MANAonline
Islamic Relief hands over solar water supply system
By Nellie Nyirenda
Blantyre, February 9, Mana: Islamic Relief Malawi, under the lntegrated Protection and Basic Needs Support (IPBNS) project, has handed over the solar–powered water system to Mpapa Primary School at Traditional Authority (TA) Somba in Blantyre to ease water challenges that compromises child education.
Speaking during the handover ceremony this week, Islamic Relief Malawi Project Coordinator, Ajasi Hussein, observed that Mpapa was one of the schools that faced water challenges hence provision of the piped water to ensure that learners access clean and portable water at a convenient place.
“The project’s goal is to contribute to the fulfillment of basic rights and core needs for vulnerable communities in three group village heads of Blantyre. Islamic Relief, under the project which started in October 2021, has built houses and sanitary facilities such as toilets for poor families and today, we are handing over the solar-powered water system,” said Hussein.
He, therefore, urged the beneficiaries to take ownership of the infrastructural development to benefit them now and in the future.
In his remarks, Director of Education, Youth and Sports for Blantyre District Council, Paul Chiphanda, expressed gratitude to Islamic Relief Malawi for the project saying the development will help prevent water-borne diseases that come due to poor hygiene.
“We have 16 zones with more than 100 schools in Blantyre and Mpapa Primary School is one of them. We appreciate what Islamic Relief Malawi has done,” said Chiphanda.
Islamic Relief Malawi implements several projects aimed at increasing resilience to natural disaster apart from tackling food insecurity by supporting vulnerable families in local communities as a way of building secure livelihood.
The organisation also runs seasonal programmes by distributing ramadan and ourbani food parcels to needy families.
Minister impressed with NYS programme
By Tawonga Moyo
Mzuzu, February 8, Mana: Minister of Youth and Sports Uchizi Mkandawire has expressed satisfaction with the skills training being undertaken under the National Youth Service (NYS) programme, saying it has opened doors for youth to become self-reliant.
Speaking on Thursday when he paid a visit to one of the training sites of the programme in Dunduzu, Mzuzu, Mkandawire said to witness the growth of the programme from 100 to 3,600 youth is proof of the positive impact it is having on the ground.
"We have over 81 groups under this initiative across the country and here in Mzuzu City, youth from Chiputula and Chibavi Wards are amongst the 3,600 youth that are learning different skills under NYS.
“I thought it wise to come and appreciate what they are able to do. I am pleased to note that they are now serving their communities by among other things, fixing street lights and generating manure for crops,” said Mkandawire.
He said government is now targeting to train 20,000 young people across the country and that in the 2024/2025 financial year, the ministry will be lobbying parliament for more funding towards the programme.
In her remarks, Director of Funding and Finance at TEVET, Sarah Zgambo, contributed the success of the programme in Mzuzu to the cordial relationship which exists between TEVET, the Ministry of Youth and Sports as well as Mzuzu City Council.
“We thank your direct involvement in monitoring the progress by visiting sites where trainings are being conducted. Here in Mzuzu, we have managed to train 90 youths, 34 of which are girls and the results are impressive,” said Zgambo.
In his remarks, chairperson for Chibavi Youth Action Group, Matthews Kumwenda, called upon government to maintain the programme, saying as youth, they had acquired various skills.
“We have learnt how to make organic fertiliser from waste materials, which we sell at K15,000 per bag. As a group, we got interested with the element of making manure because we want to help the council clear waste in the city,” said Kumwenda.
President Lazarus Chakwera officially established the National Youth Service Programme in Neno District in July 2022.
Modern toilets revolutionise sanitation
By Vincent Khonje
Mchinji, February 8, Mana: At Chitunda Primary School in the heart of Mchinji, in the area of Senior Chief Mduwa, attention is drawn to the toilets.
A unique feature of the toilets is that most of them have collapsed or are leaning towards one side, posing a constant risk of collapse.
