By Ireen Kayira Lilongwe, December 29, Mana: Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Patricia Kaliati has implored Media houses to come up with programmes that are aimed at changing people’s attitudes towards Gender Based Violence (GBV) and gender inequality. She made the remarks in Lilongwe on Tuesday during the opening of the National Conference on GBV, which Luntha Television organized with financial support from the Norwegian Aid for Development Cooperation (NORAD) through the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA). The conference is part of Media Voices for Inclusive Development and Reduced Inequality (MVIDRI) Project which Luntha is implementing aimed at addressing the challenge of inequality and GBV by utilizing the media platforms. Kaliati challenged Media houses to take a bigger role in raising awareness on the contents of the laws as well as advocate for reforms, particularly stiffer sentences on perpetrators of violence in the country. She said Media was a powerful tool in the socialization of people on gender sensitive attitudes and practice as such it has to play a key role in tackling social ills in society. “As Malcolm X once said, whoever controls the media, controls the mind of the people, because media transforms the great silence of things into its opposite, It has the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent,” Kaliati said. She encouraged Luntha to continue with gender focused programmes and initiatives as its target audience who are Catholics constitute a greater part of the population. The Minister emphasized that the positive impact MVIDRI has made in Ntchisi and Mangochi, where the project was being implemented, are needed in other districts. Luntha Television Director, Fr. David Niwagaba said the conference was organized to enable stakeholders to reflect on the best practices and experiences in the implementation of GBV and gender equality interventions in Ntchisi and Mangochi. He applauded government for providing the media with conducive environment to operate.
Author: Leyman Publications
Contact Tracing On Covid-19 Remains A Challenge
By Tione Andsen Dowa, December 29, Mana: Ministry of Health has said contact tracing has been a challenge in containing the spread of Corona virus in the country. Acting Deputy Director of Preventive Health Services for Heath Education Service, Mavuto Thomas told Media Tuesday at Hillside Lodge in Mponela, Dowa during Covid-19 Media Interface meeting for central region. He said some of the returning residents were providing wrong phone numbers which could not be connected and thereby compounding the spread of the virus. “Some of the returnees were not honesty in providing real details and contact phone numbers. Some were even leaving their south African number as their contact numbers while in the country,” Thomas added. He said the contact tracing format has changed as Health Personals are trained on how source contact phone numbers and physical features which are prominent to their areas for easy tracing. The Acting Director said local transmission has hugely contributed to the raise in cases of Covid-19 in the country despite having some imported cases. Thomas said most point of entries in the country do not have quarantine facilities that could accommodate at least 1,000 people at once for self quarantine. “We are advising both relative and returnees to continuous observed self quarantine and preventive measures to avoid further spread of the virus,” he pointed out Acting Director noted that most point of entries do not have testing sites and this masking it difficult to have the returnees screened before entering the country. “Most returnees are coming without Covid-19 negative certificates and we are making sure they are tested in order to ascertain their status. We are encouraging the returnees to contact their local health facilities to check for their results,” he said. He disclosed tha the Ministry has procured four containers to be used as testing sites at Songwe border in Karonga, Mchinji border, Dedza border and Mbirima border in Chitipa. He added that these borders were relying on district hospitals for screening services. Epidemiology Officer for Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM), Daniel Mapemba said the country has registered 6,377 cases and 654 were health workers. He said the country has recorded 188 deaths out of which 144 were men and 44 were women. “For the two past weeks, the country has seen a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases and admissions have steadily increased. We have noted that the average age of most people that have died stands at 56 years,” Mapemba explained. Similar Media Interfaces were taking place in Northern and Southern regions.
