MANAonline
MEJN to fight GBV in Mangochi
By Shaffie Bakali
Mangochi, March 21, Mana: Malawi Economic Justice Network (MEJN), a Non-Governmental Organization on good governance issues, is set to implement a one-year pilot gender-based violence (GBV) and Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) project in Traditional Authorities Namkumba, Mponda, Jalasi and Chimwala in Mangochi.
Introducing the project to gender technical working group and stakeholders on Wednesday, MEJN Executive Director Bertha Lipipa Phiri said Mangochi continues registering high cases of harmful cultural practices and alcohol and drug abuse, which accelerate GBV.
The project is budgeted at K120 million with funding from Norwegian Church Aid and Danish Church Aid and aims at fighting against inequalities to protect women and girls from the four T/As against GBV and other harmful social cultural practices.
“We noted that women and girls in Mangochi are not empowered to build their self-esteem and to realize their health, social, and expression rights.
“Through this project, we intend to increase ability to identify, counsel, care for and refer gender based violence victims to service providers. We will also enhance the role of media in preventing violence cases and amplifying the voice of women and girls to live their dignified lives,” she said.
Phiri added that the project is expected to directly benefit 200 females and 50 males from the four targeted T/As.
In his remarks, chairperson for Civil Society Organization (CSO) Network for Mangochi, Joseph Makwakwa, hailed MEJN for the project, describing it as timely intervention.
"The project has come at the right place and at the right time. Mangochi is associated with various social economic activities like tourism and fisheries activities that drive GBV cases,” he said.
Makwakwa, therefore, assured MEJN that civil society organizations in Mangochi will fully support the project to ensure its successful implementation.
52 illegal immigrants netted
By Blessings Preston Memena
Mzuzu, March 20, Mana: Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services, Tuesday arrested 52 Ethiopian nationals, on suspicion that they entered the country without travel documents contrary to Section 21(1) of the Malawi Immigration Act.
Confirming the development, Public Relations Officer for Regional Immigration and Citizenship Services Office for the north, Francis Chitambuli, said the suspects who are all male, were intercepted around Mkombezi area in Rumphi District following routine checks by the officers.
According to Chitambuli, the officers also impounded a 20 tonner Van motor vehicle, suspected to have been used in ferrying the arrested suspects.
“The vehicle with registration number NE 9315 belongs to Skylight Logistics. The vehicle was found abandoned in a bush, with the illegal immigrants inside it, leading to their arrest,” Chitambuli said.
Meanwhile, the suspects are expected to appear in court soon to answer charges levelled against them.
The development comes barely after 12 days when immigration officials in the north also arrested 28 Ethiopians for a similar crime.
CCAP needs k250 million for grand celebrations
By Patience Longwe
Lilongwe, March 20, MANA: As Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) is clocking 100 years of service this year, CCAP General Assembly General Secretary Reverend Mwawi Chilongozi has asked all Synods in the country to help the church raise funds for the celebrations.
Briefing the media in Lilongwe on Wednesday, Chilongozi said the centenary celebrations slated for August 24-25 this year at CIVO stadium in Lilongwe is pegged at K250 million.
Chilongozi further said, the church is hopeful that members of CCAP will contribute generously towards the event.
“We have proposed a budget for the celebration amounting to k250 million. Some of the funds will be raised from the cloth that will be printed for the celebrations and other fundraising activities.
“However, as a church, we are requesting all CCAP members in Malawi in all three Synods namely Livingstonia, Blantyre, and Nkhoma to contribute generously towards the celebrations. We are requesting that each member in rural congregations contribute K500 while congregations in urban areas to pay K1000 each,” She said.
Chilongozi also said, as a part of celebrations, CCAP through a research conference conducted at Zomba Theological University will publish a book with a foreword written by the President of Malawi, Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera.
In his remarks, General Secretary for Nkhoma Synod, Vasco Kachipapa said CCAP members in Malawi should be excited with the event saying the celebrations could have happened in other countries but instead the celebrations will be held in Malawi.
“As a Synod, we have been honoured that the celebrations will take place in our territory. The event could have been done in Blantyre, Livingstonia even Zambia or Zimbabwe. But the event will be held here in Lilongwe at CIVO Stadium, it is like a home ground and we are really excited,” He said.
Meanwhile, CCAP General Assembly has extended invitation to the heads of States in Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The CCAP was established in 1924 as a result of the work of the Scottish and Dutch Missionaries in the last quarter of the 1800s.
Mzuzu City ready to roll out Price Shock Emergency Urban Cash Transfer
By George Bulombola
Mzuzu, March 20, Mana: Mzuzu City Council (MCC) says it is geared towards rolling out implementation of Price Shock Emergency Urban Cash Transfer after thoroughly going through all stipulated processes.
