Nthanda Times

Day: February 8, 2024

  • Government to train 20, 000 youths under National Youth Service Programme

    The Minister of Youth and Sports, Uchizi Mkandawire, has assured the nation that the government will hit its target of training 20, 000 young people through the National Youth Service Programme.

    President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, who is the brainchild of the programme, launched the programme in July 2022 as a vehicle for empowering young people through development of technical and vocational skills.

    On Thursday, Mkandawire inspected work by two groups of youths undergoing six months training in Mzuzu.

    Speaking to journalists after the inspection, the minister expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the programme, saying currently there are 3, 600 youths undergoing training across the country, 400 short of the initial target of 4, 000 per year, assuring the nation that the figure will be covered in the next cohorts.

    “I decided to come and see for myself what these youths are doing, I am impressed, and this is what President Chakwera envisioned when he launched the initiative. I will lobby Parliament to allocate more funds towards the service because we are aware that not all our youths can get employment, so we need to train them in various skills of excellence and make them productive,” he said.

    The two groups, which the minister inspected in Mzuzu, are being trained in solar and electrical installation with a component of irrigation farming using solar power, and organic fertilizer production through waste management.

    Around 90 youths from two groups are being trained in Mzuzu from the initial estimation of 47 trainees.

    President Chakwera described the National Youth Service Programme as a timely intervention that will perfect our youth empowerment drive.

    The initiative – which formed part of our campaign promises both in 2019 and 2020 – offers a multi-pronged approach to offer profitable ventures to our young people through vocational training and capitalisation of respective trades of choice.

    This program will train thousands of unemployed youth with marketable skills and connect them to opportunities for productive and profitable work.

  • Catholic priest urges churches, CSOs to help Malawians elect right leaders in 2025

    Catholic priest Reverend Father Maxwell Kubalasa has called upon churches and civil society organizations (CSOs) to be vigilant in ensuring that citizens vote for the right leaders in the 2025 General Elections.

    Kubalasa made the call in Mponela on Thursday when he opened a day-long training of trainers’ workshop organized by the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-funded Malawi Electoral Support Program (MESP).

    UNDP has awarded grants to CCJP through ECM and six other organizations to conduct voter and civic education across Malawi. The six projects focus on three key target groups: youth, women and the general public. For CCJP, the project focuses on “Enhancing the Participation of Women in the 2025 Malawi General Elections”.

    Father Kubalasa said General Elections are important events in the country’s democratic process, as they provide the opportunity for citizens to exercise their rights to vote, choose their leaders, and subsequently participate in the crucial role of determining the future direction of the country.

    He said churches and CSOs are therefore supposed to play an active role by providing civic education that would help citizens make informed choices during elections.

    “The upcoming 2025 elections, as has been the case with all the previous six elections, calls upon the church and Malawians in general to be vigilant in ensuring that Malawians elect the right leaders. This job requires CCJP to have the capacity and resources to conduct civic education and raising awareness to all people in Malawi, more especially the marginalized groups like women, the youth and people with disabilities and all those who feel and think they are not relevant in society,” he said.

    At this point, Father Kubalasa thanked UNDP for providing financial support to Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) to help CCJP to start civic and voter education in good time in preparation for the 2025 elections.

    Father Kubalasa (sitting 3rd from right) posing for a photo with CCJP officials and participants to the workshop–Photo by Watipaso Mzungu

    In his remarks, Director of Social Development and Industries in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, Brian Odhiambo, reminded participants that majority of Malawians are in discomfort due to economic challenges emanating from the recent devaluation.

    Odhiambo stated that voters’ participation in elections is negatively affected when they are not financially comfortable.

    “Voting is among the most critical civic duties for every citizen, therefore, there is need to maximise voting in 2025. It is the duty of the church through CCJP to encourage Malawians to participate in public life, and elections in particular. Let us use this opportunity to reflect together on what has been happening, asses the present situation and plan for the future. Planning helps us achieve a lot with the resources at hand, and within the stipulated time. Capacity building, knowledge sharing, all helps us achieve our mandate as required. Therefore let us take this meeting very seriously,” he said.

    Odhiambo lamented that the youth, women and people with disabilities have been left behind through many years of oppression and marginalization.

    He added that high illiteracy levels, some unacceptable traditions and cultures are factors, which have increased the gap between men and women when it comes to participating in elections and other development opportunities. 

    “Through this project, we need to find ways to narrow down this gap. More women need to be involved in decision making and more especially in elections both as voters and as candidates,” stressed Odhiambo.

  • HRDC urges Malawi Government to identify, address root causes of land scarcity

    Human and economic rights activist Kelvin Chirwa has asked the government to urgently identify and address causes of land scarcity in Malawi.

    Chirwa, in an interview on Thursday, feared problems of land scarcity could potentially derail the economic aspirations of the nation; hence, the need for the government to find a lasting solution.

    His sentiments follow reports that a court in Thyolo fined a number of people for encroaching on land belonging to an estate.

    Chirwa observed that land encroachment is becoming a daily phenomenon as the country has similar cases in Nkhatabay, Mulanje, Chikwawa, among others.

    Chirwa: The government needs to find a lasting solution to land problems

    “It is important that the underlying factors contributing to such actions are addressed. Instead of solely focusing on punitive measures, such as prosecutions, we must delve deeper into the root causes of land scarcity. We need to start addressing underlying issues such as inequitable land distribution and lack of alternative livelihood opportunities,” he said.

