Items filtered by date: May 2025

By Rose Cross Mahorya

Mzuzu, March 26, Mana: WaterAid Malawi has appealed to stakeholders in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector to scale up efforts in prevention of Cholera which is one of the WASH challenges in the country.

Speaking in Mzuzu on Tuesday during presentation of findings on a study on prioritisation of funding in Cholera prevention, WaterAid Malawi Head of Policy and Communication, Chandiwira Chisi, noted that almost 50 percent of health challenges faced in the country are linked to WASH activities.

H said 50 percent of disease the country is struggling with are connected to the country’s failure to addres WASH situations.

“If we can identify permanent solutions to dealing with Cholera, most challenges faced by the health sector will be resolved.

“I do not believe that there are no resources because when we are hit with outbreaks, there is swift response. I think the challenge is that we are not giving priority to prevention hence failing to win this battle,” noted Chisi.

While assuring that as an institution, WaterAid Malawi will respond to recommendations from the findings through its Cholera prevention tailored programs, Chisi appealed to all stakeholders to work hand in hand to ensure prevention measures are scaled up.

WaterAid Malawi met with representatives from councils in the northern region so that they hear the outcome of the research and brainstorm on how best they can ensure that prevention of Cholera is given the importance it deserves.

Making his presentation, Joseph Thombozi of Institute for Policy Research and Social Empowerment, a consultant firm tasked to conduct the research, said aside poor funding in Cholera prevention initiatives, lack of stakeholder coordination and misplaced priorities in Cholera fight has made it hard to win the fight.

“There is shortage of staff who can enforce WASH activities on the ground like water monitoring officers.

“Political interference in allocation of WASH resources has also been a huge problem,” said Thombozi.

Thombozi appealed to government and stakeholders in WASH need to take advantage of the existence of some organisations implementing the activities in their districts and existing policies encouraging Cholera prevention.

By Richard Kagunda

Kasungu, March 26, Mana: Kasungu Civil Society Network has advised authorities at Kasungu District Council to adopt a complete package approach in the implementation of public projects to ensure that projects become functional soon after completion. 

The network’s Chairperson, Braxton Banda, made the call on Tuesday in the district when he presented a report on how the council has implemented projects under the World Bank funded Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) Project, District Development Fund and Health Infrastructure Rehabilitation Fund.

Banda said the phased approach in construction projects drain a lot of resources from the council coffers as they are more expensive than being implemented in a complete package fashion.

“If it is a health facility project, for instance, we will have the structures ready but things like furniture and equipment may not be available as they are planned for another phase. In this case, the structures remain idle for a long time denying communities an opportunity to access services.

“That is why, as a network playing an oversight role on the implementation of public initiatives, we recommend to the council to adopt a complete package approach to avoid both costs and delays,” Banda said.

He added that there must be project prioritisation corresponding with the council’s annual investment plan so that those development initiatives respond to the needs of the people as outlined in the district development plan.

Banda bemoaned shoddy works done by some contractors citing Kachitsa Primary School block which has cracked about five months after completion.

Reacting to the network’s observations, Director of Human Resource and Administration for Kasungu District Council, Matias Blugama, welcomed the report saying it will help the council to improve on the weak areas.

“We always appreciate the role that our partners play and in collaboration with them we make things happen. As a council, we are committed to delivering quality projects, sticking to their standard designs and timelines.

“We have a good working relationship with civil society and they have greatly contributed towards the well-being of peoples’ lives in the communities,” Blugama said.

Kasungu Civil Society Network gets involved in the implementation of public projects to promote citizen participation and ensure transparency and accountability in the utilisation of public funds.

By Andrew Mkonda

Lilongwe, March 26, Mana: Government has commended development partners providing quality early childhood development (ECD) services and feeding programme in the country saying thy are vital in improving education standards in the country.

Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Jean Sendeza, made the remarks Tuesday at Zalari Community Based Childcare Centre (CBCC) at Nkhoma in the area of Senior Chief Mazengela in Lilongwe when she launched a feeding programme by World Vision Malawi (WVM).

Sendeza said school feeding programme play a vital role in addressing immediate hunger and enhance concentration, attendance and overall academic performance among learners.

She said the programme serves as an incentive for parents to enroll and keep their children in school thereby reducing dropout rate and promoting sustainable educational engagement.

Sendeza said despite the evident benefits of the school feeding programme, the initiative faces several challenges citing many schools struggling with resources leading to interruptions in meal provisions.

“Let me, therefore, thank World Vision for being a long time partner and a leader in the fight against hunger. This is yet another great milestone as they are scaling up the school feeding programme. We salute them for this gesture,” she said.

Sendeza said, on its part, government has taken several initiatives such as expansion of the Home Grown School Meals (HGSM) programme to districts such as Nkhotakota which has been done in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP), and with support from the Government of Iceland.

The initiative provides nutritious meals to 10,000 primary school children and also empowers 1,200 smallholder farmers by sourcing food locally thereby boosting the local economy.