According to a communication released by the council to Ward Development Committees, Community Disaster Risk Management Committee and block leaders, all processes that delayed the implementation of the safety net intervention have been resolved.
“Implementing partners who include the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC), Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare and Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs in liaison with the development partners have resolved that the implementation of the programme should commence immediately with identification of beneficiaries,” reads part of the communication.
The programme is designed to support poor and vulnerable households within Mzuzu, Lilongwe, Zomba and Blantyre City Councils with 105,000 households targeted beneficiaries out of which 12,000 are allocated to MCC and each household is expected to receive K150,000.00.
The communication which is signed by MCC’s Acting Director of Planning and Development, Agness Malota, further indicates that all procedures should be adhered to in identifying beneficiary households to ensure transparency and fairness during the implementation of the programme.
Some of the requirements for a household to benefit from the initiative include households with elderly member with ages from 64 and above and person with disability.
Other criteria stipulate that a household must be headed by a 50-year old or above female, including child headed ones.
Commenting on the development, Chairperson for MCC Disaster Risk Management Committee, Katsilizika Mwale, said the intervention will beef up Lean Period Emergency Food Support Programme in the city.
According to Mwale, the programme is being implemented following devaluation of the Kwacha and socio-economic destabilisation.
When potable water becomes an epitome of conflict resolution
By George Bulombola
Mzuzu, March 20, Mana: As is common and a cultural norm in Mzimba District, Mateyo Ndhlovu Village is named after Mateyo Ndhlovu, the Inkosana (traditional leader) in the area – following the area’s Ngoni Tribe lineage.
Perched on the outskirts of Ekwendeni Trading Centre, the village sits just a kilometre away from Lunyangwa River, which is the main raw water source for Ekwendeni and Mzuzu City.
Until 2022, Lunyangwa River provided a lifeline for the village and surrounding areas, albeit at a cost with numerous sanitation and hygiene challenges plaguing the village as the community members drank the raw water from the river.
“We didn’t have safe drinking tap water. Lunyangwa provided water for all our needs from drinking to cooking and bathing. While the water was free, that freeness came at a cost.
We lost lives to cholera and other waterborne related diseases from drinking raw water from the river as the water is unsafe,” explains Inkosana Mateyo Ndhlovu.
According to the traditional leader, during the rainy season, the situation worsened as the water in the river became inconsumable as it was infested with mud, following environmental degradation in the upper areas including its catchment.
“The water was muddy. We could use it neither for drinking nor bathing. Now it became a hustle of walking long distances to look for water as we did not even have a borehole. This greatly affected my community as productivity dropped,” he narrated.
The Inkosana added that his village relies on farming and absence of water meant community members spending a lot of time looking for water instead of tending to their fields of crops.
“And there was one more troubling thing,” he laments with a somber face, “we are farmers and naturally with a lot of livestock. So we were sharing our only source of water with cattle, goats, dogs and wild animals.”
According to Ndhlovu, that brought conflict in the village as his subjects blamed each other for the unhygienic conditions and rising cases of water borne diseases.
“My prayer was always for government to at least give us a borehole. At least, that would have pacified my village,” he lamented.
At the turn of 2022, him and his subjects got more than what they had bargained for – a sustainable piped water system powered by clean energy at Ekwendeni. It was a turning point for Ndhlovu and his subjects as they now started enjoying their full right to safe drinking water.
The Malawi Government, through the Northern Region Water Board, has implemented the Malawi NRWB Water Efficiency Project with €24.6 million financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB).
Among other interventions, in Ekwendeni, the project has constructed a concrete weir across Lunyangwa River, which has increased the raw water supply available from the river from 1.3 million litres to 8.1 million litres per day; upgraded the water treatment from a paltry 800 000 litres per day to 6.6 million litres daily capacity and upgraded 5.5 kilometres of transmission line to Bobo and Chinungu tanks.
In addition, the project has upgraded 13 kilometres of water distribution network, including extending supply to Mateyu Ndhlovu Village on the outskirts of the town. At the village, the Board installed one of the communal water points as part of the project.
According to Inkosana Ndhlovu, the safe drinking water has not only helped improve water supply and reduce cases of water borne diseases but has also helped his community dodge bullets of conflicts.
“Imagine sleeping peacefully knowing that we will not work up in the middle of the night to take someone to the hospital because they are sick from drinking unsafe water from the river.
Imagine sleeping knowing that tomorrow, the first thing we will do is to go and tend to our gardens not the previous daily routine of walking a distance to access water before we go to our gardens already tired.
“Imagine sleeping knowing I will not wake up to mediate or resolve water related conflicts where someone has taken his cattle to the same spot we were drawing water from. This water has brought peace in my community,” Ndhlovu explained, beaming with joy.