Act on Increased Human Trafficking Reports- EAM
By Mphatso Nkuonera Lilongwe, December 26, Mana: Increased cases of human trafficking in some parts of the country needs immediate intervention from various stakeholders to rescue the productive human resource before it is exploited. Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) made this statement at Kasiya in Lilongwe during an awareness campaign on the impacts of human trafficking, common in the bordering districts. EAM’s Church Relations and Gender Project Coordinator, Rev. Timothy Zimba said poverty, ignorance and unemployment are some push factors worsening the situation while cheap labour is the pull factor that lure people to fall victims of the practice. “We appeal for collaborated efforts to curb the malpractice, most of the trafficked victims come mainly from Blantyre, Mchinji, Lilongwe, Salima, Kasungu, Dowa and Dedza districts. “Our study has revealed that the perpetrators are Malawians who have been residing in Zambia and Mozambique doing casual labour and are sent home by their masters to help them in recruiting people,” Zimba said. He said that there are also reports indicating that Masters report the victims to Police and Immigration who in turn arrest them as illegal immigrants. “We have reports that the victims are subjected to ill treatment such as physical and emotional abuses, and that they are not fully supported with food, and when they are about to finish their contracts (about to receive their wages), the victims are told to leave without wages. Speaking to Mana, Traditional Authority (TA) Kabudula has advised parents to stop encouraging youths to go and work in farms. “The practice has not spared my area, boys and girls abandon school and go to herd livestock and work in tobacco farms. I am saddened with reports that most of them come back home unpaid and share with us persecuting experiences they were exposed to,” she said. With K150 million funding from Norwegian Church Aid, EAM has been implementing a project called ‘Strengthening the prevention of gender based violence-a faith based approach’ to among others address human rights violations in the society. Malawi Network Against Trafficking (MNAT) National Coordinator, Caleb Thole bemoaned high levels of trafficking in persons saying there are many victims trapped in modern day slavery despite having good policies. “Covid 19 has worsened the situation because many cases in court have stalled. We do not have enough funding to fight and lack of shelters is among other hiccups. “We need training to have the front-liners like non-government organizations, immigration, Police and Labour Officials and the Judiciary imparted with skills and knowledge on how to handle cases of this nature as they are very complex,” he said. In Dowa, TAs Msakambewa, Dzoole and Sub TA Chipeni and Lilongwe TAs Kabudula, Chimutu, Mazengera, Chiseka and of late Khongoni and Kalolo have benefited from the project. Some of the affected districts include Blantyre, Dedza, Kasungu and Salima according to the report by EAM with Mchinji and Lilongwe coming first and second respectively. Community Policing Coordinator for Lilongwe Police Station, Inspector Malango Mwansinga, says many girls are getting pregnant, contracting Sexually Transmitted Infections or even die without parents back home being informed an indication that Human Trafficking is very evil and must not have space in the modern world. Organized by EAM as a continuation of the 16 days of Activism, Pastors from the six Pastors Fraternals in the area and traditional leaders attended the event which was facilitated by the Victim Support Units of the Malawi Police Service from Mchinji Police Station and Area 3 Police Station in Lilongwe.
Chiwamba Communities Urged To Be Vigilant In Protecting Children
By Tione Andsen Lilongwe, December 27, Mana: Network for Youth Development (NfYD) has urged communities in Chiwamba area to be vigilant in protecting children with disability from any form of abuse and violence. NfYD Programmes Manager, Licade Nyirenda made the remarks Sunday when she presented a Christmas gift of Medical Supplies worth K 500, 000 to Chiwamba Health Centre in Lilongwe. She said parents and guardians have a responsibility of making sure that their children are providing with adequate care and protection all the time. Nyirenda said through Girls Get Equal (GGE) project with support from Norad through Plan International are implementing it go end child marriages, protecting child with albinism and Epileptic in the area. The Manager said the project has identified 18 children with albinism and epileptic who are being providing with medical support. She said the donation of the medical supplies is meant to boost the current stocks at the facility to cater for the targeted children. “The GGE project is working in three districts of Lilongwe, Phalombe and Mulanje with 118 registered children with albinism and epilepsy. We need cooperation from communities to ensure that affected children are brought forward for support,” Nyirenda added. She said additional medical supplies would be distributed to their impact areas worth K 3 million. Chiwamba Health Centre Facility In-Charge, Patience Ganunga thanked NfYD for the timely donation as the facility was happening low supplies. She said the donation would lessen the pressure the facility was having after St John of God stopped supplying epilepsy drugs of Phenobarbitone some three months ago. “We are happy that we have received a consignment that would last us the next six months hoping that you would consider providing us with additional supplies,” Ganunga suggested. A mother with a boy who is epileptic, Zione Patson said she makes sure that her son was always kept safe from reaching out to fire and swallow wells. She said her child needs extra care and protection to prevent him from causing an accident. The Christmas Gifts included Medical supplies (skin lotions and Phenobarbitone tablets), bucket, soaps and Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials on child protection. The GGE project runs from July 2020 to December 2024.
