News In Central Region (1287)
Ministry of Health to Administer 250,000 Cholera Vaccines in Lower Shire
By Franklin Mtambalika
The ministry of health has secured an approval by the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Cholera to administer 250,000 cholera doses in the districts of Chikwawa and Nsanje with special focus on hotspot areas.
The ministry’s spokesperson Adrian Chikumbe has told Zodiak in an interview on Monday that preparations are at an advanced stage for the five-day campaign, which commences on 28th August 2023.
“We have at least 250,000 cholera vaccines, to administer in the two districts, in areas where cholera cases are still being reported,” said Chikumbe.
He said government has high hopes all doses will be absorbed in the targeted areas which were hard-hit by Cyclone Freddy.
He adds that now people have realized the importance of getting the vaccine in preventing the disease.
Chikumbe emphasized that the interventions will then later be spread to other districts.
A public health expert Sandra Mapemba has commended the government for prioritizing areas which were affected by Cyclone Freddy.
She says access to clean and portable water remains a challenge in those areas.
“This is a welcome development, considering the fact that these areas have experienced perennial flooding, and stagnation of water and access to portable water has become an issue. This has left a lot of communities more vulnerable to a wide range of diseases including cholera,” she said.
Although the cholera situation has been controlled in the country, the ministry of health says a lot of work needs to be done, especially in three districts of Mangochi, Zomba and Chikwawa, where sporadic cases of cholera are being reported.
The cholera vaccine is a complementary intervention, and the main strategies for cholera control remain ensuring good hygiene practices, using safe water, food hygiene, regular hand washing with soap and no open defecation.
Training Aircraft Crashes Near KIA
The authorities have confirmed a plane crash involving a light aircraft in a village near Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in Lilongwe this morning.
EGENCO Warns of Reduced Power for Two Days
The Electricity Generation Company Malawi Limited (EGENCO) says it will reduce its power generation capacity at Tedzani Power Station this coming weekend.
EGENCO public relations officer Moses Gwaza has told Zodiak, that at that time, the institution will conduct maintenance from Saturday, 26th to 28th August.
The maintenance works according to Gwaza will also see the reduction of power generation at Nkula and Kapichira stations due to water reduction of water flow in Shire River.
"We are carrying out the works now, to ensure that intake screens are in perfect working condition before the rainy season," Gwaza said.
Executive director for the Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA) John Kapito has expressed concerns on the development saying it will affect the welfare of consumers.
The development will bring fresh memories of frequent power cuts the country experienced, before things stabilized early this year.
Recently EGENCO emerged as the star performer among parastatals in Malawi.
Jehovah's Witnesses Release New Chichewa Bible
Jehovah´s Witnesses in Malawi released a new revised translation of the Holy Bible entitled, The Revised New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, in Chichewa, titled Baibulo la Dziko Latsopano la Malemba Opatulika (Lokonzedwanso mu 2013).
Malawian Author Launches Book in Tanzania
Malawian Author Professor Malango Chinthenga, a lecturer at Hebron University in Lilongwe has launched his book “Africa Magufuli and Change”, in Mwanza and Dar es Salaam Tanzania respectively.
The launch in Tanzania follows similar event held in Lilongwe in June this year.
Speaking to Zodiak Online after the two launches, Professor Chinthenga said expressed gratitude with the support he received during the launch, and the interest the book has received there.
He said that he sold over 400 copies on the two launches, and he received several requests that it should be translated into Swahili, a thing he says he is already working on.
The book discusses former Tanzania President John Pombe Magufuli who confronted neocolonialism.
“First we launched the book at St. Augustine University in Mwanza on August 5, before the second launch at Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International Convention Center in Dar es Salaam days later. I am very happy with the overwhelming response and support,” said Chinthenga.
He added; “As demonstrated by Magufuli, Africa has the capacity and resources to develop at the same pace, if not faster than its colonial masters who continually want to keep it as slaves. This motivated me to write this book”.
According to Prof. Chinthenga, the book will soon be translated into Tanzania’s national languages Kishwahili, as requested by many Tanzanians and people from other East African countries.
