New project launched to improve ecological status of Mt Mulanje

New project launched to improve ecological status of Mt Mulanje
by Hastings Maloya
A project meant to improve the lives of people and protect Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve has been launched here.

Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the $3 million Mount Mulanje MOBI+LISE Project, was initiated Tuesday at Kambenje Full Primary School ground in the area of Senior Chief Nkanda in Mulanje district.

Malawi’s director of forestry Dr. Dennis Kayambazinthu applauded several organizations working on this project, noting that in past the country lost its natural resources because there was a lack of cooperation among interested parties.

“It’s time we worked together. Environmental management and conservation of natural resources should be a responsibility of all especially through working together. I have no doubt that this project will be a success as it has different stakeholders working together,” said Dr. Kayambazinthu.

Also speaking at the launch which had a good turnout, Mulanje district commissioner Jack Ngulube said communities can expect to develop when they have natural resources that were preserved and used wisely.

“Development can not only be infrastructures. We need natural resources like trees and water if people are to fully be involved in the economic development of the country,” said Ngulube who also thanked USAID for its support.

Mulanje Mountain, the tallest in southern African with a rich and unique plant and animal species, was approved as a Global Biosphere Reserve by the UNESCO in 2000. Communities targeted in Mulanje and Phalombe in this project are those in close proximity—about 10 kilometers--to the mountain as they depend on it for their water, food and income.

But uncontrolled demand say on trees for firewood exerts too much pressure on this limited resource. And experts warn that bare land as result of trees being removed wantonly leads to erosion, the lowering of the water table and drought. The whole ecosystem gets affected.

Against that harsh reality, the USAID Mount Mulanje MOBI+LISE Project was initiated to support the people in the communities by introducing them to best practices in resources utilization and management.

The project, which should benefit about 53,995 households from 132 villages around the mountain, is also anticipated to achieve the following outcomes: increased community involvement in protected area management; diversified crop production with good husbandry practices and land resource management; diversified mountain resource utilization opportunities; improved local community development capacity; and, diversified and improved biomass and renewable energy use.

This three-year project has seen the following organizations and institutions working together: Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust (MMCT), the Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (WESM), Concern Universal (CU) and Mulanje and Phalombe district councils.



Read more: http://www.maravipost.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4299:project-to-improve-lives-environment-launches-in-mulanje&catid=52:district&Itemid=122#ixzz15Z8lUgH0

UNESCO recognizes Lhomwe cultural heritage
by Hastings Maloya

A break through!

It is no longer a forgotten tribe. After reviving its cultural beliefs, traditions, language, songs, dances and the known unique cultural living, Lhomwe is now proudly moving towards being positioned on the international map, courtesy of the support from United Nations.

Through its Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the world body has supported the inventory of intangible cultural heritage of the Lhomwe culture on a grass roots level. A three-week inventory through an intensive research and field work in Mulanje, Thyolo, Chiradzulu, Zomba and Phalombe districts has unearthed the unique living of the Lhomwe people. Their heritage is now documented and a recollection of the way of life can easily be traced.

This follows a project on “Community Based Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage” funded by UNESCO in collaboration with the Flanders Fund-In-Trust Cooperation. This is a pilot project in six selected countries in Sub-Saharan Africa which include Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Swaziland, Uganda and Zambia.

In Malawi, the Lhomwe community was chosen largely because, unlike in other regions where similar activities have been done before, very little if any, had been done to expose the culture of southern region at global level. And Lhomwe was seen to be better organised through its cultural heritage grouping, the Mulhako wa Alhomwe.
The project was coordinated by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture.

Speaking at the official launch of the project, which started with a capacity building workshop for community representatives who did the inventorying, former Deputy Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture Hon. Shadreck Jonas said this was a landmark in the history of Malawi that culture and cultural heritage can be systematically and professionally documented as this will help to maintain our history for the sake of the future generations.

“In most countries, cultural heritage is well documented to the extent that one can learn, know and understand any cultural belief by reading in books – a thing that has been missing in Malawi,” said Hon. Jonas adding that it was exciting now that the Lhomwe heritage has finally been recognized internationally.”

“Lhomwe was selected because it has a well structured body as Mulhako wa Alhomwe which aims at reviving the Lhomwe culture and traditions,” he said while thanking UNESCO for the financial support towards the project.

The workshop, which was facilitated by the Director of Culture in the Ministry Dr. E. Chindebvu, UNESCO’s Director of Culture in Southern Africa Mrs. Mulekeni Ngulube from Zimbabwe and Cultural expert from UNESCO Mr. Stephen Chifunyise, was the key to the opening of new horizons.

