MANAonline
Literacy level improves under the Maphunziro Mbambande project
By Lexa Kalumbu
Lilongwe, March 8 MANA: In a bid to improve knowledge and understanding of a subject area which prepares every person for a better future; allowing every individual to feel prepared to take on new challenges, Health wise has embarked on an education initiative called Maphunziro Mbambande which is being funded by World Vision under the Tiwerenge 365 project.
Health wise Organization under the Maphunziro Mbambande initiative introduced quiz competitions among students from Standard 3 up to standard 8 in public primary schools as well as Form 1 up to Form 4 students in government secondary schools to build confidence, come out of their comfort zone as well as have a positive impact on their self-esteem.
The students are given materials to read and study such as newspapers and books; each according to their level of study and it is from these materials that questions for the quiz generate from.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) Health wise Executive Director, Tendai Chidzero, said that most students especially in government schools lack a reading culture and do not find class work entertaining as well as appealing hence the initiative.
She said the Maphunziro Mbambande’s motive is to mainly handle cases of illiteracy as well as promoting a reading culture among the primary and secondary school students in government schools across the country.
“There is motivation coming from parents and guardians of the students who are now following their children’s performance unlike in the past where they were not following, students who dropped out of school are now back to school and most schools have introduced reading programs and sessions in order for their schools to do well in the competition”, Chidzero explained.
Task force Chairperson of the programme for Bwanje area, Masauko Chadaine, who is also a teacher at Kampheko Primary School in Ntcheu, one of the participatory schools in the programme, said, Maphunziro project has helped to increase pass rate among students because they have now developed a reading culture.
“The materials that the students are being given to read in preparation for the quiz are from their respective academics, as such, students read a lot so that they can do better in the competition; when writing examinations, they encounter the very same things they read in preparation for the quiz hence an improved performance”, Chadaine said.
The competition starts from the Area Program (AP) level to the district level before it gets to the regional level which is the last level of the competition.
Government launches K15.5 billion Urban Social Cash Transfer Programme
By Solister Mogha
Zomba, March 8, Mana: Government on Thursday launched Urban Social Cash Transfer Programme that targets ultra-poor households in four cities of Lilongwe, Blantyre, Zomba and Mzuzu to address economic shocks that the ultra-poor face in cities in their daily life.
Minister of Finance, Simplex Chithyola Banda presided over the launch alongside Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Jean Sendeza in Zomba
He said government will continue implementing social protection programmes as one way of addressing economic concerns in the urban set up, adding that government is aware that effects of climate change and rising prices of commodities,.
The minister observed that many Malawians in the cities also are find difficulties to cope with life as the situation is worse for the poor households who require attention through social protection programme such as Urban Social Cash Transfer Programme and others.
“It is the wish of government and the current leadership to support vulnerable households through various social protection programmes. The Urban Social Cash Transfer Programme we are launching today is one of the crucial programmes that aims at uplifting the lives of the ultra-poor and enable them recover from various shocks,” the minister said.
He said the ministry will continue to engage development partners so that they keep supporting Malawi’s social protection programmes for the good of the ultra-poor citizens.
About 105,000 residents in Lilongwe, Blantyre, Zomba and Mzuzu cities will benefit from the programme where each household will receive K150,000.
The minister appealed to beneficiaries to use the cash for intended purposes and further urged them to joining the Village Savings and Loans groups.
Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Jean Sendeza said the Urban Social Cash Transfer Programme answers the prayers of many poor city residents.
She added that some people presumed that those living in cities have sound income base saying that they do deserve any social protection programmes.
Sendeza said this is not true, adding every poor Malawians deserve social protection.
“Government wants every deserving Malawians to be included in various social protection programmes regardless of region, tribe and political affiliation. People in cities are also affected by shocks and this is the reason why we have started the Urban Social Cash Transfer Programme,” the minister said, adding that the support will help women to venture into small scale businesses to improve household income.
World Bank, Country Director, Hugh Ridell assured government, saying the bank will continue supporting the country in implementing social protection programmes.
