MANAonline
NEEF challenges youths on loan acquisition
By Solister Mogha
Zomba, June 10, Mana: National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) has challenged youths in Zomba District to take advantage of loan opportunities, which the fund provides to those that aspire to venture into enterprises for economic transformation.
NEEF Credit Analyst, Wytone Mweta made the appeal during awareness meeting with youth in the district this week, saying youths are the driving force and have a lot of potential to excel in business ventures for sustainable livelihood towards national economic growth.
“Realizing that the country's population is comprised of the youth, this is why NEEF is opening up loan opportunities so that the younger generation should participate in economic growth of the country,” he added.
Mweta said Malawi Government pumps in huge sums of money to allow more Malawians including the youths to have access to finances through loans provided by the NEEF.
“To date, NEEF has disbursed over MK236 million with over 75 percent of beneficiaries able to repay their loans,” he added and advised the youths to hold patience and be focused as they intend to venture into various enterprises that should turn positively things around.
One of the youths, Cossam Elemia, hailed NEEF for raising awareness on loan opportunities for the youths, saying the awareness was informative and source of inspirations for youths economic development.
“I am doing business and am interested in getting more money to expand the business. The best idea is to acquire NEEF loan,” he added.
The engagement meeting in Zomba was meant to stir youths into entrepreneurship.
NGO to construct changing rooms to promote menstrual hygiene in BT rural schools
By Nellie Nyirenda
Blantyre, June 12, Mana: Youth Coordinating Agency in Development (YOCADE) is from July this year set to construct changing rooms and toilets in order to improve menstrual hygiene among adolescents at Mapazi and Mpumbe schools in Mapazi Education Zone in Blantyre rural.
YOCADE Project Manager, Mervis Chitika, said close to 50 percent of girls had dropped out of school in the area due to lack of sanitary facilities.
Construction of the facilities is expect to benefit nearly 1,800 adolescents learners each year.
“Direct beneficiaries of this project are adolescent girls aged nine to 19 within the selected schools. The project aims at promoting girls’ education by improving access to menstrual hygiene facilities which the schools lack,” she said.
The project will also include training sessions on menstrual hygiene management for mother groups and other school structures at Mapazi and Mpumbe schools.
According to the Project Manager, YOCADE will additionally purchase two sewing machines to support local production of menstrual kits using readily available materials.
Mapazi Primary School Headteacher, Anne Malinga, expressed gratitude over the intervention saying construction of change rooms and toilets will be helpful especially to girls.
She, therefore, expressed hope that menstrual hygiene management will help keep learners in school thereby reducing dropout and absenteeism rates.
YOCADE, which was registered in 2010, operates under three thematic areas of education including early childhood development and girls' education, health with focus on sexual and reproductive health rights, mental health, and human rights on child and minority rights.
The local NGO, which will partner with other stakeholders, will implement the project with £10,000 support from Hilden, a United Kingdom charitable fund.
VP commends Chiradzulu District Council on reforms
By Blackson Mkupatira
Chiradzulu, June 12, Mana: Vice President Dr. Michael Usi on Thursday engaged Chiradzulu District Council where he appreciated the council’s progress on public reforms that are meant to improve service delivery to meet people’s satisfactions in the district.
Usi had an interface meeting with the council’s authorities that met to review reform progress at Sunbird Mount Soche in Blantyre.
He observed that the council’s reform agenda aligns well with both national priorities and the District Development Plan.
He, therefore, hailed the Council for its commitment and clear vision in implementing public sector reforms aimed at improving service delivery.
Usi urged council officials not to treat the reforms as mere tasks but fully believe in them to achieve meaningful transformation for the good of the local authority and the people it serves.
He pointed out the importance of upholding professionalism and ethical values, saying these are crucial to the successful implementation of reforms.
“You also have to map all the NGOs and stakeholders operating in your district and ensure that their interventions are in line with both national and district plans,” he said.
Presenting the council’s progress, Director of Planning and Development, Henderson Kaumi, said the Council is implementing reforms in six key areas.
“We are focusing on urban planning, agricultural commercialization, quality education, youth employment, environmental conservation, and financial sustainability,” he said.
He pointed out challenges that affect implementation of the reforms, citing delays in approving by-laws, insufficient funding, shortage of staff in key sectors, lack of transport for staff, and limited disaster risk reduction (DRR) resources.
