Tag Archives: Karonga District Council

Development, District News

Karonga Council hails scalable mechanism project

Maravi Post Reporter

By Lusekero Mhango

KARONGA-(MaraviPost)-Principal Social Welfare Officer for Karonga District Council Tiwonge Mbale has commended the Social Support for Resilient Livelihood Project (SSRLP) for cushioning households affected by drought with financial support.

The Project which was triggered by the drought that affected Karonga early this year, targets 12,742 households under the Scalable Mechanism, which enables the Government to transfer funds to the most vulnerable households in response to droughts to avoid the near-poor slipping into the poverty cycle.

In an interview after a Media Briefing on the project, Mbale said as of the 31st of October TNM which is the service provider had disbursed money into the Mbamba Accounts of those who were identified as beneficiaries.

Mbale further said this has enabled the households to uplift their lives by buying food.

“The project has disbursed close to 1 billion kwacha which has seen each household receive MK25,000 per month for three months hence this has assisted them to become food secure which is the aim of this project,” he said.

On his part, Scalability Mechanisms Coordinator, Mulder Mkutumula, explained that Karonga was targeted as a result of the prolonged dry spells that have left many households food insecure.

“Despite the project targeting six districts across the country, Karonga was targeted due to the drought as such the provision of financial assistance through SSRLP is meant for cushioning the ultra-poor affected by the drought so that they can purchase food in readiness for the lean season,” Mkutumula added.

One of the beneficiaries Eliza Mwepopo from Principal Group Village headman Kalambo in the area of T/A Kyungu, hailed the initiative for saving her and her family from hunger, saying the provision of cash has assisted them in buying bags of maze to feed the household.

Scalable-Social Cash Transfer Program is a government of Malawi initiative falling under the Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods project being funded by the World Bank and Sp-MDTF through the National Local Government Finance Committee

Environment

Journalists challenged on disaster risk management coverage

Maravi Post Reporter

By Lusekero Mhango

KARONGA-(MaraviPost)-Karonga District Council Director of Administration Martin Mkandawire has challenged Journalists to embrace putting much effort into publicizing disaster-related issues in their coverage during the lean period saying the vice is key in cautioning communities on the effects of disasters.

In an interview after the end of a two-day workshop at M’buta Lodge in Rumphi District Mkandawire, observed that there is not much attention is put on writing and reporting about disasters during the dry seasons.

Additionally, the training will assist journalists to improve their capacity in information dissemination of disasters as they are now better placed to understand the background and trends of disasters.

“It was important that Journalists understood the importance of giving out verified information especially on the numbers of affected people during disasters thus we thought of conducting the training so that the media can help us to create awareness among people in a bid to prevent disasters,” he said.

Zodiak Broadcasting Station Journalist Adams Wundaninge said the training was an eye-opener on disaster risk management issues and the newly passed Disaster Risk Management Act of 2023.

He noted, media outlets usually focus on response and breaking news after the disaster before the council has carried out its assessments.

“As journalists this training is timely considering we are fast approaching the rainy season hence we have been reminded that we should strive to gather facts and clarification instead of rushing to break news as this can cause unnecessary alarm to the communities,” articulated Wundaninge.

Among others, the media workshop attracted participants from media houses including Nation Publications Limited (NPL) Mibawa Television, Voice of Livingstonia, Dinosaur Radio, and Tuntufye FM. 

Development

Karonga council chair Isaac Kalambo warns against substandard projects

Maravi Post Reporter
Photos of Isaac kalambo Karonga District Council chair and the rejected iponga guardian shelter


By Lusekero Mhango

KARONGA-(MaraviPost)-Karonga District Council Chairperson Isaac Kalambo has warned authorities in the district to ensure high standards in construction projects saying communities deserve better.

The call follows community’s rejection of Iponga Garden Shelter and Nyungwe Area Development Committee Office (ADC) at Senior Traditional Authority Mwakaboko and Mwilang’ombe respectively constructed with funding under Malawi Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) Project.

In an interview following a full Council meeting Kalambo, said as the council they are concerned with substandard works which has led to communities rejecting them during handover of the mentioned projects to communities.

Saying it is crucial that authorities and contractors task to conduct the projects understood communities need to see value for their money therefore the need for standards.

“We want to have the best in the infrastructures and materials which add up to the resources we have put into the projects but sadly this hasn’t been happening hence our disappointment,” he said.

Kalambo has subsequently warned that the Council is ready to bar any contractors who do not live up to the required standards set by the council when it comes to infrastructure development.

According to Edward Chitete Chairperson for Mwakaboko ADC, blamed the district council for side-lining communities in development projects for reasons why communities have rejected them.

Adding that due to the continuing side-lining, communities do not feel part of projects thus are unable to take ownership and supervision of the projects.

However in a separate interview Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace under the Karonga Diocese project Coordinator Obert Mkandawire, said a lack of proper supervision, an ethical behaviour and incompetence is a worrying trend that has to be reversed.

Stressing that there is need for contractors and consultants who have a good track-record to be employed to conduct the jobs in order to meet the desired expectations of communities.

“For a long time the tendering process and the procurement process has been shrouded in mystery as a result most Area Development Committees are not aware whenever there is an advert for procurement or other services,” articulated Mkandawire.

Health, Malawi

Cholera outbreak continues in Karonga; cases rise to 51

Special Absalom

Karonga District Council and other stakeholders working in health sector are in dilemma over the fast spreading of a cholera outbreak in the district. Two people have reportedly died with a total of 51 registered cases in four weeks.