MRCS hands over 21 houses to Cyclone Freddy Survivors in Chiradzulu
By Emily Kaliwo
Chiradzulu, March 8, Mana: Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) on Thursday handed over 21 houses to some of the households that were displaced by Tropical Cyclone Freddy and relocated from Mtauchira Village in Traditional Authority Likoswe in Chiradzulu to Mussa Village in Traditional Authority Nkalo in the same district last year.
Speaking during a handover at Mikolongwe camp at Mussa Village, MRCS Vice President, Steven Naziri disclosed that apart from the 21 houses, the organization already handed over six houses while another six are under construction.
"We know that the houses are not enough for the area considering that there are 59 households that were displaced but we have managed to provide for 33. However, let me urge remaining households not to worry as we are still lobbying for other well-wishers to assist," he said and urged the beneficiaries to care for the houses for durability.
Naziri also appealed to government and other organizations to priorities Tropical Cyclone Freddy survivors when distributing relief food and nonfood items to help them get back on their feet amidst the current hunger, saying the survivors faced double trouble which made them hopeless citing the cyclone and hunger as a result of prolonged dry spell.
In his remarks, Chiradzulu District Council, Chairperson, Councilor, Charles Chigwenembe thanked MRCS for responding to the plight of the survivors, saying the council could not manage to construct such expensive houses for homeless.
He also thanked Village head Mussa for hosting the displaced people, saying this was a way to go and urged the local leader to continue with the spirit.
On his part, Village Head Mussa thanked MRCS for providing support for the houses, saying his subjects had no shelter after the displacement.
"You have been with us since the beginning and we don't take this for granted. We appeal to MRCS to continue with the humane gesture to all people that need support," he said, adding that this area has transformed from a village into a town because of the new houses.
In his remarks, one of the beneficiaries, Davious Banda, who used to operate a motorbike taxi said he was happy with the new house.
“I did not expect to own a decent house. Let me assure the MRCS that l will take care of the house,” he added and further appealed for a startup capital for a small scale business to improve house hold income to allow him pay school fees for his form 3 son who dropped out of school.
"We are grateful that MRCS has also provided us with five goats per household as a pass-on programme. We will try our level best to look after them so that they can help us to recover and support our families," Banda spoke on behalf of fellow beneficiaries.
Altogether, MRCS will construct 33 houses in Chiradzulu with support from Phillip Morris International (PMI) to the tune of K281 million.
Ministry encourages SCT beneficiaries to invest in children education
By Maston Kaiya
Ntcheu, 07 March, Mana: Principal Social Welfare Officer in the Ministry of Gender and Social Welfare, Gilbert Kaponda has encouraged beneficiaries of Social Cash Transfer (SCT) in Ntcheu to invest in children education if they are to reduce poverty in their communities.
Kaponda made the remarks on Thursday, during a lean season food insecurity response pay parade programme at Nsiyaludzu cluster in the area of Senior Chief Makwangwala in the district.
He said poverty reduction is among the major objectives of SCTP and said investing in children education is one way of achieving the goal.
"If beneficiaries are to reduce poverty it is via children by enrolling them in school and by doing so SCT household beneficiaries can easily break the circles of poverty in their areas," said Kaponda.
He commended the people of Ireland for the support towards the programme in the district which has improved people’s livelihoods in the communities.
Ntcheu is one of the districts which has been affected by the 2023/24 food deficit. Meanwhile the total caseload of affected households stands at 33,556 comprising of 14,354 SCTP beneficiaries.
The district implements the Malawi SCTP with support from the Embassy of Ireland and during the December -January payment the beneficiary households got regular transfers plus MK50,000 top up.
Social Protection Advisor in the Embassy of Ireland Phina Rocha said the embassy started supporting the programme in Ntcheu in 2018 and assured beneficiaries of continued support towards the programme.
"The Irish Embassy will continue supporting the programme through the Multi-donor Trust Fund,
via the National Local Government Finance Committee," said Rocha.
One of the beneficiaries Robert Lawrence from Balaka village, Group Village Headman Nsiyaludzu, Traditional Authority Makwangwala said he has benefitted a lot from the programme and has managed to build corrugated iron roof house and bought goats.
