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23 Zomba groups get K58.8 million MWASIP performance grants
By Solister Mogha
Zomba April 4, Mana: Zomba District Council on Wednesday awarded 23 Village Natural Resources Management Committees (VNRMCs) performance-based grants amounting to K58.8 million through the Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project (MWASIP).
The VNRMCs get grants as part of appreciating their commitment in land and forest management along the Shire River basin.
Speaking during the grant awarding ceremony at Chinseu in Traditional Authority Nkapita’s area, MWASIP District Coordinator Mackenley Dupu said the grants were meant to motivate village groups to seriously implement land and natural resources activities under the project.
“Apart from motivating the groups, the grants are also given to improve the livelihood of people working in the project so that they should establish small scale businesses. This is not something free, the grants are given after a vigorous assessment of the groups impact made in their respective catchments.” he added.
While congratulating the groups for receiving the money, Dupu encouraged them to work extra hard to attract more grants and further asked the recipients to use the grants for the intended purpose.
“What I can assure you of is that the project has more grants to offer and all what is required is your dedication,” he said.
The performance grants were given based on activities each group implemented irrespective of its membership.
Patrick Gonani of Mgonanyani VNRMC, which got K4.2 million, hailed MWASIP for honouring its promise of awarding best performing committees, saying the grants will enable members in the group to open businesses that will improve households’ income.
“The grants have come at the right time and we promise to use the money for its intended purpose. You should expect that groups will seriously implement activities in line with project objectives,” Gonani assured.
Traditional Authority Nkapita also commended MWASIP for the grants which he described as a huge investment in his area.
“Through the small scale businesses, the whole community stands a chance to benefit from the grants. I therefore commend MWASIP for the huge investment and also assure the council of my total support to the project,” the chief said.
Depending on implementation of the project, some groups were awarded K4 million while other got K1 million.
MRCS gives out K98 million to hunger stricken families in Zomba
By Solister Mogha
Zomba, April 4, Mana: Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) this week launched its Lean Season Response Programme by distributing K98 million cash to 650 hunger affected families in Zomba in response to government's appeal for humanitarian assistance in the face of current food situation.
The support which follows the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) report compliments to government's effort in assisting families that have no food.
Speaking during the launch at Traditional Authority Ngwelero, MRCS Emergency Operations Coordinator Lous Solomon said the distribution of cash was a response to government's call to support food insecure households.
“After the MVAC report, government made a call for development partners to support families deemed to be food insecure, As Malawi Red Cross Society, we mobilized resources that will support 650 families in Zomba for three months,” Solomon said.
He said each of the selected households will get an equal total support of K150,000 covering a period of three months.
“It is our expectation that these families will buy food and be able to take care of their families, especially addressing their food need,” Solomon explained.
Apart from cash distribution, the MRCS will also support all farming households with sweet potato vines and vegetable seeds for winter cropping.
Dyna Taulo, 86, hailed the MRCS for the support, saying she will use the money to buy maize to feed her family which was in difficult food situation.
“I have five grandchildren and for the past three days we relied on okra. This support is a big relief to me,” she said.
According to MVAC report, over 49,000 households are likely to face hunger, thus calling for huge support.
Flooding affects livelihood in Mangochi
By Lyte Ali and Shaffie Bakali
Mangochi, April 4, Mana: Despite rainfall inconsistence in Mangochi this year, families in the district living along Shire River, Lake Malawi and Lake Malombe have been displaced, following flooding of the three water bodies with crocodiles wandering all over and posing threats to lives of people.
A spot check by Malawi News Agency in selected areas under Traditional Authority Mapira shows that the floods have filled most of the houses plus some lodges, disturbing the hospitality industry.
Heavy rains have persisted in the northern region of the country as well as from the neighboring Republic of Tanzania, causing the water levels of major water bodies to rise.
Speaking in an Interview on Wednesday, one of the affected people from Ngalamu Village, Aliate Chikausa, said that the development has brought panic and burden to most families in the area.
“The floods have made our village an island, making access to markets, workplaces, schools and maize mills a problem.
“The only way to travel from our village to access these places is through the boat which is costing us a lot. We usually travel four to six times a day, which is sucking our financial muscle but we have no other options,” said Chikausa, adding that life is in imminent danger as increased number of crocodiles are seen wandering around villages.
