|By Vincent Khonje

Mchinji, February 10, Mana: Mwanza District Council has taken a page out of Mchinji District Council's playbook, learning about border entry fees for foreign vehicles entering Malawi through the Mchinji border in a bid to enhance revenue collection.

Mchinji Council successfully introduced a border entry fee which foreign buses, trucks, taxis, and others entering from Zambia pay upon getting into Malawi, thereby bolstering revenue streams.

Councillor Steve Kasambwe, the chairperson of Mwanza Council, emphasised the council's proactive approach in seeking knowledge from Mchinji.

"We thought we could learn from Mchinji in order to maximise our revenue collection. This proactive stance underscores Mwanza's commitment to fiscal responsibility and resource optimization,” said Kasambwe.

Chairperson for Mchinji Council, Dorothy Musa described the visit by officials from Mwanza as a testament for Mchinji's effective governance.

"The fact that another council has come to learn from us shows that Mchinji council is doing well in as far as revenue collection is concerned." Musa said.

The officials from Mwanza District Council, were led by their District Commissioner Martha Margareta Sineta, and the group also had Inkosi Kanduku.

Sineta said the trip was enlightening and hoped they will replicate what they have learnt.

“We hope to do what we have seen here and we will invite you to see what we have done,” said Sineta.

Mchinji DC, Lucia Chidalengwa, councillors, Senior Chief Dambe and council officials gave their counterparts a warm reception for the two days they were in Mchinji.

Apart from holding discussions the two groups also visited a roadblock at Chidiso where revenue is collected, before proceeding to the Mchinji One Stop Border Post.

By Bishop Witmos

Mangochi, February 9, Mana: Farmers under Traditional Authority (T/A) Mponda in Mangochi have, for the past decade, been struggling to make ends meet through farming.

However, during this year's growing season, things have further fallen apart to the farmers due to the drought that has negatively impacted their maize fields.

An assessment visits to maize fields of some selected farmer’s weeks ago, revealed that the current drought has indeed impacted negatively on many maize fields across Mangochi.

One of the farmers in the area, Victor Malunda, told us that he was unenergetic and voiceless following the disaster.

“During this rainy season, I had all hopes that we would cultivate enough maize for my family because l managed to have access to fertiliser and maize seedlings, but right now I do not think that I would harvest due to the drought that has hit my maize field,” he lamented.

Drought has heavily hit Mangochi, with most parts of the district experiencing no rainfall for over three weeks now.

Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS) had predicted that during this rainy season most parts of Mangochi will experience a prolonged dry spell in the month of February this year.

“During the season, Mangochi will have normal rainfall amount. However, despite the good start, there is a high chance that the district would experience prolonged dry spells of more than 10 days in February and March,” said Chief Meteorologist in the department, Yobu Kachiwanda.

Amongst pertinent challenges that Mangochi District Council is struggling with is one to do with climate change and environmental degradation due to wanton cutting down of trees in the protected forests reserves.

Department of Land Resources for Mangochi positions land degradation as one of the major setbacks in agricultural development in the district, as land has been losing its productive layer due to running off of water.

Despite being close to the lake, communities under T/A Mponda have for the past years never utilized water from the lake for irrigation farming.

Ironically, their land is within 830 hectares Mlambe Irrigation Scheme in Mangochi, which was designed to draw water from Lake Malawi for irrigation farming, using the electricity power. 

However, the scheme has been on and off since 2007 due to poor management.

Currently, the scheme is operational for only rain fed agriculture.

Apart from Lake Malawi, Mangochi is naturally rich, as it is surrounded by two other prominent water bodies of Lake Malombe and Shire River.

With the current situation in Mangochi, farmers in Mponda feel that the only hope is through winter irrigation farming.

“With the dry spell that has affected most of our field crops, it is obvious that the district may experience hunger. As such, we believe that the only way for us to survive is through irrigation farming,” said Malunda.

The 2017 to 2022 Social Economic Profile for Mangochi District Council states that currently the district has a total area of 27,000 hectares as potential for irrigation which could be developed and sustainably managed.

However, the report indicates the current total area developed under irrigation is 2,067 hectares only, which was established through various technologies, such as small-scale gravity fed irrigation schemes, small motorized pump-based irrigation schemes, treadle pump-based irrigation schemes, as well as dam construction schemes.

Recently, government handed over the Mlambe Irrigation Scheme to the Greenbelt Authority to renovate it to a mega farm for communities in the district to practice large scale commercial irrigation farming.

In turn, in November last year, the Authority and Mlambe Irrigation Scheme entered into a five-year Memorandum of Understanding, marking the beginning of collaboration in agriculture.

The agreement allowed alternating land use by local farmers and the Authority during rainy and dry seasons. It also allowed the Authority to support farmers even in dry spells like currently.

The construction works were handed over to Shilpa Contractors, for the rehabilitation and maintenance works, worth K1.1 billion.

