In its efforts to meet its mandate of building an empowered citizenry, the National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Public Trust last week engaged skilled artisan community around Biwi Lightweight Industrial Site in Kawale.
The engagement, which had the police in attendance, centered on raising awareness on human and people’s rights in a democratic society.
NICE District Programmes Officer for Lilongwe Urban, Hajira Ali, speaking in an interview away from the venue of the interface meeting, said her organization believes that a workforce equipped with skills for promoting and protecting human rights is key to the development of every sector.
The interface meeting with skilled artisan community in progress
During the interface meeting with the skilled artisan community, a NICE volunteer, Monica Nomonde, took the participants through various rights such as women freedom, economic freedom, the right to access NEEF loans, Access to Information (ATI), among others.
Nomonde also highlighted some of the most common forms of violence occurring in communities.
A representative of the participants, Malani Gondwe, thanked NICE for organizing the meeting, saying the tips were quite crucial in advancing human rights and economic emancipation.
But Gondwe pleaded with NICE to consider inviting officials from the Anti-Corruption Bureau, National Economic Empowerment Fund and other government agencies to such meetings.
Children in Salima District have expressed concern over the inadequacy of teaching and learning materials in public schools, stressing that the problem disadvantages underprivileged learners who cannot afford a private school.
The children made the lamentation at the end of their week-long Salima District Children’s Parliament held from September 9-13, 2024.
A consortium of child rights-centred organizations, including Save the Children International (SCI), World Vision International (WVI), Kindle Orphan Outreach, facilitated the children’s parliamentary session with financial support from the SIDA Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Capacity Strengthening Programme.
This year’s Salima District Children’s Parliament brought together children from all the 12 Traditional Authorities in the district who identified several issues that affect them in their communities.
Among the numerous issues which came out, the House discussed five (5) motions, which included inadequate school learning and teaching materials, inadequate school infrastructure, environmental degradation, child marriages and teenage pregnancies, and poor bridges.
Speaking in an interview after the conclusion of the deliberations on Friday, the Speaker of Salima Children’s Parliament, Gift Phiri, said while they do appreciate the effort of Government of Malawi and development partners in supporting learners with school teaching and learning materials, they wished these efforts could be tripled to meet the demand for such resources.
“We are greatly concerned that the materials are not enough. That’s why we are asking the government and developing partners to buy and send more learning and teaching resources to all schools in Salima District Council to address the problem,” said Gift.
He further pleaded with the Ministry of Education to devise a deliberate policy of ensuring that whenever learning and teaching materials are being distributed, they should always include the ones for the special needs students.
Young Gift also called upon traditional leaders and school management committees to come up with punitive measures for anyone found stealing and vandalising learning and teaching materials.
The children’s parley also expressed concern with continued destruction of the environment through human activities such as charcoal burning, deforestation, poaching, harmful bushfires, which are contributing to serious climate change and food insecurity in the district.
The children asked traditional leaders and the government to take serious measures to correct the situation “before it is too late”.
Principal Secretary (PS) responsible for Administration and Finance in the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Nwazi Mnthambala, described this year’s children parliament as a powerful demonstration of duty-bearers’ commitment to promote child rights and an embodiment of the national vision to build a society where every child is heard, valued, and empowered to contribute to the development of the nation.
Mnthambala therefore thanked the children for raising up critical issues that affect them in their daily lives.
“I am inspired by the passion, creativity, and dedication you have shown in addressing the pressing issues affecting your lives and the Nation as a whole. This governance structure was established as a platform for your voice and as a space to express your concerns, hopes, and dreams. The Children Parliament is a vital component of our democracy as it ensures that your perspectives shape our nations development. Secondly, this August House serves as a bridge between the children and the decision-makers and it is therefore our responsibility to ensure that their concerns are effectively communicated and addressed,” she said.
Mrs Mnthambala (standing at the centre) and other duty-bearers displaying the parliamentary resolutions from the Children’s Parliament in Salima–Photo by Watipaso Mzungu
Mnthambala assured the children that her ministry will continue to play a pivotal role in facilitating coordination to ensure that all relevant parties including communities, parents, traditional leaders, and faith-based institutions are working towards common goals.
She disclosed that the ministry, with support from Save the Children, World Vision. and Plan Malawi, is in the process of developing a manual for children’s parliament to help councils to effectively conduct children’s parliament meetings with minimal technical support from the central level.
“As duty bearers let us create an environment where children feel supported and empowered to speak out issues that matter to them. This should include raising awareness about the importance of child participation and encouraging more stakeholders to get involved in supporting this initiative,” she said.
