MANAonline
Business community commended for donation
By Brian Wasili
Mwanza, December 30, Mana: Inkosi Kanduku Maseko of Mwanza has commended small-scale business group members for donating assorted food and non-food items worth K250, 000 and some cash to a family with health challenges in the district.
The remarks were made when the group donated a 50 kilogramme bag of maize flour, a bail of soya pieces and sugar, salt, a carton of laundry and bathing soap, among others, at the beneficiary’s home at Njazo Village in the area of Inkosi Kanduku Maseko on Sunday.
“We need more of such people with love who can provide support to the vulnerable considering the cost of living is now very expensive. I urge other well-wishers in the district to emulate what the group has done,” said Kanduku.
The donation was made in response to a tip posted on the members' social media group by a well-wisher, which described the hardships faced by Triphonia Chabwera, a 58-year-old widow who has been ill for years, resulting in blindness.
Her daughter, who previously cared for her, is now incapacitated due to a stroke in January 2023, leaving her paralyzed that leaves the mother and her three grandchildren facing significant challenges.
Speaking after receiving the donation, Chabwera commended the support received saying that it will help her family to sustain life for some time.
“I did not expect that I would receive these items today. I will be able to eat food today and this will be my Christmas celebration,” said Chabwera.
She added that apart from food and beddings, her house was also in poor state, as it cannot withstand the rainy season and therefore asked for support for a better and safe accommodation.
Member of the group, Sellina Magombo, said members donated the items not that they have a lot of extra money to spend but they wanted to make the beneficiary feel loved.
“We just wanted to demonstrate that the little we have can be shared with those whose situations are worse than ours and do not have any means to meet their basic needs due to various reasons,” said Magombo.
NEEF disburses fertilizer on loan to farmer clubs Mchinji
By Brighton Thengoliweta Chimsinde
Mchinji, December 30, Mana: National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) has disbursed 500 bags of fertilizer worth over K54 million on loan to farmer clubs and individual farmers in Mchinji District.
Speaking at the symbolic disbursement at Mchinji NEEF Offices, NEEF Head of Operations, Kisa Mwelefu Kalolokesya, advised the beneficiaries to use the fertilizer for the intended purpose.
"As NEEF, through the loans, we want Malawians to have enough food and contribute 40 percent to the national farm yield in the 2024/2025 farming season.
“As you are witnessing today, we are distributing 500 bags of Urea fertilizer each weighing 50 kilograms and in the coming days they are to get NPK fertilizer. We are pegging each bag at K108, 000. We are expected to reach out to more than 200,000 Malawians nationwide,” Kalolokesya said.
He, therefore, said NEEF has been given the mandate to assist government to boost financial stands for local Malawians and stabilize inflation of the Malawi Kwacha by disbursing monetary business capital and farm inputs on soft-loan basis.
Kalolokesya appealed to the beneficiaries to repay back the loan for others to benefit in the next farming season.
Group Village Headman Robati of Traditional Authority (TA) Zulu in Mchinji thanked NEEF for the loan saying it would help the district have bumper maize yields.
"I pledge to work in collaboration with NEEF so that the beneficiaries repay back their loans," said the chief.
One of the beneficiaries, Irene Ulaya Shati, who is chairperson for Alinafe Kansanja Women Cooperative of Kansanja Village, TA Zulu commended NEEF for continuing empowering them with different types of loans.
“For us it is not the first time to access loans from NEEF. We commend NEEF for considering us again to benefit from the farm inputs loan that will enable us prosper in our farming,” she said.
According to NEEF, K150 billion has been set aside for agricultural related loans planned to reach out to over 200,000 farmers across the country and so far it has already disbursed over K20 billion.
MP cautions communities against selling farmland
By Wanangwa Tembo
Kasungu, December 29, Mana: Member of Parliament for Kasungu South East Constituency, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, says the tendency of subleasing land designated for crop cultivation has largely contributed to food insecurity amongst households in Kasungu District.
Chiponda says frustrations by farmers over poor commodity prices during the previous government forced communities to sell their gardens as agriculture became unprofitable.
She said this Saturday when she led a relief maize distribution exercise at Chinkhoma, in the area of Senior Chief Njombwa in the district.
“I must point out that one factor that has largely contributed to food insecurity here in Kasungu is that people do not want to cultivate crops and opt to sublease their land to others.
“This is because, during the previous government, farming was not profitable as prices for agricultural produce were low despite that people were willing and working hard to produce; so the option for them has been subleasing their land,” Chiponda said.
