reach areas.

“This donation will greatly enhance our mobility, especially in areas that are not accessible by vehicles. It will help us sensitize communities on child protection and respond swiftly to incidents of abuse.

“Our officers are committed to working tirelessly in safeguarding the rights and well-being of children in the district,” he said.

The donation underscores Plan Malawi’s ongoing commitment to supporting law enforcement agencies in combating child abuse and promoting child welfare across the country.