By Gift Chiponde

Lilongwe, June 10 Mana: Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Jean Sendeza says disability inclusion remains the government's top priority in ensuring that people with disabilities are meaningfully involved in all aspects of national development, especially in the agriculture value chain.

She made the remarks on Monday when she presided over the SPARK Project Learning Route Programme, held under the Theme "Lessons Learned and Successful Practices for a Disability -Inclusive and Sustainable Rural Transformation" at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe.

She stated that the passing of the Disability Act of 2024 signifies government Commitment to ensuring that people with disabilities are protected and promoted in all areas.

"The Signing of the Bill by President Dr Lazarus Chakwera is a milestone in ensuring that people with disabilities are highly considered in all aspects of national development

As a country it reflects that we have made positive strides in safeguarding people with disabilities" Sendeza said.

The minister however appealed to all stakeholders in the country to help the government with funds and technical support in ensuring that sensitization of policies and laws is initiated in the country.

She indicated that through the SPARK project with the support of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Malawi has tremendously performed well which has also seen the project receiving another US$2.5 Million grant for phase 2 which is going to benefit countries such as Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia.

In her remarks, IFAD country representative, Bernadette Mukonyora, said the Learning Route will help participants unpack the milestones for disability inclusion and sustainable rural transformation and the inclusiveness of people with disabilities in mainstream activities of development.

She commended the Malawi Government for performing excellently in the implementation of the Spark 1 project.

"Malawi has performed well in the course of implementing Spark 1, we have also seen the establishment of disability inclusion academy and 20 facilitators including community facilitators have also received training to ensure the Smooth Implementation of the Project.

By Vida Msiyo

Blantyre, June 10, Mana: Baluti Living Waters Church (LWC) in Manase Township in Blantyre organized a youth seminar on Sunday aimed at equipping young people spiritually, academically and socially.

The event featured a young adult guest speaker who addressed the three topics of spirituality, academics and social.

Speaking to the Malawi News Agency (Mana), Reverend Lucius Manja who hosted the seminar, emphasized the importance of connecting young people and addressing necessary life issues.

"The church organized this event to help our youth become better leaders of tomorrow. We recognize that young adults often engage in many activities outside the church and some of them can be distractive.

“By hosting this seminar, we aim to enlighten them on important matters and encourage them to always put God first despite life's obstacles," he said.

Guest speaker, Moses Chisale, shared his personal experiences to inspire the youth academically, socially and spiritually.

Chisale spoke about overcoming challenges, including financial difficulties through faith in God, which helped him continue his education.

“I want to encourage you never to give up on your dreams. I may look successful now, but I faced many challenges, including being unable to pay school fees. By trusting God and staying close to Him, I am now about to complete my college education,” Chisale said.

He advised the youth to remain disciplined and avoid being controlled by their desires, emphasizing the importance of careful financial management.

However, Chisale urged young people to focus on their education and seek God's guidance in their relationships.

“Be disciplined in everything you do, whether it is starting a business or managing relationships. Finish your education, establish your career and ask God for guidance in finding a partner. By doing so, the Holy Spirit will guide you to success,” he added.

One of the participants to the seminar, Jacqueline Makasu expressed appreciation for the tips and knowledge shared during the workshop. She committed herself to applying the lessons learned in her daily life.

“I've been greatly encouraged. I realized some of my actions had negative implications on my life from now on, I will change my ways and incorporate fasting to stay closer to God,” Makasu said.

By Nephtali Kalumbi

Mangochi, June 10, Mana.  In an effort to combat early pregnancies and child marriages in Mangochi District, Parliamentary Women’s Caucus in collaboration with OXFAM, on Saturday engaged traditional leaders in senior chiefs Chimwala and Katuli areas on their role in the fight against the practice.

Mangochi is among districts in the country with the highest numbers of early pregnancies such that between 2023 and 2024, the district registered over 19,000 early pregnancies, among girls whose ages ranged from 10 to 19.

Speaking in the area of Senior Chief Katuli, Cchairperson of Parliamentary Women's Caucus, and Roseby Gadama said the caucus was geared at sensitizing communities in the country on laws that were enacted in Parliament to protect young people against all forms of sexual crimes and exploitation.