She challenged the relief maize beneficiary households to stop selling land and get down to serious farming saying the Malawi Congress Party-led government has passion to revitalize agriculture as evidenced by “good prices being offered for any crop on the market”.
“We are thankful to President Lazarus Chakwera that there is a food distribution exercise taking place across the country including Kasungu to ease the hunger that is there.
“But we want to encourage these beneficiaries and everyone else that under this government, every crop attracts good prices. If you cultivate maize, soybean, tobacco and everything, you are assured of selling at good prices so we must stop subleasing our land,” said Chiponda, who is also Minister of Health.
She also called for fairness in the distribution of relief food, asking chiefs to refrain from favouritism when choosing beneficiaries.
Group Village Head Chambwe lauded Chiponda for the donation describing it as a timely gift that will ease food pressures amongst the receiving households.
He said as chefs, they will ensure that only deserving families are enlisted as beneficiaries so that the food response serves its intended purpose.
Government, through the Department of Disaster Management Affairs, is distributing maize across the country targeting families that were affected by the El Nino weather phenomenon, which affected harvest last season.
In Kasungu, over 50, 000 households have been earmarked to receive relief maize at least four times to take them through to the next harvest.
DC advises social cash transfer beneficiaries to buy maize
By Solister Mogha
Zomba, December 29, Mana: Zomba District Commissioner, Reinghard Chavula, has advised beneficiaries of Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) in the district to use money meaningfully particularly by buying food in the lean season with K3.2 billion allocated to support them through lean season cash support.
Chavula made an appeal Saturday during the launch of lean season response of cash to SCTP beneficiaries.
She said as part of cushioning people from hunger government decided to provide K140, 000 cash to each beneficiary instead of maize as a way of improving their livelihood in the lean season.
“All Social Cash Transfer Programme beneficiaries are part of the lean season support for two months; they will get K140, 000, thus K70, 000 for each month to buy food.
“On top of this lean season support, households will also receive their regular transfers which are a huge contribution from government to the people,” Chavula added.
The District Commissioner therefore advised the beneficiaries never to be carried away by the huge sums of money but rather prioritizing on important basic household needs purpose.
One of the recipients of the cash, Thom Mapemba, of Traditional Authority Chikowi hailed government for the timely support of the cash.
He said the money received will enable him buy food and maize seeds to be planted in his fields.
“This is something that I never expected. The support has come at the right time when I needed it most and I salute government for the timely response,” Mapemba said.
According to Zomba District Council, a total of K3.2 billion has been allocated to benefit almost 19,730 SCTP beneficiary households through the lean season cash support.
Fountain of Victory to host a night of Hope and Destiny
By Hope Chimwala
Blantyre, December 28, Mana: In an attempt to restore hope to the body of Christ, Fountain of Victory Church International has organised a crossover service scheduled for December 31.
The cross over will be observed under the theme: 'Night of Hope and Destiny.' It will start from 8pm at Victory Land behind MBC TV offices in Blantyre.
In interview with the Malawi News Agency (Mana), Friday, founder of Fountain of Victory, Apostle Joseph Ziba, said that the crossover service has been organised and titled “Night of Hope and Destiny” because it is an event which will be held at the end of the year with the aim of restoring hope to the church and also ushering people into a new year.
“The year in which we are in has affected many people in the country and people have lost hope with the economic crisis as well as with the year which is coming, this event will bring hope to them that God has special plans for us in 2025.
"We’re bringing all people together to tell them what God has said about 2025, tell them their responsibility and how they should carry themselves as we are in this season,” he said.
Ziba added that it is important for believers to enter the new year while in the presence of God rather than embracing it through drinking and doing other immoral things.
He particularly encouraged all people to attend and enter the new year in the presence of God.
“Other people think that crossing over is about drinking and doing all other things, but as believers, we know the meaning of coming together and entering the new year in the presence of God," Ziba said.
"I would urge each and every one if they could understand what the presence of God could do to them, you can come before him with a burden or depressed but you don’t go out the same," he added.
In a separate interview, Kalem Emmanuel, a member of God’s Will Church International, said that crossover services provide an opportunity for people to know and hear what God is saying about the coming year and how they should prepare.
“Services like these allow us to hear the mind of God through the man of God concerning all aspects of life, they also enable us to reflect on the areas we have done well and those we didn’t do well; thereby, giving us a chance to prepare on how we are going to prosper in the new year which is 2025, in this case,” he said.
The crossover services will be done in all Fountain of Victory Churches around the globe and activities such as 2024 mega thanksgiving praise, testimonies, saturated worship and prophetic messages and prayers, among others, are what will keep the services energised.
