Tag Archives: Liwonde

District News

Liwonde environmental education centre reopened to promote conservation awareness

Jones Gadama

By Jones Gadama

The Liwonde Environmental Education Centre has been reopened, offering a vital platform for promoting conservation awareness and environmental education in the region.

African Parks, the organization managing the centre, has expressed excitement about the centre’s potential to inspire a new generation of conservationists and environmental stewards.

The centre, which was reopened in 2024 with upgraded facilities, provides dynamic and interactive learning experiences for students, teachers, and community groups. The centre’s programs include camp sessions, media presentations, and workshops, designed to engage participants and promote a deeper understanding of the importance of conservation.

According to African Parks, the centre has quickly become a focal point for a diverse range of educational activities, attracting visitors from over 600 kilometres away.

The centre’s commitment to ensuring access to environmental education is evident in its sponsorship programs, which have enabled many students to participate in its activities.

Over the past year, 664 visitors have utilized the overnight facilities, with 69 percent receiving sponsorship. Additionally, 4,901 learners have participated in day visits, with 13 percent benefiting from financial support.

The centre’s impact is already being felt, with students and community members expressing gratitude for the knowledge and skills they have gained.

A student from Namandanje Community Day Secondary School said, “The invaluable lessons I have learned at Liwonde Environmental Education Centre have ignited my ambition and given me the tools to achieve my goals.”

The Liwonde Environmental Education Centre is part of a broader educational support network being developed at Liwonde, Majete, and Nkhotakota National Parks.

The network includes scholarships and literacy programs, aimed at promoting environmental education and conservation awareness among local communities.

The reopening of the Liwonde Environmental Education Centre is a significant step towards promoting conservation awareness and environmental education in the region.

With its upgraded facilities and commitment to accessibility, the centre is poised to make a lasting impact on the lives of students, teachers, and community members.

Health

Mozambican train kills two Malawian children

Maravi Post Reporter

A Mozambican train belonging to Vale Logistics on Wednesday hit two children of the same family, leaving one of them with a crushed leg at Liwonde in Machinga.

Confirming the development, Machinga police spokesperson Davie Sulumba further said the children identified as Belita and Oliver Laudon aged 10 and four respectively met their fate at Liwonde
Railway Bridge.

He said the locomotive train which was being operated by Olimpio Ngaila, a Mozambican national was coming from Moatize heading to Nacala.

“According to investigations, the victims were frightened by the heavy sound of the train then fell on the rail line where it partly run over them. So far the first victim Belita had her toe amputated while Oliver had the whole right leg amputated,” said Sulumba.

Meanwhil,e he said the victims have been referred from Machinga District Hospital to Mwaiwathu Hospital in Blantyre.

The two hails from Kampalira village Traditional Authority Sitola in the district.

In another accident, Sulumba said another locomotive train hit unidentified man to death at Nsanama in the same district.

He said the train was coming from Nayuchi heading towards Nkaya.

He said the police is appealing to communities living along the railway line not to allow their children and other vulnerable groups to play along the railway lines.

Law and order

Man collapses in court dock after Judgment

Malawi News Agency (MANA)

Liwonde First Grade Magistrate Court sitting at Nselema on June 27, 2018, convicted and sentenced a 20 year old Yusufu Asipolo to 12 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a 14 year old girl contrary to section 138 of the Penal code.

Presenting the facts in court, State Prosecutor Sergeant Kesten Chimwala of Nselema Police told the court that the accused proposed love to the victim who is a standard 4 learner at Nampeya Primary School and had been defiling her from November 2017 to May 2018.

And in May 2018, the victim’s mother discovered that the victim was pregnant and the matter was reported to Chikweo Police Unit where she was referred to Chikweo Health Centre for examination and the results proved that the victim had a 16 weeks pregnant.

When taken before court, the accused denied the offence, and this made the state to call in 3 witnesses who proved the matter beyond reasonable doubt and the accused was finally convicted.

Just after the conviction, the state through Sergeant Chimwala asked the court to impose a stiffer penalty to the convict considering that such cases are rampant in the area and to deter other would-be offenders.

In mitigation, Asipolo asked for a fair punishment for he is a bread winner.
When passing sentence, his Worship First Grade Magistrate Jones Masula concurred with the state and sentenced Asipolo to 12 years imprisonment with hard.

But just after the court passed the sentence, the convict fainted in dock and was rushed to Nainunje Health Centre for treatment and was discharged 4 hours later.

Yusufu Asipolo comes from Ajasi village in the area of Traditional Authority Chikweo in the same district of Machinga.