By Winfrida Kamwana

Mchinji, April 27, Mana: The Ministry of Gender has appealed different stakeholders to join hands in mitigating challenges that affect children’s general welfare.

Speaking during the Mchinji Children’s Parliament session, Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Dr Nertha Semphere Mgala said it is by collective efforts that the nation can be able to fight challenges affecting children’s welfare.

“Children are treasures to the nation that is why as a nation there is a need for us regardless of the title or position to take part in ensuring their safety in the communities they are living in,” said Mgala.

Mgala further stated that it is also crucial to give children a platform to discuss issues affecting them as they can bring change to their communities.

During the session, members of the children’s parliament asked questions to different authorities on how they are progressing in addressing some of the concerns that were raised during the previous session which took place in May 2024.

In response to the most raised question on ending child marriages, Executive Director for Girls Activist Youth Organization, Richard Batch explained that their organization has so far ended 37 child marriages since the beginning of the year in the area of Traditional Kapondo and they will continue to fight for children’s rights.

“The organization is working tirelessly to make sure issues such as child marriages are addressed in communities by sensitizing community members on the dangers of child marriages and at the same time helping children understand their rights so they can progress in life,” explained Batch.

He also stated that the introduction of Child rights governance clubs in primary schools will help children understand their rights and have the ability to fight for them when they notice that they are being infringed.

The children’s parliament which was organized by World Vision at Mchinji Boma was set to track the progress authorities have made in addressing issues that were raised during the last time the parliament had a session.

By Aisha Chiwaya

Salima, April 27, Mana: Farmers in Salima have been advised to embrace natural methods of controlling insects in their fields to restore soil fertility and reduce reliance on chemicals, which contribute to soil degradation.

During a visit to lead farmers’ fields on Friday, officials from the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) noted that farmers using natural methods achieved good harvests, despite the heavy fall of armyworm attacks in the district.

According to Cropping Systems Agronomist in the Ministry of Agriculture Dr Donwell Kayira the methods, include push-pull farming, traps, biopesticides, and parasitoids.

"Push-pull involves planting desmodium to push pests away. Desmodium, a legume, adds nitrogen to the soil, so no chemicals are needed. The trap method uses water and pheromones to attract and trap male fall armyworms. We also use a safe biopesticide called detain," Kayira said.

Agriculture Development Extension Coordinator for Tembwe Extension Planning Areas, Elia Kazinga, praised farmers who adopted natural methods and urged them to share their knowledge with others.

"Some farmers have harvested enough while others have not, showing a knowledge gap. I urge farmers to support each other so we all can contribute to national development," Kazinga said.

Lead farmer Isaac Macdonald encouraged fellow farmers to adopt the natural methods, describing them as cost-effective and accessible to adopt.

"Farming is expensive with labour and chemical costs. This opportunity cuts costs, and it would be ungrateful not to embrace it and improve our lives," Macdonald said.

ICIPE is working to strengthen the resilience of smallholders against fall armyworm infestations in Salima, Mangochi and other districts.

By Brian Wasili

Mwanza, April 27, Mana: Mwanza District Commissioner, Dr Martha Magreta Sineta has urged the council’s staff to start focusing on performance and service delivery rather than personal benefits, calling for a shift from allowance-driven participation to performance-based engagement.

Sineta was speaking at the end of the budget review meeting on Friday whose objective was to analyze how Mwanza District Council utilized public resources from the April 2024 to March 2025 financial year.

The meeting also discussed successes and challenges encountered in the period under review and brainstormed strategies to deal with challenges in the current financial year.

“Let us not be allowance-oriented when performing our duties. Our priority must be the people we serve and the results we deliver.

“We must reflect on how we used the resources entrusted to us by the people of Mwanza and we should also think about what to plan for the future,” added the District Commissioner.

Sineta commended participants at the review meeting for contributing constructively and for submitting elaborative departmental reports that reflected realities on the ground and service gaps.

Director of Finance at Mwanza District Council, Arthur Malemia presented a financial report which outlined achievements and shortfalls across departments and commended council staff for their commitment.

“Good financial expenditure has been registered across all sectors and the implementation of key projects such as the construction of physical infrastructures like school blocks, bridges and market sheds.

“Other interventions that registered good financial expenditure include; the Investing in Early Years Programme, Climate Smart- Enhanced Public Works Programme and Social Cash Transfer Programme,” he added.

The Director also pointed out that the introduction of border entry fees and the rolling out of electronic ticketing promoted efficiency in market fee collection, saying this helped to boost local revenue for the council.

He however noted that an increase in prices of goods and services on the market affected the budget line of some activities, adding that delays in completing projects and compromising standards of some projects by contractors were some of the challenges the council encountered in the implementation of the just ended financial year.

