By Gift Wahuta

Blantyre, May 22, Mana: Principal Nutrition and HIV and AIDs Officer at Blantyre District Council, Ruth Hara, has hailed community level care groups for carrying out interventions that are meant to improve nutrition levels in children and women.

Hara expressed gratitude over care groups this week when a team from Blantyre District Council, University of Malawi and UNICEF visited Tikondane Care Group in Chileka, at Traditional Authority, Kunthembwe to evaluated food preparation and sanitation practices in the area.

Using the community behaviour-tracking tool developed by UNIMA, the team evaluated households’ progress in balanced diet preparation, exclusive breastfeeding, iron supplementation for adolescent girls, and proper sanitation.

Before a feedback session held in the community, officials toured several households to observe best practices firsthand such that many households showcased well maintained backyard gardens, construction of livestock kraals and improved pit latrines.

Hara said, through the care groups, households adopted best practices to improve wellbeing of women and children.

“We are seeing real change; households are growing their own food and are following best practices. This help to reduce malnutrition and improve overall well-being,” she added.

Hara also called on traditional leaders to support care groups in reaching out to households that are still resistant to adopt best practices or lack accurate information on nutrition, exclusive breast-feeding and proper sanitation.

“We need chiefs to help us convince those who are still hesitant. The success of this initiative depends on community wide participation,” she added.

Group Village Head Makonje also commended the initiative after observing improved food preparations and sanitation and acknowledged misinformation, misconceptions and resistance to change as factors that contribute to low adoption of best life practices.

“There’s progress, we have seen a decline in number of girls suffering from anemia. I promise to continue supporting this work so that people understand and adopt best practices,” he said and pledged to support care groups in mobilizing communities to adopt best food preparation and good hygiene practices.

Cluster leader and beneficiary, Olivia Alfred said that backyard gardening and consumption of six food groups improved her family’s nutrition status and helped her cut food costs.

“We now know six food groups, and I have a backyard garden which has reduced cost of food. This intervention has truly changed our lives,” she added.

Care group members also demonstrated what they teach, showcasing homemade juices, various types of porridge and later in the afternoon, the visiting team held interactive sessions with adolescents on health and nutrition needs.

By Fostina Mkandawire

Salima. May 22, Mana: As one way of bridging educational gaps and encourage consistent school attendance, Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) on Thursday distributed essential school resources to needy girl students across Community Day Secondary Schools (CDSS) in Salima District.

The distributed materials included exercise books, pens, and sanitary pads.

A teacher mentor at MAFCO Battalion CDSS, Esther Chimpeni, said the aid empowers students to participate in education without worrying about affording school necessities.

"These girls come from families that cannot afford to provide such materials, and such aid saves them from worrying about accessing these needs," she said.

Chimpeni also highlighted the school’s methods of ensuring that the resources are used effectively to bring about a positive impact among the beneficiaries.

"At MAFCO CDSS, we implemented a proactive follow-up strategy. We conduct periodic meetings with beneficiaries to motivate them to excel academically.  We also engage their parents to encourage their children to fully utilize the opportunity," she added.

 A teacher mentor at Parachute Battalion CDSS, Ethel Gondwe, underscored how the support directly tackles barriers to education.

"Most children come from families that cannot afford school materials and sanitary pads. This contributes to their absenteeism and poor performance. This initiative helps tackle such issues," Gondwe explained.

Principal Education Officer for Salima, Eliam Banda, commended CAMFED for their continuous support to enhancing girl's education in the country.

"Girls face numerous challenges to stay in school and there is always a high number of dropout rates in girls education, such interventions help to keep girls in school," he said.

Desire Ngoma, a Form 4 student at Parachute Battalion CDSS, expressed her gratitude for the resources, highlighting how they keep her education afloat.

"The resources make it easy to complete tasks that we get from teachers, which would be difficult to achieve without books," Ngoma stated.

CAMFED's initiative provides crucial support to vulnerable girl students in Salima, fostering an environment where they can focus on their studies and pursue their educational aspirations without the burden of lacking necessities.

By Mary Makhiringa

Harare, May 22, Mana: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affair Patricia Nangozo Kainga says Malawi stands a better chance of increasing its tourism base through the Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCAs) summit.

Speaking to Malawi News Agency (MANA) in an interview at the end of the SADC TFCA Council of the Ministers meeting on Thursday, Minister of Environment, Natural Resources and Tourism, Kainga said, President Chakwera will be among heads of states to attend SADC meeting, which will among other things mark 25 years of TFCA fostering Regional Integration and Sustainable Development.