Another displaced person, Ellias Chikoko, said floods have negatively impacted people's marital life as the displacement has caused temporary separation of many couples.
"We were living in our own house which, as of now, is in water. My relatives offered us a temporary shelter to settle but it cannot accommodate the whole family and resorted to send my wife and children away to the village, waiting for the situation to stabilize" said Chikoko.
In an interview, T/A Mapira said that the floods were a setback to development in his area and the whole district, adding that economic activities that could improve household incomes have stopped.
"Many people constructed modern infrastructures that added beauty to this area. Floods have destroyed such infrastructures, a thing which is worrisome," said Mapira.
While pleading with government and other organizations to come and help the affected people, Mapira asked those that have been affected by the flooding to relocate to safer places.
Millions for empty ballot boxes: where are voters?
By Wanangwa Tembo
Kasungu, April 4, Mana: A districting exercise by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), in the run up to the September 16, 2025 general elections, has resulted in the number of constituencies increasing from 193 to 229 and that of wards from 462 to 509.
This increase is expected to heighten the inevitability of having many by-elections after September 16, 2025 to fill the vacancies likely to be created in the post general elections period – translating to more millions of money being spent.
Despite the huge investments being made into the by-elections by government and partners, there are concerning trends regarding voter participation in the polls both at local and constituency levels.
Voter turnout in all recent by-elections has hovered between 17 percent and 40 percent out of 30 recent by-elections between 2015 and 2024.
The turnout was above 50 percent only in six by-elections.
“The problem dates back to the time that we did not seem, as a nation, to value the work of councilors,” says Gray Kalindekafe, Executive Director for National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust, a public body entrusted with the provision of voter and civic education.
“We have moved at an embarrassing speed in embracing the spirit of the local authorities and their appropriate structures, including councilors who are so pivotal to local government operations,” he says.
In the most recent by-elections in Karonga District for example, at least 70 percent of the eligible voters in Kaporo and Chilanga Wards did not turn out to vote while in Rukuru Ward, whose catchment is largely Karonga Town, 76 percent of the eligible voters shunned the polls.
Similarly, in the Mtiya Ward by-elections in Zomba last year, a record 82.8 percent did not vote whereas in Dedza Central Constituency, turnout was at 33.3 percent.
Kalindekafe says while the Local Government Act came into effect in 1998 followed by all the supporting guidelines paving way for the local government elections in 2000, participation in local by-elections has been all worrying.
“It quickly became clear that decentralization faced many challenges, including a lack of state legitimacy and serious financial constraints. Due to poor public awareness on the importance of councilors, the voter turnout in 2000 was a miserable 14 percent.
“Then there was a gap between 2005 and 2014 which further watered down the importance of councilors,” he observes.
Kalindekafe also attributes voter apathy in by-elections to allegations of handouts, unfulfilled campaign promises by candidates, candidates moving away from rural areas after winning elections and undemocratic intra-party politics.
He adds: “Other reasons could be electoral violence and uninspiring campaigns. The perception that the electoral process is susceptible to violence contributes to voter disengagement.
“But we should be mindful that legitimacy of elected officials depends on active participation of the electorate. Low voter turnout undermines the representative nature of democracy.”
Governance experts agree that low voter turnout weakens the mandate of the elected leaders who then lack the broad-based support needed to make informed decisions on behalf of their constituents.
Mzuzu University governance expert Chrispin Mphande says that despite that people shun by-elections, there is no alternative to holding the polls as they are a constitutional requirement.
“It’s a constitutional requirement that the people must be represented at council level so it’s necessary to have the councilors. That people shun the elections could be that they are frustrated with what is happening on the ground such that they feel there is no benefit in voting.
“Both MEC and political parties should understand the people’s feelings about governance structures on the ground. They should ensure that people are prepared through intensive voter awareness,” said Mphande.
Mphande says political players must also depart from just making promises but must provide evidence based campaign on how they will improve the voters’ wellbeing.
“If we want many voters to participate in an election, those seeking office must be clear enough on how they will change people's lives. The formulas must be clear to get people’s interest. It is not enough just to make a promise of change,” he says.
