By Martha Simchimba

Lilongwe; March 16, Mana: Malawi Legal Aid Bureau says it has expanded its operations in service delivery and human resource in the nine years of its establishment.

Malawi Legal Aid Bureau Director, Trouble Kalua, was speaking in Lilongwe on Friday during celebrations marking the Bureau’s nine years of existence.

He said the Bureau will continue to provide legal aid, legal advice and legal assistance including representation in any court, tribunal or similar body to the indigent in the country.

“As we speak we have made tremendous achievements. We have 48 lawyers and over 50 paralegals. This means our institution is one of the largest government department that operates under one roof.

“We have managed to register over 23,000 cases. We have also migrated from paper work to a new electronic case management system. This is a milestone for a government institution like ours to be able to collect data electronically," he said. 

Kalua said the Bureau is working with Malawi Law Society in implementing the probono scheme, collaborating with Women Lawyers Association and also passing the paralegal advisory services in a number of cases.

Law Expert, Ayuba James, commended the work that Malawi Legal Aid Bureau is doing by contributing to people’s awareness about the rights they have under the law.

“Considering that the Bureau is operating under very limited resources, I would say they have done a very tremendous job as they have increased people’s access to legal services particularly those that cannot afford to hire private lawyers; for this I give them credit,” he said.

The Malawi Legal Aid Bureau started its operations in the country on 15^th March 2015, with 35 employees. Meanwhile, they have over 200 employees in 21 districts across the country.

By Steve Chirombo

Dedza, March 16, Mana: One of the social media marketing companies in the country, in spiral, on Friday, led in the launch of the ‘Ndine Dolo’ campaign that seeks to enhance individual responsibility at household level in improving nutrition levels among communities in three Traditional Authorities (TAs) of Kamenyagwaza, Kasumbu and Tambala in Dedza district.

Speaking on the sidelines of the launch which took place at Kalilombe Primary School in the area of Inkosi Kamenyagwaza, Mackion Mpukusa Phiri, the company’s Lead Consultant, said through GIZ under its Food and Nutrition Security Program (FNSP) being implemented by Self Help Africa (SHA) in the area, the campaign launch intends to promote consumption of the six food groups more especially provision of eggs and milk to the under-5 children.

“Eggs have high nutritious value and these are easier to find within the localities. So, we want to remove the notion that has been there for some time of just keeping instead of eating them. We want to achieve behavioral change by removing the bad cultural and traditional issues surrounding this,” he said.

On his part, McPherson Mwakhwawa, Director of Planning and Development (DPD), for Dedza District Council, said malnutrition is a serious issue across all the T/As in the district citing lack of food diversification as one major factor.

“We need to diversify the food we eat at household level for pregnant and lactating mothers as well as children. At the end of the project, we expect an improvement in nutrition status not only to the targeted audience but the whole communities.

Taking his turn, Inkosi Kamenyagwaza, said as chiefs they have joined the campaign where among others they will take the messages to the communities so that they should improve by preparing nutritious foods.

He said for some time, his communities have held misconceptions that expectant mothers should not eat eggs or else they will give birth to a child with a bald head and that children were denied the same saying they may experience stomachache.

“We will be engaging communities in various local meetings so that we keep sensitizing them on the importance of feeding their children all required six food groups including eggs and milk,” he emphasized.

By Andrew Mkonda

Lilongwe, March 15, Mana: District Commissioner for Lilongwe Dr. Lawford Palani has urged people in the district to embrace hygiene by among others sweeping and cleaning their premises.

Dr. Palani made the call on Friday during a clean-up day the council organized for its members of staff and stakeholders.

He said government under the leadership of President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera is geared to see every public place clean and tidy.

 "I participated in the clean-up exercise to lead as an example so that people should also emulate the gesture and replicate it in their homes, workplace and their surroundings," he said.

He then urged Members of Parliament, traditional leaders and councilors to emulate the gesture by encouraging their people in their areas, more especially in public markets to always be tidy.

Dr. Palani said having a clean environment in places like markets is crucial as most people patronize such places, which if left unattended to, can spread a number of water borne diseases such as cholera.

