By Vida Msiyo

Blantyre, September 26, Mana: United Democratic Front (UDF) has expressed readiness for its upcoming convention scheduled for October 2, 2024, with preparations said to be at an advanced stage.

The announcement was made during a press briefing held in Blantyre on Thursday aimed at updating the public on the progress of the elective event.

Speaking at the briefing, Organising Committee Chairperson, Aisha Mambo Adams emphasized that the party is well-prepared and excited about the convention.

“We are in the final stages of everything and as a party, we are excited about how we are complying with our regulations and moving forward with the preparations,” Mambo who is also Member of Parliament for Mangochi Nkungulu said.

The press briefing also touched on the party’s decision to invite the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) to the convention, a move that has sparked mixed reactions among UDF supporters.

However, Adams explained that UDF has a longstanding policy of engaging with other political parties.

“This policy has been in place since our former president’s time in power, although some of our supporters may not agree with inviting other parties, we cannot simply change this practice, once a policy is established, there are procedures to follow.

"The UDF which prides itself as the mother of democracy in Malawi, has maintained this tradition of inclusivity even amidst evolving political dynamics,” said Adams.

The UDF convention will be conducted under the theme: ‘Towards unity, renewal and socio-economic transformation’.

By Sheminah Nkhoma

Lilongwe, September 26, Mana: Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson, Justice Annabel Mtalimanja, has prompted journalists to avoid misinformation as it has the ability to confuse people during the general elections.

She made the remarks on Thursday during Annual Media and Access to Information Conference at Bingu International Convention Center (BICC) in Lilongwe.

She said the conference is important as it will help to prepare for the 2025 general elections so there is need to discuss the free flow of information and to avoid misinformation which affects the process of elections.

“As MEC we faced much challenges in the pilot voter registration, whereby others were spreading information that registration was a rigging exercise. Misinformation confuses voters and undermines trust in the electoral process. It is our plea that all stakeholders should work together to create a conducive environment for free flow of information," she said.

She said the commission will continue working with the media in ensuring professional reporting saying the electoral body has so far trained 300 journalists on electoral reporting.

On her part, Commissioner of Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC), Teresa Ndanga urged the media to follow professionalism, accuracy and integrity when reporting to reflect the truth as this is a crucial period for the nation.

Ndanga said the political landscape can become volatile with misinformation, especially when money and other material things are involved during campaign period.

Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Digitalisation, Baldwin Chiyamwaka stated that the conference has come at a right time as the country is preparing for the 2025 general election.

Chiyamwaka added that the role of the media and the citizens right to access information in shaping the democratic process ahead cannot be understated.

“Access to information is crucial in the electoral process as it serves as the foundation for fair, transparent and credible electoral process. Each one of us has a role to play to ensure that we enhance electoral transparency and accountability, empower the citizens who are the voters, foster informed public debate and prevent the spread of misinformation,” he highlighted.

Chairperson for Media Council of Malawi (MCM) Dr. Jolly Ntaba, emphasised the need for promotion of legislation on access to information ahead of next year's elections.

Mtaba said that the media cannot effectively disseminate information, which is their critical role in democratic and electoral processes, if ATI is not well implemented and utilised.

The conference has brought together media stakeholders who are deliberating on the theme ‘Promoting free flow of information towards 2025 General Election’.

By Patience Longwe

Lilongwe, September 26, Mana: The Vice President of the Republic of Malawi, Dr. Michael Usi, has emphasized the significance of the National Energy Conference held in Lilongwe on Thursday, noting that the conference serves as a critical platform for discussing and committing to actionable solutions to address the country's ongoing energy challenges.

In his remarks during the opening ceremony of the conference at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe, Usi stated that the conference should be the benchmark to take stock of our energy development in this country in line with the Malawi 2063.

"As we all know, we are all challenged to take an active role in wealth creation through industrialization as guided by pillar number two of the national development strategy," Usi said.

"However, we cannot think of national industrialization without thinking of energy generation. Therefore, the implementation of the Malawi 2063 strategy will largely rely on the robust development of the energy sector as a key element," he stated.