Political analyst Wonderful Mkhuche says by-elections must be taken seriously because they are the only legitimate means to put people in positions and make public affairs move.
“We do not have any other alternative than having the elections. But it seems politics is no longer answering people’s problems. Some people who are put in the positions abuse power to their gain, leaving the masses helpless.
“In such circumstances, it is hard for people to see any sense in an election as nothing changes in their lives,” he says.
Mkhuche says there must be huge investments made in civic education on the importance of voting and that public servants must make sure they use their positions to uplift people’s lives.
“Our voting procedures also have to change. Sometimes people cannot afford to leave their business or work places to go and vote.
“We need to explore options like online and mobile phone voting to make sure people can vote from the comfort of their places. Through this, we will increase the number of people who participate in an election,” he argues.
Findings of a 2006 study by Centre for Multiparty Democracy established strong links between voter apathy and failure of successful candidates to deliver campaign promises.
However, as MEC Chairperson Justice Chifundo Kachale pointed out in March 2021, there is need for a fresh study to help understand why people shun by-elections.
Said Kachale then: “This [voter apathy] has been common during by-elections but we are of the view that something can be done to stop and reverse this trend.
“At the moment the Commission will not speculate the reasons but we believe a thorough study involving the voters would help to identify interventions that can help to address and reverse this trend.”
MEC’s Director of Media and Public Relations, Sangwani Mwafulirwa, says it is the responsibility of all electoral stakeholders to join hands in mobilizing registered voters to go and vote because that is the ultimate goal of registering as a voter.
“Voting is voluntary in Malawi unlike in other countries like Australia where it is compulsory. Therefore, it means more work for the electoral stakeholders to educate and mobilize the registered voters to show up for voting.
“The Commission wants everyone who registered to come for voting. That is why it plans for everyone. If voters do not show up, it means loss of resources and money spent on printing ballot papers that are not used,” he says.
Mwafulirwa says MEC also hires adequate staff commensurate with the number of registered voters, but this too, becomes a ‘waste’ when people shun polls.
He adds: “The Commission does its best to mobilize the public. Meetings are held with various stakeholders and the public with the aim of reaching out to everyone. There are also messages placed on the radio and television stations mobilizing people to turn out in large numbers.
“Political parties need votes and it is their responsibility also to mobilize their members and everyone to vote. It is sometimes a paradox that campaign rallies ahead of a by-election are well patronized but come polling day, few people show up.”
He says as much as parties want to sell their candidates and manifestos, they should also remember that it is the votes that count.
“Therefore they should not just be gratified that people showed up at their campaign rallies. They should also go a step further too vividly mobilize them to vote.
“The ultimate love a member can have for a political party or a candidate is to vote for their candidate. If people do not show up for voting, political parties should start demanding explanations and accountability from their supporters,” he says.
Lilongwe District Council approves new GESD and DDF projects
By Andrew Mkonda & Eranivey Temani
Lilongwe, April 4, Mana: Lilongwe District Council has approved the new Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) and District Development Fund (DDF) projects which will be implemented in the 2024/2025 financial year.
Speaking Wednesday during full council meeting, Lilongwe District Council Vice Chairperson Dominic Banda said the projects that have been approved will priorities the 11 constituencies that did not benefit from the two previous funds.
However, Banda said despite prioritizing the 11 constituencies, the council will also be able to allocate at least one project to all constituencies from the funded money.
“After the funds was reduced by the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) from K3.5 billion to K1.5 billion, it was a very difficult situation for us, and we agreed that only 11 constituencies which did not benefit in the previous year will be allocated the funds.
“However, considering that both the previous and current financial year projects will be implemented at the same time, we will be able to allocate at least one project to each constituency,” he said.
Banda then asked Members of Parliament, councilors and traditional leaders to take a leading role in supervising the progress and quality of the projects, saying the quality of the projects should tally with the funds allocated.
“I am happy that this financial year, once we start our projects, we will achieve our goals as funds will be readily available. We don’t want to see classroom blocks without toilets. Let us be vigilant and love our country,” he said.
In his remarks, Senior Chief Kalumbu of Lilongwe thanked the council for sharing the projects equally so that all the people in the district benefit from the cake.
