The Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale will this Saturday 23rd March engage Malawians in the diaspora
According to organisers of the event ,working alongside Malawi Diplomatic Missions and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hon Kawale diaspora interface will focus on the updates that the Ministry of Agriculture has been doing over the past few months and the available opportunities for the Diaspora in the area of Mega Farms and Agcom.
Diaspora investment in the agricultural sector has largely been an issue of discussion in the past and the current Minister is working from a mere talk and trying to set up actionable plans.
The event will be held using the Online Platform Zoom and is scheduled to start from 6pm Malawi Time.
Football has been described as benchmark for national unity Malawi President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has said this evening at Kamuzu Palace.
Addressing the four national teams of Zimbabwe the warriors , Kenya the Harambe Stars , Zambia Chipolopolo boys and the Malawi National team the frames, Chakwera said appreciate the role football plays in uniting people of different backgrounds.
Chakwera
“Football
unites people of different backgrounds to share in the joys and
sorrows of our shared humanity. Football teaches us anatomy,
strategy, symmetry, artistry, chivalry, camaraderie, integrity humility, and generosity,” he said.
Chakwera said Football provides a powerful metaphor
and model for all of life. “For we all know that to live in this world
victoriously involves mastering the multiple skills of knowing
the rules of life, tackling opposition to defend your values
without being disqualified, playing with less players than others
when you suffer fouls, taking the penalties of life with
composure, avoiding the offside traps and own goals that can
punish us when we lose concentration, healing our injuries and
wounds to stay in the game long term, and being a team player,”
He said Football is also an excellent training ground for giving
everything in achieving the dreams and learning to rise
from death and defeat when dreams come crashing down.
“Because we must not forget the words of Coach Thobejane, who
famously said that football can kill you a real death.
For these reasons and more, what a nation invests in its sports
is a reflection of how much value that nation places on its
health, its unity, its sense of identity, its youth, and its place in
the global village. For us in Malawi, we are determined to take
all the sports disciplines in which we have a competitive
advantage to the next level, and football is one of them,” he added.
The four senior football teams that
are camped here in our capital Lilongwe are all destined to compete in the Four Nations
Tournament.
Minister of Trade and Industry, Sosten Gwengwe, has emphasised government’s commitment to supporting agriculture cooperatives in mobilising resources through partnerships and collaborations to implement the mega farm strategy.
Gwengwe made these remarks today during a business breakfast organised by the Commercial Farmers Cooperative Society (COFACO) at Sunbird Capital Hotel in Lilongwe.
He highlighted that government will continue to assist cooperatives in finding markets both locally and internationally by leveraging international trade agreements, such as those in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Continental Free Trade Area, and the World Trade Organization.
Sosten Gwengwe
In addition, the minister urged cooperative farmers to increase the value of their products to create stronger international markets and improve the country’s productivity.
“By producing products with value addition, cooperative farmers can create robust international markets and enhance the country’s productivity through increased exports.
“It is clear that the government is committed to supporting agriculture cooperatives, and this is a great opportunity for farmers to take advantage of the available resources and partnerships to achieve success in their businesses,” he said.
Gwengwe also commended COFACO for using innovative approaches and scientific research, combined with traditional knowledge, to increase the productivity of their fields, diversify crops, boost their nutrition, and build climate resilience.
He indicated that Estimates suggest that the global food demand will increase by 70% by 2050, and this will need a robust investment in the agri-focused private sector.
Speaking earlier, Controller of Agriculture Extension and Technical Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, Alfred Mwenifumbo, highlighted the importance of the meeting to large-scale farmers saying farmers are getting interested to engage and hear more from prospective donors and financiers about mega farms.
In her remarks chairperson for COFACO, Hellen Chabunya said the organisation will continue with its commitment to working with government to improve and create sustainable agriculture systems and increased productivity.
