Sunday, July 6, 2025
No menu items!
spot_img
Home Blog Page 953

Usi hails Fisheries Department for localizing Small-Scale Fisheries guidelines

247Malawi
-
0
Usi hails Fisheries Department for localizing Small-Scale Fisheries guidelines

By Sellah Chunda

Minister of Climate Change, Michael Usi has hailed the Department of Fisheries for tailoring Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF) guidelines to suit the country’s context.

Usi was speaking on Wednesday during a High Level Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries at Bingu International Convention Centre BICC in Lilongwe.
The Minister noted that the SSF guidelines have been formulated into a National Action Plan for Small-Scale Fisheries.

Michael Usi



He then thanked Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and members of the Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources for their support and joint efforts in organizing dialogues that have significantly influenced the development of small-scale fisheries plan.

Usi stressed the pivotal role of research in informing business practices to ensure fish accessibility for all and voiced expectations for tangible outcomes from the dialogue to tackle challenges and foster cooperation among Malawians.

FAO Representative to Malawi, Dr. Zhujin Chen said the dialogues are significant for Malawi’s food security, underlining the necessity for more action and guidelines to support individuals in the fisheries sector.

Senior Chief Makanjira of Salima underscored the significance of dialogue in confronting challenges such as fish scarcity, hardships endured by fishermen and boat operators.

He emphasized the necessity for autonomy, technology, guidelines, and strategies to bolster lake conservation efforts and enhance livelihoods.

A Promoter, Chimwemwe Chipala noted the importance of collective action among Malawians and fishermen to grasp the significance of fisheries conservation and sustainable practices.

He advocated for awareness regarding the repercussions of rising fish prices and the potential of innovative products like fish flour, sausages, and fish-based feeds to mitigate food insecurity.

The Dialogue served as a platform for stakeholders to reflect on achievements, tackle challenges, and map out a sustainable trajectory for  the country’s  small-scale fisheries sector.

FAO Representative to Malawi, Dr. Zhujin Chen

Government committed to  promoting Science, Technology  and Innovation

247Malawi
-
0
Government committed to  promoting Science, Technology  and Innovation

By James Kanyenda,

Minister of Education, Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima says government remains committed to creating an enabling environment  through policies that support the growth of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), which is key to the realisation of the Malawi 2063 Vision.

The Minister made the remarks earlier today when she presided over the launch of Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) 2024-2027strategic plan at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe.

Education Minister Kambauwa in attendance

The plan focuses on education, research, innovation and entrepreneurship, responding to societal needs, thereby helping the country to accelerate its realisation of the First 10 Year Implementation Plan of the Malawi 2063 (MIP1), running from 2021 to 2030.

“As you are well aware, my Ministry has a whole directorate on STI. This demonstrates our commitment to see the sector grow and contribute to the creation of a Malawi we want.

“We want our universities, more so those running on public resources, to demonstrate their relevance to the nation by being at the centre of solutions. Local challenges can be best solved by local solutions,” Wirima emphasised, adding the country want practical technologies and innovations that will benefit its people, today and now.

She said universities are supposed to offer solutions to problems industries are facing through research, consultancies, and innovation of modern and advanced technologies that can lead to efficiency in production.

Wirima then called upon all players involved to commit themselves to the implementation of the strategic plan.

MUST Council Chairperson, Dr Mathews Mtumbuka said through the plan, the university has resolved to champion industrialisation pillar as well as human capital development of the Malawi 2063.

He said so far, the university has already made great strides towards the cause.

“As a university, we have committed ourselves to be a solution provider through innovation and technology driven by science and meet societal needs,” he said, while expressing university’s commitment to the strategic plan’s full implementation.

MUST Vice Chancellor, Professor Address Malata  said for Malawi to realise its development agenda, manufacturing should be advanced and as such the university is mandated to help in the drive.

She said both the university and its graduates are into manufacturing and now they want to expand further, citing their plan to construct a tech centre at Kamphata in Lilongwe and thereafter move up north.

The event directly supported the Ministry’s 2024 theme ‘Propelling Malawi’s Education Renaissance in The Digital Age: Inclusive Foundational Learning and STEAM Skills for Strong Human Capital’.

Chakwera arrives in Nairobi for AFSH summit

247Malawi
-
0
Chakwera arrives in Nairobi for AFSH summit

By Patricia Kapulula

President, Dr Lazarus Chakwera Wednesday evening arrived in Nairobi, Kenya where is expected to attend the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit.

Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the President was welcomed by Malawi High Commissioner to Kenya, Callista Mutharika, Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale, Secretary for Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry for Kenya, Rebecca Miano and other senior government officials.

Chakwera in Kenya


The President is attending the Summit on invitation of President, Dr William Ruto of Kenya.

Aside from the summit, President Chakwera is expected to hold bilateral meetings and attend the Malawi Ready Roundtable event.

AFSH Summit brings together all relevant stakeholders to highlight the crucial role of fertilizer and soil health in stimulating sustainable pro-poor productivity growth in African agriculture.

The Summit will agree on an African Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan, as well as the Soils Initiative for Africa, which will deliver concrete recommendations for steps to be taken by African leaders and stakeholders over the next 10 years.

