MANAonline
NRB targets 30,971 in Rumphi
By Manasse Nyirenda
Rumphi, April 24, Mana: National Registration Bureau (NRB) says it is expecting to register 30,971 first time national ID applicants in National Identity Card (ID) Outreach and Community Death registration underway in Rumphi district.
In an interview on Tuesday, Rumphi District Commissioner Emmanuel Bulukutu said the turnout was good and that he expected the exercise to meet set targets.
"We have seen the youth who were not able to register last time coming to the centres to register.
"We have had few challenges, especially on death reporting. Few are coming to report. This is the area that needs more sensitization," he said.
One applicant, Wysom Suweta who came to renew his national ID, said he was optimistic he would get his card renewed.
"A national ID is a critical tool for our day to day transactions. For example, it is required at banks and to access farm inputs under Affordable Inputs Programme," he said.
Another applicant, Asha Nyirenda from Mlongoti Village in Traditional Authority (TA) Chikulamayembe, said she went to one of the Centre’s to replace her damaged national ID for easy identification and to be eligible to vote in presidential, parliamentary or local government elections.
Figures from NRB office in Rumphi show that about 7,543 new ID applicants and 11 community deaths had been registered by April 21.
Registration in National ID Outreach and Community Death started on April 15 and is expected to conclude on April 29 this year.
New school block improves learning in Salima
By Fostina Mkandawire
Salima, April 24, Mana: Construction of a K47 million school block at Thundu Primary School in Salima district has increased the number of learners who will be learning in classrooms, a development which will improve the quality of education.
Thundu Primary School block project is being constructed under the District Development Fund (DDF) at the school which is located on the outskirts of Salima town in Group Village Headman Daniel under Traditional Authority Maganga.
Speaking in an interview with Malawi News Agency on Monday, Headmistress for the school, Elizabeth Ndelemani, emphasized that the development will enhance delivery of quality education at the school.
"Learners were deprived of their decency by learning under trees; their notebooks and clothes were mostly dirty due to sitting on an untidy place," she said.
She said learners were being distracted during lessons more especially during rainy season, a development which was affecting performance of learners.
"Our capacity has increased because we have classrooms that can house about 1,249 learners’. In the past we used to refer other learners to a school that is about 20 kilometers from this community, a development which posed a threat to their security and safety," she said.
On his part, Salima District Council's Director of Education, Youth and Sports, Alfred Hauya, highlighted that quality education cannot be fully actualized without having adequate classroom blocks, emphasizing that the construction of classroom blocks will assist the learners to attain quality education.
"The education sector appreciates efforts towards infrastructural development in schools. Taking into consideration that Salima is a hot district and prone to flooding, learners cannot attain quality education by learning under trees," he said.
Chairperson for Thundu Primary School's Parent Teacher Association, Emmanuel Lifa, said as parents they were worried of the welfare of their children because they were not learning in a conducive environment.
"When we were informed as parents of the construction of this school block, we welcomed the idea and we were part of the processes of the construction by assisting in drawing water for the constructors and also ferrying building blocks," he said.
School Management Committee Chair Sophia Mayere said as a committee that oversees that the school's property is well taken care of, they will ensure that the school block and other facilities are properly maintained and protected from vandalism.
Mayere further commended the commitment that the surrounding communities showed during the construction of the facility, saying it signified ownership of the project.
Upgrading of Thundu Primary School commenced in January 2023, and the school block consists of two classrooms furnished with 30 desks each and two administration offices, among others.
Mzuzu Youth Centre contractor urged to fast track project
By Tawonga Moyo
Mzuzu, April 23, Mana: District Youth Officer for Mzimba North, Misheck Msokwa, has urged DEC Construction Limited, which is the contractor responsible for the construction of Mzuzu Youth Centre, to fast-track the project, saying the current progress is slow and raises a lot of questions.
Making the call in an interview on Friday, Msokwa said the project is much anticipated by youths in the city, hence a need for the contractor to take it seriously.
“We were first assured by the contractor that the project will be completed in October 2023 but that changed due to a number of challenges and the project time was extended to July 2024.
“However, with the current progress of the project, it’s impossible for it to be finalized within two months. Youths in Mzuzu are now afraid that this project won’t be completed soon,” said Msokwa.
Msokwa then called upon government not to change the contractor but rather engage the same one and offer the support needed, saying the project has already delayed for long and any change will worsen the delay.
“If by any chance government is contemplating on changing the contractor, I may not encourage that as it will mean starting again the whole process. My plea to government is that the project doesn’t go beyond 2024,” he said.
