A forestry scout ranger identified as Daudi Adam, 46,is in agony at St. Lukes Hospital in Zomba after angry charcoal producers hacked him in Chikala Hills in Machinga district.
Machinga Police publicist, Western Kansire says Adam was together with other officers patrolling the hill and managed to arrest eight charcoal producers in the process.
Says Kansire: “In return, the officers were blocked by other culprits who demanded the release of the suspects, which led to a battle.
“In the process, Adam was hacked on his chick and was rushed to St. Luke hospital where he was admitted.”
He adds that after the incident, the irate illegal charcoal producers rushed to Nauko Forest Office where they broke into the office and managed to steal 100 bicycles, a cell phone and cash amounting to K14,000.
Meanwhile, the police in the district are conducting a thorough investigation into the incident to apprehend the culprits responsible for both the charcoal production and the assault on the officer.
Recently, Machinga district chairperson, Cydreck Stande, urged the government to allow councils to recruit their own forest security guards for increased security measures and support for those working to protect precious ecosystems.
Mchitidwe wa chisembwere pakati pa asodzi ndi azimayi ogula msomba m’boma la Nsanje akuti wakula kwambiri ndipo ukukolezera kufala kwa kachirombo ka HIV.
Mkulu oona za kulimbikitsa anthu kugwiritsa ntchito makondomu pogonana m’bomali John Maganizo wanena izi lolemba kwa Sorgin pamwambo okumbukira kugwiritsa ntchito makondomu.
Malingana ndi Maganizo, amayi ambiri ogula msomba amakhudzidwa ndi mchitidwe ogonana ndi asodzi pofuna kupeza msomba mwaulere kwa asodziwa.
Iye wati mchitidwewu wamanga nthenje kumadera komwe kuli madoko ophera msomba monga Magamba ndi Chisamba m’bomali.
Ngati njira imodzi yochepesa kufala kwa kachirombo ka HIV, mimba zosakomzekera komaso matenda opatsirana pogonana, nthambi yazaumoyo m’bomali chaka chatha idagawa makondomu 500,000 m’dera la Sorgin lomwe ndilimodzi mwa madera komwe kuli anthu ochuluka atsopano omwe ali ndi kachirombo ka HIV m’boma la Nsanje.
Poyankhukapo pa nkhaniyi,katswiri wa nkhani zaumoyo pa sukulu ya ukachenjede ya Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences a Paul Kingstone Mphepo akuti izi zikuchitika chifukwa mabungwe a zaumoyo anatangwanika ndi matenda a Covid-19 komanso kolera.
“Chofunika apa ndi kupereka mwakathithi mauthenga wothandiza anthu kudziteteza ku HIV,” iwo atero.
Nsanje ili ndi anthu 26 000 omwe akulandira mankhwala wotalikitsa moyo a ma ARVs.
Tsiku lokumbukira kufunika kwa makondomu pa dziko lonse limakhala pa February 13 chaka chilichonse.
Principal Secretary for Water and Sanitation Ministry Elias Chimulambe, says access to clean and reliable water is not just a basic necessity, it is a catalyst for socio-economic development.
Chimulambe said the Salima-Lilongwe Water Project holds the potential to transform lives, improve health, and create opportunities for growth and prosperity.
Speaking on Tuesday during the stakeholder’s awareness meeting in Dowa, Chimulambe said water is a fundamental element of life and ensuring its sustainable availability, is a shared responsibility that requires collaborative efforts.
Chimulambe said the Salima-Lilongwe Water Project stands as a testament to the dedication and commitment of all stakeholders involved in addressing the water needs of the communities of Salima, Dowa and Lilongwe.
He said the project is the beginning of a journey towards a better and more sustainable future for the people of Dowa, Salima and Lilongwe urging all stakeholders to actively engage, share insights, and work hand in hand towards the successful implementation of the project.
The PS expressed hope that the stakeholder’s collective efforts will undoubtedly share the future of water accessibility in the three districts of Dowa, Salima and Lilongwe.
“I am confident that with the dedication of each stakeholder present, we will overcome challenges, celebrate achievements, and contribute to building resilient and sustainable communities,” said Chimulambe.
He said the project will support Salima town and its surrounding areas, Katengeza Maweru, Mvera, Chezi, Chankhungu and other areas along the Salima-Lilongwe Road and also will benefit Central Region Water Board (CRWB) and Lilongwe Water Board (LWB) where its beneficiaries will be provided with the services.