Mr. Lovemore Mazibuko, Acting Director of Culture responsible for Museums, who facilitated the project, described it as a great success and expressed hope that it will enrich Malawi’s cultural heritage with UNESCO.

Among several other things, the inventory looked into oral traditions and expressions that include proverbs, riddles, tales, nursery rhymes legends, myths, epic songs, poems, chants and prayers.

“We also looked into performing arts,” says Owen Stima one among the young Lhomwe people that conducted the inventor. “We also concentrated on social practices, rituals and festive events,” adds Sitima. These includes worship rites, rites of passage, birth, weddings and funeral rites, oaths of allegiance, traditional legal systems, traditional games and sports, kinship rituals, kinship ceremonies, settlement patterns, culinary traditions, seasonal ceremonies, practices specific to men, practices specific to women, hunting, fishing and gathering practices.

Traditional Authority Chikumbu says this inventory and the findings shall help young Lhomwe people to appreciate their culture and be proud of their tradition. She was excited with the inventory on traditional ecological wisdom, indigenous knowledge, knowledge about local fauna and flora, traditional herbing systems, rituals, beliefs, initiation rites, cosmologies, possession rites, social organizations and festivals.

In traditional craftsmanship, the inventory looked at tools, clothing and jewellery, costumes and props for festival of performing arts, storage containers, transport and shelter, decorative art, rituals objects, musical instruments, household utensils and toys for amusement or education.

Mulhako wa Alhomwe is meanwhile working on means on how to protect the intangible cultural heritage by allowing practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills and associated manifestations to be sustainably maintained by the communities, groups and or individuals concerned.

Data gathered is electronically recorded and transcribed into a written form without changing its meaning. The documented information shall be given to the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture with another copy kept in the Museum of Malawi and the other copy to Mulhako Wa Alhomwe for reference.

On Lhomwe Cultural Heritage

UNESCO recognizes Lhomwe cultural heritage
by Hastings Maloya

A break through!

It is no longer a forgotten tribe. After reviving its cultural beliefs, traditions, language, songs, dances and the known unique cultural living, Lhomwe is now proudly moving towards being positioned on the international map, courtesy of the support from United Nations.

Through its Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the world body has supported the inventory of intangible cultural heritage of the Lhomwe culture on a grass roots level. A three-week inventory through an intensive research and field work in Mulanje, Thyolo, Chiradzulu, Zomba and Phalombe districts has unearthed the unique living of the Lhomwe people. Their heritage is now documented and a recollection of the way of life can easily be traced.

This follows a project on “Community Based Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage” funded by UNESCO in collaboration with the Flanders Fund-In-Trust Cooperation. This is a pilot project in six selected countries in Sub-Saharan Africa which include Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Swaziland, Uganda and Zambia.

In Malawi, the Lhomwe community was chosen largely because, unlike in other regions where similar activities have been done before, very little if any, had been done to expose the culture of southern region at global level. And Lhomwe was seen to be better organised through its cultural heritage grouping, the Mulhako wa Alhomwe.
The project was coordinated by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture.

Speaking at the official launch of the project, which started with a capacity building workshop for community representatives who did the inventorying, former Deputy Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture Hon. Shadreck Jonas said this was a landmark in the history of Malawi that culture and cultural heritage can be systematically and professionally documented as this will help to maintain our history for the sake of the future generations.

“In most countries, cultural heritage is well documented to the extent that one can learn, know and understand any cultural belief by reading in books – a thing that has been missing in Malawi,” said Hon. Jonas adding that it was exciting now that the Lhomwe heritage has finally been recognized internationally.”

“Lhomwe was selected because it has a well structured body as Mulhako wa Alhomwe which aims at reviving the Lhomwe culture and traditions,” he said while thanking UNESCO for the financial support towards the project.

The workshop, which was facilitated by the Director of Culture in the Ministry Dr. E. Chindebvu, UNESCO’s Director of Culture in Southern Africa Mrs. Mulekeni Ngulube from Zimbabwe and Cultural expert from UNESCO Mr. Stephen Chifunyise, was the key to the opening of new horizons.

Mr. Lovemore Mazibuko, Acting Director of Culture responsible for Museums, who facilitated the project, described it as a great success and expressed hope that it will enrich Malawi’s cultural heritage with UNESCO.

Among several other things, the inventory looked into oral traditions and expressions that include proverbs, riddles, tales, nursery rhymes legends, myths, epic songs, poems, chants and prayers.

