By Blackson Mkupatira

Chiradzulu, April 12, Mana: Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) has assured hunger-stricken households in Chiradzulu District that government is doing everything possible to ensure families affected by El Niño receive relief maize.

Speaking on Friday during a symbolic maize distribution exercise in Traditional Authority Nkalo in the district, DoDMA's Director of Preparedness and Response, Rev. Moses Chimphepo said funds have already been mobilized for further procurement and distribution of relief maize for the third phase.

He said that government has already sourced 87 percent of the maize needed for the entire response period which varies in districts according to the findings of the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) which projected widespread hunger affecting about 5.7 million people in the country.

“As DoDMA, we have started distributing 1,550 metric tons of maize to vulnerable communities across the nation. The maize being distributed now in Chiradzulu was purchased using funds from the African Development Bank (AfDB),” he added, and expressed concern that some people were reportedly selling the relief maize, warning that such acts risk discouraging donors.

On the selection of beneficiaries, the director expressed concern over frequent criticisms directed at DoDMA, despite the department's limited role in the process.

“It is often DoDMA that gets blamed when issues arise, but the responsibility for selecting who receives assistance lies with the councils and traditional leaders. Our mandate is to mobilize resources and procure the maize,” he clarified.

On her part, AfDB Senior Agricultural Economist, Doreen Kumwenda, said the bank provided K1.8 billion to Malawi Government to help procure maize for families affected by hunger following the presidential declaration of a state of disaster in March last year.

“We understand the effects of climate change, which reduced crop yields by about 20 percent that’s why we made the donation. The maize we helped purchase will benefit over 31,000 households in Zomba and Chiradzulu,” she added.

Kumwenda also assured government of AfDB’s continued support in tackling hunger and promoting resilience, saying they will continue to work with the government until a time when communities are able to be independent.

Chiradzulu District Commissioner, Francis Matewere disclosed that 26,413 households have been earmarked to receive maize under the relief programme.

Member of Parliament for Chiradzulu South, Joseph Mwanamvekha, thanked DoDMA and AfDB for their support, saying his area suffered three consecutive years of natural disasters.

“Hunger in our area is worsened by erratic rains, farmers’ limited access to fertilizer, and prolonged dry spells. I appeal to DoDMA to consider increasing number of beneficiaries so that more people can benefit,” he said.

Speaking earlier, Traditional Authority Nkalo, whose area also benefited from DoDMA maize programme, acknowledged the support but raised concerns over the pace of distribution.

“We were told that we would be receiving maize for four months starting in December, but this is only the second time we are receiving it. There’s a need to speed up the process so that people should get assistance on time,” he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Emilida Banda, from Nkalo Village said she did not harvest enough during the 2024/25 farming season due to erratic rainfall, and thanked government for the relief maize, saying it will reduce the hunger her family was facing.

By Gift Wahuta

Blantyre, April 12, Mana: Blantyre District Agriculture Development Office has advised farmers in the district not to rush selling all their farm produce after harvesting, saying the best way is to reserve some to sustain their household food stock until next harvest in the 2025/2026 season.

This comes following a press statement on farm gate prices by the Ministry of Agriculture earlier this week.

Chief Agriculture Officer, Lusungu Banda, told Malawi News Agency on Friday that farmers should only sell their surplus after setting aside enough food to last the entire year.

“Farmers should observe food budgets to ensure they have enough food before selling. They should sell their surplus gradually, as prices may fluctuate, allowing them to benefit from better rates later,” Banda added.

To enforce compliance with the new pricing, Banda disclosed that structures have been put in place from the traditional authority level down to group village heads, to sensitize communities, with additional support from law enforcement.

“We will be conducting market inspections with police officers to ensure buyers are using certified scales, as recommended by the Malawi Bureau of Standards. Anyone caught manipulating figures or weighing systems will face the law,” she warned.

In a separate interview, agriculture expert Tamani Nkono Mvula, described the newly set farm gate prices as fair, noting the prices reflect production costs.

However, he stressed the need for immediate market intervention by institutions and concurred with Banda’s appeal for farmers to reserve food for consumption other than selling all the food at the expense of food security at household level.

"Farmers should do proper calculations before selling. If farmers sell everything now, they may end up buying the same maize at higher prices again later. Statistics show there might be a food gap between consumers and industry, and if farmers sell all their food, they will be the ones to suffer later,” he cautioned.

The Ministry of Agriculture introduced the farm gate pricing policy to protect farmers from being exploited by buyers offering low prices.

By Ireen Mseteka

Likoma, April 12, Mana: Eleven people have been reported dead as the boat they were sailing in to board MV Chilembwe capsized in the wee hours of Saturday at Jalo in Likoma.

Deputy Administrator for St. Peter's Hospital, Nkhonjera Banda confirmed that the dead bodies; six women, a girl and four men are being kept at the hospital's mortuary.

