Malawi First Lady Monica Chakwera has been appointed Malawi’s tuberculosis (TB) Champion, a role which has been described by health activists and experts as an epitome of strong political will and commitment to end the vice by the year 2030.
Madam Chakwera has been crowned the new role on Wednesday during a meeting with the National TB and Leprosy Elimination Program (NTLEP), PARADISO TB Patients Trust and the National Organization of Nurses and Midwives.
As TB Champion, the first lady is expected to lead the country’s efforts in mobilizing financial resources towards TB; fighting stigma and discrimination towards TB affected populations; advocate for better nutrition for TB patients; advocate for multi-sectoral participation as well as promoting community engagement in the fight against TB.
Madam Monica Chakwera appointed Champion of TB
Program Manager for the NTLEP Dr. James Mpunga said by assuming the new role as TB Champion, “that in itself signifies a huge milestone in the country’s efforts towards ending TB by 2030 and a strong demonstration at the highest level of the country’s commitment to end TB”.
He said the TB sector is humbled by Her Excellency’s interest in ensuring that the glaring gender disparities that exist in TB response as well as stigma and discrimination are alleviated.
TB remains the biggest cause of death among people living with HIV and in Malawi the TB/HIV coinfection remains high at 45%.
Just like many other countries across the globe, Malawi is implementing the End TB Strategy which aims at ensuring reduction in number of TB deaths compared with 2015, reduction in TB incidence rate compared with 2015, among others.
Experts including lawyers and economists banged heads to fine-tune the Competition and Fair Trading (CFT) Bill expected to be tabled in Parliament in November this year.
Speaking during a validation workshop for the bill and Competition and Fair Trading Regulations in Blantyre, Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) Executive Director, Lloyds Vincent Nkhoma, said,it was important that the two get fined-tuned before they are tabled in the August House.
“We want all stakeholders to be aware of what is contained in the bill and the regulations so that they do not get surprised once they have been enacted into law and are being enforced,” said Nkhoma.
Experts scrutinizing CFT bill
He added that CFTC believes that with the consultations, stakeholders will make proposals to the provisions and own the provisions in the two pieces of legislation.
After the validations, he said, the bill will be taken for vetting after which it is expected to be tabled in Parliament.
First Lady Madam Monica Chakwera has launched Unifying campaign, which is aimed at closing the gender gap in education, health and economic empowerment in Malawi.
The campaign will run up until September 2024 under the theme:”#We are Equal: closing the gap in Education, Health and economic Empowerment”.
Speaking during the launch of the campaign at Dowa Community Ground on Monday, Madam Chakwera said the begining of the campaign is a significant journey needs pto walk together to bridge the gender gap between girls, boys, women and men.
“Malawi can benefit from the outcome of this campaign by working together to ensure equal education, health care and economic empowerment opportunities,” she emphasized.
Madam Chakwera lamented the alarming educational statistics in the country intertwined with poor health and Economic outcomes.
According to her, school enrollment in public secondary schools remains low at 15 per cent (387,569 students only in 2022), with girls accounting for only 34 per cent (131,773 students).
First Lady Madam Monica Chakwera
She said the major contributing factors being family responsibilities, lack of school fees, teenage pregnancies and child marriages.
Madam Chakwera said failure to protect girls and keeping them in school has brought devastating consequences and impedes the development of Malawi, adding that when girls are not in school they are either married, pregnant or living in abusive marriages.
It is heartbreaking to know that Malawi is among the topmost countries with highest number of child marriages in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region with Mozambique topping the list, she said.
Madam Chakwera further said the consequences of child marriages are dire including preventable deaths in childbirth, high rates of HIV/Aids among adolescents, significant levels of gender-based violence among others.
“We are slowly killing our girls and the future of Malawi as we fail to keep them in school and protect them from child marriages, gender based violence and teenage pregnancies,” she said.
Madam Chakwera therefore urged chiefs, stakeholders, politicians, parents and individuals to commit themselves by taking bold actions to ensure that girls get equal education opportunities and have better health and economic empowerment outcomes.
Chairperson for Unifying campaign in Malawi, Dr Owen Chikhwaza the country is not doing well in the three pillars of education, health and economic empowerment.
“If this trajectory continues, we are actually heading towards destroying the country,” saying this campaign will help as there are objectives to sensitize leaders, role modelling and labs to train girls, provision of scholarships,” he said.
Family Health Services (FHS) Deputy Executive Director, Chiwawa Nkhoma said the campaign is very important as it brings awareness to the communities in bridging the gender gap.
“There are alot of gender differences in opportunities between men, women, girls and boys which have an impact especially on girls and women,” she said.