Most participants at the review meeting noted that delays in the procurement processes were common in most sectors, complaining that this affected the timely implementation of some activities.

Responding to the concern, Malemia attributed the delays in the procurement processes to the late submission of requests to his office by sectors and a limited number of staff in the procurement office, among other reasons.

“Moving forward, we need proper planning, timely submission of the requests and presentation of detailed activity report.

“Further to this, there is a need for better coordination among departments to avoid duplication and there is also a need for sectors to stick to financial discipline apart from making follow-ups on funding disbursements,” he added.

The budget under review was pegged at K10 billion and it included council staff salaries, a general resource fund, a sector fund, a constituency development fund and, local revenue among others.

Mwanza Council directors, heads of departments, accounts personnel and front-line workers were some of the people who attended the finance management review meeting.

By Augustus Nkhwazi

Mzuzu, April 27, Mana: The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested two officials at M’mbelwa District Council concerning the earlier arrest of Mzimba North Parliamentarian Yeremiah Chihana on corruption-related charges.

The suspects have been charged with falsifying information to the District Commissioner (DC) to deceive M’mbelwa District Council Procurement Committee.

According to a statement signed by ACB’s Senior Public Relations Officer Egritta Ndala, the two are former Acting Director of Public Works for M’mbelwa District Council, George Gopani and an accountant for Northworks Limited, Gabriel Mkandawire.

Ndala said the two were arrested on April 22, 2025, and appeared before Chief Resident Magistrate Court in Mzuzu where they were charged and released on bail.

Chief Resident Magistrate Godfrey Balaka granted the two bail on the condition that they should be reporting at ACB offices in Mzuzu once every fortnight, pay a cash bond of K200 000 each, provide one surety each bonded at K500 000 non-cash and surrender travel documents to the bureau.

The statement said ACB investigations established that in August 2022, Gopani provided false information to the DC for grading of roads in Mzimba North Constituency under Honourable Yeremiah Chihana, to authorize payment of K15 million to Northworks Limited which is contrary to section 122(a) of the penal code.

It further said ACB investigations established that in May 2022, Mkandawire forged an official document purporting to be a quotation from E and V Engineering for grading of KIA-Luhomero-Kasasile Road, Enukweni-Kavula-Malokotera Road and Bwengu-Katope Road in Mzimba North Constituency which is contrary to section 358 of the penal code.

By Aisha Chiwaya

Salima, April 26, Mana: A 52-year-old Robert Gabiseni has died, while three others have sustained various degrees of injuries after the vehicle they were travelling in fell into Linthipe River in Salima district.

The accident occurred on Friday, April 25, 2025, at around 3:30 PM, at Linthipe Bridge, along Salima/Balaka M5 road.

According to Public Relations Officer for Salima Police Station, Sub Inspector Rebecca Ndiwate, on the said date and time, Gabiseni was driving a motor vehicle, registration number PE 1089 Scania Lorry, from the direction of Kamuzu Road trading centre, heading to Chipoka with three passengers on board.

"Upon arrival at Linthipe bridge, he lost control of the vehicle and hit the left side panels of the bridge before landing into the river upside down.

“Following the impact, Gabiseni was pronounced dead upon arrival at Salima District Hospital," she said.

Ndiwate said the other three passengers, Fred Chitseko, 39, Isaac Mwale, 29 and the other unknown passenger escaped with various degrees of injuries.

Meanwhile, police in the district have advised all road users to always follow road rules and regulations to avoid accidents.

Robert Gabiseni hailed from N'gombe Village, Traditional Authority Kambwiri in Salima District.

By Evance Chisiano

Blantyre, April 27, Mana:  Second Grade Magistrate Court in Blantyre has acquitted two men who were caught stealing iron sheets at old Malawi News Agency (MANA) offices in Blantyre saying the state failed to provide evidence that the two had tools that were used to remove the iron sheets.

The two, Nelson Chiwalo, 32 and Henry Maseko 26 were caught with four iron sheets worth K64,000 on March 26, 2025, at old MANA offices, along Sanjika Road where a lot of iron sheets, windows and door frames have been stolen for some time after MANA offices relocated the early 2000s to Lonrho premises in Limbe and later moved to a new place at regional government offices along Victoria Avenue, Blantyre.

Brief facts are that on the material day, men working at the Blantyre Sports Club’s golf course saw one of the men on top of the building removing iron sheets while the other one was down collecting the iron sheets.

The court heard that men at the golf course informed technicians at the Regional Information office who teamed up and apprehended Chiwalo and Maseko and handed them over to Blantyre Police where they were later taken to court for prosecution.