Maneb Ready to Administer Fresh MSCE Exams
By Solister Mogha Zomba, December 24, Mana: The Malawi National Examination Board (Maneb) says preparations for the Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations are almost completed and the board will, on Monday December 28, start printing and distributing examination papers. Maneb Acting Executive Director, Professor Dorothy Nampota has therefore assured the nation of maximum security of examination to ensure zero leakage. Speaking in Zomba during a press briefing aimed at updating the nation on the preparedness of the board, Prof. Nampota said despite the shortest period that the board was given to prepare for the fresh examinations, much work has been done and all is set come January next year. Prof Nampota said government through the treasury department has also released the sum of K4.5billion that was requested by Maneb for a smooth administration of the fresh examinations. “I wish to inform Malawians that as Maneb we are more than ready to administer credible examinations next year and let me state that all measures have been put in place to ensure zero leakage and reduced malpractice during the forthcoming MSCE exams. “As we speak, development of examination has been finalized and from Monday next week, we will start printing and delivery of examination papers to all centers,” Prof Nampota said. Prof Nampota further said the board has already advised secondary school management on the list of items that would be required for practical examinations and has sent money to schools to purchase the said items. Meanwhile Prof Nampota said no candidate both in public and private schools would be required to pay the MK6000 for practical examinations paper as this has already been squared up by the government. On security of examination papers, Prof Nampota said the board has engaged several security agents of the country such as Police, the Malawi Defense Forces, the Anti- Corruption Bureau (ACB) and the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB). She said: “The Malawi Defense Force will be responsible for storage of all examination papers while the police will secure examinations in the centers.” Jacob Kayange one of the MSCE students expressed happiness over the news saying, at last, there was hope for fresh examinations. Kayange said though the cancellation of the whole examination affected preparedness of many students, the good part of it was that, the exams would be retaken in January. “I just pray that we don’t have a repeat of the same,” he said. Maneb cancelled the 2020 MSCE examination on November 4 due to massive leakage of examination papers. Unlike the decision of the board which had planned to re-administer the examination in March 2021, President Dr Lazarus Chakwera directed that the examination be retaken in January same year. About 154,146 students are expected to sit for the MSCE examination and Maneb has prepared papers for all the registered students.
Celebrate Responsibly Amid Covid-19 – Chakwera
By Kondwani Magombo Mangochi, December 25, Mana: President, Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, has appealed to all Malawians to celebrate responsibly during the festive season amid the second wave of Covid-19. The President made the appeal on Christmas Day when he visited Mangochi District Hospital to cheer patients and mothers to newly-born babies among other things. He said government will continue to implement strict Covid-19 preventive measures and that it remains everyone’s responsibility to adhere to the measures for own safety and that of others. “On Covid-19, we shouldn’t relent: each one of us should be careful because it could be you infected, your close relations or close friends,” said Chakwera. “So as we celebrate this festive season we should celebrate responsibly so that we protect ourselves and other people.” The President added that with the coming of the second wave of Covid-19 all entry points into the country including airports will be under strict surveillance and that every person entering into the country will be tested for Covid-19. “We don’t want to assume that everyone entering the country is okay, no: we will test them and isolate them where necessary to ensure that all measures are followed to the letter,” he said. Chakwera further said he is impressed with the fight put up by the Mangpchi DHO in fighting Covid-19 with the support from the treasury and development partners in the district. The Malawi leader, who was accompanied by the First Lady, Madame Monica Chakwera, first visited the district hospital’s new maternity wing where he cheered and gave gifts to mothers to newly-born babies. Thereafter, Chakwera, proceeded to the main hospital where he cheered children admitted in pediatric ward before he took questions from the media. The president has since wished all Malawians, including Professor. Arthur Peter Mutharika and all former presidents, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Lessons from the Birth of Jesus
