The Chikwawa District Council has welcomed the government’s initiative to establish a Civic Education Hub in the district, citing its potential to promote peace, stability, and human rights.
The hub’s establishment was approved by the District Executive Committee, and Director of Administration for Chikwawa District Council, Dr. Sandram Naluso, believes it will resolve community conflicts and foster development.
Dr. Naluso made the remarks at Chikwawa Council chamber after the District Executive Committee approved the establishment of the Civic Education Hub by the Department of Civic Education in the Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture.
Naluso
According to Dr. Naluso, the hub will play a crucial role in educating communities on their roles and responsibilities, which will, in turn, promote development.
The Civic Education Hub is expected to address various community issues, including conflicts and misunderstandings, by promoting civic awareness and education.
Dr. Naluso added that with the hub, communities will understand their role in development, which will lead to a more cohesive and progressive society.
Dr. Misheck Munthali, Director of Civic Education in the Department of National Unity, said the Civic Education Hub is in line with Vision 2063, Enabler number one, which looks at positive mindset change.
The hub’s establishment is a step towards achieving this goal, and Dr. Munthali believes it will have a significant impact on the community.
New officer in-charge for Lumbadzi Police Station Deputy commissioner, Dennis Banda says the station is geared to ensure it promotes peaceful coexistence with members of the community ahead of September 16 General Elections.
He said this when he had a lecture with officers at the station.
Banda said: “We will ensure that we promote a culture of peaceful co-existence irrespective of the political divide that we have.”
H
Banda
e said the police will also ensure that there is team work and a sense of responsibility and participation between the police and members of the community to ensure peace and security.
Banda also said his office will ensure that it intensifies police visibility in the area to help fight criminal activities not only in the area but country as a whole.
He finally urged the officers to be disciplined and refrain from indulging in promiscuous behaviours.
Assistant Superintendent Golden Umali applauded the officer in- change for the meeting saying it will help inculcate discipline amongst the officers at the station and reduce crime.
The UN Women says its project Malawi Girls Can Code Too (MGCC2) has made Malawian girls and young women to be economically empowered through increased digital access and technology adoption in line with the Malawi Implementation Plan (MIP 2063 Enabler).
The project which is being implemented in the three districts of Balaka, Dowa and Mzimba is aimed at reducing the digital gender divide and economically empower girls and young women by 20217 by providing skills IN coding, entrepreneurship, gender and digital literacy.
The project has the specific outcomes of seeing to it that there’s more gender-balanced digital access and technology adoption among rural and urban girls, boys, and young women in Malawi by 2026 in the three districts of Mzimba, Dowa and Balaka.
Diana Nyirenda-girls are gaining coding and digital literacy skills
Presenting the project’s progress report for year 1 and 2 to the District executive committee (Dec) in Dowa, UN Women Programme Consultant Diana Nyirenda, said the project has achieved its project’s key strategic focus areas which are that girls gain coding and digital literacy skills to become ICT professionals and improved access to digital services, gender and entrepreneurship information for professional growth.
Nyirenda said in Year 1 five pilot innovation Hubs were established in Balaka, Dowa and Mzimba enrolling 40 students, 70% girls and 30% boys per targeted school saying in Dowa, Dowa Secondary school, Mvera CDSS and Natola CDSS were targeted, Cohort 1 of the innovation hubs completed.
She said in Year 2 there were five new additional Hubs were established,2 in Dowa at Kambulu CDSS and Senga CDSS, 1 in Mzimba and 2 in Balaka saying Community School management committees were sensitized, 76 Lead Teachers including head teachers were trained as Trainer of Trainers (ToTs) for 406 students enrolled.
The Programme Consultant said the project has targeted and supported a total of five schools in Dowa, 35 teachers inclusive of Head teachers and Division office have received training in ICT skills as Trainer of Trainers (ToTs). Learner have attained knowledge in coding for example, students at Dowa Secondary school are creating an app that will provide solutions to solve food insecurity in the community. Most girls participating in the innovation hubs have demonstrated interest in pursuing careers in ICT and tech entrepreneurship
“76 teachers have been oriented attained skills on the management of installed gadgets and ICT equipment and branding of innovation hubs in all the 14 targeted schools was completed,” said Nyirenda.
