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Spotlight on Ngoni Culture and Art
By Ed-Grant Ndoza
Mzuzu, September 10, MANA: It is not long time ago, when some people of the Northern part of Malawi especially Mzimba, could not be separated from their Livestock, like chickens, goats and cattle. In remote past, families who could not afford to raise kraals (khola) were deprived of options besides sharing with animals their dwelling houses, to guarantee their safety.
I could still remember the days when my mother had taken some whips on me over a misdemeanor, I used to seek refuge at my grandfather’s mud made and grass thatched house. The house depicted cool rooms smeared with cattle dung. When dusk crept in, six goats and three kittens, used to join us into the house. They used to go straight to a corner of the vacant ‘dinning” room where the big man used to skillfully tether them so that the young ones were not trodden upon by the elders.
At night, it was something else. I could be woken up by either goats’ sneezing, or bleating by the she goat (mother) which could not trace its kitten. I could also hear a splash of urine that dug a canal that run up to the place we used to assemble fire. I remember one night urine extinguishing some little fire that remained before we had left for bed. Although the extinguishing sound was loud my grandfather pretended not to hear despite both of us having been awake.
I knew he was accustomed to the sound having slept with goats for years.
At times, sleep could be disrupted by goat’s stampede over something I could not explain
“It’s how goats behave” my grandfather responded when I plucked courage to find out the cause of stampede
The morning task for my grandfather was to untie the goats from a pole sunk at the corner of the room, and tether them outside the house, at a nearby garden. He used a reed basket to clear the droppings that had a special heaping place at one home yard point, for them to mature before use in gardens, to boost soil fertility.
Sharing sleeping dwelling houses with animals, especially chickens, goats, sheep, and calves, was a common practice by most Ngoni families few decades ago. There was an art in tethering the elder animals so that young ones were not trodden upon.
This culture was being practiced ostensibly to secure the animals, especially in remote rural communities infested by hyenas, wild cats and other prey beasts. Rarely from thieves.
Every tribe or society has its own culture and art that make people’s life complete and worthy.
Culture is a set of values, beliefs, practices, habits, behaviors, views and all that identify a group of people or a society. Cultural values can encompass food preferences, dressing styles, language, recreation and other elements that make a group of people unique and different from others.
Art is an expression of people’s way of life. Artwork is a reflection of culture of a certain group of people at a certain period of time. Art serves as a powerful medium of communication a particular group of people use to express their beliefs, values, feelings, views and perceptions. It mirrors all elements a particular tribe or society stands for as their identity.
Art and culture are just two sides of a single coin. Art work can be presented in form of paintings, drawings, weaving, sculptures, pottery, dances and other artistic performances, symbols, words, signs and sound.
Art promotes coexistence and tolerance among people of different cultural and religious backgrounds by communicating religious and cultural values and beliefs of individual groups. Therefore, art enhances peace, unity and tranquility in societies habited by people who tow different cultures and religions. Undermining artistic features of a certain group of people leads to conflicts which, if not amicably and hastily resolved, will degenerate into civil war that can cost property and lives.
Religious and cultural groupings and institutions have always clashed into fierce conflicts over accusations of demeaning each other’s values and beliefs, through derogatory perceptions and actions, including blasphemy. Religious conflicts are rampant worldwide bordering on misunderstanding of values and beliefs.
Eric Brahm for Substark Magazine wrote on 2005, November, “Religion is central part of many individuals and any threat to one’s belief is a threat to one’s very being.”
Like other tribes, the Ngoni people are identified by their own unique culture and art that govern their society.
Ngoni people’s art and culture have been associated with animals (both, domestic and wild) and natural resources, especially natural forests. Animals have their own relevance and efficacy to their culture whose beliefs and values are reflected through their art.
Animals for instance, serve as key raw materials for artwork that makes Ingoma, the Ngonis' war dance, complete and envious to watch.
Art work supported by animals is demonstrated in the dance whose gear and other accompanying materials are sourced from animal skins and other wildlife specimen.
Special artwork is applied in organizing dancing regalia made from wild animal skins, which is knitted into clothes like wear. These skins, from different animals, such as leopards, lions and other smaller animals with beautiful dot spots skins cover the whole body, except the head, which is also ]taken care of , by state of the local art hat, skillfully meshed with unique birds species feathers.
