Justice and Peace Desk Takes Health Sector Expenditure Reports to Communities
By Obert Mkandawire*
To strengthen citizen participation in health decision making processes at local level, the Justice and Peace Desk of the Diocese of Karonga facilitated the dissemination of 2018/19 Chitipa District health sector expenditure report to communities in the areas of traditional authorities Mwenemisuku, Mwenewenya and Nthalire from 16 to 18 October, 2019.
During the meetings, community members interfaced with district council and health management team officials responsible for planning and administration namely, Director of Planning and Development (DPD), Tamanya Harawa; DIP Coordinator, Willy Kanyika and Chitipa District Health Services Administrator, Victor Chithabwa.
During the meetings, the DPD outlined various funds that the council receives while Willy Kanyika and Victor Chithabwa from Chitipa District Health Office explained the expenditure to the people.
In Misuku, community members complained that the health facility has taken long without being maintained; with the Labour Ward being the worst affected. The Health Service Administrator assured the gathering that the Labour Ward will be renovated soon.
In Nthalire, community members raised concerns on the delays in elevating Nthalire Health Centre to Rural Hospital. They claimed the elevation of the health facility will ensure that critical surgical operations are done as quickly as possible without referring them to Chitipa which is about 125 kilometres away.
In his response, the DPD stated that the council intends to place some officers at Nthalire, who would mirror the main officers at Chitipa District Hospital to ensure effective delivery of public health services.
Taking their turn, the members of the District Health Management Team present revealed that Press Trust has already assessed capacity of Nthalire Health Centre and will construct extra buildings to ensure expansion of the facility.
The three communities were unanimous in asking government to address the issue of drug stock out, which is being worsened by Tanzanians and Zambians who seek medical attention in their facilities. The Administrator urged the community to report to him any cases of abuse of the ambulance and cases of drug pilferage after a concern from Wenya Community.
The DPD revealed that Misuku and Nthalire have not been included in the current Constituency Water Infrastructure Fund respectively even after some processes had been initiated already including choosing of committees and sending of plans to the council. The community also lamented lack of consultation by their Members of Parliament on Water Infrastructure Projects.
The community appreciated the role Justice and Peace Desk has played in bringing duty bearers to interface with them.
This is an initiative under the, “Promotion of high quality, accountable and responsive public health service” project being implemented by the Justice and Peace Desk of the Diocese of Karonga with financial support from Open Society Initiative of Southern Africa (OSISA).
*The author is Project Officer for Osisa Health Governance Project
Chitipa District Welcomes Women’s and Girls’ Rights Safeguarding Project
By: Moses Mwakisalu
Following the technical appraisal of the “Safeguarding the Rights of Women, Children and other vulnerable groups in the Diocese of Karonga” project, by the District Executive Committee of Chitipa District on October 18, the Justice and Peace Desk of the Diocese of Karonga has started implementing activities under the project.
As a standard practice, the Justice and Peace Desk had to seek the direction of the District Executive Committee, which is the highest district level committee of technocrats comprising of directors of government sectors and leading non-governmental organisations. DEC members are key stakeholders to the implementation and success of the project.
This three-year project builds on the “Promotion for the Enjoyment of Women and Children Rights” project which phased out in May 2019. To effectively measure impact on the ground for possible scaling up, the project will focus on selected groups of villages in four parishes of St. Mathias (Misuku), St. John Paul II (Kapoka), St. Michaels (Chitipa but focus is in Kameme) and Chisankhwa Parish in Ulambiya Songwe. Thus only 96 villages will be directly reached with project intervention. To ensure sustainability of the project, traditional leaders and their spouses will be taken as agents of change in their localities.
Reacting to project presentation by Justice and Peace Desk, Chitipa DEC members promised to collaborate with the project implementation team for the benefit of Chitipa Community.
“Justice and Peace Desk is a good developing partner in the promotion of justice and human rights in the district. Cases of abuse and human rights violation, among vulnerable groups, do not spare any area in the district. I therefore suggest that future interventions of this sort have to reach Nthalire and Wenya as well,” said Magistrate Ngosi.
In the selection of households, those that will directly benefit from the project, DEC advised Justice and Peace Desk to consider women headed and child headed families. DEC further advised the Desk to work with relevant stakeholders or line sectors like social welfare.
The project inception meeting with DEC members was held at St. Kizito Conference Hall in Chitipa District. The goal of the project is to ensure that “the rights of rural women, children and other vulnerable groups in Chitipa District have been self-guarded”. Misereor Germany is funding the project.
SOPs to Improve Health Service Delivery in Karonga
By Jordan Simeon-Phiri
Correspondent
Vice Chairperson for Karonga District Council, Councillor Ngasalayumo Mwangonde says the signing of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Proactive Disclosure of Information in the Health Sector is a step in the direction to uphold transparency and accountability in the health sector in district.
