By Dhumisani Khumalo

Mzuzu, April 16, Mana: Mzuzu Police Station says it has registered a decline in overall crime and traffic incidents in the first quarter of 2025 as compared to a similar period in 2024.

According to Deputy Public Relations Officer for Mzuzu Police Station, Cecilia Mfune crime has decreased by 6.4 percent with 367 cases recorded in 2025 against 692 in 2024.

Mfune said that breaking and burglary cases have dropped by 39 percent from 98 cases last year to 60 in the current reporting period.

She attributed the achievement to increased police patrols and enhanced community involvement in promoting safety and security in the city.

 "The police patrols promoted police visibility hence making it easier for them to apprehend suspected offenders and deter other suspected criminals from committing offences, since we were always on the ground.

On community engagement, we worked closely with local leaders in crime reporting, which improved trust and communication between law enforcers and residents within the city,” said Mfune.

She also hinted on improvements in the judicial system saying that most cases were promptly presented in court and adjudicated adding that the development also contributed to efficiency and strengthened public trust in law enforcement system.

Mfune however, expressed concern over an increase in sexual offences saying cases involving sexual intercourse with girl children rose from 16 in 2024 to 19 in 2025 within a similar period.

“Underreporting and efforts to resolve such matters within families of the suspects and survivors continue to exacerbate the vice, hence, we advise people to be reporting all cases of rape and sexual abuse to police, rather than handling them as private family matters,” said Mfune.

Murder cases saw a slight increase from four in 2024 to five in 2025, with police identifying mob justice as a growing concern.

 She said that most of the murder cases emanated from mob justice and urged the public to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.

In contrast, road safety has improved markedly, with traffic accidents decreasing from 51 in 2024 to 26 in 2025.

By Wellington Sibale

Neno, April 16, Mana:  Government has disbursed start-up packages worth over K38 million to 111 youths in Neno District to help them establish small scale businesses after completing three months training in piggery, crops and poultry production under the National Youth Service (NYS) programme.

The start-up package includes: 40 piglets, 200 bags of maize bran, 400 black Australorp chicks, 200 hylines chicks, 80 bags of chicken feed, potatoes and maize seeds.

Speaking on Tuesday during the youth graduation and handover of the packages, Neno District Commissioner, Rosemary Nawasha said the initiative aligns with Malawi’s Agenda 2063, adding that this also reflects government commitment in building sustainable livelihoods for young people.

“We believe the start-up packages will empower our youths to become productive and self-reliant. Our hope is that their enterprises will not only thrive but also create jobs and contribute to national economic development,” she said.

Speaking on behalf of the youths, Madalitso Namaona thanked government for providing the startup packages saying the items will uplift their livelihood.

“This is a turning point for us. With the skills and resources, we are ready to start businesses and even employ fellow youths,” she said.

She therefore asked government to continue with the programme, saying this will allow more youths in the district to become economically self-reliant.

Neno Integrated Youth Development Centre Manager who is also the District Youth Officer, Ian Sukai, said the programme was meant to empower youths with relevant skills to contribute to personal, community and national development.

The trained youths are also expected to roll out community programmes to fellow youths in various communities.

He therefore said the 111 beneficiaries comprising 67 males and 44 females, were part of the first NYS cohort, which initially enrolled 118 youths.

Upon graduating, the youths formed eight business groups: YOLISFA, Tingathe, Look Sharp, Muwale, Rise and Shine, Mindset Change, Chikumbe, and Miracle which are currently involved in various agribusinesses such as crop production, piggery, and poultry farming.

Sukali explained that the beneficiaries were expected to operate as cooperatives to ensure collective management of the resources before sharing outputs.

 “We want them to understand agribusiness as a sustainable livelihood. By working together first, they can multiply what they have and pass it on to others,” he said.

He therefore, asked the youths to use the packages for intended purposes, saying meaningful investment for sustainable economic empowerment was the right way to go.

The NYS, a flagship government initiative implemented by the Ministry of Youth and Sports was officially launched in July 2022 by President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera at the Neno Integrated Youth Development Centre.

