MANAonline
Silver lining for Bankers
By Tione Andsen
Lilongwe, May 4, Mana: Current TNM Super League leaders, Silver Strikers have opened a three-point gap after silencing log table anchors, Baka City 2-0 to register a first away win for the season.
The Central Bankers have 13 points from five games three away from second placed, Mzuzu City Hammers who were held to 1-1 draw against Moyale Barracks at Mzuzu stadium.
Silver’s win has created a four-point gap with defending TNM Super League Champions, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers after they played out to a 1-1 draw in a Blantyre derby at Kamuzu stadium.
Both Bullets and Wanderers have nine points in their bags and are yet to taste their first defeats of the season.
They have all registered two wins and three draws but Wanderers have a better goal difference over their rivals.
The Bankers seem to have found the new formula to win the league after being eluded in the past 10 years.
Silver Strikers looks to be clinical on goal scoring this time around under the tutelage of their coach, Peter Mponda.
They have scored 13 goals against three and the Bankers dual of Adiel Kaduya and Binwell Katinji have scored four goals and they are at par with Kamuzu Barracks striker, Zeliat Nkhoma.
Silver Strikers goalkeeper, George Chikooka has registered his second clean sheet and the first one was against his old club, Chitipa United when they won 2-0 at home.
They have won at home thrice, draw once away, win away and are yet to register a defeat for the season.
Newcomers, Baka City will have to dig deep in order to move out of the relegation zone and are currently anchoring the table with a point from five games.
They have scored two goals and conceded seven and are yet to register a win.
Police for free and fair elections
By Emily M’mangisa
Zomba, April 17, Mana: Eastern Region Police Commissioner, Violet Magwaya says police in the region is geared to ensure that the September, 2025 general elections are conducted in a free and fair manner.
The Commissioner made the assurance Tuesday in Zomba during a meeting which was organized by Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) with district commissioners, chief executive officers and officers in charge from the eastern region.
“This time around, there will be no violations of human rights and let me assure you that police will arrest anyone who will try to mess up things during election period,” Magwaya said.
Magwaya also assured citizens of maximum security during registration period and poling day.
District Commissioner for Zomba, Reighgurd Chavula said the meeting with MEC was crucial and timely.
“This meeting was very important to us because we have been equipped with relevant information which will help us to carry out this task in a fairly,’’ Chavula said.
MEC Chairperson, Justice, Dr. Chifundo Kachale, said the meeting was meant to familiarize all electoral stakeholders with electoral reforms that have taken place in the electoral laws.
Government working towards communication policy and strategy
By Ernest Mfunya
Mangochi, May 4, Mana. Secretary for Information, Baldwin Chiyamwaka has said government is working on National Government Communication Policy and National Communication Strategy which are expected to guide all communication processes.
Chiyamwaka made the remarks during a panel discussion held at Fort Johnston Hotel in Mangochi where members from various media houses met to commemorate World Press Freedom Day which falls on May 3 every year.
He said the National Government Communications Policy and strategy are aimed at harnessing and coordinating all forms of information and communications in the country.
"We have the Communications Act which is regulatory in nature, but this strategy will ensure how we can operationalize government and public communications and coordinate all forms of information," said Chiyamwaka.
During the panel discussion media representatives expressed concerns over poor welfare and low salaries in their respective media houses.
However, Chiyamwaka said good policies are demand driven and urged journalists to demand what they want using the institution such as MISA Malawi and Media Council of Malawi.
“When you look at human rights based approach there is demand and supply sides and the same applies to the media because it’s the media itself that knows what's good for them,” he said.
The Information Secretary said government is committed to ensure good welfare of the media personnel in both public and private sectors.
Chairperson for Media Council of Malawi Dr. Jolly Ntaba said dissatisfactory economic welfare is one of the factors that negatively affect the media in Malawi, observing that low salaries have negative impact on the welfare of the media practitioners which in turn affect their profession.
He has since urged journalists to develop and invest in themselves, citing upgrading in educational qualifications rather than waiting for organizations to improve their welfare.
“It is imperative for journalists to invest in themselves and do personal developments. Add more education to what they have and look at opportunities that the new media platforms are offering by becoming an entrepreneur within the media industry,” said Ntaba.
Minister pledges to support the media
By Lyte Ali and Nephtali Kalumbi
Mangochi, May 4, Mana: Minister of information, Moses Kunkuyu has pledged to support journalist in the country so that they continue to operate in a free environment.
He made the marks on Saturday in Mangochi, during the world press freedom day activities, organized by the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Malawi, themed "Guardians of Democracy: championing Media independence for credible Elections"
The Minister said, President Ckakwera has not only spoken about press freedom, but also shown commitment in supporting the media in different ways such as organizing meetings with them and creating a conducive environment for their operations.
"The president has never sectioned the police to arrest any journalist which symbolizes his solidarity with the media and support for press freedom in the country"
"My coming here to join this freedom match is to follow the president steps because of the good example that he is setting of working together with the media and complementing each other in running the affairs of the country” said Kinkuyu
Kunkuyu pledged that the practice will continue in order to build a solid relationship with the media which is an important stakeholder in national building.
