By Michael Kachitsa Quinton Fortune is a South African former professional footballer who played as both a midfielder and a defender. His career began in Europe and after stints with Tottenham Hotspur, Mallorca and Atlético Madrid among others he settled in with Manchester United in 1999 and spent seven years there. He continued playing through 2010. Fortune was also part of the 1998 and 2002 South African World Cup teams. In 1996, Fortune joined Atlético Madrid. Fortune signed for Manchester United for a fee of £1.5 million on 1 August 1999. He made his first appearance for the club against Newcastle United on 30 August. His first goal followed on Boxing Day 1999 against Bradford City, and he scored twice against South Melbourne in the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship. Fortune earned 46 caps for South Africa, and played at the 1998 and the 2002 World Cups. He was one of South Africa’s most influential players in the 2002 World Cup. In the first match against Paraguay which ended in 2-2 draw, he scored South Africa’s second goal from penalty kick in injury time. Later in the next match, South Africa beat Slovenia 1-0 in which Fortune providing assist for the winning goal.[16] Although both South Africa and Paraguay finished the group with same points and goal difference, it was Paraguay who occupied the second place and advanced into the next stage because Paraguay scored more goals than South Africa. He now owns his own Academy Source – Wikipedia
Author: leymanpub
Hifi Electronics to support film makers
By Moses Nyirenda Lilongwe, Mana: One of the country’s leading suppliers of electronic gadgets, Hifi Electronics, has promised to support film makers in the country by among other things, selling them film-making equipment such as cameras and other related gadgets at subsidised prices. The development came to light on Sunday evening at StaMag Café in Lilongwe during Film Association of Malawi (FAMA) end-of-the-year party which included the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between FAMA and Hifi Electronics. Hifi Electronics Marketing Manager, Moses Makawa said they decided to start supporting the film makers after noticing their challenges. “Looking at how the film makers in the country have been struggling, especially when they are trying to make their films, it has pleased the management at Hifi Electronics to come in and support them as one way of promoting them as well as promoting the country’s film industry,” Makawa said. He added that Hifi Electronics wants to see that film makers in the country produce high quality films. “Film makers in other countries within the continent make good quality production in film making. As Hifi Electronics, we also want to see our own sons and daughters on the land to have good production through what we are going to give them,” he said. However, Makawa said the opportunity has arisen to benefit film makers who are members of FAMA, therefore, he urged all film makers who are not FAMA members to get registered as such if they are to benefit from Hifi Electronics subsidy programme. In his remarks, FAMA President, Gift Sukez Sukali commended Hifi Electronics for its gesture which he said would benefit the film makers in the country. “Film-making equipment is quite expensive and with the mission of Hifi Electronics to subsidise the equipment and also allowing film makers to buy the equipment at a lay-by system, it will enable them to access the equipment which was hard for them to purchase. “As FAMA, we thank Hifi Electronics for coming in as a helping hand to the film industry which is booming now. We look forward to seeing a lot of movies coming out next year,” Sukali said. Hifi Electronics will be giving a 10 per cent discount to film makers who are members of FAMA when they want to buy film-making equipment at any Hifi Electronics shop in the country. The company will also be assisting FAMA with equipment when it organises a movie night. This year’s FAMA end-of-the-year party was spiced up by live performance by Lulu and Mathumela Band as well as traditional dances among other activities.
Community Organisation donates K2.2 Million desks to primary schools
By Bishop Witmos Chitipa, Mana: Malumbo Community Based Organization (MCBO) which is based at Nthalire in Chitipa District, on Monday donated 40 classroom desks worthy K 2.2 Million to Nthalire and Therere Primary Schools in the District. Speaking during the handover ceremony of the donation, Director for Malumbo CBO, Charles Mfune said the donation is aimed at improving learning environment in schools. Mfune said the organization noted that many schools in Nthalire have inadequate of desks, a development which discourage learners, especially girls from attending classes freely. ‘‘We therefore decided to request for money from Action Aid so that we procure these desks as one of the ways of addressing the situation, hence the donation of the 40 classroom desks to the targeted primary schools. ‘‘As such, we would like to lobby government to prove classroom desks to the other schools in the area to minimize the challenges which learners face when learning while sitting on the floor’’ said Mfune. He said the organization in conjunction with Action Aid advocates for the rights of adolescent girls in Nthalire so that girls are not married at a tender age and that they are able to continue learning up to tertiary level. In his remarks, Head Teacher for Nthalire Primary School, Bentley Mtambo commended the CBO for the donation, saying that the assistance came at a right time when the school had inadequate desks. ‘‘We have 720 learners at this school with 50 desks, as such, we are very thankful to Malumbo CBO for the donation, because the donation will assist learners, especially girl to easily get up to answer questions, a thing which they found difficult in the past,’’ said Mtambo. Speaking on behalf of Director of Education for Chitipa District Council, Lusako Mbale who is Primary School Education Advisor for Kalowe Education Zone acknowledged the problem of inadequate of classroom desks in Kalowe and Therere zones. However, Mbale asked communities in Nthalire to use some of the school improvement grants to procure desks.
