By Noel Chimwala Mangochi, Mana: A delegation of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Thursday toured Mangochi where it appreciated the 2021 Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) campaign currently being implemented by World Vision Malawi (WVM) and the Ministry of Health as a malaria prevention strategy in villages across the district. Leading the delegation to Mthiramanja IRS Operating Site in Traditional Authority (TA) Chimwala, National Community Health Ambassador, Maziko Matemba urged people in Mangochi to continue accepting the IRS to ensure ‘zero cases of malaria.’ He said the CSOs decided to monitor and appreciate the progress of IRS in the area to check on progress as it reached day 22 of 36 days of dwelling structures spray. “Results show 68 percent progress on day 22 of the target of 90 percent of 36 days of operation and this shows success of the operation and we appreciate that people have now understood the significance of IRS to meet zero malaria prevention aspiration,” Matemba said. He urged people to continue following all malaria preventive measures, saying Malaria was a number one killer disease and is counterproductive at household level. District Coordinator for Mangochi IRS, Confidence Mkungula said the district was at 90 percent coverage though facing some challenges, citing some community members who resist the spray. The IRS campaign involves spray operators who are deployed across the district to spray every dwelling structure with insecticides that kill mosquitoes. “So far, we have reduced malaria cases by 60 percent in Mangochi,” Mkungula said, adding that WVM and the Ministry of Health started the implementation of IRS in Mangochi in 2019. The 2021 IRS campaign has created about 1, 500 jobs for young people in the positions ranging from site operation manager, spray operator to security guards in operation sites and washers that clean personal protective equipment in form of work suits, gumboots and gloves. Apart from employing staff on a temporary basis such as site operation managers and monitoring and evaluation officers, the 2021 IRS campaign has involved Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) to help mobilise households to comply with the IRS guidelines by among others accepting the spray in their structures without resistance. One of the community members, Amina James at Mkopiti Village in TA Chimwala said the IRS has protected people in the community against malaria, bed bugs and other insects. “Malaria cases have reduced since this project was introduced in our village, we are now seeing our children in school free from malaria,” she said, adding that most parents were no longer spending time in hospitals with their children due to malaria. WVM with financial support from Global Fund in collaboration with the Ministry of Health is implementing the IRS programme in Balaka and Nkhatabay since 2019 to attain a ‘Zero Malaria Goal.’
Community empowerment key to MW 2063
By Monalisa Nyirenda Mzimba, Mana: Director of Planning and Development (DPD) for Mbelwa District Council, Precious Kantsitsi has said community empowerment on project tracking was key toward achieving Malawi 2063. He was speaking on Tuesday during the Area Development Committee (ADC) training which was organized by Centre for Social Concern (CfSC) in the district. Kantsitsi hinted that ADCs act as watch dogs towards development projects hence every organization involved in implementation of development activities has to follow their action plan. He said: “For us to achieve Malawi 2063, we have to empower the structures to understand the policy. “They should have the capacity to track down every resources that government is investing into projects.” ADC Chairperson for Kampingo Sibande, Verson Theu said the training would increase their technical capacity to track down development projects that have stalled in his area. “For example, a school block at Chatonda Primary School and toilets at Eswazini Trading Centre have all stalled, so we will find out how much was invested because Constituency Development Funds (CDF) were released,” he explained. CfSC Economic Governance Programme Officer, Bernard Mphepo said the training would ensure that duty bearers are responsive to people’s demands towards the development projects they implement. With K30 million funding from GIZ, CfSC is implementing a project in Mzimba known as Transparency and Accountability in Public Finance Management for reduced poverty and inequality.
Mzimba needs more Early Childhood Development caregivers
By Meston Mwafulirwa Mzimba, Mana: Mzimba South Early Childhood Development (ECD) Coordinator, Kondwani Viano has said there are few well trained ECD caregivers in the district, a development that affects government effort to promote ECD from the grassroots in the district. He disclosed this during a quarterly ECD review and planning meeting that was jointly organized by Save the Children and Development Aid from People to People (DAPP) Mzimba Teachers Training College in the district. According to Viano, the ratio between caregivers and children in the Community Based Child Care (CBCC) centres was considerably huge and there was a need for the district to train more caregivers. He said that, ‘’Currently, Mzimba South has 935 trained caregivers who are taking care of nearly 30, 221 registered children in all the CBCC centres.” Save the Children Mzimba South District Project Coordinator, Zindaba Lungu said the situation needs special attention from various stakeholders if children’s education was to be uplifted in the district. “As one of the non-governmental organizations operating in the district, we have embarked in an initiative that aims at monitoring how caregivers are offering their services to children in the district,” he said. DAPP Mzimba Training College Principal, Brewster Mwangolera said his institution was training CBCC caregivers to equip them with skills that improve smooth transition of children from CBCC to primary education. .