Councillor Mwangonde made the remarks on last week Monday at Club Marina during the official signing ceremony of SOPs aimed at empowering the community members to access vital information from duty bearers relating to health service delivery.
“This is good development to both duty bearers and rights holders as there will be sense of responsibility whereby community members will play watchdog roles at the same time duty bearers will be accountable,” Mwangonde said.
Taking his turn, Director of Health and Social Services (DHSS) for Karonga Dr. Phineas Mfune said the signing of the booklet is an opportunity to the people of Karonga to access quality health services and give feedback for improvement.
“It is a commitment for us duty bearers to provide information so that community members are able to follow how resources are being used to avoid conflicts that come when there is withholding of information,” Mfune said.
On his part, Project Officer at Justice and Peace Desk of Karonga Diocese Obert Mkandawire, whose organization facilitated the formulation of SOPs, hailed the outgoing District Commissioner Emmanuel Bulukutu for giving consent to the document two years after its adoption, saying it will enhance citizen participation through accessing of information in the health sector.
“Access to information, such as local health sector budgets, health service improvement plans, status of service delivery at health facility such as drug stock levels, council resolutions and district health management team (DHMT) decisions, health service improvement plans, status of service delivery at health facility and district levels such as drug stock levels, is vital.
When citizens access such information, they are able to participate in health decision making at local level. This enhances transparency and accountability and consequently health service delivery is improved,” Mkandawire said.
Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) is financing the Promotion of High Quality Transparent Accountable and Responsive Health Service Delivery project in six traditional authorities (TAs) in Karonga and Chitipa districts.
Justice and Peace Embarks on Three-Year Safeguarding Project
By Lestina Sanga*
The Pastoral and Bishop’s Secretary of the Diocese of Karonga, Father Joseph Sikwese has urged project implementation team for the Safeguarding the Rights of Women and Children and Vulnerable Adults Project to internalize hard work as a norm if the project is to achieve it’s intended objectives.
Father Sikwese made these remarks, on 23 September 2019, during a project inception meeting organized by the Justice and Peace Desk at Zutu House in Karonga. The Justice and Peace Desk briefed the members of staff about the project implementation plan, grant agreement, budgets, audit agreements, and monitoring and evaluation plan.
The meeting was attended by members from all the three sections of the Diocese namely, the Pastoral Commission, Caritas Commission and Directorate of Finance, Investment and Administration. The Pastoral Commission is crucial to the success of the third objective as the project requires the creation of Church structures to safeguard rights of children and vulnerable adults within the Church.
The goal of the project is to ensure that rights of women and girls are respected and protected throughout the diocese. The project seeks to strengthen the observance of children’s rights in all communities of Chitipa District and promote the adoption and implementation of child protection systems in all diocesan schools, hospitals, and parishes. The project will also promote the participation of rural women in in local and public decision making processes.
The project is a response to high prevalence human rights violations on women, children, and other vulnerable groups in the district. Reports also shows that women are being sidelined from the decision making processes. Chitipa, in particular, has registered cases of child labour and child marriages.
The project is a step towards the operationalization of the Child Protection Policy of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi. This is also in line with Catholic Social Teaching principles of human dignity and common good.
Looking at the nature of the project, members recommended that there is a need to network with other organizations which can help children rescued from early marriages. Names of people and organizations were proposed.
This three-year project is being implemented in the areas of traditional authorities Mwaulambia, Mwenemisuku and Kameme in Chitipa District. The project is being implemented with financial support from Misereor Germany to the tune of 213,000EUR equivalent to K176, 790,000.
The project is targeting 12 Group village headmen, 96 villages, 840 households, 840 boys, and 840 girls. The project further targets 1,680 parents, 96 women group members, 36 volunteers and 132 families of traditional leaders. About 4,835 people will directly work with the project. The total number of beneficiaries in all 4 focus parishes (St Michael’s, St John Paul II, Immaculate Heart of Mary and St Matthias) is 15,360.
*Justice and Peace Intern
Justice and Peace Commended for Male Champion Approach to End VAWG
By Vincent Bwinga (Justice and Peace)
Group Village Headman Mlongoti under Traditional Authority Mwilang’ombe in Karonga District has appraised the approach taken by the Justice and Peace Desk, under HeForShe Project, as the best since it engages perpetrators of violence against women and children in championing elimination of the same.
Speaking during community awareness meeting at Vuwa in SGVH Kaswela in July 2019, Mlongoti said men, especially fishermen, are the top agents of early marriages in the area taking advantage of the financial status of families in the area.
