By Brenda Nkosi

Blantyre, May 23, Mana: Minister of Trade and Industry, Vitumbiko Mumba, has described the newly opened energy saving stove factory, Burn Manuifacturing, in Chiradzulu as an impressive development whose stoves are efficient.

He made the remarks Thursday when the toured the factory.

Mumba was happy to note that apart from promoting environmental conservation, the factory supports import substitution, which is government’s goal in attaining an industrialized economy by 2063.

He said by promoting factories, government was safeguarding local jobs, encouraging entrepreneurship and building national industry base.

"Having a plant in Malawi is a plus for us because, apart from selling to us, they supply the stoves across the boarders to countries like Zimbabwe and Zambia. This means we will gain in forex,” he said.

The Minister said Malawians have already started gaining from the plant as it has created several opportunities.

“It is bringing in exposure for our people and employment as it is currently employing over 80 people. Additionally, some of the raw materials used in the production are sourced locally which is promoting other businesses," he said.

Burn Manufacturing Factory Manager, Nanokishor Parekh, said they make energy efficient cookware meant to protect the environment.

"Our products reduce carbon emissions as it uses less charcoal and give more efficient cooking," he said.

The factory, which started production in April 2025, produces 750 stoves a day and only sells through distribution channels.

By Gift Wahuta

Blantyre, May 22, Mana: Principal Nutrition and HIV and AIDs Officer at Blantyre District Council, Ruth Hara, has hailed community level care groups for carrying out interventions that are meant to improve nutrition levels in children and women.

Hara expressed gratitude over care groups this week when a team from Blantyre District Council, University of Malawi and UNICEF visited Tikondane Care Group in Chileka, at Traditional Authority, Kunthembwe to evaluated food preparation and sanitation practices in the area.

Using the community behaviour-tracking tool developed by UNIMA, the team evaluated households’ progress in balanced diet preparation, exclusive breastfeeding, iron supplementation for adolescent girls, and proper sanitation.

Before a feedback session held in the community, officials toured several households to observe best practices firsthand such that many households showcased well maintained backyard gardens, construction of livestock kraals and improved pit latrines.

Hara said, through the care groups, households adopted best practices to improve wellbeing of women and children.

“We are seeing real change; households are growing their own food and are following best practices. This help to reduce malnutrition and improve overall well-being,” she added.

Hara also called on traditional leaders to support care groups in reaching out to households that are still resistant to adopt best practices or lack accurate information on nutrition, exclusive breast-feeding and proper sanitation.

“We need chiefs to help us convince those who are still hesitant. The success of this initiative depends on community wide participation,” she added.

Group Village Head Makonje also commended the initiative after observing improved food preparations and sanitation and acknowledged misinformation, misconceptions and resistance to change as factors that contribute to low adoption of best life practices.

“There’s progress, we have seen a decline in number of girls suffering from anemia. I promise to continue supporting this work so that people understand and adopt best practices,” he said and pledged to support care groups in mobilizing communities to adopt best food preparation and good hygiene practices.

Cluster leader and beneficiary, Olivia Alfred said that backyard gardening and consumption of six food groups improved her family’s nutrition status and helped her cut food costs.

“We now know six food groups, and I have a backyard garden which has reduced cost of food. This intervention has truly changed our lives,” she added.

Care group members also demonstrated what they teach, showcasing homemade juices, various types of porridge and later in the afternoon, the visiting team held interactive sessions with adolescents on health and nutrition needs.

By Fostina Mkandawire

Salima. May 22, Mana: As one way of bridging educational gaps and encourage consistent school attendance, Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) on Thursday distributed essential school resources to needy girl students across Community Day Secondary Schools (CDSS) in Salima District.

The distributed materials included exercise books, pens, and sanitary pads.

A teacher mentor at MAFCO Battalion CDSS, Esther Chimpeni, said the aid empowers students to participate in education without worrying about affording school necessities.

"These girls come from families that cannot afford to provide such materials, and such aid saves them from worrying about accessing these needs," she said.

Chimpeni also highlighted the school’s methods of ensuring that the resources are used effectively to bring about a positive impact among the beneficiaries.

"At MAFCO CDSS, we implemented a proactive follow-up strategy. We conduct periodic meetings with beneficiaries to motivate them to excel academically.  We also engage their parents to encourage their children to fully utilize the opportunity," she added.

 A teacher mentor at Parachute Battalion CDSS, Ethel Gondwe, underscored how the support directly tackles barriers to education.

"Most children come from families that cannot afford school materials and sanitary pads. This contributes to their absenteeism and poor performance. This initiative helps tackle such issues," Gondwe explained.

Principal Education Officer for Salima, Eliam Banda, commended CAMFED for their continuous support to enhancing girl's education in the country.