One of the vendors Christopher Chipanje who also took part in the sweeping exercise, thanked the council for the initiative saying it will go a long way in making public places such as markets clean and tidy,

Chipanje asked the council to provide them with bins and pit latrines saying in the absence of these hygiene is compromised in several markets in the district.

Lilongwe district is one of the districts that registers cases of cholera each year due to lack of hygiene in several public places such markets.

By Manasse Nyirenda & George Bulombola

Mzuzu, March 16, Mana: State Residences Director of Communication, Kent Mphepo, has advised media in the country to be in the forefront in popularizing and creating awareness about Malawi 2063 (MW2063) for popular participation for its realization.

Mphepo was speaking during a media interface at Mzuzu State Lodge.

The meeting geared at debriefing the media on the President’s engagements during his two-week stay in the northern region.

He said to make MW2063 a reality, the President is focusing on Agriculture, Tourism and Mining to fast track the country’s development.

"We rely on media to lead in spreading this information so that people actively participate in projects which can lead to the attainment of the country’s blue print,” said Mphepo.

Presidential Press Officer, Anthony Kasunda, said to demonstrate his commitment to the MW2063, President Chakwera visited several development projects in the region to have firsthand information of people's challenges and share with them what government is doing in addressing the same.

Among others, the President, lead Malawians in commemorating Martyrs Day in Nkhata Bay before visiting Karonga where he cheered flood survivors, inspected Karonga Town Water Supply System, Nthola-Illola Rice Processing Plant and a 1,000 hectare Wowve Irrigation Scheme.   

He also inspected Thazima Gravity Fed Water Supply Project which, when completed, will serve about 18,000 people.

The President also officially launched Rumphi, Mchinji and Chikwawa Teachers Training Colleges at a function which took place at Rumphi TTC.

The President then travelled to M’mbelwa District Council where he inspected construction works of Mzimba Stadium, the council’s office complex before visiting Paramount Chief M'mbelwa Headquarters at Edingeni and other projects in the district and Mzuzu City.

Chairperson for Nyika Media Club, Feston Malekezo, was optimistic that the engagement would pave way for a better working relationship between government institutions, including State House, for effective sharing of information with the public.

He asked the State Residences communications team to always share the president's engagements in advance for effective planning and coverage.

The President has since wound up his tour in the region and is expected to travel back to Lilongwe on Saturday.

By Petro Mkandawire

Blantyre, March 16, Mana: Tsogolo La Ana on Friday launched a K87 million project for the construction of an extension to Maria Primary School in Traditional Authority (TA) Kuntaja in Blantyre.

Maria Primary School, which was constructed by Tsogolo La Ana in 2022, has a total enrolment of 517 learners from Standards 1 to 4.

The organization plans to add a school block with additional four classrooms to make it a full primary school.

Speaking during the launch, Tsogolo La Ana Executive Director, Lucy Maunde, said they decided to extend the school to a full primary school after a huge demand by community members.

She said when children reach Standard 5 they have nowhere to go which results in school dropout.

“We want to update the school to a full primary school since we have observed an increase in school dropout due to long-distances travelled by learners in a bid to access further education in the nearest schools which are almost eight kilometres away with rivers between.

“Development of newly added school blocks will alleviate some challenges at this school. We will also provide 100 desks, learners and teachers guide books and teachers' chairs, among others,” said Maunde.

She, therefore, urged community members to work hand in hand with them in construction of the new school blocks saying when community is actively involved in education, they provide additional resources, support and accountability to schools which leads to better learner’s performance.

Group Village Head Kalombola encouraged the community to take part in education activities saying their involvement aids in identifying local education issues and develop strategies to resolve them.

“Through school committee, I reach out to community members and encourage them to actively send their children to school since this contributes to the betterment of the society and boosts opportunities within the community,” said the village head.  

Primary Education Advisor for Dziwe Zone, Snowden Chimaimba, expressed gratitude for the project.

He said education is a powerful force that drives personal growth and development and empowers individuals to identify their passions and strengths, enabling them to pursue meaningful careers and contribute to society.

“This initiative will instill a renewed sense of hope in the community and promises a brighter future for learners. I am grateful for this project because it will lessen distances to accessing education,” said Chimaimba.

He appealed to well-wishers and stakeholders to come in and help the school with feeding programme and a borehole as the school lacks potable water.

