By Maxwell Kudzala Mangochi, Mana: Acting Principal Secretary for Tourism, Culture and Wildlife, George Masinga on Sunday said government was working in partnership with Fort Mangochi Heritage Trust (FMHT) to turn Fort Mangochi Cultural Heritage site into an established world class tourist’s destination. Masinga said this during a tour of Fort Mangochi, a historical slave trade passage, saying that the Ministry of Tourism initially started with renovating road networks that leads to the historical site. “The district of Mangochi has its origins here; this is where the British defeated the Yao Chief Jalasi and British built the fort here”. “We intend to develop the cultural heritage by renovating and reinforcing the wall, building tourists facilities and most of all making the road to the site accessible,” he said. Fort Mangochi is hard to reach by vehicles during rainy seasons such that the only way to reach the place is by hiking. Masinga however said that tourist attraction sites such as Fort Mangochi will help in boosting the country’s economy. “Tourism is a third pillar in the Malawi Development Agenda of Malawi 2063. Once tourist starts coming here they will bring in forex that will improve livelihoods of the people around here and also improve national economy,” said Masinga. FMHT Executive Director, John Nyambi said that trust is working hard to renovate the fort using funds from USAID through a one year project called Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation. He said that some of the components of the funded project include public works programme, reforestation, and bee keeping to maintain forests cover and Village Savings and Loan to sustain the livelihood activities among surrounding communities. “The Ambassador of the US has given us funding of 72, 000 US dollars so that we should stabilize the fort in conjunction with the Department of Museums and Monuments but actual implementers are community members”, said Nyambi. He added that the project involved 300 villagers, most of them women, working in public works programme such that they are being paid stipends per day so that they should be able to invest back in the community through the Village Savings and Loans Association. “We also want people to have their own forest in the community and the project will also do an element of beekeeping” said Nyambi Secretary for Chisanzo VSLA, Hamida Amilu said that her group had raised K150, 000.00 through members contributions after wages from public works programme. Fort Mangochi is a historical ruin located inside Mangochi Forest Reserve near a small town of Namwera and the site was originally home to a famous Yao Chief Jalasi who was involved in the slave trade. Chief Jalasi later fled to Mozambique in 1895 after being attacked by British Protectorate soldiers.
Northern Region Water Board Applauded on solar energy strategy
By Gracian Jeke Mzuzu, Mana: Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has applauded Northern Region Water Board (NRWB) for a solar energy system project which will see the board save K16million monthly. PAC chairperson Shadrick Namalomba was speaking on Saturday when his committee toured some projects which are being implemented by NRWB in Mzuzu and Nkhata Bay. “This is very wonderful project as it will reduce electricity bills almost by half. From K32 million kwacha to K16 million per month,” he said. Namalomba also commended Northern Region Water Board for a disposal treatment which is under construction at Nkhata Bay Hospital. “As Public Accounts Committee we see value for money in this. Our plea is that this should continue and we want to see the progress,” he said. Before touring the sites, NRWB lobbied PAC for approval of funds at Parliament meant for new projects. Namalomba assured the board that PAC will support the board saying: “We will support the projects so long those projects deliver positive results to the people of Malawi. “We see that NRWB is a typical example of a team of professionals that is working towards delivering a service to Malawians and we want to encourage them. He urged the Civil Service and all government institutions to emulate what is happening at Northern Region Water Board. Namalomba particularly asked Southern Region Water Board, Blantyre Water Board, Central Region Water Board and Lilongwe Water Board to emulate and learn god practices that NRWB is doing. NRWB chief executive officer Titus Mthegha described the project as the first of its kind in the country. “We are spending 2.6 million Euros for this project and once it is completed we will save about of money we normally pay Escom just to supply water in Mzuzu City and Ekwendeni,” he said. Besides Mzuzu and Nkhata Bay PAC also toured Karonga Water Supply system project. Recently Escom disconnected NRWB due to unsettled electricity bills, a development that led to lack of water in a number of townships in Mzuzu City.
Malawi hosting SADC meetings on Energy and Water.
