Tag Archives: Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar)

Law and order, Malawi

Embattled DPP central region Veep Alfred Gangata in custody forgery, tax evasion

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Malawi Police Service (MPS) in Lilongwe are keeping in custody the embattled opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Central Region Vice president Alfred Gangata for forgery and tax documents falsehood allegations.

This follows a warrant of arrest which Resident magistrate court sitting at Lilongwe issued on Friday, January 10, 2025 to Alfred Ruwan Gangata on two counts.

The first count says Gangata forged documents to win tender which is contrary to section 336 of the penal code.

The second count which Gangata is also being accused is based on falsifying records which is contrary to section 112(4) of the taxation act.

“The particulars of the offence stated that between July, 2017 and June, 2018, Alfred Ruwan Gangata prepared a false Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) document namely, Taxation Clearance Certificate (TCC) bearing the number MRA/MTO-LIL000952 bearing his name trading as Masters Security Service inorder to meet the bidding process requirement advertised by Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR)”, reads in part the warrant of arrest on Gangata.

Gangata is yet to be taken to court possibility on Monday for criminal charges.

Law and order, Malawi

Embattled DPP central region Veep Alfred Gangata faces warrant of arrest for forgery, tax documents falsehood

MaraviPost

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Chief Resident Magistrate seating in Lilongwe has issued a warrant of arrest for embattled opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Central Vice President Alfred Gangata for forgery and tax documents falsehood.

The embattled Gangata committed between July 2017 and June 2018.

Gangata faces warrant of arrest

The warrant of arrest is in line with Sections 96, 98 and 99 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code.

According to the warrant of arrest dated January 10, 2024, Gangata, owner of Master Security Services, prepared a false document of tax for biding a tender advertised by Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR).

The first count is falsifying records Contrary to Section 112(4)(c) of the Taxation Act while the second offence is forgery Contrary to Section 356 of the Penal Code.

The two cases have been filed by Malawi Ravenue Authority (MRA).

“Alfred Ruwan Gangata, between July, 2017 and June, 2018, prepared a false Malawi Revenue Authority document namely Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) number MRA/MTO- LIL/000952 bearing the name Alfred Ruwani Gangata trading as Master Security Service in order to meet the bidding process requirement advertised by Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR)”, reads the statement in part..

The warrant of arrest comes barely months after court declared him bankruptcy for failing to pay MK10 million balance for a vehicle he bought in 2020.

Agriculture, Education, Malawi

“LUANAR remains key towards achieving Agenda 2063”-Chakwera

MaraviPost

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi leader President Lazarus Chakwera says Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) remains vital stakeholder towards achieving Malawi’s Agenda 2063.

Speaking when he presided over the 8th Congregation of LUANAR, at Bunda College Campus Multipurpose Hall in Lilongwe on Thursday, Chakwera advised the graduating students to change from subsistence farming to innovative approaches to help drive the country’s agricultural transformation.

“But all 689 of you graduating today have been exposed to a different mindset, a systems mindset, a mindset that understands that even though you may benefit personally and even become rich from doing something, you have to consider whether your method of getting rich destroys or strengthens a particular system on which so many other Malawians are dependent.

“That is what being a LUANAR graduate means, to refuse to participate in any activity that destroys or harms a system that is meant to keep our economy strong, healthy, and beneficial for everyone,” he said.

Chakwera added that the country will only achieve economic self reliance when works on all the broken systems is completed.

“This is why no matter how much we try to put bandages on the open wounds in the body of our economy, we will only achieve self-reliance when the work we are doing to rebuild this country’s broken systems is complete,” he said.

Speaking earlier, Professor Emmanuel Kaunda, LUANAR Vice Chancellor hailed President Chakwera for placing more effort on promoting quality education.

Professor Zachary Kasomekera, Chairman for LUANAR Council advised the graduating students to add value to what they have learned at the University.

Education

Maximise Life Institute for varsity students’ career dynamic mentorship

Dorica Mtenje

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Life Changer’s International Church has embarked on outreaching through Maximise Life Institute (MLI) at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR).

The initiative aims at equipping students with Extraordinary skills needed after school life.

The program is set to focus on career dynamics, family dynamics, and leadership development dynamics.

The founding Bishop of Life Changer’s International Church, who is also MLI President, Solomon Adebayo, graced the launch at the Bunda campus on Saturday, October 5, 2024.