Tsogolo La Ana, with funding from ABC Association of Germany, is implementing Tsogolo La Ana project in Blantyre rural, Chiradzulu, Phalombe, Lilongwe, Mulanje, Thyolo and Salima to improve education and help the underage attain basic education.

By Noel Chimwala & Young Fombe

Zomba, March 16, Mana: Media practitioners from various media houses have been urged to take a leading role in ensuring climate justice by advocating for implementation of legal frameworks that safeguard the environment and protect vulnerable communities.

Aaron Kandiwo Mtaya, Programmes Officer for Catholic Development Commission (CADECOM), made the call in Zomba during a one-day training on climate and seed justice.

“The media has an essential role in achieving climate justice and this training's focus is on amplifying communities' voices to spur action on climate change management,” said Mtaya.

Mtaya expects the trained journalists to document climate injustices in their districts and share them with the public to drive more action in addressing the issues.

Journalists have been empowered with knowledge on climate justice, legal environmental strategies and their responsibility to educate communities on the impact of climate injustices on human rights.

He, therefore, encouraged communities to intensify efforts in mitigating climate change and protecting the environment.

Holyce Kholowa, a participant from The Nation Publications Limited, praised the training for equipping journalists with accurate reporting skills on climate justice saying this will enable them advocate effectively.

CADECOM with support from Irish Aid, through Trocaire, is implementing a five-year advocacy programme as part of the Irish Aid Civil Society Support Programme.

The programme aims to enhance the capacity of women and youth to engage effectively in policy and climate change processes.

By Sarah Munthali

Lilongwe, March 15, Mana: Just Associates Southern Africa (JASS SNA), a global feminist movement building and strengthening organization, on Thursday launched a Chichewa HIV treatment literacy manual.

The manual, developed in collaboration with Our Bodies Our lives (OBOL) movement, Coalition of Women living with HIV and Aids (COWLA) and Malawi Network of religious leaders living or personally affected by HIV and Aids (MANERELA+), aims at meeting needs of women affected by HIV and AIDS, enabling them to make informed decisions about their health and assert their rights in treatment options.

Speaking during the launch Regional Director for JASS Southern Africa, Phumi Mthethwa, said the launch of the manual is a milestone because issues related to HIV treatment can be communicated in a language spoken in Malawi.

“We launched the English manual in 2019 and we are launching the Chichewa manual now. Having heard women’s experiences at community level, we want to ensure that HIV treatment issues are communicated in a language they understand,” she said.

The manual covers three key thematic areas of treatment, adherence and understanding which medication does what to the body and what happens if you stop taking treatment, understanding the functions of the woman body and what it requires.

Mthethwa said HIV treatment does not guarantee a health and a well-being hence the manual also covers issues to do with gender and preparedness measures in relation to disaster such as cyclones and other weather effects.

She, therefore, said government should provide adequate health care to HIV positive women by ensuring that hospitals are functioning and have adequate medicines.

According to Malawi Country Coordinator for JASS, Sibongile Chibwe Singini, the manual addresses women's holistic health needs, enabling them to advocate for comprehensive healthcare solutions.

“The manual, the first-ever grassroots feminist treatment literacy manual in Malawi, is a testament to the dedication and vision of OBOL women. It is designed to meet the diverse needs of women affected by HIV and AIDS, enabling them to make informed decisions about their health and assert their rights in navigating treatment options,” she said.

Northern Regional Coordinator for OBOL, Tiwonge Gondwe, said most women in rural communities are illiterate hence the manual will help them understand issues with HIV and AIDS and how they can take care of their bodies.

“Most health personnel don’t have enough time to explain everything about HIV treatment to women and most women are just taking Antiretroviral drugs and do not understand what these drugs do to their bodies hence high default rate.

“This manual contains all the information and this will greatly address all issues affecting women living with HIV and AIDS,” said Gondwe.

HIV Care and Treatment Officer in the Ministry of Health, Brown Chiwandira commended JASS SNA for initiatives aimed at supporting women living with HIV and AIDS in the country, saying the launch of the manual complements government’s efforts of providing information to the community.

In Malawi, JASS SNA has actively supported OBOL women's movement for over 15 years advocating for accountability and improved healthcare for HIV positive individuals.