MANAonline
NRB develops innovations for effective service delivery
By Patricia Kapulula
Lilongwe, June 4, Mana: The National Registration Bureau (NRB) is implementing a number of innovations in order to improve service delivery.
Principal Secretary for NRB, Mphatso Sambo, said one of the innovations is the Document Tracker Software which allows Malawians to follow and track the status of their national identity (ID) cards.
Sambo was speaking in Lilongwe on Tuesday during a press briefing to update Malawians on the National Registration and Identification System (NRIS).
He said the development is important as it goes a long way in keeping up with the digital era in as far as national registration is concerned.
“We are also implementing Digital Identity Solution, Biometric Verification System and functional review to establish offices at each and every Traditional Authority (TA) across the country, among others,” he said.
In the 2023-2024 national ID outreach registration, NRB covered all the 28 districts in eight phases with each phase lasting 15 days. A total of 1,556,613 new registrants were registered surpassing the target of 1,500,000 people.
According to Sambo, the statistics do not indicate those for replacements as the figures were already in the system by the time of the exercise.
“As NRB, despite beating the target of new registrants, there are still pockets of Malawians who have turned the age of 16 but are yet to register with us,” he said.
The Bureau expects to run a mop up registration exercise from June 10 to August, 2024 in order to register all those that were left out during the outreach registration and register all resident foreigners with valid documents from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services.
FM Foundation in free youth vocational skills training
By Pempho Nkhoma
Blantyre, June 4, Mana: Francis Mkonda Foundation (FM Foundation) a charitable organization founded by Might Mukuru Wandreres player, Francis Mkonda is providing free vocational skill training to the less privileged youths in Machinjiri to ensure their economic empowerment.
FM Foundation is based in Blantyre, Machinjiri Area 5 and started free training sessions with two courses namely; electrical installation plus dish installation targeting the less privileged youths within Blantyre and surrounding areas.
Chief Executive Officer for FM Foundation, and Founder, Mkonda told Malawi News Agency that despite assisting the elderly and orphans with basic needs, the foundation thought of introducing programmes that could address issues of unemployment among the youths through free vocational skill trainings.
“We have been assisting the elderly and orphans with basic needs and we noticed that there are a lot of young people who are just staying at home. This is why we came up with the free trainings to give them something to do,” he said.
Mkonda added that the foundation is planning to start its own electrical installation company which will be employing graduates from FM Foundation.
“But as of now, we have partnered with other local companies that will be offering job opportunities to our students. After successfully completing the trainings, we will be sending them to work in residential places and companies that we have partnered with,” he said.
Blantyre District Youth Officer, Peter Mizedya commended FM Foundation for the initiative saying that it was impressive that a youth has taken Centre stage in finding solutions to problems which fellow youths were facing.
“It is important for young people to learn vocational skills for them to be employed or to start their own businesses and employ other youths to reduce unemployment rate,” he said.
Mizedya added that Blantyre Youth Office gives the youths guidance on what to do after the trainings and his offices also connect them to institutions that give loans to youth groups.
“We urge them to form cooperatives so that they can run their own businesses as a group and we give direction on how to manage the cooperatives,” he said.
However, he advised youth organizations that teaches vocational skills to consider working with Teveta to be accredited.
The first cohort of students to enroll with FM Foundation for skills programme started classes in January this year and the classes are in progress.
Parliamentary Committee impressed with construction progress of Likoma Jetty
By Ireen Mseteka
Likoma, June 4, Mana: Members of Parliamentary Committee on Transport and Public Infrastructure, says it is impressed with progress of construction works of Likoma Jetty.
Speaking Tuesday after visiting the construction site, chairperson for the committee, Enock Phale said the committee was impressed to note that the project has additional scopes and that the structure would not be a jetty but a port.
“It will be called a port because of the additional scopes such as the passenger bay, waiting places and other additional structures that have been added.
It’s unfortunate that the project that started in 2018 delayed for the reasons best known by the leadership then, but we are happy with the current leadership that has put a lot of interest in making sure that this Jetty is completed and becomes operational,” said Phale.
