Nthanda Times

Christer Kalukusha – Mana

  • Care group promoters mobility problems eased

    Care group promoters in Mchinji have a reason to celebrate as they have received a much-needed boost in the form of 186 bicycles to address mobility challenges as they visit care groups.

    The care group model is an innovative approach primarily used in international development settings to promote social and behavioural changes through supported peer-to-peer knowledge sharing, mainly among mothers, which has been instrumental in disseminating critical information about nutrition and health practices in communities.

    Davie Panyani, the principal nutrition, HIV, and AIDS officer at Mchinji District Council said the bicycles were provided by the World Bank under the Investing in Early Years Project (IEYP).

    “The bicycles will help ease the mobility of the promoters as they move in the communities to meet the care groups under their watch. The care group promoters will regularly meet with their care groups and conduct learning sessions with cluster leaders so that nutrition and health messages are delivered to all beneficiary households,” said Panyani.

    Care group promoters display their bicycles

    One of the care group promoters Brenda Deusi, of Tsamphare Village, Traditional Authority Mlonyeni, expressed joy over the bicycles saying they have come in handy.

    “We used to have significant problems reaching out to care groups, but now the problems are eased as the bicycles have not only made our work more efficient but have also enhanced our outreach capabilities,” said Deusi.

    Mchinji is one of the districts where IEYP is being implemented and the primary objective of the project is to improve the coverage and utilisation of early childhood development services, with a specific focus on nutrition, stimulation, and early learning, from conception to 59 months.

    The care group promoters play a pivotal role in the care group model by acting as intermediaries between health experts and community members, ensuring that essential health and nutrition information reaches those who need it the most.

  • Mchinji Seed Committee acquainted with new Seed Act

    Mchinji Seed Monitoring Committee (SMC) has been acquainted with the Seed Act of 2022, marking an important step to develop by-laws consistent with the new law.

    Malawi Parliament in April, 2022 reviewed the 1996 Seed Act and according to Agronomist, Suzgo Nyirongo, of Seed Services Unit (SSU), the review of the Seed Act to have a new law was imperative because with the 1996 act, there was a narrow seed definition; no independent regulatory body; lack of well-established variety release system and absence of regionally harmonised seed certification and quality assurance system.

    “Definition of seed was not inclusive enough and left out some types of crops like vegetatively propagated crops, and there is now tremendous growth of the seed industry which has created capacity challenges for Seed Services Unit to ably regulate the seed industry.

    “The variety release system was not well structured and not harmonised with regional and international systems and protocols. On penalties, the old act proved to have weak ones,” explained Nyirongo.

    During a one-day meeting in Mponela on Wednesday, the Mchinji SMC, together with Kasungu SMC, reviewed by-laws that are used when monitoring seed in the districts in line with the new 2022, Seed law. 

    Members of Mchinji and Kasungu SMCs follow a presentation

    Vice-chairperson of Mchinji SMC, Councillor Harris Chikoti, highlighted the significance of cooperation among committee members in ensuring that there is authentic seed to farmers in line with the new legislation. 

    “Let us hold hands and work together, ensuring that farming communities access genuine seeds that will yield robust harvests. 

    “We have gained new knowledge and our role is to make sure that farmers buy authentic seed so that they produce more yield,” said Chikoti.

    The meeting was supported by the Civil Society Agriculture Network (CISANET), which is working with seed monitoring committees in some of the districts in the country. 

    The 2022 Seed Act, which was recently assented to by President Lazarus Chakwera, has also been gazetted and is now awaiting operationalisation. This comprehensive legislation is expected to enhance the regulation and oversight of seed production, certification and distribution across Malawi. 

    Mchinji SMC comprises representatives of the judiciary, police and civil society organisations, government, agro-dealers, chiefs and councillors.

  • Menstrual poverty remains a hindrance to girls’ education

    Menstrual poverty continues to be a major barrier to girls’ education, making it difficult for them to attend class consistently and perform to their full academic potential. 

    This was said by Chief Education Officer, Nellie Kamtedza during a social media campaign by Girls Activists Youth Organisation (GAYO) on awareness for Sustainable Development Goal number four (SDG 4). 

    Kamtedza said there are different challenges that are making girls not to excel in school but menstrual poverty remains one big challenge.

    “The girls, especially in the rural areas, lack necessary materials to use when they are menstruating and this leads them to missing classes. In the end they do not do well in their education,” said Kamtedza.

    Kamtedza said there is need to use and empower mother groups who can support the girls by providing them with necessary materials like reusable sanitary pads.

    A Form Two student at Bua Community Day Secondary School, Talandira Chirwa, said girls continue to be disadvantaged in accessing education in the district.

    “Apart from menstrual poverty the girls also travel long distances to school, are susceptible to gender based violence and are also married off by parents,” she said.

