Nthanda Times

Day: May 31, 2024

  • Malawi poised to become 3rd largest groundnuts producer next five years globally

    The United States government has indicated Malawi’s great potential in the agricultural sector in that it is set to become the third largest producer of groundnuts in the next five years in the world.

    US Charge’ d’ Affaires Amy Diaz made the remarks during the US National Day reception in Lilongwe to celebrate 60 years of Malawi’s Independence and 60 years of American-Malawian relations.

    During the event, she cited that with 98 percent of Malawians living with HIV knowing their status, 98 percent on Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and 98 are immune-suppressed meaning they can’t transmit the virus to others, as one of the huge milestones.

    She attributed this to a programme which came into being in 2004 and boasted that in less than 20 years, about 1.1 million lives have been saved and the 98 percent levels means Malawi is under epidemic control for AIDS owing to the US –Malawi partnership.

    In education, the US has constructed about 105 new secondary schools across Malawi and expanded 30 urban schools translating to 30,000 new Malawian students attaining secondary education each year as America continues building the schools.

    Due to investments made 10 years ago, the US government has moved to offer tobacco as a primary agricultural product and now groundnuts and macadamia nuts being the next big thing.

    Tembo and Diaz admire US-Malawi history depicted in the picture galleries

    ”In fact Malawi is scheduled to become the third largest producer of groundnuts the next five years in the world and that wasn’t even possible ten years ago. And the amount of money that’s coming because of those investments is more than a $100 million each year in direct money because of the exports of groundnuts and now we’re doing that with macadamia nuts and we’re hoping to see some real results soon”

    Diaz stated that honesty and commitment will continue in the 60 year partnership hoping Malawi will hold the US accountable the same way it does for Malawi.

    She stressed on the need for the two nations to have candid and hard conversations.

    The Charge d’ Affaires pledged more support towards the bilateral ties noting it’s a great time to take stock of the opportunities and challenges with the huge youth dividend who have tremendous innovations, energy and potential to turn around the challenges.

    In the coming years, the US diplomat indicated that her expectation is for Africa and Malawi leading capitalizing on the youth population and the resources to realise that.

    Tembo: We have to be accountable, we have to be transparent. Pics courtesy of US Embassy Public Diplomacy section

    Among others, she highlighted that through the partnership, life expectancy in Malawi has changed from 50 t0 63 percent and the country’s expectancy is that of middle income.

    Foreign Affairs Minister Nancy Tembo described the event as truly auspicious as the two countries celebrate 60 years of their cooperation, joining US commemorate 248 years of independence and President Lazarus Chakwera together with the MCC boss Alice Albright inaugurating the second Millennium challenge compact.

    This entails the construction of road infrastructure across seven districts with a length of 350 kilometres and in the programme, there is also construction of distribution lines to ensure that those areas where the road infrastructure is going to be done have access to electricity and to help in land management and road maintenance among other components.

     “FDI just doesn’t come in a vacuum; there has to be certain fundamentals on the ground, people must be attracted to the country, you have to have the necessary infrastructure, electricity, good road network. You have to have a people that are hard-working, the right pieces of legislation that guide people’s business and investment.

    “We have to be accountable, we have to be transparent. We really have to pay attention to acts of corruption and deal with it, and so there’s so much that needs to be done but the basis must be laid down and if we have good road infrastructure in Malawi, we have all this energy and everything, then we are assured that people will be attracted to come to Malawi”.

  • WOCACA calls for stringent measures to protect youth from harmful tobacco products

    Women’s Coalition Against Cancer (WOCACA) has asked the Government of Malawi to implement and enforce stringent regulations on the marketing, sale, and distribution of tobacco products in order to protect the youth from the harmful effects of tobacco and the manipulative tactics of the tobacco industry.

    WOCACA Executive Director Maud Mwakasungula has made the appeal in a statement issued as the organization joins the global advocates and community in commemorating World No Tobacco Day on 31st  May.

    World No Tobacc Day is an initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco use and advocate for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption.

    This year, the focus is on “Protecting the Youth from the aggressive tactics of the tobacco industry”, which targets them as a new generation of smokers.

    In her statement, Mwakasungula has advocated for the banning of flavored tobacco products and limiting advertising in media and locations frequented by young people.

    Mwakasungula: We need to protect the youth from harmful tobacco products

    She also asked the government and its stakeholders to conduct public awareness campaigns to educate youth about the dangers of tobacco use and the deceptive practices of the tobacco industry.

    “Schools, communities, healthcare providers and civil society organizations should be actively involved in disseminating this information, and also encourage and enforce the creation of tobacco-free environments in schools, public places, and homes to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke and de-normalize tobacco use,” reads part of the statement.

    WOCACA has also called upon the government and its partners to provide accessible and effective cessation programs for young people who are already using tobacco products.

    Mwakasungula states that this should include counselling, support groups, and resources for quitting.

    “We should also empower young population to take an active role in tobacco control advocacy. Youth-led initiatives are powerful tools for change, promoting peer-to-peer education and support. Together, we can create a tobacco-free generation and ensure a healthier, brighter future for our youth,” she says.

    The importance of World No Tobacco Day, observed annually on May 31st highlights the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocates for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. Tobacco is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths worldwide, claiming over 7 million lives each year. Beyond it is well-known that tobacco use is associated with a wide range of cancers due to the numerous carcinogens present in tobacco smoke.

    Tobacco consumption is linked to types of cancer affecting body parts such as the oral cavity, lungs, liver, stomach, bowel, ovaries and certain forms of leukaemia.

    Globally, it accounts for 25% of all cancer-related deaths, approximately 2.5 million deaths. Notably, smoking alone contributes to 85% of lung cancer deaths, underscoring the need for collaborative actions worldwide to combat tobacco use.

    Tobacco use is also a major contributor to heart disease, responsible for approximately 12% of all heart disease deaths. And the impact of second-hand smoke is equally alarming, causing nearly 900,000 deaths annually.

    The focus of WNTD 2024 is revolving around safeguarding youth from being targeted by tobacco products. This initiative serves as a platform for people, policymakers, civil society organizations and advocates in tobacco control to address this issue and call upon governments to implement measures that protect people from tobacco companies’ marketing tactics.

    Children and young people are affected by the effects of tobacco production and consumption. Governments therefore have great responsibility for this particularly vulnerable group and thus needs to protect and fulfil their rights as recognized in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

    The entirety of children‘s rights leads to the conclusion that, children have a right to a tobacco-free world and have the right to be protected from the tobacco industry, i.e., not to be exploited in tobacco cultivation, to live in a smoke-free environment that protects them from secondhand smoke as well as from starting to smoke themselves and to have access to smoking cessation support if they have become addicted to tobacco.

    Further, youth have been particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of tobacco. Nicotine addiction has led to a lifetime of dependency with serious health consequences.

    Smoking during adolescence has also been linked to impaired lung development, respiratory problems, and an increased risk of various cancers.  Additionally, smoking inhibits the immune response to HPV, a virus that causes cervical cancer, further endangering the health of young people, especially girls.