MANAonline
Economic pressure fuelling mental health problems among men
By petro Mkandawire
Blantyre, June 12, Mana: Economic pressure, unemployment, substance abuse and unresolved trauma are major factors fueling serious mental health crises among men in the country.
National Coordinator for a youth-led group, Sorry I’m not Sorry, Joseph Sukali said in an interview with Malawi News Agency on Thursday that the rise in male mental health issues is a direct reflection of undressed mental health struggles because many men bottle up pain until it becomes unbearable.
“Culturally, men are raised to be strong and silent, which creates a toxic cycle where emotional pain fuels silence.
“Mental health should not be a side conversation; it must be part of development planning. As a nation we must mainstream mental health wellness in schools, workplaces, community programs and health centres, just like we did with gender,” Sukali said.
He said men have been suffering in silence for too long saying this is the reason the country has failed to build strong families.
He added that as part of breaking the silence of men, they have designed to offer two free counselling therapy sessions which started on 10th June up to 10th July to encourage men to open up and seek help without shame or fear and to dismantle the stigma around mental health.
“As the world is observing men’s mental health awareness month this June, we hope that this initiative will offer a safe and professional space for men to express themselves, ultimately reduce the risk of depression and suicide,” he added.
Executive Director for Health and Equal Rights for All, Maziko Matemba said society’s expectations of masculinity often deny men the space to express vulnerability as such the more they delay addressing it, the more lives are lost.
“Government and other stakeholders need to enact measures to prevent these factors and at the same time look at the root causes and solutions to prevent the increase of mental health. By focusing on men during Men’s Mental Health Month we are addressing challenges and problems associated with mental health since men have been suffering in silence for too long,” said Matemba.
Govt set to expand irrigation to boost food security
By Blackson Mkupatira
Chiradzulu, June 12, Mana: Government plans to rehabilitate and increase utilization of irrigation schemes across the country to enhance food security among farming households.
Deputy Director of Irrigation in the Ministry of Agriculture, Winston Sataya said this on Wednesday after a field visit to Mpenga and Kachere irrigation schemes in Chiradzulu District, as part of the ongoing national annual review meeting of District Irrigation Officers (DIOs) taking place in Blantyre.
Sataya said although the country has made notable strides in the implementation of the National Irrigation Master Plan (2015 - 2035), more effort is needed for Malawi to realize its full potential in the sector.
"For example, while the country has the potential to develop up to 408,000 hectares for irrigation, only about 164, 000 hectares have been developed so far, and just about 80 percent of that is currently being utilized," he said.
The Deputy Director then disclosed that they have received K90 billion to rehabilitate damaged irrigation systems and procure fertilizer and seeds for farmers in various irrigation schemes across the country to boost food security.
He also expressed gratitude to development partners for their continued financial and technical support and urged irrigation engineers across the country to intensify their efforts, especially now that rain-fed agriculture is becoming increasingly unreliable due to climate change.
World Vision Malawi Irrigation Specialist Chimango Mlowoka, said the organization is committed to support government efforts in irrigation development, as it believes the sector holds the key to ending hunger in Malawi.
“We are aware that many irrigation schemes, particularly in the southern region, were damaged by floods and cyclones. If such schemes fall within our impact areas and the communities express interest in reviving them, we are ready to assist,” she said.
Chiradzulu District Council Irrigation Engineer, Julia Qoto, said the district can develop up to 4,500 hectares of irrigation land, but only about 695 hectares have been developed so far.
“We have plans to expand irrigation coverage and we have already identified around 2,000 hectares of potential land in three traditional authorities. We just need the necessary resources to proceed,” she said.
Chairperson of Kachere Irrigation Scheme Jennifer Wile said the 20 hectares scheme started in 2006 with only 30 members but now has grown to 82.
“Last year alone, we made K63 million from the sale of our crops, which include maize, tomatoes, carrots, beans, and onions,” she said.
Analysts slam Flames’ attacking prowess
By Pempho Nkhoma
Blantyre, June 12, Mana: Some football analysts have faulted Malawi National Football Team, the Flames’ attacking and lack of preparation as major contributors to their disappointing performance in the 2025 COSAFA Cup.
The Flames were booted out of the tournament on Tuesday having finished at the bottom of Group B with just a point from three matches.
Speaking in an interview on Thursday, a renowned football analyst, Charles Nyirenda attributed the team’s poor performance to its inability to score.
“The team played 270 minutes and failed to score a single goal. This can be that the team is failing to create scoring chances or inability to convert scoring opportunities,” he said.
