“PUBLIC EXPENDITURE TRACKING (PET): A PATH TO TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY”
The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) Karonga diocese conducted a Public Expenditure Tracking sensitization session on 9th May 2024 at Kangindwa Primary School on how to improve transparency and accountability in the management of School Improvement Grants (SIG) and School Development Funds.
The session was attended by Group Village Head Mwandenga, Kangindwa Parent Teachers Association representatives, the School Management Committees, Public Expenditure Tracking committee members and CCJP officers. During the session, there was a review of the schools financing and procurement processes in the form of a Question and Answer session by CCJP officers in order to get a clear picture of the transparency and accountability measures that are in place.
During the session, it was discovered that the school has set financing and procurement procedures in place that promote accountability however there is a problem of access to information on the financing and procurement processes which affects transparency. It was also discovered that in the school of 1,643 students, only 780 students paid the required MK1,000 for School Development Fund which hinders development.
“The session we had today is very beneficial as it will assist us as a committee to be more transparent and accountable if we follow all that we have been taught and we will also teach our friends in the community on benefits of contributing to the School Development Fund and also how to track our incomes and expenditure” said Steven Simfukwe who is the School Management Committee Chairperson for Kangindwa.
CCJP officer Moses Mwakisalu acknowledged that there is a great improvement at Kangindwa but highlighted that there is a great challenge of late disbursement of the School Improvement Grant which affects the learning process at the school and encouraged the School Management Committee, Parents Teachers Association and the community to work together in-order to improve transparency and accountability.
A simmilar session was conducted at Uliwa with Wasambo Community Action Group and Wasambo Public Expenditure Tracking Committee Members on 8th May 2024. The Public Expenditure Tracking (PET) is an initiative under the Fighting Inequalities Project which CCJP Karonga Diocese is implementing with support from Norwegian Church Aid and DanChurch Aid Joint Country Programme.
“EMPOWERING WOMEN: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND GENDER EQUALITY IN ILEMA”
“My role as VDC chair has been made easy by the support of my fellow women and the introduction of the Gender and Sensibilization Project by CCJP. We have made progress as we are currently implementing several community development projects under my leadership such as the construction of a clinic and nursery schools here in Ilema to reduce the distances women and children travel to access healthcare and education services”, says Jesse Kilembe who is the chairperson for Ilema VDC.
Under Jesse’s leadership, Ilema VDC is also constructing an Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation warehouse together with neighbouring Mubanga VDC to deal with the problem of travelling long distances to Lufita to access ADMARC services. “The funds used for all the developmental activities are sourced from the community and as a committee, we make decisions on what developments to make within our community”, says Jesse.
“There is a huge difference in the way things are being done in the community if we compare between the times we had a male chairperson and now when we have a female Village Development Committee chairperson”, says Yasaba N’gambi who is Group Village Head Chiwelewele and also serves as the patron for Ilema Village Development Committee.
“Women are more transparent in their dealings and have the best interests of the community at heart and as a result of this, our families and community has seen a great improvement since the implementation of this project. We are encouraging active participation of women in our community projects” GVH Chiwelewele further states.
Ilema Village Development Committee as a whole is a participant in the Gender Sensibilisation and Safeguarding Project which Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace Karonga Diocese Desk is carrying out in Chitipa District since 2022 with support from MISEREOR and the Diocese of Munster in Germany of which one of the goals is to increase participatory decision making between men and women at both household and community level.
The story of Ilema VDC serves as an inspiring example of how empowering women in leadership positions can lead to meaningful progress. Through community-driven initiatives and a commitment to gender equality, Jesse Kilembe and the Ilema VDC are shaping a brighter future for their community.
“BISHOPS PEACE TROPHY: ADDRESSING VIOLENT CONFLICTS THROUGH FOOTBALL”
By Triphornia Mtawali
The Karonga Diocese has inaugurated the Bishop’s Peace Trophy at Kiwe ground, with the aim of combating the tragic occurrences of innocent individuals being killed as a result of accusations related to witchcraft.
In a speech delivered by Monsignor Laurent Dziko on behalf of Bishop Martin Mtumbuka, the significance of engaging the youth in productive activities through the trophy was underscored as a primary objective.
Bishop Mtumbuka conveyed profound concern regarding the recent brutal murder of Jiness Nakalagho from Mwakasoko Village, PGVH Mwangulukulu, under Senior Chief Mwakaboko, emphasizing the pressing need to address such atrocities despite the long-standing presence of the Catholic Church in the region.
Senior Superintendent Chrissy Mwale, the Officer in Charge for Kaporo Police, commended the Diocese for this initiative, foreseeing it as a mechanism to empower the youth and deter violence.