Linda Salayi who has also benefitted from the programme thanked government and the Embassy of Ireland for the timely support.
The programme is implemented in all the eleven Traditional Authorities in the district where the lowest transfer got MK 67,000 while the highest received MK197,000.
Government allocates K100billion towards irrigation
By Fostina Mkandawire
Salima, March 8, Mana: Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale on Thursday disclosed that Government has allocated 100 billion Kwacha towards intensification of irrigation farming through mega farms as a way of ensuring that maize reserves remain sufficient throughout the year.
The development was disclosed in the area of Senior Chief Khombedza in Salima district, when the Minister inspected a 100-hectare mega farm.
According to Kawale for the next six months’ government will scale up irrigation farming and that the Ministry of Finance has already authorized financing the project.
He said the El nino which caused dry spells in the country need to be countered strategically by employing measures such as irrigation and collaborating with already existing mega farmers from across the country.
"Rain fed agriculture will not give us enough maize, already with the dry spells that have been experienced this farming season we should anticipate food shortages, we need to improvise with irrigation farming so that we can be harvesting three times a year through already existing commercial farmers," he said.
He added: "Ministry of Agriculture will provide technical expertise and resources to Malawians who want to venture into irrigation farming, because we have decentralized our system to empower Malawians," he said.
Kawale said he was impressed with the maize production at the maize farm in Salima adding that such initiatives should be supported because the maize will be channeled towards the country's grain reserves.
"What greenbelt initiative has done in this area is commendable, they have employed community members to work in this field in the long they are financially empowering them and giving them a livelihood," he said.
Board Chairperson for Greenbelt Authority Peter Kosamu said government's initiative to scale up irrigation is commendable and expressed willingness to collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture.
He said Greenbelt Authority has spared 1000 hectares of land toward irrigation unfortunately they need about K10 billion for the project to materialize.
"We have a land closer to the lake already piped which we are willing to use for the production of maize, whether we will manage to get the full amount or not the land needs to be utilized, therefore as an authority we are ready to partner with government," he said.
Kosamu said the maize from Salima's Chikwawa mega farm and other mega farms across the country will be sold to the National Food Reserve.
A beneficiary, who works at the mega farm, Kerita Lyson commended Greenbelt initiative saying that she is now independent and no longer depends on her relatives to take care of her four children because every Fridays she receives her wages amounting to MK16,100.
Lyson said through the wages she has managed to rent one hectare of land and she has planted maize and she is assured of food sufficiency after she harvests.
Chikwawa irrigation scheme is a rain fed mega farm and currently has 140 casual labourers, manning the 100-hectare mega farm in Salima district.
President Chakwera visits flood survivors in Nkhotakota.
By Wongani Mkandawire
Nkhotakota, March 7, Mana: President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera on Thursday visited and consoled recent flash flood survivors who were rendered homeless in Nkhotakota district.
Speaking at Kanyenda and Matiki primary schools in the area of Senior Chief Kanyenda where some survivors are being sheltered in camps, Chakwera assured the survivors that his government will with speed continue to assist them with the necessary support until they return to their communities.
He stressed that apart from the government, there are other development partners and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that have already started assisting them adding that others have shown interest in helping these survivors until they can safely return to their areas of residence.
The president also called on the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) to work with speed in their assessment and the provision of the necessary help to the people in the camps.
Parliamentarian for Nkhotakota North Constituency, Henry Chimunthu Banda, asked President Chakwera through his government to consider bailing out business operators, who lost their businesses at Dwangwa Trading Centre due to the flash floods.
Chimunthu Banda said the people who are in various camps in his area were operating large businesses citing that such people should be considered with initiatives such as the provision of loans through the National Economic and Employment Fund (NEEF) with fair payment plans so they can rebuild their businesses.
In his remarks, Minister of Local Government Unity and Culture Richard Chimwendo Banda commended the president for visiting the flood survivors physically, adding that he is confident that the problems that the relevant authorities are facing will be addressed.