Perhaps one of the most evident lessons gleaned from the life of Christ is the lesson of humility. It is interwoven into His story here on Earth from its very beginning in Bethlehem to its very end at Golgotha. The humble circumstances of Christ’s birth clashed with the proud expectation of pomp and glamour that was held by the Israelite nation. “The priests and rulers among the Jews were not ready to welcome Jesus. They knew that the Saviour was soon to come, but they expected Him to be a mighty king who would make them rich and great. They were too proud to think of the Messiah as being a helpless child,” (The Story of Jesus, p. 16). Christ’s birth was a rebuke of pride and a lesson in humility. He, the Ruler of the universe, did not even come in the form of an exceptional sample of humanity. Instead, He took the form of a helpless babe. His parents were “nobodies”. His place of birth less than ideal. His roommates were animals, literally. His first visitors were humble shepherds. “These were good men, and as they watched their sheep by night, they talked together about the promised Saviour, and prayed so earnestly for His coming that God sent bright messengers from His own throne of light to teach them,” (Ibid.). These humble souls were also expecting the Messiah. Their hearts were open, their nights were spent praying for His arrival. But the difference was that their humility prepared them to receive the good news. He was here! He was born! Their blessed hope—our blessed hope—was born! The Jewish priests and rulers who were so wrapped up in their worries of status, material gain, and worldliness, were not ready to receive the news of the Messiah’s birth. The lowly shepherds, on the other hand, did not question when the angels appeared and told them they would find the world’s Redeemer in a manger. Let’s imagine the angels had gone to a high priest or ruler. At first, their hearts would be bursting with awe and excitement at seeing the angel choir. “How beautiful! What an honor! How good am I that I was chosen to be the first to know!” But as the brilliance of the angels faded away, so would their belief. “Did they say a ‘manger’? No, no…something must be wrong.” The good news would be lost, eclipsed by their hurry to tell everyone that they had received a visit from angels. How can we believe and be proud? How can we follow the example of a humble Saviour while nurturing pride? Humility is hard. Humility in practice means forgiving those who do not ask for forgiveness. It means washing the feet of our brethren during communion. It means accepting the responsibilities of a role in the church for the love of the work and not for a perceived status. It means giving, sacrificing, offering grace to those who least deserve it, and a constant battle against the proud self. “Before He came to the earth, Jesus was the Commander of the angel hosts. The brightest and most exalted of the sons of the morning heralded His glory at the creation. They veiled their faces before Him as He sat upon His throne. They cast their crowns at His feet, and sang His triumphs as they beheld His greatness. ..Yet this glorious Being loved the poor sinner, and took upon Him the form of a servant, that He might suffer and die for us. Jesus might have remained at the Father’s side, wearing the kingly crown and the royal robe; but for our sake He chose to exchange the riches of Heaven for the poverty of earth,” (The Story of Jesus, p. 15). Humility comes easier when we stop comparing our lives and our progress to others. The world—in its attempt to make its citizens better people—offers an alternative: compare your progress today to your progress yesterday. While better, this comparison still induces pride. Christians are called to go a step further. True humility will come when we meditate on Christ and compare ourselves to His example alone.
NFYD Commended For Shaping Skills For Youth
By Tione Andsen Lilongwe, December 22, Mana: Network for Youth Development (NfYD) has been commended for working with Youth Clubs and Organizations in shaping their skills. District Youth Officer (DYO for Lilongwe, Joseph Manthalu said this Monday at Mpingu Trading centre in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Mbwatalika in Lilongwe during the handing over NfYD office furniture to Centre for Youth Empowerment and Development (CYED). He said NfYD has played a significant role in the formation of many youth clubs in the district and their activities are having positive results among the youth. Manthalu added that youth activities have helped to reduce cases of teen pregnancies, alcohol and drug abuse among others. “NfYD project of My Life My Choice which was implemented in the area from 2015 to 2019 has helped the youth to return to school, start income generating activities to improve their economic status. We are pleased to note that despite the project phasing out the youth clubs have continued doing their activities,” the DYO said. He urged members of CYED to make use of the office future and providing means and ways of keeping it safe. Manthalu thanked NfYD for providing the desks and chairs to the organization saying this would go a long way to alleviate problems of office furniture among youth clubs and organizations. NfYD Programmes Manager, Licade Nyirenda said her organization was working with over 48, 000 youth in the country in the districts of Lilongwe, Dowa, Kasungu, Rumphi, Mzimba, Nkhatabay, Machinga, Chiradzulu, Mulanje and Phalombe. She said NFYD strived to empowering girls to be self reliant by providing them with skills to enable themselves to start small scale businesses. Nyirenda pointed out that gender equality issues are promoted among communities through their various activities within their working districts. “We were working in Mpingu with youth clubs for five years with the support of Operation Days Work (ODW) of Norway. It is encouraging to note that despite phasing the project youth clubs are still very active in their areas which gives us encouragement,” she added. Chairperson of Mbwatalika Area Development Committee (ADC), Adson Tcholani said the establishment of youth clubs in the area has helped the youth to participate in the development activities. He said members of the youth clubs have planted trees in various locations as one way of restoration natural environment.
