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MCC admonished for failure to enforce ban on sale of green maize
By Rose Cross Mahorya
Mzuzu, April 22, Mana: Residents in Mzuzu have accused the Mzuzu City Council (MCC) of encouraging theft of green maize through its failure to enforce a ban on sale of the commodity in the city.
Speaking in a with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Monday, residents from Mchengautuwa, Luwinga and Nkhorongo townships who have their maize farms in the outskirts of the city claim the council’s failure to effect the fresh maize selling ban is costing harvest as thieves are stealing the maize on daily basis.
Ethel Phiri, from Luwinga whose farm is in Wadirika Singini Village, Traditional Authority Mtwalo in Mzimba district said for the past seven days, over half of her green maize farm has been harvested by thieves.
“Every morning, I wake up to reports that thieves are stealing from my farm. Just on Thursday last week, I woke up to a shocking surprise when some community members brought four 50 kilogram bags of fresh maize which they seized from a thief.
“The next morning, another report came that two men were also chased from the farm,” lamented the 70-year-old widow.
Another resident, Chama Gondwe of Mchengautuwa but has a farm at Sonda area said he was forced to hire watchmen after seeing that thieves were frequently breaking into his farm.
“I had to hire people to watch the farm, and together with my two sons, we also do early morning patrols around 3 O’clock just to ensure the maize is safe,” he said.
Agnes Jere is another resident from Nkhorongo whose farm was looted by thieves.
“When I visited last Saturday, almost a quarter of my farm had no maize cobs. I wonder why the council is still allowing people to sell fresh maize at this time,” she lamented.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, one woman plying her trade in Mzuzu Main Market acknowledged that it is very likely that most fresh maize being sold in the city could be stolen arguing that most of those doing fresh maize business do not own farms and usually order the maize.
“For example, if you can come here around 4 o’clock in the afternoon, you will find vehicles carrying fresh maize selling it to vendors. It makes us wonder if a farmer could be selling tones of fresh maize on daily basis,” she said.
Mzuzu City Council’s Spokesperson, Macdonald Gondwe admitted that even though the council had issued a ban on selling of fresh maize in the city, there has been no proper enforcement of the ban.
“Usually, when a ban is issued, the police is served with the communique and our rangers are also on the lookout. However, there has been no enforcement on the same and indeed, it is business as usual in as far as selling of fresh maize is concerned,” said Gondwe.
He could not elaborate on specific challenges preventing the enforcement.
On 16th April, 2024, Mzuzu City Council issued a ban of sale of fresh maize following reports of increased theft of the maize in the city.
Economic Experts Commend government for good tobacco prices
By Levison Lester and Sheminah Nkhoma
Lilongwe, April 22, Mana: Economic experts have commended government for ensuring that tobacco farmers get high prices this year, observing this will help to stabilise the economy.
Speaking in an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA), Socio and Economic Commentator, Milward Tobias said the current tobacco prices is good news to farmers because they will be able to payback their production expenses.
He said good tobacco prices is an indication that farmers are investing much to produce high quality tobacco.
“It is pleasing to note that this year, farmers are selling tobacco at higher prices. This means they will be able to recover their production costs and make profits. We hope that the market will continue to be smooth and will not be interrupted,” He said.
Tobias said the current sales will stabilise the economy because the much needed forex will be available though it might not be enough to cater for all socioeconomic services in the country.
He said, “We must also be mindful of the fact that the tobacco selling season is coming when the country has shortages of forex. So with the current sales, it means farmers will now be able to buy iron sheets and send their children to school without problems.
Director of Research at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Samson Katengeza applauded government and tobacco buyers for giving farmers good prices saying this will encourage farmers to grow more tobacco in years to come.
He also said tobacco being a crop that brings a lot of forex, will help the country to grow economically.
He however urged government to track all the forex which is going to be realised from tobacco sales, saying this is the only way to boost Malawi’s economy.
Twist and turns in TNM Super League
By Tione Andsen
Lilongwe, April 22, Mana: Week three week of the 2024 TNM Super League has produced a third leader while some teams have dropped points and other have recorded their second defeats of the season.
Mighty Mukuru Wanderers have moved to the summit of the league from position four after a convincing 3-0 drabbing over spirited, Creck Sporting of Lilongwe at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
High flying Creck Sporting and Mzuzu City Hammers have tested defeats on their travels after winning their two opening games and have dropped from position two and three to positions five and four respectively.