“Many girls are enticed by money and this is the main reason we have high number of girls dropping out of school to get marries. And they easily fall prey to fishermen who go for them the moment they get money.”
“It is very good that the project encourages men and boys to champion the promotion of women’s and girls’ rights. At the moment, boys are able to defend their sisters, unlike in the past when they never wanted equal treatment between them and their sisters. Male championing is helping men realize their responsibility in ending violence against women and children,” said Mlongoti.
Commenting during the awareness meeting, SGVH Kaswela advised parents to give equal opportunities to boys and girls.
SGVH Kaswela also said pledged the commitment of traditional leaders to rescue girls from marriages.
Experience has shown that parents and guardians usually do not support girls rescued from marriages forcing them to go back or contract another marriage union.
HeForShe project has created a strong working relationship among HeForShe school clubs, community groups, mother groups, chiefs, teachers and the male champion groups which has increased community responsiveness and monitoring of cases of violence and early marriages of girls in schools.
The project has also helped unveil cases of abuse at family and community levels and it has also helped to identify root causes of some cases of abuse more especially those leading to early marriages.
The project is being implemented in Karonga District with financial support from UN Women through ECM.
Children Call for More Protection and Support in their Education
By Vincent Bwinga (Justice and Peace)
Children in Karonga District, belonging to HeForShe Clubs During an open day of HeForShe School clubs coordinated by Justice and Peace Desk of Karonga Diocese, HeForShe school clubs asked for more protection from parents, chiefs and teachers.
Speaking on behalf of all HeForShe School clubs from Kangindwa, Kakolya and Kasoba primary schools, 12 year old Wongani Mshali girl from Kangindwa Primary School appealed to parents and chiefs to be in the forefront to make sure that children, more especially girls, in primary school are fully protected and supported. She cited an example that some parents continue to prefer sending their boy child to school and making it hard for girls to have the same access. This, she said, encourages early marriages among girls.
Wongani Mshali applauded HeForShe project that is being implemented by Justice and Peace Desk of Karonga Diocese in Karonga District for creating school clubs in the 3 school. She said that, the school clubs have helped girls to be part of boys and that has made boys to be championing elimination of violence against girls in schools where the project is implemented.
“The project is changing our brothers’ negative attitude towards us. Our brothers are defending us at home whenever parents want to favor them and we are treated equally at school,” she said.
She further appealed to Justice and Peace to create HeForShe school clubs in other schools, so that other girls can benefit as well.
In his address, Nelson Mwakisulu, who represented all Traditional Authorities in Karonga District, pledged more commitment in protecting and supporting girls in Karonga District to be educated.
He appealed to parents and teachers to make sure that all cases regarding early marriages should be reported to police and also asked parents to be treating their children equally.
The event was spiced up by drama, songs, dialogue and poems done by pupils from the 3 schools and it was attended by community members from Traditional Authority Kyungu, Kilupula and Mwakaboko. HeforShe Project is being implemented by Justice and Peace of Desk of Karonga Diocese in collaboration with chiefs in Karonga District with funding from UN Women through Episcopal Conference of Malawi with an aim of eliminating violence against women and girls.
Christians Challenged to Witness to Christ’s Real Presence in Their Lives
By Benjamin Msowoya
The Vicar General of the Diocese of Karonga, Monsignor Denis Chitete, celebrated the Feast of the Corpus Christi on 23 June 2015 with Catholics of Mpata Outstation Church. Catholics from all the three prayer centres that form Mpata Outstation gathered at Mpata prayer centre for the Feast of the Corpus Christi.
In his homily, the Vicar General said that during the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Church celebrates the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. He added that it is a celebration of God’s continued presence in our lives.
“Christian life is like a long and difficult journey that needs continued nourishment or refueling. We are so lucky that Jesus left us his body and blood, the Eucharist, to refuel us on this journey,” he said.
He asked the congregation to take the feast as an opportunity to seriously reflect on their communion and union with Jesus Christ.
Monsignor Denis Chitete also challenged the congregation to (i) re-awaken their hunger for Christ in the Eucharist and (ii) participate actively during Eucharistic Celebrations rather than just being present during Mass as spectators.
He urged to manifest to the world, through their lives, the fruits of their faith in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
The Sunday Liturgy ended with the exposition of the Holy Eucharist during the procession and benediction. On Saturday before the celebration of the feast of Corpus Christi on Sunday, the Vicar General, accompanied by local church leaders of Mpata, visited the sick within Mpata area.
Karonga Youth Call on Justice and Peace to Continue with 50-50 Campaign
By Wezi Mwangonde
Youth groups in Karonga District have asked Justice and Peace Desk under Karonga Diocese to continue encouraging women to take an active part in politics even when the election period is over.
