By Vincent Khonje

Mchinji, February 20, Mana: Authorities in Mchinji have responded to an issue where 39 Malawians were stranded after being sent back home from a farm in Mozambique.

Eighteen of the people, who are children, were forced to travel on foot from a farm in Mozambique, where they were working in.

According to Chimkute Walazi, from Mwansambo Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Kayembe in Dowa, who led the group from the farm, they found themselves in Mozambique as tenants working on a tobacco farm after being picked from Dowa in August last year.

Walazi said on Saturday, however, they were caught unawares when their employer told them that he can no longer keep them on the farm because of dry spells that have affected productivity on the farm.

“We were picked on a vehicle from Dowa in August last year and we were promised that we will work on a farm in Mchinji but it transpired that we had to go to Mozambique where the farm is,” said Walazi.

Walazi said after being told to leave, they had no choice but to pick up their belongings and travel on foot from Mozambique and reached Namizana Border on Sunday where officers helped them and facilitated their movement to Mchinji Boma.

At Mchinji Boma, they were welcomed by authorities, including the police and the social welfare office, who provided shelter and food.

On Monday, the District Commissioner (DC) for Mchinji, Lucia Chidalengwa, provided food for the people and also secured fuel which was used to take the stranded people to their respective homes.

District Social Welfare Officer Joyce Malika said the group had nothing on them, as their employer did not even give them any payment upon severing their agreement.

Malika said the group has been supported and has since been sent to their respective homes in Dowa and Lilongwe.

“As an office, we also gave them some counselling since they were in a bit of trauma because of what has happened, after that they were taken to their homes,” said Malika.

Apart from the DC providing support to the stranded people, a well-wisher, a Mchinji businessman Wells Musa, donated a bag of maize and soya pieces to each family as a starter pack when they get home.

By Chisomo Kambandanga

NKhata Bay, February 19, Mana: Group Village Head (GVH) Tofamu in the area of Senior Chief Fukamapiri in Nkhata Bay has hailed the district council for constructing a diversion on Tchesamu-Lutende Road which was submerged by Linga Dam last year.

In an interview on Monday, GVH Tofamu, said following submersion of a section of the road, people in his community could not access some of the basic social services on the other side of the dam.

“Completion of the diversion road has brought excitement to us because cars can now travel to the area on the other side of the dam without problems and transportation of agricultural products has been simplified.

"A lot of people had been cut off from social services as they could not access facilities such as Kasangaza Health Centre and Mapale Primary School, among others, which are located on the other side," he said.

Principal Irrigation Officer for Nkhata Bay, Bernard Musewu, confirmed completion of the road diversion adding that two bridges have been constructed on the new road section.

The two kilometre road has been constructed with funding from the African Development Bank and the Malawi Government.

By Tawonga Moyo

Mzuzu, February 19, Mana: Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA) Executive Director, John Kapito, has described Illovo Sugar’s assertions on reasons of the commodity’s scarcity on the market as a joke and an insult to consumers.

At a presser held in Blantyre on Friday, Managing Director for Illovo Sugar, Lekani Katandula, said Cyclone Freddy that hit the country last year has had an impact on the firm’s sugar output, resulting in the scarcity.

Katandula said, unlike last year from September to February, when the company produced 119,000 tonnes of sugar, this year they have only managed to produce 77,000 tonnes of the commodity.

In an interview on Monday, Kapito said sugar scarcity is not a new problem as Malawians have experienced it before and, as such, the sugar company could have found ways of solving the problem.

“I don’t find their reasons valuable but an insult to consumers. Cyclone Freddy is a year old and for them to still attribute it to the recent scarcity of the commodity is a sign of arrogance on their part.

“They are ashamed to admit their failure,” said Kapito.

A visit to Chipiku Stores in Mzuzu on Monday was met by empty shelves of sugar whilst at Sana Stores, consumers were scrambling for the few packets left on the shelf, with many clearly expressing their frustrations regarding the problem.