The district council and the stakeholders met on Monday to discuss how they could contain the outbreak of the disease.

A report presented at the meeting by Karonga District Environmental Health Officer, Lewis Tukula indicated that about 23 villages have been affected in all the five traditional authorities.

“So far, we have registered two deaths and 51 cases within four weeks and most affected are females,” said Tukula.

Tukula said most of the cases have been registered within communities in fishing camps of Nyungwe, Ngala, and Phapa fishing camps.

“People in these areas do not have pit latrines and relieve themselves in the lake. Sadly use the same lake as a source of water for consumption and other domestic uses. They do not use boreholes alleging that water drawn from the boreholes is salty, hence the outbreak,” said Tukula.

He  therefore advised the general public to refrain from eating cold foods and practice hand-washing at the stipulated times . Such as after using a toilet, before and after eating any food, after changing napkins and proper use of toilets which have drop hole covers.

District Commissioner for Karonga, Richard Hara said the district would form a taskforce to tour all fishing camps in the district and engage communities in the fight against the outbreak.

The DC commended the stakeholders for contributing towards initiatives such as, cholera public awareness campaigns and hygiene and sanitation promotion in a bid to contain the situation.

Education

Karonga council bemoans NGO support in early childhood development

Maravi Post Reporter

Karonga District Council (KDC) has bemoaned inadequate support by non governmental organization towards early childhood development (ECD). The Council has appealed to the NGO’s to channel more projects towards the sector as a method of producing an effective impact on communities.

The appeal was made after it was discovered that Malawi requires about 4 billion Kwacha to make strides in EDC programs.
Director of Planning and Development (DPD) for Karonga District Council David Gondwe, explained the need to increase support to the sector so that improvements are made in children’s access to ECD facilities and services.

The DPD made the call this week when he presided over the presentation of certificates to 45 caregivers from community based child centres (CBC) ,who had completed training in early childhood development.

The 45 participants were selected from three CBC’s in the district courtesy of Evangelic Association of Malawi (EAM), un?er the Community Action For Transformation of Child Health Project with funding from the Norwegian Church Aid.

“As a council we are really concerned that a number of projects have come and gone without leaving a mark to communities. We are appealing to NGO’s to consider channeling their funds to ECD sector in the areas of technical, infrastructure and capacity building,” he said.

He added as a council they are geared towards lobbying NGO’s in supporting the sector considering the benefits that early child hood education brings to children.

District social welfare officer Atupele Mwalweni stated that due to limited resources at her office they are failing to adequately support over 300 CBC’s in the district.

“As an office we can’t offer comprehensive training to our caregivers. We are pleased that EAM have stepped in to train our caregivers in order to increase the number of trained caregivers,” she added

Top News

Karonga Council rebuff calls to hold friendly match at Karonga Stadium

Special Absalom

Karonga District Council (KDC) has declined a request by members of the football fraternity in the district, on their desire to have Karonga United and Chitipa United play a friendly match at the newly completed Karonga Stadium.

The Stadium construction committee expressed willingness to hold the match at the stadium; however, the KDC rebuffed the request, and cited the threats of vandalism as the major reason for declining to hold the match.

The much-anticipated match between the two rivals, has since been shifted to Karonga Community Ground on Sunday October 1, 2017.

According to the Karonga Stadium Committee Construction Chairperson Cossam Munthali, “many parts of the Stadium have been completed. Hence we are keen to hold a friendly match between Karonga United and Chitipa United as an opportunity to test the facilities beforehand.”

The stadium will be officially be given to KDC by the local development fund in the coming month.

“We saw no problem in holding the match at the stadium as the contractor ensured us that there are no problems in holding the game at the facility; only final touches of the stadium were being worked on and the Council was aware of this,” he said.

Speaking in an interview, contractors who are working on the multi-million Kwacha Stadium, under Nangaunozge Building Conteactors, confirmed that theStadium was at its final stages of completion and that the match could have been heldat the Stadium.

However, the Acting District Commissioner Scotch Kondowe, said proper procedures were not followed as the Stadium has not been handed over to the Council.

“There was need for consultations between the LDF, local Government, and the contractor to agree on whether the match could have gone ahead.

Work on construction of the Stadium began in September 2015, and the project was projected to be completed in 18 months.

Malawi

Karonga Cashgate kingpin Philimon Maseko defies bail condition

Maravi Post correspondent

 

Maseko defies bail condition
Maseko defies bail condition

KARONGA (Maravi Post)—Karonga district council cash gate prime suspect  Philimon Maseko on Sunday defied the court bail condition that he should not be in his office without the Police or the District Commissioner’s knowledge, Maravi Post can reveal. Continue reading Karonga Cashgate kingpin Philimon Maseko defies bail condition →

Malawi

Karonga demonstrators call for immediate firing of Cashgate kingpin Philimon Maseko & his disciples

Maravi Post correspondent

Maseko; Karonga District Council Cashgate Kingpin
Maseko; Karonga District Council Cashgate Kingpin

KARONGA (Maravi Post)—After confiscating bags of cement from Cashgate suspects, Karonga business community under the banner of Malawi Economic Justice have staged a massive demonstrations a short while ago where they have petitioned the District Commissioner (DC) to decisively act on the Cashgate suspects who have  plundered millions of Karonga Council money. Continue reading Karonga demonstrators call for immediate firing of Cashgate kingpin Philimon Maseko & his disciples →