By Bazilio Chingoli

Ntcheu, April 18, Mana: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Representative in Malawi, Babagana Ahmadu, has assured the country of continued support for land and forest restoration interventions.

Ahmadu made the commitment on Thursday during a visit to Mpira catchment area in Ntcheu district, which is undergoing forest restoration to extend the lifespan of Mpira Dam.

While commending the efforts of the local community in taking care of the forest, Ahmadu emphasized the need for collective action to address the challenges facing ecosystems globally.

"Dealing with the challenges of climate change is everyone's responsibility," Ahmadu said adding, "We must work together to prevent encroachment on reserved land and forests, particularly for activities like charcoal burning."

Herbert Nkhobwe, a lead farmer from Gomeza village, praised FAO for its technical and financial support, saying it has transformed their lives.

 "We can now enjoy wild fruits and animals in the Nkhongo Yazizila forest," Nkhobwe said.

Fynes Chinkhonyo, a farmer from Kasale village, echoed Nkhobwe's sentiments, thanking FAO for its interventions.

"With FAO's support, we are now food secure. They provided us with goats and chickens, which give us manure to fertilize our farm fields,” she added.

Since 2021, FAO has been collaborating with communities along the Mpira catchment area in Ntcheu district on land and forest restoration initiatives aimed at extending the lifespan of the Mpira Dam, which was constructed in 1987.

By Blackson Mkupatira

Chiradzulu, April 17, Mana: Southern Region Water Board (SRWB) has expressed concern over increased vandalism and theft of critical water infrastructure at its project sites in Chiradzulu District.

Speaking earlier in the week during a community engagement meeting at Traditional Authority Onga headquarters, SRWB Chiradzulu Water Supply Project Officer Emmanuel Chifuniro said the board was losing a lot of resources to replace stolen and vandalized equipment such as electricity transformers and water system components.

“Our core mandate is to supply clean water to people. To achieve this, we are implementing various water supply projects across the country, including here in Chiradzulu.

“However, we are not making progress here because of rampant theft and vandalism of vital equipment. For example, this area does not have electricity, so we installed a transformer to support the water project,” he added.

SRWB further pointed out that on a number of occasions, it replaced stolen equipment, but to no success, as theft and vandalism continued.

“Unfortunately, the transformer was stolen. We replaced it, and it was stolen again just days later. This not only delays implementation but also drains our resources,” Chifuniro added.

He disclosed that the water supply project, which is being financed internally by SRWB, has already seen over K600 million invested, hence appealed to community members to take ownership and safeguard the development project.

“We urge all residents to help protect our equipment. Without your cooperation, it's difficult to finalize the project,” Chifuniro said, expressing hope that bringing electricity and water supply will transform the area socio-economically on top of promoting good hygiene practices.

Commenting on the matter, Chiradzulu District Council Water Development Officer, Macpherson Kuseli, said despite the district achieving a 97 percent access to potable water, vandalism remains a major threat to water service delivery.

“Once this project is complete, it will benefit many households and public institutions such as Chiradzulu District Hospital and surrounding health centres. This is why we need to come together and address these challenges,” Kuseli said.

While welcoming the development, Group Village Head Onga stressed the importance of involving the communities from the onset of a project and advised SRWB to consider hiring well-trained and competent security personnel to protect the infrastructure.

“We were not consulted when the project began, so people didn’t understand its importance. Now that you have involved us, we will take a leading role in ensuring its protection,” said Onga.

Chairperson for Chiradzulu District Community Policing Forum, Adamson Luvelo, assured SRWB officials that the forum and other community-level policing structures will work in collaboration with the police and surrounding communities to protect project equipment.

The meeting brought together officials from the Chiradzulu District Council, magistrates, police in the district, SRWB officials, local leaders, community policing members, and community members from traditional authorities Mpama and Onga.

By Manasse Nyirenda

Rumphi, April 17, Mana: Deputy Minister of Agriculture Benedict Chambo has urged agriculture extension workers in Rumphi to help farmers venture into irrigation farming in order to avert hunger that the district is experiencing due to dry spells in 2024-25 growing season.

