By Rennie Tembo

Lilongwe, February 23, Mana: Opportunity International Malawi (OIM) is set to introduce a project targeting the ultra-poor in Lilongwe with an aim of improving household livelihood in rural areas in the district.

Speaking in Lilongwe on Thursday during an interface meeting with stakeholders, OIM Country Director, Richard Chongo, said the project will benefit 120 households to the tune of K402 million in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Masula in the district.

Chongo said, despite government and other non governmental organisations assisting the ultra-poor with different interventions, there is still need for other players to come in and assist government in its quest to improve the status of the people especially in rural areas.

“As OIM, we will be working with female headed households with exceptions in some cases where the household is headed by a male child under the age of 18.

“The targeted households will be given K30,000 cash per month for six months with additional assets such as goats or pigs worth K350,000 per household to help them improve their livelihoods,” he said.

Chongo said they intend to achieve the project goals through the use of case workers employed by OIM who will help to provide adequate support to the beneficiaries. Each worker will support at least 30 households.

Lilongwe District Council Chief Economist, Dumisani Chiwala, thanked OIM for the initiative saying there are still many vulnerable people who need such assistance for their day to day living.

Chiwala urged OIM to follow government social support policies in identifying beneficiaries saying that is the only way of making sure that the project contributes to the Malawi 2063 blueprint through medium term implementation plan.

“I also call upon all those who will benefit from this project to make sure they use the support for the intended purpose so that poverty levels should be reduced,” he said.

According to OIM, 63 percent of people living in Lilongwe rural live below the poverty line.

Usiwa Watha Ultra Poor Project was also implemented in Blantyre rural in TA Machinjiri and TA Makata in Ndirande where many households have now graduated from poverty.

By Vincent Khonje

Mchinji, February 23, Mana: Beneficiaries in the Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CSEPWP) in Mchinji are anticipating dual benefits from the programme.

CSEPWP is a component under the Social Support for Resilient Livelihood Programme (SSRLP) which aims at, among others, rehabilitating the degraded environment, strengthening households’ resilience to shocks and increasing household income.

Rhoda Mwerwa, a beneficiary from Luzare Catchment in Traditional Authority (TA) Nyoka, said in an interview that the programme gives hope to communities in two dimensions.

“We have worked on sub-projects that will help recover the environment and help the degraded soil to be like before. This will help us have more crop yield, at the same time we will earn money in form of wages for working in the sub-projects,” said Mwerwa.

She said, from the first phase of the programme, they are seeing significant results in that runoff water from the hills is being controlled and cannot destroy crops anymore.

Another beneficiary from Kamphoro Catchment in TA Kapunula said with the interventions under CSEPWP most farming fields have been saved.

“We have not seen runoff water from the hills destroying the fields because the stone bands and semi-secular bands we have constructed have helped slow down the water. We hope to have enough food for our families,” said Phiri who is part of a savings and loans group formed by CSEPWP beneficiaries.

Desk Officer for Luzare Catchment, Michael Mwenefumbo, said communities have now understood the importance of soil and water conservation.

“They understand that they are not only benefitting the wages but also protecting the environment which in turn has a bearing on their crop production. They have reclaimed gullies, planted trees, made contour ridges and are taking care of natural regenerants and all these have protected their fields,” said Mwenefumbo.

Chief Planning Officer for Mchinji, Martin Pindamkono, said the programme has progressed well in the district.

“Progress on the sub-projects has been good. We intensified supervision just to see that everything was in order,” said Pindamkono.

CSEPWP is funded by the World Bank and the Social Protection Multi-Donor Trust Fund.

By Christer Kalukusha

Lilongwe, February 23, Mana: In a bid of to connect youths in Malawi to different opportunities, mHub conducted a job and opportunity fair in Lilongwe which seeks to capacitate youths with different skills in entrepreneurship as well as job seeking.

Speaking at mHub offices in Area 15 in Lilongwe, mHub Communications Officer, Peter Chiwaula, said due to high unemployment rate among youths in the country, many are venturing into business hence the training to equip youths with skills for them succeed on the market.

"We are here to add value to what youths in the country are already doing; helping them in marketing skills, writing winning proposals and business plans, elevator pitching and accessing grants. So, we come in as a link to connect them to different stakeholders through these trainings," said Chiwaula.

Harvey Mmangisa, a participant who runs an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) business, Octet Systems, described the training as important saying it is a platform to meet potential clients.

He finds such conferences helpful as he has been equipped with skills that will scale up his business.

Managing Director for Thathwe Farms, Ngaaghila Chatata, who was one of the guest speakers, encouraged the youths to pursue their dreams and take such trainings seriously.

"There are opportunities out there but how you present them matters. As such, you need to be a self-starter and improve your curriculum vitae (CV) writing, proposals, pitching skills and, of course, continue to seek mentorship so that you stand out in the competition out there," she said.

The job and opportunity fair was organised by mHub in collaboration with GIZ through its Empowering Youth on Agribusiness (EYA) project which seeks to create jobs and improve skills for rural youth and women in Malawi.

The two-day training is also being held in Nsundwe, Traditional Authority Chimutu, Nkhoma nd Mitundu areas in Lilongwe district.