However, Nyirenda said the project is meeting some challenges citing internet issues and ICT team support saying MGCC2 is transforming rural schools and is encouraging girls in technology calling for the need for continuous stakeholder support.
In her remarks, Dowa District Council’s Director of Planning and Development Mercy Mpakule, urged sectore to encourage girls and young women in the district to to participated in such initiatives and attain enroll with the UN Women for digital skills observing that everything nowadays has gone digital.
Mpakule urged partners to support the project so that Dowa young women and girls are economically empowered through increased digital access to become ICT professionals not only for their communities but the country as a whole.
Malawi Girls Can Code TOO (MGCC2) project is funded by the Irish Embassy and is being implemented by UN Women in the three districts of Balaka, Dowa and Mzimba in collaboration with Ministry of Education and Ministry of Genderof Local Government.
First Capital Bank (FCB) chairman, Hitesh Anadkat on Sunday spoiled Silver Strikers players by giving them K1 million each for emerging champions of the FCB 30 years Trophy at Bingu Stadium in Lilongwe.
The Central Bankers thumped FCB Nyasa Big Bullets 2-0 in a highly-contested match that was organised to mark the climax of the celebration of FCB’s 30 years anniversary in the country.
The stadium, filled with enthusiastic fans from both sides, got into wild excitement and cheering after the director of ceremony announced that Anadkat would reward the champions K1 million for each player.
Energised but the zeal to fight for both pride and the cash reward, Silver Strikers started on a high scoring nine minutes into the game through Binwell Katinji.
Few minutes later, Bullets retaliated with few chances on target, but both Lameck Gamphani and Paul Master were unlucky to convert them into goals.
To show superiority in their own land, the Bankers added another goal from the spot at 30 minutes, after Bullets fouled Innocent Shema in the box.
Bullets came wave after wave with coach Peter Mponda making several substitutions to re-enforce his squad, but to no avail.
Interesting moment came in the 77th minute, after exhausting its substitutions, Bullets goalkeeper Clever Nkungula was sent out for a foul on Silver’s player, forcing Dominic Musonda, an outfield player to take up the gloves and man the goalposts.
Mapopa Msukwa Silver Strikers assistant coach commended his players for the gallant fight.
“We had a good time; we used some of our reserve players and those who don’t play regularly. They have performed wonders and this was a good platform for them as they proved their worth,” he said.
Mponda conceded defeat.
“I am not happy that we lost the match, but we can’t blame the players because they fought hard to win. I am impressed with performances from Paul Master who hasn’t played for some time, but today he was good,” he said.
During the match, FCB also splashed some prizes like Bullets jerseys and other items, apart from splashing ticket prices to 50% for FCB cardholders.
MPICO Group plc has announced a profit of K12 billion in this year’s annual report, marking a significant increase from last year’s profit of approximately K8.5 billion.
The strong performance was unveiled during the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lilongwe.
In his remarks, MPICO plc Group Board Chairperson Edmund Hami described the profit growth of 72% as a remarkable achievement, especially considering the challenges currently facing the property industry.
Hami- we are looking forward
“The market is tough at the moment, but we are pleased to be performing well despite this,” Hami said.
He highlighted that the occupancy rate of their properties stands at 92%, noting, “While we may not reach 100%, a 92% occupancy rate indicates strong performance. Our profit margin target is to hit 99%.”
Hami added that their return on investment is about 15%, emphasizing that any business delivering a return of 10% or more is considered successful.
He expressed gratitude for the company’s transparency with shareholders and praised the overall performance for the financial year just ended.
Shareholders will receive a dividend of 43 Tambala per share this year, an increase from 38 Tambala last year.
Hami also shared that MPICO is aiming to diversify beyond rental income, pursuing initiatives in sectors such as hotels and mining under the Agriculture, Trade, and Mining (ATM) strategy.
“We are looking beyond immediate gains and planning for the future,” he said.
One shareholder, Kiret Chitalo, expressed his excitement about the company’s progress and leadership’s decision to declare dividends this year.
“It feels rewarding to see returns on our investment, and I am confident other shareholders share this sentiment,” Chitalo said.
He noted that the company’s leadership has laid out several plans aimed at ensuring continued growth and profitability, while ensuring shareholders receive positive returns.