By Yamikani Yapuwa Blantyre, Mana: Malawi from Monday to Thursday this week is hosting the Joint Meeting of Committee of Ministers Responsible for Energy and Water in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). According to a media advisory by SADC, the meeting will allow ministers to deliberate on programmes of regional dimensions in support to the implementation of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-30 particularly programmes for infrastructure development of the two sectors. “In the energy sector, the deliberations will focus on the short, medium and long-term solutions to address security of energy supply in the Region, proposal on development of a Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility (RTIFF) and progress on signing of the Agreement Amending SADC Protocol on Energy of 1996. “The Ministerial meeting will also, among other issues, consider operationalization of SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE) as a legal entity through signing and ratification of the SACREEE Intergovernmental Memorandum of Agreement (IGMoA), modalities of strengthening the Regional Energy Regulators Association (RERA) and discuss progress on the development of Regional Gas Master Plan – Phase II,” reads the advisory. The advisory said that in the water sector, the Ministers will consider for approval of the fifth Regional Strategy Action Plan (RSAP V) on Integrated Water Resource Development and Management, implementation of the SADC Groundwater Management Phase II Programme and the SADC Response to COVID-19 Impact in the water sector. “The Ministers will further consider the status of the SADC COVID-19 Border Post Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Response Project, the SADC Water Fund Infrastructure Development Projects and the report on River Basin Organisations/Shared Water Course Institutions programmes. “Ministers will further consider crosscutting issues such as Water, Energy and Food Security (WEF) Nexus Programme to enhance synergy in addressing challenges facing the three (3) sectors,” said Ahead of the Ministers meeting, the SADC Senior Officials responsible for energy and water are holding their meeting on Monday and Tuesday to prepare and clear documents for consideration and deliberation by the Ministers. Speaking at the SADC Senior Officials meeting, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Energy Patrick Matanda said these kind of meetings are significant to Malawi and SADC nations as whole. “Water and Energy are two important issues to any country. In Malawi, whenever, there is an issues to do with water, there are problems. The same applies when there are issues to do with energy especially with electricity, there are issues with economy and also the general population,” said Matanda. Matanda also said coordination between SADC countries is important and this can be seen through the launch of Mozambique-Malawi Interconnector which is a product of SADC integration. “So you can see that there are big benefits that come with nations working together. In this case, we will be able to get extra power from other countries just because we are working as a bloc,” said Matanda.
27 inmates graduates in vocational skills
By Solister Mogha MANA: Twenty-Seven Prisoners from Zomba Maximum Prison have graduated in three vocational disciplines of carpentry and joinery, barbering and tailoring and designs. The inmates graduated on Monday at ceremony held at Zomba Prison Ground. With support from Des Deutschen Volkshochschul-Verbandes e.V (DVV) International, the Malawi Prison is implementing adult learning in Prison Programme that targets inmates below the age of 18. Speaking at the ceremony DVV Regional Director for the Southern Africa, David Harrington said prisons are not places meant to punish people but rather transform them into better human beings. David said considering the fact that prisoners have limited access to education, DVV partnered with Malawi Prison to provide inmates with some soft skills that would enable them support themselves after prison life. “The main objective of this programme is to reduce recidivism. Many people commit crimes again after prison due to poverty,” said Darlington. Apart from the vocational training, prisoners were also equipped with some communication, business and conflict resolution skills for their better integration into the society. Commissioner for Prison Responsible for Administration, Dezio Makumba said the training would apart from assisting prisoners earn a loving after prison help in decongesting Malawi Prisons. Makumba said the reason why many people return to prisons is because they become idle, with nothing economic to do, hence engage in criminal activities. The Commissioner hailed DVV for supporting the programme that would bring great change in regards to Malawi prison service.
Herbalist constructs teacher’s house in Mzimba
By Aliko Munde Mzimba, mana: Mzimba based African doctor Paul Kamanga who is populary known as Chanisanga has constructed K16.2 million teacher’s house at Dewe junior primary school in TA Mabilabo in Mzimba district. Design of the teacher’s house at Dewe School is similar to the teacher’s houses which were built with funding from Local Development Fund (LDF). In an interview on Saturday, African doctor Chanisanga said he decided to build the teacher’s house at Dewe, after seeing how teachers were residing in small and substandard houses. “As one way of coaxing teachers to teach in rural areas I decided to give the teachers proper housing and good working environment. That’s why I decided to construct one house at Dewe for head teacher so that teachers stay in a conducive environment,” he said. Chanisanga who is also macadamia farmer then disclosed that he is planning to construct deputy head teacher’s house at the same school which has 6 qualified teachers. He said he has already been bought building materials for the deputy’s house. “We are working together with M’mbelwa district council and