While in Tanzania, the Author visited late John Pombe Magufuli’s mausoleum and had an interface with late Magufuli’s wife Janeth Magufuli.
MW & TZ Sign MoUs on Multi-million Dollar Power Projects
The governments of Malawi and Tanzania have high hopes that the Songwe Hydro Power Plant they intend to jointly establish at the Lower Songwe River will boost their economic activities.
The neighbouring countries signed two Memorandums of Understanding to improve their energy sectors during a recent meeting of high-profile officials who met in the Tanzanian commercial city Dar es Salaam.
First, the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) and Tanzania's electricity company TANESCO signed an inter utility agreement for power trade.
This agreement, which was signed by ESCOM’s Chief Executive Officer Kamkwamba Kumwenda and his TANESCO counterpart Maharage Chande, will see the construction of transmission lines from Nkhoma in Lilongwe to Songwe for a power interconnection between the two countries.
The other agreement, signed between Malawi's minister of energy Ibrahim Matola and his Tanzanian counterpart January Makamba, worth $761 million is on an intergovernmental pact for collaboration of the two countries on the Songwe Hydropower and Malawi Tanzania Interconnector Project.
Matola said the projects, once completed, will help attract investors since they will be assured of stable power supply, thereby creating job opportunities for the citizens of Malawi.
“More investors will be interested to open their businesses in the northern part of Malawi, this will also create jobs for our people,” said Matola.
The Malawi energy minister said signing of the deals is a follow-up to engagements by heads of state from the two nations who recently had exchange visits.
“One of the key topics at the forefront of these discussions was the construction of the momentous Songwe Dam, a multi-purpose project that holds immense potential for both nations,” added Matola.
He also said the benefits of this energy cooperation extend beyond the boundaries of the two nations and that the impact will be felt throughout the region as it will contribute to the overall stability and progress of East Africa and South Africa through the Eastern African Power and Southern African Power Pool.
Makamba said that the MoUs gives direction and clear roadmap for the projects.
“The MoUs spell out the next steps... one is the formation of joint technical teams. Within one month, each country should appoint a team to start to work on implementation,” he said.
Other than the deals in the pipeline with Tanzania, Malawi also has an agreement to tap power from Mozambique.
That deal was launched by President Lazarus Chakwera and his Mozambican counterpart Filipe Nyusi in April 2022.
Over 100 LUANAR Students in Desperate Need for Fees
By Franklin Mtambalika
The Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resource (LUANAR) students’ union -Natural Resources Campus, says it 0is overwhelmed with requests from students who are in dire need of financial bail-out to pay tuition fees and accommodation among other expenses.
The union’s president Vitumbiko Chirwa told Zodiak Thursday that over 100 students from the university are in need of about K30 Million, to carter for their school fees and accommodation, urging well-wishers to come to their aid.
Close to half of the students according to Chirwa were affected by Cyclone Freddy.
“Currently 49 students have approached us that they are victims of Cyclone Freddy and need financial assistance, and over 50 have also registered with us as needy students and that they require financial bail-out to pay for tuition fees,” said Chirwa.
Chirwa added that, the union has organized a big-walk and a clean-up campaign in Lilongwe today Saturday, August 19, 2023, and they will later be hosting a cultural event next weekend at the campus as part of the activities lined up to raise the funds.
Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) Executive Director Benedicto Kondowe says lack of tuition fees remains a big challenge among students in the public universities. He has urged authorities to find sustainable ways of dealing with the situation.
Kondowe said; “The initiative speaks volumes of the country’s failure to have sustainable access to financial support to carter for their education, to the extent that the students are taking up the responsibility to look for alternative sources of such support”.
“It is high time universities instituted special departments to handle scholarships, loans and grants to help address such challenges, as is the case with South Africa and European countries”.
Recently University of Malawi (UNIMA) and LUANAR increased fees from K420,000 to K600,000 per year for generic students, a development which has sparked debate in the country.
