By Martin Chiwanda

Machinga, September 16, Mana: Area and Village Level Development Committees at Nsanama in Machinga have acknowledged significance of women and young people and people with disabilities holding key decision making positions as the country expects to go for General Elections in 2025.

Members of Nsanama Area Development Committee (ADC) told Malawi News Agency Sunday after a two days training on Promoting Gender Transformative and Youth Inclusive Democracy in Malawi organized by Women Legal Resource Centre (WOLREC) and Oxfam with support from European Union (EU).

A participant, Bertha Kaunda, acknowledged that most of the vulnerable groups in their area have not been given decision making positions, saying the society believe that women and youths were not capable to make right decision when elected in key position in the society.

She said the training had been informative such that the ADC and Village Development Committees (VDCs) have realized the need to champion mind set change in the society to allow more women and youth to take up key positions of influence.

“Let’s accept that these people were being left out as most of the people have had a feeling that women, youths and people with disabilities have nothing to offer and this is the reason they have not been considered for decision making positions,” Kaunda added.

She pointed out that, “As leaders, we have even failed to understand that people women, youths and people with disability are capable to leading in our society. The training was relevant and has prepared us well to sensitize communities so that they should start appreciating the potential in women, youths and people with disabilities.”

Makumba VDC Chairperson, Annie Adam observed that electing women, young people and people with disabilities in leadership positions was a reflection of inclusivity.

“Women, young people and people living with disabilities’ participation in decision making positions is e not just a right, but also key to sustainable development. We need to do more to ensure that they attain decision making positions as we are preparing for the 2025 general elections,” she added.

Machinga District Council, Principal Gender Officer Rita Sukasuka commended WORLEC for providing the ADC and VDCs capacity to raise awareness on the need to elect women, young people and people with disability in decision making positions ahead of the 2025 general elections.

She expressed optimism that Nsanama ADC would reach out to wider area with the right message that shall improve women, young people and people with disability representation in the full council and national assembly.

“WORLEC has taken a good decision to train the committees. We are very optimistic that these committees will assist in disseminating necessary information to the masses so that the marginalized should actively participate decision making processes,” Sukasuka said.

The training was meant to prepare ADC and VDCs for intensified community awareness on the need to elect women, young people and people with disability in decision-making democratic structures as Malawi prepares for 2025 general elections.

WOLREC in partnership with Oxfam is implementing a project called; Promoting Gender Transformative and Youth Inclusive Democracy in Malawi within a period, November 1, 2023 to March 31, 2027.

The Project seeks to enhance meaningful participation of women, youth and marginalized groups in political processes and decision-making in the country.  

The Project is being implemented in seven districts; Rumphi, Mzimba, Salima, Dedza, Machinga, Mulanje and Nsanje with focus on 42,768 women, 15,724 young people aged between 18 to 35 years and 4,403 marginalized people mainly concentrating on persons with disabilities.

By Ireen Mseteka

Likoma, September 16, Mana: Community members have been hailed for actively participating in Climate-Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) community contribution exercise which is underway in Likoma District.

Speaking in an interview Monday, Group Village Headman (GVH), Chiunda from Chizumulu Island said community members have shown ownership by taking part in the exercise saying that through the programme, roads have been maintained and preparation of tree seedlings gardens is underway.

“I am glad that everyone is taking part in the 10 days’ programme because it is for the benefit of everyone. For example, the roads which are being maintained they are accessed by everyone and the trees being grown will help combat climate change,” he said.

GVH Chalunda of Mbamba in Likoma asked government to continue with the CS-EPWP so that the island district should completely transform.

“People are now convinced about the importance of the programme. Previously, we used to face some challenges because most people never showed interest. We then started to engage them in awareness meetings on the importance of the programme,” he added.

Land Resource Officer for Likoma, Arthur Machila said community participation was vital because it creates sense of ownership among community members and it would sustain assets created.

“I am encouraging them to be taking part in any development activities in their respective areas. Community members are primary beneficiaries of any development projects in the district,” he said.

CS-EPWP is a component under the Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Project (SSRLP) funded by the Multi Donor Trust Fund and the World Bank.

By Martin Chiwanda and Charlie Ligomeka

Machinga, September 15, Mana: People in Machinga over the weekend applauded Government for continuing with the Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP), which will enable them to buy food as most households did not harvest enough for the past two years due to rainfall pattern that was characterized by too much rainfall and El Nino induced drought.

Recent SCTP payout took place in many places including Mlomba and Chiwalo headquarters where beneficiaries received the amount of cash from K8,500 above depending on the number of people in a family and number of school-going children and other social determining factors. 

