Items filtered by date: June 2025

By Chisomo Kambandanga

Nkhata Bay, August 10, Mana: National Director for Malawi Human Rights Youth Network, Weston Msowoya has commended Nkhata Bay District Council for tackling harmful cultural practices that perpetrate Gender Based Violence (GBV) against women and girls in the district.

Speaking in Nkhata Bay on Wednesday during a Spotlight Initiative Project exit meeting, he said it was encouraging to note that harmful cultural practices arebeing eradicated and local structures capacitated to own interventions that have been happening under the project.

Msowoya said that, "The way local structures have been revamped and strengthened, the platforms women and girls have been provided with to voice their issues and the knowledge they have been given to be part of decision makers on when to get married could never be overemphasized.

“I urge the council and all its stakeholders to build on this and continue fighting GBV in areas where there are gaps," he said.

United Nation Development Programmes (UNDP) Focal Person for Spotlight Initiative, Juliet Sibale said formulation of community GBV technical working groups using local resources was an amazing observation in Nkhata Bay.

She disclosed that UNDP and other stakeholders are developing a proposal for a follow up project considering that Spotlight Initiative was a pilot project.

"As the project is phasing out, all councils and local communities are being encouraged to follow strategic ways they have put in place for sustainability and make their communities a level playing ground for everyone," Sibale added.

District Commissioner (DC) for Nkhata Bay, Rogers Newa said the council would continue encouraging coordination among all stakeholders, adding that GBV issues would be among priorities in the council’s work plans. 

Spotlight Initiative Project was aimed at eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls and was being implemented in six districts in the country namely, Mzimba, Nkhata Bay, Dowa, Ntchisi, Nsanje and Machinga with funding from European Union (EU).

By Chisomo Kambandanga

Nkhata Bay, August 10, Mana: After the phasing out of its project in Chikwina-Mpamba Area Development Programme in Nkhata Bay, World Vision Malawi (WVM) Wednesday handed over six motorcycles to Nkhata Bay District Council.

Nkhata Bay District Programmes Manager for WVM, Elarton Thawani said that they decided to donate the motorcycles to the council as one way of sustaining the project’s interventions in the area.

"We have working in the areas ofagriculture, child protection, education, health among others in Chikwina-Mpamba area using multi-sector involvement approach; hence these motorcycles would be allocated to the relevant sectors.

We know that after leaving the area, the District Council will continue working with the communities where we have stopped," he said.

Thawani cherished cordial relationship between his organization and the council throughout the project’s implementation period.

Receiving the motorcycles, District Commissioner (DC) for Nkhata Bay, Rodgers Newa commended WVM for the donation, saying it would go a long in addressing mobility challenges faced by extension workers there by ensuring sustaining of the project’s gains.

"The council has a number of field officers who do not have adequate transport are the most viable means of transportation considering terrain of the district," he said.

Newa added that the gesture was a true reflection of what partnership is all about, saying very few organizations donate their equipment to the council when their projects phase out.

The DC urged the sectors where the motorcycles have been allocated to put them into good use and have a sense of ownership so that they serve the intended purpose.

By Fostina Mkandawire

Salima, August 10, Mana: Story Workshop Educational Trust (SWET) says community volunteers are key in sensitising communities on behaviour change.

Speaking Wednesday during orientation of community volunteers in Salima, the project’s District Officer, Phyllis Chingana, said they would train 140 community volunteers on a counseling tool manual that would be used to sensitize communities on hygiene, nutrition and health issues.

She said volunteers from Senior Chief Mwanza and Khombedza were trained on data collection from households in their communities under their clusters.

According to Chingana, the data will be centred on hygiene, nutrition and agricultural issues whose information will be filled on a behaviour-tracking tool.

"The volunteers are already championing hygiene and nutrition in their communities. They are promoters and cluster leaders, therefore, we have taken advantage of their knowledge so that they can continue sensitizing their communities on issues affecting them," she explained.

SWET is implementing a “Community Connect” Project, aimed at reducing fatality rate and the spread of cholera and other waterborne diseases through community engagement and information-sharing in areas of Senior Chief Khombedza and Mwanza in Salima District.

"The project targets providing support on existing government efforts to address issues of good hygiene, nutrition, health, gender-based violence and prevention of diseases," Chingana said.

