MANAonline
Hoes and bicycles support community livelihood to save biodiversity
By Wanangwa Tembo
Kasungu, November 11, Mana: Malawi’s Wildlife Conservation Policy places responsibility on communities to get involved in the conservation of wildlife, especially those closer to their villages.
In Kasungu, some people around the National Park had led an onslaught on the country’s second largest protected area poaching animals for both meat and ivory, felling trees for charcoal production and clearing the buffer zone for settlements and crop cultivation.
These activities led to the reduction of the animal population in the park, with elephants, for example, reducing from over 2 000 to around 200 individuals, rendering the park unattractive to tourists.
“This is the period poaching was at its peak owing to lapses in security largely due to lack of funding.
“Again this is the time the buffer zone which averaged 2.1 kilometres in thickness was invaded and cleared for charcoal, settlements and farming,” says Ndawona Kumanga, Park Manager.
In 2016, the Department of Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) partnered with International Fund for Animal Welfare (Ifaw), a marriage that saw the latter pumping in resources to support efforts to protect the park from further destruction.
“This is why in 2022, Ifaw supported us to translocate at least 694 animal species including 263 elephants from Liwonde to Kasungu in a restocking programme to boost the numbers of the key wildlife species,” Kumanga says.
Park authorities say high poverty levels amongst some communities surrounding the park is still posing a threat to conservation efforts and the future of the protected area as people turn to the park resources for their livelihood.
The park which harbours the largest Miombo woodland in the country, is surrounded by nine traditional authorities namely Lukwa, Kaphaizi, Mwase, Nthunduwala, Mawawa, Chulu, Chisinga, Mangwazu and Kawamba with a population of at least 350,000.
With support from Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management Programme (BIOPAMA), Kasungu Wildlife Conservation for Community Development Association (Kawiccoda) is leading efforts to build resilience amongst the communities surrounding the park in a bid to create alternative sources of livelihood.
The BIOPAMA programme assists countries in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific to address their priorities for improved management and governance of biodiversity and natural resources by providing a variety of tools, services and funding to conservation actors.
Board Chairperson for Kawiccoda, Malidadi Langa, says the conservation of Kasungu National Park is in two components which are wildlife on one hand and livelihood on the other.
“Kawiccoda is an offshoot of the Wildlife Policy which prescribes that populations living within natural resources such as national parks must participate in the conservation of those resources.
“So we are a vehicle for enabling this community participation in conservation of parks whereby we mobilise communities to take part in managing forests, promoting natural regeneration of trees, agroforestry and climate smart agriculture,” Langa says.
Through its Forest Natural Regeneration and Agroforestry project in the area of Traditional Authority Chisinga in the district, Kawiccoda is integrating land restoration, forest governance, agroforestry and climate smart agriculture, teaching communities about modern farming approaches including promotion of forest regeneration.
“Our people should be able to integrate crop farming and forestry, regenerate and re-green landscapes. We have handed over tools such as hoes, slashers and wheelbarrows to help them carry this work.
“On the livelihood component, we support them with soybean seeds where each household gets 40 kilogrammes. We hope that when they cultivate soybean, they can raise a lot of money to support their families and stop invading the park,” Langa says.
The association is also giving out goats on a pass-on arrangement targeting the population along the park.
“The park has suffered a lot of encroachment, poaching and charcoal production with the primary driver being poverty and livelihood pressures.
“If we provide our communities with alternative livelihoods, pressure will reduce. So as Kawiccoda, we have embarked on this livelihood component, supporting communities with farm inputs and by doing so, we are contributing towards efforts to save Kasungu National Park,” Langa says.
Group Village Head Kanyakatika of T/A Chisinga says as communities, they have realised the importance of conserving biodiversity such that they voluntarily participate in the activities.
“We have even enacted by-laws to the effect that when one is found destroying forests, he or she will be fined K100 000 or a goat.
“We understand the impact on climate change and the importance of having forests. The beehives and implements we have received are a huge motivation that we should do more,” Kanyakatika says.
Field Operations Manager for Ifaw, Gervas Thamala, notes there have been a lot of threats to Kasungu National.
“We must work together ensuring that the park should not be burden to people and that people should not be a burden to animals,” Thamala says.