Inspirational Quotes for the WEEKEND
By Charles Leyman Kachitsa Knowing you are observing someone who does not know what they are doing and that the ignorance is deeply entrenched due to miseducation or no education at all, is the most painful thing one has to endure. Perhaps that’s nature, as we can not have all people at the same knowledge level. If we were all the same in intellect life would have been not as exciting as we know it. Knowledge is power as it is said! Enlightenment is not for all, it is only open to a few who put themselves forward with earnest abandon to follow life laws of nature. Survival as an instinct, is one of the things God implanted in all living things to desire and adopt for a harmonious and fulfilled life. To not want to survive, is therefore against the laws of nature and if one takes that path the end is disastrous. Apart from survival, another of the grandeur laws of nature is growth. We learn, acquire knowledge mostly for growth and survival. In the modern world today, it has become so pressing for one to speed up their acquisition of knowledge so much that in some instances people have wanted their five year old children to have had a university degree of some sort. This is driven not for want of prestige but for the supposed survival and growth of both the parent and child. Watching children make obvious mistakes is an example of what has been stated above where you feel pain watching and feeling within you a wish they knew more, they had much education earlier. However, they say patience is a good virtue, we need to let nature take its course and mistakes are part of learning. The quotes this week are extracted from a book written by the founder of one of the fastest growing banks. He gives a better understanding on what it means to have a customer focused business. I am sure the selected quotations below from his book will enlighten you to one or two life lessons that do not necessarily relate to business only but other aspects as well, read and enjoy: FANS NOT CUSTOMERS – HOW TO CREATE GROWTH COMPANIES IN A NO GROWTH WORLD by Vernon W. Hill II “Appearance matters, service matters, and convenience matters. —– You can never be too fanatical about service. We have a goal of 100 percent customer service every time, every day, always. While that is physically impossible, it’s what we really must strive for, and anything short of that is unacceptable. Once you start setting ratios of 98 percent satisfaction, it’s slippery slope to 96 percent, which is just not acceptable. You can never be too detail oriented. And it is everybody’s job to care about everything. Shirley, Craig and I always shop our stores. You have to treat the business like you own it. —— Metro Bank is the new and improved version of our American model. Think about it: where else will customers find a bank with extended hours that is open seven days a week? Or where the cashiers don’t go to lunch during the customers’ lunch hour? We encountered the odd London practice of branch training on Wednesdays, where they close for unannounced lengths of time to train employees about their products. Good for them, but customers don’t reliably know when their bank will be open and busy people don’t have time to waste waiting around. It will open whenever the bankers finish their training, which might be 10am, or, if training takes a little bit longer, 10.15, or even later. It’s insane, insensitive customer policy. It’s all about the bankers and what is convenient for them.” “In most large companies there are various silos reporting to chief officers of compliance, marketing, operations, and audit, and each has a point of view that reflects their fiefdom. But what do their individual concerns do to the brand they all represent? ——- There is a NatWest bank branch next door to the Metro store in Uxbridge, west London. During the first day of our two-day grand opening celebrations, NatWest put out a sign-board in front of their store that said, ‘NatWest customers, we are thinking about extending our hours.’ It didn’t say that they would do it – or when! ——- Another NatWest office did open on a Saturday to compete with us, but they would not allow banking transactions. So why were they open? Beats us! —— One of the other high street banks extended its hours during the 2012 Olympics, but once the Olympics ended, so did the extended hours.” “Customers can always expect us to keep our promises. And once they know they can expect this, we are in a position to shape expectation to match what we can do for them. —– Responsive and immediate action is more critical to success and creating fans than ever before. More and more businesses sell themselves on their commitment to getting things done quickly.” “To create a great business, create a persuasive culture that executes a differentiated model. And fanatically execute to exceed expectations. —— You can’t see someone’s values, but we can see how they behave and infer what their values are from that behaviour. —- We ask colleagues (staff) to attend to every detail, and to make every one right, and to ask a second person if they’re not sure about telling a customer ‘NO.’ ——- Our values and our behaviors are the same thing. The value is that we want to attend to every detail. And the behavior is that we attend to every detail. —-“