Adebayo said through MLI, undergraduate students will develop extraordinary skills in life outside academic courses.

“We are inspired to bring out well-rounded students with balanced outlook to life, empowered and ready to pursue their lives purposes,” said Adebayo.

He added that the outreach will also engage Teacher Training colleges(TTC) across the country to create a driven generation empowered to impact their world perspective.

Adebayo further said the youth are the pillar of the nation, and once they are neglected, the nation is in crisis.

He, therefore, calls upon all youth to take part as it is a free initiative and not limited to any religious faith.

One of the Students, who is studying Agriculture Extension services, Dickson Masangwale, said the program will make them more than ready after school as the program aims are at aligning what he has been looking for.

Masangwale said since the population is growing every day they will have value in all aspects of their lives.

Agriculture, Law and order, Malawi

“Malawi’s outdated laws hindering animal welfare governance”-NYNCC

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s National Youth Network on Climate Change (NYNCC) has emphasized the need for Malawi to review outdated laws that govern animal welfare.

The grouping argues that the outdated laws continues to infringe animal right by allowing bad animal husbandry farming practices including cage system.

This comes as the Department of Animal Health and Livestock Development (DAHLD) is planning to review laws including Control and Diseases of Animals Act (Cap 66:02) 1967, Meat and Meat Products Act (Cap 67:02) 1975,  Milk and Milk Products Act (Cap 67:05) 1972, Protection of Animals Act (Cap 66:01) 1968, Veterinary and Para-veterinary Practitioners Act 2001(Cap 53:04) and among others.

NYNCC National Coordinator Dominic Nyasulu told The Maravi Post after engaging Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) learners, on Monday, May 13, 2024 in animal welfare and cage free campaign that the nation needs news laws to govern animals amid imaging issues.

He said learners are engaged in instilling them with knowledge on animal rights for better management after studies.

Nyasulu therefore lauded livestock department for planning to review outdated laws towards uplift animal welfare in the country.

“We can’t have laws dated 1975 when a lot has happened in governing animals welfare. These outdated laws are making it hard to make inroads in protecting animal from any sort torture, stress in their habitat.

“We need new laws that match with modern and proper methods of governing animal welfare. We are therefore happy to learn that these outdated laws are being reviewed,” said Nyasulu.

Director of Animal health and Livestock Development Dr. Julius Chulu acknowledges the need for laws’ reviews for better livestock right improvement.

Dr. Chulu agrees, “Lacks an appropriately qualified, designated (Animal Welfare) Board or Committee to set, review, revise, as necessary and implement or enforce animal welfare standards.

“Lacks provisions to authorize the Minister (on the advice of an Animal  Welfare Board / Committee), to make regulations for setting standards of management, handling, and nutrition of animals, the humane slaughter of food animals and the humane destruction of animals for other reasons, the conduct of experiments using animals and the use of animals in sport or for the exhibition”.

He adds, “This is the reason we are in the verge of reviewing all outdated laws that govern animal welfare. To show commitment we have national strategy which is governing animal welfare. We expect the laws to be tabled in Parliament for enactment”.

One of Luanar’s Animal Science students Natasha Salenga lauded NYNCC for engaging high learning institution assuring the grouping of total support towards animal welfare after studies.

With financial support Open Wing Alliance, NYNCC with other partners is advancing cage free farming system in Malawi for animal rights.  

Education, Technology

LUANAR dares Malawians on technological research breakthrough uptake

Maravi Post Reporter 1 Comment

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) has emphasised the need for Malawians to embrace various research the institution is producing for a better nation in all spheres of life.

LUANAR Vice Chancellor, Professor Emmanuel Kaunda observes that research is dynamic and there is a need for more to be done by researchers to immediately provide solutions to immediate problems.

He was speaking on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, during the opening of a two-day Postgraduate Research Symposium at LUANAR’s Bunda campus in the capital Lilongwe.

Professor Kaunda said, “LUANAR has hundreds of postgraduate students doing their studies but we don’t have an avenue to showcase and get feedback on the work they are doing to enhance technological innovations and solutions.

“This is why this year LUANAR came up with a symposium so that students should present their work to their colleagues as well as members of staff”.

He added, “Research is a process and in research, things keep changing, one could say what LUANAR is doing, you know challenges keep coming so as LUANAR we are doing our part but there is a need for more to be done, so this symposium is a realization that we need to do more so that we should respond to the challenges that the country is facing.