To further promote conservation efforts, the DNPW has handed over at least 67 bicycles to lead farmers to help in promoting climate smart agriculture. The bicycles which Ifaw sourced from World Bicycle Relief are to reduce mobility challenges for lead farmers as they go round communities training farmers on climate smart agriculture.
The K25.8 million bicycles are also expected to boost patrols along the newly erected solar-powered perimeter fence which has been constructed to prevent animals from leaving the park to invade people’s homes and gardens.
At least 100 kilometres of the eastern park boundary has been covered with the perimeter fence while the remaining 30 kilometre stretch is expected to be completed by December this year.
Director of Parks and Wildlife Bright Kumchedwa says the handing over of bicycles signifies a cordial working relationship that is there between government and the communities in safeguarding wildlife.
“Communities must take part in conservation, and these bicycles are a huge motivation to them and that they should do their work effectively,” says Kumchedwa, also stressing the need for communities to have alternative livelihood so that they don’t invade the park.
He says the fence is a critical instrument to guard against animals straying out of the protected area to destroy homes and crops.
“All the outstanding issues that were regarding the construction of the fence have been sorted out and construction is in progress. We are hopeful that we will cover the entire 130 kilometre stretch by the end of this year.
“As government, we are very serious about tourism because of its potential to contribute towards economic growth. Wildlife is the backbone of tourism, that is why we increased the numbers of animals in Kasungu National Park to attract more tourists and generate forex,” Kumchedwa says.
On his part, Senior Chief Lukwa who chairs the Chiefs Council on wildlife conservation in Africa asks the recipients to use the bicycles and the implements for their intended purposes.
Kasungu National Park has a huge ecological relevance in that it is the catchment for Dwangwa River that flows east to Lake Malawi through the densely populated Kasungu District, sustaining settlements and agriculture and contributing to the maintenance of viable fish stocks for the lake.
Economically, the park is home to hundreds of elephants which are the largest tourist attraction in Kasungu National Park, promoting tourism, one of government priority areas.
The tourism sector contributes 7.7 percent towards the Gross Domestic Product, of which 2.7 percent is from the wildlife sector.
Restoring albino’s dignity and hope
By: Andrew Mkonda
Lilongwe, November 10, Mana: Fear engulfed us. Whispering voices outside, could be heard every night, making our eyes rigid to sleep, knowing that our lives were in danger, explains a 44 year-old Harry Masauso one of the people with albinism in the area of Traditional Authority Mazengera in Lilongwe.
Masauso who is married to Loness Willard a 38-year-old woman with albinism as well, have now been married for 21 years and have five children, with only one child without albinism.
Explains Masauso: “It has never been an easy journey to reach this far, our lives were submerged in perpetual fear more especially during night hours.
“Heavy stones were thrown on our roof, windows and main door. so that they enter in our house to abduct or harm one of us. It’s like I am dreaming that today we are seeing this decent and safe house for people like us. I am so thankful to the government,”
Masauso says when he looks at what the current government has done by considering constructing houses for people with Albinism, as in the past, they were not considered as important people befitting such huge project across the country, he sees the miracle of God.
Masauko’s wife, Lonness Willard says she and her five children could have died one night when unknown thugs came at night and started petting stones on the roof and windows of the house.
Explains Willard: “On this day, my husband was away, I remained with my five children. At mid-night we started hearing people petting stones on the roof of our house. Hearing strange voices. Our bodies were shocked as if we were put in a cooler.
“With very low voice, we could hear the thugs saying there is money in this house, simply because all of us have an albino skin. After hearing that, with fear in my heart, I knew that we were in danger. I then went at the corner of my bedroom, took my phone and called the police silently. We thank God, the police responded positively and came on time and manage to catch one of the thugs and took him to police. This is how we escaped death on that fateful day,”
And a 20 year-old Siyana Kamtengo, one of the people with albinism in Traditional Authority Masula in Lilongwe district also has hailed the current government for constructing safe houses for people with albinism across the country.
"We were not safe. During night hours, we could hear people trying to enter into our house to abduct us. But with these houses, we are now safe.