The skin (from cattle) is also used to make shields (protective gear), spear handles and cattle tails are fixed at the end of the spear, to add beauty to the dancing weapon.
Dancing materials that were also sourced from wildlife include beads, ivory necklaces, rings, jewels and horn trumpets (mbata), from an African antelope, known as Kudu.
Ingoma dance is a replica (carry forward) of dances performed by the tribe each time they emerged victorious in fears battles, some time ago.
The Ngoni people, under Zwangendawa Jere, who fled hostilities perpetrated by notorious Ngoni King, Tchaka Zulu, in South Africa, from 1818 to 1822, engaged in persistent battles on their way to Malawi, and arrived in Malawi in 1840
Ingoma dance is called war dance because performers aggressively wield weapons like spears, shields and complemented by combatant facial expression and victory songs.
Armed men are main dancers and are called' impi’ meaning a battalion. The dance is incomplete without women behind the impi who offer lead vocals. Women have their own attractive gear dominated by beads around their necks, hands with some donning birds feathers in their heads.
And a Notable dressing for women is a cloth loosely covering their lower part of their bodies.
Some animal and birds specimen fixed in their heads and ears add a beautiful spectacle. In resonance with the songs, the impi pounce hard on ground with bare feet, as they wield shields and spears, a visitor will not help scampering for safety. Art skill is also demonstrated in the dance itself. Except for away performances, to ensure safety of the dancers, the dance is performed at a specific place in the village. It is performed in cattle kraal, where the matress -like -dung provides safe feet landing.
The use of skin and birds feathers were not limited to supporting Ingoma dance. Cattle skins were also used to bury chiefs while dried ones made good sleeping mats for miserable income families. Cattle skins were also used to bury chiefs while dried ones made good s
sleeping mats for miserable income families. The skin was also used as strings on wooden beds. Feathers from domestic birds (chicken) made good pillows.
In addition to providing materials for Ingoma dancing gear, domestic animals (cattle) were also paid as lobola (dowry system). In addition to providing materials for Ingoma dancing gear, domestic animals (cattle) were also paid as lobola (dowry system).
Special art work is also depicted in metal fabrication works, in making spears, arrows machetes,, hoes knives and other useful metallic objects. Elderly artists used to craft a goat skin bags to blow charcoal into flames, in an improvised furnace, to melt metallic objects and shape them into designs of their choice.
Besides animal and birds specimen obtained from forests, trees are also important commodity harvested from the forests for artwork. The Ngoni people use special trees to make bows, spear handles, hoe and ax handles, beating sticks (Mchiza), clubs and other useful wooden materials. Trees were also used to be carved into pounding sticks and mortars, sculpted into bee hives, rough wooden chairs, and poultry and pig feeding troughs.
Natural forests were also sources of food products like flying ants, mushroom, honey, fruits and other products used for various domestic purposes.
Wild animals were hunted down by dogs or killed with classical traps made from wire and ropes. Villagers close to streams devised their own unique art to fish. They used traps (chino) or poisonous plants (mutetezga) to catch fish, in their suffocated state.
Like said earlier, the Ngoni people have been always next to animals. Besides serving as lobola, (Cattle) animals were source of food, milk, luwende (boiled blood), meat and prestige.
Some villagers boasted huge herds of cattle, just for fame, since animals were socio-culturally looked at as a symbol of wealth and prosperity. Some villagers in possession of tens of cattle, lack necessary basic needs, including school needs for their children. In some extent, family members took a piece of meat only when the animal breaks its leg in a fight, killed in a fight or rescued from a predator.
It is on meat preservation that the Ngonis prove to have no equals. They have unique art to preserve meat that people from other tribes are disillusioned with, and can invite serious nausea to some. This is Zimpeto art.
An animal meat (cattle and goat) is chopped into long strings and are spread across small trees arranged in lines, resting on four elected trees, in between which, a very small fire is assemble. The fire is not so strong to gate keep flies. It is exclusively smoke that engulf the meat. As fire gets weaker and weaker, smoke too, decreases, opening swarms of blue flies to invade the meat, in the process. In a short time, the blue flies lay hundreds of eggs that swiftly hatch into white and legless larva like organisms, called maggots.