The Foundation for Capacity and Community Development reaches out to 600 families
By Stanley Nkhondoyachepa Nkhotakota, Mana: The Foundation for Capacity and Community Development (FOCCAD) has made cash donation to 600 families as part of Christmas celebrations in Nkhotakota District. The organisations Executive Director, Dan Nthala, said the donation came as part of its Children and Youth programming called Child Corner Centre which is a grouping of children and youth in the district. He said the children and the youth who are grouped into different age categories from five years up to 18 are taught different topics which include psychosocial counseling. “The children gather here every Saturdays and we do feeding programmes. We look into their health as there are some who are HIV-positive and we do psychosocial counseling to those who face challenges,” he said. He said the cash donation follows his organisation’s realisation that there is COVID-19 and that many parents cannot afford giving their kids a Christmas treat because of poverty. “We have gathered 600 households and we are giving cash transfers of K10, 000 to each, translating to K6 million,” he said. Nthala further said the initiative was aimed at supporting vulnerable households. FOCCAD is a child-centered organisation making children the core of its programming. One of the beneficiaries, Doreen Mwenefumbo from Makuta 3 in Traditional Authority Makuta commended FOCCAD for the cash transfers, saying the money would assist them during Christmas celebrations. Mwenefumbo said besides the cash transfers, which are received annually, the Children’s Corner initiative by FOCCAD helps the children to refresh their brains during weekend and holidays as they continue studying.
The World Continue to Mourn Archbishop Desmond Tutu
By Our Editor It is befitting that a week long mourning period has been declared for one of the noticeable icons of the struggle again apartheid in South Africa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu who passed away last Sunday at the age of 90. As people reflect on his life, other quarters are commenting about the battle and struggle that still continues today on the polarisation of indigenous African by the elite. We still need the Desmond Tutus even today to carry on fighting. His official funeral takes places on January 1, 2022 in Cape Town amidst uncertainties of an appropriate send off due to the scavenging global Covid-19 pandemic. However, tributes have been pouring in from leaders around the world, including Queen Elizabeth II, US President Joe Biden and Pope Francis. This all indicates that with his work, the Archbishop did not only touch hearts at home but also widely abroad. Already, locally thousands of people have braved the circumstances and travelled to Cape Town to lay flowers in respect of the fallen hero at St George’s Cathedral, the oldest in South Africa. It is here that during the official mourning period in honouring Tutu, the bells of the cathedral will be rung daily at noon local time until Friday. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement that Tutu had helped bring about “a liberated South Africa”. A contemporary of Nelson Mandela, Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his role in the struggle to abolish the apartheid system enforced by the white minority government against the black majority in South Africa from 1948-91. In capturing the sense of loss, according to the BBC news website the following is what some of the world leaders said in trubute to Archbishop Desmond Tutu: President Biden said he was “heartbroken to learn of the passing of a true servant of God and of the people”, adding that Tutu’s “legacy transcends borders and will echo through the ages”. Former US President Barack Obama described Tutu as “a mentor, friend and moral compass”. In a message of condolence, Queen Elizabeth II said she remembered with fondness her meetings with him, and his great warmth and humour. “Archbishop Tutu’s loss will be felt by the people of South Africa and by so many people in Great Britain, Northern Ireland and across the Commonwealth, where he was held in such high affection and esteem.” Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta said Tutu had “inspired a generation of African leaders who embraced his non-violent approaches in the liberation struggle”. The Vatican said in a statement that Pope Francis offered “heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones”. “Mindful of his service to the gospel through the promotion of racial equality and reconciliation in his native South Africa, his holiness commends his soul to the loving mercy of almighty God.” The Nelson Mandela Foundation said Tutu’s “contributions to struggles against injustice, locally and globally, are matched only by the depth of his thinking about the making of liberatory futures for human societies”. “He was an extraordinary human being. A thinker. A leader. A shepherd.” Tutu’s death comes just weeks after that of South Africa’s last apartheid-era president, FW de Klerk, who died at the age of 85.