The school, which opened its doors in 1989, has long grappled with collapsed toilets, posing a serious hazard to the numerous learners who move around the premises daily.
Deputy head teacher Benson Friday vividly describes the challenges, stating: "In a quest to improve hygiene and sanitation, the old toilets are compromising everything."
Initially covered with trees and later replaced with concrete slabs, the school's toilets succumbed to the persistent issue of waterlogging, rendering them unsuitable for pit latrines.
However, the dire situation changed with the intervention of the Sustainable Food Systems for Rural Resilience and Transformation (TRANSFORM) programme under the wings of Assemblies of God Care (AG CARE), coordinated by Norwegian Church Aid and Dan Church Aid (NCA/DCA).
This life-changing initiative has ushered in a new era, replacing old problematic toilets with modern, durable alternatives.
AG CARE, through TRANSFORM, has gone further to provide Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) interventions, offering sanitation entrepreneur training and deployment.
As a way of promoting acceptable health practices, the organization decided to equip artisans with knowledge of constructing modern toilets that conform to good hygiene and sanitation practices both in homes and schools.
One such artisan, Binton Katengeza, hailing from Mtenje Village in T/A Mduwa, underwent training in 2022, returning to his community armed with skills to revolutionise sanitation and hygiene.
After training, he approached the Village Development Committee (VDC), advocating for modern toilets.
Katengeza also introduced the modern toilets called Corbelled or 'Mwamuna apumule' to Chitunda school, transforming the hygiene landscape.
A Corbelled toilet is a type of modern pit latrine that features a unique construction method; instead of a traditional straight-sided pit, the Corbelled toilet has a wider base that gradually tapers upward, resembling an inverted cone.
This design helps distribute weight more evenly and provides stability, reducing the risk of collapse.
Katengeza's journey exemplifies the ripple effect of the TRANSFORM programme as the training empowered him economically, enabling him to start working immediately.
Since then, he has been constructing these toilets, not only transforming lives but also earning a livelihood for himself.
“I have contributed to a number of toilets in this area. I have constructed 25 Corbelled pit latrines that are strong and cannot collapse,” said Katengeza.
Deputy head teacher Friday notes the remarkable shift after the intervention as the toilets have stood against the soil structure, which has seen most other toilets succumb to waterlogging.
"In 2022, an artisan trained by AG CARE introduced himself and modern toilets to the school.
“These toilets have proven to be durable. Modern toilets like Corbelled have not only proven cost-effective but also environmentally friendly, sparing the use of trees,” said Friday.
The availability of inexpensive but durable toilets leads to low cases of open defecation as most families and institutions that attract a lot of people can afford them.
The unavailability of land to construct a pit latrine, coupled with waterlogging, makes community members have toilets with pits that are not deep enough, increasing cases of open defecation.
Mchinji WASH Coordinator Ganizani Chirindanji acknowledges the unique challenges in Mchinji, emphasizing waterlogged areas leading to collapsed pit latrines.
Chirindanji notes that in primary schools, there are many children, so the need to have improved and modern toilets is paramount.
“Corbelled toilets are the recommended improved pit latrines because they take time to get full and are durable,” said Chirindanji.
The introduction of Corbelled toilets has brought relief, offering a recommended solution to improve latrines' durability, especially in schools with high learner numbers.
Chitunda school, with 1,993 learners, aims to satisfy the recommended learner-toilet ratio for safety assurance to parents.
Village head (VH) Matutu expresses delight, particularly in safeguarding children.
"The collapsing of the toilets caused worry for the safety of the children, but with the Corbelled toilet, we know they cannot be harmed,” explained VH Matutu.
The impact of modern toilets extends beyond schools, relieving community members from frequent waterborne diseases.
The proactivity of the artisans to market themselves has made them widely known.
Community members like Paulo Mpenuka and his wife Tiwonge of Kalongola Village, T/A Mduwa, engaged an artisan for their corbelled toilet at home.