In his remarks, one of the youths from Masasa Area, Timothy Gama, said he was eagerly waiting for the completion of the project as it will help to keep young people busy with things that can uplift their lives.
“When young people are idle, chances are high that they can get influenced negatively and indulge in inappropriate behaviours. However, the youth centre will provide a platform for young people to meet and teach each other skills which they can use to uplift their lives and families,” said Gama.
Gama also noted that the youth centre will help to unearth talents in young people who are yet to discover it for themselves, thereby contributing to manpower development.
Another youth, Chifundo Nkhoma, expressed optimism that once completed, the centre will help in the reduction of early marriages and unwanted pregnancies as it will provide a platform for young people to pour out their issues freely and gain various expertise.
Government handed over the K19.7 billion Mzuzu Youth Centre construction project to DEC Construction Limited in August 2022.
Project Manager for DEC Construction, Elad Malaonda, did not comment on the matter despite sending him questionnaire and reminding him through phone calls.
NICE Trust urges CSOs to create awareness on new electoral laws
By George Mponda
Karonga, April 23, Mana: National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Trust has urged Karonga based civil society organizations (CSOs) to raise awareness of new electoral laws as the country prepares for 2025 General Elections.
Speaking on Tuesday during a meeting with representatives of the CSOs, NICE Trust Programmes Officer for Karonga, Mabvuto Mkandawire, said most stakeholders are not aware of the new laws, especially the change of polling hours.
"A lot of voters were during the recent Local Government by-elections in the district turned back as they did not observe polling time. They did not know that polling time was rescheduled to 6am to 4pm not 6am to 6pm, as was in the case in the past.
“Hence, the need for CSOs which have been oriented on the newly gazzetted ward and constituency boundaries, Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Calendar for the 2025 General Election and Political Parties Act of 2018 to help in creating mass awareness on the development," said Mkandawire.
In his remarks, District Elections Officer for Karonga, Elias Nyirenda, bemoaned a tendency by some attendees of such meetings who do not pass on information to the citizenry.
"The 2025 General Election will follow the new laws; therefore, it is essential that voters are made aware of the laws," Nyirenda said.
Chairperson of Karonga CSOs Network, Edgar Phiri, said that the organizations should be proactive in awareness creation for the elections to be credible and peaceful.
"We also appeal to MEC to present the laws in vernacular languages so that people in Karonga and the country as a whole understand them,” said Phiri.
Community members describe new health facilities as game changer
By Mary Makhiringa
Balaka, April 23, Mana: People in the area of Traditional Authority Nkaya in Balaka have applauded Balaka District Council for constructing the K93 million health post and described this as game changer.
Since time immemorial, people from Nkaya, used to walk over 42 kilometres for medical help at Balaka District Hospital, or chose to go on 20-kilometre journey to Phimbi Health Centre.
The situation compelled Balaka Council to collaborate with other relevant authorities to construct a health post in the area using the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) funds.
Speaking in an interview to Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Tuesday, Alinafe Salibu from Nkaya Village bemoaned the long distance from Nkaya to Utale, Phimbi Health Centre or Balaka District Hospital as too challenging, adding that a lot of people lost lives in the process of seeking medical attention from distant facilities.
Said Salibu: “I was born in Nkaya, and grew up here as well, I saw people losing lives because of being denied access to medical help.
“The health facility that has been constructed is a game changer that will help us here and as a way of appreciating for this, we will guard over it by not allowing vandalism of any of the things in this facility,” she added and asked government to provide essential drugs at the new health facility to prove a game changer.
“I ask government to provide all essential drugs at the facility so that each time people go for medical help, they should be assisted so that going to Balaka DHO should only be in scenarios where one has been referred to meet specialists,” he added.
Director of Health Services at Balaka District Council, Dr Chimwemwe Thambo, said Ministry of Health has the intention to construct health facilities closer to communities.
“Construction of these health facilities will ensure that many people receive treatment without walking long distances,” Thambo said.
Director for Planning and Development for Balaka Council, Chris Nawata, said the local authority was excited with the new facility, saying it will accommodate the actual needs of the communities.
“We will soon construct staff houses so that health personnel should stay closer. As of now, services like Under Five Clinics can commence,” he said.
With funding from the World Bank, the National Local Government Finance Committee is assisting best performing councils with programme based funds.
Chikwawa embraces Community Development Month
By Willy Kadewere
Chikwawa, April 23, Mana: District Community Development Office in Chikwawa is in the Community Development Month (CDM) and is mobilising communities to work in self-initiated development activities as part of its reform agenda.
