MANAonline
Mzuzu police calls for community participation in reducing crime
By Tracy Mtegha and Blessings Preston Memena
Mzuzu, May 2, Mana: Officer in- Charge for Mzuzu Police Station, Donnie Chiponda has appealed to residents of Mzuzu City to play a role in reducing criminal activities within the city and its surrounding areas.
Chiponda made the call Thursday, during Mzuzu Police Station Executive Committee(SEC) meeting which was organised by the police to share achievements registered in the first quarter of 2024 with the residents.
He said increased community participation in safety and security issues will help in solving some of problems that police when in curbing crime in the city.
“We need community policing structures such as neighborhood watch forums especially during night to reduce criminal activities which are rampart of late,” said Chiponda.
Chairperson for the SEC, Manish Rampariya emphasized on the importance of networking and coordination between police and community members in curbing robbery and theft within the city and sub-urban areas.
“We have so far enhanced security and everything is going on well as we are trying to achieve more,” said Rampariya.
Chairperson for Association of Persons with Albinism in Malawi (APAM) for Mzimba North, Takondwa Nungu hailed the Mzuzu Police Station for working tirelessly in ensuring their security and that of everyone else.
“They are working tirelessly to provide safety to people with albinism. The security is good as we have been provided with security alarms which we can trigger to alert people whenever we are attacked,” Nungu said.
Numbers of criminal cases in Mzuzu City have within the quarter reduced from 412 to 392 as registered in the similar period last year.
It was also reported that road traffic accidents have reduced to 51 from 86 as recorded last within the months of January to April last year.
KK Council commends MP Chimunthu Banda on CDF
By Wongani Mkandawire
Nkhotakota, May 2, Mana: Nkhotakota District Council has commended Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkhotakota North Constituency, Henry Chimunthu Banda for construction of an Extension Planning Area (EPA) with funding from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in his area.
Speaking during the commissioning of the new offices at Kasitu EPA in the area of Senior Chief Kafunzira, Chairperson for Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Service Committee at Nkhotakota District Council, Councilor Watison Mkute, said the infrastructure will help the council in its developmental activities citing that since 2007 there has been no infrastructure that was recognized as EPA's offices in the area.
He further hailed community members in the area for their commitment and participation in the implementation of the project, which he said will positively change the area.
"Let me call upon people from the areas of senior chief Kafunzira, Sub Traditional Authority Kamphambale, and Katumbi, Chimunthu Banda has just constructed the building but we need to play a crucial role in assisting in taking care of the infrastructure,” said Mkute.
Meanwhile, Chimunthu Banda advised relevant authorities to always ensure they implement flagship development projects to be in line with Malawi 2063 using funds that are received through district councils in the country.
Chimunthu Banda, who is also former Speaker of Parliament said providing such projects that are crucial to people's livelihoods can go a long way in developing the country.
"We have spent a total of 32.6 million kwacha to construct a new Kasitu EPA office and procure furniture. I think as lawmakers we need to lead in developing the country, we need to implement flagship development projects which are crucial to communities," said Chimunthu Banda.
Kasitu Extension Planning Area provides technical support on Agricultural activities to over 20,000 farmers in the area of Senior Kafunzira, Sub Traditional Authority Kamphambale, and Katumbi in the district.
Cholera outbreak hits Nthalire in Chitipa
By Aliko Munde
Chitipa, May 2, Mana: Chitipa Health Office (DHO) has confirmed one case of Cholera of a six-year-old boy in Traditional Authority (TA) Nthalire in Chitipa District.
Spokesperson for Chitipa DHO, Masida Nyirongo said that Nthalire Health Centre, Monday registered two cholera suspected cases and that the patients were symptomatic and they were isolated for treatment.
Nyirongo added that health personnel collected specimens for culture for conclusive confirmation.
“One specimen has grown vibrio cholerae. Meaning we have one confirmed Cholera case,” Nyirongo said.
One suspected case has come out negative and one positive. The positive case is that of a six-year-old boy from Kamkwamba Village in TA Nthalire in the district,” said Nyirongo.
Nyirongo said that the District Rapid Response Team will soon be dispatched to assess the situation in the area.
“Last year's Cholera outbreak did not hit the southern part of Chitipa. It only affected the northern part of the district. We will intensify cholera preventive messages to contain the outbreak as soon as possible,” he said.