The Mpenukas note a positive transformation, saying a significant change is seen compared to when they were using ordinary pit latrines.
"The diseases that troubled my families are now a thing of the past. My husband can also attend to other economically empowering businesses than thinking of frequently constructing a toilet for us," stated Tiwonge, a mother of two.
The benefits of modern toilets like Corbelled go beyond good health, emanating from improved sanitation and hygiene, to environmental care through tree preservation.
Testimonies affirm that trees are being saved as they are no longer in use for toilet construction.
AG CARE's reach extends to 5,160 farmers in Mchinji, implementing the micro-investments component under the TRANSFORM programme in EPAs of Mikundi, Mkanda, Chioshya, and Kazyozyo.
Programme Manager Takondwa Phanga outlines the multifaceted approach.
“The micro-investment component we are implementing also includes providing safe water, promoting hygiene, and ensuring good nutrition. This involves constructing shallow wells equipped with hand pumps, rehabilitating boreholes, and training artisans to build modern toilets,” said Phanga.
In addition to helping farmers live healthier lives, securing shallow wells and repairing boreholes has given them access to water for drip irrigation, enabling them to grow crops for a variety of nutritional purposes and economic empowerment.
In the face of collapsed toilets, Mchinji is witnessing a transformative change, not just in schools but across communities.
Promoting best practices in public works programmes
By Yamikani Yapuwa
Thyolo, February 8, Mana: It is nine in the morning in the area of Traditional Authority Nsabwe and under some mango trees are a group of men and women listening attentively to one man in front of them.
The man is Martin Andrew, an Agriculture Extension Development Officer (AEDO) for Thekerani North Section under Thekerani EPA and the group comprises members of Catchment Management Committee (CMC), Grievance Redress Mechanism Committee (GRMC), as well as foremen under the Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) under Lisule 1 Catchment.
Andrew is orienting the committees on how to handle and address grievances reported by participants of the programme as well as unpacking safety nets on how they can avoid injuries during work sessions.
“The district team oriented us extension workers on GRM and we are supposed to do the same with these grassroots committees.
“We are orienting them on how they can address issues that come out as participants are working under various components of the programme,” he says and adds that he tells them ways and procedures to be followed to deal with problems and complaints that may rise.
"We know that some complaints can be handled and tackled at community level, others at village head level as well district level.
"All this is to ensure that work under the CS-EPWP is going smoothly thereby achieving its intended purpose of conserving land and bringing back the lost forest glory in the areas," says Andrew.
Andrew explains that it is very important to have this training because the participants work on other people's land and fields and it is very obvious that they will be receiving complaints from the owners; as such, they need to know how they can sort those issues peacefully using right procedures.
"Further to that, the participants come from different backgrounds so disagreements will always arise so long as they are working together hence having such mechanism put in place in case disagreements arise," he explains.
Desk Officer for CS-EPWP at Thyolo District Council, Francis Yohane, says the orientation meetings have taken place in all the 16 catchment areas where CSPWP is being implemented.
"We want to make sure that the GRMC members know their roles and responsibilities for them to be vibrant in handling grievances at community level," says Yohane.
Yohane states that the use of GRMCs in resolving grievances is very cost-effective than litigation hence the need to ensure that the committees are functional in the communities.
District Land Resources Conservation Officer Madalitso Uledi notes that GRMC plays a crucial role in ensuring that disputes related to implementation of social support programmers and interventions are treated separately and given priority.
"Having vibrant GRMC in public works programmes is important as they help to identify and investigate grievances related to the implementation of activities
"Further it also promotes transparency and accountability at all levels during implementation of activities thereby promoting sustainability of the programme," says Uledi.
Group Village Head Kalingende hails GRMCs, saying they have removed the burden of having to mediate on issues coming from participants.
"With these committees, we can now focus on other important development activities in our areas since participants will have to go to the GRMC first before involving us, as it was the case previously," she adds.
Village Head Kabichi under Traditional Authority Nanseta adds that participants now know where to take their concerns, complaints and grievances.
