MANAonline
Leprosy remains a concern in Mchinji despite Malawi’s elimination status
By Vincent Khonje
Mchinji, May 13, Mana: Despite Malawi attaining elimination status for leprosy, Mchinji district still registers more than one case per 10,000 populations, a situation described as a cause for concern.
National TB and Leprosy Elimination Programme (NTLEP) Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Dickens Chimatiro, said in an interview that the continued detection of cases signals a persistent burden.
“It is a cause for worry. Even though we reached elimination level in 1994, we still have districts reporting more than one leprosy case per 10,000 populations. This means the burden of leprosy remains in these districts. It calls for a concerted effort to reduce it,” said Chimatiro.
According to Chimatiro, Malawi has more than 600 people undergoing treatment for leprosy, currently.
“In terms of new cases, as of 2024, we have registered 367,” he said.
Apart from Mchinji, other districts such as Nkhotakota and Balaka are also registering more than one case per 10,000 populations.
Mchinji District Health Office Public Relations Officer, Owen Chataika, cited several challenges contributing to the situation.
“Some patients travel long distances to access health services at the district hospital. We also face inadequate funding for conducting contact tracing, mobile clinics, and community sensitisation following the cut in USAID aid. Additionally, few health workers have been trained in leprosy management, and the majority of communities are unaware of the disease," said Chataika.
He said as way forward, the district plans to decentralize leprosy clinics and also lobby for more funds for mobile clinics, contact tracing and community sensitization.
Although Malawi achieved elimination of leprosy in 1994, recent statistics show the disease is resurfacing with over 600 people currently on treatment and more than 300 new cases recorded this year.
DCCMS warns of Mwera winds over the lakes
By Petro Mkandawire
Blantyre, May 13, Mana: Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS) has announced Chiperoni weather characterized by chilly and windy conditions associated with rain drizzle that will be locally heavy from 12 to 15 May and strong Mwera winds expected in the same period over Lake Malawi and other lakes.
Fishers and lake users are, therefore, asked to take extra precautions.
According to a DCCMS statement issued on Monday and signed by its Director, Dr Lucy Mtilatila, strong Mwera winds are likely to reach up to a maximum speed of 50km/h, potentially resulting in the formation of water waves over Lake Malawi and other lakes.
The statement says from Friday May 16 to Sunday May 18, the public should expect partly cloudy and warm conditions due to the influence of cool and moist south easterly air mass.
As such, DCCMS has issued several safety advisories.
“As we are in winter season, stay warm and avoid using charcoal burner in poorly ventilated houses. When strong winds occur, fishers and all other lake users should take extra precaution.
“During foggy conditions, drivers should exercise caution due to reduced visibility," reads the statement in part.
In the month of May, normal minimum temperatures are expected over many areas such as Rumphi, Lilongwe, Nkhata Bay and Likoma, as Mzimba is expected to be warmer than normal.
The statement has also indicated minimum temperatures within the range of 11.6 - 18.9 degrees celsius.
Executive Director for Managing Rainwater Association of Malawi (MRAM), Edmond Kwasula, said people should examine their infrastructure to ensure they withstand strong Mwera winds apart from ensuring no obstruction on their drainage and waterways.
"People should stay away from rivers and streams as they may rise rapidly and become dangerous. Avoid travelling and driving during stormy weather and strong winds as this can result into property and livelihood destruction," Kwasula said.
Last week, Malawi experienced Chiperoni weather conditions with isolated light to moderate rains over many areas.
The lowest minimum temperature anomaly of 2.8 degrees celsius below average was observed at Ntaja Meteorological Office in Machinga on May 7, and the maximum water wave of 3.99 meters was observed in Nkhata Bay on May 4, 2025.
The highest reported rainfall in the past week was 79.5mm reported from Lunyangwa in Mzuzu on May 5.
Wages up by 40 percent
By Eunice Disi Lole
Lilongwe, 13 May, Mana: Minister of Labour, Peter Dimba, has announced the adjustment of minimum wage of various categories by 40 percent effective immediately.
Dimba made the announcement during a press briefing at Capital Hill in Lilongwe on Tuesday.
He said the increase has, among others, taken into account the devaluation of the Malawi Kwacha against the United States dollar, high inflation rates, rising cost of basic needs, level of economic growth and industrial productivity, base bank lending rates, shortage of foreign currency and avoidance of wage push inflation.