“We also looked into performing arts,” says Owen Stima one among the young Lhomwe people that conducted the inventor. “We also concentrated on social practices, rituals and festive events,” adds Sitima. These includes worship rites, rites of passage, birth, weddings and funeral rites, oaths of allegiance, traditional legal systems, traditional games and sports, kinship rituals, kinship ceremonies, settlement patterns, culinary traditions, seasonal ceremonies, practices specific to men, practices specific to women, hunting, fishing and gathering practices.

Traditional Authority Chikumbu says this inventory and the findings shall help young Lhomwe people to appreciate their culture and be proud of their tradition. She was excited with the inventory on traditional ecological wisdom, indigenous knowledge, knowledge about local fauna and flora, traditional herbing systems, rituals, beliefs, initiation rites, cosmologies, possession rites, social organizations and festivals.

In traditional craftsmanship, the inventory looked at tools, clothing and jewellery, costumes and props for festival of performing arts, storage containers, transport and shelter, decorative art, rituals objects, musical instruments, household utensils and toys for amusement or education.

Mulhako wa Alhomwe is meanwhile working on means on how to protect the intangible cultural heritage by allowing practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills and associated manifestations to be sustainably maintained by the communities, groups and or individuals concerned.

Data gathered is electronically recorded and transcribed into a written form without changing its meaning. The documented information shall be given to the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture with another copy kept in the Museum of Malawi and the other copy to Mulhako Wa Alhomwe for reference.

On Presidential trips

Lets be fair with our criticism

For employees, be it in the public or private sector, there is nothing motivating than being offered a foreign trip. Whether business or academic but when such an opportunity occurs, it is joy in homes, joy at office and its good news worth sharing to all that matter. There could be other officials that are on the plane time and again but traditionally they always get excited with their next flight.

Such trips occur for different reasons depending on the institution that one works for. Other trips are work related that one does not have a choice but to travel. Others are purely a life time opportunity. For those working in the private sector, for example doing business, foreign trips are part of the investment and require capital to carry them. But much as a lot of money has to go into such trips, the traveler still gets excited to be at the airport two hours before departure time.

The other groups of people that travel quite often are those working in the NGO sector. Mostly their natures of jobs require them to travel to different countries for seminars, workshops, work-related activities or educational tours. There are some heads of NGOs that do have a year’s schedule of travel itinerary in there diaries. Much as goals and objectives of their organisations are to save the local masses, none of their constituents are consulted about such trips. We have eventually seen heads of non-governmental organisations becoming overnight millionaires – one would suspect such to be outcomes of continuous foreign trips. We could be wrong!

Then there is the office of the President. By nature of this challenging office and without getting into unnecessary debates, the holder is obliged to travel quite a lot especially that we are now living in a global village. Whether it means wooing investors, discussing peace, soliciting donor money or promotion of tourism and other policies, it requires the President to travel to different for him to positively sale his country. In cases like these, the president has to travel with different personalities that would do different activities during such tours or visits.

There has been Malawians that have had a chance to travel following their inclusion on a presidential entourage. This has been a trend ever since we gained independence. It has been a powerful tool of education, networking and sharing of information. Of late what we have learnt is that the current president has been reducing the number of people accompanying him on such trips. Much as there could be convincing reasons but reducing the presidential entourage is not necessarily good for the nation as this denies other Malawians an opportunity to travel.

Well, thus subject for a different discussion. But the discussion here is how and why should the NGO community criticise the president for travelling and never look at their own travel programmes? The media reports, if they are anything to go by, leave a lot to be desired. The allegations and fears are that the presidential trips might be drawing on the country’s dwindled reserves due to scarcity of forex.

The criticism allegedly came from an organisation designated as the coordinating body for all non-governmental organisations in Malawi with the goal of ensuring effective coordination and collaboration of all the NGOs and other development partners including government. One would wonder why such a criticism should come through newspapers. What happened to coordination and collaboration?

Interestingly, on the list of provided trips that the president has had lately, the critics have not pointed out which among them was a useless trip and a forex drainer. They also did not indicate how much might have been lost. Simply they made an allegation without facts. The body also does not give examples of foreign trips whose officials might have turned down in the interest of the country’s forex.
The problem with such awkward criticisms is that they bring political talk where there is supposed to be no politics. They bring unnecessary debates that leave people pointing at each other in support or against. Malawi does not need this. Not at this point.

Possibly the president has of late been travelling in his capacity as both the President of the Republic of Malawi and as Chairperson of the African Union. These two especially the later, brings with it challenges that as a country we can not avoid. As was observed by the government of the United States soon after the president’s election to the position of Chairperson for the African Union, there is a huge task that the president is involved in and Malawi as a nation will contribute.

