By Maria Tembo

Ntchisi, March 7, Mana: At least 750 farmers in the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Kalumo in Ntchisi are expected to benefit from Improved Livelihood Resilience to Smallholder farmers, a project which Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM) is set to implement from April, 2025.

CADECOM Acting Coordinator in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe Madalitso Chilalire said this on Thursday after monitoring some of the projects the organization is implementing in the district.

He said the project will support the targeted farmers with Agro-ecology principles, capacity building and animal production.

“These farmers are in groups of 10 people and they will receive 20 goats per group. We want them to venture into small-scale businesses after selling some of the goats that will be given to them”.

“We are also encouraging them to grow different types of crops and fruits that are going to be used as an income generating tool so that they can be able to address hunger issues”, he said.

Emmanuel Kameta of Chilasa village who is among the targeted farmers said the project will improve their economic well-being once it begins.

He said: “Through the project, we are hoping that we will be able to provide necessities for our families and pay school fees for our children. I would like to advise my fellow beneficiaries to take good care of the goats once received and use them for intended purposes.

The two-year project will be implemented with funding from Danish Church Aid (DCA) and Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) in partnership with CADECOM of Lilongwe Archdiocese and Permaculture Paradise Institute (PPI).

By Yewo Munthali and Prisca Promise Mashushu

Lilongwe, March 7, Mana: Theatre for Change organisation has urged journalists to be at the forefront when raising awareness concerning Obstetric Fistula (OF) which is rampant among women and girls in the country.

This sentiment was raised on Friday in Lilongwe during a one-day workshop training under the Bridging Hope for Women and Girls with Obstetric Fistula project that aims at bridging the knowledge gap concerning Obstetric Fistula.

Advocacy and Communications Lead for the organisation, Henry Kambuzuma, explained that the training was conducted due to lack of knowledge among people concerning Obstetric Fistula, which has tremendous effects on women and girls in the country.

“We would like to make people aware of Obstetric Fistula, be it those affected or those that may be at risk and as such, we saw it fit to work with the media as they can take the message to Malawians through their many platforms.

“We are encouraging all people to obtain information from the journalists that were present at the workshop and in all our offices so that they can be aware of the causes, effects and preventive measures for the Obstetric Fistula,” he explained.

On his part, Fistula Surgeon at Freedom from Fistula Foundation (FFF), Patrick Nampandeni said they receive several cases, some of which the victims have lived with for a number of years due to lack of knowledge and access to health services.

"It is quite pathetic to see people suffering from this health condition while the help is there, so we need journalists to raise awareness so that the message reaches those in need or even health practitioners, so they are aware of where to direct the patients.

“About 90 percent of children die due to prolonged periods of lack of health services, which results in Obstetric Fistula; hence we continue to urge journalists and all people affected to have access to health services at the right time, as the health condition is preventable;” he said.

By George Bulombola

Mzuzu, March 7, Mana: Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA) said there is a need for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operators to be knowledgeable of public procurement requirements and processes for them to conduct business with the government, which is the biggest buyer of goods and services.

The remarks were made Friday in Mzuzu by the Director of Capacity Development and Reforms at PPDA, Timothy Kalembo, when the authority held an interface meeting with SMEs’ operators drawn from the northern region.

Kalembo said the authority has therefore initiated deliberate efforts to interact with the operators to have their capacity enhanced so that they meet all the required standards for one to participate in public procurement.

 “PPDA as a regulatory body has the mandate of ensuring that such enterprises participate in public procurement, hence this engagement meeting.

“It is up to us to ensure that they are knowledgeable on how to submit successful bids and how to request for clarifications during procurement proceedings,” said Kalembo.

Commenting on some of the challenges, which SMEs encounter in public procurement, Kalembo cited untimely payment for either delivered services or goods and that such delays affect the SMEs' operations.

He added that most of the regulatory bodies responsible for business registration are mostly in Lilongwe and don’t have offices in the region, hence business operators face problems to access the required services.

“The PPDA Act has a 60 percent reserve for local SMEs in public procurement not to indigenous black Malawians as were referred to in the 2017 Act, which is central to constitutional principles of non-discrimination,” he said.

He said the authority has further engaged other oversight bodies, such as the Ministry of Trade and Industry, to ensure that local business operators supply quality products.

“Government relies on SMEs to achieve Malawi 2063, hence it is government’s priority to ensure that SMEs partake in the national cake,” he added.

Managing Director of Swaswa Building and Marlee Agencies, Marlyn Munthali described the meeting as an eye opener to SMEs.

By Milcah Mathias

Blantyre, March 6, Mana: Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS), with funding from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), is expected to reach out to 157 affected households with emergency recovery activities in response to the negative impacts of Tropical Cyclone Chido in Traditional Authority, Kapeni in Blantyre.