The Unifying campaign is a platform for advocacy, policy influence and implemention to close the gender disparities across countries. It was launched by first ladies in Africa under Organization of African First Ladies in Development (OAFLAD) in June, 2023 in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Deputy Minister of Education Nancy Chaola Mdooko has expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the construction works at Linthipe Day Secondary School and Dzenza Community Day Secondary School under Quality and Learning at Secondary (EQUALS) project.
Mdooko, alongside the legislator for Dedza Central East Constituency, Joshua Malango, inspected the construction of a twin hostel block, kitchen, multi-purpose hall and a matron’s house on Monday at Linthipe Day Secondary School.
While at Dzenza Community Day Secondary School, the deputy minister inspected a classroom block.
She said there is progress which has been made as the construction works are at an advanced stage.
“We have seen that the works are nearly completion despite few challenges encountered which have delayed the works,” she said.
Hon. Nancy Chaola Mdooko and other officials inspecting hostels at Linthipe CDSS
Mdooko assured that in few months to come the buildings will be ready for operation.
Headteacher for Linthipe School, Nover Kamthunzi said the hostels will attract many learners especially girls to complete their secondary education.
“The school has students who are commuting mainly because of lack of proper accomodation like hostel. This is a major challenge for a girl child to complete her education,” he said.
Linthipe School hall under construction
Therefore, he said, the coming of the hostel will reduce school dropouts.
Site Engineer for Chinjoka Building Contractors, Tisborn Mkandawire,said, The construction works at the CDSS started in February, 2018 and was expected to complete in September 2019 but failed to complete due to erratic funding, rising cost of materials which led to abandonment of the works at the site.
“This time around , we are expecting to complete in three months time. We have reached 85 per cent towards completion,” he said.
The contract sum is MK794, 514, 658.25 and so far MK694, 626,012.95 had been paid.
Mkandawire said they are remaining with external works, water tank, paintings and fittings.
However, legislature for the area, Malango expressed gratitude for the developments which are taking place in his constituency.
However, the Government of Malawi through the Ministry of Education with support from the World Bank through a credit facility of USD90 million, is implementing the Equity with Quality and Learning at Secondary (EQUALS) Project in 13 selected districts of Malawi including Dedza.
The Project seeks to improve the quality of mathematics and science instruction in Community Day Secondary Schools and increase access to secondary education in remote areas. EQUALS commenced the civil works which are scheduled for completion by December 2023.
Ministry of Mines has disclosed that there has been a reduction of tuberculosis (TB) cases in the mining sector unlike in the past where more cases were detected.
Chief Inspector of Explosive in the Ministry, Zutu Liabunya, told reporters in Lilongwe after a three-day workshop and tour organized by Ministry of Mines in collaboration with Ministries of Labour and Health on Occupational Safety, Health, Environment and Community (OSHEC) and mining inorder to promote understanding and awareness held in Mponela, Dowa.
Liabunya attributed the significant reduction due to a number of factors which have been put in place in collaboration with stakeholders including the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Elimination Program (NTLEP) and the two ministries of Health and Labour.
Chief Inspector of Explosives in the Ministry of Mining, Zuti Liabunya
“We were actively working together as ministries to engage miners and the communities around the mining area so that they realize the adverse effects of mining in terms of dust and other respiratory diseases that can cause tuberculosis,” he said.
Liabunya said they intensified awareness to the miners and the community themselves which has played a major part in the reduction of incidences of TB.
He added that surveillance in the mining areas like early identification, testing and interventions have contributed to the reduction.
Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) Principal Medical Officer, Dr Yusuf Mtende, acknowledged that the country is winning the fight against TB in mines because of diagnosis intensification.
“The Ministry of Health through NTLEP have introduced mobile vans to move around mining areas as well as encouraging people to go for screening,” he said.
KCH Principal Medical Officer, Dr Yusuf Mtende
Despite the reduction, Mtende said, they are still intensifying their efforts to get everyone around mining areas screened and if found with the disease should immediately be put on treatment.
TB is treatable if a person found with the disease follow prescription when taking the drugs without defaulting, he said.
Dr Mtende however commended Southern Africa TB and Health System Support (SATBSS) for coming up with the program aimed at intensifying efforts in the fight against TB in the mining sector.
Minister of Mining, Monica Chang’anamuno has awarded 12 students from Lilongwe North Constituency with learning materials and cash for their outstanding performance in the 2023 Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSLCE).
Chang’anamuno handed over to each student a suitcase, Back bag, notebooks, pens, beddings and cash at a function held on Saturday at Atsikana Pa Ulendo School in the constituency.
She said the materials will help them prepare for for a new journey in Secondary Schools they are going.
Chang’anamuno poses for a group photo with the best perfuming students
“I just want to celebrate, encourage and motivate these learners who have performed well during the 2023 PSLCE in this constituency,” she said.