The Action Plan will provide a focus for new policies and investments that will enable farmers to work towards re-building soil health and increase yield responses and profitability of fertilizers.

In June, 2006, African Union (AU) Heads of State and Governments endorsed the Abuja Declaration on Fertilizer for the Africa Green Revolution, a continental strategy to reverse the worrying trend of poor productivity of the African soils.

The declaration focused on key targets required for agricultural growth, food security and rural development in Africa, with a focus on fertilizer.

Chakwera arrives in Nairobi for AFSH summit

247Malawi
-
0
Chakwera arrives in Nairobi for AFSH summit

By Patricia Kapulula

President, Dr Lazarus Chakwera Wednesday evening arrived in Nairobi, Kenya where is expected to attend the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit.

Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the President was welcomed by Malawi High Commissioner to Kenya, Callista Mutharika, Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale, Secretary for Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry for Kenya, Rebecca Miano and other senior government officials.

Chakwera in Kenya


The President is attending the Summit on invitation of President, Dr William Ruto of Kenya.

Aside from the summit, President Chakwera is expected to hold bilateral meetings and attend the Malawi Ready Roundtable event.

AFSH Summit brings together all relevant stakeholders to highlight the crucial role of fertilizer and soil health in stimulating sustainable pro-poor productivity growth in African agriculture.

The Summit will agree on an African Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan, as well as the Soils Initiative for Africa, which will deliver concrete recommendations for steps to be taken by African leaders and stakeholders over the next 10 years.

The Action Plan will provide a focus for new policies and investments that will enable farmers to work towards re-building soil health and increase yield responses and profitability of fertilizers.

In June, 2006, African Union (AU) Heads of State and Governments endorsed the Abuja Declaration on Fertilizer for the Africa Green Revolution, a continental strategy to reverse the worrying trend of poor productivity of the African soils.

The declaration focused on key targets required for agricultural growth, food security and rural development in Africa, with a focus on fertilizer.

Bird’s Eye View: Is Chilima on the same page with his supporters?

247Malawi
-
0
Bird’s Eye View: Is Chilima on the same page with his supporters?

 
Supporters and cheerleaders of Vice President Saulos Chilimas United Transformation Movement (UTM) are thrilled now that his corruption case has been dropped.

They are pretty pumped up because they have high hopes for him. But, hold up! Just because the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decided to let it slide does not mean Chilimas off the hook and the Vice President knows this pretty well.

The saga unfurled with the tempestuous temerity of accusation, as the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) apprehended Chilima under the weighty allegations of malfeasance, accusing him of leveraging his governmental authority to broker dubious contracts with Zuneth Sattar.
Despite nearly a year of charges, the ACB could not substantiate them, eventually altering the entire charge sheet. This operational conduct suggests premature conclusions by the ACB regarding investigation readiness.

While Martha Chizuma, ACB Director General, made legal errors, they do not absolve the Vice President of guilt. His camp should be concerned that the case’s discontinuation leaves them in limbo.
Basically, Chilima is not out of the woods yet. He has gotta to prove his innocence in court if he wants those corruption allegations to go away for good.

Justice Redson Kapindu clarified that the discharge does not prevent future proceedings within six months based on the same facts.
That being said, it is imperative to address Martha Chizuma’s conduct, which has brought significant embarrassment to the country. She appeared more focused on pandering to the camera, social media and foreign interests, rather than adhering to the principles of law and natural justice.

Despite the clamour orchestrated by Chizuma, it is increasingly evident that the ACB lacks substantial evidence against Chilima, save for what was illegally obtained by the National Criminal Agency (NCA) of the United Kingdom.
As a legal practitioner, Chizuma should have been aware that evidence obtained by the NCA was inadmissible, as per the 2021 Supreme Court ruling.

Furthermore, besides the DPP ordering the termination of the case, the court had already dismissed three counts of abuse of office against Chilima in January 2024, citing the ACB’s failure to initiate trial within the stipulated timeframe.
This judicial directive concerning the abuse of office charges underscores the bureau’s rush to apprehend Chilima before acquiring prosecutable evidence, a clear manifestation of incompetence and abuse of authority by the ACB Director General.

It is not surprising that Chizuma resisted former DPP Steven Kayuni’s access to the case file, as both he and the current office holder harboured concerns regarding the bureau’s lack of evidence against the Vice President.

According to reports from the courtroom, the DPP was left with no choice but to demand access to the case file in March of this year for evaluation.
After scrutinising the evidence gathered by the ACB, the DPP reasonably concluded that the case was unwinnable and could potentially incur significant costs to the taxpayer in compensating the Vice President.

Therefore, the DPP has rightfully exercised his legal authority to terminate the corruption case against Chilima, aiming to rectify Martha Chizuma’s mistakes.
However, it is not yet time to pop Champaign and break jinx in celebrations! Victory is not yet at the doorstep UTM zealots.

UTM supporters led by Secretary General Patricia Kaliyati celebrating
1...952953954...1,928Page 953 of 1,928

EDITOR PICKS

POPULAR POSTS

POPULAR CATEGORY

ABOUT US

True and well researched news covering key issues in Malawi and abroad

Contact us: info@247malawi.com

FOLLOW US

© Newspaper WordPress Theme by TagDiv