42 years old SCTP beneficiary from Sale Village, Traditional Authority Chiwalo, Grace Wyson, told Malawi News Agency that she struggled to feed three children, at the same time paying their school fees and providing other family necessities.

“I am a widow and my husband died, leaving me with three children, I have to look after them as there is nobody at home who has the capability of helping,” said Wyson, in charge of a female-headed household.

She thereafter commended government for introducing SCTP in her area saying the cash is providing food apart from supporting children's education.

A 37-year-old Eliza Anafi, from Saka Village, Traditional Authority Chiwalo said was grateful to be an SCTP beneficiary saying the monetary support will enable her to buy food for the family.

“I was worried as to how and where to get money to buy food to support my four children. I have a daughter at Mbenjere Secondary School, who needs school fees for her education,

“The assistance has come at the right time. Schools have just opened and will be able to pay school fees,” she added.

District Social Welfare Officer for Machinga, Lawrence Matiti urged SCTP beneficiaries to invest the money for the good of their families.

Matiti also advised the beneficiaries to learn from those who have been receiving the cash for some time and have their livelihood improved for the better citing expansion of their businesses, rearing of livestock, construction of decent houses and supporting child education.

Government introduced the SCTP under Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods (SSRL) funded by the World Bank and the Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) and is coordinated by the National Local Government Finance Committee.

By Zenak Matekenya

Dedza, September 15, Mana: Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Director of Electoral Services Hastings Botha has hailed people of Dedza for their active participation in the 2025 Tripartite Election pilot registration phase declaring it a success.

Speaking in an interview Sunday, Botha commended political parties and all stakeholders that played a role in mobilizing people to participate.

“What we can tell people of Dedza and all Malawians is that the exercise has gone on well. Through this pilot phase people have shown interest that they want to participate in the forthcoming elections,” he said.

He said the pilot registration was key to assessing the effectiveness of new equipment and processes.

Botha added that information from all eight districts in the pilot phase will be consolidated to have an overall picture.

In Dedza the pilot phase took place in 12 centers.

National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) volunteer Sevelia Manuel at Kalinyeke Primary School centre said the process went on well.

She however observed that besides radio, more people needed to be reached using traditional means of communication.

By Rose Cross Mahorya

Mzuzu, September 15, Mana: Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has declared the pilot voter registration exercise in Mzuzu City a success.

MEC Commissioner Reverend Phillip Kambulire expressed satisfaction when the commission met members of the Mzuzu City District Elections Supervisory Team (DEST) on Sunday before departing for a similar exercise in Chitipa district.

Addressing the members, Kambulire said during the exercise, the commission has been able to capture both challenges and successes, which will certainly help to improve service delivery of the main registration exercise scheduled to begin on 20^th October 2024.

“The purpose of the exercise was to test the efficiency of the equipment and our officers. We proudly say that the purpose has been accomplished.

“For example, when the exercise was just starting, the officers had challenges capturing subjects on certain backgrounds but in the course of the exercise, they were able to properly adjust the cameras to produce desired pictures.

“During the exercise, we have also seen the officers improving on time spent to capture and record a subject which was good,” said Kambulire.

While acknowledging that the exercise met the challenge of few people turning up for the exercise, Kambulire noted the number of those who came was significant enough for the exercise.

He however asked stakeholders in the city to rise and intensify civic education as official voter registration will soon start.

Mzuzu City Council Chief Executive Officer Gomezgani Nyasulu said participating in the pilot voter registration exercise has helped the council to identify areas that need to be worked on.

“During the pilot exercise, we have noted that very few youths participated, therefore it is a wakeup call for us and all stakeholders to invest more time to encourage youths to register with National Registration Bureau (NRB) so that they can also register for voting,” said Nyasulu.

Mzuzu City is among eight councils where the pilot voter registration exercise is taking place and in the city the exercise was conducted on 13^th and 14^th September, 2024 in Mzuzu City North and Mzuzu City South East Constituencies.

By Fostina Mkandawire

Salima, September 15, Mana: Minister of Gender, Community Development, and Social Welfare Jean Sendeza on Saturday called for support in reducing the number of adults who cannot read, write and count in the country.

Sendeza made the call in Salima district during commemoration of 2024 International Literacy Day.

Sendeza expressed concern over the lack of support that the sector has been facing such as lack of learning materials, teachers, learning spaces, and overall financial support.

"We need to upscale adult literacy in the country so that it should be accessible to everyone, unfortunately, the challenge remains that fewer organizations are supporting the sector and the standards are not satisfactory," she said.

She said in the country about 5 million people cannot read, write, and count, adding a larger number of such people who cannot read and write are women from rural areas.