District Community Development Officer Maxmoss Governor described the CDM as innovative approach to foster community engagement in self-initiated development activities, devoid of external support, adding that April was designated as the official month for the community led activities.
“This is meant to promote citizen participation in several community development activities. Community Development Office in Chikwawa is facilitating the activities in all traditional authorities,” said Governor.
He added that the CDM was important to the community as it addresses problems people face in their communities.
“CDM takes a bottom-up approach. In this way, communities have been empowered to prioritize development activities they think would help them and transform their lives,” the Community Development Officer .
Governor said CDM is part of the reform and expressed hope that the community-initiated activities will remain that way to community members.
“Through the community development reform, we established a community development month in which several community initiated development activities are done. With these activities, there has been positive development and transformation in the communities," he added.
Environmental District Officer for Chikwawa, Levison Mafuta, hailed the community development office, saying CDM complements the environmental sector’s clean-up exercises in all public places in Chikwawa district to maintain hygiene.
"As the Environmental District Office, we are really satisfied with what our colleagues are doing. We have a similar role in making sure that people are practicing hygiene," said Mafuta.
He however urged all people in Chikwawa to embrace the initiative, as it will help their families.
Bush clearing, a clean-up exercise in market places, and creating firebreaks in forests are some of the activities done in the CDM.
Amref bails out Phalombe Hospital with K32 million medical supplies
By Tikondane Vega
Blantyre, April 23, Mana: Amref Health Africa has donated medical equipment valued at K32 million to John Chilembwe Hospital in Phalombe District as one way of complementing government in her efforts to improve health service delivery.
The equipment includes weighing height boards, wheelchairs, examination lamps, oxygen concentrators, drug trolleys, electric autoclaves and BP machines.
Speaking on Tuesday, Amref Project Manager Young Samanyika said the donation is meant to support health facilities impacted by 2023 Tropical Cyclone Freddy in the district.
“Nearly six health Centre’s in Phalombe were hit hard by floods and mudslides. Despite the passage of time since the devastating floods, communities in Phalombe still grapple with its aftermath. In response, Amref has procured medical equipment to support affected families.
“The current donation is projected to be K45 million since more equipment like beds and mattresses were yet to be supplied, but for today it is K32 million. We are doing a lot in Phalombe; for example, we are currently rehabilitating Phalombe Health Centre and this alone will cost us approximately K50 million,” said Samanyika.
He said that Amref expects the donation to improve the running of services at the hospital, adding that the materials should be put into good use so that it benefits the majority in communities.
On his part, Human Resources Officer for the hospital, Fred Kaipa, commended the organization for the support, describing it as timely.
Kaipa assured Amref and other partners in the health sector of prudent use of any support rendered to the hospital, adding that the materials will complement the facility's efforts towards strengthening delivery of good quality health services.
He said: “We commend the organization for the donation. This will help in addressing some of the challenges that our hospitals face in health service delivery. The donation will help in reducing some of the problems that we experience and we are very grateful.
“I must say Cyclone Freddy really affected our health Centre’s across the district and many things are yet to be replaced. Others should emulate the good gesture by Amref Health Africa in strengthening health systems.”
Amref is the largest Africa-based international health development organization delivering health services and training to over 30 million people annually in 35 countries in Africa.
The Malawi office is part of the bigger Amref Health Africa that was established in 1957 with its headquarters in Kenya. Amref Health Africa in Malawi was established in 2012 and is committed to catalyze and drive community-led and people-centred health systems while addressing social determinants of health.
Agro dealers warned against contravening farm gate prices
By Sheminah Nkhoma
Lilongwe, April 23, Mana: Police in Lumbadzi have warned agricultural produce traders against contravening the minimum farm gate prices for strategic crops for 2023/2024 Agricultural Season.
The call was made on Monday during a monitoring exercise conducted by Lumbadzi Police Station’s community policing branch at Lumbadzi, Mchepa, M’bang’ombe and Chitukula Trading Centres.
Speaking during the exercise, Inspector Ellen Maseko Kayenda appealed to the traders that they are strictly expected to buy the commodities at no less than the recommended farm gate prices set by the government through the Ministry of Agriculture.
"Failure to adhere to these minimum prices is a criminal offense under the laws of the country and perpetrators will be dealt with accordingly," Kayenda said.
Kanyenda further highlighted that police will continuously monitor and enforce compliance to the set minimum prices in order to ensure that farmers are not exploited by unscrupulous traders.
She however urged the public to make sure that they buy and sell their products at the recommended price by the government.