they even gave us the designs of the teacher’s houses and they come to supervise the works,” he said. He further said that he is financing a 10 km construction of Chamaji to Msese earth road which he said upon completion the road will cost K3.5 million Dewe head teacher John Phiri, applauded gogo Chanisanga for constructing a teacher’s house at the school. “Some teachers were staying far away from school and with the construction of the house it will ease shortage of houses at the school,” Phiri said. In a separate interview, Inkosi Mabilabo hailed Chanisanga for being patriotic and promoting quality education in the district. “I salute the gesture, it’s not a matter of having more to share but the passion for development, people have money in this country they have never even donated a pit latrine, I’m very very happy,” Inkosi Mabilabo expressed his gratitude. The house which has solar powered electricity has been furnished with household items like, sofa set, beds, mattresses and kitchen utensils. In 2014 Chanisanga built a teacher’s house at Chamaji primary school in TA Mzikubola and he has financed the construction of earth roads in TA Mabilabo and Mzikubola
NPC launches ten-year strategic plan
By Mphatso Nkuonera Lilongwe, Mana: Malawi has the potential to achieve a middle class economy and attain a self-reliance status if everyone joins hands to realize the country’s vision. Minister of Trade Sosten Gwengwe, who represented the Vice President as guest of honor made these remarks on Tuesday at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) during the launch of the first ever strategic plan for the National Planning Commission (NPC). “Our journey to achieve the middle –income status and become a self-reliant nation require bundling our knowledge and skills together and dedicate ourselves so that we can finally be where we want. “It is the expectation of government that we shall all give NPC the support it requires so that we reach our desired destination by 2030, as earlier stated by the state president,” he said. The minister added that government is committed to partner with any development allies in achieving meaningful development come 2063. NPC’s Director General Thomas Munthali said the strategic plan is the vehicle that will carry the vision and deliver to the expectation of Malawians as articulated in the document. The strategic plan will give direction in the next ten years from 2021 2030 Professor Richard Mkandawire Chairperson for NPC said that the commission will be a potential model to achieve the 2063 goals. “The strategic plan has been inclusively designed to help the country achieve its development plans and vision, lets join hands to work together so that we celebrate together after achieving our vision. “To achieve all what we expect plans are there to also make the commission very independent from any political waves so that nothing gets derailed,” he said. The NPC was established in 2017 by Act of Parliament, with a mission to guide and champion the development of effective policies by ensuring that they are mainstreamed and aligned to the overall medium –term and long term development plan. During the event all branches of government namely the executive, legislature and the judiciary were represented.
Arts can curb violence against women, girls
By Emily Kaliwo Chiradzulu, Mana: Art and Global Health Centre Africa (ArtGlo) Executive Director, Hellen Todd, says arts can help improve prevention of violence against women and girls especially when people in the communities where violence is taking place are involved. Todd made the remarks Friday at Chiradzulu Secondary School where ArtGlo showcased some of the tools Civil Society Organisations(CSOs) in the district were trained to be using to fight violence against women and girls through Make Art for Women Activism (MAWA) project under Make Art for Sustainable Action (MASA) programme. Todd was happy that the vision of the program has been fulfilled as positive changes have been observed and CSOs are able to disseminate information about the malpractice through arts. District Social Welfare Officer for Chiradzulu, Elizabeth Mlatho, thanked ArtGlo for choosing the district as one of the areas where the project needed to be implemented, saying it has come at a right time when the country within the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV). She urged the gathered audience to take part and act whenever they observe violence against women and girls saying there is power in togetherness. Mlatho said defilement, child trafficking and early marriages, among others, are some of the violence against women, girls and men that need to be sensitised saying the world is not happy seeing them in prison due to such cases. One of the participants, Maria Paul of Maloya Village, Traditional Authority (TA) Likoswe in the district, thanked ArtGlo for the sensitisation. “I thought it was normal when a woman is not allowed to do business or beaten by her husband, even when a husband fails to care for the family though he has resources. Now I am aware that this is GBV,” she said. She urged elders to stop advising the youth that “banja nkupilira” saying this has negative effects like loss of life to the abused, among others. Brenda Sailesi, 17, of Nkambuwa Village TA Mpunga testfied that she dropped out of school and got married to a young boy and together have a baby. She said after facing challanges, she decided to go back to school, started standard seven again at Chingoma Primary School and she was position three in the last examinations. Sailesi urged fellow girls not to rush into marriage saying there are a lot of challenges as such they need to finish their education first and become economically stable before marriage. Some of the activities showcased during the event included participatory arts like drama and image theatre, songs, poems and testimonials. MAWA project is implemented in Chiradzulu, Mulanje, Chikwawa, Phalombe and Blantyre and runs from 2020 to 2023.