“We are two sisters in our family with albinism, but different fathers, all of them run away after seeing that our mother bore us with this skin. Since then, we have grown up with our grandmother,” she said
Kamtengo has since asked government and well-wishers to assist her and the family with a capital so that she can start a small scale business to sustain the family.
“Our grandmother is old and she doesn’t do anything to generate income, but my sister and I are still strong and if we can have a capital to start a small business it can really assist.
“Our biological fathers run away from us and in most cases we sleep on an empty stomach because we do not have a reliable source of income to meet our basic need,” she said.
Reports show that since 2014, more than 170 albinos have been killed or attacked in the country because of false beliefs that concoctions mixed with their body parts bring luck and wealth, according to official data.
In the past, religious leaders, police, herbalists and relatives of the deceased have been named and arrested in connection to the attacks and body exhumations.
In June 2023, a high court in Blantyre sentenced a police officer, a Catholic priest and four others to 30 years imprisonment with hard labor after finding them guilty of transacting human remains of a person with albinism.
When President Lazarus Chakwera took over the government four years ago, he promised to ensure people with albinism are provided with decent houses to ensure their safety.
The president pledged that government would provide houses to people with albinism, and the construction of these houses is a testament to the fulfilment of that promise.
Deputy Director in the Ministry of Lands responsible for rural housing Kingsly Lungu has expressed satisfaction with the progress of the project saying the contractors are doing a commendable job.
Lungu says it is encouraging that since government started constructing houses for people with albinism, there has been no reported cases of abductions, which means that the security for people with albinism has been heightened and they feel safe.
Says Lungu: “This project is being implemented in all districts across the country apart from Likoma where there is no person with albinism. People are very excited, they feel very secure and safe. We believe that this project will go very far in preventing abductions and inhumane treatment of people with albinism.”
Lungu then disclosed that government is intending to construct 100 houses for people with albinism in five years and it has already managed to construct 67 houses across the country, with eleven of them being constructed in Lilongwe district.
Government started constructing houses of people with albinism in 2021 and it is now in fourth phase of the project.
Vulnerable groups benefiting from SCTP in Nkhotakota
By Wongani Mkandawire
Nkhotakota, November 11, Mana: Communities in Nkhotakota district have hailed the Social Cash Transfer Program (SCTP) for improving the livelihoods of elderly and child-headed households in the district in order for them to manage a decent and safe life.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Sunday, Mervis Chimangeni, from Kapiri cluster in traditional Authority Nkhanga in the district, said her living surroundings have improved since she was able to buy iron sheets to roof her house and secure her windows to sleep in a safe space.
‘I used to dwell in an almost incomplete house. To imagine that I have now roofed the house is a testimony I will live to tell, thanks and praises to the Ntukula Pakhomo savings,’ says Chimangeni.
She said when she joined the program she managed to start a small business selling free-range local chicken and joined a village savings and loan group which saw her being assisted in buying the necessary tools to roof and secure her house over time while still rearing free-range local chicken.
Another beneficiary, Thoko Kumbanga a sole breadwinner from Mkaika cluster Traditional Authority Kalimanjira in the district says she is now able to support her siblings who are aged 7 and 8 through school as she does small business to keep life going.
“As soon as my sisters are in school, I spend the day at the market selling fizzy drinks, eggs, and water to sustain our home as our mother passed away in 2021,” explains Kumbanga.
McDonald Mpichi, District Social Welfare Officer for Nkhotakota says his office is delighted to note that the program is benefiting the vulnerable groups and that it is benefitting and transforming their lives for the better.
The World Bank and multi-donor-funded resilience program target 10 percent of ultra-poor households in all districts of the country giving each beneficiary household an average of Mk14,000 per month through the E-payment system.
Mlowe cultural arts festival to combat mental health and GBV
By Agatha Kadzinje
Blantyre, November 11, Mana: Pamoza Social Enterprise Malawi has organized an arts festival called Mlowe Cultural Arts Festival at Mlowe Village, Rumphi District, scheduled for November 16 to 17, 2024.
The art festival will mainly focus on; Harnessing the Power of Local Culture to Address Mental Health Challenges and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Issues.
Pamoza Social Enterprise Malawi's founder, Peace Kalua, told Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Sunday that the motivation behind the festival is to open the Mlowe Community Center.