Said Kainga: “It is important for the State President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera to be present at this very important meeting as Malawi is a senior member of the SADC and also it will enhance the bilateral cooperation and integration.

“The President will also hold several bilateral talks with fellow Heads of States to strengthen their cooperation and also the President will hold meeting with development partners who are already in here to have further talks on financing and other important issues that will benefit Malawi.”

Speaking earlier, Minister of Tourism Dr. Vera Kamtukule underscored the importance of tourism in Malawi saying the country has seen tremendous growth in the industry with more tourists coming.

Said Kamtukule: “This is one of the important meetings that Malawi as a country must attend. As you know when we talk about wildlife, they cut across the borders, animals do not see any borders or any lines, it can move from Malawi to Zambia, or vice versa, so it is important for our country to attend this meeting.”

He added: “60 percent of the tourists that come to Malawi are from SADC region, so it is important that we come to these regional block meetings where we can discuss several issues concerning our country.

“For example, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola and Botswana are part of the Kavango Zambia (KAZA) Transfrontier arrangement which means, a visitor can come from Spain come into Zambia and pay $50 and visit all the countries, this is the coordination that we are talking about.”

President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera is among the Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders attending the summit in Harare on Friday.

By Memory Kutengule Chatonda

Blantyre, May 22, Mana:  President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera says his government has put in place strategies aimed at creating a conducive environment for the private sector to scale up their investment and increase production to promote economic transformation of the country.

Chakwera made the remarks on Thursday during the official opening of the 35th Malawi International Trade Fair at Chichiri trade fair grounds in Blantyre.

"My government is here to provide policy direction to the wishes of the private sector to expand their businesses and attract foreign investors in order to contribute to the country's earnings," he said.

President Chakwera stated that his administration is committed to supporting youth and women in investing in various businesses. He added that over the past four years, the government has provided K300 billion, which has enabled the establishment of approximately 100,000 businesses across different sectors of the economy.

Chakwera further revealed that an additional K1 trillion from the African Development Bank, channeled through the National Economic Empowerment Fund, will be made available to youths and women over the next five years.

The Malawi leader also stated that his government is also promoting agriculture commercialization and that the world bank has supported Malawi through Agriculture and Commercialization (AGCOM) with K600 billion to support the farmers to scale up their production.

"In the same spirit, we have already secured markets for the produce in Europe, China, India, Dubai and Africa. Additionally, through mega farms unit, we are committed to fast track all the processes to increase the mega farms and also ensure that each mega farm has a factory for agro processing within it," said Chakwera.

In the energy sector, Chakwera said World Bank has also supported the construction of the USD 350 million Mpatamanga hydro power plant to support power generation which is essential for promoting industrialization.

Speaking earlier, Minister of Trade and Industry Vitumbiko Mumba noted that the increase in the number of exhibitors at this year’s fair—from 142 last year to 191—demonstrates the government’s commitment to creating a conducive environment for the private sector to drive industrialization in the country.

He said the Trade and Industry ministry is implementing a suite of strategic interventions to support industrialization and export growth such as establishment of special economic zones, promotion of agro processing and value addition, empowering innovation and entrepreneurship among others.

"With such initiatives, I believe it is possible to transform the country into an inclusive, wealthy, and self-reliant, industrialized upper-middle-income nation," he said.

President of Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) Dr. Wisely Phiri, hailed President Chakwera for presiding over the event, saying the gesture indicates government's commitment to having a vibrant and dynamic private sector.

The trade fair is conducted annually to provide a platform for local and international delegates and exhibitors to connect, collaborate and explore new business opportunities.

This year's event, which will run until May 29, is being held under the theme: 'promoting economic transformation through private sector-led industrialization'.

Approximately 191 exhibitors from Malawi and countries such as Zambia, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Tanzania are participating in the fair.

By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, May 22, Mana: Officer-in-Charge for Chitipa Police, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Morgan Dzonzi, has cautioned people in the district against indulging into political violence during the forthcoming general election on September 16, 2025.

Dzonzi issued the caution on Wednesday during a community gathering at Seventh Day Adventist church ground in Senior Chief Mwabulambya in Chitipa district.

He urged the communities to refrain from holding illegal demonstrations, damaging and stealing government property, saying the tendency derails development of the district and country as a whole.

“Let me encourage traditional leaders and your subjects to love one another. It is bad to indulge in political violence. Let's promote dialogue if differences arise in order to foster tangible development,” Dzonzi appealed.

