By Austine Patrice Kachilika

Mzimba, February 14, Mana: Communities under Traditional Authorities (T/A) Mzikubola and Kampingo Sibande in Mzimba have asked council authorities to improve on identification of beneficiaries for relief food under 2023/24 Lean Season Food Insecurity Response Programme (LSFIRP).

Speaking during a beneficiary verification exercise for CERC Maize Flour Support under the 2023/2024 LSFIRP on Tuesday, Dalabo Hara from Group Village Head (GVH) Zamagumbo, T/A Mzikubola in the district said some undeserving individuals were benefiting from the programme.

“We were told that Unified Beneficiary Registry (UBR) is the criteria adopted for the selection of relief beneficiaries; however, some most deserving individuals were left out of the programme while others who were at least able to fend for themselves were found on the beneficiary list,” she said.

One of the programme’s beneficiaries, Kefless Gausi from GVH Magumbo under T/A Mzikubola in the district, suggested that council officials should be visiting communities to assess severity of beneficiaries’ vulnerability instead of depending entirely on the UBR system’s data.

In his remarks, District Social Welfare Officer for Mzimba South, Sebastian Mkandawire, said all recommendations will be taken into consideration to ensure smooth implementation in the upcoming relief food distribution phase.

“We also urge you to report any misconduct and provide your feedback on the programme’s progress by dialing our toll-free numbers that will be communicated to you soon as part of the programme’s grievance addressing mechanism,” said Mkanadwire.

By Chisomo Kambandanga

NKhata Bay, February 14, Mana: Community Development Officer for Nkhata Bay District, Jacob Moloko, says the council is reconstituting area development committees (ADC) and village development committees (VDC) in the district. 

This comes following concerns that absence of such community structures is greatly affecting development activities, as implementing partners struggle to recognize who to work with at community level.

Speaking in an interview on Wednesday, Maloko said the council had already reconstituted 11 out of 19 ADCs in the district and was set to finalize the whole exercise by end February.

"With a directive from the Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture, VDCs and ADCs were dissolved in September 2023 across the country. However, councils were tasked to reconstitute these committees as soon as possible and Nkhata Bay has made progress regarding this process," he said.

While applauding some development partners for financially supporting the council to quicken the exercise, Maloko pleaded for more support.

"We thank our implementing partners, such as World Vision, Temwa Organization and Livingstonia Synod AIDS Program for timely support they have given the council in reconstituting the 11 ADCs but also hopeful of more support from other partners who are promising to come in," he said.

Chairperson for civil society organizations (CSOs) in Nkhata Bay, Micheal Mwanachawa, said the CSOs were also aiming to support in capacity building of the new ADCs and VDCs for effective implementation of project activities.

By George Mponda

Karonga, February 14, Mana: Community members from areas surrounding Nyika National Park and Vwaza Marsh Game Reserve in Malawi have asked government to revise the current National Parks and Wildlife Act, saying it is not serving the interests of people.

Chairperson for Nyika-Vwaza Association in Rumphi, Mary Gondwe, said this on Tuesday in Karonga during a two-day Stakeholder Engagement Plan and Grievous Redress Mechanism (GRM) workshop organized by Malawi-Zambia Trans frontier Conservation Area (MAZA-TFCA) project.

Gondwe said community members are of the view that the current National Parks and Wildlife Act favours animals at the expense of human beings.

"When wild animals destroy people’s fields or when they kill a person, there is nothing done to compensate them but when a person kills an animal, they are given jail sentences as long as 30 years.

“This is making it difficult for people to commit themselves to conservation efforts, as they feel oppressed by the very system they are supposed to protect," she said.

She said collaboration between the Department of Parks and Wildlife and the community in efforts to conserve Nyika and Vwaza Wildlife Reserves will progress well if the people living around these areas are also protected by the National Parks and Wildlife Act.

In a separate interview, MAZA-TFCA Project Manager George Nxumayo said the stakeholder engagement meeting was meant to provide a platform for people from communities around Nyika National Park and Vwaza Game Reserve and other stakeholders who are interested in conservation and livelihoods of people to interact.