“The festival also aims to launch the community center in Mlowe, which will operate based on three pillars: creating employment, promoting environmental conservation, and raising awareness on mental health.” he said.
Kalua added that the festival also aims to raise awareness about mental health issues and educate the public on other crosscutting social issues.
“These should not be sidelined,” he said, adding that the festival focuses on social issues after observing increased prevalence of child marriages, school dropouts, and associated wide range of gender based violence in the Mlowe area.
Kalua explained that the festival will primarily be a local arts contest, featuring local art from across the northern region of Malawi.
“The groups will present their cultural artifacts and compete for prizes. The prizes will include three goats and this is intended to empower them and provide sustainable funding for their groups,” he said.
Kalua encouraged people from across Malawi to attend and participate in the arts festival and was hoping to make the Mlowe Cultural Arts Festival an annual event with plans to rotate it to different areas within the district.
Clinical psychologist and festival organizer, Annabel Jaccard said the festival uses traditional Malawian arts and dances to communicate effectively to the people of Mlowe.
“Everything is related to art because we believe that through art, we can raise awareness of the pressing issues. Cultural and traditions have significant impact on people as they can easily be understood and can relate to the people,” she said.
Jaccard added that local counselors and psychologists will be present at the festival to provide guidance on mental health and GBV.
She emphasized the festival’s focus on GBV, noting that November coincides with the 15 Days of Activism Against GBV, in addition to the center's opening and celebration of local culture.
She urged the public to engage in open dialogue around mental health and GBV issues, saying the issues have higher potential of impacting on individual wellbeing and national development.
Jaccard also appealed to well-wishers and donors to support Pamoza Social Enterprise in bringing the Mlowe Cultural Arts Festival’s awareness on mental health and GBV across Malawi.
Activities at the festival will include traditional dances, wellbeing workshops, local music, poetry, theater, and more.
Engineer Mumba uses sports to woo young people to go for voter registration
By George Bulombola
Mzuzu, November 11, Mana: Engineer Vitumbiko Mumba, has urged young people to be registered in the ongoing voter registration exercise for them to vote for political leaders of their choice in the 2025 General Election.
Mumba was speaking on Sunday at Katoto Basket Ball Court in Mzuzu when he launched the Northern Zone Basketball League, courtesy of his K45,000.00 sponsorships which is expected to run the league for three consecutive seasons.
He said whatever takes place in the country in various aspects such as politics affects every citizenry including the youth themselves, hence the need for them to participate in all affairs such as politics.
“Let me urge young people in the country to develop interest in contesting for political leadership positions at all levels,” said Mumba.
Commenting on the league, Mumba said he was pleased with the high turnout of people, mostly the youths who came to witness the leagues launching ceremony.
“I never expected that Basketball is so popular and that people can love it so much. We normally focus on Football and Netball but sporting activities such Basketball, Volleyball and Table Tennis and are left out,” said Mumba.
He added that the sponsorship of the league will enhance talent nurturing that some of the players in teams participating in the league can rise and play at national and international levels.
Chairperson for Northern Zone Basketball League, Chakufwa Chihana Junior, said he was pleased with the sponsorship of the league.
“We are excited with this development and appeal to other well-wishers, companies and individuals to emulate Mumba’s gesture. This will go a long way in contributing to the development of Basketball in the country,” said Chihana.
The launching ceremony of the league was marked by a game between Mzuzu University Panthers and Nkhandwe Basketball Team.
Mabedi to sue FAM
By Charles Nkhoma
Lilongwe, November 11, Mana: Former Malawi National Team (Flames) coach, Patrick Mabedi is considering taking legal action against Football Association of Malawi (FAM) after his contract was unceremoniously terminated.
His lawyer, David Kanyenda, confirmed of the development in an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Monday that he has requested compensation from FAM.
“We have received and accepted instructions from Mr. Patrick Mabedi to represent him in a matter regarding his employment relationship with FAM,” Kanyenda said.
Kanyenda noted that if FAM does not compensate Mabedi, he will take legal action through the Industrial Relations Court.
"Our client’s contract was set to expire in November 2025. Unless FAM compensates him for the remaining salary and benefits, we will be left with no option but to litigate at the labour tribunal, the Industrial Relations Court.
