By Levison Lester

Lilongwe, April 26, MANA: Minister of Labour, Agnes Nyalonje says a report which National Statistical Office (NSO) has launched indicates that the country needs collaborative efforts from stakeholders and government in order to address work deficits and rights of workers in the tobacco sector.

Speaking in Lilongwe on Friday during the launch of the report on the survey of Tenant Growers in Malawi’s Tobacco Industry, Nyalonje said the country is comprised of people whose majority are the youth, as such the issue of tenancy labour needs to be addressed if Malawi is to achieve inclusive wealth by 2063.

She said that tobacco industry is one of the biggest employers in Malawi hence workers in the sector needs to be protected against the challenges they face.

“In 2021, the government amended an employment Act to abolish the tenancy labour in the tobacco industry. When you pass a law, the implementation is a process which requires a baseline of information. So in 2022, the government through the ministry of labour commissioned the study which NSO carried out. The report is a confirmation of why the government was committed to abolish tenancy labour.

“Our president, Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has audibly indicated that Agriculture is one of the pillars that can take the country into 2063. ATM aims at improving the productivity and commercialization in agriculture sector.  So Malawi being a country full of young people, it means tenancy labour has not spared them. Therefore, there is need to address the issue of tenancy labour if we are to improve decent work in this sector,”

Nyalonje also added that the country has been struggling to deal with issues of tenancy labour because many Malawians take the issue as culture, as such it becomes difficult to change the people’s way of life.

Director of International Labour Organizations (ILO), Wellington Chibebe said the report by NSO has uncovered instances of harassments which needs to be quickly addressed for workers in tobacco sector to enjoy international labour laws.

He said the issue of child labour, land ownership, working conditions portray the existence of modern slavery, as such stakeholders should work hand in hand to abolish tenancy labour.

"The report has highlighted key areas relating to strategic decent work which include incidences of forced and child labour, food insecurity, household financial accessibility, and land ownership. In addition, the survey has also provided tenets that needs clear understanding of the issue at hand. The report has challenged us all to focus and do the needful in making sure that decent work is legal in Malawi following the abolishment of tenancy labour in 2021," He said.

In his remarks, Executive Director for Employers Consultative Association of Malawi (ECAM), George Khaki said the report is commendable because it will help to focus on areas of improvement in as far as policy implementation is concerned.

The report on the survey on Tenant Growers in Malawi's Tobacco Industry was conducted in 2022 in tobacco growing 15 districts.

The report indicates that 42.3 percent of children between ages of 5-17 engage in child labour, 99 percent of tenant growers lack knowledge on the importance of joining Trade Unions, and 75.9 percent of tenants are not informed in deductions that incur from inputs.

By Sheminah Nkhoma

Blantyre, April 26, Mana: Minister of Water and Sanitation Abidah Mia has encouraged Muslim journalists to be in the forefront in promoting Islam in the country.

Speaking on Friday during Annual General meeting of Association of Muslim Journalists (AMUJO) at Malawi Sun Hotel in Blantyre, Mia said it is the responsibility of Muslim Journalists to be reporting on issues that will unite the nation.

“There are a lot of fake news that are published about Muslims in the world so as journalists I urge you to be writing on issues that are true and will not divide the nation”, Said Mia.

She further said as Muslim Journalists they should make sure that they follow the Islamic teachings as well as the laws of the country when they are working.

In his remarks Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM) general secretary, Dr Alhaj Twaib Lawe emphasised on working together with the Muslim Journalists in the country.

“As a mother body of Muslims in the country we are going to make sure that we give support to the Journalists because they work so hard in disseminating information to the public “, Said Lawe.

Organising chair for the event Alhaj Chekaukutu Ndege says the gathering will help shape the way for the organisation.

The two days meeting is under the theme "Empowering Muslim journalists to dispel misconceptions about Islam and bring sanity to the world"

By Andrew Phiri

Thyolo, 26 April, Mana: Business operators at Luchenza Municipal Council in Thyolo District have demonstrated and petitioned Luchenza town assembly over tax hike of about 400 percent on various businesses and substandard public infrastructure such as bus depot which was constructed few years ago but is said to be in a sorry state.

Delivering the petition to the Luchenza Municipal Council Chief Executive Officer, Wanyapakucha Mzumara, one of the leaders for the group, George Jubeki, said it was worrisome to see the council raising business tax with 400 percent as majority of businesses are small.