A volunteer from Kavanjilu Village Development Committee under Senior Chief Mwanza, Thokozani Katondo, said the orientation was timely as his area struggled with cholera cases, so, preventative measures have to be taken earlier now before rainy season approaches.

He said the advantage of the project is that it combines all aspects of human life to come up with messages for sensitizing communities.

The project targets 100,000 households in the district and is being implement in collaboration with different government agencies.

By Chisomo Kambandanga

Nkhata Bay, August 10, Mana: Communities in Nkhata Bay have asked government to lobby for more funds to continue with Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) project, if the country was to achieve its goal of eradicating Malaria by 2030.

Community members made these sentiments on Wednesday when a United States delegation visited Nkhata Bay to appreciate the impacts of IRS in the district.

One of the beneficiaries, Loveness Mtambo from Kauta Village in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Fukamapiri said the project which involves spraying indoors to kill mosquitoes, has reduced incidents of Malaria in her household and her community.

“Before IRS project, my children were frequently suffering from Malaria as you can see in their health passport books. Much of my time was spent at the hospital taking care of my children. This was compromising their education and wasting much of our time to do business and some community developments,” she claimed.

Mtambo, a mother of three said, “We are heartbroken to hear that this is the final year of the IRS project because we are scared to think of the encounters we used to have with malaria before the project.”

TA Fukamapiri said the hope of communities along the lakeshore district depended on the IRS project, saying many people would die of Malaria when it phases out due to high prevalence of mosquitoes in their areas.

Programmes Manager for the National Malaria Control Programme in the Ministry of Health Responsible for Malaria, Dr Lumbani Munthali said the country has managed to reduce Malaria cases by almost 61 percent from 2016 to 2022 through a number of interventions.

He assured the communities that once enough resources are secured, government was willing to continue with the programme and extend it to other districts as well.

Chief of Party for Global Fund Grants in World Vision Malawi (WVM), Dr. Biziwick Mwale said the said the organization was impressed that IRS was yielding positive results. 

WVM is implementing IRS project in Balaka, Mangochi and Nkhata Bay in partnership with government with support from Global Fund.

By Ireen Mseteka

Likoma, August 10, Mana: Likoma District Council Wednesday handed over Likoma Water Users Association (WUA) to Northern Region Water Board (NRWB) to improve the WUA’s efficiency in the district.

The hand over ceremony took place at the council’s stakeholders meeting with the blessing from the stakeholders.

Speaking during the ceremony, Chairperson for Likoma WUA, Pastor, Alexander Chitanda said the decision aims at improving sustainable provision of potable in the district.

""We are glad because NRWB is a statutory cooperation which has machinery and capacity in water potable water management and distribution and its coming to island water will go a long in attractinginvestors to the district," he said.

Chitanda said theWUAhas been encountering several challenges which includedregular break down of machines during its 13-year operation hence the coming of NRWB was a relief.

Director of Operations for NRWB, Dr. Asumani Ungwe said the Board came in following a request Likoma District Councilthat the board should to take over the operations of Likoma WUA’s water supply systems.

"The request was made because the association can no longer sustain its operations," he said.

Chairperson for Likoma District Council, Barnabas Sambamo thanked NRWB for accepting the requestand stakeholders’ decision to hand over water supply services to NRWB.

By Ernest Mfunya

Mangochi, August 9, Mana: Mangochi-based young businessperson Bilal Mussah, who is owner of Amaanat Contractors Limited on Wednesday donated a set of netball jersey worth K210,000 to Mangochi Police Netball Team.

The donation comes following a request by the Police Station's Resource Mobilisation team last week on new netball kit.

Speaking during the handover ceremony at the station's premises, Mussah said that he decided to make the donation to help keep the female officers fit.

"I was delighted to be approached for support. It is a clear indication of the excellent working relationship that exists between the security unit and the business people in the district," he said.

Mussah further said that Mangochi Police Queens serve as role models to the young girls in the district.

In his remarks, Officer in charge for Mangochi Police Station, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Timothy Phiri, expressed gratitude for the donation, saying that it was timely as the station's netball team was amongst teams completing in an ongoing Eastern Region Commissioner's Trophy.

"Mangochi Police Queens are currently on first position in the ongoing Eastern Region Commissioner's Trophy. As such, the donation has come at a right time as it will help to boost their morale.