Vice chairperson of MISA Malawi, Chisomo Ngulube hailed the minister for joining the journalists’ on their day, saying it shows government commitment in creating a good environment for the media.
He thanked the media practitioners from various media houses for availing themselves for the function, observing this helps build cordial relationship amongst them.
Government justifies delays over construction of Bangula-Marka railway
By Robert Nayeja
Nsanje, May 3, Mana: Minister of transport and public works, Jacob Hara says redesigning of Bangula- Marka railway has delayed the construction works of the rail way in Nsanje District.
Hara was speaking after he inspected construction works of the railway underway in the lower shire district.
He said cyclones have forced the engineers to redesign the project to avoid railway wash away in the future
“Lucky enough cyclones came before we had gone far with the project. A lot of streams were developed and rivers changed directions which has forced us to raise the railway design and also to construct additional bridges that were not on the first design,” he said.
He assured people in the district that government will provide all necessary support to the contractor in order for the project to move faster so that people in the country should start enjoying the benefit of railway transport.
"The price of commodities will go down as the cost of transporting goods on railway is cheaper than road transport.
"As government we will provide all necessary support so that the project should be completed," said the minister.
Hara assured people that by the end of this year a locomotive from Beira will be able to reach Nsanje Boma.
He said: “We want to import fertilizer through railway this year. We may have delayed with the project but we want to construct the railway that will be resilient to natural calamities like floods that are common in the district. To achieve this, we had no choice but to change the designs because of the experience we learnt from Cyclone Freddy.”
The minister said the redesigning and the devaluation of the kwacha has forced the project cost to be revised.
Speaking during the ministerial visit, Project Manager at China Railway 20 (CR20) Zhinan Gua. Said once all resources are in place the first part of Marka- Nsanje will be completed by September this year.
Senior Chief Chimombo appealed to government to make sure that there is speed in the construction works of the project, saying the railway line will unlock economic opportunities of people in Nsanje and the whole nation.
“There will be cargo from Mozambican port of Beira coming here to Malawi and some people will find job, others will be doing business and it will lift the face of Nsanje as it will invite investors in various fields," he said.
He appealed for good working relationship between government and the contractor to speed up the construction works.
Minister to engage MNCS on stadium gate collections
By George Mponda
Karonga, May 4, Mana: Minister of Youth and Sports, Uchizi Mkandawire says he plans to discuss with Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) officials to consider stopping collection of a percentage of gate receipts during football matches at district stadiums.
The Minister said this at Karonga Stadium, Friday where he went to inspect the facility which was opened in 2018, following media reports describing the stadiums of poor state.
He said district councils are facing a lot of challenges to repair their stadiums due to inadequate financial resources.
Mkandawire said: “The revenue councils collect from matches should be enough to cover the cost of repairs but it is shared among several stakeholders.
“This is why I will engage the Malawi Council of Sports Council to stop collecting their percentage from stadium gate collections in order for district councils to have enough money for repairs."
He asked Karonga District Council to engage communities in solving the problems rocking the district’s stadium, warning that community members, teams and the district council will be negatively affected if Football Association of Malawi (FAM) bans the stadium from hosting games.
In a separate interview, general secretary for Karonga United FC, Ramsey Simwaka said they bank on the mercy of FAM officials who authorize teams to use Karonga Stadium in its bad state, due to scarcity of stadiums in the northern region.
Karonga Stadium Manager, Wilson Ngwira blamed farming activities around the stadium for causing water to flood inside the facility.
"The stadium has ponds outside which are used to drain water from the facility's drainage system. Unfortunately, the ponds are full of silt because local people are cutlivating rice around the ponds," Ngwira said.
"The stadium was also constructed on a water logged site and Karonga ground water has high iron content which is also causing the iron poles around the stadium to corrode quickly. Community members have also been vandalising toilets, wire fences and electrical equipment," he added.
Dedza DEST urged to be professional ahead of 2025 polls
By Steve Chirombo
Dedza, May 3, Mana: Director of Administration for Dedza District Council, Chris Salaniponi, has advised members of the District Elections Supervisory Team (DEST) to be professional in handling electoral matters in the district in light of the forthcoming 2025 general elections.
Salaniponi made the call Friday during a meeting between officials from the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) and DEST members where, among others, the two sides shared some developments that have taken place and also expectations from each other.
He pointed out that members need not to be political partisans instead they need to leave their political affiliations aside when discharging their duties.
“The elections are a national event and the way we present ourselves will be a seed on the outcome of the polls. As DEST members, we are entrusted in defusing the pressure during the electoral period and not vice versa.
“On the other hand, let’s work together. Electoral processes can’t be done by one person. Let’s work as a team,” he said.
He commended MEC for organizing what he termed as an insightful engagement adding the forum reminded members of their important roles during the elections while calling on members to use previous challenges as stepping stones on how they will improve in the next elections.
MEC Director of Electoral Services, Hastings Bota, said the electoral body appreciates unwavering commitment and support that DEST members provide before, during and after every election.