Kalumbu then assured the council that he and his subjects will be ready to contribute any material that may be needed towards the projects for its timely completion.
GESD projects are implemented through the NLGFC, with funding from the World Bank.
Dedza women for a possible Malawi 2063
By Steve Chirombo
Dedza, April 4, Mana: Women in Dedza District have been urged to join associations where they could be economically empowered and have their skills enhanced for improved livelihoods in order to make the Malawi 2063 Agenda possible.
The remarks were made on Wednesday at Kwathu Boutique in Dedza when the district council, through the gender office, held its International Women's Day commemoration where over 100 women gathered to interact and share issues that affect them.
Mphatso Banda, one of the participants under Dedza Business Women Association, said women in the district are uniting and working to uplift their lives towards achieving the Malawi 2063 Agenda hence a call for others to follow suit.
“This is where we learn and share issues, especially small business ideas. We call upon other women to come forth. They should be able to differentiate their yesterday, today and tomorrow," she said.
According to Banda, their grouping has more initiatives towards transforming Dedza and developing Malawi as a country.
"We are sure that through this, we are building on strong foundations towards achieving the Malawi 2063 Agenda where our children will lean on," she said.
District Gender Officer Lisnet Dauya expressed satisfaction, saying the event, among others, helped women to showcase what they do in their respective communities.
She added that the event was very important, as it empowered women to speak out and also work together in development initiatives.
On her part, Presidential Advisor on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Martha Kwataine, who was the guest of honour at the event, asked various stakeholders to invest in women by empowering them to accomplish their plans.
She said women needed to be empowered economically so that they can stop depending on men in everything.
“Let me commend NGOs that are implementing projects with the objectives of supporting women in the district.
“We all know that the root cause of Gender Based Violence is poverty and if we empower women to join cooperatives, it can help them live a good life,” said Kwataine.
The event was commemorated under the theme: “Invest in women, accelerate progress.”
Wildlife management graduates urged to conserve wildlife
By Steve Chirombo
Dedza, April 4, Mana: The Malawi College of Forestry and Wildlife (MCFW) on Wednesday awarded certificates in Wildlife Management Course to 30 students under the Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project (MWASIP) with a call to the graduates to continue with wildlife conservation.
Speaking when he presided over the function, Chauncy Simwaka, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, said wildlife is significant as it plays a big role in the tourism industry hence the need for skilled labour to be able to manage the field.
He said the workforce is also crucial as it informs the communities living close to protected areas on how they can co-exist with wildlife.
“Thus, capacity building and adding skills to our officers is important and we are excited with these 30 students who have undergone this course here at Malawi Forestry and Wildlife,” he said.
He also said that the country’s wildlife reserves have somehow been considered a corridor for smuggling wildlife products but added that with assistance from other stakeholders, they are managing such trends.
He further said the Tourism Ministry has completed diploma course syllabus that incorporates emerging issues, so that it is introduced at the college.
MCFW Principal Dr Monica Gondwe said the graduates were expected to help in the management of wildlife resources towards achieving the Malawi 2063.
She, however, complained of poor road network from the M1 to the institution and that since 1958, when the institution was established, it has never gone under any major maintenance.
“Above all, since that year (1958), we use gravity fed water system and our equipment is outdated hence a call for a bail out,” she said.
On his part, Frank Marko, Senior Parks and Wildlife Assistant in the Depart of National Parks and Wildlife, who also graduated as one of the best students, said the Wildlife Management Course is crucial because it provides opportunities and skills to students to ably execute their duties with confidence and professionalism.
He said unlike in the past, Malawi is currently doing well in wildlife to the extent that other nationals that used to move about with wildlife specimen are afraid since the Wildlife Act was passed in 2017.
“As a country, we have a future in the tourism industry. However, poor road networks are somehow a setback as, during rains, most tourists do not reach their intended destinations,” he said.
Out of the 30, 11 got certificates with a lower credit, 10 with upper credit while two got the certificates with distinctions.