“We are lobbying for support from partners and strengthening stakeholder collaboration to address these issues,” he said.
Chiradzulu District Commissioner, Francis Matewere, expressed gratitude over the Vice President’s feedback saying the Council will meet to review and integrate recommendations made at the review meeting.
“We are committed to continuous improvement and will take the advice seriously to ensure we keep progressing as a district,” he said.
Apart from Chiradzulu, Usi also met with officials of Thyolo and Mulanje district councils to discuss reforms in their respective districts.
MEC urges women and young people to compete for leadership positions
By George Mponda
Karonga, June 12, Mana: Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) District Elections Officer for Karonga, Elias Nyirenda, Wednesday reaffirmed MEC's commitment to empower women and youth for them to contest for various political leadership positions during the 2025 General Elections.
Speaking Wednesday during a briefing session on nomination processes, Nyirenda said that to ensure that disadvantaged people participate in the General Elections, MEC has reduced nomination fees for such aspirants.
“Parliamentary nomination fees are pegged at K2.5 million for men, while women, youth and the elderly will pay half that which is K1.250,000 million.
For councilors, men will pay K200,000 and women, youth and the elderly will pay K100,000.00 while those seeking to run for the presidency will pay K10 million,” said Nyirenda.
He then advised the aspirants to observe the nomination processes as presented to them.
United Transformation Movement shadow councillor for Rukuru North Ward, Charles Mwakasungula commended MEC for organizing the meeting and said the aspirants will strive to follow the stipulated nomination processes.
“Any game has its own rules and regulations for orderliness and similarly this applies to politics. We have been brief on our conduct during the electoral process so that we contribute to fair, transparent and credible 2025 General Elections," said Mwakasungula.
Nationalistic Patriotic Party shadow councillor for Lufilya Ward, Walinase Mhango described the engagement as an eye-opener.
The briefing is one such engagement that MEC conducted across the country for people who want to run for various positions in the upcoming general elections.
Economic pressure fuelling mental health problems among men
By petro Mkandawire
Blantyre, June 12, Mana: Economic pressure, unemployment, substance abuse and unresolved trauma are major factors fueling serious mental health crises among men in the country.
National Coordinator for a youth-led group, Sorry I’m not Sorry, Joseph Sukali said in an interview with Malawi News Agency on Thursday that the rise in male mental health issues is a direct reflection of undressed mental health struggles because many men bottle up pain until it becomes unbearable.
“Culturally, men are raised to be strong and silent, which creates a toxic cycle where emotional pain fuels silence.
“Mental health should not be a side conversation; it must be part of development planning. As a nation we must mainstream mental health wellness in schools, workplaces, community programs and health centres, just like we did with gender,” Sukali said.
He said men have been suffering in silence for too long saying this is the reason the country has failed to build strong families.
He added that as part of breaking the silence of men, they have designed to offer two free counselling therapy sessions which started on 10th June up to 10th July to encourage men to open up and seek help without shame or fear and to dismantle the stigma around mental health.
“As the world is observing men’s mental health awareness month this June, we hope that this initiative will offer a safe and professional space for men to express themselves, ultimately reduce the risk of depression and suicide,” he added.
Executive Director for Health and Equal Rights for All, Maziko Matemba said society’s expectations of masculinity often deny men the space to express vulnerability as such the more they delay addressing it, the more lives are lost.
“Government and other stakeholders need to enact measures to prevent these factors and at the same time look at the root causes and solutions to prevent the increase of mental health. By focusing on men during Men’s Mental Health Month we are addressing challenges and problems associated with mental health since men have been suffering in silence for too long,” said Matemba.
Govt set to expand irrigation to boost food security
By Blackson Mkupatira
Chiradzulu, June 12, Mana: Government plans to rehabilitate and increase utilization of irrigation schemes across the country to enhance food security among farming households.
Deputy Director of Irrigation in the Ministry of Agriculture, Winston Sataya said this on Wednesday after a field visit to Mpenga and Kachere irrigation schemes in Chiradzulu District, as part of the ongoing national annual review meeting of District Irrigation Officers (DIOs) taking place in Blantyre.
Sataya said although the country has made notable strides in the implementation of the National Irrigation Master Plan (2015 - 2035), more effort is needed for Malawi to realize its full potential in the sector.