Mangochi Social Mobilisation Committee urged to fight COVID-19 myths
By Ernest Mfunya Mangochi, Mana: Mangochi District Social Mobilisation Committee has called for collaborated efforts in combating myths and misinformation about COVID-19 which the district has described as a major cause for low uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine by communities. Speaking during the committee’s meeting on Tuesday, Mangochi District Health Promotion Officer, Harold Kabuluzi, said Mangochi is one of districts in the country with the lowest number of COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Kabuluzi attributed the low uptake to the myths and misinformation about the vaccine that people are spreading in the district. “It’s very sad to see that up to now people have not accepted the COVID-19 Vaccine even though various partners have been raising awareness on the importance of the vaccine,” he said. During the meeting, it was also noted that some health personnel were yet to receive the vaccine, thereby making communities to allege that the vaccine is dangerous. Kabuluzi, therefore, urged the health personnel in the district to be in the forefront to get the vaccine, saying people will be encouraged to receive the vaccine once they see the health personnel getting the jab. “People who have not received the COVID-19 jab place lives of many at risk of getting infected since one cannot know whether one is infected or not by just looking at him,” said Kabuluzi. Commenting on the matter, Gender Officer for Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP), Gasiano Nicholas, echoed Kabuluzi’s sentiments, saying myths and misinformation about COVID-19 have brought a negative impact on the fight against the virus. He said efforts to mobilise communities to go for the jab are facing challenges as people refuse the vaccine due to myths and misinformation surrounding it. Nicholas said the myths have negative implications to the society, as such, people will continue to die and get infected and that the economic challenges the country is facing will still be there unless people change behaviourally change. “Prevention is better than cure, we have seen a lot of people dying after getting infected, including some government officials. So, communities should stop taking the disease for granted and go for the COVID-19 vaccine,” he said. As of December 21, Mangochi had recorded 39 new COVID-19 cases making a total of 2042 confirmed cases with 50 deaths since COVID-19 was confirmed in the country.
M’mbelwa Council says pre-school vital for building responsible society
By Meston Mwafulirwa Mzimba, Mana: M’mbelwa District Council Director of Education, Youth and Sports, Fiddes Msowoya says early childhood development (ECD) service delivery in community- based Child Care (CBCC) centres is vital for building better societies in Malawi. She made the remarks at Dododo CBCC recently in Paramount Chief M’mbelwa during the graduation ceremony of pre-school learners in Mzimba District. Msowoya said pre-school learners from CBCCs are not only prepared for primary school, but are also nurtured into caring, capable and responsible future citizens. “CBCC education builds a solid foundation for lifelong learning and well-being of a child’s social, emotional, cognitive and physical needs,” said Msowoya. The council’s Education Director also urged parents that keep children with disabilities to send them to pre-schools as a way of promoting inclusive education and relationship building from a tender age. In his remarks, District Social Welfare Officer (Mzimba South), Bernard Nangwale, recommended that the district should train more caregivers to improve quality of education in CBCCs. “There is a considerably huge ratio between the number of learners and trained care givers. Out of 2, 173 caregivers who are taking care of nearly 30, 221 registered children in all the CBCCs, only 935 are well trained,” said Nangwale. He therefore appealed for collaborated efforts from various stakeholders in the district to improve ECD service delivery in CBCC centres in Mzimba South. The graduation ceremony was organised by St John of God with support from Save the Children as a way of inspiring children who are preparing to join primary education. During the ceremony, nursery school learners were given certificates to start Standard 1.