The United States said, in a statement, that it looks forward to continuing our partnership with the AU to promote peace, prosperity, and security for all Africans. “We share Chairperson Mutharika’s goals of ending child hunger and malnutrition and welcome his interest in promoting the critical goal of agricultural development and food security on the continent. The U.S. stands ready to partner with the AU on promoting democracy and good governance and to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections on the continent in the coming year”.

Surely one would not expect the President to achieve this from the four walls of his office at the State House.
It surprises me that organisations be it public or private are not good at releasing statement in recognition of achievements but rather jump to make criticisms. Maybe I need a school of thought but there are strides that Malawi has achieved that require mention positively. We may not acknowledge but others do.

On Tuesday, 17 August 2010, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) wrote on their website and I quote, “Since 2007 the country has made real progress in achieving economic growth as part of programmes instituted by the government of President Mutharika in 2005. Healthcare, education and environmental conditions have improved, and Malawi has started to move away from reliance on overseas aid. The government's programme of fertilizer subsidies has dramatically boosted output in recent years, making Malawi a net food exporter.”

Much as we may be free to criticize the President, rightly or wrongly, and make wild accusations, most of which are not substantiated, it would be good to demonstrate what we are doing better to turn around situations that we are in as a country. For example, while CONGOMA’s chairperson sees everything wrong in the President’s foreign trips as is alleged, which could be right, he should have also showed the nation what his organization has done so far to bring the much-needed forex into the country. It is also imperative to give examples of foreign trips that he turned down for the love of the country - it is called a fair game.

On Vice President Joyce Banda

She needs not be Ambassador
By Hastings Maloya

There shall never be a time without debate in Malawi. With the current political dispensation and freedom of expression, we are not running short of subjects for discussion on daily basis. Some issues are worth debating as they help us understand ourselves and our nation better.

Lately in the lame light is the issue of the Right Honourable Joyce Banda with allegations that she has been stripped of her mantle as the African Union (AU) Safe Motherhood Goodwill Ambassador. There are different schools of thoughts coming out with other people clearly expressing disappointment to the development.

My colleague on the opposite page is also not happy with the alleged decision and justifies his stand. For me, if indeed it is true, i do not see any problem and I do not understand why we should be debating this straight forward matter.

According to media reports Health Minister Moses Chirambo had written a memo in which he indicated that after due consultations, it has now occurred to his ministry that the portfolio of Safe motherhood commends itself more as a portfolio under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Community development and not the ministry of Health. A fact.

The memo, it was reported, further mentioned of the placement of the portfolio of Safe Motherhood, to which the Right Honourable was relieved. Not much information has been shared but its surprising how debate has come up and how government has been accused of wrong doing.

To a certain degree one wonders if indeed there has been some other sources of information in this regard that people have which some of us do not know. I will therefore avoid commenting much on speculations but rather whether is was necessary that our Vice President be an ambassador and whether indeed it is indeed extremely wrong to have her out of that position.

To begin with, the right honourable Joyce Hilda Banda is the first Malawian female Vice President and arguably among the most strong and industrious women the country has ever produced.

During the time that she has served as goodwill ambassador of safe motherhood she has managed to raise millions of Kwacha from the private sector to help in safe motherhood so that the country remains on track to achieving one of the UN Millennium Development Goals of reducing maternal mortality.

Widely involved in politics, Joyce Banda has served several roles, both as a legislator and Minister, before she was appointed incumbent President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika’s Vice during the 2009 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections. Having served as Member of Parliament for Zomba Malosa Constituency, Banda has also served in several portfolios including Minister of Gender, and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Amongst other achievements such as the Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable end of Hunger by new-York based NGO the Hunger Project in 1997 which she shared with the then Mozambican President Joachim Chissano, Joyce Banda is also a widely celebrated female activist who in her lifetime has achieved a variety of great things aimed at further developing the Malawian woman.

The Vice President, our citizen number two, individually, is a force to be reckoned with. Joyce Banda not only has a story, but a legacy to go with it. She remains an inspiration.

To me, to maintain her as goodwill ambassador for ever is a matter of misusing resources. She has shown us what she is able to do and I am sure she can guide the nation how we can achieve more if those opportunities are left open. But maintaining her on this position is almost denying her and Malawians opportunities to see what more she has to offer to her country.

We need to move as a nation, by giving chances to others to learn. Even if she is not the ambassador, I am sure as second in command, in her capacity as Vice President she would still supervise activities of this office and advise where necessary.

