“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 DONATES MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES TO KARONGA DISTRICT HOSPITAL
In an effort to assist in healthcare services delivery in Karonga, the Karonga Diocese on 5th April 2024 made a donation of hospital beds, mattresses, syringes and face shields to Karonga District Hospital (KDH). The Health Desk Officer (HDO), Mr. Joseph Kimangila represented the Diocese in the handover ceremony where the items were received by the Director for Health and Social Services (DHSS), Mr. David Sibale.
Speaking on behalf of Karonga Diocese, Mr. Kimangila highlighted the continued commitment of the Diocese in assisting communities in the three districts of Rumphi Karonga and Chitipa in matters of healthcare. “The Bishop of the Karonga Diocese Martin Anwel Mtumbuka is committed to ensuring that the people in the Diocese are of good health. After receiving a donation of the medical equipment supplies from Cross Catholic Outreach (CCO) in the United States of America, the Bishop thought it wise to also share with others hence the donation to KDH,” Kimangila stated.
The DHSS expressed gratitude towards the Diocese for the donation stating that; “The institution is facing a problem of inadequacy of various medical equipment and supplies. The beds, masks, syringes and needles will assist in saving costs to buy such items for KDH”. He also added that the general public should know that Karonga Diocese and the Ministry of Health are good partners and they work together in various ways citing the Covid-19 pandemic during which the Diocese also made a donation of various items. Mr. Sibale also assured the Diocese of continued collaboration from the Ministry of Health.
KDH has received ten adjustable hospital beds and mattresses, forty cartons of face shields, needles and syringes. Other equipment that Karonga Diocese received have been distributed among its health facilities including St. Cynthia Health Center, St. Clara Health Center and the recently constructed Health Center located in Zambwe area, all in Chitipa district.
By Noel Chatepa.