Chambo made the remarks on Wednesday when he visited Chipofya Irrigation Scheme under construction at Bolero in Rumphi, and he also engaged farmers around Bolero, Chinyolo, Bale and Mzokoto.

He noted that the dry spells in the district have affected at least 1,000 hectares of crops and that many people are at risk of experiencing hunger.

The Deputy Minister added that, while the irrigation scheme under construction is expected to be operational by August benefiting at least 300 hectares of crop fields, there is need to utilize all available water resources in order to fight hunger.

"Fortunately we have the South Rukuru River along the M1 Road which has been underutilized. We want to give farmers the necessary equipment such as solar pumps and access to farm inputs through NEEF loans so that by May they should start planting.

"The Ministry of Agriculture is also working closely with Ministry of Finance to make funds that support irrigation infrastructure available immediately so that they may assist with implementation of these plans," said Chambo.

District Commissioner for Rumphi, Emmanuel Bulukutu, said the district has mobilized farmers into groups and that it is also engaging NEEF to help farmers interested in irrigation farming with farm inputs loans.

"Most farmers along the M1 Road are ready and some have already cleared part of the land in readiness for irrigation farming. They are only waiting for our support in terms of irrigation equipment such as solar pumps and other equipment.

"Rumphi has over 10,000 hectares of land that can be utilized for irrigation farming and, currently, only 3000 hectares are used for irrigation," said Bulukutu.

Resident Engineer for Chipofya Irrigation Scheme Victor Mateveke said the team working on the project is optimistic that they will be able to make water available for farmers’ use by August.

One of the farmers from Chilengeska Irrigation Scheme in Senior Chief Mwankhunikira, Chance Nyirenda, said he has been supporting his family, including four children who are in secondary school, through irrigation farming.

"After harvesting I sell the surplus and use the money to pay for my children's school fees. Irrigation farming is lucrative and the deputy minister has just motivated us to do more. I am sure we will get modern irrigation equipment from the government to support us," said Nyirenda.

Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe said the scheme will enable farmers in his area to plant three times in a year, which will improve their household income through selling surplus.

Chipofya Irrigation Scheme is under Programme for Rural Irrigation Development (PRIDE). Once completed the K11 billion project is expected to benefit 2,482 people from nine villages in Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe in the district.

It is funded by Malawi Government and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, April 17, Mana: Government has promoted 466 primary school teachers across Chitipa District to grade K and J.

District Commissioner for Chitipa, MacMillan Magomero, said the government has promoted primary school teachers who have stayed for more than 10 years without being promoted.

Magomero said this on Thursday during presentation of promotion letters to the teachers.

“We thank the government for promoting 466 teachers across the district, and I believe it's not only Chitipa. The promotions were targeting those serving 10 years below to grade K and J.

“Our teachers are happy because others overstayed on the same grade. This is motivating to teachers so that they can work diligently and be dedicated,” Magomero said.

The DC noted education as the backbone to every development across the country, adding that promoting the teachers was an achievement in the sense that it will impact on their retirement package as others are about to retire.

He then warned teachers who abscond from work, drink alcohol during working hours, and those who misbehave at workplaces, saying once found the laws and regulations will be applied.

“We have to go back and work not as business as usual but work with dedication,” he appealed.

Head teacher for Naching’anda Primary School, Nebert Mulungu, thanked the government for the promotion which he said has boosted his morale.

“I have stayed for 13 years without being promoted. I thank this government for considering me and my colleagues to be promoted,” Mulungu said.

Head teacher for Chitipa CCAP Primary school, Suten Kitamula, was also grateful to the government for the promotion which she said was long overdue.

The government has promoted 320 primary school teachers to grace K and 146 to grade J.

By Augustus Nkhwazi

Mzuzu, April 17, Mana: Principle Resident Magistrate Court in Mzuzu, Tuensday  convicted and sentenced Moja Shaibu, 65, to 21 years imprisonment with hard labour  (IHL) for having sexual intercourse with an 8 year-old girl

Shaibu committed the offence on April 11, 2025, at Kalama in Enukweni in Mzimba District, where both the accused and the survivor’s parents live as tenants.