Here is a woman so creative and knowledgeable. She has done it whether in business, politics, education and health. For sure she can also do it in other sectors like environment, culture, arts even sports if given a chance. Let other fields also benefit from her capabilities. I would suggest that she is given a chance to initiate things and help as many Malawians as possible learn and participate.

She is already an inspiration to many women and young girls not only in Malawi but far and wide. As we are all proud of her, my judgment is that she has more to offer to this nation than wanting her to cling to one position.

It is not wrong to relieve her of the current position. I look at it as an opportunity for her to concentrate on something different.

Let us also appreciate the fact in her elected capacity; she has a lot to do. It will be unfortunate and unfair to portray to the nation that her actual activity is being an ambassador for safe motherhood.

She is still our vice-president and the position of vice-president, the world over is very demanding... /ends

On Church Boundary

Nkhoma Synod makes a good decision
By Hastings Maloya

Recently there have been debates going on as to whether Malawi is a God-fearing nation or not. While others think, indeed we are a God-fearing nation; other schools of thought are to the contrary. Examples are bound of some deeds that have taken place in the country in recent times that would make one doubt if indeed we are a God-fearing nation. Nevertheless, whether we are or not, it would depend on which side of the debate one chooses to be, but it could be agreeable by all that Malawi is a religious nation.

Despite different beliefs and thoughts, almost all Malawians belong to a certain religious sect. Arguably, most of them are Christians. And Malawi being a religious nation, we have always regarded our religious institutions and religious leaders with respect. We assign to these, the roles of counselor, leader and nation builder.
However, what we have witnesses in the past five years between the Nkhoma and Livingstonia Synods of the CCAP Church have consistently refused to fit into the above roles. News related to the issue about boundaries between the two Synods brought us, observers not any closer to the teachings of Christianity but rather seeds of disunity and division among Christ’s faithful.

The Synods had, to a certain degree chosen, as their calling the defending of privileges of a small constituency other than the unification of these interests with those of the nation as a whole. Through their disagreements on regional boundaries, Malawians have noted use of language that is confrontational, alarmist and divisive turning Christianity into a festering war.

Since necessary information has not been forthcoming as to why the boundary should be an issue between religious groupings, yet of the same CCAP, Malawians have just been left wondering and making assumptions. It has only been leaders at the helm of the two Synods that know the actual reasons for the disagreements and the values associated with them. But lay people like me would wonder why sharing of the word of God should really have boundaries.

If it is due to historic background, then that history should be out of tune. We need to move with time and accept that things do change with time. Actually it could be a sign of laziness to base our arguments on facts that were thought over a decade ago.

This is why I would say finally, common sense has prevailed in the battle of 'areas of influence' between Nkhoma and Livingstonia Synods. A stand taken by the Nkhoma Synod that there need not be any boundaries, though coming in late, is the best and should be applauded.

According to recent media reports, the Nkhoma Synod has given up on the protracted border dispute with the Livingstonia Synod and has adopted a ‘no border’ policy a move that has also been welcomed by the Livingstonia Synod. It is so pleasing to hear that the Synod has made the decision to close the chapter on the boundary matter.

Most Christians believe that human beings experience divine judgment and are rewarded either with eternal life or eternal damnation. Studies indicate that in most countries in the developed world, church attendance among people who continue to identify themselves as Christians has been falling over the last few decades. Some sources view this simply as part of a drift away from traditional membership institutions, while others link it to signs of a decline in belief in the importance of religion in general.

In this regard, the Nkhoma Synod has finally risen to the occasion and is not ready to weaken Christianity and its membership. Surely level-minded people would love to be members of Nkhoma Synod and freely praise the Lord without thinking of a boundary, which in the first place was not even made by spiritual guidance.
And apart from sharing the word of God, the Synod also offer social services.

According to available records, the CCAP Nkhoma Synod was founded in or around 1889 and is one of the major Protestant churches in Malawi. It has over a hundred congregations and over a thousand prayer houses with close to a million members. It also maintains a Theological Training centre, runs a health department and is also responding to the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic. Do we really need a boundary for these services?

In short, over the past years deserving people have been denied services that could have uplifted their livelihoods because of the nonsense that was called Synod boundaries. Though late, the decision by the Nkhoma Synod will, in the next few year benefit Malawi as a whole as resources and services shall be shared to the people regardless of jurisdiction of their stay.

Protestant Christians believe that the Bible is a self-sufficient revelation, the final authority on all Christian doctrine, and revealed all truth necessary for salvation. And most of the entire Bible preaches love and forgiveness. It is unfortunate that in the modern era, Christianity has been confronted with various forms of skepticism and with certain modern political ideologies such as liberalism and recent events have ranged from mere anti-clericalism to violent outbursts.