    Chirwa stressed that time had come for the government to start making bold decisions regarding idle land in estates in the concerned districts, observing that ‘Kudzigulira Malo’ and other similar programs that encouraged people to relocate to other districts have failed.

    “This is not a government-only action. Government authorities, local communities, and stakeholders are crucial in coming up with sustainable solutions. Land reforms must promote equitable land distribution and sustainable land management practices. There is also a need to put in place measures aimed at diversifying livelihood options, promoting responsible land utilization, and enhancing community participation in decision-making processes. By addressing the underlying causes of land scarcity and promoting sustainable land management practices, we can pave the way for a more equitable and resilient future for all,” he suggested.

    In a related development, the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) Executive Director, Sylvester Namiwa, has proposed that a special court be created to handle land-related matters.

  • Commentators worried DPP squabbles will affect party’s 2025 elections preparations

    Political and legal experts in the country have warned that intra-party disputes in the main opposition party Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) will affect the party’s preparation for the 2025 tripartite elections.

    There was drama at Parliament Building Lilongwe Wednesday morning when both George Chaponda and Kondwani Nankhumwa turned up for a Business Committee meeting, where Chaponda was chased.

    Nankhumwa was recently fired from the DPP and the party appointed Chaponda as the new Leader of Opposition, but an injunction which was obtained in 2022 stands in the way of Chaponda.

    ROAD TO NOWHERE – Chaponda after being denied entry into the meeting

    In an interview with Nthanda Times, Political Analyst Vincent Matiya Chirwa says whatever is happening in the DPP is a clear indication that there is lack of unity.

    “They are failing to contain the pressure from within their own house. What we have heard and what we have learnt from what happened at parliament where they have chosen someone while Nankhumwa is there signifies lack of unity in the party,” said Chirwa.

    Chirwa added that failing to address the challenges at hand, other parties will use the squabbles in the party to de-campaigning the party ahead of the 2025 tripartite elections.

    AT THE CENTRE OF CONTROVERSEY – Nankhumwa and Chaponda shaking hands during their hay days at DPP

    “If they fail to address the issues in these three months before the active conventions and campaigns, then the platform can slide, and constantly we might have DPP losing. People are fighting for positions in the party, if they continue fighting, they will not have time to resolve their misunderstandings and field a presidential candidate during the elections,” added Chirwa.

    Chirwa further suggests that DPP leadership should start reconciliation processes to iron out all the inhouse misunderstandings to avoid occurrence of the same drama during the party’s convention in July this year.

    Commenting on the matter, Legal expert Jai Banda has told Nthanda Times in an interview that Nankhumwa, who was chosen as Leader of Opposition in Parliament by the DPP, is not supposed to continue with the position since he was fired from the party.

    “Nankhumwa was a Leader of Opposition by virtue of the fact that he was a member of the main opposition party in the country. Now that he is no longer in the DPP by operation of law and change in circumstances, he automatically ceases to be the Leader of Opposition in Parliament,” said Banda.

    Meanwhile, George Chaponda has gone to court to seek the lifting of the injunction which 22 members of the DPP sought before High Court Judge, Justice Kenyatta Nyirenda in June 2022 stopping him from being a Leader of Opposition, and the inter-party hearing has been slated for 13 February 2024 at Judge Simeon Mdedza’s chamber.

  • EGENCO embarks on tree planting exercise

    Electricity Generation Company (EGENCO) has embarked on an ambitious project to plant 35,000 trees along the Shire and other rivers in the 2024 tree planting season.

    Speaking during the launch of 2024 EGENCO Tree Planting Season at Lisungwi Secondary School in Neno on Wednesday, Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola expressed excitement that the company plans to plant trees along rivers like Lisungwi which feeds Shire river where power is generated.

    “It is an undisputed fact that Cyclone Anna and Cyclone Freddy have taught us that climate change is real, therefore, the need for planting more trees cannot be overemphasized,” he said.

    EGENCO
    An EGENCO Officer planting a tree during the exercise

    Matola added that it is not just about planting trees, but taking care of them is of paramount importance. 

    As the ministry, he said, they are committed to taking care of natural resources because they understand their importance in regards to energy security of the country. 

    However, 5000 trees will be planted along Lisungwi river during the season.

  • Girl, 6,drowns in Chibwazi River in Ntchisi

    A six-year-old girl, Nyuma Labson, drowned in Chibwazi River barely four days after another 5 year-old drowned. 

    The incident occurred on 7 February 2024 at around 14:00 hours in Mkanika Village.

    On this fateful day, Nyuma (now deceased), along with her sister, went to the river to wash clothes. Whilst there, Nyuma left her sister and joined the other four children to swim as usual at a distance of about 100 metres away from where they were washing clothes. 

    Nyuma went to a deep place and failed to swim and eventually ended up drowning.Her sister shouted for help, where people responded quickly to rescue her but to no avail. 

    Police officers along with a medical team visited the scene and after postmortem, it was revealed that death was due to suffocation secondary to drowning.

    Nyuma Labson,hailed from Mkanika village in Traditional Authority Chilooko in Ntchisi. 

    In a related development, an unknown man believed to be in his late 40’s has been found dead at Ntchisi trading centre. 

    The man was only known as “A biggie” who used to sleep anywhere. He was found lying lifeless in the morning of 8th February behind one of the drinking joints. Cause of death is yet to be known.

    Police is therefore appealing to the public whosoever have information about the said person to inform his relatives for identification.