Items filtered by date: June 2025

By Zenak Matekenya in Luanda, Angola

Luanda, Augst 17, Mana: Angola President Joao Manuel Gonvalves Lourenco has taken over the Sothern Africa Development Community (SADC) Chairmanship from Felix Antoine Tshiseked, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during the 43^rd Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government in Angola.

Malawi President Dr Lazarus Chakwera is in attendance of the summit which runs between August 17 and 18, 2023 under the theme “Human and Financial Capital: The Key Drivers for Sustainable Industrialisation in the SADC Region”.

In his acceptance speech on Thursday, President Lourenco said SADC has great potential to attain meaningful development through human and financial capital investment.

Lourenco observed that enhanced industrialisation and market integration programs are critical for the region’s wellbeing.

Outgoing SADC Chairperson, DRC President Felix Antoine Tshisekedi described the theme as key to the implementation of the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap to help the region get away from dependence syndrome.

He said the region has potential to diversify its economies if it focuses on adding high value on its manufactured goods.

“As proposed by the incoming Chair, the theme will enable our region to continue to drive the industrialisation agenda forward by developing, mobilising and harnessing human and financial capital.

“As a united regional community of 16 member states, with a combined gross domestic product of around US$720 billion and a total population of over 360 million, 75 percent of whom are young people, we have a market with considerable potential for investment and economic development,” he said.

He added that SADC oneness has led to relative enjoyment of stable peace and security despite recurrent threats to the security in the DRC and Mozambique where armed groups continue to cause untold suffering among civilians, particularly women and children.

“Despite some challenges, our region continues to do well as shown by the African Union Commission's Multidimensional Regional Integration Index which gave SADC a high score for regional integration, particularly in terms of financial, infrastructural, trade and environmental integration,” he said.

He commended and encouraged SADC member state officials, including SADC Ambassadors and High Commissioners around the world, as well as the media to intensify their efforts to raise awareness of SADC’s roles, mandate and achievements.

During the session two Malawians, Lisa Malango and Viveck Orlando received award of US$1000 for scooping second position in SADC Media Awards photograph category and US$ 2000 for scooping position one in the 2023 SADC Tertiary Institution Essay Earning Awards.

SADC Executive Secretary Elias Mpedi Magosi emphasised on the need for the region to fast track integration, industrialisation and opening easy access to markets within the region and beyond. 

Mana/zm/pk

By Susan Hara

Lilongwe, August 16, Mana: President Dr Lazarus Chakwera says Malawi stands to benefit a lot from the Southern Africa Development Corporation (SADC) Summit describing it as a good platform for countries in the region to discuss important issues affecting them.

He was speaking Wednesday morning at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) upon his departure to Luanda, Angola for the 43^rd session of the SADC Summit which will be held from 17^th to 18^th August, 2023.

“This annual summit is crucial for us because we discuss issues to consolidate our integration and make sure democracy, peace and security is thriving in the region. 

“It is also important that I attend the BRICS Summit in South Africa courtesy of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s invitation so that, on the sidelines, I can talk with the Indian counterparts on economic issues and huge debts that have locked the country,” said Chakwera.

Among other issues, the SADC Summit will elect Angola to become the next SADC Chair succeeding the Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC).

After attending the SADC Summit, President Chakwera will proceed to Johannesburg, South Africa to attend the 15^th session of the Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa (BRICS) Plus Outreach Summit from 22^nd to 24^th August, 2023.

The 43^rd SADC Summit is being held under the theme: “Human and Financial Capital: The key drivers for sustainable industrialisation of the SADC region”.

Twimepoki Mangani

Lilongwe, August 16, Mana: Coach for Brave Hearts Ladies, Griffin Kaluwa has called for collaborated efforts in the development of well-rounded skillful female basketball players who will compete in the local leagues as well as represent the country at regional level.

Kaluwa made the sentiments in an interview with Malawi News Agency(MANA) on Wednesday as he analyzed the Brave Hearts Ladies recent invitation trip to South Africa for the Wits Bucks Women Tournament that run from 9^th to 13^th August, 2023.

While acknowledging that Malawi has teams that can compete at regional level such as Arkangels, Katana, Mystics and Kukoma Eagles, he admitted that the Malawian level of competition is not at par with that of South Africa which has good facilities, coaches and a pool of ladies to choose from.

“Our grass root development is not very good; we don’t have a lot of ladies playing basketball. Last year, for the national team, we could not easily find a tactically gifted point guard and that has always been an issue for us.

