The Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has bemoaned lack of capacity to handle sexual harassment cases in respect of the Gender Equality Act of 2013 among some public and private sector institutions in the country.
Speaking to the members of the press on Monday, MHRC Deputy Director for gender and women’s rights Deborah Tambulasi Banda, said this has now affected reporting and dispute resolution mechanisms within institutions, with many victims failing to report cases for fear of reprisals.
” There is still lack of seriousness among some private and public sector institutions in the way they can handle asexual harassment cases.
“This is affecting the way how we can combat this problem,” said Banda.
Deborah Tambulasi Banda
On his part, chairperson for Gender Coordination Network( GCR) Barbra Banda concurred with MHRC and urged institutions to train their personnel for them to be able to handle gender related issues.
” Let us have individuals who are well trained to deal with gender related issues in our several institutions ,” urged Banda.
In the law, Section 7 of the Gender Equality Act of 2013, encourages institutions to develop sexual harassment policies and create conducive environment for the employees, while section 6, prohibits all acts of sexual harassment in institutions both private and public.
Government through ministry of Water and Sanitation has disclosed that the Lilongwe – Salima water project will start this year.
The Project which is expected to extract water from Lake Malawi in Salima to Lilongwe, to address water challenges in Lilongwe and surrounding areas has been delayed due to many challenges.
Among the challenges, the government has been having issues with financiers of the project ‘Quay Energy’ which has been struggling to raise the necessary financing for the Project.
Khato Civils through Quay Energy was mandated to secure about K322 billion for the project which the government already gave a sovereign guarantee for, but this hasn’t happened.
In an interview with local media on Monday, Elias Chimulambe Principal Secretary for the ministry of Water and Sanitation said now the government has found another financier and the project is ready to be rolled out this year.
Meanwhile, the Central Region Water Board (CRWB) revealed that it needs over K583.5 billion for its water projects in the region.
On his part, engineer John Makwenda Chief Executive Officer for CRWB said the flagship water projects are estimated to help a population of over 700.
After meeting the natural resources committee of Parliament, Makwenda said they are at the moment looking for funds to finance the projects.
He said, some of the projects are; Namitete -Nsundwe water project, Bua-Chinkhoma, Dwangwa water supply and Nkhamenya water supply project.
At the moment, Werani Chilenga Chairperson for Natural resources committee of Parliament has pledged support to the water board for them to get the necessary financing.
One of the country’s leading research and training consultancy firms, Excellence Assured has opened its new centre in the commercial city of Blantyre.
In an interview, the company’s Founder and Chairman Chipiliro Mizere, said the new centre which is located at Chichiri primary school, will operate on weekends, both Saturdays and Sundays, from 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM.
“We are proud to offer a comprehensive curriculum that includes courses in Monitoring and Evaluation, Data Entry and Analysis, and Accounting.
“Our faculty are well-versed in these areas and have a wealth of experience and expertise to impart to our students,” said Mizere.
He added that on on top of the course offerings at new centre, the company will also be providing consulting services to Non-Governmental Organizations ( NGOs) covering areas of research, data collection, survey design, funding advisory and writing, and reporting to donor services.
Said Mizere “Our company employees are well-versed in these areas and have a wealth of experience and expertise to impart to our clients.”
He said the new students who register for their courses on or before January 21, 2023, will receive a complimentary t-shirt from the institution and that those willing to register, should contact the company on 0996982449.
” We are confident that the Excellence Assured Center in Blantyre will make a valuable contribution to the community and we look forward to serving you andi helping you achieve your goals,” concluded Mizere.
Established in 2014 by a group of student leaders at the University of Malawi, Chancellor College, Excellence Assured is one of the Malawi’s best and affordable research and training companies.
The company’s mission is to provide comprehensive knowledge and skills in research and data analysis to non-science students, who may not have had access to these types of education before.
After its members graduated, Excellence Assured continued to operate in major cities across Malawi, offering training and consulting services to individuals and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
On Friday January 13,2023, UNICEF handed over lifesaving health and water, hygiene, and sanitation supplies worth MK300 million to support the Government of Malawi’s scale-up efforts to halt the ongoing cholera outbreak.