“Our initial calculations indicate that our client would have received a substantial amount in hundreds of millions of kwachas, covering salaries and benefits,” Kanyenda said.
When asked about the compensation, FAM General Secretary, Alfred Gunda said they would not pay Mabedi, citing an exit clause that had been activated in his contract.
He said: “FAM had a contract with the coach, and based on the contract provisions and the exit clause, we reached this decision.”
Mabedi signed a two-year contract with FAM in October 2023, after serving as interim coach for five months.
Football analyst George Chiusiwa warned that FAM risks another legal dispute with a former coach, observing that Mabedi was evaluated on a single target only.
Mabedi was tasked with qualifying for the 2025 Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), reaching the semi-finals of the 2024 Cosafa Cup, and finishing at least second in FIFA 2026 World Cup Group L.
Malawi withdrew from the Cosafa Cup in June as the country mourned the tragic passing of Vice-President Saulos Chilima and eight others in a military plane crash in Thungwa, Nkhata Bay.
The Flames have since been eliminated from the 2024 Afcon qualification, currently sitting last in Group L, after losses to Burundi, Burkina Faso, and twice to Senegal.
Winning the remaining two matches against Burundi and Burkina Faso would not alter their standing.
However, Malawi is still competing in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The Flames are currently fourth in Group H with six points, following wins against Liberia and São Tomé and Príncipe, but suffered a loss to Equatorial Guinea.
Earlier this year, the Industrial Relations Court ordered FAM to compensate former coach Meke Mwase, also represented by Kanyenda, for unfair dismissal. Another former coach, Ernest Mtawali, similarly won a lawsuit against the association for unfair dismissal.
DZ Head teachers for improved education standards
By Timothy Peter
Dedza, November 10, Mana: Primary School Head teachers in Dedza have agreed to perform their duties diligently as one way of improving education standards in the district.
This was revealed at the first ever two-day Annual General Meeting (AGM) for the Malawi Primary School Head Teachers Association (MAPSHA), Dedza Chapter that took place at Dedza Government Primary School under the theme, "Working together for quality education".
Speaking after the first day’s meeting on Saturday, President for MAPSHA, Dedza Chapter, Vincent Kalitsiro, said the meeting is crucial, as it has brought all of them together in ensuring that quality education is achieved in the district.
He added that as an association, they wish to collaborate with all primary school teachers to enhance their profession.
However, Kalitsiro asked government through Dedza District Education Office to provide them with necessary resources such as teachers, teaching and learning materials as well as teacher's houses.
"There are some challenges that hinder our performance in national examinations as a district.
"The most challenging problems include lack of teachers, decent teacher's houses and limited teaching and learning materials," Kalitsiro said.
In her remarks, one of the participants at the meeting, Sarah Ajawa who is Head teacher for Mapuyu Primary School under Chitundu Zone concurred with Kalitsiro saying teachers walk long distances to and from school due to lack of teacher's houses in different primary schools in the district.
"As a result of this, we do not properly discharge our duties as head teachers," she said.
However, Ajawa said she will encourage her subordinates and learners to be dedicated and work very hard for a common goal.
In his speech, Dedza District Council, Chief Education Officer (CEO), Julius Kamwaza, described the meeting as a platform for encouraging teachers to continue working hard in improving learner performance during national examinations.
"We have plans to work towards a common goal and we wish to achieve a 100 percent pass rate at each examination centre.
"We also want Dedza to become an A-type: where every learner sitting for Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSLCE) examination should get an A grade," stated Kamwaza
Responding to the concerns, the CEO said government has put in place several measures to address different challenges affecting education in the district.
"We have projects such as the Malawi Education Reform Program (MERP) which is constructing over ten thousand classroom blocks and teacher's houses but also we have another project called Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) that aims to construct teacher's houses," he added.
Kamwaza has since called on the communities in the district to join hands and be able to contribute locally towards teachers’ welfare where need be, so that they stay closer to the schools and help learners perform much better.
Dedza moved from position 9 in 2023 to position 5 in 2024 out of 34 education districts in the country during PSLCE examinations, a thing which has been described as a success in as far as achieving quality education is concerned in the district.
