MANAonline
MEC impressed with turn up in presidential nomination paper collection
By Santos Zefania
Lilongwe, June 21, Mana: The Malawi electrol commission (MEC) has expressed satisfaction as the number of presidential hopefuls who have collected nomination papers ahead of the September 16 general election reaches 13.
The 13 presidential aspirants include the incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera for Malawi Congress Party (MCP); Milward Tobias, Independent; Adil James Chilungo: Independent; Kondwani Nankhumwa for People’s Development Party (PDP), Akwame Bandawe, Anyamata, Atsikana, Azimayi (AAA); Joyce Banda, People's Party (PP); Atupele Austin Muluzi for United Democratic Front (UDF); and Reverend Hardwick Kaliya, Independent.
Other candidates who have collected nomination papers are Arthur Peter Mutharika for Democratic Progressive Party (DPP); Frank Tumpale Mwenifumbo for National Development Party (NDP); Dalitso Kabambe for UTM; Kamuzu Walter Chibambo for People’s Transformation Party (Petra); and Smart Swira: Independent.
MEC confirmed the development in an interview with Mana Saturday, and he further asked the aspiring candidates to do due diligence to ensure that the papers are error free before presenting them to the Commission at Bingu International Conference Centre (BICC).
Mwafulirwa further said for Parliamentary and local government elections, candidates should present their nomination papers at their respective Constituency Returning Office (CRO).
National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Trust Programmes Officer, Daniel Malango, has also expressed satisfaction with the increasing number for aspirants in the presidential race.
"The fact that about 13 candidates have collected nomination papers is an indication that democracy has matured in the country, since it entails the right to participate in political affairs in the country,” said Malango.
Malango said NICE is working hand in hand with MEC in conducting civic and voter education exercise and that the organization is geared to reach out to all corners of the country with election information ahead of the September 16 general election.
He further commended MEC for recently beafing up their staff with new commissioners a head of September 16, saying being a constitutionally mandated institution to conduct elections in the country, the Commission has an obligation of ensuring that elections are conducted in a free and fair manner.
Muona Primary School to open doors September
By Robert Nayeja
Nsanje, June 20, Mana: Commissioner for Department of Disaster Risk Management Affairs (DODMA) Rev. Moses Chimphepo has assured communities that construction of Muona Primary School in Nsanje North Constituency will finish before opening of 2025/2026 school calendar in September this year.
Chimphepo made the assurance on Friday during interface meeting with the communities on progress of the school project at Muona in Senior Chief Mlolo’s area.
“The works have delayed due to a number of reasons but be assured that government is committed to finalize the project before opening of first term in September this year,” said Chimphepo.
He further assured the communities that government will provide all necessary support to finish the project in time, adding that changes of design contributed to the delay.
“We want to build school blocks that are resilient to disasters,” he added and further advised community members to take active role in the project.
Nsanje District Education Officer, Dalitso Chapita, said a number of learners at the relocated Muona School had dropped out due to lack of proper structures.
“The School had more than 1,000 learners but as of now it has 731 learners only and, among them, 359 are boys,” said Chapita.
Senior Chief Mlolo pledged continued community support to ensure successful and timely completion of the school project.
“We are very grateful that the project has commenced and that materials for the construction have arrived at the construction site. We thank the President Dr, Lazarus Chakwera for allocating resources for construction of the school,” said Senior Chief Mlolo.
Muona Primary School is being constructed at a new site with K525 million from Presidential Charity Initiative after the school was destroyed by floods, leaving learners learning in tents and temporary shelters at Muona Admarc.
The project includes the construction of eight classrooms and an administration block at the new location.
Reconstruction of Muona site was decided after land disputes at Mpatsa Primary School in the area of Senior Chief Tengani, compelling relocation of the project at the new site which was agreed upon by chiefs.
Feature: SCTP offers hope to many a needy household
By Andrew Mkonda
Lilongwe, June 20h, Mana: Like in many districts across Malawi, Lilongwe was among the districts where the number of households in extreme poverty remained high before the rolling out of the Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP).