He said once, completed, the infrastructure will ease some challenges which customers currently face when embarking and disembarking vessels.
Principle Secretary responsible for administration in the Ministry of Transport and Public Works, Madalo Nyambosi said the project faced a lot of challenges, hence its delay in completion.
She among other challenges cited erratic funding, rising water levels culminated by washing away of one of the machines.
“This was supposed to be an 18-month project, so we have shared the challenges with the committee and we are pleased that they have promised to lobby for the required resources,” said Nyambosi.
Speaking on behalf of Likoma District Council, Chief Education Officer for Likoma, Zimulange Mhango said the committee’s tour to the site was an assurance to the council that the project would be completed soon.
MK29.6M Ntonda police unit excites Ntcheu communities
By Maston Kaiya
Ntcheu, June 4, Mana: Communities of Traditional Authority (TA) Phambala and Sub-TA Tsikulamowa in Ntcheu District have hailed the construction of the Ntonda Police Unit saying it has tightened security in the two areas.
Vice Chairperson for the Phambala Area Development Committee (ADC) Lawrence Bamusi said previously, communities were taking the law into their own hands due to absence of a police unit.
“Despite having policing forums, cases of mob justice were rampant in the area owing to absence of the facility.
“Besides that, the communities were walking long distances in pursuit of justice once robbed of their property,” he said.
According to Bamusi, communities were relying on the Senzani police unit, Ntcheu and Balaka police station’s which are at a distance from the area whenever they want to report theft cases.
On her part, Group Village-Head Bayani an Induna for iNkosi Phambala said law and order is now prevailing unlike before when the area had no such a facility.
“Theft cases of livestock, crops and house break-ins were rampant but now they are decreasing due to the opening of the police unit,” she said.
Ntcheu Police Spokesperson, Jacob Khembo concurred with the community’s sentiments over security issues in the area.
“The police formation is always on high alert for any possible security threat to ensure the communities are living peacefully without theft disturbances,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ntcheu District Council Director of Planning and Development Obed Mwalughali said the facility is key to the development of the area hence the council prioritized the same to be constructed.
According to Mwalughali, the council has spent K29.6 million from the District Development Fund (DDF) pool to construct the Ntonda Police Unit.
2024 Korea-Africa summit officially opened
By Andrew Mkonda in Seoul, South Korea
Seoul, June 4, Mana: The first ever Korea-Africa Summit has started in Seoul in South Korea with a call for Korea and African countries to be committed in finding ways of expanding economic ties and cooperation in supply chain and development with the resource-rich countries.
Republic of Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol made the call on Tuesday during the official opening of the two-day summit currently underway.
Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima is among Heads of State and Government, including business people, from across Africa with high expectation that the summit will increase various opportunities in trade, agriculture, and tourism, among others.
President Yoon said South Korea aims to expand trade and investment with Africa through a series of agreements, such as Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and Trade and Investment Promotion Frameworks (TIPFs).
He also vowed to support Africa's efforts towards regional economic integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), launched in 2019.
"In terms of trade, we will speed up the signing of EPAs and TIPFs. On the investment front, we will expand investment protection agreements to promote exchanges between the two countries' companies," he said in his opening address.
The summit has drawn together 48 African countries such as Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Malawi, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Ivory Coast, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Togo, Rwanda, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde, among others.
The summit is being held under the theme, ‘The Future We Make Together: Shared Growth, Sustainability, and Solidarity’.
Chilima spearheads Malawi's interest at Korea-Africa Summit
By Andrew Mkonda
Seoul, Korea, June 3rd Mana: Vice President Saulos Chilima has appealed to organisations to consider assisting and working with Malawi to fight effects of climate change, arguing that global warming is a threat to food security.
Chilima made the call when he held talks with former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon ahead of the Korea-Africa Summit slated for Tuesday 4th June 2024.
Ki-Moon now heads the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), an intergovernmental organisation supporting and promoting sustainable economic growth in developing countries currently with 48 member states.