The assignment involved bringing the scheme back to life within 120 days, through the provision of irrigation pumps, backup generator, maintenance of water intake, as well as construction of secondary canals.

Two months later, water has started flowing from the intake in Lake Malawi, to the reservoir, ready for irrigation soon.

The development has brought smiles on faces of communities in Mangochi, as they believe that they will soon start practicing winter irrigation farming at the scheme.

President of Mlambe Water Users Association, Philip Nkwera, says within the shortest period of time the Authority has partnered with them, hopes have been raised.

“The scheme was constructed in 2007, but since then we have not fully utilized water from the lake for irrigation. But right now, we have witnessed the flowing of water from the lake into the scheme, a development which is very exciting,” said Nkwera.

Chairperson for the Greenbelt Authority board of directors, Wester Peter Kosamu, says that the authority expects large scale commercial irrigation farming to begin at Mlambe Scheme from April this year.

“On behalf of the Greenbelt Authority, am very happy that we have started on a new chapter in Mangochi. It is very important that as an Authority we should indeed start showing seriousness in order to respond to the needs of Malawians, following a call by President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera for us to venture into mega farms.

“Mlambe Scheme is an example of such farms that we are implementing, and our focus is to get this scheme running for large scale commercial irrigation farming. As such, I can assure Malawians that from April this year, the scheme will start full large irrigation farming,” he said.

According to the Chief Executive Officer for the Authority, Eric Dudley Chidzungu, Malawi has the capacity to maximize its economic gains through commercial agriculture, given the support from both public and private investors in various irrigation schemes that the authority is championing across the country.

“The country has vast irrigable land that is yet to be developed, which if well utilized, coupled with adequate investment, could help in addressing food insecurity and foreign exchange shortage.

“The Authority has vested interest in increasing investments, promoting value addition and encourage large scale agricultural production to achieve our goal, which is a 300 billion investments in the next five to seven years,” said Chidzungu.

President Chakwera launched the mega farms initiative in September last year, that aims at sinking 63,000 hectares under irrigation.

The President also unveiled plans to mechanize farming through One-Stop Private Sector Mega Farms initiative that will see 844 medium and large-scale farmers being supported in commercial farming.

Under the scheme, farmers are expected to grow crops for selected priority value chains to boost agriculture output in the country.

Launching the initiative in Kanengo, Lilongwe, Chakwera said the approach is a positive course that puts the nation on the path to national prosperity.

“The initiative, which is one of the Tonse Alliance administration's flagship campaign promises, seeks to facilitate the striking of deals and contracts in areas of financing, off-taking, tractor hiring, irrigation facilities provision, fertiliser as well as inoculant suppliers,” said Chakwera.

Later, during the launch of Linga Mega Farm in Nkhata Bay, where over 800 rice and beans farmers have already started irrigation farming on a 450-hectare land, Chakwera said that mega farms initiative is the best approach in commercializing agricultural production in the country.

“The Malawi Vision 2063 clearly outlines a path to self-reliance and prosperity by leveraging agriculture as one pillar that will spur socio-economic transformation. In view of this, through mega farms initiative that I am launching, Malawi would be able to increase agricultural production that can even be used for exporting,” he said. 

Through the programme, Malawi has already secured markets for key agricultural products, including tobacco, maize, soya and goats in countries like China and India.

Sub-T/A Mambo of Mangochi has commended government for considering Mlambe Scheme to be amongst mega farms where it intends to do large scale commercial irrigation farming.

“As people of Mangochi, it is so painful to experience hunger when we have three water bodies of Shire River, Lake Malawi and Malombe within us. Suppose we are able to utilize the water bodies, am sure that we will be able to feed the whole nation.

“We have waited for so long in order to see the Mlambe Irrigation Scheme project taking shape, as many previous governments have made failed promises. As such, we are pleased to see that the current government is serious on this scheme, and we are thanking President Chakwera for the initiative of mega farms,” said Mambo.

By Solister Mogha

Zomba, February 9, Mana: Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services says the country will continue to experience dry spells till the end of the rainy season in April, 2024.

Speaking Friday in Zomba on the sidelines of the launch of Enhancing National Climate Services (ENACTS) Maprooms, the department’s Director, Dr Lucy Mtilatila, said from the global climate models, projections show El Nino conditions will continue up to June, 2024.

Mtilatila said this, therefore, means the country will continue to receive normal to below normal rains just as projected in the first seasonal climate outlook.

"The new update is no different from the seasonal climate outlook we released in October, 2023. The weather forecasts are showing that, as a country, we will continue to experience lesser rains and dry spell to the end of the season. However, this time around the dry spells would be across the country," she said.

She added: "So far, the country has experienced normal to below normal rainfall amount during the first half of the rainy season. In February to April 2024, sub season, we should expect the same with some cessations."

Meanwhile, Mtilatila has urged Malawians to consult agriculture experts on what crops could be planted to survive these climatic condition.