Following the revision, the general minimum wage has increased from K90,000 to K126,000 per month; domestic workers minimum wage has increased from K52,000 to K72,800 per month; micro-enterprise minimum wage from K75,000 to K105,000 per month.
Government has also revised the minimum wage for truck drivers.
International truck drivers driving 30 tonne trucks and above, the minimum wage has been increased from K234,500 to K328,300 per month while for local truck drivers it has been revised from K167,500 to K234,500 per month.
For trucks below 30 tonnes the minimum wage has been increased from K100,500 to K140,700 per month.
“In addition to that, government has also introduced a category for shop workers. For shops with annual turnover of K500 million per year, the minimum wage for workers in such shops has been set at K150,000,” he said.
Dimba has, therefore, pleaded with the public to abide by this law, failing which is punishable by law.
In an interview, President for Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU), Charles Kumchenga, said they had proposed a 100 percent increment.
He said the Union is looking forward to discuss more with the government on the issue.
SCTP expansion in Salima transforms lives of newly enrolled beneficiaries
By Fostina Mkandawire
Salima, May 13, Mana: Newly re-targeted beneficiaries under the Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) in Salima have expressed optimism of improved livelihood, after the programme expanded its reach from 8,352 in 2024 to 11,814 beneficiaries now.
Salima has registered a significant increase in the number of beneficiaries under the Malawi Government’s Social Cash Transfer Programme, a social protection programme funded by the German Government through KFW.
Sharing her excitement with Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Monday, a newly re-targeted beneficiary, Rabecca Rafael, 69, of Ngolowindo Village in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Maganga, said she received K120,000 in the month of March inclusive of a K70,000 meant to cushion her family after an El Niño hit Salima district.
"I bought a bag of maize, a goat, and essential household goods. This is my first year on the programme, but already my life is changing,” she said.
At least 8,365 beneficiaries received K70,000 each on top of the monthly transfers they get in response to food shortages caused by El Niño weather which affected crop output.
Another beneficiary, Steria Kandiusiwa, also from Ngolowindo, who supports four household members, used her transfer to buy food items, educational materials for her children and chickens.
“This has given me new hope about life. Before I enrolled on this programme I used to struggle to support my family because I am a widow,” she shared.
Similarly, in Dzaone cluster, Osteni Bwanali, a 60-year-old visually impaired man with a household of seven, received K170,000.
“We bought food and chickens, and I’ve even managed to construct a good house,” he said.
According to Salima Social Welfare Officer responsible for Social Cash Transfer, Thumbiko Mbale, the increase in beneficiary numbers is part of a broader effort to reach more vulnerable citizens.
“The district has expanded coverage to ensure we reach the poor, the elderly, and those who cannot work,” said Mbale.
The cash-based assistance, targets ultra-poor and labour-constrained households, including the elderly, people with disabilities, and child-headed homes.
Phalombe to benefit from new nutrition project
By Elias Masamba
Phalombe, May 13, Mana: We Effect, a Swedish international organization, and the Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM) have launched a five-year nutrition-focused project to empower Malawi’s civil society organizations (CSOs) to achieve sustainable nutrition levels in Phalombe and other districts across the country in order to address malnutrition.
Presenting the project to Phalombe District Executive Committee (DEC) recently, We Effect Nutrition Officer, Olivia Mpulula, said the organization has an advocacy role to play in improving the country’s pursuit of good nutrition levels among citizens.
She explained that the project was designed to empower CSOs to take lead in advocating, lobbying and pushing for increased funding towards nutrition programmes while equipping local communities with essential skills and knowledge in nutritious food preparation.
“This is an upstream advocacy project; funds will not be directly disbursed to districts, instead, they will be used to build capacity of community members and the media to effectively advocate for better nutrition,” Mpulula said.
She further said that the project will work closely with local organizations and community radio stations to disseminate nutrition-related messages for impactful results.
“We believe that community radios and local organizations will pray an active role in this project. We expect them to produce greater impact and more meaningful results,” Mpulula added.
Recent statistics show that Malawi continues to face critical levels of malnutrition, underscoring the need for urgent interventions.
The project will be implemented under the theme; Nourishing Futures: Empowering Malawi’s Civil Society Organizations for Sustainable Nutrition.