“We need to drill kids that can handle the ball intelligently, to put their mates in positions to excel because relying completely on players from other countries to fill out positions is not always healthy,” he said.

Kaluwa described the Bucks tourney as competitive as it offered ladies a chance to show case their talent.

He hopes such tournaments may also be staged in the country.

“We topped our group but lost to Corinthians BWA (35-32) an all-star team that was really good. We made tactically mistakes but we were also fatigued due to playing five games in two days since we arrived when the competition had already started,” Kaluwa said.

Bravehearts have three international players on academic scholarships; Mary Shibweche and Riana Damaris who was voted all Star, are from Kenya; Orlin Londo is Tanzanian while scouting is also being done in Zimbabwe, Kenya and Tanzania.

Captain of Bravehearts, Tama Mazulu hailed the experience of playing teams from South Africa and hopes their team prepare enough to shine in the upcoming Braveheart’s International Basketball Championship (BIBC).

“BWA is a fantastic team, our game with them was a thrill to watch. Saying we didn’t learn from our loss wouldn’t be smart, it’s actually a step forward to improving our game ahead of the BIBC,” Mazulu said.

The BIBC tournament which will attract teams from Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania is set for September 7-9, 2023.

In the group stage of the tourney, Bravehearts beat Hornets 75-20, defeated Wits University 38-28, topped MSE Queens 59-13, conquered VAAL University of Technology 42-21 and won against Phoenix Flames 35-23.

By Joel Chirwa

Mzuzu, August 16, Mana: The youth in the country have been urged to take a leading role in efforts towards addressing climate change.

The remarks were made by District Youth Officer for Mzimba North, Misheck Msokwa on Wednesday in an interview on the sidelines of preparation for the commemoration of International Youth Day to be held from 17 to 18 August.

'As people who will take leading roles in future, the youths need to greatly involve themselves in efforts towards reversing impact of environmental degradation and climate change.

He said the event to be held at Mzuzu under the theme; 'Green Skills for Youths Towards a Sustainable World' will be presided over by Vice President, Dr Saulos Chilima.

''We initially thought to hold the event on our own as a district but when we invited the Vice President through the National Youth Council they upgraded it into national event,'' said Msokwa.

Programmes Officer of National Youth Council, Felix Chiyenda said the youth need to be greatly involved in efforts geared towards climate smart, clean environmental management, vocational skills adoption and entrepreneurship programs.

''The youth constitute majority of the country’s population. Some of them will be in leadership position in future and they must be equipped with relevant information and skills,” he said.  

In his remarks, Programs Manager for Judith Foundation, Wisdom Nyirenda appealed to authorities and international partners to provide funding to local NGOs that work with the youths.

By Margret Praise Kalua

Nkhata Bay, 16 August, Mana: Nkhata Bay District Commissioner (DC) Rodgers Newa has attributed the district's outstanding perfomance in the just released Primary School Leaving Certifcate Education (PSLCE) Examinations results to good resource management and teamwork.

The DC said this Wednesday during a press briefing at the council chamber where he also emphasised the need to defend children’s rights to education by addressing all their educational needs.

Nkhata Bay has emerged on position 1 in the just released PSLCE results in the country, achieving a 97 percent pass rate.

Newa said;"Good investment in primary school education is the basis and key foundation for quality education in Malawi. We want to maintain these standards to emerge on top all the time and we have what it takes since this is not the first time."

"For us to be achieving this, the council uses excellent resource management and collaborative efforts among key stakeholders in the district together with teachers who are doing a tremendous job,"he added.

“We were on position 1 in 2021, then we backslided a bit emerging on position 2 last year and this year we are the best so we will maintain that calibre of performance as we all understand that it also contributes to achieving of Malawi Vision 2063 Agenda,” explained Newa.

On his part, Nkhata Bay District Director of Education, Youth and Sports Muhabi Chivunga said the secret behind their success is through coordination, administration of standardised terminal tests and fair distribution of teachers.

“Coordination has brought team work. While standardized tests and rewards have triggered competition among learners and teachers in so doing, syllabuses are completed on time and learners work hard,” Chivunga explained.

He has however bemoaned the shortage of female teachers in some schools.

Councillor Cyria Adamana Nyamwera pledged to continue working hand in hand with parents and other key stakeholders to make sure that human resource in the education sector is effectively utilised in the provision of quality education.

By Ernest Mfunya

Mangochi, August 16, Mana: Malawi National Association of the Deaf (MANAD) has equipped Early Childhood Development (ECD) Caregivers in Mangochi with sign language skills for proper delivery of special needs education in the ECD centres.