Senior Chief Kilupula, in a separate interview expressed appreciation to the Bishop for the trophy, acknowledging it as a crucial step towards putting an end to the prevailing violence in the district.
KARONGA DIOCESE COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION (WASH) FIELD DAY PICTORIAL FOCUS
Karonga Diocese Community Transformation (WASH) beneficiaries in Jalawe, Chankholombe and Kopakopa had field day visits to performing households to different houses in their respective areas to appreciate WASH facilities. The Coordinator for Karonga Diocese Community Transformation (WASH) Duncan Nyirenda led the visits and also re-oriented the beneficiaries on WASH guidelines and standards. Below are some of the pictures from the field days.
“FIGHTING AGAINST MALNUTRITION: CT FOOD AND NUTRITION COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS PROMOTE HEALTHY COOKING IN COMMUNITIES”
In Malawi, access to information about nutrition is limited and the Karonga Diocese is one of the organizations on the forefront seeking to end this through its Community Transformation (CT) Project which has food and nutrition as one of its components. In this spirit, Karonga Diocese CT (Food and Nutrition) conducted cooking demonstrations in the areas of Jalawe, Chankholombe and Kopakopa which were meant to impart knowledge to its beneficiaries about the 6 groups of foods and how to cook different foods that are nutritious.
The cooking demonstrations were conducted by Karonga Diocese CT(Food and Nutrition) Coordinator Grace Kondowe and the training’s began with a simple Question and Answer session to refresh the participants on the 6 healthy food groups and food preservation methods. Thereafter the participants were taught recipes that they can cook with locally sourced materials and conducted practical cooking exercises under the supervision of the CT-Food and Nutrition Coordinator and volunteers.
“The main purpose of the training is to equip the beneficiaries with skills on how they can diversify meals and foods using locally available six food groups and how to preserve food materials that they may be available even when such foods are not in season. We encourage the people to use locally available food materials that are grown and found in the village to create the meals,” said Grace.
CT Food and Nutrition is part of the Community Transformation Project which is being implemented by the Karonga Diocese with assistance from Cross Catholic Outreach in the areas of Village Heads Jalawe, Chankholombe and Kopakopa. The materials used during the cooking demonstrations were sourced by the beneficiaries in their respective areas.
CT-NUTRITION FOR HEALTHY FAMILIES
“Our families have improved a lot since the introduction of the project and we have learnt how to prepare meals that contain all six food groups making our families healthier and happier”, says Christina Harawa (53) a mother of 5 from Mulyabweka Village, T/A Chankholombe. She is one of the 1,528 beneficiaries in the Community Transformation project which the Karonga Diocese is implementing with assistance from Cross Catholic Outreach.
Christina went on to further state that “We never used to know about the six food groups and as a result our families used to be malnourished, however, through the project we have gained knowledge, and we are very grateful to the Diocese for this project which has impacted our families in a positive way”.
Community Transformation Project volunteer for Chankholombe area Fyness Msukwa states that she has seen changes in her community since the introduction of the project. “The community is more hygienic and healthier since the introduction of the project as we used to have different foods available in the community but did not know how to prepare them correctly for them to contain all six food groups. Our children used to get sick regularly because of malnutrition and poor hygiene but with the project, our children are healthier, and I advise fellow beneficiaries in the project to follow the instructions given to us by the project officers in-order to fully benefit from the project” she said.
COMBATING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN KARONGA DISTRICT
The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace Desk of Karonga Diocese has successfully engaged various religious leaders and male advocates in discussions on how to eradicate gender-based violence through the Timazge Nkhaza project in Karonga district.
In his address, CCJP Officer Hope Mlenga implored religious leaders and male champions to take an active role in ending gender-based violence as a means of reducing the number of cases in the district that adversely affect households and lead to immoral behaviour.
During the meeting, Chairperson of pastors fraternal Rev Msowoya identified culture as a contributing factor to gender-based violence across different areas within Karonga.
It is imperative for religious leaders, GVHs, and stakeholders to join forces in fighting gender-based violence by altering people’s cultural mindsets since some individuals’ upbringing prohibits their involvement in any type of activity, especially women.
Sheikh Bilali commented on this matter by encouraging people to embrace love between men and women so as to reduce instances of gender-based violence.
In a separate interview the chairman of zinc Rev Whyman Gondwe said with the coming in of the project, it will take efforts for them as male champions to lead people to change basically on gender-based violence so that men and women should be treated equally.
By Wantwa Mwakasungula,
Tuntufye FM.
