Farmers under Karonga and Chitipa IRDP Start Producing Manure in Preparation for 2018-19 Farming Season
By Elijah Banda
Malawi is ranked among one of the poorest countries with about 53% of population living below the poverty line. The major source of livelihood is agriculture through direct employment, particularly the farming households, and others employed indirectly through organizations and companies working with farmers as extension agents and marketers.
The agricultural sector continues to face huddles despite numerous efforts by Government through the farm income subsidy program, which offers farm inputs to selected farmers at a reduced price. High poverty levels and high prices of farm inputs coupled by soil degradation subject farmers to little harvest every year and reduced economic activities through agriculture by both the farming households and the country at large. The under producing agricultural sector has contributed to a myriad of problems nutritionally, economically and socially among the people in the country. It is imperative therefore for more concerted efforts in order to curb the problem of food under production as a result of high prices of farm inputs.
Karonga Diocese, through the Chitipa and Karonga Integrated Rural Development Project (IRDP), is engaging farmers in cheap methods of producing manure which contain almost similar nutrients as provided by artificial fertilizers. The project is promoting use of Chinadango fertilizer produced from biomass material and sizable amount of fertilizers, compost manure produced from agriculture biomass materials and liquid manure produced animal waste. The project, apart from these manures, is also promoting farmers to plant nutrient fixing crops such as leguminous plants and tree species such as drycidia, tephrosia and farhebia albida
Visiting the farmers in Chisenga on 26th May 2018, Chitipa Land Resource Officer Mr L.Lwinga appreciated the efforts by CADECOM by encouraging farmers to start producing manure in time in order to ensure they plant on time and reduce the cost of production for the staple maize crop.
”Farmers need to know that manure works just as artificial fertilizer. And they are even better as they work for a minimum of three years unlike artificial fertilizers which only work for the application year,” he said.
Speaking during the visit, farmers expressed satisfaction with how maize applied with manure has performed in demonstration plots set by CADECOM. They have promised to make more manure this season in order to reduce the cost of maize production, whose selling price is not determined by the cost of production.
“We have started earlier this season because last year we started late and only managed to source manure for the demo fields. This season we will make more manure for our fields at home and the demo plot, “said Mary Munthali a farmer from Chisenga. She has already made 4 heaps of pit compost manure for winter cropping where she has planted maize and sweet beans.
Speaking to the farmers, CADECOM Project Officer, Mr Elijah Banda encouraged farmers to start earlier in making preparations for the 2018-19 farming season so that they plant their crops with the first rains
”Farmers should take farming as employment and should not necessarily go on holiday once they harvest their crops. It’s time to start land preparation, such as preparing pits for pit planting, preparing manure, winter farming and other activities to ensure they get maximum benefits from agriculture,” he said.
Chisenga, in Chitipa, is one of the project sites for Karonga and Chitipa Integrated Rural Development Project. Other sites in Chitipa are Mwankumbwa and Misuku with Kyungu in Karonga District. The project is benefiting 2400 farming households. Karonga and Chitipa Rural integrated project is a three year project (2017-2020) funded by MISERIOR to the tune of MK 285 million.
St Michael’s Parish YCS Members Urged to be Agents of Change
By Paul Lonely Mwandira
It was a youth weekend for St Michael’s Parish on 04th-06th May, 2018 when youth from 10 different schools within St Michael’s and St John Paul II’s parishes gathered at St Michael’s Parish.
The youth weekend was celebrated under the theme, “youth as agents of change”. Different talks were presented to initiate the youth into their roles in the Catholic Church and to foster mindset change as far as governance is concerned.
In discussing the recent pastoral letter entitled “A Call to a New Era in Malawi”, the Catechetical Methodology Advisor of St Michael’s Parish advised members to heed the Bishops’ call to change their ways of thinking if lasting change is to be achieved.
“The pastoral letter is challenging us Catholic youths, who are often used by politicians as agents of violence, to change our perception of democracy and ensure that democracy is entrenched at all levels,” said Mwandira.
Facilitating to 324 students who gathered at the function, students were urged not to be idle in the Church.
Chipalamoto Nyirenda, who took the students through life skills lessons, advised them to cultivate positive behavior at school and at home.
“As students you need to show signs that you are growing up both physically, intellectually and spiritually. These changes need to be accompanied playing critical roles in the Church. As youth we should be mindful that we participate in leading activities in the Church,” said Chipalamoto.
Students were mentored on career guidance and reading skills by George Silungwe from Kaseye Girls Secondary School. Mr Silungwe rebuffed the opinion that many students fail to be selected to university due to quota system. He indicated that students lack proper career guidance when selecting programmes to pursue at the university.