The initiative is meant to equip young people with technical and vocational skills for them to become economically productive.

By Yanjanani Mendulo

Chiradzulu, April 16, Mana: Park street Conventional Savings Loan and Investment (PACOSALI) Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organization has launched a two-year “Youth Rise” project in Chiradzulu District with the aim of equipping young people with technical skills and access to financial resources to improve their economic wellbeing.

Speaking during a recent District Executive Committee (DEC) meeting, PACOSALI Foundation, Regional Coordinator and Technical Officer for the Southern Region, Trino Movete, said the project targets all 10 traditional authorities in the district where the organization will engage the youths in technical and vocational skills.

“This project will introduce business skills and support Village Savings and Loans (VSL) groups with K26 million in loans to help youths establish small-scale enterprises,” said Movete.

He added that key focus areas for skills development include; welding and fabrication, carpentry, and bricklaying and other trades that are meant to enable beneficiaries to earn income.

“We are responding to the challenge of unemployment. Through these trainings and loans, community members, especially the youth, will have opportunities to better their lives,” he added.

Chiradzulu District Council, Community Development Officer, Lovemore Kachala, commended PACOSALI Foundation for introducing the project, saying the initiative has the potential to transform livelihoods in the district.

“We are seeing positive changes as more people engage in savings and income-generating activities. This project has come at the right time and will enhance what is already taking shape in our communities,” added Kachala.

Youth Rise project is part of the foundation’s broader efforts to promote inclusive economic empowerment to reduce poverty through practical skills development and access to financial services.

By Sellah Singini

Lilongwe, 16 April, Mana: Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Simplex Chithyola Banda has described the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) as a transformational tool that will strengthen domestic resource mobilisation through smarter tax policies and anti_ corruption measures.

He made the remarks on Wednesday at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe during a joint launch of the INFF and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Investor Map.

Chithyola Banda said, the INFF identifies bankable projects in sectors like agriculture, mining, tourism, manufacturing, health care and green technology, offering risk mitigated pipelines aligned with National development plans.

"We are going through fiscal challenges, running a deficit budget, with a big proportion of our development budget funded by our development partners,

“So INFF is our answer, it is a cohesive strategy to integrate and streamline domestic public and private financing into our national priorities” he said.

Chithyola Banda also said much as Malawi has a good number of policies that are not put into use, time has come for its implementation.

He therefore called upon ministries, government departments and agencies (MDAs) to take a leading role in integrating the INFF into their planning activities.

Speaking at the same function, Minister of Trade and Industry, Vitumbiko Mumba said, the SDG investor map is designed to provide investment opportunities in all sectors like agriculture, energy, mining, tourism and infrastructure,

He said these sectors are critical to the country’s sustainable growth, and speak to the ATM strategy that the president champions.

“Each of these certified sectors is not only a factor of achieving the SDGs, but also has a potential for driving economic growth and creating jobs,” He said.

United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator, Rebecca Adda _ Dontoh said there is need to put the private sector at the center of the domestic resource mobilization.

By Lesnat kenan

Lilongwe, April 16, Mana: Deputy Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Halima Daud has said the National Children's Manifesto will provide children with an opportunity to advocate for their rights, well-being and protection.

She made the remarks during the launch of the National Children's Manifesto held at Crossroads Hotel in Lilogwe.

The deputy minister said the National Children's Manifesto is a powerful tool that empower children to advocate for their rights and hold decision makers accountable.

"The Ministry will ensure that children are protected from all forms of abuse and that they are able to participate in activities to shape their future" she said.

Daud said her Ministry is committed to ensuring that every child in Malawi has access to quality education, health and nutrition to align with the 2063 agenda.

In his remarks, World Vision Malawi Director of Operations, Charles Chimombo said the initiative is a milestone in the advancement of children's rights in Malawi.

He said World Vision believes that child participation is not optional but a right and appealed to all political parties to create space for children in all their activities.

"Children deserve to be heard in our political spaces and especially in political party manifestos", he said.

In her remarks, Speaker of the National Children's Parliament, Shekinah Galuwapananji, said the children's manifesto creates a great opportunity for children to voice out their issues.