Japan gives K150 Million grants assistance to improve Ulongwe and Kapichila health centers
By Patrick Ndawala Lilongwe, Mana: Government of Japan on Wednesday demonstrated its commitment to improve health service delivery of the country when it signed a MK150 Million grants assistance to Malawi for the construction of Kapichila and Ulongwe health centers in Kasungu and Balaka districts respectively. Each health facility has received 91,124 US dollars (about K75 Million) to improve the health care services for the people of the two districts. Japanise ambassador to Malawi His Excellency Satoshi Iwakiri said the government of japani is funding the two health center under the grant assistance for grass root Human security project. The Ambassador emphasised on the need to reduce the distance for communities to access health service. “Through this grant, Ulongwe Health center will construct an outpatient ward that will provide integrated health services. And in Kasungu, the grant will construct a health center that will provide maternity outpatient services. These facilities therefore are expected to contribute to the reduction in home deliveries, maternal death and health curable diseases,” he said. He said the construction of both health centers is in line with the aspiration of Malawi as depicted in the Malawi 2063 blue print. He added; “for the country to achieve the aspiration in the vision Mw 2063, we must act now, and this grant contract is the start of that action needed to deliver the aspiration.” He also called upon Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECO) and Christian Health commission (CHAM) who are the implementing agencies for the construction of Kapichila and Ulongwe health centers respectively, to be prudent in utilizing the funds. He urged CADECOM and CHAM to make sure the two projects finishes within the stipulated 12 months. Speaking on behalf of CADECOM, Monsignor Archdiocese of Lilongwe Reverend Patrick Thawale thanked the government of Japan for a timely assistance to people of Kapichila. He said the center will support over 13,000 people especially women of Sub TA Kapachila in Kasungu. “As a church, we believe it is our responsibility to provide people spiritual and material needs. With the health center, people of Kapachika will be able to access health care service at a shorter distance,” he said. Member of Parliament for Kasungu North East Madalitso Wirima whose Kapichila health center will be in her constituency was very thankful to the Japanese government for support people of her area. “I was very excited the day I receive a communication that my request I asked the embassy to support people of my constituency with a health center has been approved. We all know that government has other competing responsibilities such we are very grateful indeed,” she said. Hospital Administrator at Ulongwe health center Fr. Medrick Chimbwanya said the grant will help the center to construct an outpatient wards which will have a pharmacy dispensary, primary health care service and short stay room. He said the health center is very critical as it currently serves 12,000 people of traditional authorities Kalembo, Kanchanga, Amidu and Chimwala. “The present infrastructure which was built in 1970 is very old and small such that other people shun away from accessing ART service because of space. But with the new ward, I will be able to serve people of all health problems better,” he said.
Amref Health Africa donates towards Covid in Ntchisi
By Pauline Kaude Ntchisi, Mana: Amref Health Africa has donated various medical and nonmedical items to health and education sectors in Ntchisi district to help in the fight against Covid-19. The items include an oxygen concentrator, thermogans, patient monitors, nebulysers, hand washing facilities, buckets and hand sanitisers. Speaking when she handed over the equipment on Tuesday, Amref Health Africas Project Assistant for Ntchisi, Edna Kamkhwali said as an organization working in the district, they felt obliged to take part in the fight against the pandemic. “Covid-19 hasn’t spared anyone and we thought it wise to share the little we have by donating these items. We are in this together,” said Kamkhwali. She said in the education sector, the hand washing facilities and hand sanitisers will be distributed to a total of thirty primary schools under Mpherere, Boma and Malomo Zones in Traditional Authority Kalumo and Chilooko respectively. Head teacher for Mpherere Primary School, Gerald Chinzimu said he was grateful for the donation as the buckets that they were using were inadequate against the schools total enrollment of 1,342 learners. Director of Health and Social Services for Ntchisi, Dr Lumbani Munthali described the donation as timely adding the items will be distributed to various health facilities in the district including the District Hospital. He commended Amref Health Africa for complimenting government’s efforts in ensuring that there is easy access to health services by people in the district. “We are still in the Covid era, we still have Covid amongst us and these items will a long way in assisting our patients,” said Munthali. Amref Health Africa has procured the items with support from Global Affairs Canada.
Colorbath aims at improving sanitary environment in Mzimba
By Pemphero Kapeni Mzimba, Mana: Colorbath, a non-governmental organisation from Japan in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Thursday introduced a two-year project aimed at improving sanitary environment with sustainability in Mzimba district. In an interview, chief executive officer for Colorbath, Yusuke Yoshikawa said Mzimba was earmarked for the project following the concern that the district hospital uses 500 kilogrammes of firewood for boiling water and cooking food stuff. “We therefore want to utilize a solar power boiler in order to improve sanitary environment in hospitals and after that in schools and communities,” he said. Yoshikawa further said utilizing solar powered water boiler will help in conserving nature since people will stop cutting down trees to use for firewood. JICA Malawi senior representative, Naoto Sakonju said the health sector is more important to the development of Malawi as such they are supporting the project to fulfil Malawi’s vision 2063 of creating a sanitary environment. On his part, M’Mbelwa district labour officer, Russell Mhone who represented the district commissioner said the project has answered what the 2021 Mzimba children’s parliament requested at Mnjiri secondary school hall last week. “Our children complained of challenges of inadequate water and sanitary facilities in schools and communities, so by bringing this project in Mzimba south their plea has been partly answered,” said Mhone. With a budget of $90,000 (MK72, 200,000) the project will be implemented at Mzimba district hospital, Manyamula, Edingeni and Embangweni health centres from November 2021 to January 2024.