Surely the decision by the Nkhoma Synod will ensure that peace and co-existence prevail. Our expectations should be that both the Livingstonia and Blantyre Synods also go for a no-boundary policy. Moreover, why should we have a Church of Central Africa that recognises regions and promotes divisions?

We should all acknowledge the fact that the decision by the Nkhoma Synod comes after a long protracted war between the two synods during which the CCAP general Synod tried to mediate using a commission of enquiry to no avail. The decision therefore, cannot be contested as it is not infringing on anyone but giving an opportunity of free choice to people to chose which they think is the best. In this regard it would not be expected that anyone would want to go in any argument or discussions over this decision. The Nkhoma Synod has demonstrated that it is for peace and development.

From this we can learn that there is no argument or disagreement that cannot be resolved. It does not necessarily need to take use of vulgar language or force to see things move in a positive direction. Giving in and accepting change to take natural course is the best way Malawians would lie in co-existence.

Salutations to the Nkhoma Synod for a well thought of decision. It’s a lesson worth learning!

On my wife Emily

The pain of losing a wife Mrs. Emily Maloya 25 March 1975 – 16 January 2010


On Thursday 7th January 2010, as usual I came home at lunch hour and had my beautiful lunch prepared by my wife. We ate together, shared a few jokes as she narrated what has been on the news that day – both radio and TV. Yes she was good at following current affairs. I returned to office a happy man. Who could not, after a good meal?

After work, I passed a PTC shop, met some friends and while we chat, my cell phone rang. It was my wife. As usual, I cut the line so I could call her.

“Hello!” I said with a smile.

“mmmmm,” I noted she was not able to express herself but I got her saying she feel pain on the one side of her body.

I bed farewell to my colleagues and rushed home. There she was indeed in pain.

“But what happened? I mean you were ok just this afternoon,” I was at a loss.

With pain she explained that while she was comfortably chatting with her friends she just felt like something pulling her left side. I noted she was in pains and I called my doctor friend who within a few minutes was around. He administered medication that could lessen the pain before diagnosing what the problem could be. By nine o’clock in the evening, she got better and woke up. She could eat. We suspected malaria but tests proved negative. She was weak yes, but Friday was ok just as Saturday and Sunday. We watched the opening ceremony of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations together – with her usual love for Cameroon while predicting that Cameroon would win the trophy..

On Monday I noted that she was not okay and I suggested we go to the hospital, a proposal she was not in favour of – “I will be okay Hastings,” she said but I insisted so we left for Mulanje Mission Hospital. She was diagnosed malaria plus 4! The two days of our stay in hospital were not good but on Thursday she was fine and all arrangements were in place for a discharge.

But lo! Evening of Thursday things just changed from nowhere.

I prayed so hard. I asked God to allow my wife live. I did all i could. The medical people did the best they could.

“Talk to me Emily,” I could ask her. She could only smile. I saw my wife failing to eat. Getting weaker by the minute. I noted she had something to say to me but could not manage. Saturday morning 16th January, 2010, Emily breathed last.

“Oh! Lord. Why me?” I cried. “Why me? Why should I be a widower? How about the little girls. Good Lord, why have you accepted that these girls grow without a mother?” yes it as difficult for whoever was around to control my noise.

We travelled to Lilongwe – the most painful trip in my life - on Sunday and burial took place on Monday the 18th January 2010 at Kawale cemetery. I saw those men putting her down into the grave.....

Emily Maloya (nee Kacheula)

She was a wife, a mother, a counsellor, a teacher and the peacemaker. We thank God that she was with us on a strong bond for 14 years without a break. As we celebrate her life and all we gained from her, we ask the Almighty God to rest her in eternal peace.

Hastings, and the daughters Taona-Eva and Tamanda-Eve

VOTE OF THANKS

It is after this dark cloud fell that the families of Maloya and Kacheula realised that we have caring friends and partners. This hard task was made bearable through your support. We thank you all for being with us through out the painful hours both in Mulanje and Lilongwe. Of great mention:

• His Excellency the President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika
• Prof. Etta Banda MP – Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Mrs. Patricia Kaliyati MP – Minister of Gender, Women and Child Development
• The Executive Director, Programme Officers, Management and staff of the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust (MMCT)
• Mulli Brothers Limited
• The Seventh- Day Adventist Church – Mulanje, Chitakale and Kawale
• The National Chairman and the entire executive committee of Mulhako wa Alhomwe
• Mr. Leston Mulli
• Mr. Ahmed Fattani – Fattani Offset Printers
• Mr. Gospel Kazako, Management and staff of Zodiak Broadcasting Station
• Mulanje Well Wishers Group
• Regional Chairman and committee Mulhako wa Alhomwe – South
• Regional Chairman and committee Mulhako wa Alhomwe - Centre
• Regional Chairman and committee Mulhako wa Alhomwe - East
• Chitakale Tea Estate
• Mr. Joseph Mwanamvekha
• Mr. Llyod Muhara
• Mr. Elvis Thodi
• Mr. H. Mathanga
• Mrs. Adhija Elizabeth Nangoma
• Media Council of Malawi
• Mulanje District Football League
• Mr. Daulos Mauambeta & Management of the Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi
• The Coordination Union for the Rehabilitation of the Environment (CURE)
• My forum friends (Namisa, Nyasanet, MalawiTalk, Dzimatsapota)
• Medical Staff – Mulanje Mission Hospital
• Amfumu Njedza ndi mudzi wonse wa Njedza
• Friends and relatives too numerous to mention

May our God of possibilities bless you all!

The Year 2010

2010 International Year of Biodiversity

by Hastings Maloya

Happy New year. Yes, we are in a new decade. And the year 2010, which looks a very busy one especially sports wise, is International Year of Biodiversity according to a declaration by the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. For the next twelve months Malawi joins the international community in celebrating biological diversity and boosting awareness of how important it is for our lives.

Biological diversity, or “biodiversity,” refers to the variety and variability among living organisms be it flora and vegetation, mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, fish and a variety of other living things. This also includes diversity of ecosystems, species and genes, and the ecological processes that support them.

David Nangoma, programme officer responsible for biodiversity conservation, research and monitoring for the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust (MMCT) says dedication of the year 2010 to celebrate biodiversity is the best way to start the decade.

"The importance of biodiversity as flora and fauna can not be over-emphasized. From a local perspective, it provides the basic livelihoods for the majority of communities as there is provision of virtually everything that nature can provide to mankind", says Nangoma.

Malawi has significant biodiversity as it sits at the crossroads of the East and Central African and Southern African floral and fauna sub regions. it also has a very high human population, the majority living in rural areas and dependant on these biodiversity resources for their survival.

Natural diversity in ecosystems provides essential economic benefits and services to human society - such as food, clothing, shelter, fuel and medicines - as well as ecological, recreational, cultural and aesthetic values, and thus plays an important role in sustainable development.

However, most people, not only in Malawi, but the world over appreciate the beauty of the natural world, but awareness of biodiversity, how seriously it is threatened, and the implications for human well being, is alarmingly low.

This leads to our ecological sites facing threats that include unsustainable resource harvesting, over-harvesting and use, encroachment into the protected areas - sometimes due to population growth, annual damaging forest fires and introduction and/or invasion of alien plant species. Biodiversity is therefore under threat in many areas of the world.

Nangoma says major threats to biodiversity in Malawi and most African countries includes uncontrollable annual forest fires.

"Forest fires have been the main cause of damage to ecosystems that most living things habit. Other threats are encroachment into protected areas by way of establishing settlements and agricultural expansion, which in most cases is due to population growth," observes Nangoma adding that the introduction of some alien invasive plant species has also been of great concern.

Concern about global biodiversity loss has emerged as a prominent and widespread public issue.

According to the United Nations, we need “to see biodiversity at the top of the global agenda, leading to stronger action from all sectors of society including government and industry to safeguard it. To do this we have to show how biodiversity is essential for sustaining our natural living systems—or ecosystem—that provide us with clean air and water, food, building materials, fuel and medicine”.

Throughout the year countless initiatives need to be organized to disseminate information, promote the protection of biodiversity and encourage organizations, institutions, companies and individuals to take direct action to reduce the constant loss of biological diversity worldwide.

Among several others, objectives of the International Year of Biodiversity are to raise awareness of the importance of conserving biodiversity for human well-being and promote understanding of the economic value of biodiversity and to enhance public knowledge of the threats to biodiversity and means to conserve it.

Awareness efforts need to put emphasis on the importance of biodiversity through our values, performance, and communication and engagement. We need to strive to conduct our operations to make sure that everyone understands that humans and the natural environment are interdependent and interact with each other in various ways. In managing our impacts we consider those interrelationships and the functions ecosystems perform in supporting sustainable economic development and seek ways to make positive contributions to biodiversity conservation in areas that we live.