“The other thing is that as a country we should make sure that we have adequate funds for our students and members of staff to conduct a lot of research, by raising the profile of research we can mobilize more to do impact research”.

Echoing the same, Associate Professor Sam Katengeza who is also LUANAR’s director of research and outreach says this will enhance the visibility of research that is being done by the postgraduate students at the university as most of the research that are doing are of great significance to the nation, agricultural sector in particular.

“This is a platform where researchers dive into a world of research and discovery and it is described as the key interface between academic achievements that also contribute to the nation’s research agenda as it is allied in Malawi 2063,” says Katengeza.

Under them, “LUANAR for more impact towards environmental sustainability, and agricultural productivity and commercialization through Postgraduate research, this is the first-ever research symposium to be done by the university.

Business, Lifestyle

NBM takes Mental Health Inter-University Social Weekend to Lilongwe

Maravi Post Reporter

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-National Bank of Malawi (NBM) Plc will this weekend take the Inter-University Social Weekend to Lilongwe with the core objective of raising awareness about mental health among university students while enjoying sports and entertainment activities.

The social weekend, which will take place at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) Bunda campus on Friday and Saturday (27 and 28 October 2023) targets Universities and Colleges in proximity or within Lilongwe City which include Pentecostal Life University, LUANAR NRC and City campus, Lake Malawi Anglican University, Malawi College of Health Sciences, Kamuzu College of Nursing, College of Medicine and Nalikule College.

NBM plc Marketing and Corporate Affairs Manager Akossa Hiwa said the ‘Mo626 Inter Universities Social Weekend’ is expected to give students light-hearted networking and collaboration opportunities, as well as access to vital mental health and self-care information.

“The Bank is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment where students can openly discuss mental health, pick up coping strategies, and engage in activities that promote overall well-being. As part of this effort, a dedicated Mental Health Booth will be set up, staffed by a qualified mental health expert who will be available to assist and guide students in addressing their mental health concerns,” said Hiwa.

Hiwa said attendees should also look forward to cultural showcases, sports competitions, and captivating performances, and the Bank’s presence, as one of the event sponsors, will further enhance the experience by offering insights into the financial aspects of mental well-being and personal growth.

Entertainment Director at LUANAR, Wakisa Dimba commended NBM plc for the initiative saying most students in universities are depressed, and having mental health experts will provide a good platform for them to share their problems while seeking professional counseling services.

“As students, we have a lot of mental health issues. I remember at some point we had a first-year student attempting suicide because of a lack of support for his studies. They cannot share their problems with a colleague for fear of being laughed at, but we believe mental health experts have the expertise to handle such issues. Entertainment will also provide us relief,” said Dimba.

Eli Njuchi, Malinga Mafia, Sly C, and Wikise are set to headline the event.

NBM recently sponsored a similar event which took place at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHES) Complex, Blantyre last month.

Environment

LUANAR for natural pesticides to tame Malawi’s environmental degradation

Maravi Post Reporter


LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) plans to develop natural pesticides to control environmental degradation in Malawi.

LUANAR Vice Chancellor Professor Emmanuel Kaunda said this on Wednesday in Lilongwe during a two-day symposium organized by the Agro-Ecological Hub in Malawi.

The symposium was organized to discuss challenges and solutions on how to manage the environment for improved food systems in the country.

LUANAR Vice Chancellor Professor Emmanuel Kaunda said the institution is planning to develop natural pesticides.

Kaunda said there are a number of diseases that have come due to weather patterns as a result of climate change.

“Some of these diseases are resistance to certain pesticides which are applied so the research being done is to identify pesticides that can control pests here,” he said.

Kaunda believed that in the end there will be solutions that are homegrown, adding that the importation of such expensive pesticides will also be reduced.

Controller of Agriculture Extension and Technical Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, Alfred Mwenifumbo, expressed the importance to focus on and reflect the current challenges for improved productivity.

“New pest problems such as Fall Armyworm and resurgence of soybean rust have slowed down productivity in recent years,” he said.

Mwenifumbo said most important is the fact that the country has been compelled to rely on chemical pesticides. saying the pesticides kill a broad range of non-target insects and microbial life including natural enemies of most pests.