World Vision Country Director, Francis Dube, said since WVM started school feeding programme in 2024 in Phalombe and Mulanje, enrolment has improved by 33 percent.

“As an organization whose work is centered on promoting the well being of children, we believe that a simple meal can change a child’s life as it keeps them in school, help them grow and gives them hope for a better future,” he said.

Dube said it is pathetic that over 37 percent of under five children in the country are stunted due to chronic malnutrition meaning that their bodies and brain are not growing as they should.

By Salome Gangire

Neno, March 26, Mana: Communities in Neno District have strongly opposed the Roads Authority’s (RA) decision to transfer 2,640 drums of 50/70 bitumen and 704 drums of Prime MC30 procured for Ntcheu-Neno-Mwanza Road project.

In a letter dated March 13, 2025 signed by RA Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Ammiel Champiti, the Authority informed Neno District Commissioner, Rosemary Nawasha, of its decision to relocate the bitumen purchased by the previous contractor, China Geo Engineering Corporation, whose contract was terminated by the RA citing expiry of the contract.

The Authority argued that the materials would become obsolete as they were not used by the time of the project.

During an interface meeting on Tuesday attended by Members of Parliament, ward councilors, traditional leaders, business people and civil society organisations, Neno Road Advocacy Chairperson, Samson Njolomole, voiced the community’s firm stand against RA’s decision.

“We will not allow the bitumen to be moved to another district. Neno is the only district in Malawi without a tarmac road. We have endured poor road conditions for too long and we had hoped this project would change that," Njolomole said.

He said instead of relocating the bitumen, RA should instruct a contractor to speed up the work and use the material before it expires.

Local business person, Elson Maere, expressed frustration over the district’s poor road network, saying the challenging road condition and costly transportation of goods which significantly affect business.

“We are suffering a lot. Transporting goods from Blantyre to Neno is very costly because of bad road network,” Maere said.

Ligowe Ward Councilor, Joseph Chiphaliwali, expressed concern saying RA should ensure that the bitumen is used in Neno rather than relocating the material from the district.

RA Regional Manager for the South, Engineer Flora Hauya, explained that the decision to transfer the bitumen was based on the project’s timeline, adding that there is provision of bitumen in the new contract.

She said according to the contractor, China Railway 20, surfacing works on the road are scheduled to begin in July 2025, after the bitumen’s expiration date in June 2025.

“The supervising consultant has informed the contractor that the bitumen will expire before surfacing works commence. Given that this is an imported material and a significant financial investment, we must use it before it becomes waste,” Hauya said.

By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, March 25, Mana: As one way of increasing inclusive access to internet, Ministry of Information and Digitalization (MoID), through the Department of E-Government under Digital Malawi Acceleration Project (DMAP), says it plans to connect internet to 500 public institutions.

Speaking Monday when she addressed members of Chitipa District Executive Committee, Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Officer at Department of E-Government in the MoID, Jane Kwalimba, said the initiative intends to connect 2,000 schools across the country through Research and Education Network (MAREN)

Kwalimba said the two interventions seek to increase access to and inclusive use of the internet and improve government's capacity to deliver digitally enabled services.

“Under the Digital Malawi Acceleration Project, 500 additional public institutions will be targeted. This is to improve government efficiency, resilience and ability to sustain operations even in the face of natural disasters,” Kwalimba said.

Kwalimba said that 80 higher education institutions and about 530 institutions were connected to internet in the first phase of DMAP and MAREN respectively.

“All this is to expand broadband coverage in rural areas so that we achieve universal coverage of mobile broadband,” she said.

Director of Administration for Chitipa District Council, Clement Gonthi, said that the world is growing into a digital global village, hence the need for the interventions.

Gonthi said that increased internet connectivity will go a long way in enhancing public participation in public and civic affairs besides improving access to services.

By Gift Chiponde

Lilongwe, March 25, Mana: The Tobbaco Commission has announced that the 2024/2025 Tobacco Market Season will commence on April 9, with Lilongwe Selling Floors the first to open.

In an interview, the Commission’s Public Relations Officer Telephorus Chigwenembe assured stakeholders that all necessary preparations are in place to ensure a smooth and transparent trading process during the upcoming season.

He said other floors across the country are expected to follow, with Chinkhoma Floors opening on April 11, Limbe Floors on April 14, and Mzuzu Floors on April 28.

Chigwenembe further said that the opening of the selling season marks a significant event for Malawi, as tobacco remains the country's top foreign exchange earner. However, the number of licensed buying companies is yet to be confirmed, as the licensing process is still ongoing.

Economic expert David Nyirenda expressed anticipation for the season, noting that with Malawi’s economy heavily reliant on tobacco, both farmers and industry players are eager to see how the season unfolds, particularly in terms of pricing and demand.

James Mwadzama, a tobacco farmer from Nkhotakota in the area of Senior Chief Mwansambo, praised the Tobacco Commission for its timely decision to open the market. He emphasized that this is a critical time for farmers to make profits.