Primary School teachers enhanced wildlife knowledge
By Yankho Phiri Kasungu, Mana: Primary School Teachers from Kasungu enhanced their knowledge about wildlife and aquatic animals. The Teachers were drawn from nine primary schools in the district on Saturday and Sunday toured Lake Malawi and Liwonde national parks in Mangochi and Machinga. The teachers who are Patrons of wildlife clubs in their schools supported by Lilongwe Wildlife Trust Project called Protected Area Environmental Education Programme (PEEP) which is under implementation in Kasungu embarked on the tour to appreciate the tourist attractions of the country. One of the teachers from Kaswamchenje Primary School, Thokozani Chabwera said the project has inspired them to organize the trip which has been helpful and insightful. “As patrons of environmental and wildlife clubs in our schools, we thought it wise to organize this trip in order for us to see and witness something that we have just been reading or being taught during trainings. “What we have seen from the two wildlife protected areas is very exciting as most of us have seen some species of wild animals for the first time, our learners will be imparted with real facts from us as we have experienced,” he said. Lilongwe Wildlife Trust Environmental Education Officer, Mphatso Banda applauded the teachers for the initiative saying it was a good development and a success story to them. “It is exciting news to us because we have been encouraging these teachers to visit other national parks and game reserves, what we wanted is that they should have a broad experience so that they can teach relevant information to leaners,” she said. Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) Head of Environmental Education and Extension Services at Kasungu National Park, Mathias Elisa thanked the teachers saying what they have done shows that people have now realized the need of visiting such places. “This is a plus to us as far as the tourism industry is concerned. Local people like them making initiatives own their own to visit different tourists attraction places is something we have to be proud of,” he said. The teachers came from for Chulu, Kaphaizi, Linyangwa and Kavizinde zones who are along Kasungu National Park.
First Ladies impressed with women cooperative
By Esnath Kalawe Lilongwe, Mana: First Lady, Madame Monica Chakwera and Mozambican First Lady, Isaura Nyusi Monday commended Mwachichotsa Women Cooperative in Nathenje, Lilongwe for their vigilance in undertaking income generating activities to empower themselves financially. In an interview, Madame Chakwera said the women cooperative, which owns a maize mill, was under Her Shaping Our Future Foundation which pays school fees for needy female learners. She encouraged the women to continue participating in activities that could contribute to economic empowerment of their families. “We are impressed with what the women are doing. We want our women to be economically empowered. “This is just a Pilot phase of Shaping Our Future Foundation and we are training them how to do business that can uplift and boost their welfare. This can help to reduce poverty among their families,” Chakwera explained. She said the initiative was intended to help uplift women economically so that they should be able to pay school fees and buy school materials for their children as well as buying food for their families. Mozambican First Lady, Madame Nyusi noted with great satisfaction the way Malawi’s First Lady was leading in assisting women to be self-reliant. “I highly appreciate what the First Lady is doing in economic empowerment. Economic empowerment is very vital to human being. “The great dedication is a vehicle to social empowerment and I have to take it to my country, so that we do the same,” she said. One of the beneficiaries who is the Secretary for the Cooperative, Stella Mwape said the visit to the cooperative by the two First Ladies was an inspiration to them. Registered in 2019, the cooperative has a membership of 36 women and is being run under Madame Chakwera’s Shaping Our Future foundation with assistance from Irish Embassy and Premier Bet.