Free Water Token Initiative accelerates access to potable water
By George Bulombola
Mzuzu, April 4, Mana: It was February 2023. Malawi was slowly plunging in a health crisis with over 42,427 cases of cholera and 1,400 deaths confirmed nationwide. What started as a single case was growing day by day. The threat of cholera was now more than just a threat. with limited access to safe and clean water as the main cause for the escalating outbreak.
The damning statistics did not only scare Getrude Sichali Ng’oma, chairperson of Communal Water Point 13 at Kamija Village in the area of Traditional Authority Mkumbira in Nkhata Bay District was at that time marked as a Cholera hotspot.
Meanwhile her communal water point was disconnected for a K132,000 bill forcing community members to draw water from unprotected shallow wells some two kilometers away.
As fellow women passed by her doorstep heading to the well to draw water with a ‘please bail us out’ look stuck on their faces, Sichali felt helpless, and her heart bled.
“With the rising cases of cholera, it was a worrying situation for us because we sadly knew that sooner or later, we may be hit as we were drinking from unprotected sources. Our kiosk had been disconnected for almost a year after we failed to settle an accumulated bill of K132,000,” she recalls.
Then came the announcement on the radio that the Government had ordered the reopening of all kiosks as a way of containing cholera which was rampant in low-income areas.
While the news brought relief to Sichali as the kiosk leader, the news did not resolve the issue of the outstanding bills and that worried her still. The fear of the bill piling up to unmanageable debt.
A few days after the announcement, Sichali and community members received another news that would now offer a big relief. Apart from the reconnection, the Northern Region Water Board (NRWB)would clear their bill, reconnect them with a prepaid meter besides providing them with free water tokens for a period of 6 months from February to August 2023.
“We received water board officials who came to deliver the news, but I was skeptical at first because that looked like a dream. I doubted it was happening,” recollects Sichali.
That dream came to pass a few days later as the team from NRWB came to reconnect the kiosk with a prepaid metre and water started flowing.
Later, the board’s chairperson, Frank Mwenifumbo accompanied by District Commissioner for Nkhata Bay, Rodgers Newa visited the communal water point with the free water tokens to kickstart the Free Water Token Initiative for all communal water points within the board’s supply area.
“We got our first two tokens for March and April 2023. It was an unbelievable moment as our debt was also wiped out. All we had to do was go to the board’s office monthly to get our free tokens for the remaining months,” added Sichali.
According to Chief Executive Officer for NRWB, Francis Munthali, the Free Water Token Initiative was inspired by the Presidential initiative ‘Tithetse Cholera Campaign’ as part of the Ministry of Water and Sanitation National Cholera response plan on WASH.
“We collaborated with Government to reduce the impact and spread of the outbreak. To this end, we came up with this initiative utilizing part of the funds saved under the European Investment Bank (EIB) financed Malawi NRWB Water Efficiency Project – about Euro 199,999 approximately K217 million.
“We are glad that the EIB approved this request because it accelerated access to water by vulnerable and low-income communities and consequently reduced and contained the outbreak within our supply areas,” explains Munthali.
From Kamija, to Chibavi Location in Mzuzu and Mwanganda kiosk in Karonga District, 400 kiosks benefitted from the initiative. Each of the kiosks transitioned to a prepaid metering system as a deliberate mechanism to enhance proper management of communities’ water consumption and usage.
It did not end there. Over 90 public secondary and primary schools that were disconnected or struggling to settle their bills also benefited from the intervention.
According to Deputy Director of Health for Mzuzu City Council, Mavuto Lupwayi, the initiative was a game changer in the city’s drive to stop the spread of the disease besides promoting general hygiene practices.
“In the city, we have some communities who lacked access to potable water. So, this was a key intervention that helped us contain cholera in the city such that we did not have high cases,” Lupwayi states.
Apart from the free tokens and clearing of debt, the initiative trained members of communal water points on sustainability of the water supply after the expiry of the initiative’s period. Six months after the initiative, almost all kiosks remain connected with members able to buy water tokens on their own.
“You can see that beneficiary communities of the initiative have now proceeded to buy water tokens beyond the six months. We engaged and trained them to use this period when they have access to free water to rebuild themselves and plan for payments after,” added Munthali.
At Kamija, the community is now relieved as its communal water point is still operational.