The Lilongwe based team had a fairy tale after collecting six points from the two opening games of the season and they managed it when playing at home.
This was their first outing and things never worked according to their plan and in-form Wanderers had to put an extra gear in order to register their first win at home owing to their draw against Kamuzu Barracks 1-1 during the opener.
Wanderers have seven points from three games as a result of another win they had against FOMO at Mulanje Park last week.
Lali Lubani boys have dislodged Silver Strikers on goal difference, Wanderers has six while the Bankers have four but they are equal on points seven each
The Central Bankers have dropped to second position and they had two wins in the first opening games against Chitipa 2-0 and Bangwe All Stars 3-1 but on Sunday they came from behind to force a 1-1 draw against Dedza Dynamos.
After two wins, Mzuzu City Hammers were beaten 1-0 in Blantyre when they faced Tigers making the Kanjedza Boys to record their first win of the season.
Defending Champions, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets had to dig deep in order to redeem themselves after a slow opening of the season when they were forced to a 1-1 draw against Dedza and 0-0 pairing against Mighty Waka Tigers.
They drew away and home and their third fixture was away to Karonga where they faced last years most improved side, Chitipa United.
The game promised fireworks owing the fact that the visitors were beaten on the same venue 1-0.
However, Bullets had to forgo the water logged pitch situation to post a 3-0 hammering against Chitipa to register their first win of the season and to move to sixth position from 11th.
The third week has seen teams registering their second defeats of the season including the likes of Civil Service United, FOMO, Bangwe All Stars, Baka City and Chitipa United.
Baka City and Bangwe All Starts have registered a point each from three games.
Chitipa United striker, Ramadhan Ntafu is the first player to score a hat trick against Karonga United in a 4-1 win and he is currently joint leading scorer with Creck Sporting striker, Babangida Ishaya with three goals each.
Three teams are in relegation zone namely, Dedza Dynamos on position 14, Baka City on number 15 while Bangwe All Stars are anchoring the log with a point.
Police launch manhunt for Murder suspects in Nkhotakota.
By Innocent Chunga
Nkhotakota, April 22, Mana: Police in Nkhotakota have launched a manhunt for people who killed a security guard at Nkhotakota mosque on Sunday in the district.
Spokesperson for Nkhotakota police, Sargent Paul Malimwe has confirmed the development to Malawi News Agency on Monday, saying the deceased Yakido Mkumba died while receiving medical treatment at Nkhotakota District Hospital (DHO).
Malimwe, said the deceased was found in a pool of blood inside the mosque with some property stolen and some vandalized.
"I can confirm that we have received the complaint and launched a manhunt for suspects. Sheikh Osman Azizi is the one who found late Mkumba inside the mosque popularly known as Taba and he reported the matter to police," said malimwe.
He further said the thugs went away with some property at the mosque valued at K210, 000 adding that when arrested, those involved will be answering to murder charges.
The deceased, Yakido Mkumba aged 50 hailed from Chikuse Village in the area of Traditional Authority Kasumbu in Dedza district.
FAM launches FIFA Women's Football Campaign in Karonga
By George Mponda
Karonga, April 22, Mana: Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has launched FIFA Women's Football Campaign in Karonga with an aim to attract more female players to the game.
Speaking on Sunday during the launch at Karonga Community Centre Ground, FAM's Women's Football Manager, Blandina Mdebwe said they want to encourage participation in women’s football at grassroots level.
"Shortly, we will launch Under 14 and Under 16 Women's Football Leagues in Karonga and we will use these platforms to scout new players for Luwinga Inclusive Academy which is going to be the first full residential football academy in Malawi.
“Girls will benefit from this program because it will allow them to play in a safe, funny and non-competitive environment where they will also develop life skills and form new friendships," said Mdebwe.
In her remarks, Vice President of National Women's Football Association, Tsalakunja Chimanga said reaching districts with this campaign will help identify players who can improve womens football in Malawi.
"Football is a very lucrative career which has the ability to change peoples lives. By scouting players in districts like Karonga, we might find talented players who can help our national team at the same time changing their lives for the better," Chimanga said.
During the launch, FAM also brought along women’s football ambassadors, Asimenye Simwaka, Linda Kasenda and Maggie Chombo.
In her remarks, Simwaka, a national team football player who is also from Karonga said launching a league in the district will expose more girls to football.