In a separate interview, TA Nthalire said he will soon embark sensitization meetings on Cholera preventive measures.
“I will go flat out in my area sensitizing my subjects on the importance of practicing good hygiene and sanitation,” he said.
Last year the district registered 96 cholera cases with three deaths.
Waste Management to improve in Neno
By Salome Gangire
Neno, May 2, Mana: Director of Planning and Development for Neno District Council, Charles Lomoni has said the council expects an improvement in waste management in all its markets following the construction of Mbemba Dumping Site with funding from Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD).
Lomoni said the project, which is in the second phase, will among others, help the council in getting rid of its piled garbage that is a hurdle to the lives of both market users and merchants.
In an interview on Thursday, Lomoni said the dumping site is being done in phases, noting that phase one is almost completed and that now they are doing second phase.
“We will see to it that the dumping site is completed soon as it is a very important facility; as you know environmental management cannot be done without disposing of the waste into one place,” Lomoni said.
Lomoni said the project is expected to be completed by December this year.
He said in the meantime, the council has dug temporary pits at Zalewa and Neno Turn-off with support from Zalewa Lime Company where the waste is being disposed.
He disclosed that the council is also negotiating to have another waste yard at former Malawi Young Pioneers Base to carter for the Boma area.
“As a temporary measure, we have dug a pit behind the market where all the waste is disposed and what is remaining is to protect the area so that it should not be harmful to communities around,” he said.
Other than managing waste, Lomoni said the project will also be beneficial to the citizens since they will be able to harvest manure from the site and improve crop productivity.
“We believe this facility will serve its purpose and help us achieve some milestones in as far as waste management is concerned. We also hope to help our farmers through compost manure and also beat recurring diseases such as cholera and endemics like typhoid,” he said.
Neno District Council Environmental Officer, Kenneth Pondamali said few things are remaining at the waste yard for it to become operational.
“For the waste yard to be complete there is need to finalise the construction of toilets, guard house, sorting area, composting unit and dumping pit for non-biodegradable waste,” Pondamali said.
He added that so far, the council has received funding under GESD performance based grants three to continue with the construction works at the facility and the issue of waste management will be sorted.
A resident around the dumping site, Aubrey Gama said he anticipates that his crop yields will improve since the site is close by and it will be easy for him to access the manure and even recycle some garbage and improve his livelihood.
“I am optimistic that this project will help people not only around the site but also from elsewhere to have clean environment and also turn the waste into something else valuable,” Gama said.
Mbemba Dumping Site is along the M6 corridor and will also manage waste from Chifunga and Zalewa trading centres.
Catholic men urged to be exemplary in society
By Brian Wasili
Mwanza, May 2, Mana: Catholic men in the country have been urged to preserve their integrity by being exemplary to society and their families so that their children were groomed into responsible as well as productive citizens.
Archbishop of Blantyre Archdiocese, Thomas Luke Msusa made the call at this year’s national celebrations of Catholic Men Association (CMA) held at St Paul’s Parish in Mwanza District on Wednesday.
“We cannot develop as a country if the men are not responsible and patriotic and this starts from the family whereby one is brought up,” said Msusa.
Msusa who was accompanied by Bishop Montifort Sitima of Mangochi Diocese condemned men who drink excessively and irresponsibly, noting that such behavior affects their children because they do not have time to attend to their needs as a result their education is compromised contributing to school dropout.
“Men have to emulate Joseph in the Holy Bible who loved his wife and was God fearing, hardworking and most importantly; provided needs of his family in which Jesus Christ was born and brought up with desirable characters,” said Msusa.
In an interview, CMA national chairperson, Gibson Mkanda of Kagwa Parish in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe commended men in the Catholic Church for accepting the calling to serve God through the association.
“Some men regard themselves as busy people so that it is difficult for them to take part in religious activities but I can challenge them that if we put God first everything is possible,” said Mkanda.
Mkanda, therefore, asked his Catholic male counterparts in the country who are yet to join the association to be part of it at their respective churches so that they can spiritually get strengthened by sharing life experiences with fellow men and also do some charity activities together.
In a separate interview a member from Mzedi Parish in Bangwe Deanery of the Blantyre Archdiocese, Stephano Kashoni acknowledged the role the association has played in his spiritual life, saying it has increased his spiritual growth.