Meanwhile, Principal Secretary for Ministry of Energy, Alfonso Chikuni, underscored that productive use of energy refers to energy applications that generate income, support livelihood and improve the quality of life in communities.

"This concept has become central to our strategy in achieving inclusive development, especially in rural areas," he said.

This year’s National Energy Conference aims at leveraging energy for social economic transformation.

By Joel Phiri

Mzimba, 23 September, mana: For four long years, the Chakazi Bridge, washed away by heavy rains in 2017, left thousands of Mzimba residents stranded, forcing them to endure tiring diversions on their way to Mzimba Boma and surrounding areas like Bulala, Edindeni, Euthini, and Mbalachanda. The bridge, located on the Kandodo Chisi-Chitapa Moyo Road, had been a vital link, providing the shortest route to and from Mzimba Boma. Its sudden disappearance plunged communities into chaos.

Farmers could no longer easily transport their goods to market. School children, business people, and those seeking medical attention at Mzimba District Hospital had to take longer, costlier routes. The absence of the bridge became a daily source of frustration and hardship, affecting almost everyone in the area.

For Fraternal Nkosi, a resident of Mpande village in Traditional Authority Chindi, the bridge’s collapse was a personal nightmare. In 2019, while crossing the Mzimba River at Chakazi, Nkosi nearly lost his newly-earned Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture certificate due to the lack of a safe passage.

After years of travel difficulties, relief finally came in 2021 with the inauguration of a new Chakazi Bridge. Its opening marked the end of a difficult chapter for Mzimba’s residents and ushered in a new era of smoother, safer journeys. For Nkosi and many others, the bridge's return was nothing short of life-changing.

‘‘After graduating in 2019, that year I almost lost my certificate on my way home to Mpande village. Lack of bridge on the Mzimba River at Chakazi made me wade through the waters and during that trek one of my bags containing my degree certificate slipped through my hands and fell into the raging water,” he said.

Nkosi says that thanks to some errand boys at the river bed carrying stranded travellers’ luggage across the river at a fee, they had to swim after the bag and managed to fetch it for him.

‘‘That’s how I managed to regain my bag containing my certificate which I wanted to show my parents back home. This journey was organized to show my educational milestones to my parents back home through the certificate I obtained after four years of study. I regret that it would have been a fruitless trip had I lost the certificate due to lack of a bridge on Chakazi,” says Nkosi.

There are many tales shrouded in pain and hopelessness that communities living between the Chakazi Bridge in Mzimba and other villages across it recount on how the absence of a proper bridge affected their livelihood.

Obedi Banda from Saulosi Nkosi village explains that school-going children from the villages who learn at Mzimba Boma in secondary schools such as Mzimba Secondary School, Malo Private Secondary and Christin Private Academy suffered a lot during the time the area had no bridge.

People living in Euthini, Mbalachanda, Bulala, Endindeni, and other surrounding areas faced tough times in accessing various facilities at the Mzimba Boma after the bridge they had been using since time immemorial was washed away in November 2017.

‘‘Villagers living across Chakazi Bridge use the bridge as their only way to Mzimba Boma. So when the first bridge collapsed and there was no other bridge, the people were left with no access to the other end connecting to Mzimba Boma. It’s like the entire communities across it were disconnected from the rest of the world,’’ he said.

Banda added that people living across Chakazi have to access almost everything from Mzimba Boma.

‘‘We talk of the referral hospital, is at Mzimba district hospital at the boma, some schools and big wholesale shops are at Mzimba Boma. So almost every sector of society was affected badly by the dysfunctional bridge at Chakazi as all these people were disconnected. We thank the government for constructing this Chakazi Bridge. It has made us get connected to the rest of the country. Life has come back to normal,” said Banda.

In a normal setup, it costs MK2,500 for communities living closer across Chakazi Bridge to travel to the Boma but the lack of a functional bridge made fares go up wildly and the costs associated with traveling made commuting between Mzimba Boma and the other communities difficult.

