By Tracy Mtegha

Mzuzu, April 7, Mana: The country on Saturday joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Autism Awareness Day, with stakeholders calling for concerted efforts in raising awareness about autism, a neurodevelopmental disorder that is usually recognized from early childhood.

Speaking during the commemoration that was held in Mzuzu, a concerned parent, Lydia Kamuyanga, said many parents who have children living with the condition are not able to offer them necessary support due to their lack of knowledge about it.

She lamented that some of the parents are keeping autistic children indoors which she said is dangerous as it further retards their development.

“Every parent needs to provide essential care to children with autism and allow them access to special needs education.

“As a parent with an autistic child, I am dedicated to raising awareness about it. If more people are aware about autism and other developmental disorders, we can begin to break down the misunderstandings and stigma that surround the condition,” said Kamuyanga.    

Clinical psychologist for St John of God Hospital, Frank Magagula, said that awareness is key to creating a more inclusive and supportive community for people with autism.                        

“Let us work together in creating a more inclusive and supportive world for everyone, and we should continue coming together to commemorate World Autism Awareness Day to make a real difference in the lives of those affected by this condition,” Magagula said.

Director of Hope view Resource Centre, which is implementing special education to neuro-divergent learners and young people, Rebecca Mtegha, stressed the importance of providing education to people with autism, saying they too are able to learn, regardless of their condition.

This year's commemoration was held under the theme “Moving from surviving to thriving: autistic individuals share regional perspectives”.

By Willy Kadewere

Chikwawa, April 7, Mana: In response to the effects of drought affecting most parts of Malawi, Apostle Albert Mpende of Time for Repentance and Deliverance Ministries, with support from World Challenge, has donated maize flour and maize seeds to people from Traditional Authority (T/A) Mulilima in Chikwawa district.

Three hundred people received bags of maize flour weighing 10 kilogrammes each while 200 people received packets of maize seeds weighing two kilogrammes each.

Speaking during the distribution exercise on Friday, Apostle Mpende emphasized the importance of utilizing maize seeds in gardens to achieve food security.

“We believe that through the two kilogramme packets of maize seeds people have receive, they will use properly to produce fruitful outcomes.

“It is estimated that a 2 kg packet of maize seeds will yield seven to eight bags, which is a positive outcome,” said Mpende.

Senior Group Village Headman Namila, who represented T/A Mulilima, commended Apostle Mpende for the support, noting that it arrived at a critical time when many are facing hunger due to drought.

However, Namila warned beneficiaries against selling the maize flour and seed packets.

One of the beneficiaries, Natalia Tchandama from Group Village Head John, expressed gratitude for the donation, saying it will help her family to have seeds for planting and use the flour for daily meals.

“As a single mother of seven children, I appreciate what Apostle Mpende has done because many of us are suffering due to dry fields. This flour and packet of seeds will help alleviate some of the problems I face,” said Tchandama.

In addition to the donations, Mpende and his church also assist children who lack school fees and provide economic empowerment to youths and women.

Blessings Preston Memena

Mzuzu, April 7, Mana: Mzuzu City Council (MCC) on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to seal their partnership with Malawi Coalition for Kabaza Stakeholder and Association (MACOKASA) for sanity in the kabaza business operation in the city.

MCC Chief Executive Officer, Gomezgani Nyasulu, said the MoU between the two partners will help promote order in transport and traffic operations within the city.

According to Nyasulu, the development is in line with what was resolved at the MCC summit as the Council promotes security and safety of road users including Kabaza operators.

“As MCC, we are happy to sign this MoU with kabaza operators. This is important because it will help sanitize the transport and traffic movement in our city.

“We started with segmentation of coach buses operation where all coach bus operators have an operation point and this is second phrase that is targeting kabaza operators,” Nyasulu said.

MACOKASA National Chairperson, Moses Mwalabu, acknowledged that kabaza operators contribute to road accidents in the city saying the MoU will help in minimizing such accidents.

“This MoU will promote mutual relationship among us, the Council, other agencies as well as district councils to ensure that we operate orderly to avoid accidents.

“Each and every operator will be registered with us so that we have number of operators and where they are operating thereby fostering security among themselves and customers,” Mwalabu said.

According Mwalabu, MACOKASA has also signed MoUs with Blantyre, Zomba and Lilongwe city councils.

“We have also reached out to Mangochi, Mwanza, Karonga and soon we will be heading to Likoma,” he said.

Regional Road Traffic Officer for the north, Maurice Mabvumbe, highlighted that kabaza operators contribute sabout 30 percent of road accidents in the country.

By Brighton Thengoliweta Chimsinde

Mchinji, April 6, Mana: Mchinji District Council Chairperson, Dorothy Musa, has applauded the minimum farm gate prices for strategic crops for the 2023/2024 farming season government has released.

Musa said the price would help deter unscrupulous vendors from buying farmers' produce at lower prices in the district.

“We applaud government for the minimum farm gate prices and for its timely release because unscrupulous vendors have already started swindling local farmers. It is sad that vendors buy farm produce at lower prices using fake weighing scales,” Musa said.

She warned vendors that the Council is set to guard against their malpractices.

She said Council officers and relevant partners are on the ground to guard against vendors using uncertified weighing scales.

“Our intention is to ensure that local farmers, especially small scale farmers, benefit from this year’s farm gate prices,” she said.

In a separate interview one local farmer, Alumackio Kalonga, of Robert 4 Village, Traditional Authority (TA) Zulu thanked government for revising the farm gate prices.  