"I have received the reports that the 11 bodies are being kept at the hospital mortuary. They were brought in this morning and other survivors are receiving treatment at the hospital," said Banda.

Speaking on the hospital bed, a survivor, Elinase Phiri a business lady from Karonga, said the boat had a hole where water was entering into the boat and led to its capsizing.

"We realised very late that the boat had a hole. We confronted the operator to take us back to the shore but he insisted that he would be fast. We shouted but all in vain and the boat capsized.

“By the grace of God, I had to hold tight to the boat, then I was rescued," said Phiri.

Likoma Police Station Public Relations Officer, Enala Kalua confirmed the incident saying that investigations are in the process.

By Steve Chirombo

Dedza, April 12, Mana:  Maltida Mtambo, Dedza District Council's Chief Agriculture Officer, has advised farmers in the district to join cooperatives for easy access to farm inputs and also be able to learn modern agricultural methods.

Mtambo made the sentiments on Friday during a field day for farmers at Bembeke area under Inkosi Kamenyagwaza in the district.

Mtambo said, “Time has come for farmers in the country to work together and harvest bumper yields. We appreciate the lead farmers here who are also at the forefront in helping other farmers.”

She further encouraged farmers to continue using hybrid crops, saying they mature earlier than other local varieties, also to beat climate change.

In his remarks, chairperson for Bembeke lead farmers network, Chikumbutso Montino, said there are 18 groups that recently managed to contribute MK33 million, which was used to buy hybrid seeds and maize.

“Many farmers have now realized the importance of joining the groups, and this year we are expecting to put together over MK100 million. We encourage other farmers to collaborate for the mutual benefit of all.

“We also plan to intensify irrigation farming, hence calling upon small-scale growers to join cooperatives," said Montino.

By Memory Chatonda

Blantyre, April 12, Mana: About MK710 million has been injected into the construction of Kadidi Health Centre and medical staff houses in the area of Senior Chief Kapeni in Blantyre as one way of bringing health care services closer to the people.

The facility, which is to cover a catchment population of 65,000 people in Mtema Village and surrounding areas, will start functioning by May this year, offering outpatient services, and later on, maternity services.

Speaking this week, after inspecting the facility, District Commissioner for Blantyre, Alex Mdooko, expressed satisfaction with the construction works at Kadidi.

“I am satisfied with progress of the work, and once this project is fully completed, it will be considered as one of the flagship projects in Blantyre funded by Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD)," he said.

According to the DC, the council through GESD is also constructing Kachanga concrete bridge at Traditional Authority (T/A) Kuntaja and a classroom block in T/A Somba with funds amounting to MK103 million and MK89.9 million respectively, saying, “All these projects are at an advanced stage towards completion.”

Commenting on Kadidi project, Senior Chief Kapeni hailed government for introducing GESD, saying projects under GESD financially support the councils in implementing infrastructural development projects that are meant to benefit the rural population.

“In our case, this health facility will provide quality health care services to my subjects and they will access the services within reach. This will help to prevent deaths,” he added.

Chairperson of the building committee at Kachanga Bridge, Elson Chikalusa, said the committee will take ownership of the infrastructure to ensure that it benefits current and future generations.

GESD is a Malawi government project which is facilitated by the National Local Government Finance Committee and is implemented by local authorities among them Blantyre District Council.

Councils access funds to implement projects through performance-based grant, which is given to each council upon passing annual Local Authority Performance Assessment.

By Charlie Ligomeka

Machinga, April 12, Mana:  People at Group Village Head Matache, Traditional Authority Mposa in Machinga South expressed gratitude over construction of Lifani Bridge, saying the new infrastructure will improve mobility and facilitate economic activities in the process.

Constructed under District Development Fund (DDF) at an approximate cost of K53 million, the bridge relieves communities’ struggles in accessing social amenities such as markets, health facilities, schools, as they did not have a reliable bridge across Lifani River.

During Malawi News Agency (Mana) recent tour of Mposa, Aisha Iddrisa from Chipalamoto Village said she recalled many bad experiences including an incident when her son fell ill with malaria, saying she had no option but to find a motorbike rider to take her to a facility in the area, Machinjiri Health Centre to avoid a risk crossing point at Lifani River.

“The rider refused to cross on what used to be Lifani Bridge as it was risky to do so. This compelled him to take me via a longer route that also called for additional fare,” she added.

She said the new bridge automatically changes things for the better compared to the situation before the new DDF bridge over Lifani River.

“We faced a lot of challenges in rainy seasons. It becomes difficult for pregnant women to brave longer routes. We had to take a longer route to access a health facility.

“It was not only time-consuming but also posed security risks. During rainy seasons, the crossing point at Lifani River proved impassable, forcing community members to take longer routes to access essential services,” she added.

She said this had negative economic bearing, stating that many farmers struggled to sell their produce for failing to cross over.

Construction of the bridge has brought relief to the community, with many residents expressing gratitude to Machinga District Council and local leaders for the new infrastructure.