Speaking during the interface meeting on post elections analysis, Davie Kitalu said it is so pathetic that one woman has been voted as councilor in the district despite all the effort put forward by many organizations in sensitizing the need for meaningful women representation in politics.
Kitalu says the challenge is that women manifestos were not targeting the youth therefore it was difficult for the youth to vote for these women in the just ended 2019 Tripartite Elections.
“Although the country awaits for 2024, time is now for Justice and Peace and other partners to start encouraging women to take part in politics and it is my hope that if the 50:50 campaign starts early many women may be voted as councilors and members of parliament’, said Kitalu.
Moses Mwakisalu from the Justice and peace Desk highlighted that despite the civic education and capacity building on the need for women participation in politics, culture and inadequate funds among shadow women councilors and members of parliament have contributed to the poor performance of women in Karonga District.
Mwakisalu added that most community members still undermine women that they cannot perform once voted into positions. This he said was a challenge to women as the electorate voted for men.
“We did our part but culture maintained its root. To reduce the challenge we need to change the mindset of people because it is them who vote,” explained Mwakisalu.
Justice and Peace Mentors Newly Elected Councillors in Gender Budget Tracking
By Wezi Mwangonde and Gomezgani Mhango
As newly elected councillors await their swearing in most districts in the country, Justice and Peace Desk under the Diocese of Karonga has imparted gender budget tracking skills in councillors of Karonga Nyungwe, South and Central constituencies.
In an interview, Justice and Peace Project Officer Obert Mkandawire says councillors have a responsibility to ensure that their communities are aware of the yearly budget allocation towards various development so that there should be no challenges in budget tracking.
Mkandawire has reminded councilors that they are the representatives of the people from the communities under their jurisdiction therefore transparency and accountability on development funds is very vital in transforming a community.
“Even if this project will phase out councillors, youths and women groups in Wasambo and Mwirang’ombe Traditional Authorities have acquired knowledge on gender budget tracking. The mentorship sessions have also provided good procedures on budget tracking”, said Mkandawire.
Beliam Msukwa Mlare Ward Councillor concurred with Mkandawire describing the mentorship as eye opener for it is their first time that they will be part of the council representing the community.
He further said the Justice and Peace Desk has provided them with fundamental skills which are relevant to their role as councillors.
“Am very grateful to CCJP and it is my hope that as new councilors we will not have challenges on gender budget tracking,’’ said Msukwa.
Nyungwe Area Development Committee Chairperson, Naomi Munthali has asked councillors that when allocating development projects they should make sure that the infrastructures such as classroom blocks and hospitals are disability friendly so as to accommodate everyone.
“It is my plea to the incumbent councilors that they should help us to transform our communities. As ADC’s we expect good working relationship as we have trust that they will fulfil the duties we have given them,’’ explained Munthali.
ADC, Councillors and Women Groups Drilled in Gender Laws
By Wezi Mwangonde
Justice and Peace Desk Project Coordinator for the Women Empowerment Project Vincent Bwinga says it is pathetic that most Malawians are not aware of the laws that promote gender equality because the government has not taken any measure sensitise the masses on the same.
Bwinga says the laws such as Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Act and Gender Equality Act were enacted to empower women to take an active part in personal, household and community development.
He further says absence of awareness on the same is a major obstacle to the effective implementation due to limited ownership of the laws by citizens. Such laws, he said are unsustainable.
Bwinga said this in the areas of Traditional Authorities (TAs) Wasambo and Mwirang’ombe in Karonga District where the Justice and Peace Desk drilled Ward Councillors, Area Development Committee and women group leaders in gender laws.
“As Justice and Peace Desk we would like to urge communities in the areas of TAs Wasambo and Mwirang’ombe that they should know the laws that promote gender because development does not exclude women or people with disabilities and we are complementing government’s efforts in providing awareness on the new laws,” said Bwinga.
Wasambo ADC Development Supervisor Glad Lukhere who is also the secretary has described the meeting as very relevant to the committee because it has provided new strategies on handling developmental projects that would help to uplift women in the community such as providing loans for small scale businesses.
Lukhere added that it is their duty as ADC members to help in civic education about the relationship between gender laws and development.
“I would like to thank CCJP for we have been reminded on gender laws therefore this will help us when planning for development projects in our community,” explained Lukhere.
Nyungwe Ward Councilor Ethel Mwanza says she is ready to transform the area under her jurisdiction and make sure the developmental projects are gender responsive.
“I am the only woman in Karonga District who has been elected Councillor this year. Therefore, I am the voice of all women in the District at the Council. I will make sure that budget allocation on development should not only support men,’’ said Mwanza.
The Justice and Peace Desk of the Diocese of Karonga is implementing Women Empowerment Project with financial support from UN Women through the Episcopal Conference of Malawi.