The more flies patronise the meat, the greater infestation of maggots is observed. What used to stun Ngoni visitors was the absence of attention to the infestation of flies to the meat. No one will spare energy to whisk away flies, let alone shake maggots off the meat. Maggots that cling loosely on the meat, drop off and land on fire and blow up, bringing a horrible smell.
In fact, the organisms were not maggots. They were given a special name, Zimpeto. Zimpeto was a culturally constructed name to replace the name maggots.
Zimpetos were just innocent organisms. They were good Samaritans in meat preservation. They helped to tenderize and add a unique decomposing flavour to the meat. In absence of refrigerators, it could have been a big challenge to preserve meat without Zimpeto artwork.
We talk about times when food qualified to be a real meal when it accompanied meat.
The Ngonis had their own derogatory words to relish like vegetables and legumes. They used to say relish must be killed. Relish must produce blood. “Are you an animal to eat vegetables,” they could ask derogatorily. In those days, it was going to dawn for Nutritionists to preach the gospel of nutrition that emphasizes a minimum dietary requirement, only certified with presence of fiber rich food stuffs, like vegetables.
What was surprising, however, was that no family member was bed-ridden, suffering from macro and micronutrients deficiency related illness or food contamination. Those were times when parasites like biting ants, mosquitoes and flies could not register their presence and impact on people’s health.
“No one fell sick, let alone open bowels after consuming Zimpeto tenderized meat,” Challenged one villager, in his late 70s. It can be argued, therefore, that zimpeto were beneficial organisms.
In addition to aggressively hauling to the meat a strange decomposing flavour, the tenderizing Zimpeto was also a strong catalyst for the softness of the meat, even when the animal was too old to cook and chew.
The Spokesperson for Mzimba Jere Ngonis, Ndabazake Thole said the art of Zimpeto was the only way people could preserve meat in large sizes.
Said Thole, “In those days, meat was just plenty. Meat was the best food for the Ngonis. Zimpeto culture was the only ideal technique to preserve meat for number days,”
Children living in towns, off for vacations in their parent’s villages, earned canes on their buttocks for wrongly calling Zimpeto as maggots. It used to take their parents to apologize for the wrong name of the glorified organisms.
Elderly men did not correct boys' wrong doing by words of the mouth. The only treatments was severe beating with a special beating stick known as Mchiza. Of course, young boys were nurtured with good manners because of a culture of communal meals, a system where all meals from a few houses were brought and eaten at one place.
The Tcheni culture instilled cleverness and jack up way of doing things among boys. In Tcheni culture, boys carefully watched the pace of eating and they had to quickly remove the remaining food and place another dish of meals. The boy could shout the word ‘Tcheni!' Before pulling the remaining small meal from the Centre of eating circle, usually close to the cattle kraal, (ku mpala). Delays in removing remaining food was a big crime, attracting a penalty, usually beating with Mchiza.
Burundi suffers with Senegal in qualifiers
By Happy Milanzie
Lilongwe September 9 Mana: The Burundi national team suffered its first defeat in their second game, losing 1-0 to Senegal at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, Malawi, during the 2025 African Cup of Nations.
The Teranga Lions were all over in search for a goal, but the Swallows of Burundi remained solid, preventing them from finding the back of the net in the first half.
After persistent pressure for 71 minutes, Senegal finally found relief through an Ismaila Sarr penalty. The spot kick was awarded when Sadio Mane was brought down in the 18-yard box by Burundian defender Nsabiyumva Frederic.
In a post-match interview, Burundian coach Nda Yiragije Etienne said his team showed resilience and maintained their fighting spirit, despite conceding a penalty that disrupted their game plan.
"Most of them are young and still in the process of getting the experience of national team football," he said.
"I hope our next game will be more interesting looking at the way we have played today," added Etienne.
He revealed that the battle is still on in group L and Burundi has got more chances to qualify for 2025 total energies African cup of the nations in Morocco.
Burundi won their first away match against Malawi national team at Bingu national stadium.