Many households in the district could not afford two meals per day, and this led to escalation of malnutrition among under-five children and pregnant women.
This sad development also affected the school enrolment in the district, as many of the leaners – especially girls – dropped out of school due to lack of necessary school support such as school fees, which led to many girls dropping out of school due to early pregnancies and marriages.
But since the SCTP rolled out in 2018, it has lived to its purpose of uplifting the livelihoods of people failing to meet their simplest basic needs; and stories of many households in Lilongwe have dramatically changed tone.
“Poverty reduced us to a laughing stalk after we lost our parents. Being a first born in the family, it was hard to take care of my three siblings. But when I was registered in SCTP we have seen our lives dramatically changing,” explains 32-year-old Chifundo Fanizo of Lilongwe.
Fanizo hails in the outskirts of Mpingu Village, Group Village Head Mpingu, in the area of Senior Chief Malili in Lilongwe district.
The young man found himself heading a household of four siblings, including himself, after losing their parents about a decade ago.
But the household’s struggle eased after Fanizo got registered to participate in the SCTP in 2018, and now the livelihood of the household of siblings is remarkably transformed.
Chifundo used the support from SCTP to venture into dimba farming, growing wide range of vegetables, which is not only providing him with food for the household, but, also, generating more cash amounting up to K140, 000 per week from the vegetables.
For the majority of Malawians classified as poor, overcoming poverty is defined beyond cash in one’s pockets, bank accounts, or village savings and loan (VSL) groups.
Chifundo has managed to overcome his household’s poverty in several ways: he bought land and constructed a better, and more comfortable house for himself and his three siblings, and he is also able to pay school fees for the siblings,
“I have, also, acquired a number of assets and livestock such as pigs and chickens following the decision that I made to channel every cash I get from the Social Cash Transfer Programme to farming,”. explains Fanizo.
The impact of the SCTP in the area where Fanizo lives is hard to ignore, leaving many, including Village headman Mpingu, applauding government for lifting the poor households nationwide up to live with dignity and hope.
“I have a number of beneficiaries in my area, but when you visit their homes, one is convinced that the programme is really transforming the livelihoods,” he said.
Mpingu further applauds Fanizo’s other decision of joining Community Savings and Investment Promotion (Comsip) group where members buy shares, get annual dividends and access business tips.
“Let me take this opportunity to appeal to the government to continue with this programme and, if possible, to increase the number of participants so that many households benefit from it, as it has proven to be a tool for poverty reduction.
Principal Social Welfare Officer for Lilongwe District Council, Sarah Chimodzi, said the SCTP is more than just a financial aid as, according to her, it extends to restoring dignity, and creating sustainable livelihoods.
Chimodzi says Chifundo’s story is a proof for the tremendous impact the Social Cash Transfer Programme has done.
“When beneficiaries receive Social Cash Transfers, we strongly encourage them to invest in small-scale businesses, and to purchase food for their families as our goal is to ensure that no household goes to bed hungry," explained Chimodzi.
She added that the program has also played a significant role in mitigating various risks, such as reducing school dropout rates and absenteeism among school going children.
Chimodzi encouraged participants to join COMSIP groups, where they can save and grow their finances through investments, while gaining essential farming and business knowledge.
“This initiative will enable them to purchase agricultural inputs, increase their harvests, start businesses, and acquire livestock such as goats, pigs, and chickens,” she said.
The Social Welfare Officer further described Fanizo as a prime example of the program’s impact, highlighting how the Social Cash Transfer Program (SCTP) is effectively transforming the lives of ultra-poor Malawians.
With government’s plan to retarget 40 thousand beneficiaries by end of June this year, the SCTP is set to touch even more lives across Lilongwe district.
For Fanizo and his family of siblings, SCTP has been nothing short of life changing from misfortunes to hope, and the Programme continues to empower communities, and build resilient future, one family at a time.