Speaking Tuesday during the end of a three-day training, which drew caregivers from eight ECD centres in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Mponda, MANAD Project Coordinator Sekerani Kufakwina said promotion of basic sign language skills in ECD centres can help eradicate challenges that caregivers encounter when teaching learners who have hearing problems.

Kufakwina said most ECD caregivers in the country have no capacity to deal with special needs children.

“We conducted the training in order to ensure that children who are deaf have access to quality education at an early stage just like any other child who is born with no any disability.

"Additionally, we have also provided the caregivers with the teaching materials such as dictionaries and sign language books where they can refer whenever they are teaching,” he said.

Oone of the care givers Florence Time described the training as important saying it has helped them to improve levels of communication.

"I want to commend MANAD for organising the training. I urge them to continue with the interventions so that it reaches many caregivers in the district and in turn promote sign language skills in the country," said Time.

MANAD is implementing a seven-month project called, “Promoting Accessible Malawian Sign Language Books” in Mangochi, Phalombe, and Lilongwe districts.

The project, which is being done with funding from World Vision, United States Agency International Development and Australian government is, among others, distributing gadgets like tablets that are loaded with sign language books to help special needs education teachers, parents of children who are deaf and ECD caregivers.

By Slyvester Kumwenda

Dowa, August 16, Mana: Chairperson for the Parliamentary Committee on Health, HIV and AIDS, and Nutrition, Dr Matthews Ngwale has stressed the need for the country to pay much attention to what he described as alarming deaths of women due to unsafe abortions.

He made the remarks Monday in Dowa during an inception meeting of a new project called Breaking the Barriers: An Advocacy for Social Justice.

The project seeks to empower women and girls to seek safe abortion services when faced with unwanted and unplanned pregnancies.

“The number of women dying monthly in some districts due to unsafe-abortion-related cases is very alarming. Some districts record up to 30 deaths monthly.

“Women continue to face complications, losing their ability to conceive again. This affects them socially for the rest of their lives. As a nation, we cannot continue to sit down and allow this to go on. That is why we need to do something about this,” he said.

Ngwale further said one of the ways to avert this is to let Parliament table an Abortion Bill, saying legalising abortion is not a guarantee to abortion, but only provides a choice to a woman depending on circumstances.

He, however, said some parliamentarians cannot advocate for this law because they are afraid of religious leaders in their areas.

“But if you investigate, you will find that some of the religious leaders are also involved in making women pregnant and abandoning them, so everyone is involved.

“However, we do not need to look at who is wrong or right, but to look at the problem. The problem is that women are having unwanted pregnancies every day and resort to unsafe abortions,” Ngwale said.

According to Ngwale, if the law is changed, the trained nurses, clinicians and doctors in hospitals can safely make the operations and save lives.

Breaking the Barriers Project is being financed by Amplify Change.

It is being implemented by a consortium of Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre (MHRRC), Sexual and Reproductive Health Alliance (SRHR), Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHHR), and Centre for Solution Journalism (CSJ).

In her remarks, MHRRC Executive Director and Chairperson of Coalition for Prevention of Unsafe Abortions (COPUA), Emma Kaliya said the continued calls for an Abortion Bill is a call to protect women.

She said since the motion was rejected in parliament about two years ago, there is need to raise awareness on grass-root level.

“People can then encourage their Members of Parliament who have always said that they are afraid of their people to table the bill.

“The hope is to come to an understanding that the issue we are advancing for is not for us, but there is a real issue that needs to be addressed,” she said.

Senior Chief Kayembe said many women continue to die due to unsafe abortion related issues which are usually done in secret.

“Some even go to traditional healers for this, and you will only learn of it during the funeral, but you will find out that the man responsible for the pregnancy ran away.

“That is why this issue needs to be openly discussed, then raise awareness on grass-root level. Through Parliament, we should also look again at our laws governing abortion,” she said.

By Rose Cross Mahorya

Mzuzu, August 16, Mana: Catholic Relief Services (CRS) with funding from European Union (EU) awarded best performing structures in Afikepo nutrition programme in Mzimba North District on Wednesday.

Speaking at Chisangano Primary School in the area of Traditional Authority Mtwalo, CRS coordinator for Mzimba North and Nkhatabay districts, Jane Mwamlima said the awards are a way of encouraging communities to continue hygiene practices and proper feeding habits even after the project ends.

“We are here to give out these rewards as a way of encouraging you to hold on to the practices that the project has taught you.