“I am happy. The free water supply period gave us time to plan for life after the initiative and now we have put in place mechanisms to ensure that we don’t get disconnected again. I am happy that through this initiative our area was spared of the outbreak,” concludes Sichali with a smile.
250 hectares of crops destroyed by floods in Nkhata Bay
By Chisomo Kambandanga
Nkhata Bay, April 3, Mana: District Commissioner for Nkhata Bay, Rodgers Newa, has disclosed that over 250 hectares of crops have been washed away by floods in the area of Senior Chief Fukamapiri in the district.
He said the floods, caused by heavy down pour over the past weeks, have also left some families homeless.
In interview on Sunday, during a monitoring visit to the affected areas to appreciate the extent of the damage, Newa said the district is urgently looking into measures to assist the affected households.
“Over the past weeks we have been receiving continuous heavy rainfall which led to flooding of Linga Dam affecting crops at Linga Irrigation Scheme and some surrounding areas.
“Assessment of the damage is still underway but preliminary assessment from our agriculture office indicates that over 250 hectares of crop land of immature maize, cassava, bananas and rice have been washed away, posing fear of hunger to affected communities” Newa said.
He said the Council is working on short term plans to make sure that food and shelter is available to the affected households and also devising long term plans like helping farmers to replant some of the crops that may still do better in the remaining time of this year’s growing season.
“We are further advising them to make good use of waters in the dam for irrigation in the dry season and also urging them to practice farming systems that promote minimum soil disturbance to protect their crops from being washed away by floods,” he said.
Senior Irrigation Engineer for Nkhata Bay, Edward Mjiku, said the blockage of the river course by branches of trees and grass at Linga Dam also contributed to the flooding.
One of the affected farmers, Green Banda, said his family will be rendered food insecure as the floods washed away a huge chunk of his three-acres field.
According to Senior Assistant Meteorologist for Nkhata Bay, Amos Chimbwira, there is a possibility for the district to continue receiving heavy rainfall as the country draws towards the end of 2023/2024 rainfall season.
Karonga traders incur losses amid heavy rains
By George Mponda
Karonga, April 3, Mana: Business people who play their trade on the shores of Lake Malawi in Karonga say they are making losses due to swelling of the lake which is affecting their businesses.
In an interview on Wednesday, Paul Ndhlovu, who operates Blue Beach Bar, a popular spot located along the lake said water has overflowed blocking roads leading to the place and causing damage to infrastructure.
Ndhlovu said: "The situation has worsened eversince heavy rains started falling in the district in March. Water has overflowed to our place of business and some structures have collapsed as they are now submerged in water."
"In the dry season, we used to receive alot of customers but now as few as 20 people are coming to our establishment because all roads which lead here have been blocked," he added.
A fisherman, Victor Nhyasulu, complained that continuous heavy rains are making it hard for them to go for fishing expeditions on the lake.
"Most fishermen are not fishing due to the rains and this has led to a rise in fish prices since the supply is low. Heavy rains have also increased post harvest loss because some fish stalls have been submerged in water making storage of fish very difficult and we are making losses," Nhyasulu said.
Acting Fisheries Officer for Karonga District Council, Patrick Moyo, echoed Nhyasulu's sentiments, saying most landing sites have no shelters or store rooms where business people can keep their processed fish.
"Lack of proper shelters or store rooms increases the rate at which processed fish is attacked by molds and produces bad odor which eventually lead to low prices or the fish is thrown away altogether.
"This time we are happy that the Sustainable Fisheries, Aquaculture Development and Watershed Management (SFAD-WM) project is constructing landing facilities in areas where active fishing is done like Kaporo, Chipamira, Ngala and Chilumba," Moyo said.
According to a memo released by the National Water Resources Authority, as of 11 March, during the 2023/2024 hydrological year, Lake Malawi water level is at 475.95 meters above sea level (masl).
Last year it was at 475.12 masl on the same date representing an 83 centimetres increase in water levels.
"Lake Malawi waters reach peak between the months of April and May each year and this hydrological year, the lake levels have taken the highest trajectory since 2010. The increase has been attributed to increased rains in the Northern Region of Malawi and Tanzanian side which constitute the main catchment area of Lake Malawi," reads the memo.