“As lawmakers, we set a recommended age at which one can get married, however what is happening in some areas, especially in the rural areas is not the case. As such, we would like chiefs as well as parents to help us to enforce these laws as we do not want to lose our future leaders.

“Let us not condone cultural beliefs such as kusasa fumbi, chimwanamayi and fisi as they are fueling early pregnancies and child marriages,’’ said Gadama.

She also pleaded with chiefs and parents in Mangochi to help girls that dropped out of school due to pregnancy to go back, so that no one is left behind on education.

District Commissioner for Mangochi, Dr. Smart Gwedemula said the council will continue to mobilize chiefs in the district to discourage child marriages so that girls should not rush into marriages.

“In our 2024 to 2030 District Development Plan, we outlined guidelines to help in the fight against early pregnancies, I therefore urge all chiefs to have effective bylaws to help in winning this fight,” said Gwedemula.

Senior Chief Katuli commended the parliamentary caucus for visiting his area, saying it brought the much needed awareness to his subordinates on issues of early pregnancies and child marriages.

“We thank Oxfam and the parliamentary caucus for paying us a visit. We promise to remain committed in the fight for the bright future of our children,’’ said Katuli.  

By Levison Lester

Lilongwe, June 9, Mana: District Coordinator for Total Land Care, Malumbo Banda, has appealed to government to involve more women in restoring the endangered environment saying women are custodians of natural resources in the country.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA), Banda said women's perspectives are crucial in strengthening policies that help in sustaining the country's biodiversity as such, government should not exclude women in decision making processes.

"In Malawi, women are the main custodians of biodiversity and that automatically means they are custodians of Malawi's natural resources hence the need to involve them in the conservation and environmental protection.

"In times of climate crisis, women often wear the brunt of the impacts of climate change as such government, in partnership with Civil Society Organizations, should priorities gender mainstreaming in environmental and climate policies that ensure women's perspectives, needs and contributions are integrated into decision making processes and program implementation. For a society to be considered a thriving society, no group of people should be left behind," she said.

Banda said, apart from providing affordable clean sources of energy in rural areas, government should also embark on awareness campaigns to help change the people’s mindset towards environmental protection.

In his remarks, Programmes Coordinator for Sekelera Foundation, Abel Chilenga, said government should provide subsidies that can help rural citenzry to use clean sources of energy unlike imposing a ban on charcoal use.

He said aspirations and needs of people who live in rural areas should be at the center of policy implementation.

"The issue of environmental sustainability is crucial in achieving a self-reliant Malawi hence government should provide solutions that will ease pressure on the use of natural resources. “Together with stakeholders, government should priorities giving subsidies that will help rural masses to use clean sources of energy," he said.

By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, June 9, Mana: Four people, including a two-year old boy, have died in a road accident involving a lorry and a passenger vehicle which happened Saturday evening at Camel Trading Centre along the M1 Road in Kasungu.

Kasungu Police Public Relations Officer, Joseph Kachikho, said the two-year-old Isaac Phiri, Thokozani Foster, 32; Blessings Kaphiza, and one other man yet to be identified were pronounced dead upon arrival at Kasungu District Hospital.

According to police, the accident involved a Mitsubishi Canter registration number BZ 8931 driven by Jekapu Mpanang'ombe and a Toyota Voxy registration number PE 3189 driven by James Mtendere.

"Mtendere was driving from the direction of Kasungu heading towards Lilongwe with passengers on board and upon reaching the said place, he started overtaking an unknown rider and in the process, collided head on with the Mitsubishi Canter which was coming from the opposite direction with 48 passengers on board," said Kachikho in a statement.

He said the people in the lorry were coming from a funeral in Dowa.

"As a result of the impact, the four passengers, two from each vehicle, were pronounced dead upon arrival at Kasungu District Hospital, while four other male passengers sustained head and internal injuries and are admitted at the facility,” said Kachikho.

At least 50 people escaped with various injuries and were treated as outpatients, police say.

Meanwhile, the police in the district have advised road users to adhere to all road traffic rules and regulations to prevent accidents.