Nkhotakota has been hit with flash floods due to heavy rains that have left over 14,000 people displaced, over 10,000 in camps, six dead and two still missing, according to a preliminary report released by the district council.
Government commends BWB for safeguarding sustainable water resources
By Tikondane Vega
Blantyre, March 7, Mana: Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Liana Kakhobwe Chapota, has commended Blantyre Water Board (BWB) for continuing planting trees around Mudi River catchment as one way of sustaining water in Mudi Dam.
She appreciated BWB efforts on Thursday in Blantyre when she led BWB and other stakeholders to plant trees around Mudi River catchment area, which contributes to high level of water in Blantyre.
She said by planting more trees around Mudi catchment, BWB showed total commitment in reforestation of the catchment which in turn will improve the institution’s ability to meet present safe water demands without compromising the quantity.
“Government highly commend BWB for planting trees around Mudi area. They are just complementing what President Lazarus Chakwera said during the launch of trees planting in Phalombe district. Trees help to maintain adequate water supply for present and future generations.
“From today, everyone should take tree planting as a lifestyle that needs to be followed all the time. Let us all look after the trees; otherwise our efforts will be in vain since we will repeat planting at the same place every year,” she said.
The Deputy Minister therefore urged BWB to involve the community in tree planting exercises, saying community members will have sense of ownership and will avoid cutting down trees in the protected area as they will be part of the process.
On his part, BWB Chairperson Joe Ching’ani said the water authority will continue planting more trees and agreed with the minister to call upon Blantyre residents and surrounding areas to participate in rehabilitating the Mudi River catchment.
Ching’ani disclosed that BWB will this year plant about 30,000 seedlings around Mudi Dam and Mudi River catchment in a bid to rehabilitate the area and preserve the dam.
He said: “As BWB, we shall continue to set pace and take a lead in tree planting, knowing that water availability depends on good environment. Every year our survival rate is above 50 percent, which is good news to us considering several factors that hinder tree survival.”
Meanwhile, Senior Chief Kapeni has advised community leaders to play watchdog roles in their respective areas to stop cutting of trees in the Mudi catchment.
“We need to be alert always and report such people to responsible offices for them to be dealt with. The good part is that we have agreed to involve community in this tree planting exercise for them to be part of this,” he said.
During the tree planting exercise, BWB presented certificates of recognition to several stakeholders who donated trees to the water utility body, and the certificate recipients included FDH Bank, Fist Capital Bank, Castel Malawi, G4S, Old Mutual and Water for People.
Media practitioners urged to report more on COMESA regional integration programmes
By Sarah Munthali
Lilongwe, March 7, Mana: Minister of Trade and Industry Sosten Gwengwe has called on media practitioners in the country to report more on Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) regional integration programmes and their benefit to the country.
He made the call in Lilongwe on Thursday when he officially opened a two-day National Capacity Building Workshop for Media Practitioners organised by COMESA in collaboration with Ministry of Trade and Industry.
He said Malawi has benefitted greatly from various programmes from COMESA, which include trainings for cross-border traders on Simplified Trade Regime, upgrading of the Mchinji-Mwami One Stop Border Post (OSBP), procurement of sewing machines for Blantyre textiles cooperative at MACOHA, and construction of COMESA Cross Border Market (set to commence around July 2024), among others.
Gwengwe also said small cross-border traders, especially women and youths, are benefitting from the simplified COMESA trade regime where they can go and trade in and out of COMESA countries without hustles.
He pledged government’s commitment in ensuring that local producers have a conducive environment to conquer the local and international markets, citing Kilombero rice and Sobo juice as some products which have penetrated the international markets.
“COMESA has organised this capacity building programme in collaboration with my ministry to give chance to journalists to write more stories and articles about the organisation, the impact the regional bloc has on Malawi, not only on trade, but also on the transport and agriculture sectors,” he added.
Gwengwe therefore said media practitioners in the country need a better understanding of the COMESA regional integration configuration under which Malawi and other state parties operate, if they are to effectively disseminate information on the regional and national development agenda to the general public.