The PS then, thanked President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera for his dynamic wisdom and leadership for making it sure that the Salima-Lilongwe Water Project be another milestone development to the country.
The Malawi Parliament approved a bill for government to borrow money from the public, 100 percent Salima-Lilongwe Water Project is financed by Malawians and will be implemented by Khato Civils and South Zambezi Joint venture for 24 months to the tune of 315 million US Dollars.
TNM Super League’s Bangwe All Stars Football Club has organised a fundraising dinner and dance scheduled for February 24 at Sogecoa Golden Peacock Hotel in Blantyre to raise funds for the team’s operations.
Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, the club’s Chief Executive Officer Chikumbutso Mathumba said they have decided to host the dinner after the team’s assessment on what resources the team would require in the 2024 football season.
Mathumba said the team developed a number of fundraising activities to help prepare for the season, adding that the dinner will be a great opportunity to raise more funds to help in smooth running of the club.
Chief Executive Officer Chikumbutso Mathumba
“It is the first time our team decided to organise such an activity because with the experience that we had in the previous season, we have established that we may not have sufficient funds to enable us to run the team throughout the season,” said Mathumba.
Mathumba further said the team realised they have resources equivalent to 50 percent of the team’s total budget and that they are now brainstorming on how to acquire the remaining half.
He however expressed optimism that stakeholders and other well-wishers will support them with the remaining amount.
The event charges have been split up for entry into various categories which include single entry at K25,000 and double entry at K40,000.
Mathumba said they have organised special tables like Platinum which is at K3 million, Gold at K2 million while Silver Table is at K1 million.
He said the event will be spiced up with different well-known musicians like Skeffa Chimoto and Gibo Pearson, among others.
Commenting on the matter, sports analyst Kim Kamau, commended Bangwe All Stars for the initiative, saying the team has developed a good source of income, as it will help to minimise challenges faced by the club, pointing out that it is not easy for a football club to organise such kind of events.
“Well-wishers and other stakeholders can influence the circumstances of football here in Malawi. There is need for funds for our football clubs to grow, so it’s a good move by Bangwe All Stars, as this will boost the team’s performance,” said Kamau.
Minister of Information and Digitalisation, Moses Kunkuyu, has emphasised the need for Malawi to graduate from financing subsistence farming to agricultural commercialisation if the country is to attain the much needed food security at national level.
Kunkuyu, who is also government spokesperson, made the remarks at the Central Office of Information (COI) in Lilongwe on Tuesday during a press briefing on the status of the 2023/2024 Lean Season Food Insecurity Response Programme (2023/2024 LS-FIRP).
Kunkuyu
Kunkuyu said the country is going towards that direction through provision of agriculture loans to farmers, as well as establishment of mega farms.
“We are now giving agricultural loans to farmers through National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF). These were farmers who were benefitting from the Agricultural Inputs Programme (AIP),” Kunkuyu said.
He said AIP is undergoing reforms and, as such, the number of beneficiaries keep changing in order to allow farmers graduate from subsistence to commercial farmers.
Speaking on the current food insecurity situation, Kunkuyu said government has put in place interventions implemented through maize distribution and cash transfer programmes.
The Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) 2023 report indicated that 4.4 million people will be food insecure and in need of food assistance during the 2023/2024 consumption year.
“In response to the projection, government, through the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) and in collaboration with humanitarian partners, facilitated development of the 2023/2024 LS-FIRP to mobilise resources and effectively coordinate the programme to address needs of food insecure people,” he said.
The exercise, which started in October 2023, has so far reached out to 4,375,448 food insecure people with either maize or cash.
In his remarks, Commissioner for DoDMA, Charles Kalemba said the Department is working hard to ensure deserving beneficiaries are reached out with either maize or cash.
In his State of the Nation Address during the opening of the 2024/2025 Budget Meeting of Parliament, President Lazarus Chakwera said his administration is committed to redesign AIP to make it more target-oriented in achieving food security.
The programme targeted 1.5 million farmers, with land holding sizes of 0.25 hectares to two hectares, to benefit in the 2023/2024 growing season and are expected to produce 1,125,000 metric tonnes, contributing to over 32 percent of the national grain requirement.