He said the demonstrations have provided opportunity for them to raise their concerns, adding that businesses such as kabaza bicycles operators, mandasi and chips sellers face various abuses from council’s mobile tax collectors.

“We hope that the issues we have raised in our petition will help the council to reduce the taxes because we have been paying tax for many years but there is no tangible development.

" Many businesses are closing because they are failing to operate with the tax standard so it is our hope that by next month, all these issues will be addressed," he said.

Speaking after receiving the petition, Mzumara said before raising the business license fees, the council made systematic review in all areas.

"We normally do consultations and we engaged one of the business leaders in the previous meetings and expected to receive feedback from them which has not been the case until today,

"We will ensure that there is good relationship between our members of staff and business people because Luchenza is a business oriented municipal council," he added.

People demonstrated from Makande Trading Center via Luchenza community ground to the municipal offices and this was the first time for business operators in the area to hold peaceful demonstrations.  

By Lesnat Kenan

Lilongwe, April 26, mana: Minister of Mining Monica Chang'anamuno has argued all students in the country to preach and demonstrate peace and love to one another emphasizing that this will help Malawi to improve in the education sector.

Chang'anamuno was speaking on Friday at Mbinzi Secondary School in Lilongwe during the re-launch of World Day of Prayers in Secondary and Primary Schools in Malawi by the Malawi Council of Churches (MCC)an event which attracted participants from 30 public secondary schools from Lilongwe.

"The re-launch of World Day of Prayer is important because as Malawi, we are having Malawi 2063 vision and for us to achieve this we need peace and for that to come we need love, therefore the theme is in line with this as it talks about bearing love with one another”. She said.

Chang`anamuno said the youths need to grasp peace and love as a country that doesn't have peace can never fulfill its vision therefore, adding it is important to go to schools and let students know that they need to practice peace and love while they are young.

Malawi stopped observing the day in primary and secondary schools because of the COVID 19 pandemic.

General Secretary for Malawi Council of Churches, Reveland Alemekezeke Phiri, said that the future for this country is in the hands of the younger generation therefore re-launching the World Day of Prayers in schools is a right step forward as the youths are the ones to implement vision 2063.

"As MCC, we have sensitized other churches that wherever there is a school, members should ensure that this day is maintained and prayers should continue, “He said.

He also advised student in schools to participate in world day of prayer and that peace, love and prayer should be part of their everyday life's.

In her remarks, Phalace Samuel a student at Mbinzi Secondary school expressed gratitude for the re-launch of this day saying it helps to bring unity and love between students, teachers and Malawi as a nation.

She also pleaded other students to stop practicing vandalism in schools as this disturbs education learning.

Women's World Day of Prayer is an annual event held on the first Friday of March. This year, the day was held under the theme "I beg you...Bear with one another in love"

By Andrew Phiri

Thyolo, April 26, Mana: Deputy Director for Civic Education in the Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture, Lawrence Useni, has assured communities in Thyolo District that government is committed to provide dialogic platforms where community members including youths should discuss with relevant authorities’ various factors that contribute to Malawi’s rapid population growth.

He made the remarks on Thursday at Bvumbwe Trading Centre, Traditional Authority (TA) Bvumbwe in the district where Directorate of Civic Education in collaboration with Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) were recording Malawi Wanga program dubbed Pabwalo, a television and radio play which is aimed at promoting citizen engagement for proactive participation on issues of national development.

He observed that lack of job opportunities among youths and limited access to medical services in some hospitals across the country are among major factors that contribute to alarming population growth as shown by National Statistics Office 2018’s population figures which puts the country`s total population at 18 million.

"One of the issues that came out of the discussion is early marriage. Many youths do not have stable income generating activities.

He said that currently, government is rolling out various initiatives under the Ministry of Youth such as loans through National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) and vocational skills through TEVETA among others so that the youths should have something to do. He advised the youths to utilize the programmes.

Useni called on parents, guardians and other relevant authorities and sectors to provide proper guidance on the youth on the right time to get married.

"We are also calling upon parents to take an active role in advising the youths on the right time for marriages and we believe this will help the government and Civil Society Organizations to work effectively on various programs," he said.

Chairperson for Bvumbwe Area Development Committee, Maulidi Kawere, said MBC and Directorate of Civic Education’s Pa Bwalo was a timely initiative, adding that the initiative has the potential to provide opportunity to youths to speak out their concerns on matters of national interest.