Today, Inkosana Ndhlovu has moved from the communal water tap to his own prepaid connection at his house where he can easily buy water units with no threat of disconnection.
“Instead of drinking from a public tap, I wanted this feel-good life close to me with this new technology of prepaid meters where I can buy water units without being worried of a disconnection” he says with a grin.
Now, a number of individual prepaid connections are dotting the village, accelerated by Malawi Government’s free new water connection programme - with each household keen to have water at their doorstep.
“We are steadily running with government’s vision of ensuring that everyone has access to potable water by year 2030 and that no one is left behind in line with Sustainable Development Goal no six, which calls for potable water and sanitation for all by year 2030,” chipped in Francis Munthali, Chief Executive Officer of Northern Region Water Board.
Over 15,000 new prepaid connections now dot Ekwendeni Town and Mzuzu City, including Moyale Barracks, as part of the project.
“With prepaid meters, the project has greatly improved our relationship with customers and improved water use efficiency as customers are now able to closely monitor their usage. Constant fights and disagreements over water bills is now history with customers on prepaid connections,” added Munthali.
This peace and tranquility can be felt as the sun sets on Mateyo Ndhlovu Village with its fading orange hues serenely calling it a day on the village – with members of the village calmly sharing last stories of the day in their groups.
The EIB financed water supply project has transformed Ekwendeni from a perennial water stressed area to one with plenty and a happy people.
SCTP hailed for uplifting livelihoods in Karonga
By George Mponda
Karonga, March 20, Mana: Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) beneficiaries in Karonga have hailed the programme for reducing poverty and hunger in their homes, as well as helping them attain various assets.
Speaking in an interview on Monday, one of the beneficiaries of the programme, Awetu Zimba from Fashoni Village in the area of Senior Chief Kilipura, said since she was enrolled in 2018, hunger is no longer an issue in her home.
"I have been investing the money which I get from the programme into various businesses. As we speak, I have bought a cow, constructed a house, I pay school fees for my children and I am also taking care of my elderly mother," Zimba explained.
Zimba said that before joining the programme, life was difficult for her family, as she was living in a poorly constructed hut and poverty and hunger were leaving her children malnourished.
Another beneficiary, Clement Chiwatu from the area of Senior Chief Kilipura, said through SCTP, he has been fending for his five children and an orphan, as well as building a house with electricity connection.
On his part, Assistant Social Welfare Officer for Karonga District Council, Chrispin Chikakula, said SCTP beneficiaries are encouraged to join village savings and loans (VSL) groups where they make savings and are able to access soft loans for starting up small businesses.
"We currently have 7,480 beneficiaries in Karonga but we have plans to increase to 8,080. Transfer amounts vary by household size and number of school-aged children, and on average, K4,000 is given to a single person household per month.
"The programme has three main goals, which are to improve school enrollment, improve nutrition and improve household wealth. Through the programme, households have managed to buy assets and the human development of children has also improved," he said.
SCTP is government’s social support scheme targeting rural ultra-poor and labour-constrained households.
In Karonga, the World Bank is funding the programme with coordination from the National Local Government Finance Committee.
NICE trains observers ahead of Karonga by-elections
By George Mponda
Karonga, March 20, Mana: National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) in Karonga has urged its observers to be impartial and discharge their duties diligently in the upcoming local government by-elections to be held in the district.
NICE's Civic Education Officer for Karonga, Mabvuto Mkandawire, said on Tuesday during a one-day orientation for 19 NICE observers from Karonga in preparation for the by-elections to be held in Kaporo, Chilanga and Rukulu Wards on March 26.
Mkandawire said: "Our aim is to make sure that the by-elections are free and fair and this can only happen if our observers know their roles and obligations which will help them conduct their work according to the electoral laws.
"We emphasize neutrality among our observers. Much as we know that they might have party affiliations, but as they discharge their duties on the polling day, they should be impartial to ensure that we have a credible election."
One of the observers, Lyson Silindu, who is also area civic education coordinator for Wiliro Block, said NICE has drilled them in new electoral laws which will help them ensure the by elections are credible.
"Local government elections are very important, and I will be impartial during this exercise. I would also like to advise my colleagues to do the same and utilize the knowledge that has been imparted to us today in order for us to perform professionally on polling day," said Silindu.
The local government by-elections in Karonga are coming following conviction of three ward councilors who were found guilty of fraudulently pocketing K2.4 million from vendors in exchange for plots.
Likoma registers increase in HIV prevalence rate
By Ireen Mseteka
Likoma, March 20, Mana: Principal Nutrition, HIV and AIDS Officer for Likoma, Yamikani Makondi, says HIV prevalence rate for the district has risen from 7.3 percent last year to 7.6 percent this year, describing is as alarming.