Project Geared To Curb Child Labour
By Zenak Matekenya Mzuzu, December 21, Mana: Winrock International has trained twenty Mzimba District Child Labour Committee (DCLC) members on child labour prevention and response against the vice whose rate of prevalence nationally is pegged at 38 per cent, according to 2015 National Child Labour Survey. The three-day trainer of trainers (TOT) which ended Friday in Mzuzu comes ahead of rolling out of a project dubbed Achieving Reduction of Child Labour in Support of Education (Arise) in Mzimba North which aims to promote primary education and formulate child labour structures at grassroots. The TOT focused on child rights treaties, laws, child labour mainstreaming and resource mobilization among others. Speaking on behalf of M’mbelwa District Council Director of Planning and Development, Mzimba South District Social Welfare Officer, Bernard Nangwale said child labour is rampant in the district due to presence of tobacco estates. He also bemoaned exportation of child labour through child trafficking to Zambia which borders the district. Mzimba North District Labour Officer, Veronica Ndovi, expressed optimism in the Arise Project, saying it would help combat child labour in Mzimba. She said the project’s interventions complement the district’s development plan in addressing the issue. Arise African Regional Coordinator, Dalitso Baloyi, said factors contributing to poor education standards such as long distances, inadequate teachers and infrastructure also promote school dropout, which leads to child labour. He further mentioned food insecurity as another common child labour trigger. Winrock International official, Ludoviko Matiyasi said Arise Project was pioneered in Ntcheu, Lilongwe and Dowa and has expanded to Mzimba and Mchinji among other tobacco-growing districts because of the positive impact in the initial phases. He said the project is implemented in Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Brazil with funding from Japan Tobacco International (JTI).
Ajawa Donates Football Uniform to Area 49 Market Rangers
By Tione Andsen Lilongwe, December 20, Mana: Grassroots football remains instrumental in shaping the future of the country’s football development. Chairperson of Central Region Football League (CRFL), Austin Ajawa make the remarks Sunday at Mkomachi Primary School grounds at Area 49 in Lilongwe when he presented a set football uniform and two footballs worth K335, 000.00 to Area 49 Market Rangers Football Team. He said the development of football at grassroots level require the provision of better infrastructures that would have an impact to its improvement. Ajawa appealed to team management to make use of the materials saying it should be utilized to the development of their game. “The items should not bring division among members of the team. The uniform should be used as a motivator to players and officials to aim high. We want to see the team play in Chipiku League in the next few years to come,” the CRFL pointed out. He pledged his continued support to the team where need would be saying there are a number of areas which require to be addressed. Area 49 Market Rangers Chairperson, Thomas Masina thanked Ajawa for donating the uniforms and balls to the team. He said the donation would help to shape the future of team in terms of its ambitions of playing in upper leagues in Lilongwe. Senior Block Leader in Area 49 market area, Fungai Piyo thanked Area 49 resident, Rockie Vashi for his initiative to source the items from CRFL Chairperson, Ajawa. He said the gesture by Ajawa has demonstrated his ability and interest to see that football develops from grassroots level. “We want to have a strong team and produce good players for various clubs and national teams. We will ensure that the materials are properly utilized and kept safely,” Piyo added. Area 49 Market Rangers Football Team is non league team.