ILLEGAL MINING IN KARONGA; A COMMUNITY’S FIGHT FOR JUSTICE
On 12th April 2024, Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) Karonga Diocese had an interface meeting with members of Kalombo Kalira Village together with Wasambo Mining Committee on the state of an illegal coal mine which was operating in their community and to address grievances arising from the illegal coal mining operation.
“We signed an agreement with the mine owner that he would pay us for the land and the damage that would be done to the surrounding pieces of land as we had been using it for farming and two months after mining activities had begun, they ceased operations, but we still had not been paid a single kwacha. They resumed works in January 2024 only to stop again shortly after and we reported to the mining committee once again,” says YK who is one of the owners of the land the mining is being carried out.
Group Village Head Kamthendenga who is also the chairperson for Wasambo Mining Committee in a separate interview stated that the investor is considered to be an illegal mine operator as they are still in the process of being issued a mining license as such they are not allowed to carry out mining works. “They have not been following set mining guidelines such as payment of compensations, wages, carrying out corporate social responsibility activities and setting of proper structures at the mine,” he said.
“It is sad to note that this illegal mine investor is taking advantage of the vulnerable and unknowledgeable people. CCJP in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders will continue to sensitize and work with the community to address the challenges they face due to this mine; that is compensations, salaries and corporate social responsibilities” said Hope Mlenga officer for CCJP Karonga Diocese.
The interface meeting was held as an initiative under the Fighting Inequalities Project which CCJP Karonga Diocese is implementing with support from Norwegian Church Aid and DanChurch Aid Joint Country Programme.
KARONGA DIOCESE CCJP TRAINS IT’S MONITORS AHEAD OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT BY-ELECTIONS
In the heart of democracy lies the power of choice and ensuring that democracy maintains its purpose is a task of paramount importance. On Friday 22 March, the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) organized a training session at St. Mary’s parish hall aimed at fortifying the integrity of the electoral process.
The Vicar General of the Karonga Diocese Monsignor Lorent Dziko was also present at the session and advised the participants stating that “there is need for the CCJP monitors to be non-partisan as the church herself is also non-partisan to ensure that the electoral process is free and fair”. He also advised them to perform only those duties that they are supposed to perform and not do things that they are not assigned.
During the training, participants were equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform their duties effectively and they were taught the proper methodology of observation. The session also involved trainings that are meant to prepare the monitors for real-life scenarios they might encounter.
One of the participants Teresa Chisenga applauded the training saying that, “it is beneficial to us as we have learnt how to be good observers and also how we can interact with other stakeholders of the electoral process”.
CCJP is deploying 44 observers in 44 Polling Centers for Tuesday 26 March Local Government by-elections in Karonga district. These by-elections are taking place in Kaporo, Chilanga and Rukuru wards and these wards were declared vacant in September 2023 after councilors from these wards were convicted.
By Noel Chatepa
KARONGA DIOCESE CADECOM AND WASAMBO DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE’S KICK OFF GROUNDBREAKING CLIMATE JUST COMMUNITIES PROJECT
In an uplifting collaboration for development, Karonga Diocese CADECOM and members of various Village Development Committee’s in Wasambo convened on 18 March 2024 to mark the commencement of a highly anticipated Climate Just Communities Malawi Project.
The meeting, held at the Wasambo Area Development Committee office at Uliwa town, saw the participation of Village Development Committee members and representatives from CADECOM. It was characterized by an atmosphere of hope and determination, underscoring the community’s readiness to engage in the transformative journey ahead.
The project, outlined by CADECOM’s field officer Chikonzero Chimwaza during the meeting, focuses on several key areas of development, including Disaster Risk Management, Livelihood Security, Water, Sanitation and Health among others. One of the highlights of the initiative is the construction of a new boreholes in selected communities, which aims to address the challenge of clean water access in some communities in Wasambo. Additionally, the project will introduce disaster preparedness and response techniques to the communities.
During the meeting, Edwin Harawa chairperson for Malongo Village Development Committee shared his optimism about the future, stating, “This project will be very beneficial to our communities as it focuses on disaster preparedness as the Wasambo area is prone to flooding and it will equip up us with skills in disaster preparedness. The project will also improve our livelihoods as it will involve the leaning of new agricultural practices and to my fellow beneficiaries it is important that we are united and participate actively in this project to ensure its success”.
The project is being implemented by Karonga Diocese CADECOM with 1.3 Billion Kwacha funding from DAI Global in partnership with World Relief through the Episcopal Conference of Malawi and will target 4,160 households in the area of T/A Wasambo, Karonga. The Karonga Diocese CADECOM will be working with the District Executive Committee, District Environmental Sub Committees and Area and Village Development Committees during the implementation of the project.