The youth weekend was closed by a Eucharistic Celebration, during which Young Christian Students group donated assorted kitchen items to support visitors who camp at the parish for different activities.
St Joseph the Worker Cathedral Shines in Deanery Quiz and Choral Competitions
By Philip Chisi (Methodology Advisor)
Two teams from St Joseph the Worker Cathedral Parish emerged victors in Karonga Deanery Junior Sunday School Quiz and choral competitions which took place at St Mary’s Parish on Sunday 27th May, 2018.
Joseph the Worker Cathedral Centre and St. Helena Sub-Station (Vilawule), both under St Joseph the Worker Cathedral Parish, scooped first positions in quiz and choral competitions respectively. These two teams will carry the Karonga Deanery flag as they meet fellow victors from Chitipa Deanery in the Diocesan finals.
The event attracted over 180 Junior Sunday School leaners from all the five parishes in the deanery. The quiz contest was among the following teams; St Mary’s Parish Centre, Kangindwa (St Steven’s Parish), St Augustine (Livingstonia Parish), St Joseph the Worker Cathedral Parish Centre and St Anne’s Parish Centre. Each team was given a set of five questions, to respond to, corresponding to the number of contestants in each team.
St Joseph the Worker team answered all the five questions correctly and scored ten points, followed by St Steven’s Parish, which scored nine points. St Anne’s and St Teresa scored 7 points each while St Mary’s Parish Centre came last with five points.
The choral competition involved St Mary’s Centre, Vilawule (St Joseph), Kangindwa (St Steven’s), and Wovwe (St Anne’s). All teams, having won parish level competition, were well prepared for this competition; making it stiff. According to the Chief Judge, Gregor Lusale, the standard for judgement was availability and consistency of the four main voices (soprano, alto, tenor and bass), balancing and general impression.
In appreciation, the Sunday School Project Coordinator, Benjamin Msowoya expressed satisfaction with the positive improvement in both mastery of the catechism and singing. He thanked all the Sunday school instructors for their dedication in organizing and training their learners.
There is now no distinction in matters of mastering catechism or singing between those Junior Sunday School learners from rural areas and those from urban areas as evidenced by the ability of those substations, far from the parish, managing to get to top position.
Justice and Peace and CEPA Drill Journalists on Extractive Industries
By Vincent Bwinga (Justice and Peace)
The Justice and Peace Desk of the Diocese of Karonga and Centre for Environmental Policy Advocacy (CEPA), held a two-day training workshop aimed at increasing media participation in influencing accountability and transparency agenda.
During the training, journalists from media houses across Malawi were drilled to ably enquire, investigate, systematically cover and disclose extractive industries (EI) accountability and transparency issue in Malawi.
The training also strengthened current efforts, in the project being implemented, by the Justice and Peace Desk of Karonga Diocese and CEPA to engage the media as a way of enhancing public awareness on information relating to Extractive Industries to effectively gather stories relating to the same.
Speaking during the workshop, Justice and Peace Desk Officer, Louis Nkhata said the media has a key role to play in informing the public by providing an inclusive and critical platform for public dialogue and debate on EI. This he said could assist to disseminate information to most people in the country. He further encouraged journalists to be writing stories that can stimulate Malawians to demand participation and benefits from the extractive industries.
One of the participants, Adams Wundaninge of Zodiak Broadcasting Station, applauded Justice Peace Desk and CEPA for conducting the workshop. He indicated that the knowledge gained will assist them as journalists to be producing quality and evidence based reports.
He, however, requested the two organizations to keep on building capacity of journalist and engaging them in different forums of project activities so that they are always up to date on the status of the extractive industries.
Inclusive and Transformative Extractive Industries in Southern Africa project is implemented in Karonga by Justice and Peace Desk and in Phalombe by CEPA with financial support Oxfam in Malawi.
Karonga Diocese Launches Seminary Fund
By Brian Kachitete & Innocent Nazombe
In order to raise funds for the running of major seminaries in Malawi, Bishop Martin Anwel Mtumbuka of the Diocese of Karonga led the celebration marking the launch of the National Seminary Fund at Diocese level on 12th May 2018.
The launch which took place at Mubanga Outstation under St Michael’s Parish was graced by, among other dignitaries, the Vice President of the Republic of Malawi Right Honourable Saulos Klaus Chilima and Madam Mary Chilima, the Speaker of the National Assembly Honourable Richard Msowoya MP, leader of Umodzi Party Professor Chisi and Parliamentarian for Karonga Central Constituency Hon. Frank Tumpale Mwenifumbo.
In his homily, which was based on the readings for Pentecost Sunday, Bishop Mtumbuka urged the congregation to entrench unity and peace which are fruit of the Holy Spirit. The Bishop said, division and violence are a clear indication that the Holy Spirit is not reigning among the people.
