Farm Radio Malawi Launches Climate Change Project

Farm Radio Malawi recently launched a project on climate change mitigation in Nkhotakota District.

Chapota - Project to benefit 25,000 farmers

Speaking during the launching ceremony on 25 February 2013, Farm Radio Malawi Executive Director, Mr. Rex Chapota said the project aims at helping farmers in mitigating and adopting effects of climate change.

Chapota added that the project will ensure that farmers are aware of new farming technologies.

He further said the project will benefit more than 25,000 farmers in the district.
Climate change is one of the greatest threat to agriculture industry which is the back born of Malawi’s economy.

China Becomes World's Fifth-Largest Arms Exporter

China has become the world's fifth-largest arms exporter.

A cording to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)  its highest ranking is since the Cold War, with Pakistan the main recipient.

China's volume of weapons exports between 2008 and 2012 rose 162 percent compared to the previous five year period, with its share of the global arms trade rising from 2 to 5 percent.

China replaces Britain in the top five arms-dealing countries between 2008 and 2012, a group dominated by the United States and Russia, which accounted for 30 percent and 26 percent of weapons exports.

Bangladesh received 7 percent of the arms, and Algeria, Venezuela and Morocco have bought Chinese-made frigates, aircraft or armored vehicles in the past several years.

Germany and France are ranked third and fourth on the arms exporter list. China followed only India in the acquisition of arms, though its reliance on imports is decreasing as it ramps up weapons production capabilities at home.

Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga Appeals against Kenyatta's Narrow Victory

Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga filed a Supreme Court appeal against Uhuru Kenyatta's narrow victory in the presidential election's first round in March 2013.

But Mr. Odinga accused the electoral authorities of manipulating the result.

Police fired tear gas to disperse about 100 supporters of his Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) who had gathered outside the Supreme Court.

The police had warned them that they would not be allowed to do so.

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe Attends Pope Francis Inauguration in Rome

Zimbabwe's long-ruling President Robert Mugabe attended the inauguration of Pope Francis in Rome March 2013.

The 89-year-old, who is a conservative Catholic, has been subject to a European Union travel ban since 2002 following allegations of election rigging and human rights abuses.
However, he was able to travel to the Vatican, which is technically a state within a state and not part of the EU, although any visitor must pass through Italian territory.
Pope Francis was officially installed as the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church on Tuesday, the Vatican said, and a papal inaugural mass is customarily attended by heads of state and governments.

Mugabe, who has ruled the southern African country since independence from Britain in 1980, last visited the Vatican in April 2011 when he joined world dignitaries for the beatification of Pope John Paul.

Malawi Registers Five Million Malaria Cases

Malawi has registered five million malaria cases in its health facilities in 2012 alone and lost 5500 people to the disease which is preventable and curable.

Principal Secretary in the ministry of health Charles Mwasambo made the revelation in Lilongwe at the launch of the 2012 malaria indicator survey.

In 2012 alone five million malaria cases were treated in the countries health facilities and about 5 thousand people died from the disease.

He said the results of the survey will help provide the current comprehensive outlook on Malawi’s malaria burden but also review the gains made in implementation of malaria control interventions.

He however expressed with the survey results which indicated a decline of malaria prevalence in under five children from 43 percent in 2012 to 28 percent as of this year

Malawi President in Scotland to Celebrate Birth of Scottish Missionery Livingstone

The president of Malawi was, on 17 March 2013, in Scotland for celebrations to mark 200 years since the birth of Scottish missionary Dr. David Livingstone.

Dr. Joyce Banda visited the David Livingstone Centre in Blantyre before attending a church service with First Minister Alex Salmond.

But this is her first trip as president of the African country that has so many Livingstone connections.

Dr Banda paid tribute to the Scottish missionary who helped to fight slavery in Malawi and other African countries.

Dr Livingstone who spent 30 years in Africa was born on 19 March 1813.

Education Official Urges Nkhotakota Communiuty to Guard against Vandalism

Nkhotakota District Education Manager Mr. Ken Kossam Mphande has appealed to the district's residents to stop vandalizing school facilities so that the Government could ably implement its programmes of providing quality education in country.

In his remarks when he held abrupt visit at Kasitu Community Day Secondary School situated in area of Chief Kafuzira in the district, Mr. Mphande described the tendency as "uncivilized".

During the visit, he expressed concern that some school infrastructures were not in the good condition. He said the development would force the his office to spend much money on maintenance and rehabilitation

Mr. Mphande called on local leaders and individuals to be vigilant in guarding against the malpractices so that the school facilities are to serve its purpose and last longer.

Irate Nkhotakota Residents Confront ADMARC Official

Irate Nkhotakota residents on 17 March 2013 took to task an Agricultural Development Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) official for misusing his office.

Some people who went at the ADMARC early hours of March 17 2013 to buy maize get surprised when they were told that commodity had run out.

Later the communities heard some noise coming out of the facility showing that people were buying the commodity and it’s when one of the communities reported the matter to the police.

Nkhotakota police publicist sergeant Kaitano Lubrino confirmed to have received the matter but declined to give further details of the matter saying investigations are still underway.

But the police confirmed that they have managed to confiscate 30 bags 50 Kgs of maize which the vendors were hiding in the nearby house and one have arrested in connection to the matter.

Meanwhile the police have arrested unknown person for misconduct at the police station.

Nkhotakota Woman Stabs Husband on the Chest

A 22 year old man is battling for his life at Nkhotakota district hospital after his wife stabled him on chest with a knife on 18 March 2013.

Nkhotakota police publicist sergeants Kaitano Lubrino have confirmed the development and identified the man as Geoffrey Foster of Bango village in the area of traditional authority Mwadzama in the district. 

According to the police the couple who stayed for a month separated after the husband released that his wife has immoral behaviors such as smoking.

Later on the woman left his matrimonial home and rented another house in the nearby in which she took some of her husband’s properties.

In the course of fighting the woman took a knife and stabled on the chest of his husband who went and reported the matter to Mkaika police Unit and referred him to Kapili Health Centre and late reffered to Nkhotakota district hospital.

Meanwhile wife Jennifer has been given a police bail as she has a three months old baby and will appear before  Nkhotakota magistrate court to answer charges of unlawful wounding which contrary to section 242.

Malawi Red Cross Society Launches 600 Million Kwacha Safe Motherhood Project

The Malawi Red Cross Society on 18 March 2013 launched a 600 million kwacha safe motherhood project in Ntchisi and Kasungu district.

The project aims to reducing deaths that occur during and after delivery.

The two year project started early this year and is expected to end in December 2015.

71,400 women are expected to benefit.