Communities commission K4.6 million worth of maize mill
By Steve Chirombo Chikwawa, Mana: Communities under Thabwa Value Addition Centre (VAC) in Chikwawa District on Wednesday officially launched a maize mill which they say will help them realise more revenue for the operation of the centre. Chairperson for the centre, Henderson Makuluni who led the commissioning of the maize mill, said for years now, they have been struggling to raise enough capital to operate their centre fully, hence acquisition of the maize mill so they can process maize products and sell them. “Through the maize mill, we want to produce flour that would be packaged and sold to other people within and outside Chikwawa. “Not only that, other community members will be coming here for milling,” said Makuluni. Since 2019, a local organisation dubbed Challenges Malawi, has been assisting Thabwa VAC with soft loans under Creating Robust Opportunity for Crop Production and Sale (CROPS) Project. In 2019, the organisation provided K10 million soft loan to the centre earmarked to be paid back within a year with some grace period. This year, Challenges Malawi has also handed over a K10 million worth of cheque to the centre to help improve business environment at the centre in addition to providing its members with skills in leadership, business, financial literacy as well as good governance. “So, when we received this second cheque, we all resorted to buying a maize mill. “This was after thorough consultations and research. We realised that most communities go to Thabwa for milling, which is a bit far, but now, we have reduced the distance and they will be able to get us here. “In the process, we will be able to collect money that will go towards settling the loan with Challenges Malawi and other operations,” Makuluni stated. Commenting on the development, Kalima Chikafa who represented Director of Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources commended the members for acquiring the maize mill. “Let’s do more of planning and paper work. Let’s have data of whatever we are doing because that helps us know where we have gaps and where we are making progress,” he said. Chikafa further called on the community members to join hands so that they are certified for them to easily penetrate markets. “Let’s ensure we do all we can to sustain our business and interventions,” he said. Thabwa VAC is managed by farmers from two Extension Planning Areas of Livunzu under Traditional Authority Makhuwira and Mitole in Chief Mulilima who formed two cooperatives called Livunzu and Dumwalili.
Government committed to animal welfare
By Andrew Magombo Lilongwe, Mana: Government, through Ministry of Agriculture, is expected to launch National Livestock Development Policy early next year aimed at safeguarding the welfare of domestic animals. Director of Livestock in the ministry, Dr Patrick Chipungwa, revealed this Tuesday this week in Lilongwe during the launch of an Assessment Report regarding animal welfare in Malawi that was commissioned by National Youth Network on Climate Change (NYNCC) Chipungwa said the policy has nine priority areas which will improve the animal welfare in Malawi. He said evidence has it that the country keeps struggling with implementation and enforcement of laid out policies and laws. “Our livestock play a major role in the economy with around two thirds of rural households keeping cattle, swine, goats, sheep and chickens, hence the need that we set measures on how to protect them. “We see chickens being carried upside down, which is unacceptable because there has to be a proper way of carrying, feeding and housing animals as guided by international standards. “This is why we are set to launch a new policy next year in January,” he explained. Chipungwa, therefore, called on Malawians to have a good understanding of the new policy which also seeks to empower marginalised groups like women and the youth to take lead in ensuring that the safety of domestic animals is sustained. In his remarks, NYCCC Board Chairperson, Christopher Bauti, said there is carelessness regarding animal welfare because Malawi uses outdated policies and has inadequate human capital. “People do not have knowledge on how to take care of animals, so priority is polarised towards the commercial part in the course, neglecting their welfare, like health and food. “Lack of field staff to champion awareness and enforcement of animal welfare is also a big challenge which needs immediate intervention as currently, one officer is expected to engage with 15,000 farmers,” Bauti said. However, according to Dr Chipungwa, government is currently training assistant veterinarians at Mikolongwe Technical College and veterinarians at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) some of whom have just graduated. The agricultural sector contributes about 28 per cent to Malawi’s GDP and 37.4 percent of it comes from livestock. Currently, Malawi has an outdated Animal Care Act (1970) which was adopted from the British Colonialists.
Save the Children in job creation for youths in Mzimba
By Pemphero Kapeni Mzimba, Mana: Save the Children has introduced a new pilot project in Mzimba District aimed at empowering the youth in vocational skills and job creation. In an interview, Save the Children Project Manager for Pathways for Successful Transition (PAST) Project, Bernad Kambeja, said the new project will build on the PAST project currently being implemented in the district and will target the youth between the ages 15 and 24. “The project will build capacity of the youth on how they can progress from vocational skills to starting their own businesses or getting employment,” said Kambeja. He further explained that they are working with Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA) and Mzuzu E-hub in looking at innovative ways of achieving the results. On his part, District Social Welfare Officer (Mzimba South), Bernard Nangwale, said the project will help solve unemployment levels in the district. “These youths, after completing the training, can start their own businesses and employ other youths while others can seek employment after going through the formal programme under TEVET,” he said. The one-year pilot project is being funded by Save the Children- Italy to the tune of MK400 million.