By James Mwale

Ntchisi, February 23, Mana: Ntchisi District Full Council has resolved that authorities should consider transferring some members of the District’s Health Management Team (DHMT) following complaints made by their junior staff who expressed dissatisfaction in the execution of their duties.

In a letter dated 19^th January, 2024, addressed to the District Commissioner, junior members of staff at Ntchisi District Health Office (DHO) demanded immediate transfers of the Director of Health Services (DHSS), Dr Alinafe Kalanga; District Medical Officer, Dr Yakobe Machira; District Environmental Health Officer, James Mtonga and Administrator, Lydia Sibale, among others.

The letter alleged that the stated members of the DHMT were, among other incompetencies, involved in inexplicable absenteeism during critical duty call hours, misappropriation of fuel logistics for ambulances and disregard of staff and patients’ welfare.

The letter, which gave a five-day ultimatum, was followed by protests from the junior workers including closure of hospital offices, marches to the DC’s offices and demonstrations by community members to hospital premises to prove dissatisfaction with the district council’s intervention to their grievances.

“Following this ‘tense atmosphere’ in the district, Ministers of Health and Local Government, along with their deputies and Principal Secretaries, visited the council’s secretariat and advised that the matter be presented before the district’s Full Council before a final decision can be made at ministerial level,” explained the Director of Planning and Development, Violet Kamasumbi who was representing the DC.

In an interview after the Full Council meeting on Thursday, Chairperson for the Council, Arnold Kapolo, said: “Having thoroughly gone through the grievances of the junior workers, and the defense from the members of the DHMT being complained of, we members of the full council have resolved that the five DHMT be transferred and replaced.”

The five had appeared before the district council’s secretariat where, in her defense, the DHSS had said she is mostly not in office because she is mostly engaged in managerial meetings and occupied with tending to other health service related issues as per dictated by her official duties.

The council, however, argued that her predecessors had executed the same duties but still remained in office hence her explanation was not convincing enough.

They resolved that since the members in question had proved to prefer to operate from Lilongwe for reasons not convincing enough to the council, it was in the best interest of everyone involved that they be relocated to areas of their professional comfort and be replaced with other willing peers.

However, Kapolo was quick to say that the Full Council had disapproved the way taken by the junior workers, which included closure of offices and influencing release of gule wamkulu to hospital premises during one of their demonstrations, to have their grievances addressed.

He said the council would send a delegation to engage the workers on proper procedural way of handling such grievances for future reference.

By James Mwale

Ntchisi, February 22, Mana: Build On Malawi, a nonprofit organization, has commenced construction of a two-classroom block in Chimbiri, Senior Chief Chilooko in Ntchisi upon whose completion is expected to accommodate at least 200 primary school learners.

Appreciating the development at the construction site during the ground breaking ceremony on Wednesday, Senior Chief Chilooko, said the school blocks are a critical intervention as learners in his area travel long distances to get to school, with some experiencing life-threatening encounters along the way.

He said: “Learners in my area have had challenging experiences travelling long distances to access the luxury of education. Some have even drowned in Mpherere River during rainy seasons while some have suffered sexual exploitation while returning from school during late hours.”

He, therefore, described the project as a life saver and asked for more blocks so that the area has a full primary school of classes from standard one to eight.

The project is engaging community members in the area who have so far ferried river sand to the site and moulded sunbaked bricks for the project.

According to Chief Operations Officer for Build On Global, Rosann Jager, the project is scheduled for completion in the next 12 weeks.

She said community involvement in the US$30,000 (approximately K50.4 million) project is one way of instilling a sense of ownership in the community members.

“We have a target of 40 school blocks for districts including Ntchisi which will have 15 school blocks,” said Jager.

It is expected that 40 blocks will be built in Kasungu, Ntchisi, Dowa and Ntcheu districts.

Jager commended community members for their involvement and hopes that other members in designated communities would emulate the gesture.          

Member of Parliament for Ntchisi North, Arnold Kadzanja, commended Build On for the project saying it is directly aligned to the Malawi 2063.

He said: “This development in my constituency has served more than one purpose because, on one end, the Constituency Development Fund meant for such a project will now be used to develop another area.”

Ntchisi District Council Human Resource Development Officer, Thokozani Dzekedzeke, said the Council is ready to support the initiative by, among other interventions, providing well qualified teachers and learning materials once classes are operational.

The school block project is being implemented under Build On Malawi’s “Breaking the Cycle of Poverty project.

By Fostina Mkandawire

Salima, February 22, Mana: A total of 200 youths in Salima District have been empowered with skills in environmental management through utilization of opportunities acquired from environmental preservation.

The youths have been trained through a programme called Malawi Green Corps, implemented by Catholic Relief Services, and the graduation ceremony took place on Wednesday at Katelera Primary School in the area of Senior Chief Kambwiri.

Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Jose Kanjira, highlighted that through the trainings, the youth gain different skills that will enhance their livelihoods.

He said the 200 youths have gained skills and opportunities to create jobs for themselves, be able to employ others and build a green economy, while protecting the environment through recycling old wastes.