"I just want to urge the girls to work hard in school, be disciplined and listen to their coaches inorder for them to make strides in their careers just like Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga," Simwaka said.
On her part, Donalisa Nyondo who plays for Karonga Stars said the leagues will motivate alot of girls to start playing women's football.
Lozi Market Shed set to unleash thriving business activities in Nkhotakota
By Wongani Mkandawire
Nkhotakota, April 22, Mana: Playing trade at Lozi Trading Centre in the area of Traditional Authority Mwadzama, 10 kilometres North of Nkhotakota Boma, has not only been an awful experience during the rainy season but also a deadly activity as business activities are carried out in the edges of the all-time tied-up M5 Road.
Accommodating over 400 vendors, the market continues to welcome several people from different parts of Nkhotakota and surrounding districts, who are establishing diverse forms of business, all responding positively due to Lozi’s geographical and economic opportunities.
Mumuniya Suwedi, who sells tomatoes at the market, said that due to the lack of a proper market facility, he has been operating under the scorching sun and along the road due to lack of space, a situation he said poses a challenge to his sales, quality, and life span of his tomatoes.
“Lack of proper market facility and space has been a great barrier to my business as you know that tomatoes are highly perishable and lose quality quickly. Operating without a permanent place in this market is a challenge and has contributed to the diminishing status of my business,” Suwedi laments.
Chairperson of Lozi Market, Chinkhwazala Mndota, echoes Suwedi’s sentiments adding that it has always been a difficult scenario to collect revenue from vendors at the market as most of them were operating without sheltered benches.
“It has been very hard as chairperson to encourage vendors to be paying a daily market levy because of the situation here. Most vendors including fresh fish traders have been complaining of consistent losses as a result of unfavourable business environment at the market site,” Mndota says.
However, a sigh of relief has emerged following the completion of construction works of a K26.9 million modern market shed at Lozi Trading Centre by the Nkhotakota District Council under the District Development Fund (DDF).
The council received funds from the government of Malawi for the implementation of earmarked developmental projects in the district.
Nkhotakota District Council's Director of Planning and Development, Davis Kavalo, expresses optimism that the completion of the project will bolster economic activities at the market.
“We have finalized everything at the site and handed over the facility to the vendors for the operations to commence. We expect that business activities are going to improve and contribute to economic growth among the small-scale business persons,” says Kavalo.
The Government of Malawi funds local councils to assist them in the development of required infrastructures at the district level to enhance public responsiveness and service delivery to communities.
Peace and unity vital to attaining Malawi 2063 goals - MPUC
By Margret Praise Kalua
Nkhata Bay, April 22, Mana: Commissioner for Malawi Peace and Unity Commission (MPUC), Professor Francis Mkandawire has reiterated the need for people to promote peace and unity in order to attain Malawi 2063 aspirations.
Mkandawire said this on Friday at Chikwina Trading Centre in the area of Senior Chief Nyaluwanga in Nkhata Bay during the end of an advocacy campaign which the District Peace and Unity Committee (DPUC) had been conducting in six Traditional Authorities (TAs) in the district.
He said it is everyone's responsibility to ensure peace and unity prevails in the country, noting that development cannot progress well when there are conflicts.
"Without peace and unity, various plans cannot materialize. Countries where there is no peace, people spend all their energy quarrelling, fighting and all their resources are wasted towards those kind of violet activities.
"Government thought it necessary that there must be a Peace and Unity Commission in place to coordinate matters so that all players in the peace architecture are engaged," Mkandawire said.
In his remarks, Principal Administrative Officer for Nkhata Bay District Council, Moses Jere emphasized that differences in culture, tribe, political affiliations, among others, should not be a cause for conflict but should be an advantage for people to learn from one another.
Senior Chief Malanda expressed optimism that the advocacy campaign will help in reducing conflict such as chieftaincy wrangles.
The advocacy campaign was aimed at building peace and unity among community stakeholders ahead of 2025 general elections with funding from United Nations Development Fund.
School block improves learner performance at CDSS in Nkhata Bay
By Chisomo Kambandanga
NKhata Bay, April 22, Mana: Leaners at Usisya Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) have attributed their improved performance in class to the construction of a K12 million Constituency Development Funded (CDF) classroom block.
Speaking in an interview on Friday, Chimwemwe Mkochi, a Form 4 student at the school said before the construction of the two classroom block, there was high absenteeism and at times lessons were disrupted during rainy season since some were learning under the tree.