Humans are an integral part of biodiversity and have the power to protect or destroy it. Currently, our activities as humans are destroying the natural world at an unprecedented rate through climate change, habitat destruction, over- harvesting, pollution and many other activities. We’re facing a global species extinction crisis. But there is growing recognition that biological diversity is the lifeblood of sustainable development and human welfare.

Well managed natural resources support peaceful communities, encourage well-balanced economic growth and help reduce poverty. It is therefore our responsibility to join hands as we commemorate the INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF BIODIVERSITY

Chairing the SADC Environmental Forum

Malawi chairs the SADC Environmental Forum

As appeared on Nyasatimes: http://www.nyasatimes.com/national/malawi-chairs-the-sadc-environmental-forum.html

The Southern Africa CBNRM Forum (SACF) elected Malawian, Hastings Maloya of Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust as its new chairman.

According to Godfrey Mitti, Regional Coordinator of WWF Regional CBNRM Program southern Africa, Maloya, a re-known journalist and environmental practitioner was unanimously voted chairperson at the regional meeting that took place at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe last week. And is to hold the position for two years.

He succeeded Ms Rosina Masilo-Ragkoasi of Botswana.

Countries in the forum include Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, South Africa and Namibia. In the coming year, Tanzania and Angola will be roped.

“This is a great honour to Malawi. As a country we are making strides in natural resource management environmental conservation, and this is a vote of recognition,” said Maloya.

He said during his chairmanship, he will stride to make sure that local leaders are more involved in community-based natural resource management.

“Indigenous knowledge would be the best way if we are to manage our resources. We need to focus on local leaders and get them involved,” he said.

The 2009 TVM Awards

The 2009 TVM Awards Analysis
by Hastings Maloya

They changed their slogan from "The Station for the Nation" to "Creating a World of Possibilities" and within a year Malawi Television (TVM) has slowly proven itself as one of the best TV stations in the SADC Region. They went on satelite, giving an opportunity to Malawians in other countries like Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique to watch their local TV channel. They brought in new personalities and new programming.

From their live "Good Morning Malawi" programme, to musical ones, religious, sports, cultural and then news bulletins, Malawi Television is now a family channel. They may have a lot more to improve but given the local situation, with limited resources and the political environment, TVM is worth watching. And they bring in new things and surprises.

Mid October 2009, an advert appeared on Malawi Television. It talked about the 2009 TVM Awards. The advert talked of plans to honour and award Malawians "Who have selflessly contributed to serving others without them realising". Most Malawians could not understand what these awards will really be about. It took time for TVM to exactly say what they had in stor for Malawi.

Mid December, TVM announced the date of the awards and the venue. Entry fees at MK15, 000 in advance and MK20, 000 on the door seemed on the higher side. But they must have done good marketing. Several companies came forward to support the event and the hall at the College of Medicine Sports Complex could not take all the prospective patrons. State President, Dr Bingu wa Mutharika was guest of honour.

The event, which was broadcast live on television was spiced by the perfomance of South African gospel diva, Rabecca Malope, Mganda dancers from Nkhatabay, Police Band and Joseph Tembo with his Groove Magic band.

Toast of the night was the awarding of the achievers in waht has to be labbled "the 2009 TVM 2009 Our People Our Pride Awards. The choice od awardees, which among others included a Mr Mkandawire who constructed a suspended Bridge in Rumphi, the guy who caught the Nachipanti vampire in Ndirande, the Pastor who started the orphan centre where Madonna adopted David. Stories associated with each awardeee were inspiring and so moving.

Wilson Moleni,a banker in Mzuzu says the show was beyond his expectations. He said he never expected something of that magnitude to take place in Malawi adding, it was inspiring especially on the ordinary Malawians that were awarded.

"It was a marvel to watch live on television. being the first of its kind, surely TVM has set a record and it will have a tough time to beat its own record it has set, said Moleni adding: "I liked the orderly flow of the events, including the effects that went with them."

And in his remarks, Acting Director General of Television Malawi Bright Malopa, said this was only a biggining of this to come, to which he received a round of applause maybe with the audience accepting that TVM is indeed creating a world of posibilities.

President Mutharika, whose BENITH Trust was the main sponsor said he was excited that ordinary Malawians could be recognised in this manner. He also pledged to support a 15-year old orphan who was among the award receipients with school and other basic needs.

Zimbabwean music icon, Oliver Mtukudzi was also supposed to perform but failed to come at the last minute due to sickness. but that did not affect the tone of the event.

The awards ceremony dwarfs other sort of events including the famous Entertainers of the year programme on Malawi Broadcasting Corporation.