Speaking on Wednesday during dissemination of post-disaster assessment findings on the effects of Chido, the MRCS District Coordinator, Innocent Chikuni said the operation was meant to meet immediate essential needs of affected households in a safe and dignified manner, to recover from the effects, and enhance their resilience to future shocks.

“We will support them with livelihoods and basic needs, health care, rehabilitation of shelter, water, sanitation, and hygiene so as to give them hope in time of their need,” said Chikuni, adding that the targeted households will each be provided with shelter, non-food items (NFIs) such as two sleeping mats, blankets, one kitchen set, and one solar lamp.

Apart from the NFI, the MRCS District Coordinator disclosed that each listed household will receive cash for rehabilitating their shelters.

“Not only that, each household will receive K100, 000 strictly for shelter rehabilitation, and they will also receive a multi-purpose cash grant of K80, 000 for livelihoods and basic needs,” added Chikuni.

Chief Planning Officer for Blantyre District Council, Pearson Mphangwe, commended MRCS for supporting the affected households with relief items and cash.

Following Tropical Cyclone Chido's impact in Malawi, a post-disaster assessment revealed that on December 16, 2024, the cyclone affected 46,017 people, causing widespread destruction of houses and other infrastructure across Malawi.

About 13 fatalities, 29 injuries, and 227 displaced individuals were registered across 23 districts of the Southern and Central Regions.

By Patience Longwe

Lilongwe, March 6, Mana: The Director of Programs for PLAN International in Malawi, Janet Chidothi has emphasized the need for strategic budget allocation to support the welfare of children in the country.

Speaking during a meeting with  Social and Community Affairs and Local Authorities cluster on Thursday at Bingu International Convention Centre( BICC) in Lilongwe, Chidothi noted that despite Malawi's shrinking fiscal space, the national debt has surged to 27% of the total budget, consuming a substantial portion of resources that could be utilized for critical sectors like education and child protection.

"Two key recommendations were proposed, firstly, the cancellation of the national debt, which would free up a significant amount of funds for allocation towards essential sectors, this would require advocacy from members of parliament and support from the international community.

“Secondly, prioritizing secondary education and increasing funding for child protection were highlighted as crucial areas for improvement; although the government has made strides in allocating 16.6% of the total budget towards education, there is still a shortfall of 3.4% from the international target of 20%," she narrated.

Chidothi also added that the allocation of 26 million kwacha per council for child protection is grossly inadequate, emphasizing the need for reprioritization of resources.

"To address these challenges, the government should focus on investing in productive sector like mining, tourism and agriculture to reduce the debt burden and increase revenue.

“Ultimately, effective  budget allocation and strategic planning are crucial to supporting the welfare of children in Malawi and driving socio-economic development," she said.

Chairperson for Social and Community Affairs and Local Authorities, Savel Kafwafwa, said the recent budget meeting highlighted several key issues particularly in regards to education and debt.

"While the government has made notable strides in allocating funds towards children, with the education budget reaching 16.6% of the total budget, it still falls short of the international target of 20%," he said.

He, therefore said one of the major challenges facing Malawi is its substantial public debt, which consumes 28% of the whole budget.

“This debt burden is equivalent to the combined budgets of four big ministers, highlighting the need for the government to invest in productive sectors and implement long-term plans such as mining, tourism, and agriculture," he said.

Meanwhile the Executive Director for Action Aid Malawi, Yandura Chipeta, appreciated the investments made so far on children in the national budget, however noting that there is more that needs to be done to ensure the country realize the commitments in Vision 2063 and the SDGs.

"Action Aid Malawi therefore calls on you, the Honourable Members of Parliament to consider the recommendations discussed during this engagement and recommend an increase in the financial commitment to all sectors that will ensure an improved quality of life and equitable access to public services for all children in Malawi," she said.

Pictorial by Evance Chisiano

Blantyre, March 6, Mana; Department responsible for inclusive education also referred to as Department of Special Needs Education in the Ministry of Education is tasked with coordinating, implementing, monitoring and evaluating Special Needs Education across Malawi including facilitating trainings for specialist teachers.

Recently, the department toured a Blantyre Secondary School (BSS) to appreciate how a 66 member Sign Language Club was faring in sign language.

The club demonstrated activities such as finger spelling of names of districts and animals among others, on top of demonstrating effective sign language communication.

The BSS Sign Language Club, that started in 2023 is under mentorship of a patron, Norah Mangani Nkavitha.

The club demonstrated that it was on the right path in producing capable professional sign language interpreters, the likes of Savita Wirima and Linly Mponda on MBC TV news.

Here are pictures of the department’s monitoring tour of BSS, with club members demonstrating their competence in sign language communication.    

By Joel Phiri

Mzimba, March 6, Mana: Residents under Traditional Authority Mzukuzuku in Mzimba have expressed their excitement over the opening of Mtuzuzu Health Post, highlighting its significant impact in improving access to medical care. The facility has reduced the need for long-distance travel to seek treatment, effectively addressing a major healthcare challenge in the district.