Senegal’s coach, Aliou Cisse said having three points has energized the journey of Senegal for 2025 African cup despite a disappointing start at home with a draw against Bukina Faso.
"We did not play well but the players have managed to get three points though the team missed a lot of clear chances," he said.
Senegal is leading in the group L with four points, seconded by Burundi three points.
Burkina Faso is in third position with one point, while Malawi's national team is at the bottom with no points.
Dedza MPs accuse councilors for adjourning full council meeting
By Zenak Matekenya
Dedza, September 9, Mana: Clement Mulombwa, the Leader of Members of Parliament (MPs) for Dedza and representative of Dedza South West Constituency, has criticized the district's councilors for postponing a MK4.2 million Dedza District Council meeting, which was adjourned to a later date due to the absence of MPs.
He made the remarks in an interview on Monday after the adjournment of the meeting whose agenda included the district’s lean season response.
Councilor for Mulundini Ward, David Benson asked the house to adjourn the meeting expressing concern over parliamentarians' failure to show up despite the previous meeting’s postponement from Friday, September 6, 2024, to Monday, September 9, 2024, to accommodate the MPs.
Speaking in an interview, Dedza District Council chair Stanley Manase said the house felt that the lean response item on the agenda was sensitive and needed the presence of MPs.
“Although we met the quorum, the house has agreed to postpone the meeting because there is an issue of relief food to be distributed to communities. The fear is that the MPs might have a contrary view of what can be agreed today,” he said.
In reaction, MP Mulombwa acknowledged that the parliamentarians received the full council invitation and in response proposed Monday or Wednesday for them to attend because parliament is in session.
He said the engagements at parliament still made it challenging for the MPs to show up on Monday saying each one of them belongs to at least two parliamentary committees where they face other commitments.
He added that when parliament is in session it is a requirement for every MP to reside in Lilongwe even during a weekend.
Mulombwa described the councilors' excuse as baseless saying full council meetings have taken place prior in the absence of all the MPs.
He therefore said standing orders are clear that the meeting is considered valid when the quorum is met.
“They are serving their own interests than those of the people because we never gave any directive that they should not meet in our absence. Last time, they demanded an adjournment, insisting on meeting the DC in private first,” said Mulombwa.
He said it’s sad that about MK 4.2 million has gone under the drain while people in the village are suffering from hunger.
Dedza District Civil Society Organization Chairperson Osborn Nyirongo expressed frustration with the development.
He said the full council exists to discuss pertinent issues that affect people and failure to hold such meetings as scheduled delays projects and affects the rural masses.
He urged the MPs and the councilors to improve their communication for the benefit of the people arguing that if proper communication had been made between the two parties’ likely the meeting could have taken place.
“It seems all councilors had no idea of what happened to their MP for them not to come,” he said.
Senior Chief Kachindamoto said it is important for every member of the house to be present during deliberations because it is a requirement in the line of serving the communities.
LL- Council call for rehabilitation of agriculture field assistant’s houses
By Andrew Mkonda
Lilongwe, September 9, Mana: Lilongwe District Council says there is need to rehabilitate houses for Field Agriculture Assistants in all Extension Planning Area (EPAs) across the district in order to improve agricultural services.
Chairperson for Agriculture Service Committee, Councilor Matias Kamvala made the call on Monday during a full council meeting saying many of the Agriculture Field Assistants operate far from their working areas due to lack of proper accommodation.
“This country depends much on agriculture, but what we have seen is that there is no proper communication between the farmers and Agriculture Field Assistants in terms of guidance in their fields, which is bad,” he said.
He noted that many farmers are not aware of the modern farming practices because they are not taught by the Field Assistants, hence contributing to poor harvest.
Commenting on the matter, Senior Chief Kalumbu said apart from rehabilitating Field Assistant's houses, there is also a need to revamp dip tanks that were used for treating livestock from different diseases and parasites.
“This country used to have healthy cattle in the past because it was treated instantly whenever a certain outbreak like Newcastle affects the livestock,” he said.
Speaking in a separate interview, Lilongwe District Director of Agriculture Services Ezara Mbendera said the issue of housing for the Field Assistants is a big challenge to the agriculture sector as the houses in the rural areas are in a dilapidated state.