In his remarks, the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Community and Social Welfare, Savel Kafwafwa, said the children’s parliament has been one of the eye openers to National Assembly.
Kafwafwa said the children’s parliament provides elected members of Parliament (MPs) an opportunity to hear the children’s voices directly.
“And over the years, we have actually seen ourselves as the older parliamentarians or the main parliament. We have taken these resolutions as one of the subjects of discussion, and it has helped to shape some of the policies that the government has been implementing. Actually, one of the issues that was coming out in the children’s parliament in the past was the issues of bursaries. And, you know, as a committee, we took that seriously, and we ended up having the CDF to have an allocation now of about 5% to be allocated towards bursaries, it was out of such kind of outcries from the Children’s Parliament, and now, with the resolutions which have been reached today, we’ll take that on board as well, so that as we meet as a committee and then as parliament, we submit all these reports and also engage the relevant stakeholders on the issue of sustainability of the children’s parliament,” he said.
“We have already proposed to say, either through Parliament or through District Council, the government should put special funds just to take charge that the government should now be having a special budget protected specifically for children’s parliament, whether it will be channeled through a council or through the actual parliament. But in all the frameworks, the structures that have been formed, we want them to be there in the coming future, because in the past, schools used to have debate clubs, and we want to use such kind of avenues whereby we need more children to be involved in these voices. So what we will continue to advocate for as a parliamentary committee is to make sure that the government should start allocating money specifically for conducting children’s parliament. We can’t just leave that to the supporting partners alone, because now we have learnt a lot and we have seen it is a very good platform, and we want you to start owning it as a country,” he added.
Meanwhile, SCI Senior Area Operations and Humanitarian Manager, Steve Kamtimaleka, expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the children’s parliament.
“We are quite impressed and happy with the issues that are coming out. In fact, that’s why we, part and parcel of the stakeholders that are providing this platform, that these issues should come out. And the whole idea is that these issues have to be presented to various duty bearers so that we can sort them out,” said Kamtimaleka.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) member of Parliament for Nsanje Lalanje Gladys Ganda has apologized to her party leader, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, over the remarks she made at a government event in her area.
President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera presided over the function where Ganda praised the incumbent Head of State for bringing development to the district.
The lawmaker further hailed President Chakwera for ensuring equal distribution of development projects.
Apparently, this did not please her party, DPP, which felt Ganda had compromised herself, especially considering that she was recently entrusted with the position of the Director of Elections at the DPP convention.
But in an apology letter, Ganda says she regrets whatever she said at the public rally and has since asked for forgiveness from party leader, Mutharika.
Ganda: I regret to have spoken that way
“I totally and unconditionally withdraw what I wrongly said on a public TV in its entirety. I regret to have spoken that way. It was not intentional, but the environment forced me to speak carelessly as it was intimidating,” reads the letter in part.
Ganda has pleaded with Mutharika to forgive her and give her a second chance, vowing that she will never make a similar mistake in the future.
“I stand with all meaningful Malawians who currently are suffering from different social challenges across the country. Please forgive me!” thus Ganda concludes her apology.
DPP Presidential Spokesperson and National Publicity Secretary, Shadric Namalomba, said Mutharika has not yet made a comment on the matter.
Save the Children International (SCI) on Saturday distributed solar-powered cooking stoves to 50 households surrounding Dzalanyama Forest Reserve in a drive to mitigate deforestation and environmental degradation.
The distributed solar-powered cooking stoves, which were valued at MK13 million, consume minimal firewood and generate less smoke thereby decreasing respiratory illnesses women are exposed to.
SCI Innovations Manager Bright Chidzumeni said this is a pilot project through which the organization wants to complement government efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
“The idea of purchasing cooking stoves to deliver to this community came by because we realized how Dzalanyama Forest Reserve has been abused for a long time, and people keep on cutting down trees, and mainly it’s because some of them are looking for firewood. Some of them are cutting down trees because they want to produce charcoal. But as a way of mitigating the issue, we realized that we could provide these cooking stoves, which are solar powered, and they use minimal amount of firewood,” said Chidzumeni.
He said this is one of the components in an innovation called “Internet for Trees”, which SCI supported in developing to save trees from further degradation.
“Through this pilot project, we would like to assess the, you know, the extent of the impact of this intervention, beyond just providing this the cooking stops, we are looking forward to encouraging the community to plant more trees, to work together, because if they have received the cooking stoves, then they should have the motivation to plant trees and take care of the trees. So we’ll monitor the pilot project and see if there’s any impact.