“Last year’s farming season maize was at K500 per kilogramme and this year it is set at K650, while shelled groundnuts and pure beans are at K1,200 up from K950 and K700 per kilogramme, the price set in 2022-203 farming season. You can see that with three bags of groundnuts of 50 kilogrammes each I can afford to buy bags of fertilizer,” said Kalonga.

According to the ministry’s announcement, it is an offense to buy farm produce below farm gate prices and anyone being found will face the law.  

By Andrew Mkonda

Lilongwe, April 6, Mana: Ministry of Mining says all is set for the country to host the first ever Mining Investment Forum which will give the country an opportunity to showcase and promote Malawi’s mining sector.

A press statement released by the Ministry of Mining signed by its Principal Secretary, Dr Joseph Mkandawire, says the event will take place from 23^rd to 24^th April, 2024 at Bingu International Convention Conference Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe.

Dr Mkandawire said the event, which is expected to be presided over by President Dr Lazarus Chakwera, will serve as a platform for multi-stakeholder engagement bringing together government representatives, development partners, mining companies, Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) operators, financial institutions, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), academia and various service providers.

“Malawi hosts a diverse array of mineral resources such as Rare Earth Elements (REEs), graphite, uranium, gold and gemstones, amongst others. These mineral resources are instrumental to industrialization as described in the Malawi 2063.

“Our minerals are a significant source of government revenues through taxes, royalties and fees which are essential for funding development initiatives across various sectors. Furthermore, the mining sector provides employment opportunities, fosters skills development and sustains livelihoods through ASM,” reads part of the statement.

In an interview, Chairperson for National Resources Justice Network, Paul Mvula, welcomed the initiative as a good development saying, as a country, there is need to invest more in mining sector in order to improve the country’s economy.

“We have repeatedly been saying we do not only focus on foreign investors, but we need to also involve the indigenous investors. So, if this forum will focus on that, then it is a welcome development,” he said.

Government aims at growing the mining sector to contribute at least 20 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a goal that the ministry says will require robust legal, policy and institutional frameworks; public-private partnerships in mineral exploration and mining among others.

The Forum which will be held under the theme “Transforming the Nation through Sustainable Mineral Extraction” is expected to attract over 300 participants from African countries and beyond.

By Noel Chimwala

Chikwawa, April 6, Mana: Tamva Friends for the Deaf, a charitable organisation, has provided guidance to learners, youths and women with hearing impairment on safeguarding, safety and inclusive disaster risk management in Chikwawa.

Speaking to Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Friday after a two-day training held at Chikwawa Teachers’ Development Centre, Executive Director for Tamva Friends for the Deaf, Zenasi Govati, stated that the training was aimed to enhance capacity of people with hearing impairment during disasters.

He said they are providing participants with tips so that they know what to do and how to safeguard and protect themselves during natural disasters like floods and cyclones,” he said.

“With funding from the Disability Rights Fund, we are implementing this project, knowing that people with hearing impairment face communication challenges during natural disasters as they are unable to hear what is happening, resulting in them being the most highly affected,” he said.

He, therefore, appealed to community leaders, religious leaders, teachers and parents to promote the welfare of people with different disabilities in their communities.

Malawi Council for Disability (MACODA) Disability Affairs Officer for Chikwawa, Elizabeth Khumbanya, commended Tamva for initiating the project which she said will address challenges faced by people with hearing impairment during and after natural disasters.

“We often struggle to raise awareness about natural disasters, leading to many people with hearing impairment missing this information and ending up in highly affected areas,” Khumbanyiwa said.

She emphasised the need to employ interpreters so that people with hearing impairment can communicate with relevant authorities when facing challenges.

Chikwawa District Chief Education Officer, Greystone Alindiamawo, praised Tamva for the training, highlighting that learners with hearing impairment often face exclusion in class due to teachers’ inability to communicate with them effectively using sign language and gestures.

“We are thankful for this training, which has provided learners, youths, women and teachers with knowledge on safeguarding themselves during natural disasters and humanitarian crises,” said Alindiamawo.

The training focused on several areas including safeguarding and its legal framework, disability inclusion, role of schools and communities in safeguarding amidst disasters and humanitarian crises, sexual abuse and exploitation and how they can work with community reporting mechanisms.

By Brian Wasili

Mwanza, April 6, Mana:  Mwanza Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) women on Saturday donated assorted food and nonfood items to patients at Mwanza District Hospital as a symbol of love.

In an interview, one of CCAP women Tuweni Gonambali said the donation was meant to share love with those who are in difficult situations such as those in hospital.

“As we are celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, there is need to show love to one another because Jesus Christ himself used to share messages of love and peace among people,” said Gonambali.

Church Minister for Mwanza CCAP congregation, Rev. Wilson Kazembe, commended the women for promoting the spirit of sharing with others saying this is what God commands.

“The Holy Bible assures us that a hand that gives is blessed. Therefore, it is my hope that God will not leave these women the same way,” said Kazembe.

In an interview with guardians’ representative in the male ward, Alefa Batford from Mulongolora Village in the area of Inkosi Kanduku Maseko in the district, said the items received will go a long way to assisting the patients as some do not have relatives who can provide their daily needs because they come from far areas.

Mwanza District Hospital Nurse Midwife Technician, Clifford Mkagula, commended the women saying, apart from the donation, patients also needed to hear the Word of God as a way of encouragement.

The donation which included soya pieces, soap and salt is worth about K200, 000 and was mobilized among the women themselves and other well withers.

The women also donated assorted items to Mwanza Prison to replicate love of Jesus to the inmates.