“The lessons conducted during our meetings have helped me to find solutions to challenges that I face in my life as an individual and as a family,” said Kashoni.
The CMA celebration is an annual event held on May 1 to commemorate the good work which was done by ‘St Joseph the Worker’ and globally it coincides with the commemoration of World Labour Day.
Theme for this year’s event which started with a Holy Mass was taken from the book of Joshua Chapter 15 Verse 24: ‘But as for me and my household, will serve the Lord’ and it was attended by a priest and two nuns from Dzobwe Parish of Tete Diocese in Mozambique and various representatives from all the eight dioceses of the Catholic Church in the country.
Mozambican DC apologises for death of Malawian fisherman
By Ireen Mseteka
Likoma, April 30, Mana: District Commissioner (DC) for Cobue in Mozambique, Rachide Serafim has apologized over death of a Malawian fisherman who reportedly died while in the custody of Mozambican police.
Mozambican police officers arrested the fisherman, identified as Amidu Wilima, 35, from Chonde Village in the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Kanyenda in Nkhotakota, for allegedly fishing on the Mozambican side of Lake Malawi on April 18, 2024.
The officers however brought Wilima to Likoma dead and in handcuffs, which angered people on the island district.
Speaking when he visited for bilateral talks with Likoma District Council on Monday, Serafim expressed concern that Malawians were blocking Mozambican nationals from accessing social services in the district in displeasure with circumstances that led to Wilima’s death.
“People think that he was deliberately killed by our police officers, however such was not the case. The man was not cooperative and violent when he was arrested. He ended up drowning into the lake while escaping from police custody.
“This scenario has affected our relationship with people here as they are blocking our people from accessing health services in the district. This is putting them at a disadvantage, particularly those who rely on health facilities in Likoma District,” Serafim said.
He urged Malawians entering Mozambique to abide by that country’s laws and Mozambicans to do likewise when they enter into Malawi.
Director of Finance (DOF) for Likoma District Council, Wilson Muziya, speaking on behalf of the District Commissioner, said the meeting with the Mozambican counterparts was fruitful as they discussed a range of issues aimed at promoting peace and harmony among people in Likoma and Cobue districts.
“Their coming was actually good for the strengthening of our relationship. One of the issues we discussed was to sensitize community members on both sides on how to respect each other’s country’s laws and regulations when they cross borders,” said Muziya.
Neno council urged to embrace Strategy to end GBV*
By Wellington Sibale
Neno, May 2, Mana: The Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare has urged Neno District Council to champion National Male Engagement Strategy (NMES) and Public Service Workplace Anti-sexual Harrassment policy to end gender based violence.
Principle Gender and Development Officer in the ministry, Japhet Chirwa made the call on Tuesday during a Technical Working Group meeting on National Male Engagement Strategy on Gender Equality, GBV, SRHR and HIV with stakeholders in the district.
Chirwa said the Ministry decided to come up with the strategy to guide implementation of various interventions.
He added that there has been a gap in terms of male engagement, especially about interventions aimed at advancing gender equality and end gender based violence.
“This male engagement strategy will ensure that both boys and girls, men and women are part and parcel of efforts that are targeted on ending gender based violence,” said Chirwa, observing that women was the only population targeted when tackling issues of gender related abuses leaving out males hence the strategy to address the gap.
“We would like to enhance awareness on already existing gender related roles and policies and at the same time we would like to capacitate existing structures in the districts especially tackling the community level that they should include boys and men on issues of Gender Based Violence.” He added.
Neno District Council's Director of Planning and Development, Charles Lomoni, said that the strategy was important
“Male Engagement Strategy will help in bringing both men and women together to work as one which will in turn bring about development," Lomoni said.
The 2023-2030 NMES aims at promoting male involvement in ending GBV, reducing HIV and participating in SRHR.
Limited resources, a setback to youth economic empowerment
By Memory Khutuliwa
Blantyre, May 2, Mana; Youths from Traditional Authority Chigalu in Blantyre have urged government and development partners to support them with technical, vocational skills and business capital to ensure their economic empowerment.
Chairperson for Mdeka Youth Club, Precious Kuntaja said Traditional Authority Kuntaja has more youths than adults hence the need to empower them,
He said the youths discussed with chiefs and elders’ ways and means of establishing other youth clubs in the area to provide platform for discussing their social and economic needs.