Surge in Attacks by Street Connected Children Worries Communities
Some Malawians are complaining of an increase in attacks orchestrated by street connected children, especially in Blantyre city where they are causing panic among residents.
UNCTAD Tips African Countries on Investments
A report by the United Nations Development Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has called on African leaders to champion the diversification of supply chains.
Titled “The Potential of Africa to Capture Technology-Intensive Global Supply Chains” UNCTAD in the report notes that Africa has potential to build resilience of supply chains due to a number of factors that include, presence of natural resources.
It however cites that, despite boasting an abundant supply of raw materials, most African nations are failing to utilize existing resources.
UNCTAD has made several suggestions on how African nations could leverage their strengths.
Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) economist, Dr Betchani Tcheleni agrees with the findings of the report.
“We are not getting action, action-oriented leadership is missing especially here in Malawi. It is so sad to the extent that, we are exporting raw minerals like coal,” said Tcheleni.
In 2009, the African union put forward the Africa Mining Vision to ensure that Africa utilizes its mineral resources, a sector the report notes is slowly being implemented.
In the MW2063 development blueprint, private sector dynamism and industrialization are among key enablers.
National Planning Commission’s Communications Manager Thom Khanje said realizing the vision demands Malawi to produce more.
Khanje said; “The pillars focus on the importance of production and business to the growth of the economy and realization of the Malawi 2063 vision, findings of the report resonate with this vision.”
Minister of Trade and Industry, Simplex Chitchyola Banda is optimistic that strategies initiated by Government on value addition will spur growth of the economy.
“We are promoting special economic zones where we are developing industrial parks to do value additions,” he said.
Malawi is a net importer but a meagre percentage of her exports are concentrated in the green gold (tobacco) which is mostly exported raw.
Rehabilitation of M5 Road Takes Off
First phase of rehabilitation works on a 60-kilometer stretch of the M5 road from Kaphatenga in Salima to Benga in Nkhotakota have taken off, with the contractor expressing hope the project will be completed within the set two years period.
The contractor, China Railway 20, they are focusing much of its efforts now on erecting bridges as they race against time to beat the rainy season, before embarking on the actual road.
“We want to first put up the bridges before the rains come. We hope to finish this in the coming few months before taking on the road itself.”
During a media tour organized the ministry of information to appreciate road construction projects in the central region, we found works on two bridges; Lipyozi and Navikoko on track, with diversions created.
There is also a major construction of a box culvert at Kamzanga stream, which is mostly cut off during rainy season.
The government of Malawi will spend K37 billion on the 60-kilometer stretch.
DC for Salima James Mwenda who represented Nkhotakota and Salima district councils said that when completed the road section will address many challenges motorists face.
Other than this, he said communities in the two districts are also benefiting from the project.
“The works that you are seeing are largely done by the locals, Our people are being employed to work for the contractor,” said Mwenda.
The M5 road popularly known as the lake shore road, from Salima turn-off in Ntcheu to Nkhata-Bay, is in bad shape and has turned into a death trap for motorists.
The government plans to rehabilitate it in four phases, beginning with the Kaphatenga – Benga stretch, then from Benga to Dwangwa in Nkhotakota. The third phase will be from Dwangwa to Mkwiya in Nkhata-Bay and lastly from Kamuzu road in Salima to Ntcheu.
The government is currently looking for financiers for the remaining three phases.
Another road construction project we visited during the media tour is the Dzaleka-Ntchisi-Malomo road. Here one woman, Mary Ganizani, told us they face many challenges on this stretch.
Said Ganizani; “Our road is in bad shape, we struggle a lot to get to the hospital and we believe this project will help us a lot.”
However, it was evident during the tour that, the fuel crisis the country is facing has taken a toll on the project.
The contractors for the two projects admitted that the fuel scarcity has slowed down progress. They, however said, government has assured them that they would be allowed to start importing fuel and cement.
For past two weeks, the Malawi has also been struggling with Cement shortages a thing attributed to forex challenges. This forced traders to hike prices of the commodity, from 11 000 Kwacha to around 20 000 Kwacha.