Chidzumeni (right) handing over the accessories to one of the beneficiaries–Photo by Watipaso Mzungu
“And we are likely to do this to more communities and more households. But also we have to take note that there’s an emerging industry called carbon credit, where, when you mitigate the emission of carbon into the environment, we are able to to earn from industries that are into manufacturing. So this could also be another way of us testing the market to see if how much carbon we are, we are reducing from the environment by this intervention,” he said.
Chidzumeni expressed hope that the initiative will eventually improve the performance of children in school since they will now direct all their energies to studies unlike in the past when they used to help their mothers gather firewood.
Assistant Plantation Manager for Dzalanyama Timber Plantation, Noel Chimombo, commended SCI for the initiative, which he said will go a long way in reversing the damage made to the forest.
But Chimombo pleaded with the communities to plant more trees in their backyards.
He said planting trees is the most reliable and sustainable means to mitigate effects of climate change.
In her appreciation remarks, Lydia Nyalilo Banda – a mother of four children from Group Village Head Nthenda in Traditional Authority Masumbankhunda – described the donation as timely.
Banda said using the solar-powered cooking stove will ease the burden of gathering firewood from distant places.
“We walk long distances with our children to gather firewood. And usually we carry very heavy load of firewood, which is endangering the health of our children. But this will no longer be the case. We really thank Save the Children for such a donation,” she said.
Political and social media enthusiasts have patted UTM Party presidential aspirant, Dr. Matthews Mtumbuka, for delivering a “brilliant manifesto” ahead of the party’s convention slated for November2024.
Mtumbuka, who addressed journalists on Tuesday where he announced his interest to contest for the party’s presidency, assured Malawians that he would carry on the legacy of the departed former Vice President, Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima, if elected into the position.
He said, among others, that his administration will endeavor to transform the health, education, agriculture and mining sectors, which he believes are essential for growing the economy and transforming the country, observing that young people have been neglected for so long.
The ICT don said that, if voted as State President, his government will ensure that young people are trained, employed and empowered to shape the future of this nation.
Dr. Mtumbuka addressing members of press
“I have made this call after being asked by several quarters of the society which deem me as a person who can keep the SKC legacy. For too long, Malawi has been full of ideas, but this ends here and now,” he said.
At the convention, Mtumbuka is expected to face party Secretary General Dr. Patricia Kaliati, former Reserve Bank Governor Dr. Dalitso Kabambe, and Newton Kambala.
“Fellow Malawians, this is possible. Ndi zotheka! Osaopa! Osafooka! Industrial development is backbone of our economy and we will prioritize that,” he exclaimed, further highlighting the importance of improving education and health standards, industrial development, and mining activities.
Dr. Mtumbuka emphasized the need for transparency in the mining sector to improve infrastructure development.
“We need to witness meaningful change from 2025 as I will transform the country. I’m not doing this for personal gains. I want us to do it for common purpose. As a business person, I have learnt that meaningful development is not achieved through boardroom but on the ground,” he added.
Social and political commentators have since hailed Mtumbuka for mooting a brilliant manifesto, which they observed that is not only beneficial for his campaign, but also heralds hope for the nation.
But political commentator Ceasor Kondowe urged the aspirant to tread carefully as he will either make or break his legacy now.
“The coming in of Mtumbuka is very commendable and I believe it will make the country’s presidency competition. We do not need a situation that people should already have foretold who the next president is, come 2025,” said Kondowe.
Malawi’s renowned Governance and Human Rights Advocate Undule Mwakasungula has described the reopening of the Marka Border Railway Line and the inauguration of petroleum supply as a great step towards reducing the cost of transporting petroleum in the country.
Mwakasungula said this will eventually ease the burden that ordinary Malawians have been shouldering due to the high cost of goods and services.
He made the sentiments in a statement issued on Wednesday, a day after President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera oversaw the reopening of the railway line in Nsanje.
The train at Marka
“The reopening of the Marka Border Railway Station and the arrival of 1.2 million liters of petroleum products from Beira, Mozambique, by President Dr Lazarus Chakwera is a great step forward for Malawi. After being inactive for 42 years, this railway line is now operational again, and its benefits are clear. It offers the shortest and most cost-effective route to bring fuel into the country, compared to the longer routes from Nacala and Dar es Salaam. This development will help reduce transportation costs and ease the burden on ordinary Malawians,” said Mwakasungula.
According to Mwakasungula, the event also marks an important chapter in improving trade and transportation for Malawi as the railway line will not only transport fuel, but also be used to carry other goods, helping the country grow its trade links, especially with neighboring Mozambique.