"This is a significant development in our area. For years, we've been looking forward to a good bridge,” said Alex Tambala from Matache Village, at Traditional Authority Mposa.

Councilor for Mposa Ward, Cedrick Stande who championed the initiative, said construction of the bridge at Lifani River was a fulfillment of his campaign promise.

“With DDF, I thought of prioritizing needs of people in my area and this is why l thought of engaging the council to construct Lifani Bridge.

“Our area is known for abundant agricultural produce, including maize and rice, which are the backbone of our economy. The bridge has shortened distance and improved access to our markets,” he said, adding that the bridge will allow farmers to sell their produce and improve their living standards.

The Ward Council said the bridge will also be of good advantage to women and the entire community as people will be able to access essential services more easily than before.

“The bridge will promote better trade by making it easier for buyers to access farm produce,” said Shanil Hassani, a farmer in the area.

Machinga District Council, Director of Public Works, Clement Ntambo, assured the community that his office was committed to facilitate development projects at Mposa, citing the Lifani Bridge.

According to data from the Machinga District Council, the bridge has reduced travel time by 30% making it easier for community members to access essential services.

By Joseph Ligowe

Blantyre, April 12, Mana: E-Nyasa Gas and Solar Limited is set to begin an initiative; gas use movement to provide affordable and accessible cooking energy to households in the country other than using non-environmental friendly energies such as charcoal.

Eric Ngomwa, Chief Executive Officer of E-Nyasa Gas and Solar Limited, announced during a press briefing this week that the initiative aims to educate the public on the use of gas and other commodities to help households save money and protect the environment.

“Gas is very cheap, fast and is accessible compared to other types of energies such as electricity and charcoal. I understand that some people cannot afford to buy gas stoves at once. Our company has come up with a fair mode of payment for gas cylinders, which will allow clients to pay in installments so that everyone can afford.

“At the same time, we are also fighting some misconceptions that gas could lead to explosions,” he said.

Ngomwa also revealed that E-Nyasa Gas and Solar Limited is currently constructing five gas filling stations in Blantyre, where customers will be able to refill their gas cylinders.

“Additionally, we have motorbikes which we will be using to deliver gas at customers’ doorstep,” he added and further stated that it was the company’s desire to see every household in Malawi using gas for cooking other than charcoal and other costly means.

A resident from Machinjiri Township in Blantyre, Pauline Mkwinda, commended the E-Nyasa company for the initiative.

"I have used electricity and charcoal for cooking for quite some time, but these cannot be compared with gas. Using gas for cooking is fast and convenient,” she said.

She therefore called on the company to market the initiative further to allow the public to understand cost effectiveness of using gas.

By Charlie Ligomeka

Machinga, April 12, Mana: Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Owen Chomanika says government has increased investment in climate and meteorological services to provide timely weather information for public safety and for the agricultural sector to make informed decisions to minimize losses.  

Chomanika made the remarks on Friday at the commemoration of 75th World Meteorological Day at Machinga Teachers Training College football ground where he also emphasized the importance of disseminating accurate weather information and utilization of early and meaningful warning systems. 

“Government is investing a lot in climate and meteorological services apart from engaging extension services from our partners and Ministry of Agriculture in matters of weather information.

“This way, we can provide information to help people know what to do when a call is made on bad weather and commencement of rain. This, assist farmers on the other hand to avoid planting in dry spells.” he said, citing a scenario in the 2024-2025 rainy season, when forecasters said rain would come in December while some farmers planted in October, leading to crop failure.

Chomanika stressed the need for people to take immediate action when warnings are issued by the DCCMS.

“It is very sad that we lost lives of our loved ones which could have been saved if people took immediately actions once the warnings were issued by our forecasters. Let's take actions quickly once the warnings are issued and let us continue to save lives,” the minister added.

The Director of Programmes and Development at the Malawi Red Cross Society, Gloria Kunyenga said there was need for meaningful collaboration among all actors to ensure every person is protected by use of early warning systems by 2027, a goal set by the United Nation’s Early Warning for All initiative.

"We need to reflect this goal in practice; we don't have to wait for the disaster to strike. We have the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS) that can ably forecast upcoming harsh weather events," she added.

Kunyenga also stressed the need to use scientific forecasts to trigger early action before a disaster unfolds.

“When meteorological data shows a high probability of flooding in a particular area, we need to mobilize ourselves and act before the first drop of rainfall,

“This approach has saved millions of lives and minimize damage, especially in vulnerable communities," she said.

The director emphasized the importance of sustaining support for early warning and early action, stating, “This doesn't have to be the end—let's keep pushing forward.”

Machinga District Council Chairperson, Councilor Simplex Diwa, also encouraged people in the district to always take precautionary measures and to act accordingly when forecasters call for quick actions for safety in times of disasters.

Malawi commemorated the 75^th World Meteorological Day under the theme: Closing the early warning gap together.