"Development is fostered when the majority of people can at least understand some basics of reading and writing, therefore our goal is to ensure that we reach the estimated target by employing different strategies that can motivate more teachers and more adult learners," she said.

Currently, the Ministry of Gender through the Department of Community Development has 8000 Chichewa classes and 1,633 English classes across the country meant for adults.

This year's International Literacy Day theme is Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for mutual understanding and peace.

On the theme, the Minister underscored the importance of ensuring that lessons for adult classes are delivered using vernacular languages that everyone understands.

Country Representative for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) David Mulera said to help promote literacy, UNESCO is implementing a Community-Based Literacy and Livelihood Skills Development Programme.

"Literacy is more than just a skill, it is a fundamental human right that opens the door to the enjoyment of other rights and freedoms. It empowers people and equips them with skills, attitudes, and behaviors to foster a culture of respect, justice, and tolerance," he said.

He said literacy programmes should reach the most vulnerable groups, particularly adolescent girls and women, providing basic literacy and livelihood skills that enable individuals to pursue further education or contribute economically to their communities.

Since 1967, people around the world have come together every September 8 to celebrate International Literacy Day.

By Blackson Mkupatira

Chiradzulu, September 14, Mana: Chief Account for Chiradzulu District Council, Henderson M'mangeni says the council has recorded a 62 percent rise in revenue collection in the first five months of the current financial year compared to same period last year.  

Speaking when he presented the council’s financial management report during a sector management meeting on Friday, M'mangeni said the total local revenue collected from April to August this year amounted to MK73 million which is an improvement from same period last year when revenue collection stood at MK45 million.  

He said revenue from market facilities and other district level commercial ventures rose by 9 percent while fees and service charges have seen a 4 percent increase while revenue generated from licenses and permits has increased by 65 percent.

M'mangeni attributed the increase to several initiatives the council was implementing, including efforts to deal with revenue pilferage through the council's internal audit.

“The council has also expanded its revenue base by introducing fees for previously untapped sources such as business licenses for building contractors, as well as enforcing licensing regulations more efficiently and raising various fees,” added the chief accountant.

He said that infrastructure improvements such as construction of market sheds and sanitary facilities like toilets in some markets, supported by the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) and District Development Fund (DDF), have also contributed in enhancing the council’s revenue performance.

“However, challenges remain. We have low revenue collections, especially from Nguludi plots as well as from markets like Thomasi and Yasini where vendors boycott paying market fees due to poor sanitary infrastructure and other facilities,” he explained and further appealed to all sectors at Thyolo District Council to work together in addressing challenges that affect revenue generation.

Chiradzulu District Council, Director of Planning and Development (DPD), Henderson Kaumi, expressed satisfaction with the increase in revenue collection, describing it as good news.

“It is always important to have a solid revenue base for smooth operations of the office and this includes being able to pay staff salary on time leading to improvement in service delivery to the general public,” he said.

On lack of sanitary infrastructure in markets, the DPD stated that the council is implementing projects that aim at addressing some of the issues within the current financial year.

In the 2024/2025 financial year, Chiradzulu District Council targeted to collect MK171, 803,500.00. So far MK72, 694,773.00 has been collected representing 42 percent of the budget.

By Steve Chirombo

Dedza, September 14, Mana: Principal Secretary responsible for administration in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Richard Perekamoyo, on Friday, urged graduates at the Malawi College of Forestry and Wildlife in Dedza district to desist from corrupt practices saying the fight against negative effects of climate change needs professionals who can say no to corruption.

He made the call during the graduation of 38 students who had completed their diploma in forestry at the college.

He however pointed out that financial constraints were failing the ministry to train many people who can competently support the government’s efforts in environmental management.

“The ministry would like to train more individuals as we work towards combating climate change.  Malawi is experiencing negative effects of climate change as witnessed by some cyclones recently.  It is therefore my call to you all receiving diplomas today to work with a purpose of achieving the 2063 agenda which aims to promote climate smart technologies and practices," said Perekamoyo.

He further stated that increased variables and adverse climatic conditions continue to affect Malawi hence the need for experts like the new graduates to support environmental management.

In her remarks, the college's Principal, Monica Gondwe asked the new graduates to utilise the skills gained and help accomplish the government’s objective of working towards bringing back the vegetative cover.

Gondwe said: “This College was established in 1952. We do more practical lessons and field visits. This is why we believe in all those that have gone through the corridors of this college that they will work competently wherever they go.”

One of the graduates, Esther Nyirenda said she has learnt a lot and will help contribute to the achievement of the Malawi 2063 agenda.

“I am already in the system. I work in Kasungu under Mkanakhoti extension area. I worked very hard to get the diploma and I believe my tertiary education knowledge will help me to deliver more," she said.