However, another Football Analyst, Anointed Kamsampha, blamed the team’s poor performance on inadequate preparation.
“It seems the team never prepared thoroughly for the tournament considering that we had new and old faces, hence affected coordination. One or two friendlies could have assisted,” he said.
Kamsampha also criticized the team’s lack of technical skills, saying that national team players should possess basic football knowledge.
“We saw players lacking football basics on some occasions. Instead of shooting on goal in the box, they ended up playing back passes. Lack of communication and ball watching on the part of defense and the goalkeeper cost us the last game,” he added.
The last time the Flames took part in COSAFA CUP was in 2023 when they finished in fourth position despite having a strong group stage performance, winning all three matches in the group however, their journey ended in the semifinals with a 3-0 loss to Lesotho on post-match penalties.
Balaka DHO laments low uptake of antenatal services among pregnant women
By Andrew Phiri
Balaka, June 12, Mana: Balaka District Health Office says there is a need for the effective dissemination of Social Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) messages towards the uptake of antenatal services among pregnant women in the district.
Balaka District Director of Health and Social Services (DHSS), Dr Chimwendo Thambo said this in reaction to a current 19 percent uptake of antenatal services by couples in the district.
Thambo made the call on Wednesday in the district when Applied Development Communication and Training Services (ADECOTS) presented its newly introduced Zikuvuta Pati project, a health services awareness and demand creation initiative to Balaka District Executive Committee (DEC).
"Pregnant women who are accessing all the recommended safe motherhood services starting from the first three months of pregnancy prevent major complications that may come within the nine months of expectancy or during the time of childbirth," said Thambo.
"Not only that but also, they should complete all eight visits within the nine months of pregnancy to achieve the maternal health care full package that involves monitoring, vaccinations, malaria prophylaxis and deworming, all these for the benefit of the mother and unborn baby," he added.
He noted that myths and negative misconceptions that families have towards access to maternal services are holding them back from fully utilizing the underlined maternal health services.
The Health Director therefore called for strong collaboration from all stakeholders such as the media, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), council and community leaders to intensify Zikuvuta Pati initiative and meet its goals.
ADECOTS District Manager for Balaka, Brian Banda, said the programme will largely adopt a social behavioral change communication approach in the forms of mass media campaigns and community awareness engagements in order to bridge the maternal health services communication gap that has existed among the district council, community health services providers and the community members.
"Apart from promoting safe motherhood, the programme also seeks to raise more awareness on the issues of nutrition, Youth Friendly Health Services (YFHS), Malaria and Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) because all these are linked to the promotion of uptake of life-saving services which is also the ultimate goal of the initiative," added Banda.
With funding from UNICEF, the initiative will be implemented in phases for four years from May 2025 to May 2028 with a particular focus on pregnant women, mothers of under-five children, women and men of childbearing age and health services providers from the areas of Traditional Authorities (TA) Nsamala, Kalembo, Phalula, Amidu, Sub TA Mbera among others.
NEEF challenges youth in Balaka to take farming as a business
By Mary Makhiringa
Balaka, June 12, Mana: National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) Zone Manager for Balaka Hamphrey Thondolo has challenged youth in Balaka to venture into productive farming if the country is to make progress in terms of food security.
Thondolo said, NEEF is currently giving out loans to groups as well as individuals willing to do farming on a large scale, saying, this is the only way they can make headways and also pay back their loans without problems.
He said this in Balaka, during a stakeholder’s awareness meeting with Balaka youth empowerment forum, which among other things centres on the business model in which all participants were taken through.
Said Thondolo: “We wanted to raise awareness among the youth on the packages that we have and how we disburse loans and collect the money back.
“Malawi is currently facing a serious food deficit that is why we want to do more of agriculture loans. For example, we would like farmers who can be in a group and do farming at least at 50 hectares.
“We will be able to give them fertilizer; seeds as well as watering pumps for those that would like to do irrigation farming. We have not even restricted those that would like to get ploughs as we would like to do away with the hoes as they consume more time to do land preparation.”
According to him, if the youth in Malawi embrace farming, Malawi will no longer be a food insecure country, as food will be produced all year round and in turn, some will also be exported outside the country to get forex.
Thondolo therefore asked all NEEF clients to always repay their loans for others to benefit from the same as records have shown that a lot of people are defaulting from paying back their loans.
Hazerad Pilane, Chairperson for Balaka youth empowerment wing thanked NEEF for the meeting, saying it has further opened up their minds and were already eager to start as he has seen the possibility of doing better in agriculture.