In his response, Ki- moon said if Malawi joined GGGI as a member she stands to benefit support for social economic development.
“Addressing these climate change issues, we have experts, and we can even establish an office in Malawi to work with your government on green economy,” said Ki-Moon.
The Vice President is leading a hectic schedule at aimed at forging strategic partnerships and planning to present a compelling case to tap from financial deals on offer at the summit.
The summit kicks-off Tuesday and at stake is the multi-billion dollar offer to African countries through concessional loans amounting to USD 10 billion and USD 14 billon for Korean companies to expand their footprint into the African countries.
“We are looking at this as Korea-Malawi Summit. We have our own expectations. In the next few days we will be updating what we have managed to accomplish. We don’t take such summits for fun. These are intended to benefit the country,” said Chilima
Earlier, Chilima held several side meetings highlighting Malawi’s potential as a gateway to the Southern African Development Community market. He met South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee.
The Vice President also addressed a High-Level Panel discussion on Forestry and Desertification hosted by the Korea Forest Service and the UN Convention on Desertification.
“Together, we can leverage on advanced technologies, share best practices and mobilize resources to combat deforestation and desertification effectively,” said Chilima
Chilima also attended the Welcome Dinner for Heads of State and Heads of Delegations hosted by President Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee.
The Vice President's schedule reflects the summit's theme, "Partnership for Progress," and demonstrates Africa's determination to strengthen ties with Korea and enhance global cooperation.
Clock Tower Mall exhibition attracts local visual artists
By Vida Msiyo
Blantyre, June 3, Mana: Ashley Furniture Home Store at Clock Tower Mall in Blantyre Saturday brought together best of Malawian creativity and home design in an exhibition showcasing stunning artworks in a bid to highlighting the store's commitment to support local talent.
Ashley Furniture, Head of Marketing, Laura Chisale told Malawi News Agency (Mana) that Clock Tower Mall exhibition was meant to promote Malawian art by bringing a collection of unique brands.
“We believe in working with the community, Ashley is not only based in the United States but we are in the country to help promote Malawian brands. We collaborate with artists to give them exposure, and we believe in bringing brands together,” she said.
The exhibition featured products of Ashley furniture in form of sofa and dining sets, beds plus, kitchen utensils while other exhibitors brought visual art works in form of paintings, herbal body lotion among others.
“Our aim is to work with and support artists in the country” Ashley Furniture, Head of Marketing added and assured customers that home accessories sold at Clock Tower Mall are affordable and of high quality.
“Malawians don’t have to worry because all items sold at the mall are affordable and are of high quality. Right now, we have a 30% discount on all accessories while stocks last. Prices vary and Malawians can buy, “Chisale added.
Visual Artist, Gilbert Mpakule who is President of Visual Arts Association of Malawi hailed Ashley Furniture Home Store for organizing the exhibition, saying it provided opportunity for the artists to showcase their artistic skills.
“It is very important to promote our art. We artists spend a lot of time creating, so I ask Malawians and everyone to support us just like Ashley has done. It is not ideal to import artworks when we have talented artists here in Malawi,” he said.
Other visual artists who participated at the Clock Tower Mall exhibition included; Chiso Lifa Arts, Tee Mlinga, and Maxwell Banda who displayed various artworks ranging from detailed drawings to colorful paintings to impress patrons that have a taste of visual art.
Sanwecka ready to conduct trainings
By Innocent Kachingwe
Blantyre, June 3, Mana: Sanwecka Tech Companions is set to resume its trainings this week in the three major cities of Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu in a bid to equip the youth with vocational and practical skills.
Sanwecka Tech Companions offers different courses which include phone repairing, Information and Communication Technology and computer use, computer repairing, dish installation, video production and graphic designing.
According to the company registration of participants is now in progress.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Monday in Lilongwe, Sanwecka Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Rasheed Kasito said the registration process was going on well as 70 people have already registered in Blantyre and phone repairing being the most registered course.