She said the manifesto will promote children's participation in all sectors which will foster development for Malawi.

At the event, issues such as child protection, education, healthcare, nutrition, climate change and child participation were discussed.

By Andrew Phiri

Balaka, April 16, Mana: NGO Gender Coordination Network (NGO-GCN) on Tuesday drilled journalists in Balaka District on positive news reporting towards women representation in the September, 2025 general elections.

Speaking after a one-day workshop held in the district, member for NGO-GCN National Elections Systems Trust, Unandi Banda said there is underrepresentation of women in political positions in Malawi.

"Through the Political Empowerment of Women in Malawi project, we want to equip the media, particularly journalists in Balaka District on how to report on stories that will positively sharpen societal perception towards women involvement in politics.

"Media is a fourth estate of government and is very powerful, hence we wanted to provide an opportunity for reporters to familialize themselves with the programme we are implementing, so that together, we promote and strengthen women participation in the September, 2025 tripartite elections," Banda said.

A reporter from Lilanguka community radio station, Florence Chilanga hailed NGO-GCN for the training, observing that issues of gender and politics are sensitive and require proper reporting skills.

"We all have to support women who are aspiring for various political positions in the upcoming general elections, but to do that, we needed the expertise that we have gained today," she said.

The training brought together journalists from Malawi News Agency (Mana), Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS), Times Group, Nation Publications Limited (NPL), Montfort Media, Balaka Police FM and Malawi 24, among others to discuss challenges that women face in politics and how the media should help in addressing them.

Funded by UN Women, NGO-GCN has been implementing a Political Empowerment of Women in Malawi project from October 2024 to September 2025 in Phalombe, Balaka, Ntchisi and Nkhata-Bay districts with ultimate goal of strengthening gender equality in politics.

By Sarah Phiri

Mzimba, April 15, Mana: Nutritionist for Mzimba District Health Office (DHO), Elizabeth Mkandawire has advised members of the District Nutrition Coordinating Committee (DNCC) in Mzimba to consider propagating messages of the importance of complementary feeding to Under Five children to avoid malnutrition in children.

Mkandawire made the plea in Mzimba on Tuesday during a two days’ orientation on Complementary Feeding Modules to DNCC organized by Feed the Children under Child Focused Community Development Program.

She emphasized the need for parents and caregivers to give nutritious complementary food in addition to breast milk as this prevents malnutrition in the babies.

“There are so many detrimental effects that come as a result of malnutrition such as stunted growth, weakened immune system and developmental delays. At the age of 6-23 months such effects can be easily avoided if the proper nutritious meals are given to the babies,” she said.

She stressed the need for parents to adopt ways of feeding babies’ food that can be mashed such as meat, fish, and vegetables.

“In communities, parents give babies under two years starch with broth only while grown-ups eat the relish. Some nutrients do not dissolve with water so the broth does not give the required nutrients found in the relish. Therefore, we are asking them to be mashing the relish so that the baby can start benefiting from the nutrients,” said Mkandawire.

Mkandawire also thanked Feed the Children for the initiative that once adopted it will help in cost avoidance to the hospitals.

“Treating malnutrition related effects is very expensive, as DHO we appreciate Feed the Children and other partners that are assisting government to ensure that the district should be malnutrition free as this saves money and resources that can be channelled to other things at our facilities,” she said.

Acting Principal HIV/Aids and Nutrition Officer for Mmbelwa District Council, Gift Simkonda hailed the training saying it came at the right time as the district strives to scale up effort to eliminate stunted growth, wasting and underweight in Children.

“Stunted growth in children stands at 36.9 in Mzimba, wasting is at 3.6 while underweight is at 6.9. So as players in nutrition we should work harder to ensure we completely do away with these for the healthy if our children in communities”, said Simkonda.

He appealed to all organisations working in nutrition to scale up interventions aimed at reversing stunted growth by engaging communities on the importance of normal breastfeeding and complementary feeding which he said are crucial for the growth of children.

Child Focused Community Development Program funded by Feed The Children is targeting 5000 households in Traditional Authority Mzikubola in Mzimba district.