Items filtered by date: May 2025

By Prisca Promise Mashushu

Lilongwe, February 21, Mana: President Dr. Lazarus MacCarthy Chakwera has promised to launch a youth innovation grant that aims at providing the youth with loans to be used in different areas including agriculture, education, and tourism among others.

The President disclosed this on Friday during a live youth engagement event at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe, where the youth had an opportunity to ask questions on the State of the National Address delivered in Parliament on Friday last week.

He explained that youths must be at the forefront when it comes to the developments of the country to make a difference by involving themselves in different entrepreneurship skills through loans obtained from the government under National Economic Empowerment Funds (NEEF) and other stakeholders while answering a question from Memory Ngwira who represented young entrepreneurs.

“The introduction of youth innovation grant will help to engage youths in different sectors including agriculture, economics, and tourism by working together with different stakeholders such as the World Bank, microfinance institutions and others that facilitate finances for youths.

“Government will also ensure that NEEF loans are granted to youths to boost their entrepreneurship and businesses,” he explained.

The president also acknowledged that there are unemployed youths who need support through social welfare development.

Answering the question concerning the Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB), the president assured youths that government will increase funding to the organisation so that it can continue to operate independently for it to fight corruption.

“I want to encourage youths to be whistle-blowers if they have any issues regarding corruption in the country by working together with the ACB and other justice organisations to build a free corruption Malawi.

“Government is also committed to ensure that youths are engaged in the health sector by addressing different issues such as mental health and sexual reproductive rights and also government will ensure that health care remains affordable for all,” he said.

The President then assured the youth that government will continue to provide high-quality teaching and learning materials which includes the construction of school blocks, laboratories, libraries and others.

By Comfort Simbeye

Chitipa, February 21, Mana: National Initiative for Civic Education(NICE) Trust says the media can play a crucial role in educating the masses about forthcoming general elections.

District Programmes Officer for NICE Trust, Lusako Swira made the remarks on Friday during a meeting with Chitipa District-based media practitioners at NICE offices in the district.

He said the media plays a significant role during the electoral process.

"The media civic educates people by disseminating information on elections, as well as fighting misinformation before elections," he said.

Swira then called for a strong collaboration between Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the media to achieve tangible results.

"A good collaboration with the media will make our efforts as NICE Trust as well as other CSOs more fruitful since our information will reach the intended people easily," he said.

District Information Officer for Chitipa, Aliko Munde, hailed NICE Trust for the media engagement as the country is approaching the voter transfer exercise, which starts on February 25, 2025.

Munde acknowledged the crucial role the media practitioners play in civic and voter education.

"We as media practitioners have a big role to play during civic and voter education. Without media practitioners, issues of civic and voter education cannot be successful,” he said

By Petro Mkandawire

Blantyre, February 22, Mana: Mozambique SEPROF consultant, Domingos Diongo, has expressed satisfaction over the Last Mile Infrastructure Project, following his one-week tour in Malawi to appreciate progress of the project.

Diongo said on Thursday in Blantyre at a meeting that he saw value in the Last Mile Infrastructure Project in Malawi, observing that the project has potential to increase regional trade coordination, reduce trade costs and time and develope regional value chains.

Last Mile Infrastructure Project is a sub-project implemented in Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique under Southern Africa Trade and Connectivity Project (SATCP) with a US$150 million World Bank funding, running from July 2021 to June 2027.

 “There is a need to align the project in Mozambique and Malawi to avoid duplication of efforts, to simplify trade and connectivity among countries and to increase private sector activities along targeted corridors of Malawi and Mozambique,” the consultant said.

Diongo added that the two countries have social and historical links, and he expressed hope that SATCP was there to improve the links for common development benefits.

Some of the places and institutions the Mozambique team visited included Ministry of Agriculture, Dedza border, Wakawaka and Mitundi markets, and Public Private Partnership Commission offices.

In Malawi, Last Mile Infrastructure Project is being carried out in 10 sites out of the 41 identified within border post areas of central and southern regions.

The project also includes construction of bridges, markets, storage facilities and roads, such as the 47-kilometer road from Matawale in Zomba to Liwonde.

SATCP communications specialist Joab Chakhaza said Malawi was ahead of Mozambique in the project implementation and that Last Mile Infrastructure Project was coming in to help in building regional infrastructure connectivity, promoting trade and market integration activities.

“There are a lot of things that are mirroring each other; as such, the way we are doing things in Malawi should also be the way Mozambique is doing. Communication and interaction within the countries should be enhanced to amplify trade and connectivity, which will improve development and economic industries,” he added.

Chakhaza further said the project also aims at reducing trade costs, strengthening regional coordination and project implementation, strengthening value chains for regional integration and strengthening transport infrastructure to improve market access.