The program in Lilongwe district, is being administered by the Malawi Government, with assistance from the World Bank. It aims to support ultra-poor and labor-constrained households by offering financial aid in the form of cash.
The program encompasses 23 Traditional Leaders, and it serves a total of 29,512 participants. SCTP is part of the Social Support for Resilient Livelihood Programme (SSRLP) supported by the World Bank and the Social Protection Multi-Donor Trust Fund.
Malawi launches End Learning Poverty for All in Africa campaign
By Khumbo Kamaliza and Japonicah Jabu
Lilongwe, June 20, Mana: Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Madalitso Kambauwa has today launched the ‘End Learning Poverty for all in Africa’ campaign, which aims at improving foundational literacy and numeracy skills among primary school learners.
The campaign was launched on Friday at Mkwichi Secondary School in Lilongwe, where the Minister emphasized that the initiative aims to ensure children can read, write, perform basic mathematics, and use a computer by the age of 10.
Kambauwa also emphasized the importance of children’s social welfare and well-being, stating that it is a driving force behind their development.
She said: “For this initiative to succeed, our teachers need extensive mentoring and support as they carry out their duties in the classroom.
"Therefore let us ensure that teachers have the right teaching and learning materials at their disposal to help them teach better and our inspection and advisory services need to be strengthened so that gaps in our teachers are quickly recognized and we can help them improve in this area.”
She also acknowledged that President Lazarus Chakwera has embarked on an initiative to recognize and promote the importance of teachers.
Gerrit Maritz, the Deputy Resident representative of UNICEF said that ability to read, count and write is what is important for children and this campaign will raise the number of children who are able to do these.
"We all know why the children are learning and one area is to ensure that they get all the resources suitable for them to access education," said Maritz.
Additionally, Sophia Ndemutila Asipala, Head of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation at the African Union, emphasized that for Africa to achieve its development agenda, no child should be left behind at the starting line of education.
She stated: “School dropout is no longer an option, as we now have all the resources at our disposal to ensure access to quality education for every child.”
Malawi is the second country to launch the “End Learning Poverty for All in Africa” campaign, an initiative that aligns with the Malawi 2063 agenda.
Authorities push for the formation of more farmers’ clubs
By Manasse Nyirenda
Rumphi, June 20, Mana: Agriculture authorities in Rumphi District have urged farmers to work in groups so that they can increase agricultural produce and access better markets.
Agribusiness Officer for Rumphi District Council, Joseph Mkandawire made the call on Thursday at Rumphi Boma during a farmers’ conference, which was organized by Small Producers and Transporters Association (SPRODETA).
The conference, which attracted farmers from Chitipa and Rumphi aimed at empowering farmers through knowledge sharing and partnerships through SPRODETA’s Integrated Resilience Project.
Mkandawire said working in groups would increase the farmers’ access to farm inputs and acquire better capital to mechanize farming in order to enhance productivity, besides gaining bargaining power for better prices of their produce.
One of the farmers, Mabvuto Mhango of Luwozga Cooperative, said working in groups such as cooperatives has benefited individual farmers.
“Our group has done so well. We grow maize, legumes such as beans and other crops. SRODETA has trained us in agribusiness and soap making.
“We also have a vibrant village savings group under our cooperative, and currently our savings are almost K15 million,” said Mhango.
Another farmer, Chimwemwe Nyirenda said that SPRODETA has enlightened the cooperative’s pricing of their farm produce.
Partnerships Coordinator for SPRODETA, Daniel Nyirenda said the project, among others, aims at linking farmers to reliable markets and improved access to farm inputs from financial lending institutions such as banks and National Economic Empowerment Fund, besides other related organizations.
Japanese diplomat engages Kalibu Academy students in cultural exchange
By Kenneth Zindondo,
Blantyre, June 20, Mana: A diplomat at Japanese Embassy in Malawi, Tokia Ayako, visited Kalibu Academy in Blantyre on Thursday, where she held an interactive session with members of the school’s Japanese Club, introducing them to Japanese traditions, language and attire.