Mwakasungula: It will improve the country’s trade and transportation
“It is a big win for our economy and could help position Malawi as a stronger player in regional trade. It is not a secret that President Chakwera’s leadership in making this possible shows the importance of focusing on practical, long-term solutions that benefit the country. The reopening of the railway is a clear example of how infrastructure improvements can have a direct, positive impact on our economy and the lives of our people,” he said.
But the advocate emphasized the need for all Malawians, whether in support of the government, in opposition or critics, to recognize the value of such developments, stressing that this has nothing to do with politics, but national progress.
“Development projects like these should be acknowledged and supported by everyone, as they help move the country forward. This achievement also teaches us that investing in neglected areas like transport infrastructure could bring about great benefits when properly managed. As we look ahead, it is clear that focusing on these kinds of projects could help Malawi grow stronger and improve the quality of life for its people. The railway line is just the beginning of what could be achieved when we come together as a nation to support initiatives that promote economic development.
“The reopening of this railway line is a moment of pride for Malawi, and we should all take a moment to appreciate how far we’ have come. This success should motivate us to continue working towards a better future for our country,” said Mwakasungula.
The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) have joined calls for the enhancement of accountability and transparency within the judiciary, stressing that this is critical in ensuring justice, fairness and protection of the marginalized poor.
The Commission has since endorsed the call for demonstration by the Malawi Law Society (MLS) to advocate for the enactment of the Judicial Reforms Bills.
In a statement issued on Monday, CCJP National Coordinator Boniface Chibwana believes that the enactment of the bills into law would make the judicial system more accessible, far and efficient.
Chibwana: the bill will make the judicial system more accessible
“In our support of the Pastoral Letter of the Catholic Bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi on 25th February 2024, titled The Sad Story of Malawi, we echo the bishops’ concerns regarding the integrity of the judiciary. The letter highlights that..”the Judiciary appears to have abandoned integrity and embroiled itself in corruption and partisanship. The price of judges and magistrates is no longer taboo; it’s an open secret that some lawyers thrive by bribing judges and magistrates to defeat ends of justice. Some judges and magistrates are accountable to no one,” Chibwana quotes the bishops in the statement.
He says this grim reality underscores the urgency for judicial reform, which must address partisanship, and impunity within the judicial system.
Chibwana further states that the delay by the government machinery is frustrating efforts to put in place a law that properly regulates the judiciary, which he believes is critical in restoring public trust in Malawi judiciary.
“This law deserves our full support because a solid legal system is the backbone of any country that wants to foster judicial accountability, transparency and integrity – the foundation for a just and corruption-free society. We therefore urge all Malawians, civil society organizations, and concerned citizens to join the action.
“The publication of the Judicial Reforms Bills is a critical step towards restoring the independence, accountability, and transparency of the judiciary in Malawi, ensuring that the justice is served for all,” concluded Chibwana.
Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Northern Region on Monday demanded that the Tonse Alliance government should start implementing infrastructure development projects it promised the region other than just paying lip service.
The concerned lawmakers, led by Mzimba North MP Yeremiah Chihana and Jappie Mhango, Yona Mkandawire and Kamlepo Kalua, warned that people from the region may consider breaking from the government because of the systemic disenfranchisement from state-funded developmental projects.
Chihana: Govt must start implementing the developmental projects they promised in the North
They made the sentiments during deliberations in the National Assembly on Monday. The statement did not please their fellow Northern Region legislators who are serving the Chakwera administration such as Sports Minister Uchizi Mkandawire.
Nevertheless, Chihana, Mhango and the other concerned MPs maintained their stand, warning that the region would not support Chakwera in the next General Elections if his government continues paying lip service to the norther.
They demanded that the Chakwera administration must construct a modern stadium for the region, similar to those in other parts of the country.
The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and National Advocacy Platform (NAP) have cautioned the Malawi Congress Party (MCP)-led administration against “insensitive borrowing”, fearing this will have “very serious repercussions” on future generations.
The sentiments follow revelations that Malawi’s debts have increased by four times since President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera took over power in June 2020.
During the DPP administration, the debt stood at K4.1 trillion.
DPP vice president for North, Jappie Mhango, warned on Friday that the rapid and unsustainable debt growth poses a serious threat to the country’s economic stability and future development.
Mhango: It is worrisome
“The debt that has ballooned in the past four years is unsustainable and emanates from careless spending by government. What is worrisome is that future generations are going to pay for the sins that this government has committed,” said Mhango.