M’mbelwa District Council constructed the health post using K77 million from the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) funds.

In an interview, Patrick Gondwe of Mhlaba Village said before the construction of the health post, they used to travel to Vibangalala Health Post and Mzimba District Hospital to seek medical help.

“Before its opening, we only had a Health Surveillance Assistant who would treat us all. But now we have a community midwife assistant who is helping expectant women and under five children,” he said.

“In the past when faced with serious medical conditions we would travel to Mzimba District Hospital and other health facilities, some located 13 kilometres away. The opening of this health post has come at the right time as it has eased those problems,” said Gondwe.

Another community member, Alick Jere praised M’mbelwa District Council for opening the structure saying it is helping people to seek medical help nearby.

“This health post is a relief to us all. Having medical facility in close vicinity is enabling many community members access help nearby in the process preventing many needless deaths in our community and surrounding areas,” said Jere.

Member of Parliament for the Mzimba South West, Raymond Nkhata, in a recent interview also praised government for constructing the health post in his constituency saying most people were spending a lot to seek medical help from far away hospitals.

“The people in my area were travelling to Mzimba District Hospital and other hospitals to seek help when ill. This was affecting them as they would spend a lot and also leave their homes affecting them in both economic aspects and social life. So I feel elated and happy with the construction of this health post,” said Nkhata.

HSA for the area Nathaniel Mlowoka, said he treats over 150,000 people a month.

Director of Health and Social Services for M’mbelwa District Council, Dr. Prince Chirwa in an interview said opening of Mtuzuzu health post has eased challenges that members of the community faced.

“We recently opened the facility and we also sent a community midwife assistant to boost up medical staff. With the opening of the facility, cases to do with antenatal, vaccines and under five clinics are now handled right there,” said Chirwa.

By Timothy Peter

Dedza, March 6, Mana: Welthungerhilfe (WHH), on Wednesday, handed over 60 boreholes to communities of Senior Chief Chauma in Dedza District as one way of ensuring Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in the area.

WHH Project Coordinator for Dedza, Khumbo Munthali, said 23 of the boreholes are newly constructed while 37 have been rehabilitated. 

He said: "As WHH, we thought it wise to help the district council with the drilling of new boreholes and rehabilitation of some non-functional boreholes in the area after noting the council's District Strategic Implementation Plan that aspires to reach 90 percent of people in the district with access to safe water by 2027."

Speaking after the handover ceremony, Senior Chief Chauma commended WHH for the project, saying people in his area will benefit a lot from the initiative.

"My area has been facing a lot of challenges due to water scarcity. Women have been walking long distances to fetch water from unsafe sources, which became a burden to their lives and families," he said. 

The Senior Chief then advised his subjects to avoid vandalizing the infrastructures.

In his remarks, District Water Development Officer for Dedza, Limbani Muhiwa, said the project will increase the population of people with access to safe water from 72 percent to 90 percent in the area. 

Lucy Elemiya from Chitukula Village under Group Village Head Biwi James, said the initiative will help them to prevent waterborne diseases including Cholera. 

WHH has used K300 million to drill and rehabilitate the boreholes that will benefit 16,120 people in the area.

By Tawina Kuluweya

Mzuzu, March 6, Mana: Director General for Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), Daudi Suleman, has called upon all Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and other stakeholders in the country to join in conducting digital rights and cybersecurity awareness programs.

Suleman made the remarks on Wednesday in Mzuzu during a digital rights workshop that was aimed at educating CSOs on digital rights.

He said Malawi's digital space is moving very fast but there is lack of explicit recognition of digital rights and laws and there is a need for CSOs and other stakeholders to join in disseminating information about digital rights and laws.

"Digital literacy and awareness remains a big gap, so there is need to engage a number of stake holders and CSOs so that we move together as we move towards consolidating digital rights to individuals who are using the internet in Malawi," he noted.

Suleman also added that the level of internet penetration in Malawi is very fast and there is a need to observe safety measures because we are more exposed to threats.

Executive Director for Gender Governance Institute, Taonga Kaira, hailed MACRA for educating CSOs and directly engaging them in raising awareness about digital rights and emphasized on the importance of involving the CSOs saying they reach diverse areas.

"We CSOs work in different areas that MACRA on its own cannot manage to reach, so engaging us is very important as it will help in spreading messages about digital rights and laws everywhere," said Kaira.

Kaira said that there is a need to make law reforms, as laws of Malawi do not roughly deal with cyberbullies.

She also added that most people are not conversant with digital laws hence CSOs should work hard in disseminating the information about digital rights and cybersecurity so that people should be aware of these laws.

"We have the Cybersecurity Act which has been there since 2016 which most people are not aware of and they end up committing these cybercrimes. That is why as CSOs we need to come in and work hand in hand with MACRA on sensitizing people about these laws," Kaira said.