During the session, Ayako, who also teaches at Balaka Primary School in Balaka district, introduced students to elements of Japanese tradition, including demonstrations on how to wear traditional attire and make simple cultural items.
She also presented gifts, such as packets of seaweed, as a gesture of goodwill to the students at Kalibu Academy.
“I am very excited to see how the students are actively learning Japanese culture through songs, language, and crafts. It is wonderful to see such enthusiasm, and I hope to continue engaging with them through different platforms like letters, online exchanges, and future visits,” she said.
The school club’s matron, Kupatsa Mtambalika, praised the session, saying this will help the students in cultural studies.
“This experience has helped the students connect what they are learning in class to real cultural practices. It has deepened their appreciation,” she said.
Following the session, students shared their excitement and appreciation for having the opportunity to engage directly with a representative from Japan.
“The session was very educational. Learning directly from someone from Japan helped me understand the culture better and encouraged me to keep exploring it,” said one of the students, Tapunda Mhango.
Another student, Grace Dzimbiri said she was excited and inspired by Japanese traditional attire and language.
“Seeing how traditional clothes are worn and hearing the language spoken by a native speaker made everything more real for me. It was inspiring,” she added as fellow students also hoped for more opportunities to interact with representatives from the Japanese Embassy.
Dzimbiri said such sessions make their learning more meaningful and exciting.
VP interacts with Kasungu vendors
By Sheminah Nkhoma
kasungu, June 20, Mana: Vice President Dr. Michael Usi visited Kasungu main market in Kasungu District on Friday, where he addressed the public on the importance of patience and hard work.
Usi emphasized on the need for kindness and cooperation regardless of the challenges they face.
He urged the vendors of Kasungu to trust the government as it works to address various problems the country is facing.
“Government remains determined to resolve all the challenges affecting the country, I am encouraging you all to exercise patience,” he said.
Usi stated that the visit has helped him in understanding several challenges that Malawians face including high prices of goods and lack of capital to operate different businesses.
During the visit he interacted with children where he bought them gifts and encouraged them to work hard at school.
The Vice President also bought various items including tomatoes, dry fish, vegetables, among others, as one way of uplifting the business people in the district.
Women Lawyers Association empowers students through legal clinics
By Winfrida Kamwana
Mchinji, June 20, Mana: Women Lawyers Association (WLA) says it is dedicated in bringing positive change in fighting against gender-based violence in different communities in Malawi.
This was stated on Thursday during a student legal clinic that was held at Gumba CDSS in Mchinji.
WLA says educating children on different forms of gender-based violence will help them understand their rights and empower them to take necessary action when they face such type of violence.
In her remarks, Tonthozo Saukila, waging Justice for Women Fellow at Women Lawyers Association pointed out that the legal clinic is set not only to equip students and stakeholders on the different forms of violence but also to help them understand the roles they can play in assisting victims in their communities.
"Mostly people focus on the physical form of violence not knowing that there is also emotional violence as well as economical violence and we hope legal clinics like these will help them get more insight," she said.
Concurring with Saukila, Gumba CDSS Head Teacher, Davidson Edward Chikandira says the coming in of the legal clinic has opened student’s minds as well as teachers to not overlook issues on gender-based violence.
"We now know the different forms of violence and I believe that the students will be able to open up more if they are facing any form of violence be it at home or around the school campus," said Chikandira.
He further said children face different forms of abuse at home, which affects their performance in class, which is bad for the educational development.
Khadija Rashid, a form three student at the school appreciated the Women Lawyers Association for organising the student legal clinic saying it has helped them understand their rights better and hope that they will be able to fight against violence in their families and communities.
The Women Lawyers Association in collaboration with Clooney Foundation for Justice is set to conduct 18 legal clinics across Malawi from May to December 2025.
It plans to conduct four student legal clinics in the country and has so far conducted student legal clinics in Phalombe and Mchinji.