Standing before Second Grade Magistrate, Nikita Chirwa at Chichiri Court, the two pleaded not guilty prompting the state to parade three witnesses against Chiwalo and Maseko.

Analysing the case and the evidence by the state, the magistrate acquitted the two saying the state failed to provide convincing evidence that the two had tools that were used to remove the iron sheets despite being found at the scene.

“Being found at the scene with iron sheets does not necessarily mean that the two stole the iron sheets. There is no direct evidence that the two stole the iron sheets.

“The accused silence in the case does not prove they are guilty,” Chirwa added while acquitting the two based on the state's failure to provide adequate evidence despite tendering the iron sheets in the court some days earlier.

The court gave the state 21 days to appeal if not satisfied with the acquittal.

Chiwalo comes from Nawawa Village, Traditional Authority Chikweo in Machinga while Maseko comes from Kazeze Village, Traditional Authority Mwenimisuku in Chitipa.

MANA, a news section under the Ministry of Information and Digitalisation with news reporters in 25 districts including regional offices.

By Sylvester Kumwenda

Dowa, April 26, Mana: People around Malambo in Senior Chief Dzoole in Dowa have applauded Dowa district council for starting the construction of Malambo primary classroom block, saying this will improve the provision of quality education at the school.

One of the community members, Daniel Joseph from Msopa Village, said on Thursday after the council launched construction of the classroom block that lack of enough classroom blocks at the school jeopardizes lessons as classrooms are congested.

He said the coming in of an additional school block, which is being constructed under the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) to the tune of K134 million, will put to an end the problem.

"There are a lot of learners here, and one class could carry close to a hundred children. This affects lessons because it means a teacher has to look at more learners than recommended.

"But the new school block will ensure that teachers attend to a lesser number of learners in class and every learner will be getting the required attention from the teachers. I believe this will improve learners' performance at the school," said Joseph.

He also said the school block will help protect learners from natural elements, as such classes would not be disturbed for example when the rain comes.

"And even parents would be assured that their children are learning in a safe environment. For these, as a community we are thankful because there are other equally deserving schools where this classroom block could have been constructed," added Joseph.

The block will have two classrooms and is expected to serve 120 learners.

In an interview, Maligerita Raphael from Soko village urged parents to send their children to school.

"The classroom block will be useless if parents and guardians do not send their children to school. So as much as we are celebrating this development, we should also remind parents to ensure they send their children to school," said Raphael.

She however asked for more teacher houses at the school.

Councillor for Dzoole North Ward, Richard Kassanje, said it is important to uplift education in the area as through education, the area could produce citizens who can help to bring development to the area.

He then committed to work with the council by bringing other developments to the area.

Council chairperson Richard Nkhono Songeya, speaking during the launch, said the council will continue to ensure that developments happening within the communities are those the people themselves need.

By Bishop Witmos

Mangochi, April 25, Mana: The Greenbelt Authority (GBA) has awarded a contract to the Einstein Construction Company Limited, to extend the rehabilitation of the scheme for approximately 400 hectares of land at Mlambe Irrigation Scheme in Mangochi.

The Authority started the rehabilitation exercise at Mlambe Scheme in May 2024, where it rehabilitated 48 hectares of land, with an aim of ensuring that communities in Mangochi are able to practice winter irrigation.

Speaking during the official handover ceremony of the contract at Mlambe scheme on Friday, GBA Infrastructure Development Manager, Synoden Kautsi said that the project which is expected to run for nine months, starting from April, 2025, will cost the Authority K21 billion.

Kautsi said the major works to be undertaken at the scheme include grading and leveling of the 400 hector land, rehabilitation of main canal, installation of solar-powered system at the intake of the scheme, as well as construction of Water Users Association (WUA) offices at the site.

He therefore urged the contractor to work within the timeframe, and to maintain high standards throughout the project.

‘‘We expect the contractor to adhere to the timeline, be mindful of environmental concerns, but most importantly, high quality and impressive work,” he said.

President for the Association of Mlambe Irrigation Scheme, Philip Mkwera commended government for increasing funding to the scheme, saying that the move will help communities in Mangochi to achieve government goal of transforming Malawi into a middle income country.

"As an association, we are very excited and grateful to the government for this development. Extending the area for winter irrigation farming at the Mlambe Irrigation Scheme will not only benefit our immediate families, but also contribute significantly to the Mega Farm initiative, helping to transform the country into a middle-income economy," said Mkwera.

Managing Director for Einstein Construction Company Limited, Kenneth Khonje assured the authority of their professionalism, as well as adherence to high quality work.

Mlambe Irrigation Scheme, which has approximately 800 hectares of land, has for the past years been run during rainy season only.