People traveling from the other side had to disembark from their vehicles and wait for vehicles from the other side. Then they would hire errand boys to carry them across the river to the other side.

“So we paid dearly for the lack of a bridge. People paid a lot of money to be carried on the backs of some sturdy boys earning a living from carrying people on their shoulders across for them to board the cars on the other side of the river,’’ he said.

Now, thanks to the construction of the Chakazi Bridge by the Malawi government all the traveling nightmares have become a song of the past.

In 2021, after almost five years of passengers facing traveling hurdles because of a lack of a bridge, the government inaugurated the MK1.6 billion Chakazi Bridge and life has been better.

‘It’s a smooth bridge and beautiful too. No more risks,’’ remarks Nkosi.

‘‘Sometimes I fail to come to terms that it's on the same bridge that I almost lost my certificate and it sounds like a lie. Traveling has become easier, and the ride is enjoyable. It’s a two-lane bridge. All the traveling nightmares have been erased with this bridge,” he said.

With such a bridge, business people no longer have to struggle to ferry their farm produce to the market, school-going children have it easy to travel to schools and taxi drivers can take passengers to their destinations, and the sick who get referred to Mzimba district hospital no longer encounter traveling nightmares as Chakazi Bridge restored life for Mzimba communities.

Speaking in an interview, Traditional Authority Chindi expressed gratitude to the government for hearing the pleas of his people for a bridge at Chakazi.

“Indeed, this bridge has brought happiness to people in communities as most people who were struggling to cross over on the bridge are now able to cross without any struggles,” said Chindi.

Chindi said the lack of a bridge created so many traveling challenges for his people.

‘‘There was nobody who was spared. Business persons, school children, and even expectant mothers were all affected. It is a relief that after four years government opened the bridge to traffic and this has lessened all the challenges among people,” he said.

M’mbelwa District Council Director of Public Works, Allan Chitete said the construction of the Chakazi bridge has helped end troubles associated with traveling that tormented people living across Mzimba Boma who were using longer routes to access Mzimba Boma where many economic activities take place.

‘‘We therefore rejoice in the realisation that the construction of this bridge will lead to a boom in economic activities that people engage in such as farming and various businesses. It will also ease challenges for women and men going to access various treatments from the Mzimba district hospital,” said Chitete.

By Richard Kagunda

Kasungu, September 26, Mana: Chairperson for Kasungu District Council, Mwambilaso Mbedza has urged farmers in the district to aim at agriculture commercialization by adopting modern technologies in farming.

The Chairperson said this on Wednesday during an agricultural fair, which was held at Santhe Admarc ground in the area of Senior Chief Santhe in Kasungu district, where farmers showcased their products and interacted with various stakeholders.

"There must be a mindset change in the approaches to our farming. We must take farming as a business because this is the direction the country is taking.

"We must also remember that climate change is here with us and we must adopt approaches that make us resilient even when we face unfriendly climatic patterns," Mbedza said.

She appealed to Agro dealers and other off-takers to do justice to farmers by buying their produce at good prices so that farmers can make reasonable profits in the face of rising prices of farm inputs.

District Agriculture Extension Coordinating Committee (DAEC), organized the fair, which is to last three days, a platform for farmers to sell their products and gain knowledge on how they can improve their farming.

Chairperson for DAEC, Peter Minjale said the fair was organized to join the government’s efforts, especially in the area of promoting agriculture commercialization.

"We join the government in advocating for agriculture commercialization and we believe it is the sure way of transforming smallholder farmers to become commercial farmers," Minjale said.

He urged Agro traders to develop a good relationship with farmers and share knowledge on how they can best improve their enterprises so that agriculture commercialization is achieved in the district.

On her part, Senior Chief Santhe said agriculture commercialization is one among other pillars that can enable Malawi as a nation to fulfill Vision 2063.

She also urged farmers to consult financial institutions that provide agricultural loans for funding opportunities to help grow their businesses.

This year's agriculture fair is being held under the theme 'Driving towards export of agriculture through commercialization and innovation’.