"Stakeholders should expect better management of their grievances by using GRM in which they have been trained by the Malawi Human Rights Commission. In turn, this will enhance ownership and total participation in conservation efforts for Nyika and Vwaza Game Reserves," Nxumayo said.

On his part, Traditional Authority (T/A) Karonga stressed the need for the provision of proper incentives to people living around Nyika National Park and Vwaza Game Reserve for them to own the conservation efforts being done in these areas.

MAZA-TFCA project is being implemented through the Ministry of Tourism with funding from the German Government.

By Golden Kang’oma

Salima, February 13, Mana: Restoring Fisheries for Sustainable Livelihoods in Lake Malawi (REFRESH) has donated bee keeping equipment worth K5 million to communities in Salima.

Speaking in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Maganga during the handover, REFRESH Chief of Party Dr Daniel Jamu said the project aims at fostering diversification from fisheries towards sustainable livelihoods and restoration of the environment.

“The project wants people along the lakeshore not only to rely on fishing but also venture into some other enterprises hence introducing them to bee keeping," he said.

Jamu said as the communities embrace the initiative, they are looking at continued forest restoration and land conservation which will lead to high fish production.

Salima District Commissioner, James Mwenda, said the initiative will help improve the social-economic status of the communities.

He said his office will ensure that it is sustainable and yield the desired results by making sure that there is availability of markets for the honey produced by the beneficiary clubs.

“The organization has done a very commendable job by giving these communities such equipment. These will go a long way in sustaining people’s livelihoods as well as help in fish and forest conservation,” he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Maria Fuleya, from Mlambe Club hailed the project for the initiative saying it will help communities to rely on multiple enterprises whilst restoring fisheries in the lake.

REFRESH project is implemented by PACT Malawi with funding from United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

By George Mponda

Karonga, February 13, Mana: Karonga District Council has announced an outbreak of pink eye disease in the district.  

Pink eye, also known as viral conjunctivitis, is a disease which affects the eyes and is caused by a virus that can easily spread from person to person.

Signs and symptoms of the disease include pink or red colour in the white part of the eye, swelling of the conjunctiva (eye lining), increased tear production, itching, eye discharge, painful eye and visual disturbance.

According to a memo released Tuesday by Director of Health Services in Karonga, Dr David Sibale, 109 cases have been registered across the district since February 1, 2024.

In an interview, Dr. Sibale said the disease was first detected among travellers who use Songwe Border Post.

"Later, the disease was also detected among government officials who work at Songwe Border Post and, currently, we have intensified awareness of the outbreak to prevent its spread.

"People should avoid sharing personal clothes such as wash clothes and hand towels, wash hands frequently with soap and use sanitisers as well as avoid rubbing or touching eyes with unclean hands," Sibale said.

In a separate interview, Traditional Authority (TA) Karonga advised Karonga residents to follow guidelines outlined by the district health office to end the disease and prevent it from spilling over to other districts.

By Chisomo Kambandanga

Nkhata Bay, February 13, Mana: District Field Officer for Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Program (CS-EPWP) in Nkhata Bay, Edward Ngwemba, has disclosed plans to increase the program’s beneficiaries in the next financial year.

Speaking during a review meeting for the program’s second cycle in Mzuzu, Ngwemba said the targeted beneficiaries will be increased to 13,427 from 11,233. 

Ngwemba said preparations for the third cycle are done and some catchment areas have already started work under the program.

"The second cycle progressed well although we had some minor setbacks which included poor data entry and participants getting their wages in arrears. However, the review meeting has helped iron out these obstacles and we are confident that the third cycle will go on well," he said.

He advised participants and committee members to avoid making replacements without following the program’s implementation guidelines saying that causes challenges in getting wages.

District Commissioner for Nkhata Bay, Rodgers Newa, said the program is progressing well in the district.

"The review meeting is necessary to perfect ourselves in readiness for another cycle ahead. So far, the program is on on track. Some of the challenges we are facing are system based and are appreciated at national level," he said.

Senior Chief Timbiri was glad that the number of participants will be increased as it means that more people will be involved in environmental conservation.

CS-EPWP is a government initiative under Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Project implemented by National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) with financial support from Multi-Donor Trust Fund and World Bank.