"The committees now know how to take up cases without bias and this will promote oneness in the communities.
"This is also promoting a culture of using proper procedures when aggrieved instead of resorting to violence," says Kabichi.
Beyond the project, Village Head Kabichi thinks that this will instill a culture of peacefully sorting out issues among their subjects.
"I believe that what is instilled in them will even go to their children thereby creating communities that seek redress peacefully," she says.
Apart from relieving the pressure on local leaders, the district council is also already benefiting from the establishment of GRMC.
Attesting to this is the District Commissioner for Thyolo, Hudson Kuphanga, who testifies that the number of complaints that used to come to his office has drastically decreased since people are now able to sort issues in their villages.
"We now have established GRMCs which are playing a huge role in terms of controlling small issues which trickled down from the villages to the DC offices.
"The committees have removed the burden that was there on us as they were solely relying on us to help them solve matters therefore taking most of our time," says Kuphanga.
He adds that the district council is now concentrating on issues of policy and how to bring development initiatives that will uplift the lives of people in Thyolo.
On safety nets, Kuphanga says they will make sure that they include more when planning to ensure that people working in public works programmes are covered.
The Grievance Redress Mechanism is a key component in the CS-EPWP which is being implemented in all district councils with funding from the World Bank and the Social Protection Multi Donor Trust Fund.
Nsanje targets 1.6 million trees during tree planting season
By Robert Nayeja
Nsanje, February 8, Mana: Chairperson for Nsanje District Council, Mike Kafalachi, has disclosed that the council will plant 1.6 million trees during 2023-2024 forestry season.
Kafalachi said in an interview after launch of 2024 forestry season in the district on Wednesday at Khuluvi Primary School in Traditional Authority Ngabu’s area.
He therefore appealed to communities to take active role in the tree planting exercise, considering that the district currently experiences huge effects of climate change triggered by human induced non environmental activities, such as cutting down of trees, among others.
“Nsanje is a victim of floods and drought. We have witnessed various cyclones which have caused a lot of devastation of our livelihood. Let us all take part in tree planting to minimize the pain caused by effects of climate change,” appealed Kafalachi, adding that the district focused on smart innovative ways to plant trees and protect forest for sustainable livelihood for future generation.
“We need to take positive steps to make our environment a better place to live for us all and our grandchildren,” he added.
Member of Parliament for Nsanje South West, Eurita Mtiza, said there was need to put much effort in protecting trees that have been planted to ensure high rate of survival.
“The survival rate of trees in my area is minimal. It is time that everyone must take responsibility to take care of trees that have been planted,” she said.
Nsanje District Commissioner Dominic Mwandira said the council had put in place measures to protect and preserve trees to avoid further soil erosion and other forms of land degradation.
“We have increased our human resources on forest patrols to reduce illegal cutting down of trees but let us all take a lead and be exemplary in protecting environment. Everyone must be committed to preserve the environment.” he said while calling for mindset change to achieve restoration of depleted forest.
“Let us not just leave the issue of planting and protecting trees to forestry department and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) alone. We need concerted effort to restore our environment to achieve Malawi 2063,” said Mwandira.
Mwandira also asked traditional leaders to be vigilant in protecting the environment and acknowledged the effort by the NGOs in restoring the environment in the district.
Concern Worldwide, World Vision and Churches Action in Relief Development were some of NGOs that took part in the tree planting exercise.
President Lazarus Chakwera launched 2023-2024 forestry season on January 26 at Mpasa hills in Phalombe, under the theme ‘Forest innovation in action: reforestation for sustainable tomorrow’
First Lady donates medical equipment to Kabudula Community Hospital
By Andrew Mkonda
Lilongwe, February 8, Mana: First Lady Monica Chakwera has underscored the need for government and development partners to join hands in providing modern equipment to health facilities across the country.
Madame Chakwera made the call Thursday at Kabudula Community Hospital in Lilongwe after donating various medical equipment.