“Of course, the figure might go up since there are others that just reserved their places and they will finalise their registration when they come to Blantyre because they stay in far places,” he said.
Kasito added that apart from Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu, Sanwecka operates in other districts through remote trainings with an aim of reaching the people in those remote areas.
He said new packages have been introduced whereby they are offering three months long trainings and after the trainings they would provide business incubation for another one year on top of start-up tools, where students will be under Sanwecka's supervision on how they could establish and start their businesses.
“On top of that the trainees will have access to funding whereby they can get the loan at FDH Bank using the Technical Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA) partnership that we have in place,” the CEO added.
Kasito said the trainings contribute to youth empowerment as they start business and create job opportunities for others; hence, generating income to support themselves and their families.
“To ensure that this is achieved we make sure that we provide entrepreneurship workshops on how they can earn income; secondly, we drill them in marketing on how they can connect with their customers to build long term relationships,” he said.
One of the Sanwecka training beneficiaries, Matthews Shaba commended Sanwecka for the initiative, saying they have really provided him with practical skills.
He encouraged those that have nothing to do to register with Sanwecka.
“I was trained by Sanwecka for six weeks and this has been the best thing I have done as I am already making earning an income through my business of phone repairing,” Shaba said.
Teachers sensitize on GBV
By Rennie Tembo
Lilongwe, June 3, Mana; Lilongwe Police is to implement 'Safe School' programme to sensitize students on school related Gender Based Violence (GBV) and other human rights issues.
Speaking on Saturday during an orientation organized by Lilongwe Police, Community Policing Coordinator, Frank Kaila said the aim of the programme was to create a safe environment for child education and to help teachers on how to handle cases related to GBV.
The programme has come as a preventative measure after receiving a lot of cases from the month of January to May.
"In the past, we have been training schools based on structure including community policing structures on the programme but now we would like to orient teachers since they are the ones who receive the cases first hand and this will help them in dealing with such cases in a way that it will not affect the learners’ performance in class," he said.
As a way of encouraging the learners to express themselves, complaint boxes have been introduced in schools.
"We have decided to introduce complaint boxes in schools for students to easily lodge their complains through these boxes, as a way of making sure that there is no one threatening them or shutting them from expressing themselves," Kaila said.
He urged teachers to pay attention to learners conduct in class both physically and psychologically for them to easily notice changes and act accordingly.
Principal Education Advisor for Boma Zone, Caroline Chiwayula expressed satisfaction as she described the meeting as a good development as it has equiped them with information and skills that teachers were missing in handling abuse cases.
"There are alot of abuses that learners face in the hands of teachers and their fellow learners and some of the cases are very hard to handle but this orientation has enlightened us on how to handle our learners who are passing through different forms of abuse," she said.
Chiwayula complained that abuse was not only faced by learners but teachers are abused by some learners.
"Let it be known that we face different forms of abuse from learners more especially those under the influence of drug and substance abuse. We face abuse from other parents who use their position in the society, which affects our work negatively," she concluded.
The programme will be implemented in 11 primary schools in Lilongwe district.
Two nabbed for theft
By Margret Kalua
Nkhata Bay, June 3, Mana: Police in Nkhata Bay are keeping in custody two men for stealing a water pumping 250 Watts solar panel worth over K500,000.00 at a construction site of Police houses at Nkhata Bay Boma.
Confirming the development in an interview on Monday, Public Relations Officer (PRO) for Nkhata Bay Police Station, Kondwani James said the suspects, Ibrahim Somanje, 33 and Shaibu Mhone, 25 committed the offence in the evening of May 30, 2024.
"On the said day, it was alleged that Somanje and Shaibu took advantage of a few minutes’ absence of a security guard from the cite.
They were then found at Nkhata Bay Boma on May 31 selling the panel at a suspicious price and this prompted a prospective buyer to tip the police," he said.
James added Police quickly followed and arrested the suspets and panel was recovered after which they were charged with theft.
Both Somanje and Mhone who both hails from Singo Village in the area of Senior Chief Mkumbira in Nkhata Bay are expected to appear in court soon.