“I am so happy that this issue is coming out from councilors, traditional leaders and Members of Parliament because these are the owners of the development.
“So that means whenever we have a funding window where we can tap resources for the rehabilitation of houses they should be able to support agriculture-related projects such as rehabilitation of Field Assistants,” he said.
On the rehabilitation of dip tanks, Mbendera said dip tanks have the potential to improve livestock production in the district and the entire country saying currently, Assistant Veterinary Officers just move around to treat livestock either through spraying or other means.
Technical and vocational skills key to achieving MW 2063 vision
By Maston Kaiya
Ntcheu, September 9, Mana: For Malawi 2063 vision to be achieved, it requires a human resource that is driven by skills development processes in the formal and informal sector, this is according to the Technical Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA).
The institution’s board chairperson, Pyoka Tembo said the major purpose of TEVETA is to contribute to human resource development through sustainable skills training and development.
“It is a regulatory body which was established in 1999 by an Act of Parliament.
“TEVETA's informal sector programme is aimed at equipping youth and disadvantaged groups in local communities with skills to enable them to become employable through wage or self-employment,” said Tembo.
Senzani Community Development Centre in Ntcheu is one such centre where informal apprentice skills are acquired.
The centre’s chairperson Elizabeth Zimpondera said various trades like carpentry and joinery, bricklaying, tailoring and fashion designing are offered to the youths in the community.
She disclosed that 138 girls and 117 boys have been products of the centre since 2015.
"The skills centre structure started with carpentry then tailoring and bakery. It is improving people's livelihoods in the rural areas and it is our wish to see this centre becoming a technical college," said Zimpondera and thanked TEVETA for refurbishing the facility after it got damaged due to cyclone Freddy induced floods in 2023.
Group Village Head Senzani hailed Tevet for refurbishing Senzani Community Skills Development Center and for offering various skills training to the people from his area.
He described the programme as part of capital for his people which can economically improve people's livelihoods in his area.
"We are a proud people, TEVETA has in fact given a form of capital to the students, the capital comes in different forms including skills acquisition," highlighted GVH Senzani.
Councilor Godfrey Chinkhota of Likudzi Ward said the centre has reduced travelling distances for people to acquire technical and vocational skills at Ntonda Technical College.
"TEVETA has brought technical and vocational training to the rural communities. In the past our youths had to travel a long way to Ntonda to acquire the skills and we do not take this for granted," said Chinkhota.
He has however asked TEVETA to have electricity connection and bring in electrical equipment for welding lessons and other trainings.
Patrick Benford and Triza Mluta who are graduates of the centre said life has become smoother with the tailoring and designing skills acquired from the place.
Ntcheu district Director of Education and Sports Dorothy Banda Masudi said the need for skills training to achieve the 2063 vision of self-reliance is very high.
"There are some youth who have not gone to colleges but have skills, so this is the way to go," said Masudi and commended TEVETA for the programme.
She observed that communities also need other training such as computers for more development in all the communities.
Mozambican national arrested for Pangolin possession
By Hastings Yobe
Lilongwe, 9 September, Mana- Kawale Police have arrested Felix Matiyasi, a 29-year-old Mozambican national, for possessing a live pangolin without permit.
According to Sub-Inspector Mabvuto Precious Phiri, detectives received a tip-off from well-wishers about Matiyasi's intentions to sell the endangered species.
Acting swiftly, police apprehended Matiyasi and seized the pangolin.
Matiyasi, from John village, Traditional Authority Makanja, Chizolowondo district, Mozambique, faces charges of possessing a listed species without permit.
He is expected to appear in court on Monday, September 9, 2024.
The pangolin has been handed over to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks.
"This arrest demonstrates our commitment to combating wildlife crime," said Sub-Inspector Phiri.
The public is urged to report any wildlife-related crimes to the authorities.
Market shed earns Zikhale Ng’oma praise
By Chisomo Kambandanga
Nkhata Bay, September 9, Mana: Traditional Authority (T/A) Zilakoma in Nkhata Bay has praised Member of Parliament for Nkhata Bay South Constituency Ken Zikhale Ng'oma (Malawi Congress Party - MCP) for constructing a market shed at Kalowa.