Chang’anamuno urged the students to work hard to complete their secondary school education so that they are able to go to university.
Primary Education Advisor for Kabuthu Zone, Efrida Ndau, commended the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area for presenting gifts to the stars in the just passed PSLCE.
“In life once you are motivated, recognized, is a factor that can motivate you to do better and progress,” she said.
Christina Muyewanga, one of the best performers expressed happiness after receiving the gifts from MP Chang’anamuno.
Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) has embarked on a project called “Better Quality of Service (QoS) in Malawi to improve telecommunication services in the country.
The project will run from August 25th, 2023, to February 25th, 2024.
Macra Director of Telecommunications Edward Kauka disclosed this during the opening of a QoS meeting for stakeholders in the communication and representatives of consumers held Tuesday in Lilongwe.
He said the project among others aims to assess the current state of mobile network services in terms of QoS parameters, identify areas that require improvement to enhance the user experience, collaborate with local stakeholders and mobile network operators to implement targeted strategies as well as implement solutions that will lead to measurable and sustainable improvements in QoS.
“We believe that this project will significantly enhance the quality of mobile network services and better overall user satisfaction,” he said.
Stakeholders in Telecommunications attending Quality of Service meeting
Kauka said people are indeed living in an era of highly interconnected digital ecosystems saying as ICT sector advances so does our dependence.
He said people are now using ICT in government (e-Government), economy (e-Commerce), health (e-Health), education and security processes.
” ICT has become the backbone on which we are building our lives.The onset of the digital era revolutionized our way of life and set us on the course of innovation and immense technological advancements that made it possible to develop systems and networks that can organize, store, manipulate and analyze vast quantities of data,” he said.
As a Regulator of ICT, Kauka said their goal in this information era is to ensure the provision of communications services for a digitally transformed nation.
He said: “We aim to provide a conducive and enabling environment for the growth of cyberspace and the digital economy. We cannot transform digitally if we lack quality of service on ICT services.”
Kauka further said If Malawi is to achieve digital transformation and build a resilient digital economy, she needs communication services that are reliable and accessible by all.
Kapito: The Country’s mobile operators need to improve
Consumer Association of Malawi (CAMA) Executive Director, John Kapito commended Macra for coming up with the initiative to monitor telecommunications services in the country.
“There are so many complaints in the telecommunications sector especially with the mobile services,” he said.
Kapito said mobile operators must do better in offering services to Malawians.
The Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) has faulted Illovo Sugar Malawi plc for the alleged unconscionable conduct and misleading in sugar price increase.
CFTC Executive Director Lloyds Vincent Nkhoma told reporters in Lilongwe on Tuesday about the recent decisions by the Commission following its 67th meeting.
He said in January 2023, CFTC commenced investigations against Illovo and the investigations were commenced following complaints that the Commission received from October 2022 subsequent to the publication of a press statement by the company informing the general public of a sugar price increase.
In the said press statement, the company indicated that the reason for the price increase was to curb the conduct of smuggling sugar out of the country. The said statement stated that the devaluation of the local currency resulted in a reduction in the cost of exports, including Illovo sugar and, as such, some traders in the neighbouring countries were smuggling the product from Malawi.
“As a remedy to the problem, Illovo resolved to increase the price of Illovo sugar to make the product expensive on the local market, and thus curb the smuggling of sugar into the neighbouring countries,” he said.
Adding that the complainants alleged that the reasons for the price increase were unjustified considering that they are not reflective of the economic factors prevailing on the market.
In addition, the reasons stated by the company were not related to the company’s cost of production of sugar.
Nkhoma (L) speaking during the press briefing
The Complainants submitted that the conduct by Illovo substantially infringes on the welfare of consumers in the country, particularly during a period of already prevailing economic hardships, he said.
During Consideration of the findings of the Secretariat, he said, the Commission noted that Illovo did not dispute that they increased the price of sugar because they wanted to reduce illegal smuggling of sugar.
The Commission also noted that the the company did not dispute that the price increase was not as a result of production costs.
In its assessment, Nkhoma said, the Commission established that as much as the reasons for the price increase were communicated to the public through a press release, the reasons given were not justifiable and consequently, the increase substantially infringed on consumer welfare.
“The Commission reasoned that, if the reason for the increase was indeed meant to protect and control the availability of sugar in Malawi so that consumers in the end are protected, Illovo company should have engaged the rightful authorities to curb smuggling, and not take it upon themselves to increase the price of sugar under the notion of curbing smuggling which is not their mandate,” he said.
The Commission also noted with concern that from the submissions it appeared that the company benefited and took advantage of consumers by using a purported fear of shortage of their product on the market to effect an unjustifiable increase of sugar price.