The Bishop observed that there is too much division in families, villages, political parties and in the country as a whole which is a clear sign that we have not allowed the Holy Spirit to reign. He urged the congregation to allow the Holy Spirit reign in their lives.
The Bishop equated the confusion and division in political parties to the Tower of Babel, where language confusion foiled a larger tower building project. Bishop Mtumbuka further condemned the practice of choosing people or discriminating against them based on their religion or tribe.
At this point, the Bishop urged political leaders to be mindful of their spiritual life, their relationship with God by cultivating deep love for prayers if lasting peace is to be achieved.
Addressing the congregation, the Vice President commended the Catholic Church for launching the National Seminary Fund. He said the fund will go a long way in reducing the many challenges the seminaries are facing.
He urged Christians and people of good will to generously contribute towards the seminaries, which play an important role of forming priests.
‘‘Well trained priests are important to the Church and to everyone. The seminary fund gives everyone an opportunity to take part in the training of future priests,’’ he said.
The Vice President donated MK 1 million towards the fund. Other notable donations are MK 300,000 from the Minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe and MK 50,000 from Professor John Chisi. The function at Mubanga raised a total of MK 1.8 million in cash, excluding the donations that came through envelopes.
The National Seminary Fund is an initiative of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi. Through the fund, Christians are encouraged to contribute to the training of priests by making commitments to make monthly or annual contributions or adopting seminarians and catering for their academic and personal needs.
In 2017, the Catholic Bishops of Malawi set aside the Pentecost Sunday as National Seminary Day to raise funds for the running of major seminaries in Malawi. Other Dioceses launched the fund on Pentecost Day last year.
Misuku Kakomo ADC Applauds CCJP’s Health Governance Project
By Nyozomo Gondwe
Kakomo Area Development Committee (ADC) has hailed CCJP for its Health Governance Project, saying the project has benefited the community as its fruits are visible as compared to other projects in the area. This was revealed during the monthly ADC meeting that took place at Misuku Women Forum on 5th May 2018.
Presenting a report to the ADC as per requirement, Chief Mwenemisuku said, Misuku Health Centre has received an ambulance and 15 beds from the District Health Office due to the pressure they had been receiving from the community after knowing their health rights through CCJP Health governance project.
“I want to inform the house that our Health Centre has received 15 beds and an ambulance from the four ambulances that have been donated by Government of Canada through Integrated Pathways for Improving Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (InPATH) project,” said Mwenemisuku.
“This has not just come on a Silver platter. It is because CCJP has through their numerous meetings enlightened and empowered us on our health rights. I was once, together with the ADC Chairperson and Health facility Advisory Committee (ADC) members, called to an interface meeting with women and the youth where we were forced to go and talk to the District Health Officer on the issue of ambulance. Today am happy that through the same meeting, our prayer has been answered,” said the traditional leader.
“We are now key actors in our development as compared to the past when we were passive recipients of services.” he said.
He further advised other organisations to emulate CCJP by making sure that their projects’ resources benefit the citizenry as opposed from enriching themselves.
Concurring the Chief, Kakomo ADC Chairperson, Baxter Silungwe applauded CCJP for building the capacity of citizens to the level where they can, themselves, actively monitor health service delivery and take appropriate action in cases of lapses in the system.
“We are now aware of the roles of the office DHO and the In-charge at the Health Centre; how one can get in touch with its officials; what services to expect and how to seek a remedy if something goes wrong,” he said
Misuku Health Advisory Committee Chairperson, Macmillan Ghambi assured the members that they will keep on representing the community to realise their right to health which revolves around availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality services.
“A country’s difficult financial situation does not absolve it from protecting health rights. No country can justify failure to respect its obligations because of lack of resources.” observed Ghambi.
CCJP is implementing a Health Governance in Misuku with funds from Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA).
SGVH Mwakabanga Hails CCJP for Conducting FPIC Awareness Campaign
By Vincent Bwinga (Justice and Peace)
The Senior Group Village Headman Mwakabanga has commended the Justice and Peace Desk for conducting awareness meeting on Free Prior and Informed Consent.
Speaking during the meeting, the traditional leader said the meeting has opened their eyes on mining issues, especially on ways of engaging investors and government to claim their rights.
SGVH Mwakabanga said that they were not aware about the Exclusive Prospective Licenses that have been given to companies to explore oil on Lake Malawi.
“We would like to thank the Justice and Peace Desk for coming up with the project. This has strengthened our capacity to demand our rights to participate in decision making processes in the mining sector,” said Mwakabanga.
SGVH Mwakabanga further said FPIC is proving to be more practical entry tool to facilitate dialogue between community members, investors and government on extractive industries. He appealed for more awareness meetings in his community and surrounding villages.