UNICEF received the support from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) to secure these supplies and chartered a special flight to bring them on time to Malawi.
The supplies include Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) kits to support health facilities and communities, high-performance tents, compound sodium lactate, doxycycline, paracetamol, and cannulas, among others.
On January 12, 2023, the Ministry of Health reported 589 new cholera cases, making the cumulative number of confirmed cases 23, 217 since March 2022, when the first case was registered.
Cholera has spread across all 29 districts of Malawi, with a case fatality rate of 3.33 per cent, much higher than the global 1 per cent threshold.
“We will continue to support the Ministry of Health to scale up the cholera response.
“We appreciate the tireless efforts from frontline health and community workers to manage the influx of cholera cases.
” With 6,269 children already affected and 104 deaths, the spread of this outbreak is a threat to the health and wellbeing of children,” said UNICEF Malawi’s Country Representative, Rudolf Schwenk.
The supplies arrive at a critical time after Malawi’s Office of the President and Cabinet appealed to the public and all partners to join and support the fight against cholera.
The Minister of Health, Khumbize Kandodo who is also a co-chairperson of the Presidential Taskforce on Coronavirus, mentioned in the appeal that the sought support was meant to cover gaps experienced in the prevention, control, and management of cholera cases across Malawi.
Since the outbreak was declared in March last year, UNICEF has been working closely with WHO and other partners to support the Ministry of Health with oral cholera vaccines, setting up cholera camps, providing hygiene and sanitation kits at the health facility and community level, medical supplies, and provision of safe and clean water.
On 5 December, the President of Malawi declared the cholera outbreak a public health emergency due to the surge of complex cholera cases.
In Malawi, a total of 29 districts have reported cholera cases since the confirmation of the first case in March 2022 in Machinga district.
The outbreak has been controlled in two districts.
In the last 14 days, the disease has been reported in 27 districts.
As of January 12, 2023, a total of 458 new cases, 17 new deaths were reported.
The cumulative confirmed cases and deaths reported since the onset of the outbreak is 23, 217 and 773 deaths respectively, with case fatality rate at 3.33%.
A total of 21, 558 people have recovered and 886 are currently in the treatment centres.
President Lazarus Chakwera has described one of the county’s historical heroes late Reverend John Chilembwe as a selfless and patriotic man, a hero, whose vision was for the benefit of all Malawians, and not only his clan, tribe or religion.
Speaking at the commemoration of Chilembwe day held at Providence Industrial Mission ( PIM) in Chiradzulu on Sunday, Chakwera asked Malawians to emulate the spirit of patriotism and selflessness.
The Malawi leader said, if people continue to back bite, speak ill of others and pull each other down, Malawi will not develop.
” John Chilembwe’s courage in emancipating natives from inhumane treatment by colonial formations remains an indelible symbol of national sacrifice to this day.
“We should, therefore, continue drawing valuable lessons of patriotism from 108 years ago and let the same orient our current quest of shaping a new Malawi with shared prosperity,” said Chakwera.
On his part, Culture and Tourism minister Michael Usi bemoaned the tendency by Malawians in castigating their leaders.
Usi said, most Malawians are busy calling president Lazarus Chakwera and his vice Saulos Chilima names despite the efforts and progress they are making for the good of the country.
Said Usi ‘’God” will judge reprimand those who speak evil of their leaders.”
Born in June, 1872 and died on February 3, 1915, John Nkologo Chilembwe was a Baptist pastor, educator and revolutionary who trained as a minister in the United States, returning to Nyasaland in 1901.
He was an early figure in the resistance to colonialism in Nyasaland (Malawi), opposing both the treatment of Africans working in agriculture on European-owned plantations and the colonial government’s failure to promote the social and political advancement of Africans.
Soon after the outbreak of the First World War, Chilembwe organised an unsuccessful armed uprising against colonial rule.