"We therefore commend Mussah for his consistent support, as this is the second time for him to help us after he previously donated the Masuku roadblock to the station. As such, we are also requesting other business people in the district to emulate this good example," said Phiri.

By Trinity Kamwani

Neno, August 09, Mana: About 80 youths in the area of Traditional Authority Mlauli and Chekucheku in Neno District are undergoing a 14 days training on entrepreneurship, business management and mindset change under the National Youth Service (NYS) program.

Speaking Wednesday at Ligowe Teachers Development Centre during the training session, Neno District Youth Officer Ian Sukali said the training has been divided into two parts namely personal training which will take place for seven days and the other seven days will be for practical work.

He said at the end of the training, participants are expected to produce viable business plans that will be funded by the National Youth Service to roll out their business enterprises.

Sukali added that by the end of the training, the youth are also expected to produce a community service project because it is mandatory that after being supported through the NYS,

“The community service to be implemented is crucial as one way of giving back to their community but also as a way of building patriotism and volunteerism among the youths,” Sukali said.

He added that the training will direct them into green business as they will be able to answer the needs of their areas while addressing different problems like climate change.

He said that National Youth Service interventions aims at moulding self-reliant youths and promoting the use of available resources for economic growth.

Speaking during the training Neno Director of Planning and Development (DPD) Charles Lomoni urged the youth to come up with viable business plans that will be funded so that they should establish their business and empower themselves and become self-reliance.

He therefore advised them to take the training seriously and acquire knowledge that will sharpen their skills and replicate in order to benefit the nation as empowered youths will enable the realization of the Malawi 2063 vision.

One of the participants Alice Bamusi commended the training saying it will empower her with entrepreneurship skills that will enable her to establish her business.

By Innocent Chamtulo & Colleta Wilton

Mulanje, August 8, Mana; Mulanje District Council on Monday re-elected Thokozani Namoyo, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Councillor for Mtenjera Ward after defeating his former Vice Councillor Beatrice Mulatho of Chikuli Ward.

Councillor Namoyo won with 24 votes where as Mulatho had two votes.

In his acceptance speech, Namoyo commended the Council for entrusting him with the position.

“We will maintain the good relationship between the secretariat and political arms. Not only that but also there are 3Cs (commitment, collaboration and coordination) that need to be followed. Nothing can work without following the mentioned pillars,” he said.

Namoyo said his administration will focus on local revenue generation in order to make Mulanje District Council successful in development.

He pledged to ensure that Mulanje maintains number one position on Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) projects.

The Council meeting also elected Councillor Alex Lufaneti of Chambe Ward as the new Vice Council Chairperson.

This will be Namoyo’s second term serving as Council Chairperson for Mulanje having been elected in the same capacity in 2022.

By Arkangel Tembo

Dowa, August 8, Mana: Champion Stadium in Mponela, Dowa will soon be completed with some renovations taking place to enable soccer lovers in the district and surrounding areas enjoy Super League matches.

A 20,000 capacity stadium owned by Msaiwale Kabvina will boost economic development at the busy trading centre which is located along the M1 Road.

The project has enabled Kabvina to employ thousands of workers from the area who are working on different areas at the stadium.

A visit by the Malawi News Agency (MANA) photojournalist, Arkangel Tembo, at the stadium found out that some stands have been erected, while covered stands are also at an advanced stage.

Here are some of the images from Tembo.

Mulanje, August 8, Mana: Education in Mulanje district is expected to improve with the coming in of Building Education Foundation through Innovation and Technology (BEFIT) program aimed at ending illiteracy among pupils in primary schools.

Mulanje District Chief Education Officer, Getrude Maliko said this on Monday during a full council meeting.

The program is targeting pupils from standards one to four.

Maliko said learners will be using tablets and headsets which will help them do better in mathematics, reading and writing as studies have shown a gap in those areas.

"All preparations for this program are ready and we have visited schools that are going to benefit from this program. What is remaining is to train teachers and relevant authorities on the use and care of the tablets," she explained.

Maliko has, therefore, asked community members and Parent Teacher – Association (PTA) to join hands with the Ministry of Education to make sure that the gadgets are being used for the intended purposes and are being taken care of.

In an interview one of the primary school teachers in Mulanje, Mphatso Malindima, commended the development saying it will ease teaching and help impart knowledge to pupils in the targeted schools especially in rural areas.

In the first year of the program in Mulanje, 19 public primary schools have been targeted.