He said DEST, is one key stakeholder when it comes to the electoral body’s achievement of its mission, vision and mandate.
“You have been instrumental in managing the delegated electoral authority,” he said.
Nutrition unit set to boost coordination in Salima District
By Fostina Mkandawire
Salima, May 3, Mana: A nutrition unit constructed with financial support from Germany Cooperation at Salima District Council is expected to enhance service delivery and nutrition coordination among sectors.
A nutrition unit is a facility that takes care of all malnutrition cases and diet related issues with an aim of improving people's health and help them make better dietary choices.
Speaking during the handover ceremony in Salima District on Thursday, Country Director for German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), Alan Walsch, described the unit as a pace setter in the country because it is the first of its kind in all the district councils.
He said having a unit where nutrition officers from education, agriculture, health and secretariat will enhance idea sharing, collaboration and problem solving will enable communities to be well informed on nutrition issues.
Walsch said they noted office space challenges in most district councils, therefore, constructing offices where all players in the nutrition field should be confined would solve most of the challenges.
He said Salima was identified as the first district to pilot the project, describing it as an enduring asset which will surpass the lifespan of the Food and Nutrition Security Programme (FNSP) in which the facility has been constructed under.
"While people and programs may change, this building will remain a stable and valuable resource for years to come he said.
"We took great care to ensure that the building's design and placement were environmentally conscious, preserving the beauty of the surrounding trees,” he said.
Walsch said they are expecting to see communities coming to the facility to access nutritional help from officers housed under the facility.
District Commissioner for Salima, James Mwenda, said nutrition requires concerted effort of multiple sectors.
"The new office building will serve as a hub for nutrition officers from different sectors, establishing a permanent base for the Salima District Nutrition Unit. We are privileged to be the first district to have this facility," he said.
Mwenda emphasized that the Council will put in place maintenance measures so that the unit serves its intended purpose and not abused.
Three motorcycles were donated to ease mobility challenges of nutrition officers.
The Food and Nutrition Security Programme (FNSP) has been active in Salima District since 2015 and strives to enhance nutrition outcomes and also working at multiple levels, empowering communities, supporting districts, as well as national policy.
Men cautioned against impregnating women with mental illness
By Linda Likomwa
Phalombe, May 3, Mana: Phalombe District Social Welfare Office has expressed concern over men who continue to impregnate women with mental illness saying this is accelerating cases of abandoned children in the district.
In an interview on Thursday, Acting Social Welfare Officer, Stanley Gundeni, said his office started receiving cases in 2021 and so far nine have been reported.
He said the situation has led some of the women to abandon their children at the hospital soon after giving birth.
“Three women run away from the hospital soon after giving birth abandoning their children. We had to take them to Chisomo Children’s Home at Bvumbwe in Thyolo for care; two children have been adopted at Chiringa and one died during the adoption process,” said Gundeni.
He said most of the women impregnated are those who cannot speak and are illiterate which makes his office difficult to trace the perpetrators.
Gundeni has since asked government and Civil Society Organizations to support his office in constructing a home so that children can be taken care of within Phalombe than sending them to other districts.
In random interviews, most people said beliefs are fueling such tendencies saying others think sleeping with a mentally challenged woman grows their businesses grow hence getting rich.
One of the men in the district, Mabvuto John, said he was once told by his friend to sleep with a mentally challenged woman for his business to do well.
He said this shows that most men are doing it with other purposes than quenching their sexual desire.
He noted that children raised by women with mental illness cannot grow well since they lack parental care like providing basic needs and sending them to school.
Traditional leaders in the district have since pledged to address the issue during community gatherings to avoid further abuse of women with mental illness and their children.
Farming activities blocks Karonga stadium's drainage systems
By George Mponda
Karonga, May 3, Mana: Farming activities around Karonga Stadium have contributed to water flooding at the facility which was opened in 2018.
Stadium Manager for Karonga Stadium, Wilson Ngwira, was speaking Friday when Minister of Youth and Sports, Uchizi Mkandawire, inspected the facility following media reports of the stadium’s poor state.
"The stadium has water ponds outside which are used to drain water from the facility's drainage system. Unfortunately, the ponds are full of silt because local people cultivate rice around them.
“The stadium was also constructed on a water logged site and Karonga ground water has high iron content which quickly corrodes iron poles around the stadium. Community members have also been vandalising toilets, wire fences and electrical equipment,” said Ngwira.
In his remarks, Mkandawire said Karonga District Council owns the stadium hence the need to engage the community to address such challenges.
“The Council is expected to utilize the facility for revenue generation and invest them in maintaining shape of the stadium.
“If Football Association of Malawi (FAM) bans the stadium from hosting games; teams, community members and the Council will be affected hence the need to ensure that the facility is always in good condition,” Mkandawire said.
The minister commended the Council for its efforts in repairing some of the damages caused by heavy rains.
He pledged to engage Sports Council of Malawi to stop collecting any percentage of gate collections for the Council to have enough money for repairing the facility.