On April 5 this month, Ministry of Agriculture announced the 2023/2024 recommended farm gate prices for selected crops in the country, such as maize, soya beans, cassava and sunflower, just to mention few.
CARE calls for collaborative effort to avert looming human suffering
By Stanley Nkhondoyachepa
Lilongwe, April 23, Mana: An international Non-Governmental Organization, CARE, has called for urgent collaborative effort among donors and other actors to help avert looming humanitarian suffering caused by climate change and El Nino induced weather conditions in some Southern African countries which has resulted into drought.
The call was made on Monday during a virtual media briefing with participants from Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, among others.
This comes in the wake of a record breaking dry spell lasting over 30 days, which is scorching eight countries in southern Africa namely, Angola, Botswana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Speaking during the briefing, CARE Zambia Country Director Chikwe Mbweeda described the current drought as not just a climate shock, but a human crisis and demanded for an immediate action.
“This crisis has disproportionately affected women and girls. We know that in such situations they will eat the least and the last because this is what happens in the household.
“They would travel long distances in search of water and food which to some extent exposes them to sexual and gender based violence,” she said.
President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Agricultural Research Council of Southern Africa, Litha Magingxa, observed that if people don’t know what climate change looks like, they can start by looking at what is happening in Southern Africa.
“A very interesting phenomenon that we are experiencing in Southern Africa is the occurrence of drought in some parts of the country, while we are dealing with floods in other parts and also the frequency of these,” he said.
Alice Kachere, a rural women representative, called for urgent action by the various humanitarian agencies, observing women are suffering.
CARE Southern Africa Regional Director Matthew Pickard described the situation as dire and demanding an urgent and coordinated action to avert a catastrophe.
“We need action now, today, it can’t wait. We are living in a crisis that is very clear from what our speakers have said, and each of us has a role to play in supporting vulnerable families in this time of greatest need,” he said.
Speaking in an interview, CARE Malawi Country Director, Pamela Kuwali, said the media briefing was organized to give an update on the humanitarian situation in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, provide a regional implication of the drought as well as an overview of the humanitarian response and the impact of the drought on women.
She appealed for proper planning and collaboration among all players in dealing with climate change related shocks, observing these will continue to happen.
To address the escalating crisis, CARE is launching a comprehensive response plan focused on providing assistance which will include food and revenue generation, among others, to vulnerable groups, according to a statement released by the organization.
Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera declared a state of disaster in 23 out of the 28 districts of the country affected by El Nino conditions where an expected two million people are in dire need of food aid.
Salima District Council in maize distribution exercise
By Lekereni Chinkhota
Salima, April 23, Mana: Salima District Council, through the office of Disaster Risk Management, has distributed over 9,000 bags of 50 kilograms of maize, as part of response to the Malawi Vulnerable Assessment Committee’s (MVAC) food report.
About 36,667 households were targeted to receive two bags of maize from January to February, as part of government's response to food insufficiency as projected by the MVAC's food report.
Speaking during the distribution exercise in Traditional Authority Kuluunda on Monday, Salima District Disaster Management Officer Gloria Chinangwa expressed her satisfaction on the progress made so far.
She said: “The progress is there because we started distributing the maize to different beneficiaries last week. We have managed to reach out to almost 9,000 households in eight out of the 12 T/As of the district. We are aiming to reach up to 36,667 households.”
Chinangwa has further assured all beneficiaries who are yet to receive the maize that the distribution exercise is ongoing and every targeted beneficiary will receive their portion.
“Not all the people in the Centre’s have been covered; there are others who have not received. People should stop worrying or doubting that the maize will not reach them. All of them will get the maize for this phase just as they did previously,” she said.
Group Village Head Ndembo of T/A Kuluunda expressed joy at the way the exercise is being conducted, observing that the maize will relieve most of his people who have been hit by dry spells.
“It is a relief to see people receiving maize because most families do not have adequate food. We have many challenges here as we are closer to the lake and with rising levels of water in our lake, we have no place to cultivate maize,” he said.
Ndembo, however, warned beneficiaries who would try to sell or buy the maize that his office will bringing them to book.
A beneficiary, Mwawa Imedi of Kuluunda Village, said he is not expecting to receive the maize for a second time because the maize he will receive now will take him almost a month to finish.
“This bag of maize will go a long way in alleviating our food insufficiency. On one side, we are facing dry spells and on the other, the water levels have claimed most parts of our rice fields; this maize will help us to have food as we wait to harvest our rice.”
Altogether, 638 bags of maize were distributed at T/A Kuluunda alongside other Centre’s that had the same activity on Monday.