Chitipa Police Women's Welfare Group cheers the sick at Chitipa District Hospital
By Andrew Gondwe
Chitipa, December 27, Mana: Chitipa Police Women's Welfare Group, which comprises police female officers and wives of police officers, Friday donated assorted groceries worth K2 million to prenatal, maternity and children's wards at Chitipa District Hospital.
Apart from celebrating with patients, the grouping also donated to patients’ guardians as a gesture of love in celebrating Christmas and New Year festivities.
Speaking when she presented the items, Chairperson for Chitipa Police Women's Welfare Group, Phinlet Mazengela, said that Jesus Christ was born to save all who believe in him and urged everyone to have faith that God intervenes in whatever challenges people experience.
Mazengela urged mothers and patient guardians to understand that health workers at the health facility are always there to foster lover and care as God per the wish of God.
Eliness Mtambo who is one of the patient guardians in the maternity ward, thanked the grouping for the donation which she said will go a long way in alleviating some of the challenges that some patients face while admitted at the facility.
Matron for Chitipa District Hospital, Nie Nyirenda, commended the women for complementing Chitipa District Council’s efforts enhancing patients’ welfare at the hospital.
Nyirenda added that the gesture portrayed love and unity amongst various stakeholders towards the council’s development
"I therefore urge individuals and organizations to continue supporting health facilities across the district," Nyirenda said.
Zomba District Council commissions construction of K430 million TDC
By Solister Mogha
Zomba, December 27, Mana: Zomba District Council on Thursday launched construction of a K430 million Teacher Development Center (TDC) using District Development Funds (DDF) at Mchengawedi Education Zone where Primary Education Advisors (PEAs) turned a classroom into a TDC for some years.
Speaking at the project site, Mchengawedi Council Chairperson, Blazio Chinthenga, said the Council was committed to providing quality infrastructures in the education sector to attain good education standards.
Chinthenga said the TDC was one such infrastructure that will improve provision of quality basic education.
“In our district development plans, we have a lot to achieve. We are therefore committed to completing all planned infrastructural projects.
Our target is to develop Zomba in all aspects,” the council chairperson
He said Mchengawedi TDC will be one of finest structure in the district and the whole Malawi and expressed hope that the facility will create a conducive working environment for teachers and users.
Member of Parliament for Zomba Malosa, Grace Kwelepeta, hailed government for financing construction of the TDC, describing the development as a positive step towards improved education standards in her area.
“The current PEA is operating in a classroom which is not conducive enough for a person of such a position. It our hope that this structure will restore the dignity of the PEA and the area which has rich education history,” she said.
While commending the commissioning of the TDC the parliamentarian appealed for the construction of a secondary school, which she said would provide secondary education for many children in primary schools in Zomba Malosa.
Senior Chief Malemia applauding Zomba District Council for the decision to construct the TDC but advised community members to desist from stealing construction materials.
“This is our own development; we should own it. Let us guard against theft of materials and let us ensure we get a perfect structure,” the chief said.
Ochibwe Building Contractors were awarded the contract to construct Mchengawedi TDC, according to Zomba District Council, Director of Public Works, Henry Mwamvani.
Mwamvani said among others, the TDC will have a conference hall.
Vice President warns against partisan distribution of relief maize
By Yamikani Yapuwa
Thyolo, December 27, Mana: Vice President Dr. Michael Usi has issued a stern warning against partisan politics in the implementation of Lean Season Food Insecurity Response Programme, which is meant to distribute relief maize to vulnerable households.
Speaking during a visit to Thyolo District on Thursday, Dr. Usi urging local leaders to ensure that assistance reaches all deserving individuals regardless of political affiliation or religious beliefs, emphasizing the need to ensure transparency when identifying and registering people that should benefit from programme.
“The relief maize is for every Malawian in need, not for members of a particular political party or religion. Chiefs and local leaders must ensure fairness and accountability in this process,
“We rely on you to uphold the integrity of this program,” added the Vice President.
The Lean Season Food Insecurity Response Programme in Thyolo will benefit 72,599 households representing 317,514 people.
Senior Chief Ndalama of Thyolo commended the government for the timely intervention, acknowledging its potential to alleviate the hunger crisis affecting communities across the district.
He, however, appealed to the government to extend the relief food programme to June or July, citing the prolonged dry spell that has severely impacted crop yields.
“Many fields are bare, and it is clear that people will not harvest enough food this year. We ask the government to consider extending the relief period to ensure that no one is left starving," said the senior chief.