The donated items included beds, office desks, wheel chairs, buckets, blood pressure monitors, and Likuni phala among others.
The First Lady, who was accompanied by Former Vice President of Liberia Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor, said the government, led by President Lazarus Chakwera, is committed to improve the living standard of the people by, among other things, making sure people, more especially in rural areas, have access to good health service delivery.
“I am very thankful that today I can make this donation from our well-wishers. This donation is in line with Malawi Vision 2063 enabler number 5 which talks about human capital development through improvement of the well-being of the people in the country,” she said.
In his remarks, Deputy Minister of Health Halima Daud said government is committed to improve health service delivery in the country by, among other things, constructing new hospitals and rehabilitating all old facilities.
Daud then disclosed that the country will soon have its cancer centre in Lilongwe which she said will serve a number of lives who could not manage to get such services outside the country.
Member of Parliament for Lilongwe North West Mphatso Boti thanked the First Lady for the donation, saying it will go a long way in assisting the rural masses at the facility.
Boti, however, asked government to expand the Kabudula Community Hospital to a rural hospital, saying it is serving a number of people not only around Kabudula, but also patients from Dowa, Santhe and Kasungu.
“Your Excellency, this hospital looks small in appearance, but numerically it is serving almost 56,000 people from this area.
“Additionally, this hospital is also a referral of some health centres but it has only two ambulances and 48 health personnel, hence a need for expansion,” he said.
Lilongwe Director of Health and Social Services Dr. Wilson Ching’ani thanked the timely donation and assured government that the donated items will be used for the intended purpose.
However, Chin’gani said inadequate staff in many health facilities remains a very big challenge that retards the efforts of providing good health services delivery.
Likoma DC urges communities to embrace good nutrition practices
By Ireen Mseteka
Likoma, February 8, Mana: District Commissioner (DC) for Likoma, Abubakar Nkhoma, has asked community members to embrace good nutrition practices, including consumption of six food groups to maintain good health.
Nkhoma said this on Thursday when Invest in Early Years Program (IEYP) distributed wrappers to 700 beneficiaries of the programme at Chizumulu Island.
“The wrappers which you have received are displaying nutritional messages. These messages are not there for decoration but they have an intended purpose. You need to put into practice whatever message is there, such as eating six food groups to sustain health lives with your families,” said Nkhoma.
He encouraged the beneficiaries to wear the wrappers in order to disseminate the messages displayed to community members than using the wrappers as bed sheets or curtains.
Community Facilitator for IEYP Project, Vision Mkumbwa, said apart from being information, education and communication materials, the wrappers were distributed to motivate the beneficiaries.
“Apart from the wrappers, beneficiaries have beneficiated in various ways such as receiving bicycles, laptop bags, weighing scales and livestock, including goats, ducks, and chickens which have contributed in improving nutritional status of their households,” he said.
Nutrition promoter for Chiteko Village Development Committee, Winnie Majiwa, said the economic and nutrition status of her household has improved after she received banana suckers, fruit tree seedlings, goats and chickens from the programme.
Irrigation schemes rehabilitation to boost agricultural production, commercialisation - GBA
By Wakisa Myamba
Karonga, February 8, Mana: Green Belt Authority (GBA) Director of Irrigation Operations, Dr Chisomo Kumbuyo, says the rehabilitation of Dwambazi, Lweya, Mlambe and Chipoka irrigation schemes into mega farms will help in boosting agricultural production and commercialisation in the country.
Kumbuyo was speaking on Wednesday at Lusubilo Conference Hall in Karonga during a media orientation for journalists based in the district on GBA projects.
"Currently, GBA is focusing on rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure such as Mlambe Irrigation Scheme in Mangochi which is about 800 hectares, Ncharo Irrigation Scheme in Chikwawa and the construction of Nthola Ilola Scheme in Karonga. Upon completion of the works, the schemes will contribute towards agricultural production and commercialisation", said Kumbuyo.