"Girls face numerous challenges to stay in school and there is always a high number of dropout rates in girls education, such interventions help to keep girls in school," he said.

Desire Ngoma, a Form 4 student at Parachute Battalion CDSS, expressed her gratitude for the resources, highlighting how they keep her education afloat.

"The resources make it easy to complete tasks that we get from teachers, which would be difficult to achieve without books," Ngoma stated.

CAMFED's initiative provides crucial support to vulnerable girl students in Salima, fostering an environment where they can focus on their studies and pursue their educational aspirations without the burden of lacking necessities.

By Mary Makhiringa

Harare, May 22, Mana: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affair Patricia Nangozo Kainga says Malawi stands a better chance of increasing its tourism base through the Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCAs) summit.

Speaking to Malawi News Agency (MANA) in an interview at the end of the SADC TFCA Council of the Ministers meeting on Thursday, Minister of Environment, Natural Resources and Tourism, Kainga said, President Chakwera will be among heads of states to attend SADC meeting, which will among other things mark 25 years of TFCA fostering Regional Integration and Sustainable Development.

Said Kainga: “It is important for the State President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera to be present at this very important meeting as Malawi is a senior member of the SADC and also it will enhance the bilateral cooperation and integration.

“The President will also hold several bilateral talks with fellow Heads of States to strengthen their cooperation and also the President will hold meeting with development partners who are already in here to have further talks on financing and other important issues that will benefit Malawi.”

Speaking earlier, Minister of Tourism Dr. Vera Kamtukule underscored the importance of tourism in Malawi saying the country has seen tremendous growth in the industry with more tourists coming.

Said Kamtukule: “This is one of the important meetings that Malawi as a country must attend. As you know when we talk about wildlife, they cut across the borders, animals do not see any borders or any lines, it can move from Malawi to Zambia, or vice versa, so it is important for our country to attend this meeting.”

He added: “60 percent of the tourists that come to Malawi are from SADC region, so it is important that we come to these regional block meetings where we can discuss several issues concerning our country.

“For example, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola and Botswana are part of the Kavango Zambia (KAZA) Transfrontier arrangement which means, a visitor can come from Spain come into Zambia and pay $50 and visit all the countries, this is the coordination that we are talking about.”

President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera is among the Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders attending the summit in Harare on Friday.

By Memory Kutengule Chatonda

Blantyre, May 22, Mana:  President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera says his government has put in place strategies aimed at creating a conducive environment for the private sector to scale up their investment and increase production to promote economic transformation of the country.

Chakwera made the remarks on Thursday during the official opening of the 35th Malawi International Trade Fair at Chichiri trade fair grounds in Blantyre.

"My government is here to provide policy direction to the wishes of the private sector to expand their businesses and attract foreign investors in order to contribute to the country's earnings," he said.

President Chakwera stated that his administration is committed to supporting youth and women in investing in various businesses. He added that over the past four years, the government has provided K300 billion, which has enabled the establishment of approximately 100,000 businesses across different sectors of the economy.

Chakwera further revealed that an additional K1 trillion from the African Development Bank, channeled through the National Economic Empowerment Fund, will be made available to youths and women over the next five years.

The Malawi leader also stated that his government is also promoting agriculture commercialization and that the world bank has supported Malawi through Agriculture and Commercialization (AGCOM) with K600 billion to support the farmers to scale up their production.

"In the same spirit, we have already secured markets for the produce in Europe, China, India, Dubai and Africa. Additionally, through mega farms unit, we are committed to fast track all the processes to increase the mega farms and also ensure that each mega farm has a factory for agro processing within it," said Chakwera.

In the energy sector, Chakwera said World Bank has also supported the construction of the USD 350 million Mpatamanga hydro power plant to support power generation which is essential for promoting industrialization.

Speaking earlier, Minister of Trade and Industry Vitumbiko Mumba noted that the increase in the number of exhibitors at this year’s fair—from 142 last year to 191—demonstrates the government’s commitment to creating a conducive environment for the private sector to drive industrialization in the country.

He said the Trade and Industry ministry is implementing a suite of strategic interventions to support industrialization and export growth such as establishment of special economic zones, promotion of agro processing and value addition, empowering innovation and entrepreneurship among others.

"With such initiatives, I believe it is possible to transform the country into an inclusive, wealthy, and self-reliant, industrialized upper-middle-income nation," he said.

President of Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) Dr. Wisely Phiri, hailed President Chakwera for presiding over the event, saying the gesture indicates government's commitment to having a vibrant and dynamic private sector.

The trade fair is conducted annually to provide a platform for local and international delegates and exhibitors to connect, collaborate and explore new business opportunities.

This year's event, which will run until May 29, is being held under the theme: 'promoting economic transformation through private sector-led industrialization'.

Approximately 191 exhibitors from Malawi and countries such as Zambia, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Tanzania are participating in the fair.