We Effect, in partnership with FUM, will spend €1,579,000 from the European Union (EU) and the Government of Malawi.
The project aligns with Malawi 2063, National Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Policy and Sustainable Development Goals
Miss Malawi 2025 pageant to empower young women, promote national pride
By Patience Kapinda
Lilongwe, May 13, Mana: The Miss Malawi 2025 beauty pageant has officially opened its registration, inviting young women from across the country to participate in one of Malawi’s most prestigious cultural events.
According to Co-chairperson of the Miss Malawi pageant, Godfrey Kambewa, the main objective of the pageant is to empower young women, promote cultural representation, and foster national pride.
Kambewa emphasized that the pageant aims to provide a platform for self-expression, personal growth, and development through workshops, mentorship, and community engagement.
“Contestants will have access to development workshops, career talks, health and beauty lessons, and charity events,” he said.
The pageant promotes national pride by celebrating Malawi's rich cultural heritage and encouraging contestants to showcase their unique traditions and customs.
Kambewa highlighted that the organization ensures inclusivity and cultural representation by selecting contestants from diverse backgrounds, ages, cultures, and religions.
Former Miss Malawi, Jessica Natalia Mponda, shared her experience as a titleholder, saying: "My experience wasn’t rosy at all but it built me to the strong woman I am today and I’ll forever cherish it."
She emphasized that the pageant provides a seat at a table full of influential people and opens doors to new opportunities.
When asked for advice to aspiring contestants, Mponda encouraged them to "go for it" and have fun while maintaining their identity, saying, "You’re unstoppable. Have fun at it and don’t lose yourself in the process."
Registration for the Miss Malawi 2025 pageant is open from May 1 to May 31, 2025, with a non-refundable registration fee of K20,000. Eligible contestants must be between the ages of 18 and 19.
MEC presents voter register for September 16 elections
By Patience Longwe
Lilongwe, May 13, Mana: The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has formally presented the preliminary voter's register for the September 16, 2025 general election to all registered political parties.
Speaking during a press briefing held at Capital Hotel in Lilongwe on Monday, MEC Chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja said this marks a significant milestone in the electoral process as the voters' register is a critical component of ensuring the integrity and transparency of elections.
She said the preliminary voters' register will be open for inspection and verification from May 13th to May 31st 2025 in all councils and at all registration centres.
"During this period; voters, political parties and observers can verify the accuracy of the register and report any discrepancies or irregularities, “she said.
Mtalimanja said the Commission has put in place various arrangements to facilitate inspection and verification process which includes posting copies of the voters register at registration centres.
According to Mtalimanja, the process includes distributing electronic copies of the register to registered political parties, making the copies available at the Commission’s regional offices and verification using SMS system by dialing *2509#.
"The process provides an opportunity for voters to verify their registration details and for political parties to audit and verify the list of voters at each registration centre,” she said.
Mtalimanja said during the quality assurance process, the Commission identified some issues affecting voter images in certain registration centres including unclear photographs and photographs with obscured faces.
"The Commission has compiled a list of affected voters and will implement remedial measures during the inspection and verification period,” she explained.
The Commission has, therefore, urged political parties to handle observation and issues constructively and responsibly, avoid rushing to the media or social media to announce issues without engaging with the Commission.
Bonyonga advocates for gender equality
By Paul Madise
Lilongwe, May 12, Mana: The newly elected Executive Director of Ladies in Tertiary Education (LAITE), Esther Bonyonga, has expressed her full commitment to the cause and has called for multi-stakeholder collaboration within the gender equality community to ensure the Young Feminist Movement (YFM) is firmly grounded as it embarks on its bold journey to advance gender justice in the country.
The development follows stakeholders’ engagement meeting held on Saturday at Cross-Roads Hotel in Lilongwe, which attracted young feminists network including Ms. Letty Chiwara, Country Representative of UN Women Malawi, and Her Excellency Ingrid Marie Mikelsen, Ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy.
Speaking to Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Monday, Bonyonga acknowledged the continued grapple with deeply rooted gender inequalities that affect girls and women in the country underscoring the movement`s determination to challenge these structures aiming at build a society where the rights, dignity, and voices of women and girls are non-negotiable.