"For example, while the country has the potential to develop up to 408,000 hectares for irrigation, only about 164, 000 hectares have been developed so far, and just about 80 percent of that is currently being utilized," he said.
The Deputy Director then disclosed that they have received K90 billion to rehabilitate damaged irrigation systems and procure fertilizer and seeds for farmers in various irrigation schemes across the country to boost food security.
He also expressed gratitude to development partners for their continued financial and technical support and urged irrigation engineers across the country to intensify their efforts, especially now that rain-fed agriculture is becoming increasingly unreliable due to climate change.
World Vision Malawi Irrigation Specialist Chimango Mlowoka, said the organization is committed to support government efforts in irrigation development, as it believes the sector holds the key to ending hunger in Malawi.
“We are aware that many irrigation schemes, particularly in the southern region, were damaged by floods and cyclones. If such schemes fall within our impact areas and the communities express interest in reviving them, we are ready to assist,” she said.
Chiradzulu District Council Irrigation Engineer, Julia Qoto, said the district can develop up to 4,500 hectares of irrigation land, but only about 695 hectares have been developed so far.
“We have plans to expand irrigation coverage and we have already identified around 2,000 hectares of potential land in three traditional authorities. We just need the necessary resources to proceed,” she said.
Chairperson of Kachere Irrigation Scheme Jennifer Wile said the 20 hectares scheme started in 2006 with only 30 members but now has grown to 82.
“Last year alone, we made K63 million from the sale of our crops, which include maize, tomatoes, carrots, beans, and onions,” she said.
Analysts slam Flames’ attacking prowess
By Pempho Nkhoma
Blantyre, June 12, Mana: Some football analysts have faulted Malawi National Football Team, the Flames’ attacking and lack of preparation as major contributors to their disappointing performance in the 2025 COSAFA Cup.
The Flames were booted out of the tournament on Tuesday having finished at the bottom of Group B with just a point from three matches.
Speaking in an interview on Thursday, a renowned football analyst, Charles Nyirenda attributed the team’s poor performance to its inability to score.
“The team played 270 minutes and failed to score a single goal. This can be that the team is failing to create scoring chances or inability to convert scoring opportunities,” he said.
However, another Football Analyst, Anointed Kamsampha, blamed the team’s poor performance on inadequate preparation.
“It seems the team never prepared thoroughly for the tournament considering that we had new and old faces, hence affected coordination. One or two friendlies could have assisted,” he said.
Kamsampha also criticized the team’s lack of technical skills, saying that national team players should possess basic football knowledge.
“We saw players lacking football basics on some occasions. Instead of shooting on goal in the box, they ended up playing back passes. Lack of communication and ball watching on the part of defense and the goalkeeper cost us the last game,” he added.
The last time the Flames took part in COSAFA CUP was in 2023 when they finished in fourth position despite having a strong group stage performance, winning all three matches in the group however, their journey ended in the semifinals with a 3-0 loss to Lesotho on post-match penalties.
Balaka DHO laments low uptake of antenatal services among pregnant women
By Andrew Phiri
Balaka, June 12, Mana: Balaka District Health Office says there is a need for the effective dissemination of Social Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) messages towards the uptake of antenatal services among pregnant women in the district.
Balaka District Director of Health and Social Services (DHSS), Dr Chimwendo Thambo said this in reaction to a current 19 percent uptake of antenatal services by couples in the district.
Thambo made the call on Wednesday in the district when Applied Development Communication and Training Services (ADECOTS) presented its newly introduced Zikuvuta Pati project, a health services awareness and demand creation initiative to Balaka District Executive Committee (DEC).
"Pregnant women who are accessing all the recommended safe motherhood services starting from the first three months of pregnancy prevent major complications that may come within the nine months of expectancy or during the time of childbirth," said Thambo.
"Not only that but also, they should complete all eight visits within the nine months of pregnancy to achieve the maternal health care full package that involves monitoring, vaccinations, malaria prophylaxis and deworming, all these for the benefit of the mother and unborn baby," he added.
He noted that myths and negative misconceptions that families have towards access to maternal services are holding them back from fully utilizing the underlined maternal health services.
The Health Director therefore called for strong collaboration from all stakeholders such as the media, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), council and community leaders to intensify Zikuvuta Pati initiative and meet its goals.