“We hope that the livestock will be well taken care of so that your families have a stable source of animal food. The rewards in form of woodlots will help the replacement of trees while the orchards will be a source of fruits,” she said.

Group Village Headman Chakhazika Ngwira whose Munyetezi Care Group was amongst the winners of K450,000 worth of livestock appreciated CRS for the rewards stating that it is a good incentive to reinforce healthy eating habits in communities.

“Ever since Afikepo came to our areas cases of malnutrition have drastically reduced. I am very certain that the giving out of these rewards will encourage those who are already doing well and those who were relaxing on the practices.

“As a leader, I can assure you that these resources will be used effectively to fulfill the purpose for which they were given for,” he said.

Representing District Commissioner’s office, Mzimba North Director of Administration, Mercy Ghambi appreciated the project for helping alleviate nutrition challenges in the district.

The giving out of the rewards will be done in four quarters  till December 2023 when Afikepo nutrition program will end.

By Austine Kachilika

Mzimba, August 16, Mana: World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressed concern over the low uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in Mzimba District.

Speaking during the district’s Gender Technical Working Group, WHO Representative, Dr Chris Kalisa said there is need to intensify efforts to ensure that people are vaccinated in the district.

He said: “Even though COVID-19 is no longer a public health threat, there is still need to intensify vaccination since only 38% of the population in the district is vaccinated.”

Kalisa said socio-cultural factors such as misinformation, myths as well as cultural and religious beliefs are some of the key drivers that promote low uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in the district.

“Despite lacking credibility, people tend to believe in COVID-19 misinformation, myths as well as cultural and religious beliefs. People tend to be easily persuaded by them”, he said.

Kalisa said WHO and the Malawi Government have reached an agreement to fully adopt COVID-19 vaccination into National Immunisation and Primary Health Care programmes.

Mzimba South Director of Health and Social Services, Dr Prince Chirwa said adopting COVID-19 vaccination into National Immunisation and Primary Health Care programmes will improve efficiency in service delivery.

He said: “By adopting COVID-19 vaccination into National Immunisation and Primary Health Care programmes, there will be enhanced demand and will address the existing inequalities that hinder the availability, accessibility and acceptance of COVID-19 jabs in the district.”

By Twimepoki Mangani

Lilongwe, August 16, Mana: Coach for Brave Hearts Ladies, Griffin Kaluwa has called for collaborated efforts in the development of well-rounded skillful female basketball players who will compete in the local leagues as well as represent the country at regional level.

Kaluwa made the sentiments in an interview with Malawi News Agency(MANA) on Wednesday as he analyzed the Brave Hearts Ladies recent invitation trip to South Africa for the Wits Bucks Women Tournament that run from 9^th to 13^th August, 2023.

While acknowledging that Malawi has teams that can compete at regional level such as Arkangels, Katana, Mystics and Kukoma Eagles, he admitted that the Malawian level of competition is not at par with that of South Africa which has good facilities, coaches and a pool of ladies to choose from.

“Our grass root development is not very good; we don’t have a lot of ladies playing basketball. Last year, for the national team, we could not easily find a tactically gifted point guard and that has always been an issue for us.

“We need to drill kids that can handle the ball intelligently, to put their mates in positions to excel because relying completely on players from other countries to fill out positions is not always healthy,” he said.

Kaluwa described the Bucks tourney as competitive as it offered ladies a chance to show case their talent.

He hopes such tournaments may also be staged in the country.

“We topped our group but lost to Corinthians BWA (35-32) an all-star team that was really good. We made tactically mistakes but we were also fatigued due to playing five games in two days since we arrived when the competition had already started,” Kaluwa said.

Bravehearts have three international players on academic scholarships; Mary Shibweche and Riana Damaris who was voted all Star, are from Kenya; Orlin Londo is Tanzanian while scouting is also being done in Zimbabwe, Kenya and Tanzania.

Captain of Bravehearts, Tama Mazulu hailed the experience of playing teams from South Africa and hopes their team prepare enough to shine in the upcoming Braveheart’s International Basketball Championship (BIBC).

“BWA is a fantastic team, our game with them was a thrill to watch. Saying we didn’t learn from our loss wouldn’t be smart, it’s actually a step forward to improving our game ahead of the BIBC,” Mazulu said.

The BIBC tournament which will attract teams from Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania is set for September 7-9, 2023.

In the group stage of the tourney, Bravehearts beat Hornets 75-20, defeated Wits University 38-28, topped MSE Queens 59-13, conquered VAAL University of Technology 42-21 and won against Phoenix Flames 35-23.