Ntcheu DC commends cordial border relationship with Mozambique
By Maston Kaiya Ntcheu, Mana: Ntcheu District Commissioner (DC), Francis Matewere has commended a good working relationship that exists between Malawi and Mozambique. The DC made the remarks when Mozambican DC for Angonia made a courtesy call to Ntcheu on Tuesday. “People from Angonia and Ntcheu are all one. We share the same language and culture hence the visit has cemented the relationship that is already there between the two bordering districts,” he said. Matewere added that the cordial relationship was paying dividends whereby he gave an example of Mozambican Police who recently recovered 900 bags of fertilizer which was stolen from Malawi. Similarly, Malawi Police recovered a motorcycle and cattle which were stolen from Mozambique. DC for Angonia, Raimundo Brumo commended Ntcheu District Council development plans and the council’s service delivery systems. “I am glad to learn about your District Development Plans (DDPs). Your service delivery systems in health and education are also commendable,” he said, citing a free health delivery system which was benefitting some Mozambican households close to the borders. Brumo added that the two countries have common border challenges and urged stakeholders from both sides to work together in the fight against the vices such as illegal trade, human trafficking and COVID-19 pandemic. The two sides discussed a number of issues ranging from development, education, health, trade and agriculture among others.
Worshiping Self?
By Minister Collins Chingota Last week I shared on the danger of worshiping worship. Today I will look at the danger of worshiping self. Unknowingly, we find ourselves worshiping ourselves than worshipping God himself. 1 Corinthians 1:31: Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” There is a new age false teaching that is sliding into the church today. It is a teaching that tries to elevate man to the level of God. Man, in his natural and egoistic self can never be like God, but he craves to be like God. No wonder, the devil took advantage of that desire when tempting Eve. He said, ‘when you eat this fruit, you will be like God’. He is sending the same tempting message to the church today, and sadly we are falling for it again. Unfortunately, he misinterprets scriptures to back his claims, but the results are dangerous and that is where we need to raise the red flag. It is true that when we become Christians, we become special people in Christ endowed with blessings. However, we should always know that we do not become who we are on our own so that we begin to look ourselves with wonder, reverence and admiration that belongs to God. In fact, In Christ we become dead and crucified. We no longer live, but Christ lives in us. If Christ lives in us, the blessings, anointing, and favour people see on us are not our own, they are Christ’s. That is why the Bible says, ‘let him who boasts, boast in the Lord, and not in themselves’. Email: collinchingota@gmail.com Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Worship-Minister-Collin-106224835075846
Ty Godwa back with therapist video
By Blessings Kapina Lilongwe, Mana: Lilongwe-based upcoming rapper who goes by the stage name, Ty Godwa is set to release a video of the song ‘Therapist’ on December 1, 2021. Ty Godwa disclosed the project to Malawi News Agency (MANA) saying the song will be more impactful with the coming of the video. “Videos play a big role in passing on messages to the masses and I am certain that the lessons in this song will greatly help the listeners,” Godwa said. He said the video will continue to preach, teach and educate people on the word of God as they will be watching, He added that the song emphasizes that people should depend, stick, and meditate on the word of God. He pointed out that God is the alpha and Omega who is able to deal with all human problems therefore people should trust his words. The artist further said that the video will be uploaded on different sites in the country once released. He explained that the music industry should not only focus on audios but it must also aim to produce the best videos which can easily be connected to the message of the audio song. One of his fans, Madalitso Banda said the song ‘therapist’ was supposed to have a video therefore with the video produced it will be impactful and interesting. “I feel there is more we need to do to in the music industry when it comes to videos, we need to start producing good videos that will be massive at the international level,” Banda said. He urged other Malawian artists to also concentrate on videos so that music should reach a wide range of audience and also give a visual narration of the story. The video will be released and available on all social media platforms.
Malawi Police warns drug peddlers
By Davis Masapula Zomba, Mana: Malawi Police Service (MPS) has said it will continue arresting drug peddlers in the country in order to create a drug and substance free nation. National Police Public Relations Officer, James Kadadzera said on Wednesday that the police has been arresting drug dealers since time immemorial because the law gives the law enforcers the mandate to arrest anyone involved in the malpractice. “We have been tracking and arresting drug peddlers in the country before and we will continue doing so until Malawi becomes a drug free nation,” Kadadzera said. Kadadzera said to ensure the public is more aware of the consequences of the malpractice, it has [police] intensified awareness outreach programmes through community policing forums. “We are also encouraging people to work closely with the police by providing information that would lead to the arrest of people involved in drug business,” he said. Last month, Minister of Homeland Security, Richard Chimwendo Banda ordered the MPS to crack a whip on drug dealers for Malawi to be a drug free country.