“We need technical and vocational skills, capital and other resources that can help to sustain our livelihood because government, companies and non- governmental; organizations cannot employ all of us,” he said.
TA Kuntaja therefore called for opportunities for technical and vocational skills within their reach to enable youths learn skills that should empower them economically to become self-reliant other than depending on parents and guardians for support.
“We also need girls to be empowered because gone are days when girls thought all they could do are household chores,” he added.
In his remarks, Blantyre District Council Youth Officer, Peter Mizedya, acknowledged limited resources as a limiting factor towards youth economic empowerment.
He however said some youths in Blantyre rural are engaging in small scale enterprises and they are earning a living but also creating job opportunities for other youths.
“It is very encouraging to see youths making a living out of small scale enterprises on their own without depend on parents,” he said.
Mizedya added that his office encourages youths to be in clubs where they should discuss issues that should propel them to learn technical and vocational skills that should help them generate income for sustainable livelihood.
Female welder Virginia Vinye, told Malawi News Agency that limited resources such as lack of tools was another contributing factor that compel girls to remain unproductive despite acquiring technical and vocational skills.
“I don’t have enough equipment. I borrow some of the machines to do my work,” said Vinye, adding that she does not have safety wear and capital that can help her to buy additional material to boost her welding enterprise.
Compensation delay n still worries people at Matindi
By Evance Chisiano
Blantyre, May 2 Mana: People at Matindi in Blantyre said they have lost patience after waiting for so long to receive compensations on a more than 100 hectare land meant for Matindi Industrial Park at Traditional Authority Kapeni’s area.
Chairperson of Matindi Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) Committee, Lasten Gwadani expressed the concern at Senior Chief Kapeni’s headquarters on Wednesday before the Parliamentary Committee on Industry, Trade and Tourism that visited Matindi Industrial Park.
“Closer to 200 people have waited since 2018/2019 but still nothing promising has come from government. In the cause of waiting for the compensations there are issues of devaluation and rising costs of building materials cannot allow us to build houses after being compensated,” Gwadani added.
He observed that some people died on the way as others borrowed money hoping they would pay back after compensations.
“We have waited for so long. In 2023 we were assured that we would receive compensation by July that year. We wanted to show our true colours but the TA told us to slow down,” said the GRM chairperson who added that several engagement meetings took place without good results.
The Parliamentary Committee, Vice Chairperson, Arthur Chipungu said the committee has been discussing the Matindi issue with Malawi Investment Trade Centre (MITC) as to why the park was taking so long to develop,
He said the committee learnt of the compensation issue and we believe that no development can take place without compensation the communities.
“We will come back before October with answers. We thank the concerned communities for being calm,” Chipungu added.
MITC is mandated to develop several industrial parks in the country including Matindi in Blantyre to promote and facilitate trade and investment.
MITC Chief Executive Paul Kwengwere said MITC and the parliamentary committee visited Matindi Industrial Park site to appreciate the issues and expressed hope that development at the park will start after paying compensations.
“We thought of coming with the committee to hear more about the issue. We believe that development at the industrial park shall commence after resolving this issue,” he added.
Senior Chief Kapeni asked for speedy response and expressed hope that tour of MITC and parliamentary committee will yield good results.
“Let us not allow bureaucracy to delay development. The issue at Matindi is long overdue and l wish this tour could take place three years ago,” he added.
Safe at last
By Leah Malimbasa
Chikwawa, May 2, Mana: In Chitani Village nestled in the heart of Chikwawa District, a single mother’s journey of resilience and hope brightens the transformative impact of the government’s Persons with Albinism (PWA) House Construction Project aimed at providing safe housing for vulnerable communities.
For Fagesi John Masaza, life took a tragic turn in 2016 while in search for greener pastures in Mozambique, her maternal home.
Her husband had suddenly passed away three months earlier, leaving her on her own to take care of their six children, five of whom were born with albinism.
“While in Mozambique, a harrowing night followed. There was a brutal attack on my house by thugs who robbed the life of my beloved nine-year-old son,” she explains amidst sobs.
“The merciless thugs initially captured three of my children, but after we shouted for help, our neighbours managed to rescue two children, the other one was already hacked to death,” recalls Masaza.