“Through connectivity, Malawi will be able to find the right mechanism of coordination and will see how Malawi and Mozambique handle SATCP activities, which in turn will help the country to move faster in different aspects” said Chakhaza.

By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, February 21, Mana: Some vendors in Chitipa District have asked Chitipa District Council to consider constructing more market shades at Ibugulira Market in Senior Chief Mwenewenya in the district.

Godfrey Kaonga, who plies his trade at Ibugulira Trading Centre, said the two shades which were constructed by the district council are not enough to accommodate all the traders.

Kaonga said one market shade accommodated vegetable traders and the other shade accommodates fish sellers.

“Fish sellers are many and one shade for them is not enough. We need more market shades not only for fish sellers but even for other traders. If the district council can construct four other market shades it will help alleviate the challenge we are facing,” Kaonga said.

Another trader, Joice Mbale, said currently most traders have constructed grass-thatched benches, which he said are just temporary.

“If the district council can even allow traders to construct their shades or shops it can help improve the situation,” Mbale appealed.

Director of Public Works for Chitipa District Council, Engineer Misheck Gondwe said currently, the district council does not have plans to construct other shades at Ibugulira.

“The traders will be allowed to construct their structures after mapping the area by lands department,” Gondwe said.

The two Ibugulira Market shades were constructed under the District Development Fund (DDF).

By Sylvester Kumwenda

Dowa, February 21, Mana: Board chairperson for the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) Commissioner Richard Chapweteka has stressed the need for councils to effectively use the funds they are provided.

He made the remarks Thursday when the board of directors of NLGFC visited Dowa district council to appreciate projects and utilisation of funds being provided under different programs.

These include the District Development Fund, Government to Enable Service Delivery, Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Program, Social Cash Transfer and others.

'Spending money is one thing but getting what you want done is another thing. So what we want is to look at issues first-hand.

"From experience, we have established that desk reports are not adequate because people can cook reports to meet expectations. That should give us a lesson that we cannot always trust desk reports," he said.

He said some councils have good plans on paper but structures on the ground prove otherwise, which he described as embarrassing.

Chapweteka added that much as the board cannot visit all the projects, a sample can provide insight into council activities.

"Apart from that, there is also the issue of quality as well which sometimes there is much to be desired. This could be because some councils take shortcuts in getting contracts which ends up with bad results.

"So our coming is to appreciate what you are doing, and where there are shortfalls, discuss and provide advice to make sure councils are doing the right things," he said.

In his remarks, District Commissioner Stallichi Mwambiwa thanked NLGFC for the support rendered to councils.

Also, for the team visit to the council which he said was full of lessons for the council.

During the day, the council made presentations on various programs and infrastructure development it is implementing.

The visiting team also conducted a field visit to appreciate projects and interventions under the SCTP.

One of the SCTP participants under Mbalame cluster Nason Kaseke applauded the initiative saying it has transformed his livelihood as he can now afford a decent house and provide food

By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, February 21, Mana: At least 55 girls, mostly Form 2s and Form 4s at Lodjwa Community Day Secondary School in Kasungu have been rusticated for a week for protesting against the school diet.

A visit to the school on Friday found the girls flagging down vehicles along the M1 Road in search of transport to go home.

They claimed the diet at the school has been both inadequate and monotonous.

Headteacher for the school Charles Moyo explained that the students did not follow the right procedures to present their grievances to authorities.

"We were taken by surprise that there was some sort of commotion in protest against the diet today morning.

"Ideally, we expected the students to first report to us so that we find means of handling the matter. But their first step was to stage a protest," he said.

Moyo added that the learners' behaviour was strange and posed a risk to the school structures.

"To avoid the worst scenario, we called the police who managed to calm the situation.

"As management, we have agreed together with the Parents Teachers Association to send the students home for a week," he said.

Both the spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Mphatso Nkuonera and the Education Division Manager for Central East Education Division, Charles Mthote were not available for comment.

By Andrew Mkonda

Lilongwe, February 21, Mana: Inspector General (IG) of Police Merlyne Yolamu has described women in higher positions as game chargers saying their performance is beyond people’s expectations.

Yolamu made the sentiments in Lilongwe Friday during a day-long workshop for women in security institutions and implementing partners aimed at improving gender equality and designing affirmative actions for women and vulnerable populations.

“Gender mainstreaming is one of the critical strategies in achieving gender equality. It means recognizing and integrating the different concerns and realities of both women and men into policy-making, strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation,” she said.

Yolamu then urged women in different institutions to have confidence when discharging their duties and at the same time upgrade themselves in education.

“Since I was appointed to be the IG three years ago, I have achieved a lot of things that some of my male predecessors failed to achieve, this is because I have confidence in myself. So no woman should look down upon herself when given higher positions,” she said.