He then assured people of Chitipa of his office's commitment to working with the communities to make the district a crime free zone.

“I am overwhelmed with the large gathering today. This symbolizes unity, vibrant community policing activities and commitment by the community in the fight against crime,” he said.

Station Executive Committee (SEC) Vice Chairperson for Chitipa Police Station, Yotam Kabaghe, pledged his commitment to working closely with the law enforcers to ensure that community-policing activities are taking the right direction in the district.

Group Village Head Mkombanyama thanked the Officer-in-Charge and some senior staff from Chitipa Police for sparing their time to visit Mkombanyama area.

He assured the police that traditional leaders and their subordinates will work around the clock to prevent political violence, and foster peace.

Chitipa Police Station has intensified sensitization campaigns in the district on dangers of political violence.

By Evance Chisiano

Blantyre, May 21, Mana: Delegates at the two-day Public Affairs Committee (PAC) 6th All-Inclusive Stakeholders Conference in Blantyre concluded the indaba with hopes for free, credible, peaceful, and well-resourced elections, placing their trust in the Malawi Electoral Commission, Malawi Police Service, Ministry of Finance, and the Reserve Bank of Malawi to fulfill their duties and meet Malawians’ expectations for a smooth electoral process.

The 6th edition of the indaba, titled ‘All-Inclusive Stakeholders Conference on Potential Triggers of Electoral Disputes: 2025 General Elections’, was held at Sunbird Mount Soche Hotel from May 20 to May 21 under the theme ‘Securing Consensus on Transparent and Accountable Electoral Governance through Dialogue’.

PAC Chairperson, Monsignor, Dr. Patrick Thawale expressed hope that those entrusted with roles and responsibilities of ensuring free, fair, credible, and non-violence electoral process will do the needful per the expectations of the conference delegates who raised a number of issues ranging from political intolerance, alleged selective arrests by the Malawi Police to demonstrations that are characterized by rooting, theft, plus social media circulated misinformation and disinformation.

“Let electoral stakeholders discharge their responsibilities to the beloved Malawi. Let us take it a priority to be good Malawians,” he added at the end of the conference whose delegates included; MEC officials led by its Chairperson, Justice Annabel Mtalimanja, political parties’ representatives, development partners such as UNDP, civil society organizations, traditional leaders, the clergy, Malawi Police Service and other law enforcement agencies.

Reserve Bank of Malawi Governor, Dr. MacDonald Mafuta Mwale, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Simplex Chithyola Banda and Minister of Information and Digitalization, Moses Kunkuyu also attended the conference where concerns over forex and fuel scarcity during elections were raised on top of concerns over broadcasters failing to do their rightful roles.

On the first day of the conference, Justice Mtalimanja assured delegates of credible elections amidst delegates’ fears of electoral maladministration while Reserve Bank of Malawi, Governor Mafuta Mwale and Minister of Finance Chithyola Banda assured the delegates and Malawians of availability of forex and fuel supply for smooth electoral process.

On the second day, the Malawi Police Service took to the floor to explain its mandate in public order management, and its plans to deploy adequate personnel in areas of higher level of political violence ahead of the polls and further deployment of personnel in all polling centers across Malawi to ensure security on the polling day, September 16.

Inspector General Merlyne Yolamu dismissed all doubts of selective justice in handling perpetrators of political violence, stating that the Malawi Police will continue to carry out its duties professionally and without political influence from the ruling party.

“We serve government of the day and by government of the day, l mean that Malawi Police serves all Malawians. Government is all about citizens of Malawi and in this case Malawi Police will continue to provide security to every Malawian,” she added with assurance that police will continue investigating all suspects of political violence in Lilongwe, Dowa, Machinga and other parts of Malawi.

The Inspector General therefore called on political parties to do issue based campaign other than exploiting young people to cause violence and further appealed to civil societies to desist from organizing demonstrations that are characterized with theft and vandalism of property.

“We will meet CSOs very soon to discuss issues and to give you room so that you should voice your concerns,” she said.

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Publicity Secretary, Dr. Jessie Kabwila hailed PAC’s 6^th Stakeholders Conference saying it was pleasing to note that delegates want Malawi to have violence free electoral process on top of fairness and credibility.

“Malawians have spoken. All we need is free, fair and credible elections. Malawians don’t want fighting,” she noted.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Director of Women, Mary Navicha however called on the Malawi Police Service to provide adequate security to women politicians as the country heads to elections in September, saying police should consider all concerns raised by conference delegates, citing the law enforcer’s alleged failure to provide necessary security in time of peaceful demonstration.