By Linda Likomwa

Phalombe, July 18, Mana: The Japanese Government on Wednesday handed over a classroom block to Chitokolo Primary School in Phalombe, constructed out of a K120 million grant also meant for a construction of a toilet facility, procurement of desks and rehabilitation of classroom blocks.

Speaking during the handover cermony, Japanese Ambassador to Malawi, Yoich Oya said in November 2023 his office and Chitokolo Primary School signed a K120 million grant for the construction of a classroom block and toilets, procurement of desks and rehabilitation of one classroom block which was damaged by Tropical Cyclone Freddy induced stormy rains.

Oya said Japan believes that primary school education is the foundation of humanity and essential for the growth and development of the nation, hence the assistance.

“The project also contributes to the recovery of the surrounding community and learners from the devastating effects of Tropical Cyclone Freddy which occurred in March 2024. Let me also thank Japanese non-governmental organization, Can Do, which has been supporting the education sector in Phalombe since 2019 and also assisted Chitokolo Primary School during the construction period,” Oya said.

Phalombe District Commissioner, Douglas Mofati thanked the Japanese and Malawi government`s cooperation for supporting Phalombe District Council in the construction and rehabilitation of Chitokolo School block, saying this is in line with development aspiration of providing equal education for all.

He said the classroom blocks at Chitokolo Primary School will also provide a conducive learning environment in pursuit for quality education.

Chitokolo School, Head teacher, Patricia Makumbi thanked the Japanese government for the assistance which she described as timely.

She said the additional classroom block will accommodate Standard 8 learners in the next academic year to start in September this year.

“We only had learners in Standard 1 to 7 because of limited classrooms, but now that we have the additional two classrooms and well-furnished, we asked the office of the Director of Education, Youth and Sports (DEYS) to allow us to have Standard 8,” she said.

Makumbi said the Directorate of Education, Youth and Sports agreed that Chitokolo School should introduce Standard 8 and that it should also be an examination center.

Construction and rehabilitation works were funded by the Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Project which was introduced in 1989 to respond to diverse development needs in least developed countries by providing financial assistance to non-profit development organizations to implement projects at grassroots level.

Chitokolo Primary School has 1,100 learners with nine class rooms blocks.

By Steve Chirombo

Dedza, July 18, Mana: People in Dedza district have described the Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CSE-PWP) as a uniting factor among communities in finding solutions to address challenges affecting their lives.

The communities cited swale construction, ridge realignment, stone bands as well as the natural tree regeneration as some of the initiatives that have seen them joining hands to address issues like soil erosion, low crop production as well as deforestation among others.

They made the remarks on Wednesday during a media tour to the two catchments of Kakolo under Traditional Authority Kaphuka and Liwenga under Senior Chief Kachere in the district.

Group Village Head Chisangwi under Kaphuka Extension Planning Area (EPA) said in the past, farmers’ crops were being washed away but now the story is different.

“There is indeed power in unity. Our coming together to construct swales here has seen us blocking rain water, which used to wash away our crops. The programme has enhanced the collaborative efforts among us and it is our plea to see it continuing,” he said.

On her part, Alinafe Gumbo, one of the programme participants under Group Village Head Sefasi in Senior Chief Kachere, said the programme is benefitting them as they have managed to restore the degraded land and have greatly achieved on tree regeneration.

“I can assure you that we realized bumper harvests in the last harvest season because there are no soil erosions taking place and that trees have been restored making our area to experience good rains unlike in other parts of the district,” she said.

Dedza district council, CSE-PWP Project Facilitator, Jocaster Mnemba, commended participants for coming together to address some climate hazards.

“I am very impressed seeing how land has been retained thereby improving crop production. The natural trees regeneration will also go a long way in protecting soil from being washed away and also improve on rainfall,” she said.

Mnemba further said as one way of sustaining the interventions, communities are encouraged to participate in community contributions like manure making.

In Dedza, about 22,635 communities are participating under the CSE-PWP in eight Traditional Authorities under ten EPAs.

CSE-PWP is a Social Support for Resilient Programme being implemented by the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) with support from World Bank and Multi-Donor Trust Fund.

By Naomi Langisi

Lilongwe, 17 July, Mana: Ministry of Health has announced the end of Cholera outbreak in the country effective July 10, 2024,

This declaration comes after four weeks of no confirmed Cholera cases, indicating that the transmission chains of the disease have been fully interrupted.