She said when the Department releases weather forecast, it expects Malawians to use the information in deciding what crops to grow.

Edward Sumani, a farmer in Zomba Malosa, expressed worry over the new weather update.

Sumani said, should dry spell continue as predicted by the department, Malawi should brace for continued food insecurity.

"In some parts of the country crops are wilting up and this is worrisome. It is our prayer that God hears our cry," said Sumani.

By Shaffie Bakali

Mangochi, February 9, Mana: Mangochi District Council has approved the 2024/2025 fiscal year budget pegged at K45 billion.

The budget comprises of central government transfers amounting to K34 billion, including

development funds in social protection such as Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme, Governance to Enable Service Delivery project and Social Cash Transfer Programme, as well as locally generated revenue which is close to K250 million.

In an interview after the budget approval, Mangochi District Council Chairperson, Councilor, Hassan Chikuta, said the Council anticipates that the budget will enhance development in the district.

"Through this budget, our Council will not be the same because of the projects that are going to take shape across the district ranging from infrastructure as well as social-economic developments across the district,” said Chikuta.

Director of Finance for Mangochi District Council, Ahmad Sadi, said during the 2024/2025 fiscal year, the Council will expand revenue generation through infrastructure development by constructing conference facility at the Boma as well as market sheds in market places across the district.

“We are, currently, constructing a conference facility that will compete with other good conferences available in Mangochi. We are also upgrading our Namiasi Resthouse with resources from locally generated revenue and other sources.

“Apart from that, we will soon roll out an electronic revenue collection system in all our market places to enable us easily collect revenue from business operators,” said Sadi.

In the 2023/2024 fiscal year budget, income from market establishments, commercial undertakings, fees and service charges, as well as licenses and permits was pegged K245 million. By end December, 2023 the Council managed to collect K159 million.

Member of Parliament for Mangochi East, Francesca Masamba, urged the Council to ensure that financial resources are used for the benefit of the ordinary citizens.

By Mary Makhiringa

Balaka, February 9, Mana: Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Samson Ndolo, has expressed concern that people across the country travel long distances to access health services, a situation he described as worrisome in the provision of quality healthcare.

Ndolo made the remarks in Balaka on Thursday after touring construction works at Balaka District Hospital and Chiyendausiku Health Centre as part of a joint supervisory visit of the refurbishment and rehabilitation of health facilities.

Construction works at Balaka District Hospital and refurbishment and rehabilitation of health facilities is a project implemented by the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) project.

Ndolo said maternal service is the most important area in health care and it is unfortunate that some hospitals in the country do not have such facilities.

“It is because of this background that Government, through NLGFC, is renovating as well as constructing stand-alone maternity wings in some heath Centre’s in the country to change the situation.

“Work is on track and will finish on time. Let me commend the Council for the commendable supervisory work they have are doing which has necessitated the smooth flow of the project,” said Ndolo.

He, therefore, called upon community leaders and their subjects to guard against theft of construction material on site and always work hand in hand with the Council in the supervisory role saying this is their development.

District Commissioner for Balaka, Tamanya Harawa, said under the infrastructure fund, Balaka was implementing three projects namely; rehabilitating Balaka Out Patient Department (OPD), construction of a maternity wing at Chiyendausiku Health Centre as well as refurbishment of Balaka District Hospital.

“Health indicators show that we are not doing well in safe motherhood; we do not have adequate maternity wings. Projects like these will help alleviate some of the challenges in the health sector,” he said.

Harawa, therefore, appealed to community leaders to be vigilant in making sure that contractors produce durable structures, discourage theft of construction material and always report to the Council should theft or misappropriation of material at project sites occur.

Construction works at all the sites is expected to finish by March, 2024.

By Memory Kutengule Chatonda

Blantyre, February 9, Mana: Blantyre District Council has approved a K44.7 billion budget for the 2024/2025 financial year, an increase of 55 percent from the previous budget that was pegged at K28.7 billion.

Speaking after the approval of the budget in Blantyre on Thursday during an extraordinary full council meeting, Chairperson for the Finance and Audit committee, Councilor Jeremia Jumbe, said the budget has gone up due to the inclusion and increase in various items such as salaries, leave grants, special allowances, transport allowance, chiefs' and councilors' honoraria, among others.

District Commissioner for Blantyre, Alex Mdooko, expressed optimism that the budget will help the council implement various developmental projects and social protection programmes that can benefit the rural citizenry.

“In this budget, we have projects including the construction of school blocks, staff houses and completion of Mpemba Market, in addition to rehabilitating all health facilities in Blantyre.

“Apart from this, we also have social support interventions like Social Cash Transfer, Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works,” he said.

Councilor for Chilaweni Ward, Carol Mdala, welcomed the budget saying it speaks to the needs of local people.

“My appeal to government is that it should provide the required funding on time so that the council expedites implementation of various developmental projects such as construction of school blocks, staff houses and rehabilitation of health facilities, among others, to fulfill its mandate," she said