The chief said the MK23 million market shed will improve businesses and livelihoods in his area.
Speaking on Sunday at Kalowa Primary School ground during a development rally after commissioning the market shed, T/A Zilakoma said the construction of the market shed is an answer to vendors’ outcry for a proper market structure.
“Today being a market day, you have all witnessed how vendors struggle to sell their things. Some sell their commodities along the road which is not safe. Hygiene of food items is a problem and things are worse during rainy season as business is not as usual.
“All this will be history with the commissioning of the market shed today,” he said.
The chief therefore commended the legislator for a number of people-oriented projects happening in the area and urged community members to take good care of them for continued support.
Hawa Manda, one of the vendors at the market, said they will now be able to sell even during odd hours thanks to the electricity in the market shed.
In a separate interview, Nkhata Bay Director of Planning and Development, Edgar Chihana said the market shed will greatly improve service delivery of the council.
"Apart from providing conducive environment for traders to operate, the shed will ease our work in revenue collection which will in return improve service delivery and this is a true reflection of effective use of Constituency Development Fund (CDF)," Chihana said.
In his remarks, Zikhale N’goma emphasized his commitment to using CDF to address the needs of his constituents.
“I am dedicated to ensuring that the funds are used to make a positive impact in our community. Shortly, I will embark on piped water project to make sure that people have safe and clean water on top of various ongoing projects happening in this area", he said.
Minister of Defence, Harry MKandawire who was the guest speaker at the development rally urged people of Nkhata Bay to vote for MCP leader President Lazarus Chakwera in next year's general elections for continued developments in the district.
MEC, NICE in election awareness campaign
By Solister Mogha
Zomba, September 9, Mana: Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) and the National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Trust in Zomba have intensified election awareness campaign with the aim of keeping communities informed about elections.
Among others, the campaign focuses on new election laws, voter registration, campaign period and the need for the citizenry to make right choices.
Speaking on Monday in the area of Traditional Authority Nkagula, NICE District Civic Education Officer, Kondwani Neba said as the country heads towards elections, it was important that communities are empowered with the right information.
Neba said election is a critical exercise and in democracy where people are free to choose who they want, the right and access to information is key.
"We have just started but awareness campaigns will continue until we reach out to every corner of the district. It is our expectation that people will be well informed and make informed decisions when voting," said Neba.
District Elections Clerk fo Zomba District Council, Lionel Chikopa said apart from community meetings, there will be outreach meetings in markets and other key points.
"We will also have the mobile van which will go around. In addition, we have planned for radio programmes," said Chikopa.
Group Village Head Kumbwana hailed the two institutions for the awareness campaign, saying the awareness will enable voters to choose candidates of their choice wisely.
Kumbwana said many people are not aware of the new changes and appealed for more meetings.
Apart from election issues, the meetings also discussed the need for the citizenry to participate in development programmes.
Exorcising poverty through social cash transfer
By Manasse Nyirenda
When suffering knocked on Rodgers Msiska's door, to quote Nigeria's literally icon, Chinua Achebe, it settled in his house for many years as he struggled to feed his family till he became a beneficiary of Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP).
Many Malawians, both in rural areas and cities, share this sense of hopelessness, however, when their circumstances improve, the resulting smiles can be seen and felt from miles away.
A 2023 World Bank Malawi Poverty Outlook shows that the proportion of people living on less than $2.15 per day increased to 71.7 percent in 2023. This is expected to increase to 72 percent in 2024.
To this effect, the Government of Malawi in partnership with Multidonor Trust Fund (MDTF) through the World Bank are pooling resources together to cushion the ultra-poor in Malawi through SCTP.
Rodgers Msiska, 62, is one of at least 3,600 beneficiaries in Rumphi district who have been given a lifeline through the SCTP. He comes from Thenda village in the area of Traditional Authority Mwahenga.
After receiving the money, the beneficiaries are encouraged to join Village Savings and Loans (VSL) groups to grow their income and have access to loans which they may use to build more profitable and sustainable businesses and assets.
"I joined a VSL group and was able to access a loan with which I bought some goats. When they started multiplying, I sold some of them and bought fertilisers for my tobacco field.