"The recruited Malawi Green Corps members are supervised on a day-to-day basis for a period of four months, while equipping them with skills in tree management, bee keeping and saving skill. The supervision is done by CRS under the overall monitoring of UNDP.

"Climate change and deforestation has increased the number and strength of cyclones in Malawi. Therefore, revitalizing landscapes is critical to improving Malawi’s economy and preventing climate-related shocks," said Kanjira.

He said through the trainings, CRS provides human resources and financial services to recruit and train up to 2,000 youths between the ages of 18-35 in ten districts in environmental and forestry management, entrepreneurship, and forest-literacy.

Council Chairperson for Salima, Chifungo Katoweka, highlighted how important such initiatives are in empowering the youths and ending unemployment.

He said nowadays youths are idle because they lack skills that can enhance their livelihoods, hence the Malawi Green Corps has given the 200 youths lifelong skills that will enhance their livelihoods.

One of the graduates, Noel Hoposi, concurred with Katoweka and added that the project has equipped him with knowledge and skills on how to manage the environment, as well as business management.

Malawi Green Corps project has been implemented by CRS with funding from UNDP.

By Tikondane Vega

Blantyre, February 22, Mana: Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Wezi Kayira, says Malawi is making significant progress in fighting and eliminating child labour, adding this is in line with Agenda 2063.

Kayira said this in Blantyre on Thursday during a knowledge sharing workshop for workers, employers and government representatives from Malawi, Uganda and Kenya.

The meeting follows a study visit dubbed “Tea-Triangular: Kenya, Malawi and Uganda knowledge sharing to combat child labour in the Tea Value Chain” which officials from the targeted countries jointly conducted.

Speaking during the opening of the meeting, Kayira said government continues to put strong systems, interventions, as well as coming up with different policies aimed at protecting child labour in all places, including tea and coffee value chains.

“International Labour Organization (ILO) has been conducting Accelerating action for the elimination of child labour in supply chains in Africa (ACCEL AFRICA) project for the past three year in three countries as mentioned.

“So, since the first phase of the project has come to an end, officials from the targeted countries jointly visited Malawi and then proceeded to Uganda before visiting Kenya.

“The aim was to appreciate successes, challenges and today they are here sharing experiences and strategies on how best countries can combat child labour. I must thank ILO for their support which has really accelerated elimination of child labour interventions in the country,” he said.

On his part, ILO ACCEL Africa Project Chief Technical Advisor Minoru Ogasawala said he is satisfied with how Malawi has implemented the project, adding there are more successes that other countries can learn.

He pointed out community engagement and strong stakeholders, among others, but urged authorities to continue raising awareness and law enforcement.

“The ACCEL Africa Project is entering its second phase with a strong commitment to eradicate child labour in supply chains across Africa. It is continuing to target the root causes of child labour in specific countries and supply chains.

“Building on the success of the first phase, the second phase will expand its efforts across multiple countries and sectors, fostering an integrated approach to eliminate child labour at sub-national, national, and global levels,” he said.

Deputy Labour Commissioner from Kenya, Christine Oheno, has since described the study visit as an eye opener, saying her country will replicate some interventions learnt from Malawi in order to achieve the project goal.

By Salome Gangire

Neno, February 22, Mana: At least 3,493 families are set to benefit from the Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP), popularly known as Mtukula Pakhomo, in Neno District.

The figure represents a 57 percent rise from the initial 2,006 beneficiaries who were benefiting from the programme in the district.

Speaking on Wednesday during a district consultation meeting on the re-targeting of the SCTP, Principal Social Welfare Officer in the Ministry of Gender, Given Mukisi, said the ministry is doing re-targeting as some households have graduated from poverty while compositions of other households have changed.

Mukisi said after every four years, the ministry re-targets beneficiaries as at this time, some of them have graduated out of poverty and are no longer ultra-poor.

“We do re-targeting ideally to check which households are still available, to know which households to keep on the programme, as others have graduated and others moved from the district,” Mukisi said.

She said since the programme started as a pilot in Mchinji in 2006, there has been a positive stride in the lives of beneficiaries as some of them have graduated from poverty.

“The objective of the programme is to reduce poverty and malnutrition and increase school enrolment and when we look at school enrolment, we see that household beneficiaries that are poor are now able to send their children to school,” she said.

Mukisi said the programme is targeting 10 percent of the households in the district with support from the European Union.

She added that government has now increased the amount of money beneficiaries receive with an average family of five members receiving K15,000 from the previous K9,000.

Social Welfare Officer for Neno, responsible for Social Cash Transfer, Amos Chandilanga, said the programme has had positive impact in the district.

“Some beneficiary households have acquired assets like household property, livestock, while others have built houses,” Chandilanga said.

He said it is also pleasing to note that some beneficiaries can now afford two meals a day, unlike when they were not enrolled in the programme.

He, therefore, advised the beneficiaries of the scheme to invest part of the money they receive from the programme in village savings and loans and engage in small scale business to grow the money.

One of the beneficiaries of the programme, 63-year-old Luwiza Stephano, thanked government for the intervention. However, she asked government to continue with the programme, noting that it is helping in uplifting lives of the less privileged in society.