NATIONAL NEWS (5376)
Shortage of Maize Bran in the North Hits Livestock Farmers
Some livestock farmers in the northern region say that continued illegal exportation of maize bran locally known as Gaga to countries Like Tanzania, Eswatini, Kenya, and Zimbabwe has led to a scarcity of feed for livestock on the local market.
A Mzuzu-based livestock farmer Boniface Jubeki of Chingalu Farms has implored the government to control the exportation of the commodity, saying current trend is pushing upwards the cost of production and prices of meat and its products in the region.
“Prices of meat and its products have risen in the recent months. In 2022, we used buy a kilogram of beef and pork at K2, 500. But now the same is trading at K4, 200, simply because farmers are buying animal feed like gaga at a higher rate.”
He added; in the same period a 20-liter tin of Maize bran was selling at K500 but it is now going at K1000.
Vendors from neighboring countries are controlling the market, buying the commodity and illegally exporting it to their countries.
Minister of Trade and Industry Simplex Chithyola-Banda has told us in a separate interview that Capitol Hill will check if there is indeed illegal exportation of the commodity.
Said Chithyola-Banda: “I don’t think there is smuggling of maize bran to some African countries. And, what I know is these traders seek export documents from our offices which we provide after scrutinizing the business.”
Maize bran is one of the liable feed for livestock in Malawi.
Struggle of Whole Village; Phata ECD Centre in a Mess
Life is tough at Kalima Village in Chikwawa district. Scars of cyclone Freddy are all over. Desperation among people is clear, with some destroyed houses abandoned. Most of the cyclone Freddy survivors have moved to settle on a higher ground.
Cyclone Freddy Survivors Embrace Entrepreneurial Skills
About thirty cyclone Freddy survivors who are still leaving at Chanza Primary School camp in Mtauchira Village in Chiradzulu on Tuesday were trained in soap as well as in some indigenous fertilizer making skills.
MPs Hail Pacific Borehole Rehabilitation Initiative
Some members of parliament have hailed a free borehole rehabilitation initiative being undertaken by the Pacific Limited across the country, saying it is helping in reducing a burden for the provision of access to clean and potable water in their areas.
Norway, UNICEF Assure To Promote Education in Malawi
The Norwegian Ambassador to Malawi, Ingrid Mikelsen has expressed worry that despite more children attending early childhood and primary education, a few of them proceed to secondary school.
Mulanje Chiefs, Villagers Applaud EPM for Rehabilitating Muluzi Bridge
Chiefs and villagers in Traditional Authority Njema in Mulanje District have expressed their gratitude to Eastern Produce Malawi (EPM) Limited, a tea growing company in Mulanje and Thyolo for rehabilitating Muluzi Bridge in Mulanje district.
Save the Children Equips Judiciary with Mobile Booths
The judiciary says women and children are the most vulnerable groups that face challenges when giving evidence in the courts during the process of justice delivery in the country.
The Plight of Street Vendors: Economic Survival Versus the Law and Costs
Street vending is a myriad of implications lamped in one basket. It is an attempt at economic survival for most less privileged. Street vending is also a problem when it comes to sanitation and hygiene. Cleaning cities is difficult. It is also a loss of revenue in daily market fees for district or city councils.
K2bn More for Wowo Irrigation Scheme in Phalombe
Wowo Irrigation Scheme in Traditional Authority Nkhulambe in Phalombe needs an extra 2 billion kwacha to start benefiting about 1, 600 farmers in the district as the contractor races against time to complete the project by November this year.
Human Resource Constraints Choke Legal Aid Operations
The Legal Aid Bureau says delays in amending the legal aid act is choking its operations as it is overwhelmed with handling matters in smaller courts.