He added: "The construction of Nthola Ilola Rice Irrigation Scheme which has components like the construction of a milling and a processing factory, which is at 90 percent completion, and the construction of water intake, which is at 60 percent, are all meant to be completed by the end of February."
Kumbuyo explained that they will carry out additional works at Nthola Ilola Rice processing factory, such as construction of a security fence and a warehouse which will be undertaken during 2024/2025 financial year.
One of the participants, Nation Publications Limited correspondent Jordan Phiri, hailed GBA for the orientation, saying it has come at the right time when some of the projects under GBA are being implemented in the district.
"I would like to urge journalists in the district and across Malawi to exercise their educative and informative role effectively for the public to have knowledge and appreciate the benefits of GBA interventions being carried out in their premises,” said Phiri.
Community members advised against dependency syndrome
By Ireen Mseteka
Likoma, February 8, Mana: Commissioner for Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), Charles Kalemba, has advised people in Likoma District to refrain from dependency syndrome for their livelihoods.
Kalemba was speaking Wednesday during a distribution exercise of relief maize to 444 under privileged households in the district.
“What we are doing as DoDMA, we are providing relief assistance and we have also embarked on what we call a mindset change. Most people have created a mindset of waiting for somebody to help them all the time without taking individual actions to uplift oneself from poverty trap.
“This country has adequate resources, so we have to utilize our capabilities and abilities to mobilize worth for ourselves so that we meet one of the pillars of Malawi 2023 which talks of worth creation. This cannot be achieved by government alone, so everybody has to work towards this goal,” said Kalemba.
He noted that the district has people who have capacity to help themselves, saying the people have a lot to do which can make almost everybody in the district to be self-dependent.
District Commissioner for Likoma, Abubakar Nkhoma, thanked government for the relief assistance which he said would go a long way in serving hunger stricken households in the district.
“We are thankful for this; people will have food for the next two months,” said Nkhoma.
One of the beneficiaries from Chizumulu Island, Mary Malumbizo, commended government for the maize, saying it will serve her family and others who have acute food shortage in the district.
Lilongwe District Council approves K124.2 billion budget
By Andrew Mkonda
Lilongwe, February 8, Mana: Lilongwe District Council on Wednesday approved a K124.2 billion budget for 2024-2025 financial year with a 102% increase from the current year budget of K61.5 billion.
Presenting the budget during a full council meeting, the council’s finance committee chairperson, Councilor Limbani Phiri, said the 102% increase in the budget is because of the increased Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in the national budget from K100 million to K150 million.
The funds, according to the chairperson, will come from locally generated revenue, Other Recurrent Transactions (ORT) and CDF, among other sources.
“As a council, we want as much as possible to find ways of improving collection of our local revenue. As such, we want to expand some of the markets that we have,” he said.
In the approved budget, apart from CDF and Government for Enabled Service Deliver (GESD), which have the biggest allocations, the health and education sectors have got the lion's share in the budget at K4.3 billion and K1.9 billion respectively.
Reacting to the budget, Member of Parliament for Lilongwe Mpenu Nkhoma, Collins Kajawa, commended the council secretariat for the guidance towards the formation of a budget which he described as visionary.
Kajawa then asked for unity among council members for smooth implementation of the planned projects in the budget for the benefit of rural masses.
However, Bunda Ward Councillor Luciano Botoman expressed dissatisfaction with the 10 % salary increase for ward councilors in the budget, saying with the high cost of living, the increment is too little.
“We already get little salaries and with high cost of living caused by devaluation, at least we need a 25% salary increment as we agreed in the past,” he said, attracting a big shout and hand clapping from his fellow councilors.
In his response, Lilongwe District Commissioner Dr. Lawford Palani said the issue will be looked into and that all required procedures will be followed on whether to adjust upwards or not.
Palani then assured members of the council that if the budget can be implemented as planned, it will spur development and improve livelihoods of the communities.