The symposium was under the theme, “Rolling out Agro-Ecological Practices to combat pests, climate change, and Environmental Degradation for Sustainable Food Systems”.

Agriculture, Technology

Biotech to improve Malawi’s agricultural production

Richard Kayenda

MZUZU-(MaraviPost)-Modern biotechnology has been proven as one of the solutions that can boost agricultural economy in the country.

The remarks were made on Friday, June 9, 2023 at a media workshop which drew journalists from various districts in the Northern Region of Malawi.

Speaking during the training in Mzuzu, a Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) based senior lecturer in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Abel Sefasi, said Malawi ought to embrace the innovation in order to increase yields in agriculture and turn the Malawi’s economy around.

“This is an important training that we realised that all that we do as scientists, we do it for the farmers to benefit so that when they use the technologies, the technologies can contribute to the vision that this country has, the Malawi 2063; especially for agriculture, as we know that agriculture is the backbone of the economy of Malawi,” said Sefasi.

The workshop which was organised by Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), with support from the National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST) in partnership with Nyika Media Club, is one of trainings that NCST has been organising for journalists in the country so as to disseminate the right information on biotechnology to farmers and other stakeholders.

In his remarks, chairperson for Nyika Media Club, Joseph Mwale, said the training was an eye-opener for journalists to understand issues around biotechnology.

Mwale said: “It’s important that as journalists we understand why we are still lagging behind in terms this technology. And I think it challenges policy makers that to do more and focus on it to achieve food security.”

Biotechnology is technology that utilizes biological systems, living organisms or parts of this to develop or create different products that can improve the quality of human life.

Agriculture, Malawi

CAT, LUANAR sign US$13,000 research grant for undergraduate students on Malawi farmers production challenges

Maravi Post Reporter


LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Centre for Agricultural Transformation (CAT) and Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) have signed a US$13,500 (about MK14.5 million) research grant to support six undergraduate students carryout research on demand (RoD) aimed at providing quick solutions to production challenges faced by smallholder farmers and selected agribusinesses in Malawi.

The grant covers one year of research activities by four male and two female students drawn from LUANAR’s Bunda College campus, who were selected through a competitive and rigorous process managed by both the university and CAT.

Specifically, the grant will enable the students to undertake specific tailor-designed research areas including investigating the agronomic uniformity and genetic stability of CG11 groundnut variety, develop tissue culture protocols for rapid propagation of Sukari and Zeru local varieties of banana, evaluate and identify effective integrated pest management approaches for Soybean, assess effect of sunken beds on yield of rain-fed and irrigated garlic, study the field establishment and agronomic performance of chia seeds, and evaluate the potential of used mushroom substrate as an organic fertilizer.

The production challenges were identified late last year through CAT’s visit to its Business Incubation and Commercialization (BIC) partners who are upscaling various technologies and innovations to support smallholder farmers’ adoption across the country.

Nkhoma and Mwangwela (from left)

The research activities will be conducted at the CAT’s Smart Farms located within the precincts of LUANAR’s Bunda and NRC Campuses with regular visits to selected agribusinesses in Lilongwe based on individual production challenges they face while working with smallholder farmers.

CAT Executive Director Macleod Nkhoma said: “We are delighted to work with LUANAR towards supporting undergraduate research needs that have an impact on smallholder agricultural production as well as those that can provide solutions to production bottlenecks our agribusiness partners face as they support farmers through various alternative value chains.

“This is a unique opportunity and CAT strongly believes this will further cement the existing partnership between CAT and LUANAR; but more importantly it will generate evidence-based data that will eventually help these farmers enhance their agricultural productivity, increase income and ensure improved livelihoods.”

Nkhoma added that although this is a pilot phase targeting undergraduate students there is potential for expansion in near future to include other value chains and target groups who may want to research on challenges being faced by the agricultural sector.

On her part, Deputy Vice Chancellor of LUANAR Dr. Agnes Mwangwela had this to say: “We applaud and celebrate this great initiative which will go a long way in building and strengthening our undergraduate students’ capacity to conduct scientific research.

“The University deeply cherishes a practical partnership with the CAT that is cascading down to our students. Following this initial grant, we look forward to an expanded program that would accommodate more students and staff to conduct demand-driven and cutting edge research for the agriculture industry.”

The Foundation for a Smoke-Free World through Agricultural Transformation Initiative (ATI) has provided
funding for the initiative.