In her remarks, UN Women's Country Representative Letty Chiwara said the time has come for women to take a leading role in driving development, form policies and actions that bring all those that are left behind at the center of development.

Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) Secretary Habiba Osman thanked the Malawi Police and other security agencies for the training saying they will continue working closely with different organizations and institutions in making sure that the security of women in working places is not compromised.

“Our main role is to monitor if institutions, organizations, entities have got policies that protect women such as sexual harassment policy and look at issues of affirmative actions, particularly for women in decision making,” she said.

The workshop which was organized by Malawi Police Services in collaboration with MHRC with financial support from the EU drew women in security institutions from Malawi Police Services, Malawi Defense Force, Immigration and Malawi Prisons Services

By Happy Byson Milanzie

Lilongwe, February 21, Mana: Minister of Lands, Deusi Gumba, has assured people that the project of building houses for the security agencies is going on smoothly, with phase three of the project almost complete.

According to Gumba, approximately 4000 houses in phase three have already reached the procurement and construction stages, demonstrating the seriousness of the current administration.

"The project is making significant progress on the ground. Out of the 10000 houses planned by the government, some have already been opened by President Lazarus Chakwera, while others are nearing completion with only minor work remaining," he said.

Gumba also emphasized that 90 percent of the phase three project is expected to be completed soon, as both the procurement and construction processes are progressing well.

He said the project in Rumphi is also promising, with contractors already identified adding of the 90 earmarked in the district, 78 will be allocated to the Malawi Police Service, and 12 to immigration.

The government of Malawi promised to build 10000 houses across the country, with 4000 houses allocated to the Malawi Police Service, another 4000 to the Malawi Defense Force (MDF), 1000 to immigration, and another 1000 to prisons.

By James Mwale

Ntchisi, February 21, Mana: Malawi Congress Party Thursday held primary elections for legislator and ward councillors to represent the party in forthcoming tripartite elections in the district’s West Constituency.

Competing for the Member of Parliament position were Anderson Msonthi who amassed 284 votes followed by Moses Chakana with 284 votes.

Mtendere Chilapondwa accumulated 47 votes followed by Mdoko Peter Banda who got 33 votes followed by Rosemary Sadya Lunda who came last with 27 votes.

Competing for Madanjala ward councillor was Justice Zambila who amassed 363 votes followed by the incumbent, Mark Mphenzi Mtengo who got 67 votes.

Coming third was Millias Mkwezalamba who got 27 votes followed by Dustan Kalirani who came last with 7 votes.

For Kamnenje ward, incumbent Arnold Kapolo came first with 476 votes followed by Damiano Kapesa with 107 votes with Godfrey Zakeyo coming last with 31 votes.

In an interview after the voting exercise, the prospective legislator said: “It was a stiff competition and for people to trust me with a voter margin of such magnitude, I am very happy.”

Amongst his ambitions, Msonthi said: “Our district has poor road network concerns and we are stranded here because of the same. I will try my best to make sure our road network improves.”

The voting exercise was overseen by ward councillors and the district’s senior party officials.

By Chisomo Kambandanga

Nkhata Bay, February 21, Mana: Executive Director of the Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD), Boniface Chibwana, has called for a political commemoration of this year's Martyrs Day to maintain the event's integrity and significance.

 In an interview in Nkhata Bay during a stakeholder's engagement meeting for the event, Chibwana emphasized that focusing on the martyrs' sacrifices will promote unity and solidarity among citizens.

"As we prepare for this day, it is essential to understand that the martyrs died for this country's freedom and wanted self-rule, so Malawians can govern themselves.

"That is why we are emphasizing that this commemoration should be apolitical, as the martyrs died for everyone in this country," he said.

According to Chibwana, during the commemoration, political party colours and affiliations should be set aside to remember that martyrdom is about self-rule.

He added that all political parties must attend the event as one nation.

Principal Secretary responsible for national Unity in the Ministry of Local Government Unity and Culture, Dr. Elizabeth Gomani stated that preparations for this year's National Martyrs Day event are at an advanced stage and will be unique compared to previous years.

"As the government, we are ready for this function, and we want to keep commemorating it as a national event.

"We have produced a commemorative cloth for the first time, and we want everyone to come in one colour, not in political party colours," Gomani said.

 "We have also made efforts to engage the media to educate the masses on the distinction between Chilembwe Day and Martyrs Day, and everyone is welcome on this day,” she added.

Representative of the deceased families, James Thawi praised the government for taking over responsibility for organizing the event, describing it as a sign of empathy towards the families.

Martyrs' Day is observed annually in the country on 3rd March to honor those who sacrificed their lives for freedom and self-rule.

This year's celebration will take place in Nkhata Bay under the theme "The Martyrs: A Great Model of Patriotism and is expected to be led by President Dr Lazarus MacCathy Lazarus Chakwera.