“An enlightened citizenry is a key ingredient in our development process. Therefore, it goes without saying that well-informed journalists also make well-informed decisions. You need to utilise this opportunity to network and get contacts of the COMESA experts so that you can easily cross-check your facts from the right sources whenever you are reporting about our COMESA supported programmes,” explained Gwengwe.
COMESA Secretariat Head of Corporate Communications Mwangi Gakunga said COMESA observed a gap among media practitioners in member states despite conducting regional media trainings, hence changing the strategy to national ones.
“COMESA recognises and acknowledges the media as part of its key stakeholders whose contribution is invaluable to the success of regional integration. It is our hope that once you are done with the training, you become better communicators and ambassadors of the regional integration process at national level.
“This capacity building initiative is important in that it will deepen your understanding of the opportunities that regional integration initiatives present to the economic development of this country and the region,” he added.
Gakunga said Malawi is one of the member states to have implemented many COMESA supported programmes and has many success stories to tell.
COMESA comprises 21 African member states with a combined population of over 600 million people.
World Vision encourages faith leaders to embrace mega farms
By Leonard Masauli
Lilongwe, March 7, Mana: World Vision Malawi has emphasized the importance of faith leaders embracing the mega farms initiative to ensure adequate food supply in the communities the leaders serve.
During the ‘Enough Campaign with Faith Leaders’ held at Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe on Wednesday, Advocacy and Communications Director for World Vision Malawi, Charles Gwengwe, highlighted the pivotal role faith leaders play in stewardship and responsibility.
"Faith leaders must actively support the establishment of mega farms within their congregations to address food insecurity.
“While we have constructed churches, schools, and hospitals, it is now imperative to develop mega farms to share food resources with those in need and promote sustainable land and water management practices," said Gwengwe.
He underscored the urgency of the situation, noting “the current hunger crisis affecting approximately 4.4 million people demands immediate action. If left unaddressed, these figures could escalate to over 5 million next year."
Gwengwe emphasized that churches should not limit themselves to spiritual endeavours but should also actively engage in meeting the physical needs of their communities.
Addressing the gathering, Pastor Caswell Mkanda, Chief Executive Officer at Uthunthu, praised World Vision for its campaign and urged churches to proactively tackle issues such as hunger.
"As stewards and beacons of light, churches are called not only to worship but also to offer practical solutions to societal challenges. Leveraging our collective expertise and resources, including agricultural experts, economists, and nutritionists within the church, we can establish mega farms to provide sustainable solutions,” remarked Mkanda.
JICA for inclusive energy growth for Malawi
By Patricia Kapulula
Lilongwe, March 7, Mana: The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Wednesday officially handed over the Lilongwe Old Town Substation, which includes expansion of Kanengo Substation, to Malawi Government through the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM).
Speaking during the handover, JICA President Dr Akihiko Tanaka expressed commitment to working with Malawi Government and other partners to bring inclusive, sustainable and self-reliant growth for the people of Malawi.
He described the upgraded facility as important for Malawi’s development, saying it contributes to the improvement of power supply in the country thereby improving people’s livelihoods in Lilongwe City and surrounding areas.
“The reconstruction of the facility and related improvements to transformers will ensure it provides the Capital City with a sufficient and reliable supply of electricity for years to come. This goes a long way in minimising blackouts so that citizens can enjoy a better quality life,” said Tanaka.
Receiving the infrastructure on behalf of government, Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale said the upgraded substation marks a milestone in ensuring a stable and reliable power supply for Malawi.
“We need to generate enough electricity for us to reach 1,000 megawatts by 2025 and this is one way of doing that. This contributes to the Malawi 2063 through provision of reliable power supply,” he said.
Principal Secretary for Energy, Alfonso Chikuni, said the facility is a huge enhancement to transmission, as it makes the whole backbone reliable.
“Intermittent power supply will be dealt with and power will stabilize. A lot of benefits will come out of these investments,” said Chikuni.
ESCOM Chief Executive Officer Kamkwamba Kumwenda expressed gratitude for the infrastructure, saying it will go a long way in improving power supply in the city and surrounding areas.
The project will connect over 20,000 new customers.