Stakeholders in Balaka urged to address myths and misconceptions affecting nutrition
By Milton Sukasuka
Balaka, June 20, Mana: Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) and Initiative for Community Development Services (INCOS) together with Balaka District Health Office have called upon all stakeholders in Balaka District to join forces in combating myths and misconceptions that affect nutrition status among the under-aged children and maternal mothers.
Speaking on Thursday after a two-day co-creation workshop organized in Traditional Authority (TA) Kalembo in Balaka, MRCS District Coordinator for Balaka, Lovemore Makaluka, said persistent knowledge gap through myths among the community members perpetuate issues of malnutrition and health service gaps towards the vulnerable population.
He therefore said the workshop aimed to inspire mindset change by unpacking harmful social norms and co-creating solutions with the community in order to improve issues of nutrition and other health services.
“Red Cross alone cannot tackle these issues and that is why we have joined forces with INCOS and the District Health Department to explore challenges affecting nutrition and health access in the community,” said Makaluka.
He said the focus was on community-led solutions that promote long-term behavior change.
“You have also noted that the workshop used participatory methods such as problem-tree analysis, storytelling, solution sketching and community mapping to uncover root causes of poor nutrition, barriers to health access, and prevailing myths around maternal and reproductive health,” he added.
He therefore said the initiative also aligns with Malawi 2063 goals, particularly on strengthening food security and reducing malnutrition among the vulnerable communities in Balaka.
Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Coordinator for Balaka District Hospital, Derrick Kachikoti, revealed that Kalembo area has one of the highest rates of child malnutrition in the district, as such, this community-based engagement will create a benchmark for solutions against the challenge.
“The Ulongwe catchment area in T/A Kalembo, with a population of 23,947, has recorded a high number of under-five children at risk of malnutrition, with 1,446 cases reported, a situation that is worrisome for the district,” he added.
Village Headman Kalembo, applauded the initiative and pledged to reinforce its impact through regular village meetings that will ensure the messages are communicated widely for everyone to adopt good health habits.
“We are committed to work collectively with Red Cross volunteers, Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs), youth groups, pregnant and lactating women, caregivers, faith leaders, child protection workers, Area Nutrition Committee representatives and male champions to promote the values of good nutrition,” said the chief.
During the workshop, participants were grouped to explore available services, identify challenges across gender and economic lines, and co-create locally driven solutions and messages to challenge myths and promote healthy behaviors.
The community-based engagement, conducted from June 16 to 17, 2025, was part of the 2025 UNICEF El Niño Emergency Response Project aimed at strengthening emergency response for nutrition, health, and child protection in districts affected by El Niño.
The 10-month project, running from March to December 2025, is expected to empower communities with knowledge, address misinformation, and promote inclusive access to essential health and nutrition services.
Miracle set to honor Grace Chinga’s legacy with ‘Zikomo Malawi’ concert
By Milcah Mathias
Blantyre, June 20, Mana: The multi-award-winning gospel singer Miracle Chinga is set to host ‘Zikomo Malawi’ on July 6 at Bingu International Convention Center (BICC) Auditorium in Lilongwe to celebrate the legacy of the late gospel songbird Grace Chinga.
Speaking in an interview with Malawi News Agency on Thursday, Chinga said ‘Zikomo Malawi’ translates to thanking Malawians for their support during her late mother’s lifetime and continued support in her music journey.
“The phrase ‘Grace Chinga’s legacy lives on’ signifies my gratitude to all Malawians who have been inspired by Grace Chinga’s songs.
“Her talent continues to motivate many, and her legacy lives on through me as I continue to spread the gospel through music,” she said.
The event will feature performances by Theresa Phondo, Ndirande Anglican Voices, Maggie Mangani, The Great Angels Choir, Kamuzu Barracks, Evance Meleka, and Billy Kaunda.
In a separate interview, Billy Kaunda commended Chinga for the initiative, urging Malawians to honor musicians while they are still alive, rather than only celebrating them after they have passed away.
The late Grace Chinga was a renowned Malawian gospel singer who released her debut album ‘Uleke’ in 2004, gaining national recognition. She died in 2016 after a short illness.