    The audience enjoying Lulu’s performance

    GAYO Executive Director, Richard Batch, said the social media campaign they conducted was aimed at bringing more awareness on girls’ education. 

    Batch said there is tremendous work that has been done but still the country is not doing well in some important aspects.

    “There are several treaties on education that Malawi is part of but it fails to adhere to them. For example, the SADC education protocol which says that governments should put in 20 percent of the national budget towards education, but instead of this the percent is actually decreasing if we compare this year and previous budgets,” said Batch.

    The social media campaign, which GAYO conducted and drew together different youth organisations, was beamed live on a Facebook platform called IHUB and had musician Lulu performing.

    The campaign was conducted under a project called Girls Education Advocacy in the Region (GEAR).

  • T.A. Kapondo of Mchinji laid to rest

    The body of the late Traditional Authority Kapondo of Mchinji was laid to rest on Monday at his Mponda Headquarters in the district.

    The late T.A. Kapondo died on Saturday at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe after a battle with High Blood Pressure and stroke.

    Politicians, government officials, chiefs and the general public flocked to Mponda Headquarters to pay their tribute to the fallen chief.

    Director of Chiefs in the Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture, Charles Makanga, expressed his sadness with the demise of the chief.

    Makanga, however, advised royal families to minimise wrangles that border on chieftaincy, saying this affects government in installing chiefs. 

    Chiefs carry late TA Kapondo’s casket at the funeral

    “Royal families should always consider contact and dialogue when there are issues regarding succession plans when a chief dies. 

    “Chieftaincy wrangles make government to take a long time in installing a new chief for the affected area,” said Makanga.

    He made the sentiments in reference to what a representative of the bereaved family, Timothy Sanjikizani, said in his eulogy that the late chief had died without being elevated to Senior Chief despite all the required documents being signed by the President.

    The Chewa King of Malawi, Zambia, and Mozambique, Kalonga Gawa Undi, was represented by Senior Chief Santhe of Kasungu who also touched on the need to have a smooth transition.

    “Kalonga Gawa Undi is sending a message that he is saddened with the death of the chief and has since asked the grieving family to guarantee a peaceful chieftaincy transition in order to preserve the reputation of the Chewa tribe,” Senior Chief Santhe said.

    Born Wickson Thebulo, the late T.A. Kapondo was born on August 11 in 1952 and was installed as Sub T.A. Kapondo in 2000 before being elevated to TA Kapondo in 2002.

    He is survived by a wife, seven children and 60 grandchildren.

  • T/A Kapondo of Mchinji dies

    Traditional Authority (T/A) Kapondo of Mchinji has passed away in the early hours of Saturday after a long battle with High Blood Pressure.

    Late T/A Kapondo, real name Wickson Thebulo, also developed stroke.

    Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture spokesperson, Anjoya Mwanza has confirmed the death saying the late T/A Kapondo died at Kamuzu Central Hospital.

    Late T/A Kapondo in a file photo

    He was born on 11th August, 1952 and was installed as Sub T/A Kapondo in 2000 before being elevated to TA Kapondo in 2002. 

    He is survived by a wife, seven children and 60 grandchildren.

    Burial arrangements of the fallen TA will be announced in due course.

  • 17 people missing after a boat accident in Mchinji

    Seventeen people are missing after a boat they were using sank at Mwelekera on Lusa River in Mchinji when they wanted to cross from one side to the other.

    The incident happened on Wednesday when people from Traditional Authorities (TA) Mkanda and Gumba were going to a funeral at Chinyonga village in the area of TA Dambe.

    A survivor of the accident Chrissy Govati, from Ngulukira Village TA Gumba speaking on her hospital bed at Kapiri Mission Hospital said the boat which was being rowed across the river started sinking in the middle of the river and all the passengers on board started to drown.

    “With the other passengers on board, we began to drown. I struggled to stay afloat even by moving my hands in the water since I cannot swim, and as I grew tired, I could feel my body sinking to the river’s bottom until a well-wisher pulled me out,” said Govati.

    Govati on her bed at Kapiri amission Hospital

    An account from an eyewitness, Mercy Chechibisa from Chisamba village also from TA Gumba, revealed that the boat sank because it could not take the weight of the 22 people and their belongings.

    “The boat is meant to take 10 people but this time it had to take two times its capacity and when some passengers complained about the overloading the owner of the boat brushed off the complaints,” said Chechibisa.

    After getting the news about the accident Mchinji District Commissioner Fred Movete and the district civil protection committee (DCPC) rushed to the scene.

    According to Movete, 19 of those who were on board the boat were adults and three were children.

    “Five people have been rescued and the accident has been reported to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA) which has invited the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) Marine department from Monkey Bay to help search for the missing people,” said Movete.

    The survivors were rushed to Kapiri Mission Clinic and Mkanda Health Centre.