One of the youths in the district, Dickson Makaya, concurred with Maulidi saying there was need for the Ministry of Local Government and MBC to sustain the initiative for public and policy makers interest if the youths were to effectively contribute to Malawi 2063 Agenda.

"Government should strive to reach out to people in the rural areas where many are facing socio- economic challenges such as hunger and poverty. I believe that most challenges that are hindering this country to develop are in rural areas," he said.

Centre for Social Concern, Economic Governance Officer, Agness Nyirongo applauded government for rolling out the initiative.

She called on government and its partners to take extra efforts in investing in health and education sectors, saying the two are key to national development.

By Sellah Chunda and Gift Chiponde

Lilongwe, April 26, Mana: Minister of health, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda has described the launch of Malawi Health Sector Strategic Plan 3 and the Health Financing Strategy as a propeller to enhance and promote the quality of Health Service Delivery in the country.

She made the remarks on Friday at Sunbird Capital Hotel in Lilongwe during a press briefing on the launch of Malawi Health Sector Strategic Plan 3.

She said among other things, the Strategic plans will help increase life expectancy, reduce high mortality rate and maternal mortality rates reduce HIV prevalence and enhance health infrastructure development and services.

The minister emphasized that the plan will help improve health services at community level and provide health workers with necessary and readily available equipment. Additionally, the Plan will turn Health Centres into Community Hospitals to provide integrated health services and care and the Digitization of the health systems.

She also revealed that districts like Lilongwe and Blantyre will also benefit from the plan, allowing them to have District Hospitals which they have lacked for a long time.

"The declaration states that every national budget must contribute 15 percent of the national budget to promote the well-being and livelihoods, which as a country we have managed to be at 12 per cent which is a good gesture in health promotion," she said.

She said the government is committed to providing all services in Malawi with the partnership of the private sector for specialized diseases for robust health service delivery.

The minister also said that her ministry is committed to to providing health services to all Malawian nationals and foreigners on Malawian soil.

Executive Director for Malawi Equity Health Network (MEHN), George Jobe, Commended the government for the current allocation to the Ministry of Health which he said is close to the Abuja declaration and the aspirations of Universal Health Coverage.

By Lekereni Chinkhota

Salima, April 25, MANA: Ministry of Lands has called upon stakeholders to be producing, using, storing and sharing high quality geospatial data that is standardized and accurately depicts information of features and activities taking place in the country, saying that such information is pertinent.

Geospatial data include information about weather readings, maps, real estate listings, contacts lists, traffic and accident data, and other points of interest data.

Speaking on Thursday during the sensitization and establishment of Malawi Geographic Information Council (MAGIC) in Salima, Surveyor General in the Ministry of Lands, Masida Mbano said MAGIC will enable the establishment of a one stop Centre for data access and sharing.

“In Malawi there are many stakeholders that are dealing with spatial data, data which is surveyed about location, disasters and all data in institutions. This data has no standard, it is collected in various formats and is not compatible with each other," Mbano said.

He said the council will make sure that there is proper standard, usage and presentation of the data that can be compatible and be mapped properly to be recognized worldwide.

Mbano added that with the absence of MAGIC, duplication of data was common which was costing the country a lot of money because different stakeholders would produce same pictures but on different surveys.

“If data is already collected by an organization and another organization needs the same data it will be shared to show that such organizations are doing the same thing. There is a lot of data in various offices that is not shared but it can be useful to other organizations, MAGIC will set rules on how such kind of data can be shared for the benefit of the country,” he said.

In her words, Chresceuntia Msasa a Lecturer in Geographic Information Systems at Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) underscored the importance of having the council, observing that it will boost the quality of data that various stakeholders produce.

She said: “The council will enable access to geospatial data, where to look for information, the quality of data on position accuracy and features or how the data was generated. People were using inaccurate information that was affecting the final product such as maps.”

Msasa further said it is important for various stakeholders to work hand in hand with the council for better results of the spatial data.

“The council will be working with spatial data producers and custodians for them to understand the intellectual property of the data, and the limitations of the usage of its usage," she said.

Meanwhile, Msasa has urged the council to set proper spatial data standards that each stakeholder will take into consideration to avoid compromising the end result that follows the usage of inaccurate data.

MAGIC was revamped in 2016 and has been given power to set standards that will be followed by stakeholders responsible for spatial data production to have high standard data that is accurate and trusted.