Speaking during an HIV stakeholders’ meeting in the district on Wednesday, Makondi said Likoma District has become the second highest in the northern region after Mzuzu City which has 9.7 percent HIV prevalence rate.
He said the stakeholders’ meeting was organized to come up with solutions to reverse the trend.
“Some of the factors contributing to high prevalence rate in the district include influx of commercial sex workers and tendency by fish mongers to stay long in fishing areas, leaving their families behind and engaging themselves in sexual acts,” Makondi said.
Makondi said the stakeholders had come up with various interventions to help in reversing the situation, such as engaging fisheries associations, faith based organizations, and community based organizations and youth networks in upscaling condom distribution, among others.
Public Relations Officer for National AIDS Commission (NAC), Karen Msiska, said Likoma, being an island district, has a buzz of activities that involves people from different places that visit for a number of reasons, including tourism.
“As these people intermingle, they share some behaviours, some of which are drivers for HIV transmission. We target such areas with interventions that focus on both prevention and treatment, including condom programming as well as social and behaviour change communication programmes,” Msiska said.
He advised people to use combined HIV prevention interventions, such as condom use, voluntary medical male circumcision, early diagnosis and treatment for sexual transmitted infections and use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
Chiefs commend CS-EPWP for promoting community participation
By Chisomo Kmabandanga
Nkhata Bay, March 20, Mana: Nkhata Bay chiefs have lauded Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) for enhancing participation in community work through its sub-projects where participants work under community contribution for free.
Speaking on Tuesday during a media tour, Senior Chief Timbiri said the programme has helped change the mindset of community members, as they are now able to participate in various community development projects.
“In our communities, we have a number of problems that need locally generated solutions. It has become hard for us as chiefs to mobilize community members to take part in various community works since we are in a democratic era.
“However, CS-EPWP has made community members able to participate in community work throughout the five days where participants and non-participants of the programme are asked to do community contribution work," Timbiri said.
The chief added: “Community members under Kavuzi catchment have done river bank protection by planting trees along Kavuzi River in my area. There is also a vertiver grass nursery for the community.
“In the second cycle under Mpamba catchment, community members did maintenance of toilets in communities’ public schools, things that were not happening before. This is the same in all other catchments across the district."
Echoing Timbiri’s sentiments, Traditional Authority M’bwana hailed the programme, saying it has led to a number of community roads being rehabilitated in his area under Sasasa catchment in Usisya.
In his remarks, District Commissioner for Nkhata Bay, Rodgers Newa, said he was happy to see that communities are able to embrace all components of the programme, saying this will help in the programme’s sustainability.
One of the community members, Gloria Banda, said she will continue taking part in the programme’s activities and other community work because she now understands that community members have a great role to play in the development of their areas.
CS-EPWP is a government initiative under Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Project implemented by National Local Government Finance Committee with financial support from Multi-Donor Trust Fund and World Bank.
MACRA commemorates World Consumers Rights Day
By Rennie Tembo
Lilongwe, March 20, Mana: Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has underscored the need for consumers to have a right to be informed of the terms and conditions of accessing and using ICT services in the country.
MACRA’s Director of Legal Services Thokozani Chimbe made the remarks Tuesday in Lilongwe during the commemoration of World Consumers Rights Day.
“Every consumer has a right to be informed, to choose, safety and a right to be heard; these are the four fundamental consumer rights,” she said.
Chimbe then said as one way of promoting rights of the ICT consumers, MACRA is reviewing the electronic transaction in the electronic cyber security Act in order to enhance protection of consumers from cyber offences.
She further said MACRA is in the process of procuring a system called Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR), which will assist the institution in combating mobile fraud.
“We are also enhancing our monitoring system by procuring the state of the art equipment that will assist us monitoring consumer protection, such as broadcasting content monitoring equipment,” she said.
Chimbe then disclosed that MACRA is aware that many of the mobile crimes are perpetrated in prisons where many prisoners have up to 60 to over 100 sim cards that are smuggled into prisons and are used to perpetrate fraud.
However, Chimbe assured people in the country that with the CEIR machine, they are now able to trace and blacklist any phone number that is being used for fraud.
Airtel Malawi Director of Customer Experience, Sibusiso Nyasulu, confirmed that there is a lot of concern on the growing numbers of fraudsters using their network to commit crimes, adding they are working on strategies to end the vice.
“What we are doing now is that we are sending constant messages through radios and social media to inform our valued customers to avoid sharing their pin numbers with anyone.
“We have also made measures to ensure that things like sim swap are really within the control of the customer, whereby someone will not just go and do a sim swap of a card, and get full information,” she said.
World Consumer Rights Day is commemorated every year on March 15 to raise global awareness of consumer rights, promote consumer protection and empowering consumers.
This year, MACRA commemorated the day under the theme: “Fair and reasonable disclosure of terms and conditions to ICT services consumers”.
