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Chimwendo urges local authorities to resist political influence in contractor selection

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Chimwendo urges local authorities to resist political influence in contractor selection

By Chisomo Phiri

Minister of Local Government, Unity, and Culture Richard Chimwendo Banda has urged local authorities to resist political influence when selecting contractors, citing historical evidence that such influence undermines procurement processes and ultimately impacts project execution.

Speaking at the quarterly coordination meeting in Blantyre on Wednesday, Chimwendo emphasized the importance of efficient procurement processes in ensuring timely and quality service delivery.

Chimwendo



The minister acknowledged that political interference in procurement processes is a significant challenge, with some politicians imposing their preferred contractors on local authorities.

He called on members of parliament and other influential politicians to refrain from interfering in procurement processes, stressing that such actions can delay project implementation and compromise quality service delivery.

Chimwendo also announced that donors will provide $40 million through the Government Enabled to Service Delivery (GESD) project to support various projects in local authorities across Malawi.

He urged local authorities to improve financial management and procurement procedures to ensure effective utilization of these funds.

The minister emphasized the need for local authorities to learn from each other and discuss areas of improvement in service delivery to meet citizens’ development aspirations.

He also highlighted the importance of coordination between local authorities and development partners in ensuring effective service delivery.

On his part,Thyolo District Commissioner(DC) Hudson Kuphanga acknowledged the challenge of political interference in procurement processes and emphasized the need to stick to procurement guidelines to ensure transparency and accountability.

The quarterly coordination meeting brought together local authorities, development partners, and other stakeholders to discuss issues ranging from financial management to climate change resilience.

The meeting was opened by Deputy Minister of Local Government, Unity, and Culture Owen Chomanika, who called on local authorities to coordinate with development partners for effective service delivery.

MACRA set to roll out NAS project in Nkhotakota

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MACRA set to roll out NAS project in Nkhotakota



By Chisomo Phiri

Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) says it is ready to begin implementing the National Addressing System (NAS) project in Nkhotakota district.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting in Nkhotakota on Monday, MACRA’s NAS Manager, Limbani Sekani, revealed that the project is expected to have numerous benefits, including increasing revenue through ease of tax collection, improving accuracy in census information collection, and promoting tourism, among others.

Sekani explained that the project, in line with Section 124 of the Communications Act of 2016, will involve identifying and naming streets and roads, numbering houses according to the new system, marking and naming prominent buildings, and other measures to ensure the project’s smooth and effective implementation.

Nkhotakota South Constituency Lawmaker, Brainex Kaisi, commended the initiative, saying it will solve the challenges local scholars faced when applying for international opportunities due to the lack of zip or postcodes.

Limbani Sekani

Kaisi agreed with Sekani that the project will help boost and promote tourism activities in the district.

“When Malawians apply for international opportunities, there is a section that requires one’s zip or postcode.For Malawians, especially from Nkhotakota, people have failed to complete such applications, meaning that the coming of this project will conform Malawi to international standards of location identification.

“This will assist us to stand on par with other countries in opportunities, boost trade, and tourism, as addressing systems make identifying tourist sites easier,” said Kaisi.

District Deputy Council Chairperson, Fiton Khofi, hailed MACRA for the initiative but requested the regulator to continue spreading information about the project throughout the district for maximum sensitization and awareness.

Man arrested for murdering brother over debt

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Man arrested for murdering brother over debt

By Chisomo Phiri

A 32-year-old Masautso Chigwetsa is in police custody at Mitundu Police Station for allegedly murdering his brother, Chokonoka Chigwetsa, 34, in a dispute over a debt.

According to reports, the incident occurred on August 17, 2024, at around 22:00 hours, when Chokonoka, who was intoxicated, visited Masautso’s residence to collect a debt.

Masautso Chigwetsa



The encounter turned violent, resulting in Masautso assaulting Chokonoka with a wooden stick, causing him to fall unconscious.

Relatives rushed Chokonoka to Mlale Mission Hospital, where doctors referred him to Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) for further treatment.

Unfortunately, Chokonoka was pronounced dead on August 19, 2024, at around 20:00 hours, before being transferred to KCH.

A postmortem examination conducted by medical personnel from Mitundu Rural Hospital revealed that Chokonoka died from internal bleeding caused by the assault.

Masautso, who hails from Mbofana Village, Traditional Authority(T/A) Masula in Lilongwe District, will soon appear in court to face murder charges.

Malawi records two suspected cases of Mpox

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Malawi records two suspected cases of Mpox

By Chisomo Phiri

Malawi has recorded two suspected cases of Mpox in Blantyre.

According to Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, these are a 31-year-old man, and a 17-year-old boy.

She says the suspected cases are being closely monitored, one at the hospital and one at home.

Kandodo



“These suspected cases are under control, and we are working with Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Programme to ensure we test the samples,“ she says .

Chiponda has however, urged the public to practice good hygiene to prevent further spread of the disease.

Mpox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus.

It can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes and fever.

Most people fully recover, but some get very sick.

IPOR research finds telephone interviews ideal for disaster data collection

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IPOR research finds telephone interviews ideal for disaster data collection

By Chisomo Phiri

A recent study by the Institute of Public Opinion and Research (IPOR) has revealed that telephone interviews are the best way to collect data during natural disasters.

According to the Institute’s Director of Training and Programs,Professor Michael Chasukwa, the key advantage of this method is its affordability.

He made these remarks on Wednesday during the dissemination of findings from a survey on Malawi Rapid Mortality.

Professor Michael Chasukwa



“In research, you need resources, so telephone interviews would help reduce the cost of data collection while still collecting important data that informs decision-making,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Andrew Jamali, Head of Research at the National Planning Commission, has praised the research, arguing that it is crucial for the nation to achieve its development blueprint, Malawi 2063.

IPOR is a research organisation that specializes in surveys and Social Science research, advisory and consulting services based in Zomba.

The organization has been operating since 2014.

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