One of the consumers, Dominique Luhanga, who resides in Chiputula, Mzuzu said as a consumer he is greatly affected by scarcity of the commodity and thinks the problem is politically motivated.

“Sugar is one of the commodities we rely on. I am of the view that politics is having a role because government is trying so hard to ensure the commodity is found on the market and this might be a ploy to frustrate government’s efforts,” said Luhanga.

Earlier on, Minister of Trade Sosten Gwengwe assured Malawians that his ministry had engaged Illovo Sugar Malawi to iron out issues behind the sugar crisis in the country.

By Wongani Mkandawire

Nkhotakota, February 19, Mana: Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture Richard Chimwendo Banda has urged district councils to be at the forefront ensuring that people in the country are not multiple beneficiaries of government's programmes.

Chimwendo Banda made the remarks Sunday at a rally at Nkhunga Police Ground in Senior Chief Kanyenda in Nkhotakota.

According to Banda, some beneficiaries of government programmes access support from various programs, including Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP), Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Program (CSPWP) and Social Cash Transfer, while others are not benefitting from any.

"Council officials should identify beneficiaries at the local level to assist people who can access such support in their districts as government is committed to making sure that all Malawians are well supported," said Chimwendo Banda.

He, therefore, assured people in the district of government’s continued support such as construction of police houses at Nkhunga Police.

Meanwhile, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) aspiring candidate for Nkhotakota North Constituency, Dorothy Chikonje, asked government to put much effort in assisting people in the area in various projects like construction of secondary schools, among others.

Presidential Advisor on Education, Dr Ellias Chakwera, assured people in the area that what Chikonje highlighted would be delivered to the President.

By Doreen Chiwalo

Mwanza, February 19, Mana: Implementation of the distribution of Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) nutrient supplements to adolescent girls in Mwanza is negatively being affected by myths and misinformation in the district.

This was disclosed by Civil Society Organization Nutrition Alliance (CSONA), Early Childhood Development Coalition (ECDC) and Mwanza team lead, Martin Kadaona, on Monday at an interface meeting with Investing in Early Years Project (IEYP) implementation team and communities.

The meeting was aimed at enhancing community engagement in the implementation of the project in the district.

 “We have requested duty bearers to take necessary action to address the knowledge gap so that all the bonafide adolescent girls are reached out to with the supplements so that the objective of the intervention is achieved,” said Kadaona.

He said adolescent girls are prevented by parents and guardians from receiving IFA due to reproductive health related myths and misinformation.

However, Kadaona commended the project for doing well in areas such as promotion of exclusive breast feeding, cooking demonstrations, door to door visitation to enforce responsive parenting and nutrition, among other areas.

Mwanza District Council Director of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Fred Kumwenda, said the Council will enhance awareness activities in the action plan so that the target group is not obstructed from receiving the nutrient supplements.

“We are going to work with relevant stakeholders such as traditional leaders and other relevant community structures to address the problem of myths and misinformation,” said Kumwenda.

The nutrient supplement tablets are given to adolescent girls aged between 10 and 19 for them not to develop iron deficiency in their bodies due to menstrual blood loss.

By Austine Patrice Kachilika

Mzimba, February 19, Mana: M'mbelwa District Council has given its nod of approval to a K49 billion budget for the 2024/2025 fiscal year.

Speaking Saturday during a full council meeting, the council’s finance service committee chairperson, Yolanda Ngwira, said the 2024/2025 financial plan reflects the council's commitment to improving infrastructure, social services and economic opportunities within the district.

“This year’s budget aims at addressing key priorities such as the well-being and progress of the district's residents through community development, agriculture, health, gender and health, among others.

“Recognizing the importance of education and healthcare in driving socio-economic development, the district council has earmarked a significant portion of the budget to go towards construction and renovation of schools and health facilities as well as provision of essential services and equipment,” said Ngwira.