“We aim to be a strong voice for the voiceless, and we will push for policy reforms that protect and empower women, we will leverage digital spaces to amplify feminist narratives and ensure that no woman or girl is left behind. We understand that transformation requires partnerships, and we are ready to collaborate across sectors to achieve our goals. A feminist leader must deliver, and that is our pledge,” she explained.
United Nations (UN) Women Country Director Letty Chiwara expressed the organization`s commitment to join efforts with Malawi`s Young Feminist Movement to fight for gender equality in Malawi.
During the Executive Committee Elections held on Saturday, several young leaders were appointed to key positions, including the Vice Chairperson of the Kawale Feminist Hub (under ActionAid Malawi), as well as roles within the Secretariat from the Young Feminist Network and the Monitoring & Advocacy Lead from the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP)
In a historic show of unity and leadership, several young feminist-led organizations across Malawi came together to form the Young Feminist Movement, a collective platform dedicated to amplifying youth feminist voices in the ongoing fight against gender inequality.
Maseko Ngoni Heritage Trust embarks in resource mobilization
By Maston Kaiya
Ntcheu, 12 May, Mana: The Maseko Ngoni Heritage Trust has embarked on resource mobilization for the 2025 Umhlangano wa Maseko Ngoni annual cultural festival scheduled for September 4-6 at Nkolimbo village in Ntcheu.
The festival is expected to cost 150 million Malawi Kwacha.
The Heritage's Secretary General, Impi Kandi Padambo, in a statement, said the Heritage has partnered with TNM and Airtel Malawi to mobilize funds using their mobile money services.
This means donations can be made through TNM Mpamba and Airtel Money, in addition to the existing FCB bank account.
"For Airtel Money, people must dial *211# and select payment, then choose other, where they are supposed to enter a nickname Abenguni and UM 2025 as a reference name," he said.
Impi Padambo said, for Mpamba, people must dial *444# and select make payments, then select goods and services to pay merchant 608009 with description UM 2025.
“The donations can also be made through the Maseko Ngoni Heritage Trust FCB, account number 0004502000159, Capital City Branch”, said Padambo.
According to the Chairperson of the Maseko Ngoni Heritage Trust, Inkosi Makwangwala, the ceremony forms part of the Maseko Ngoni rights of celebrating traditions.
In 2024, Paramount Chief Gomani V cancelled the umhlangano in honour of the late Impi Dr Saulos Chilima and the late legendary musician, Soldier Lucius Banda.
AAEW crucial for transforming Malawi's economy through agriculture
By Lesnat Kenan
Lilongwe, May 12, Mana: Minister of Agriculture, Sam Kawale, has described the 7th Africa-Wide Agricultural Extension Week (AAEW) Malawi 2025 as a landmark event that will help transform Malawi’s economy by fostering collaboration and partnerships among stakeholders across the agricultural value chain.
He made the remarks during the opening of the 7th Africa Wide Extension Week Malawi 2025, on Monday at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe.
"The event is a platform for developing knowledge and skills related to the rebranding of extension services and discussing key policy issues affecting Agricultural Extension Advisory Services (AEAS).
"The goal is to share ideas how we can help our extension workers as well as extension services to develop agriculture sector,” he stated.
Kawale further explained that he is pleased that Malawi is taking a bold step in transforming the agriculture sector by having new agriculture advisory policy and embracing the use of technology for increased productivity and commercialization as aligned with the Malawi 2063 vision.
He also said that Malawi is eager to learn from other countries in order to have an inclusive agriculture sector.
The Minister further praised the organizing committee, sponsors and development partners for organizing this year's AAEW.
In his remarks, MAFAAS Board Chairman, Charles Masangano, expressed his gratitude to Malawi's government Minister of Agriculture and the organizing committee for the support to this year's AAEW.
He said the event is an important platform for learning from professionals and building relationship with investors for a better Malawi.
The AAEW has brought together various players in the agriculture sector, including government officials, policy makers, agricultural extension professionals, researchers, private sectors representatives, development partners and farmers.
The event is organized by the Malawi government in collaboration with the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS) and the Malawi Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (MAFAAS) and it will be held from 12 to 16 May, 2025.
The theme for this year's AAEW 2025 is "Rebranding Extension for Enhanced Public /Private Sector Driven Commercialization, Industrialization, and Inclusive Food Systems".