Although the mob managed to catch one of the thugs and burnt him to death, this experience shattered the sense of security for Masaza’s family.
“When Group Village Headman (GVH) Chitani heard the news, he followed us to Mozambique and took us back to our home village in Malawi for safety,” she recalls.
Despite relocating, the shadows of danger lingered, until hope emerged in the form of the Government-led PWA housing project whose aim is to construct secure homes for persons with albinism.
According to GVH Chitani, the house that the family was living in was not safe.
“That’s the only house that was available, but I asked some men from my village to help me take turns guarding the house during the night,” he says.
“So the news that the government will build them a house was a relief not just for the family but everyone who was concerned about their safety and well-being,” adds GVH Chitani.
At present, Masaza and her children have stepped into their new abode with a mix of relief, gratitude, and renewed optimism.
Thanks to the new house her children now have hope of excelling academically.
“I now feel safe and motivated to work hard in school towards my dream of becoming a nurse, my little brother Jordan is also happier now,” says 15-year-old Faless.
This project was launched in 2020, following concerns on the welfare of vulnerable groups such as Persons with Albinism.
Malawi Government through the Department of Housing in the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development embarked on the PWA House Construction Project with local councils being given the responsibility of supervising the implementation process and ensuring that quality controls are followed by all stakeholders.
According to the Ministry’s District Housing Officer for Chikwawa Thandiwe Ngalande, the primary focus is to ensure that every house constructed under this project meets the highest standards of safety and security for Persons with Albinism.
The Ministry of Gender through the Department of Disability and Elderly, in partnership with the Association of People with Albinism (APAM), identifies beneficiaries for housing support.
The Ministry of Lands oversees the construction process, with a focus on vulnerable households with poor living conditions or a high number of members with albinism, prioritizing their housing needs.
“Our goal is not just to build houses but to create sustainable living environments that promote the well-being and dignity of Persons with Albinism.
Malawi has seen an alarming increase in human rights abuses against Persons with Albinism, including abductions, killings, and grave robberies therefore safety is of paramount importance,” explains Ngalande.
APAM national coordinator Maynard Zacharia concurs with Ngalande on the need to provide safe housing for people with albinism.
“We are happy to see such a project being completed, this is a life-changing project to members of our community; persons with albinism.
You can already see the number of beneficiaries for this particular house, we are talking about protecting six people, because of one single house, “explains Zacharia.
Zacharia advises that with more effort, the project will surely improve the protection of people with albinism, that is, persons with albinism and improve their well-being.
“So we continue to applaud the government for the initiative, and we will continue to commend the political will that is there, in as far as the funding of the project is concerned and that has also been demonstrated by including funds for project in the recent the recent budget that has just been passed by Parliament, we have an allocation for the construction of houses for persons with albinism,” he explains.
Zacharia reiterates APAM’s appreciation for the project and acknowledgment of its impact on the community, but ends with an appeal for faster implementation to ensure more people benefit from the project.
According to Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre (MHRRC) Programmes Officer Enock Chinkhuntha, one of the most critical aspects in promoting and protecting rights of persons with albinism is safety and security.
“Most of the attacks that have occurred to persons with albinism are due to insecure houses as a majority of them live in abject poverty, and it’s practically impossible for them to construct secure houses on their own,” says Chinkhuntha.
Chinkhuntha further commended the move by the government to build secure houses for vulnerable persons with albinism.
He adds that the government and partners should invest more resources in this project to address the “slow speed” at which the project is progressing. He attributes this to limited resources.
Says Chinkhuntha: “This can somehow be addressed if the government can review the National Action Plan for Persons with Albinism (NAPPA), which is a blueprint in addressing issues of Albinism in Malawi.”
“The document expired in 2022, and there is a need for the government and stakeholders to swiftly review it in light of emerging social and economic developments.”
Meanwhile Chikwawa District is among the selected District Councils that are implementing additional houses under the PWA House Construction Project.
Ngalande, who is also responsible for managing the housing projects in the district, says they are working closely with relevant stakeholders to streamline the implementation process and address any challenges that may arise.
“We welcome feedback and suggestions from the community and stakeholders to improve the project’s impact and ensure it aligns with the needs of the beneficiaries,” concludes Ngalande.
Since 2021, the average cost of houses has increased from K12.9 million to K27.2 million in 2022/2023 and K30.9 million in 2023/24.