According to Ngwira, 89 percent of the budget will be funded by government, 10 percent will be donor funded while one percent will be generated from local revenue.

Member of Parliament (MP) for Mzimba South, Emmanuel Chambulanyina Jere, hailed the Council for ambitious aspirations in the budgets.

He, therefore, asked the Council to be transparent and accountable in budget utilization.

He said: “M'mbelwa District Council should be committed to fostering transparency through public consultations, regular progress reports and community engagement mechanisms to build trust and ensure that resources are allocated efficiently and equitably.”

Traditional Authority (TA) Kampingo Sibande urged MPs to prioritize development rather than politics in the implementation of earmarked projects.

By Manasse Nyirenda

Rumphi, February 19, Mana: Rumphi District Council has launched investigations into a collapsed ablution block to uncover root causes that will guide it on subsequent actions to take.

The ablution block, containing shower and toilet facilities, which was built to serve patients' guardians at Rumphi District Hospital collapsed on Friday, February 16, 2024.

It was constructed by Chigomezgo and Bongani Investments in 2021 under District Development Fund (DDF) at a cost of K16 million and was handed over in 2022.

Rumphi District Commissioner, Emmanuel Bulukutu, said the Council will take necessary measures to ensure that all facts are known and where laws were broken, appropriate sanctions administered.

He said during procurement of the contractor and subsequent construction of the block, relevant officers gave approval of the processes undertaken and assured all stakeholders that the structure was done according to prescribed standards.

Bulukutu disclosed that auditors from the Auditor General's Office are expected in the district on Monday to assess the structure and produce a report on the same.

"The structure will be audited to ensure it was done according to specifications.

"There were also officers who were responsible for procurement and supervision of the project and where it is established that they did not do their job, necessary sanctions will be applied in consultation with Ministry of Local Government to ensure that government resources are protected," he said.

Bulukutu expressed concern that lack of engineers at the Council is a big challenge that affects public works.

He said they have tried to recruit engineers on a number of occasions but they never report for work once successful.

Rumphi District Council Chairperson, Harry Munyenyembe, said during construction of the project councillors raised concerns with the structure but relevant officers did not listen to them.

He said although the officers, who led the procurement process and supervised the construction of the projects, are no longer based at the Council they can still be sanctioned if it is established that they were at fault.

Civil Society Organizations and community members in Rumphi raised concerns on the quality and cost of the project before it was handed over.

At some point the project attracted the interest of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) after some people complained.

One of the Senior Managers for Chigomezgo and Bongani Investments, who refused to be named, said the facility was built according to designs and specifications provided by the Council.

By Yamikani Yapuwa

Thyolo, February 19, Mana: Thyolo District Council plans to introduce electronic ticketing system of collecting market fees at the newly opened Goliati Market in the district.

District Commissioner for Thyolo, Hudson Kuphanga, disclosed this Saturday when he toured the newly opened market to appreciate how businesses is faring.

"We want to introduce e-ticketing as one way of maximizing our revenue collection. The current system of manual ticketing is prone to corruption as huge sums of money collected goes into the revenue collectors’ pockets for personal gains other than the Council benefiting," said Kuphanga.

Kuphanga expressed hope that, once the new system is installed, the Council will improve on efficiency, monitoring and reporting.

He was optimistic that the opening of Goliati Market will boost the council’s revenue thereby enabling it to operate swiftly.

"We are excited knowing the Council will collect more money. We will be open to the public on how much we collect and how we use the money," added Kuphanga.

Vice Chairperson for Goliati Market Committee, Felix Tambwali, applauded the Council for its determination to open the market which has been idle since its completion two years ago.

Tambwali said the new market gives a conducive environment for business and has all the sanitation as well as security features.

"We have waste dumping sites as well as good toilets, among others, things that were lacking in our old market," he said.

Goliati Market was constructed with funding from KFW of Germany through More Income and Employment in Rural Areas (MIERA) project to the tune of K400 million.