Thyolo District Commissioner, Hudson Kuphanga, echoed the call for expanded support, urging the government to increase the number of beneficiaries in the district, noting that the magnitude of hunger in Thyolo requires a broader safety net to address the growing demand for food aid.
“The hunger crisis has affected nearly every corner of our district. The number of people in need far exceeds the current beneficiary list.
“We appeal to the government to adjust allocations to accommodate more households,” added the District Commissioner.
Mozambicans fleeing political violence goes up in Nsanje
By Robert Nayeja
Nsanje, December 27, Mana: Number of Mozambicans fleeing their country to Malawi as political violence continues in the wake of disputed election results has risen as 2,497 households entered Nsanje as of Thursday.
Nsanje District Commissioner, Dominic Mwandira says the number of people seeking refuge in the district is expected to rise as more Mozambicans are still coming in as the number of households rose from 2,000 to 2,497 of late.
The District Commissioner added that government through the Nsanje Council has provided shelter in evacuation centers and primary schools adding that a place to relocate some refugees has already been identified in the area of Senior Chief Tengani.
“Mainly the Mozambicans are coming in the district through the areas of Senior Chief Tengani, Senior Chief Mlolo and Traditional Authority Mbenje,” he added.
Mwandira stated that Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) also provided maize flour and beans to the Mozambican households seeking refuge in Nsanje.
“We are working with relevant stakeholders to make sure that these people receive necessary support. We reported the matter to the Department of Refugees in the Ministry of Homeland Security and other concerned organizations,” added Mwandira.
Political violence resurfaced in Mozambique after Constitutional Council announced Frelimo’s Daniel Chapo as the winner of the October 9 elections.
Mozambique's main opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, of Renamo, who according to the Constitutional Council said came second in the presidential elections but who rejected the results, has called for more protests from supporters.
Through Nsanje District Council’s situation report, Mozambican families are in need of various necessities such that the council; appeal for more humanitarian support.
Nsanje borders three districts in Mozambique namely Doa, Mutarara and Molumbala
Neno Council disburses over K837 million in Lean Season Response and SCTs
By Salome Gangire
Neno, December 27, Mana: The Social Welfare Office in Neno district has called on people that receive money as part of lean season response in the district to use the money wisely, citing purchase of food that should improve their nutrition status.
Social Welfare Officer responsible for Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP), Amos Chandilanga, made the call Thursday, at Matope, Traditional Authority Symon, during cash disbursement to beneficiaries of SCTP.
He disclosed that the council disbursed K648, 480,000.00 for lean season response from the European Union (EU) to support 3,088 households benefiting from the SCTP in the district for three months and K189 million in regular transfers for the month of September to December from the Multi Donor Trust Fund.
As part of the lean season response, SCT beneficiaries receive the sum of K210, 000, thus K70, 000 per month for three months in place of maize supply on top of their monthly stipends.
According to Social Welfare Office, the payments range from K244, 000 for single-member households to K374, 000 for larger families.
Chandilanga therefore, urged the recipients to utilize the cash for intended purposes to make their household’s food and nutrition secure apart from meeting other basic needs.
“The Lean season response is meant to cushion you from hunger and the Social Cash Transfer Programme is designed to achieve three main objectives: reducing poverty and hunger, increasing school enrollment and improving the health and nutrition of beneficiaries,” Chandilanga said while stressing good use of the cash.
He added that the programmes prioritizes nutrition particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, lactating mothers with key components that include community based nutrition sessions, malnutrition screenings and an efficient referral system to health facilities for treatment.
Chandilanga said the integrated approach is designed to combat malnutrition and strengthen community health system.
The Social welfare officer also encouraged the programme beneficiaries to invest the money in Village Loans and Saving Groups (VSL) so that they should have a solid financial base to move out of poverty.
A beneficiary, Margret Chimbarika, from Tchenga Village in Traditional Authority Symon said the money will enable her to purchase food for her household in to improving their food and nutrition needs apart from buying school materials for her children.
“Prior to the disbursement, we were trained and sensitized on nutrition. I will therefore purchase wider range of livestock for food and to sell some to improve household income,” Chimbarika added.
Another beneficiary from Dzomodya 2 Village in the area of Traditional Authority Mlauli, Macdonald Kusata, had similar intentions, saying that he will use the money to purchase food and buy school essentials for his children as schools re-open in January.
“The money I have received will go a long way in helping me buy food and other essentials that I couldn’t afford on my own. I am very grateful to the government for this,” Kusata said.