He said: “As the youth, the kind of businesses that we used to do was far from farming. We used to think farming could not be achieved since as the youth we do not own land, but as I come out of the meeting, my mind has been reactivated and I am assured of a better ending in farming.
“I will quickly suggest that irrigation farming is the way to go, and working hand in hand with the agriculture office will help to increase chances of doing better in farming, thereby making it easy also to pay back the loan and access a higher one in future.”
Established in 2014 as Malawi Rural Development Fund (MARDEF) and later rebranded to NEEF, the organisation is there to contribute to the country’s economic development, increase employment and foster an enterprising spirit in underserved populations particularly women, youth and persons with disability.
MACODA urges persons with disabilities to contest for political leadership positions
By Manasse Nyirenda
Rumphi, June 12, Mana: Malawi Council for Disability Affairs (MACODA) Manager for Rumphi, Henderson Nyondo, has urged persons with disabilities to register with his office and participate in electoral processes including contesting for political leadership positions in the upcoming general elections.
Nyondo was speaking Wednesday in Rumphi when Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) engaged aspiring candidates for parliamentary and local authority positions on nomination processes.
He said, previously, people with disabilities could not access such opportunities because they were treated as sympathy seekers leading to their marginalisation.
"Presently, we have laws that safeguard their political interests and MEC, in collaboration with our office, is assessing and certifying people with disabilities," said Nyondo.
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) shadow councilor for Henga Ward in Rumphi North Constituency, Stainings Harawa, said information on code of conduct will help political parties and aspirants to conduct themselves according to the law.
Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) shadow Member of Parliament for Rumphi East Constituency, Florence Khimbi, described the meeting as informative and an eye opener as she is vying for the position for the first time.
She further said that the nomination process, as presented by MEC, gives them ample time to properly prepare their nomination papers before submitting them to the Commission.
District Commissioner for Rumphi, Emmanuel Bulukutu, urged aspirants to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner and follow prescriptions of the electoral laws during the nomination process as shared by MEC.
Malawi will be holding General Elections on September 16, 2025.
Three arrested for possessing hippo ivory in Mzimba
By Lesnat Kenan
Lilongwe, June 12, Mana: Police at Jenda in Mzimba, have arrested three men in connection with illegal possession of a hippo ivory (found in the hippo's canine teeth) which is a protected species under Malawi law.
The three suspects have been identified as Hadson Chunga, Gomezgani Jere, and Malani Tembo.
According to Jenda Police Station Public Relations Officer, Sub Inspector Macfarlen Mseteka, the arrests, followed an intelligence driven investigation after the station received information that some unknown individuals were offering hippo ivory for sale around Jenda Trading Centre.
"Chunga was traveling from Embangweni to Jenda Trading Cssentre to meet a buyer he had connected with, along with two other individuals who were escorting him, before he could complete the sale,” he said.
Mseteka added that the suspects were unable to produce any documentation authorising them to possess and sale the specimen.
All the three suspects, who are from Mzimba district, will appear in court soon after completion of the paperwork to answer charges of illegal possession and offering for sale a spacemen of a protected species, which is contrary to Section 86 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act.
Meanwhile, the specimen has been sent to the Department of Parks and Wildlife for analysis.
Kunkuyu pushes for affordable ICT services
By Innocent Manda
Lilongwe, June 12, Mana: Minister of Information and Digitalization, Moses Kunkuyu, has called on African leaders and regional bodies to prioritize lowering the cost of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) infrastructure and services, emphasizing that affordability is critical to achieving inclusive digital transformation.
Kunkuyu made the remarks at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe on Thursday during the 13th Annual General Meeting of ICT regulators under the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).
The meeting, which is being held under the theme “Growing Together for Prosperity”, brings together key stakeholders to deliberate on strategies for harmonizing digital development across the region.
“Our discussions at regional and continental levels must focus on promoting the affordability of ICT infrastructure. We must ensure the reduction of costs so that even citizens in remote areas can enjoy internet access. That’s the only way to truly empower our people and bridge the digital divide,” said Kunkuyu.
He, therefore, commended Malawi’s strides in digital transformation, highlighting the ongoing implementation of the Digital Malawi Portal.
He pointed out that the country currently enjoys 75 percent 4G coverage and 89 percent 3G coverage, marking significant progress in broadband expansion.
“As Malawi, we are a shining example. We have completed our national fibre optic backbone, introduced free public Wi-Fi, and connected key government institutions to improve access to information. We’re also installing computer laboratories in secondary schools to build digital skills from the grassroots,” he added.