“I made some money, though I cannot remember the exact amount. I replaced the grass roof of my house with iron sheets and the wooden window frames with steel frames. I also floored it with cement," Msiska says.
He further says 2024 has been the most profitable year since he started benefiting from the programme. He has made over MK3 million from this year’s tobacco sales.
His face brightens as he explains that he now owns a satellite television set and is able to watch several channels right in his village house.
"If you work for a television station or radio I will be able to watch my story on my home television. I also own a radio now. My life is no longer the same. I am able to take care of my wife, two sons and a grandson," he proudly says.
Msiska adds that he is now dreaming of owning a motorcycle because he is tired of walking and wants to use it for transportation around his town, Chivungulu.
His story isn't one of rags to riches, but more like that of a marathon runner finally being given shoes to give him a fair shot at winning the race. Now, with a solid capital base, he has the foundation to pursue his dreams.
Another Social Cash Transfer Programme beneficiary from Sub Traditional Authority Chisovya, Boniface Chirambo, says he was struggling to provide for his family before he got enrolled into the programme.
He says after completing his welding training he struggled to find clients because he did not have a welding machine. He adds that since he bought his own machine in instalments from the programme’s receipts, his welding business is doing well and he is able to meet most of his family's needs.
"I struggled to provide for my family. I struggled to find food and clothes for my children, but all that has changed. I am now able to take care of my family.
"I repair wheelbarrows, oxcarts, make hoes and many others. On a very good day I earn at least MK20, 000 while on a bad day I take home at least MK5000," explains the father of three daughters.
On her Part, Lucy Nyasulu, 31, from Madumura village in Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe said her family was trapped in deep poverty before being selected to be one of the SCTP beneficiaries.
"At the time I became a beneficiary, we were living in a shack and struggling to find food for our family. But once we got enrolled, we worked very hard to transform our lives for the better by venturing into farming using Social Cash Transfer money," she said.
She said she joined village loans and savings groups which made her earn interests on her savings which she later invested in farming.
She has since earned over MK5 million from tobacco farming and has built a house and also owns a hair salon business.
The mother of three is now focusing on growing more tobacco to earn more money and transform her home’s well-being.
District Social Welfare Officer for Rumphi, Zindaba Lungu, says the programme has brought relief from the burden of poverty in beneficiary households.
“Many beneficiaries have built decent houses, bought livestock and own thriving businesses which have helped lessen the burden of poverty in the communities,” Lungu says.
Farmers in Balaka applaud CS-PWP for speedy restoration of degraded land
By Andrew Phiri
Balaka, September 9, Mana: Farmers in Balaka district have hailed Climate Smart Public Works Programme (CS-PWP) for speeding up the restoration of degraded land in the targeted 20 catchment areas.
The observation was made on Monday when the district council conducted media tour to some of the catchment areas such as Traditional Authorities (TA) Kachenga, Nsamala and Nkaya.
One of the farmers from Kumtumbwe catchment area in T/A Kachenga, Frank Zagwa, said the initiative apart from empowering over 28,000 households financially, has enabled farmers to adopt modern farming practices which he described as a game changer in farming.
"Before this programme, I was failing to harvest more yields because my land is located in the steep area, all the rain water could just pass down to the stream leaving no proper infiltration," said Zagwa.
Chairperson for Dzalimwe Catchment Management Committee (CMC) in TA Nkaya, Alinafe Dingaliro, also shared similar sentiments saying through collective effort, farmers are able to conserve the forests and restore fertility in their fields.
"Apart from farmers constructing Swales, Check dams, stone bands in their fields and restoring the forests, they also get MK38, 000 per cycle of this programme as part of motivating them to embrace the programme’s values," she said.
In his remarks, Director of Planning and Development (DPD) for Balaka District Council, Chris Nawata said, the initiative is aimed at empowering communities in the district to embrace climate resilience and modern farming practices considering the dry spells that occur in the district.
"Currently we have just finished the second cycle of this programme and we have witnessed high level of ownership among the communities," he said.
In Balaka, CS-PWP was implemented in 2021 by the government of Malawi with funding from World Bank.