Mwadzama also urged fellow farmers to ensure that the tobacco they bring to the market is of high quality, advising against using tricks such as adding extra materials to increase the weight of the leaves.

By Patience Harawa

Karonga, March 25, Mana: Karonga district is set to benefit from the second phase of Digital Malawi Acceleration Projects (DMAP) with 15 new sites expected to be connected to internet services.

This will bring the total number of sites connected to internet services in the district to 47, as 32 sites which include schools, agriculture offices, hospitals and other government institutions already benefited in the first phase of the project.

Briefing stakeholders in Karonga district on Monday, ICT Officer in the Ministry of Information and Digitalization, Jane Kwalimba, said the DMAP’s second phase aims to connect 2,000 schools nationwide through the Malawi Research and Education Network (MAREN).

Kwalimba said 500 more institutions will be targeted to improve government efficiency and resilience, especially during natural disasters.

“By connecting 2,000 institutions and adding 500 new sites, we’re not only bridging the digital divide, but also empowering communities to thrive in the digital age,” she said.

“This project has the potential to transform the lives of millions, providing access to vital services, promoting digital literacy, and unlocking new opportunities for economic growth and social development,” she added.

In his remarks, Assistant Community Development Officer for Karonga District, Simeon Ndhlovu, said as Malawi navigates the digital era, initiatives like DMAP are crucial for fostering a connected and inclusive society.

“This project will enhance public participation in government services because the internet connection is going to be used by citizens to access government services,” he said.

By Manasse Nyirenda

Rumphi, March 25, Mana: Women Legal Resources Centre (WOLREC) in Rumphi has trained 15 National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) volunteers to identify, prevent and respond to violence against women during elections.

The training was conducted on Monday under European Union (EU) funded Promoting Gender Transformative and Youth Inclusive Democracy Project.

NICE Programmes Officer for Rumphi, Albert Mtonga, said the training had enhanced the capacity of their volunteers in ensuring that elections are held in an environment that embraces the interests of all groups including women, youths and persons with disabilities.

He added that their volunteers will take advantage of different gatherings to promote peace and ensure women, youths and persons with disabilities are elected to various positions in the upcoming general election.

One of the participants, Chakufwa Chihana, said the training had equipped him with skills and knowledge which will enable him perform his duties better for the benefit of all groups.

An officer from Rumphi Police, Dales Geoffrey, said police is ready to protect all groups during the electoral processes, including during campaign period, voting and announcement of results.

The country will hold the general elections on September 16 this year to elect state president, Members of Parliament and councilors.

By Abednego Sibale and Janet Masamba

Nkhata Bay, March 25, Mana: Nkhata Bay Central Constituency legislator Symon Vuwa Kaunda has commended government for allocating about K95 million through District Development Fund (DDF) to construct a perimeter fence at Maganga Community Ground, saying this will help to give the facility a new face and enhance sporting activities in the district.

Kaunda said this on Monday at Maganga Community Ground in the area of senior chief Mkumbira during site handover to Bonongwe Building Construction Contractors, marking commencement of works for the project.

According to Kaunda, this is a clear indication of government’s commitment to improve the welfare of people in Nkhata Bay as there are several projects completed and others still under way in his constituency through various funding windows.

“I am very excited today to see that what has been seen as dream for a long time has now become a reality.

“Let me commend the government through Nkhata Bay District Council for handing over the contractor to commence construction of the fence at Maganga Community Ground. This has given hope to community members, and they are more than ready to give full support to the contractor till the end of the project,’ he said.

He added that the facility will not only help the youths but also the entire community members as they will be able to host various activities in it and, at the same time, helping the council to generate revenue.

Nkhata Bay District Council spokesperson Chisomo Kambandanga expressed optimism that the contractor will deliver according to the councils’ expectations.

“This project will take about 120 days to be completed, and we have confidence that the contractor will give us value for the money.

“We will work hand in hand with the community project committee to make sure that all the guidelines of the project are adhered to and, more importantly, high quality work is delivered within the contract’s timeframe,” he said.

In his remarks, Bonongwe Building Construction Contractors representative Billiat Samdent said his company has the ability to meet the deadline and will ensure quality workmanship as they have already done such kind of projects elsewhere.

By Wongani Mkandawire

Nkhotakota, March 25, Mana; The Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC), with financial support from European Union (EU), on Tuesday trained Nkhotakota district council duty bearers on human rights-based approach.

In an interview, the Malawi Human Rights Deputy Director for Gender for Women's Rights, Deborah Tambulasi Banda, underscored the role duty bearers can play in ensuring human rights issues are mainstreamed, as they execute public service delivery.

"It is about adhering to the principles of human rights and the issues of equality, non-discrimination, doing no harm, accountability and transparency as they are doing their work," said Banda.

Nkhotakota district council’s acting Director of Human Resource and Administration, Daud Lwanda, expressed gratitude to the Commission’s initiative to impart knowledge and further urged all duty bearers to put in practice the knowledge they have acquired.

MHRC is an independent national institution that protects and promotes human rights in the country.