President and Commander in Chief of Muvi wa Chilungamo Revolutionary Party (MRP) Bantu Saunders Jumah, says the Tonse Alliance government has no welfare of the people at heart claiming that they are there in government for looting public resources, nepotism and corruption.
Jumah said the Tonse Alliance government is a government that all Malawians suffered to bring in the much- needed change in government saying Public Sector Reforms (PSR) Report was the roadmap to develop the country from 6o years of poverty.
He said the Tonse Alliance government has taken full 5 years term of office without any action after the Taskforce submitted the Public Sector Reforms Report saying this is speaking to itself that few people in Malawi are benefiting of luxurious lives while many are suffering and dying of hunger.
Speaking through his face book page to millions of Malawians and Africans following him in the continent, Jumah said the Taskforce made a recommendation to government to stop giving allowances to MPs and stop buying luxurious cars for Ministers and Principal Secretaries.
Jumah said it is sad that the MCP led Tonse Alliance government is busy appeasing those clapping hands for nonsense claiming that MPs gets their sitting allowances in advance without attending parliamentary deliberations or even getting themselves absent.
He said MPs are choosing a school of their choice for their children and hospitals to go when they are sick within or outside the country, government is paying for the bills a clear testimony that MCP government don’t care about the welfare of its citizens and the future of the country.
The MRP President said Malawians are looking for leadership that has truth so that they can find space to ask it account for transparency and accountability claiming that in June, 2020 Malawians elected leaders who have mentality of 60 years.
He said Malawi needs Revolutionary voices to take stop of what happened in 60 years, it needs 3rd Age to cross a river to bring in truth, justice, reconciliation, to restore state institutions, stop corruption, nepotism and state plunder of public resources.
“In the 1ST Age 1964-1993 state institutions and Government arms were strengthened, the economy was stable, Malawians were able to see direction of their country, in the 2nd Age, state institutions collapsed, some were sold without thinking of tomorrow,” said Jumah.
He said Malawians are desperate and need the 3rd River (Age) to cross so that the mistakes made in the 1st and 2nd Rivers must not cross to the 3rd River saying there is need for the country to focus on the building the foundation of the 3rd Age.
Jumah said for Malawi to cross to the 3RD River, it needs revolutionary minds of mindset change with new ideas for all to have the spirit of rebuilding their country observing that the country is rich, it is able to pay 69 percent of its people who are MPs, Ministers, Presidents with huge allowances and buying luxury cars for Ministers and Principal Secretaries.
Point of Progress, a non-profit organization under the Her Future Her Choice project is spearheading a collaborative effort with partners Oxfam, FPAM, and CAVOWC to provide training in Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) and women’s rights.
The training targets community and religious leaders, as well as norm setters, with the goal of enhancing collaborative advocacy for gender equality.
Henderson Phiri
Henderson Phiri, a project officer at Point of Progress, emphasized the significant role that community leaders and norm setters play in shaping attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors within their communities.
“By equipping them with knowledge and understanding of women’s rights, we aim to foster positive social change and address gender inequalities at the grassroots level,” Phiri stated.
Key issue addressed by Phiri was the neglect of women by their husbands in making decisions about contraceptive methods, despite it being a woman’s right.
“Economic empowerment is also a concern, as assets like land are predominantly owned by men, leaving women vulnerable to gender-based violence due to a lack of negotiation power for safe sex and contraceptive use,” Phiri added.
To expand its reach and impact, the project recently enhanced the capacity of 22 norm setters in Malili and Chimutu, Lilongwe, to promote and protect women’s rights within their communities. These norm setters include religious leaders and chiefs.
“Chiefs are the custodians of community norms, and religious leaders oversee beliefs and faith-related issues. We aim to create networks and foster collaboration among them in advocating for women’s rights. By empowering them with the necessary skills, we ensure they are unified in their approach to enhancing women’s rights, ” Phiri further explained.
In addition to training, Point of Progress is conducting numerous awareness campaigns and sensitization to further the cause.