Police Prosecutor, Samuel Juzwell, told the court that Shaibu used to entice the girl with fresh maize each time he forced himself on her.

In mitigation, Shaibu pleaded guilty to the charge before pleading for leniency, saying he fends for his family.

However, Juzwell prayed for a stiffer punishment on grounds that the accused had planned to commit the crime, and that as the girl’s neighbor, he had responsibility to protect the girl, which he failed to do.

Passing  the sentence, Principal Resident Magistrate Clemence Chamwenda, concurred with the state saying the convict had  committed a serious offence and ought to be  isolated from the community, and he  handed  the convict a 21-year jail term

Shaibu hails  from Ngwale Village in the  area of Traditional Authority Nyambi in Machinga District.

By Linda Likomwa

Phalombe, April 17, Mana: NGO Gender Coordination Network (NGO-GCN) has appealed to journalists to write positive stories about women aspirants as Malawi heads to September 16 tripartite election.

The NGO-GCN made the appeal on Wednesday when they engaged journalists in Phalombe on gender issues ahead of the general election.

One of the organization’s members, Olive Mpina, said the media has a role to play in promoting women aspirants through stories that should explain women’s capabilities in participating in meaningful politics.

“Media in Phalombe should also be covering women aspirants’ meetings to write stories about women’s capabilities in politics, in addition to their daily duties,” she said.

Malawi Broadcasting Cooperation (MBC) reporter based in Phalombe, Thumbiko Nyirongo, hailed the engagement, describing it as timely, considering that Malawi has few months remaining to hold the election.

He added that knowledge on gender issues will help journalists improve skills in writing stories that will promote women aspirants as they prepare to compete in parliamentary and local government elective positions in Phalombe.

The meeting observed that some women shun the media due to negative perception about the media, thereby missing opportunities for adequate coverage at the time of stiffer competition.

NGO-GCN implements a project to do with political empowerment of women in Malawi to enhance media’s fair, accurate, and gender sensitive reporting.

The project is being implemented in Phalombe, Balaka, Nkhatabay and Ntchisi districts, with support from UN Women through Malawi Electoral Support Project under the basket fund supported by the EU, FCDO, UK Government, Irish Embassy and the Royal Norwegian Embassy.

By: Eranivey Temani

Lilongwe, April 17, Mana; Burn Manufacturing Company has embarked on an initiative to promote modernized charcoal and wood stoves in Malawi.

The company’s Project Manager, Stanley Kahira, announced this on Wednesday in Lilongwe, during a local stakeholder Consultation meeting for Gold Standard Voluntary Project under Effective Clean Cooking Biomass Solutions Program for Africa.

Kahira said the initiative aims to reduce air pollution, promote energy efficiency, and create economic opportunities for people in the country, especially the youth.

"The stove will help Malawians save money and time spent on traditional charcoal stoves, while reducing air pollution,” he said, adding: "The project has created jobs and economic empowerment for the youth, with some employed at the factory in Blantyre and others are working as sales agents, which is vital for the community.

Kahira further acknowledged government’s efforts in finding other means of energy, apart from using charcoal, but he said the carbon used in the company’s stoves is below 2.5 which is not harmful to one's health.

Commenting on the development, Operations Manager for My Community My Responsibility Organization, Glory Chisunkha, welcomed the project, saying it is good for the development of the country.

 "We are satisfied with the collaborative effort towards climate change, and it's a development that will help reduce carbon emissions," she said.

Councilor for Njewa ward in Lilongwe Gift Mtolongo expressed satisfaction for the project, saying it will assist in terms of conservation of the environment.

"The project will help conserve our environment and reduce carbon monoxide emissions compared to traditional charcoal burns. This is a great initiative which members of the community must embrace,” he said

To date, the Company has sold over 14,000 stoves at K10,000 each, targeting primary charcoal users. The company aims to reach over 250,000 households with modernized cook stoves, according to Kahira.

The Kenyan company has a track record of promoting fuel-efficient biomass solutions, and it has reportedly sold 4.8 million appliances in East Africa, since 2013,