ADECOTS District Manager for Balaka, Brian Banda, said the programme will largely adopt a social behavioral change communication approach in the forms of mass media campaigns and community awareness engagements in order to bridge the maternal health services communication gap that has existed among the district council, community health services providers and the community members.
"Apart from promoting safe motherhood, the programme also seeks to raise more awareness on the issues of nutrition, Youth Friendly Health Services (YFHS), Malaria and Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) because all these are linked to the promotion of uptake of life-saving services which is also the ultimate goal of the initiative," added Banda.
With funding from UNICEF, the initiative will be implemented in phases for four years from May 2025 to May 2028 with a particular focus on pregnant women, mothers of under-five children, women and men of childbearing age and health services providers from the areas of Traditional Authorities (TA) Nsamala, Kalembo, Phalula, Amidu, Sub TA Mbera among others.
NEEF challenges youth in Balaka to take farming as a business
By Mary Makhiringa
Balaka, June 12, Mana: National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) Zone Manager for Balaka Hamphrey Thondolo has challenged youth in Balaka to venture into productive farming if the country is to make progress in terms of food security.
Thondolo said, NEEF is currently giving out loans to groups as well as individuals willing to do farming on a large scale, saying, this is the only way they can make headways and also pay back their loans without problems.
He said this in Balaka, during a stakeholder’s awareness meeting with Balaka youth empowerment forum, which among other things centres on the business model in which all participants were taken through.
Said Thondolo: “We wanted to raise awareness among the youth on the packages that we have and how we disburse loans and collect the money back.
“Malawi is currently facing a serious food deficit that is why we want to do more of agriculture loans. For example, we would like farmers who can be in a group and do farming at least at 50 hectares.
“We will be able to give them fertilizer; seeds as well as watering pumps for those that would like to do irrigation farming. We have not even restricted those that would like to get ploughs as we would like to do away with the hoes as they consume more time to do land preparation.”
According to him, if the youth in Malawi embrace farming, Malawi will no longer be a food insecure country, as food will be produced all year round and in turn, some will also be exported outside the country to get forex.
Thondolo therefore asked all NEEF clients to always repay their loans for others to benefit from the same as records have shown that a lot of people are defaulting from paying back their loans.
Hazerad Pilane, Chairperson for Balaka youth empowerment wing thanked NEEF for the meeting, saying it has further opened up their minds and were already eager to start as he has seen the possibility of doing better in agriculture.
He said: “As the youth, the kind of businesses that we used to do was far from farming. We used to think farming could not be achieved since as the youth we do not own land, but as I come out of the meeting, my mind has been reactivated and I am assured of a better ending in farming.
“I will quickly suggest that irrigation farming is the way to go, and working hand in hand with the agriculture office will help to increase chances of doing better in farming, thereby making it easy also to pay back the loan and access a higher one in future.”
Established in 2014 as Malawi Rural Development Fund (MARDEF) and later rebranded to NEEF, the organisation is there to contribute to the country’s economic development, increase employment and foster an enterprising spirit in underserved populations particularly women, youth and persons with disability.
MACODA urges persons with disabilities to contest for political leadership positions
By Manasse Nyirenda
Rumphi, June 12, Mana: Malawi Council for Disability Affairs (MACODA) Manager for Rumphi, Henderson Nyondo, has urged persons with disabilities to register with his office and participate in electoral processes including contesting for political leadership positions in the upcoming general elections.
Nyondo was speaking Wednesday in Rumphi when Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) engaged aspiring candidates for parliamentary and local authority positions on nomination processes.
He said, previously, people with disabilities could not access such opportunities because they were treated as sympathy seekers leading to their marginalisation.
"Presently, we have laws that safeguard their political interests and MEC, in collaboration with our office, is assessing and certifying people with disabilities," said Nyondo.
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) shadow councilor for Henga Ward in Rumphi North Constituency, Stainings Harawa, said information on code of conduct will help political parties and aspirants to conduct themselves according to the law.
Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) shadow Member of Parliament for Rumphi East Constituency, Florence Khimbi, described the meeting as informative and an eye opener as she is vying for the position for the first time.
She further said that the nomination process, as presented by MEC, gives them ample time to properly prepare their nomination papers before submitting them to the Commission.
District Commissioner for Rumphi, Emmanuel Bulukutu, urged aspirants to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner and follow prescriptions of the electoral laws during the nomination process as shared by MEC.
Malawi will be holding General Elections on September 16, 2025.