On their part, NAP chairperson Benedicto Kondowe and his National Coordinator, Baxton Nkhoma, said they were deeply alarmed by the unprecedented surge in Malawi’s public debt, which has skyrocketed by K2.54 trillion in the first six months of 2024 alone, bringing the total to an overwhelming K15.1 trillion.
Kondowe and Nkhoma, in a statement issued on Wednesday, said the escalating public debt crisis is an urgent and dire threat to Malawi’s future.
“As debt surges to unprecedented levels, it is devouring a significant portion of the national budget, crippling the government’s ability to fund vital development projects for the country’s most vulnerable citizens. Rising debt brings soaring interest payments that divert essential funds from crucial public services like education, healthcare, and infrastructure, endangering current progress and imposing a stifling legacy of debt on future generations. This crisis is also crowding out private sector investment, as government borrowing absorbs scarce financial resources, stifling economic growth, job creation, and overall national advancement. The severity of this situation demands immediate and decisive action to prevent further economic decay and secure a prosperous future for all Malawians,” reads the statement in part.
Kondowe: The public debt is a threat to Malawi’s future
“A critical challenge we face is the severe difficulty of boosting revenue amid a constrained fiscal environment. Hostile economic conditions and an unfriendly business climate are hampering the Malawi Revenue Authority’s (MRA) ability to collect the necessary funds to meet national financial needs. The unregulated growth of the informal sector only exacerbates this problem, creating inefficiencies in revenue collection and forcing the government into an unsustainable reliance on debt,” it adds.
Kondowe and Nkhoma further stated that they were equally alarmed by the tendency by parliament to approve loan bills without rigorous scrutiny has significantly contributed to the current debt turmoil.
The duo said Malawians need a parliament that is vigilant, responsive, and proactive—one that prioritizes the long-term prosperity of Malawians over short-term gains and resists financial inducements that compromise the future of our nation.
“The urgency for reform in this regard cannot be overstated. The gravity of Malawi’s debt crisis demands immediate and decisive action. While borrowing might be necessary at times, it must be balanced with stringent measures to ensure debt sustainability and prudent fiscal management,” they said.
Meanwhile, Kondowe and Nkhoma have recommended that the government should conduct a comprehensive audit of debt contraction, evaluating debt volume, purposes, and deliverables to ensure transparency, accountability, and effectiveness.
Malawi’s leading supplier of cooking gas and accessories – 265 Energy Limited – has opened two new gas distribution sites in Mzuzu and Lilongwe’s Area 10, marking a significant step towards promoting sustainable energy solutions and aligning with Malawi 2063 development agenda.
The company’s public relations officer, Phillip White, said in an interview on Friday that the expansion is part of their ongoing mission to provide modern, environmentally friendly cooking solutions to households and businesses across the nation.
White stated that as Malawi advances towards its Vision 2063, which envisions an inclusive, self-reliant, and environmentally sustainable nation, 265 Energy Ltd is committed to playing a pivotal role in achieving these goals.
“The new branches in Mzuzu and Lilongwe Area 10 will make it easier for customers to access clean cooking gas, reducing reliance on traditional biomass fuels that contribute to deforestation and environmental degradation.
White: We are committed to complementing government efforts
“The adoption of modern cooking solutions, such as gas, is a crucial component of the broader effort to protect Malawi’s natural resources and improve the quality of life for its citizens. By providing accessible and affordable gas options, 265 Energy Ltd is helping to reduce the pressure on forests and contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment,” he said.
According to White, the new site in Mzuzu is located behind Best Oil Filling Station at Katoto while in Lilongwe’s Area 10, the branch is inside Sana Mall.
“Both branches are now operational, offering the same high-quality gas products and expert advice that customers have come to expect from 265 Energy Ltd. The company remains committed to supporting Malawi’s transition to sustainable energy sources, helping to ensure a brighter, greener future for all,” he said.
White added that the opening of these new satellite sites will help our customers save both time and money that would have otherwise been spent traveling far distances to purchase gas.
“But more importantly, this expansion aligns with our broader mission of promoting modern, sustainable cooking practices that are in harmony with Malawi Vision 2063’s environmental goals,” he said.
265 Energy Ltd is a leading provider of energy solutions in Malawi, specializing in the distribution of gas and related products. The company is dedicated to delivering safe, reliable, and affordable energy, while also contributing to the nation’s long-term environmental goals. With a focus on innovation and customer satisfaction, 265 Energy Ltd continues to lead the way in modern energy solutions.
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