The Commission, therefore, found that, the reason for the price increase was unjustifiable, irrational and adversely affected consumers, he said.
In this regard, Nkhoma said, the Commission determined that the conduct by the company was in contravention of Section 43(1)(g) of the CFTA.
However, the Commission resolved that Illovo should be prosecuted for violating S43(1)(g) of the CFTA, saying the investigations report should therefore be submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)for prosecution.
They also resolved that the Commission should issue an advisory note to the Ministry of Trade and Industry to ensure that the supply of essential commodities such as sugar are not shielded from import competition in situations where the domestic beneficiaries under the Control of Goods Act are abusing their dominant positions or engaging in unfair trading practices have the mandate to control smuggling using price or any other means.
Minister of Trade and Industry Simplex Chithyola Banda has emphasized the critical role export credit finance plays in promoting trade and investment, also as an essential tool for boosting exports facilitation.
Chithyola Banda made the remarks on Monday during the opening of a three-day strategic training on Export Credit Finance in Lilongwe.
He said export credit finance is a very strategic area for Malawi as it augers well with the vision of the administration of His Excellency the President, Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, as the country strive to achieve a Malawi that is an inclusively wealthy and self-reliant export-led industrialized upper middle income country by 2063.
“Many African countries, Malawi inclusive, have rich natural resources that hold the tremendous potential for increased export activity, but we often lack either the financial resources or innovative financial instruments to fully exploit them to our economic advantage,” he said.
According to him, the recently operationalized African Continent Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement opened up vast regional trade opportunities, as it creates a unified market with over 1.2 billion people and a gross domestic product (GDP) of $2.5 trillion.
Chithyola Banda speaking during the opening of a three-day strategic training on Export Credit Finance in Lilongwe
However, Banda said, for businesses within the SADC Region to be able to exploit such vast opportunities, there is need for access to finance to bring goods and services to these markets.
He added that his Ministry is aware of the growing demands for our country and other countries within the SADC region to expand export trade footprints within the African region and even beyond by growing the existing markets and opening frontier markets.
He said: “With such calls, the issue of export credit finance is becoming even more important. Adding that
as a region we need sound export credit finance functions that should ably enable export trade in a safe, value adding, and sustainable manner.”
But for this to materialise, Banda said, countries need to constantly invest in skills and capacities to complement efforts of growing and diversifying export credit finance schemes and instruments that are available within the region and beyond.
Southern African Development Community -Development Finance Cooperation and Resources (SADC-DFCR) Chief Executive Officer, Stuart Kufeni said the development of strong skills base for financial sector particularly national development finance Institutions who are mandated by governments to mobilize resources for the development of key sectors like agriculture, industry, Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) is of utmost importance.
“Not only is a staff well capacitated with requisite skills crucial for the performance of an institution but also for its long term financial sustainability,” he said.
Export Development Fund (EDF) Chief Executive Officer, Frederick Chanza said export credit finance serves as a lifeline for economies like Malawi to tap into the immense potential of international trade.
A cross section of participants
“With limited resources, the support of export support agencies becomes essential to fund ambitious projects that can boost our economic growth,” he said.
Chanza added that the agencies also alleviate the risks associated with cross-border transactions, making them a vital partner in the journey towards economic prosperity.
However, the training has been designed to empower the professionals to deepen their knowledge of export and trade credit for improved export finance landscape among others.
The Ministry of Homeland Security has planned to put on auction the containers that were confiscated during the relocation exercise of refugees to Dzaleka Camp should the owners fail to avail and bring relevant documents permitting them to do business in the country.
The decision has come as on 28th, August,2023, the Ministry of Homeland Security in conjunction with the Malawi Police service will open and search the 125 containers that were confiscated during the relocation exercise of refugees to Dzaleka Camp in Dowa district.
Homeland Security minister Kenneth Zikhale Ng’oma wondered as the owners of the containers are not availing themselves to claim for their properties.
Ng’oma added that the containers will be auctioned if the owners will not come on the set date.
Zikhale Ng’oma: Govt will auction containers whose owners will not come on 28th August 2023
Ng’oma further stated that the money realised from the auction of the containers will go back to the government account where it will be used for development activities.
The minister clarified that the containers have not been tampered with,saying that every thing as regards to the containers is still intact.
He emphasized that the exercise to open and search the containers has been arranged in the spirit of transparency and accountability.
“All containers have remained locked since,the crimes suspected to have been committed include illegal possession of firearms, foreign currency and machines for printing out fake currency, illegal purchase of minerals and farm produce to mention a few,” Ng’oma said.
Some of the areas where the containers were confiscated include; Mgona and Chinsapo in Lilongwe.
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