These efforts significantly reduced the number of Cholera cases, and the outbreak was eventually declared no longer a National Public Health Emergency on August 5, 2023.

However, rare cases continued to be reported in high-risk districts, prompting continued surveillance and control measures.

Secretary for Health, Dr. Samson Mndolo, expressed gratitude to all stakeholders for their efforts in fighting the outbreak

“We acknowledge the role played by all stakeholders, including the public, in the response efforts. We will continue to be vigilant and support multi-sectoral Cholera prevention and control interventions to ensure that any upsurges of diarrhea diseases are timely identified and controlled," he said.

Community Health Ambassador, Maziko Matemba urged the government to ensure that all health services are available and to sensitize the public about the deadly disease to avoid future recurrence.

"The intensive surveillance and control measures implemented by the government have been instrumental in halting the outbreak. However, it is crucial that the public continues to observe prevention measures to prevent future outbreaks," he added.

Malawian citizen, Judith Kabuluzi, expressed relief that the outbreak has ended and thanked all stakeholders who have been working hand in hand with the government to end the outbreak.

"I'm so grateful that the cholera outbreak has been declared over. It's been a challenging time for our community, but we're thankful for the government's efforts in controlling the outbreak," she said.

The Ministry of Health urges the public to continue observing prevention measures, including drinking safe water, practicing food hygiene, regular hand washing with soap, consistent use of toilets, and reporting any suspected cholera cases to the nearest health facilities.

Since the outbreak was declared on March 3, 2022, the country has reported a total of 59,376 cases and 1,772 deaths, representing a case fatality rate of three percent.

The President, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, declared a National Public Health Emergency on December 5, 2022, which led to intensified implementation of preventive and control interventions.

By Joseph Ligowe

Blantyre, 17 July, Mana: Principal Secretary responsible for Basic Education in the Ministry of Education, Dr. Racheal Chimbwete Phiri has expressed satisfaction with progress of the construction work of a classroom block at Sigelege Primary School in Blantyre under Malawi Education Reform Program (MERP), which runs from 2021 to 2025.

Speaking after the inspection tour on Tuesday, Phiri said the project which is being implemented in all districts with support from World Bank and Global Partnership for Education is going on well especially the one she visited at Sigelege.

 “I am very satisfied with the steady progress and quality of the work being done by the contractor, I believe by the end of next month, roofing will be done as well.

“We believe that learners cannot concentrate in class if they learn under trees. All we want is to create a conducive learning environment for our children which will help to improve their performance in class,” she added.

Phiri therefore commended communities around Sigelege Primary School for providing labour, sand and water during the construction work, saying the gesture demonstrates their support to child education.

Head teacher of Sigelege School, Patricia Kamphamtengo hailed Ministry of Education for including her school in the implementation of MERP project saying the new classroom block will improve accommodation of learners and will help to create conducive learning environment.

“Initially, we had 12 classrooms and we could not manage to accommodate all learners at once hence some learners were learning in the afternoon while others in the morning. We will have additional two classrooms making it 14 and this will accommodate some learners,” added Kamphamtengo.

She also pledged to take good care of the newly constructed classroom block to benefit the current and future generation of the learners.

By James Mwale

Ntchisi, July 17, Mana: Parliamentary Committee on Local Authority and Rural Development has commended Ntchisi district council for effectively implementing projects under the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD).

The committee visited the district’s council on Tuesday to appreciate how GESD-funded projects were being implemented.

The committee's Chairperson, Horace Chipuwa, said after inspecting Masangano primary school block and Malomo market rural electrification project that the council is performing extremely well in the implementation of the country’s developments.

“It is common practice for project implementers to abuse development funds. But we admire your level of commitment and are impressed with what we have seen,” said Chipuwa.

The committee particularly appreciated the accountability in the expenditure of the project funds as presented by the council’s Director of Public Works (DPW), Dominic Dzinkambani.

Appreciating the recognition of the council’s outstanding work, the District’s Commissioner, Lusizi Nhlane said: “It feels great that our performance, which is a result of dedication and discipline by the council’s respective team, has been recognized.”

The K19.7 Million Market Rural Electrification project supplies power to over 40 shops at Malomo Trading Center market and the K40.2 million Masangano school block accommodates 120 learners and also received 120 desks.

The school block has helped to decongest the learner population, retain learners in school and reduce absenteeism and dropout rates according to the school’s head teacher, Andrew Kalikuni.