Efforts to prevent Fistula gain ground
By Gloria Asante Mvula
Mchinji, November 10, Mana: Adolescent girls and young mothers can prevent obstetric fistula, a serious childbirth injury, if they are informed about the condition and its warning signs.
This was revealed on Friday when Freedom From Fistula Foundation (FFFF), with funding from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), hosted a two-day training in Mchinji and Dedza, focusing on educating patient ambassadors on preventing, identifying, and supporting those affected by fistula.
Zione Moyo, FFFF's Psychosocial Officer, encouraged the patient ambassadors to work directly with communities to raise awareness of fistula, encouraging early education for young girls on the importance of avoiding early marriage and teenage pregnancies.
“By educating girls early, we can help them make informed choices that protect them from the risks of fistula,” said Moyo.
Participants learned to recognise fistula symptoms, understand preventive measures, and promote effective use of healthcare resources.
According to recent data, Malawi’s Bwaila Fistula Centre treats between 300 to 350 women with fistula annually.
Coordinator at the Fistula Centre Margaret Moyo said, as of November 2024, the centre has already registered and repaired 310 cases, a figure expected to match last year’s numbers by December.
“This shows that fistula remains a serious issue in Malawi. In Mchinji alone, we have only registered 15 cases, but there are undoubtedly many more affected women who lack information and support,” said Moyo.
Moyo also stressed the urgency of targeting younger women, as fistula cases are particularly prevalent among girls aged 15-24 who often face early marriages and pregnancies.
She encouraged adolescent girls and young mothers to consider family planning options to complete their education and plan for healthier pregnancies.
Liness Chikumbutso, a fistula survivor from Traditional Authority Magomero in Dedza, described how, following her surgery, KOICA provided her with a solar unit to help her generate income.
“I used the solar to start charging phones, which enabled me to buy two acres of land and six pigs. I now have a stable income and am able to participate fully in community life,” she shared.
Rose Gogoda, the fistula coordinator at Mchinji District Hospital, reported that seven cases this year involved girls under 20.
The FFFF which is working closely with the Ministries of Gender, Social Welfare, and Youth, continues to champion awareness efforts across Malawi, aiming to integrate fistula prevention into community health initiatives.
MANEB examination remark turns MSCE highest to 7 points
By Gift Chiponde
Lilongwe, November 10, Mana: Maranatha Academy has announced that this year's Malawi School Certificate of Education achieved a score of 7 points out of 8 after a remark by the Malawi Examination Board (MANEB).
In interview with the Malawi News Agency, the Executive Director of Maranatha Academy, Ernest Karonga, expressed his satisfaction with this outcome.
He emphasized the institution's commitment to upholding excellence in education.
Karonga affirmed that Maranatha Academy will continue in delivering high-quality education to both male and female students, in alignment with the nation's educational goals.
"We are dedicated to offering the high-quality standard in the education sector to contribute to the country's advancement,” stated Karonga.
He further highlighted that the student who achieved 7 points is Owen Jelasi Chalela, who underwent a reassessment by MANEB, resulting in a revision from 8 points to 7 points.
Likoma DC encourages men to register
By Ireen Mseteka
Likoma, November 10, Mana: District Commissioner (DC) for Likoma Abubakar Nkhoma has asked men to register in large numbers during the second phase of the Malawi Electoral Commission’s voter registration exercise taking place in the district.
The DC said this Sunday after supervising six registration centres in Likoma where he noted that more women had so far registered in large numbers than men on day one of the registration exercise.
“Generally, the turn up of day one was impressive especially women. We have seen more women have registered. We only had one centre where more men registered than women.
“Of course as a district we have more women than men but still more I would encourage men to go and get registered inorder for them to vote during 2025 elections,” said Nkhoma.
The DC noted that there was need for adequate publicity to let everyone know that voter registration is taking place in the district.
Supervisor at Likoma Youth Hall, Micheal Kanjaya said the exercise was going on well as people were turning up for registration since the commencement of the exercise.
“Today being a Sunday, people have been showing up here and there, as you may know many of them are attending church service but as of yesterday we registered about 79 registrants which is a good start,” said Kanjaya.
The registration exercise, which commenced on 9th November is expected to end on 22nd November and Likoma has six centres while Chizumulu has four centres.