COMESA Assistant Secretary General, Dr Kadah Muhammad, underscored the role of regulatory bodies in creating conducive environment for innovation and business growth.
“Transparency in regulatory frameworks is essential. We must support intellectual property rights and ensure our policies are tailored to attract investment and foster technological integration in our region,” said Kadah.
He noted that while mobile phone penetration has grown significantly in many African countries and eased challenges in the communication sector, the region still grapples with high internet costs, limited accessibility, and readiness for emerging technologies such as 5G and Artificial Intelligence.
Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) Director of Telecommunications and Chairperson of ARICEA, Edward Kauka, praised the assembly for strengthening regional cooperation among COMESA member states.
“This year’s general meeting is a timely platform for enhancing collaboration across COMESA. Through such engagements, we can collectively implement our digital strategies and move towards a more connected and integrated region,” he said.
ARICEA was established to promote cooperation, harmonize regulatory policies, and foster information sharing among ICT and communication regulators in the region to ensure no citizen is left behind in the digital revolution.
FOCUS donates balls to primary schools in Karonga
By George Mponda
Karonga, June 12, Mana; The Foundation for Community Support Services (FOCUS), through Child Not Pride Project, has donated balls to 20 primary schools in Karonga District to keep learners active and refrain from bad influence.
Speaking Thursday during a symbolic handover of the donation at Rukuru Primary School, Executive Director for FOCUS, Kosamu Munthali, said the donation is in response to a request by Champions of Change, a grouping of trained youth leaders who mentor and advise their peers, both in and out of school.
"The donation made to beneficiary schools in areas of Paramount Chief Kyungu and Senior Chief Mwilang’ombe aims to promote mental and physical well-being of learners through sports.
“This initiative will also boost learner enrollment hence promoting primary education in the district," said Munthali.
He added that sports can serve as a platform through which youth can engage on issues such as sexual and reproductive health and instilling self-esteem among learners.
Deputy Head Teacher for Rukuru Primary School, Ive Shankhoma, commended FOCUS for the support saying the initiative will enhance learners’ attendance in class.
"Through the Champions of Change initiative, learners encourage each other to be working hard in school. These peer-led discussions have helped learners move away from harmful cultural practices that previously affected their education," Shankhoma said.
MEC brief candidates on nomination procedures
By Alice Ndunya
Machinga, June 12, Mana: Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has urged aspiring candidates for parliamentary and local government elections to take heed of the nomination process to avoid delays as they prepare to contest for the September 16 general elections.
The plea was made at Machinga District Council Chamber on Wednesday when MEC briefed aspiring candidates and other district electoral stakeholders on nomination process.
During the meeting, MEC, Malawi Council of Disability Affairs (MACODA) and National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Trust underscored issues regarding eligibility criteria to contest, protocols for candidates with disabilities, code of conduct for political parties, nomination fees and step by step completion for nomination forms.
District Elections Officer for Machinga, Horrace Chapweteka, said the meeting will help minimise challenges that aspirants face during nomination process.
“We expect aspirants to hand in their nomination forms with confidence knowing they have followed all protocols inline with the electoral laws and regulations,” he said.
Aspiring ward councillor for Mpiri Ward in Machinga North East, Evelyn Lifa Yusuff, commended MEC for organising the meeting describing it as informative.
“Being the first time to aspire for the position, I did not have enough information regarding nomination process. I have now been properly directed,” she said.
Another aspiring candidate for ward councillor, Benito Chilenje, said he will follow the outlined nomination guidelines accordingly.
“I have learnt that young aspirants for local government elections are required to pay K100,000. This will help me make proper budgeting,” said.
Machinga District Rehabilitation Officer for MACODA, Chester Mtengula, hailed people with disabilities for vying for various elective positions in the district, citing local government and parliamentary elections.
“We appreciate this and we thank MEC for making the elections inclusive. This will encourage a number of people with disabilities to contest.
“Since aspiring candidates with disability are paying half the nomination fee, some organisations will also assist in paying to reduce financial burden that might hinder them from participating,” he said.
NICE Trust Programmes Officer for Machinga, Francis Mugwa, called on aspiring candidates to advocate for peace ahead of the elections.
“I am sure the meeting reminded political parties on the significance of peace and unity during elections period,” he said.
According to MEC, nomination fee for male aspiring candidates for the local government elections is K200,000 whereas female, youth and people with disabilities is K100,000.
Male aspiring candidates for parliamentary elections are expected to pay K2,500,000 while female, youth and persons with disabilities are at K1,250,000.