"Before the construction of this classroom block, focus on lessons to us was difficult as some were learning under the trees and it was also hard to continue with lessons during rainy seasons.
“At times we were jam packed in the small entertainment hall which prompted some of us to miss classes and it was putting our lives at risk of contracting communicable diseases,” Mkochi said.
Mkochi therefore asked for continued support to the school from government as there are few desks and a fence would be ideal for the safety of the leaners.
Head Teacher for Usisya CDSS, Richard Gondwe said that the school block has reduced congestion of learners in classrooms.
"By design, our school is double stream meaning we get 100 learners per year and these are supposed to be accommodated in two classes of 50 learners per class.
“However, this was not possible because of the classroom challenge and we were having 100 learners in a class. This block has assisted to ease the challenge in form four and three," Gondwe said.
In her remarks, Member of Parliament for Nkhata Bay North Constituency, Chrissie Kanyasko assured the learners that for a start, she will buy 40 more desks for the school with the next CDF, and eventually facilitate construction of a fence around the school.
Police IG ordained church elder
By Wallace Chipeta
Lilongwe, April 21, Mana: Malawi’s 22nd Inspector General (IG) of Police, Merlyne Nachulu Yolamu, was on Sunday ordained a church elder for Police Headquarters’ Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) under Nkhoma Synod in Lilongwe.
She becomes the first Malawi IG to take up that high position in the church without abandoning her duty as head of national police.
“Most people think a law enforcer cannot serve as a church elder, but we are saying a good security officer is the one who knows the Word of God and is eager to serve Him,” said Yolamu as she addressed church ministers, elders and deacons after the ordination.
The IG said Malawi Police Service set aside Tuesday every week as a day when all the men in police uniform conduct prayers to strengthen their faith in God.
She urged men of God and fellow believers to pray for her and two others who also got ordained as elders - Deputy IG (Administration) Happy Mkandawire and Christopher Gavento - to ensure they draw a clear demarcation between their profession and Christian work.
“Pray for us as we assume these roles. If you pray for us, God will guide us and we will succeed,” said the IG.
Police headquarters church minister, Reverend Julius Siwinda, hailed Yolamu for setting a good example to the law enforcers by putting God first in her work.
“We hear some Christians saying ‘I am too busy to work as a church elder’, but God calls those who are busy to serve Him,” said Rev. Siwinda.
Leading the service of worship during the function, Rev. Easten Chisale of Kapita CCAP emphasized the need for people to repent and eat their own sweat rather than amassing wealth through corrupt practices.
Quoting Micah 6 verse 8, Rev. Chisale said the Lord requires man to do just and walk humbly in Him.
Among other CCAP high profile people in attendance were Secretary General for CCAP General Synod Rev. Dr. Mwai Chilongozi and Rev. Martin Mthiko of Kawira CCAP.
The theme for the event was: “Gifted to Serve One Another” with the church slogan: “Touching Hearts and Changing Lives in Jesus Name” which was inspired from the Bible’s Book of 1 Peter 4:10.
All is set for the Zomba City festival
By Beatrice Chingwalu
Zomba, April 21, Mana: Joy has filled the air as the countdown begins for the highly anticipated Zomba City Festival slated for April 26 to 28, 2024.
Speaking to Malawi News Agency on Saturday, one of the organizers of the festival, Laura Schuerwegen, expressed confidence in the event’s preparations despite facing challenges in raising funds.
“Preparations are going on very well. This is our fourth year and our team has grown with us such that everyone is capable in their role. It’s been hard to raise funds due to the economic recession but overall, it’s been quite a smooth run,” she said.
Schuerwegen added that this year’s festival is introducing new activities to enrich the experience for the audience of all ages, from workshops for artists, stage performances, modeling and a DJ workshop for women sexual identity minorities, to crafting sessions and special deals at selected venues.
This year’s lineup includes artists such as Issabel King, Provoice, Trappy, the renowned poet Q Malewezi and Chanco Traveling Theatre, among others.
“Families can look forward to dedicated kids’ zone in the botanic gardens, performances, art exhibitions, and handcraft workshops, among others,” Schuerwegen said.
This is the fourth edition of the Zomba City Festival with unique experience, offering a diverse range of arts for attendees to explore. It serves as an opportunity for Zomba residents and visitors to relax, unwind and explore the various venues of the festival.