“Most investors are not transparent and honest on issues of mining as we learnt from Kayelekela (Uranium) Mine. Therefore, the community needs to have a clear understanding of FPIC principle so that they easily claim their rights,” added the traditional leader.
Currently, there are five Exclusive Prospective Licenses given to companies where two are for oil exploration, two for uranium, and one for coal, rare earth elements and tungsten.
The awareness meeting was orchestrated by the Justice and Peace Desk of the Diocese of Karonga under the Inclusive and Transformative Extractive Industries in Southern Africa project. Australian Aid is funding the project through Oxfam in Malawi.
The project firstly aims at ensuring that the government is transparent and accountable in the generation, collection and expenditure of revenues from the extractive industries; that the government and companies uphold human rights in their policy and practice; and strengthen capacity of citizens (particularly women) and CSOs are agents of change.
The project is being implemented in the areas of Traditional Authorities of Kyungu and Kilupula in Karonga District.
Mr Skrotski In To Help Diocesan Finance and Investment Team Develop Business Plan
By Moses Raymond Kamanga
The Diocese of Karonga strives to turn all stones available in a quest to develop a financial muscle that would eventually hold its body mass upright with reduced external aid.
Believing in the adage that two heads are better than one, the Diocese welcomed Mr. Rainer Skrotzki a German Senior expert in financial accounting to help the Finance and Investment Team to develop business and strategic plans for the income generating activities embarked on by the Diocese of Karonga. These plans will aid the Diocese to competently get the best from the investments in Misuku Coffee, Uzumara and Chipunga farms.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, Mr. Skrotski said he is enthusiastic to assist in the best way possible for the Diocese of Karonga to realise its dream profits from the investments.
“I am impressed because the people involved in these projects are knowledgeable, hard working and very eager to reach the targets as guided by the Bishop. However, the work to be done is tremendously big; particularly in Uzumara Plantation which we had difficulties to come close to,” Said Mr Skrotski.
Answering the question whether the plantations are worthy investing in or otherwise, Mr Skrotski indicated that the investments are very viable and recommended macadamia nuts for Chipunga Farm and Coffee for Misuku Plantation.
“There is a very big profit venture for macademia and coffee here in Malawi especially if there is a talking relationship with farms like Tropha that are already in the business here in Malawi,” said the confident looking Skrotski.
Commenting on the visit of Mr Skrotski to the Diocese of Karonga, on behalf of the Diocesan Investment team, the Caritas Secretary, Mr. Mwawi Shaba expressed the eagerness to learn from Mr. Skrotski for the advancement of the investments in the Diocese.
The Diocese of Karonga, youngest of all the Dioceses in Malawi turns any “turnable” stone in a strife towards self-sustainability.
TA Mwaulambya Hands Over 50 Hectares of Land to Chisankhwa Catholic Outstation
By Lonely Paul Mwandira
Traditional Authority Mwaulambya of Chitipa recently allocated about 50 hectares of land to Chisankhwa Catholic Church under St Michael’s Parish in appreciation to the work the Diocese of Karonga is doing in the area.
Speaking during the land handover ceremony, TA Mwaulambya said he is very happy with what the Catholic Church is doing in his area.
“I’m very pleased with what the Catholic Church is doing in my area. This has prompted me to allocate more land to the Church for possible development,” said Mwaulambya.
He further cited development projects, championed by the Diocese of Karonga, such as the construction of St Ignatius Secondary School in Nthalire and St Mary’s Girls Secondary School in Karonga. He expressed satisfaction with the fast pace the Diocese of moving in to respond to the needs of the people.
On 15th July, 2016, Bishop Martin Anwel Mtumbuka of the Diocese of Karonga celebrated Mass at Chisankhwa Outstation. After the Mass, Christians complained of the long distances children walk to the nearby schools.
Bishop Mtumbuka pledged to do everything possible to help them construct a primary school, secondary school and a hospital. People in the area have molded more than one million bricks ready for other development projects.
Chisankhwa Outstation New Church Construction at an Advanced Stage
By Lonely Paul Mwandira
St Michael’s Parish, under the leadership of Reverend Father Charles Peter Chinula, has embarked on a mission to construct new churches in the outstations using locally generated resources. Chisankhwa Zone is one of the beneficiaries of the initiative.
Speaking when he toured Chisankhwa Church project site recently, Father Chinula said, with the support of Christians, he will ensure that the parish builds one new church of a standard quality every year. He envisions a new look parish in the next ten years.
“I will not tolerate substandard work in construction of these churches. I will ensure that whatever we build should make Christians appreciate their efforts.” He further said.
Church members mobilise locally available materials like bricks and sand and the parish provides cement, iron sheets, timber and others which are not locally found.