As the world is going through the pandemic of the novel coronavirus, many people are frustrated and complaining about the disruption of their dreams.

But that is not an issue for a young and vibrant woman, Temwani Chilenga.

At 24, she is highly passionate about vulnerable children and has managed to source funds from friends in the USA to support children.

Temwani has done a lot in her community even constructing houses for the orphans and providing necessities so that they still go to school.

“I chose to work with the vulnerable children because I want them to have a bright future and enjoy their childhood just like other children. They are important in our community because they belong here and they have to grow up and become useful citizens,” she says.

She is motivated to do what she does because of the hard life different children face every day.

“I am optimistic about my community and I have helped built seven houses for orphans because I noted that some children live by themselves without parents or guardians. That broke my heart and I thought of doing something. Their homes looked so bad and some homes fell when it was raining,” she said.

This initiative has benefited 20 orphans and other children raised by single mothers.

The teacher has managed to source funds for plastic sheets to cover some homes, buy food, clothes, shoes, blankets, mats, mattress, pots and other things.

Temwani says she identifies the children from different places such as schools and markets.

“At school, I noted certain things that made me do something about them and make a difference. I usually meet some children in the same clothes every day, with no shoes or coming to school with old and torn notebooks. They include failing to pay K500 for examination, failing to keep themselves warm when it’s cold.

“Many experience frequent absenteeism to collect plastic bottles for sell at K5 and K10 to raise money for their needs as we are selling indigenous vegetables during rainy season,” she said.

The sad part, according to Temwani, is that they don’t make more than K300 a day. Sometimes no one buys from them.

She further observes that the trend is common in this country, not only to vulnerable children, but even those whose parents don’t have jobs and can’t afford their needs.

Temwani adds that sometimes they do it to support their families.

“I got the funds from USA teachers. I knew the teachers from a certain Facebook group. They didn’t just start raising funds, they started with sending school supplies to my learners then later, they sent money because it was expensive to send things here. Some other teachers from Australia, Canada and Ireland have been helping too. Most funds were raised when I was invited to United States and I used the money to buy water units for people who use dirty water from the river. Part of the money was used to provide tap water to other people then. When I returned, that’s when I started building homes,” she explained.

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Temwani is still teaching lessons to her class and observing social distances to the learners. She shall finish on July 10 then start again later.

“I teach three days per week. I write on charts and place on walls of their homes. Not more than 10 children per house and they wash hands with soap before anything. Then I mark their work and give them books to read. Those who haven’t learnt how to read draw and colour while others practise reading with the help from the ones who already know.

“I keep them busy so that they don’t move around markets and pick things. They can play at home sometimes because children naturally play, but that is after school work is done. And at the end of the day, I just want to make sure my children are not left behind. I call the vulnerable my children,” says Temwani.

She said she has never been afraid to achieve hard things and the biggest factor that has helped her achieve her goals is using funds and donations accordingly.

“The funds were raised for the poor children and not for me so I had to use them appropriately because it is inhuman to misuse funds and a disgrace,” she adds.

Temwani says she lives a simple life and never compares herself with anyone, helping without expecting anything in return, loving people for who they are and not what they own.

She likes spending time with her family. The children are her family too so she also spends more time with them too.

Temwani is the fourth born in a family of six from Charles and Anganile Chilenga. She grew up in Blantyre and did her primary at Kachanga Primary School in Chileka. Later she went to our Lady of Wisdom Secondary School then Maranatha Academy.

 “I am a teacher by profession at Chambu Primary School in Area 25. I did my training at DAPP Dowa Teachers Training College (TTC) and I’m upgrading at DMI St John the Baptist University in Lilongwe. I never thought of becoming a teacher when I was a child because I wanted to be a journalist and I made the decision when I was growing up,’’ she said.

 Temwani says she has been teaching for three years and enjoys teaching itself, but mostly interacting with children of different ages.

 Temwani said shelving her journalism dream was the hardest thing she ever did in her life, but she loves being with the children and teaching.

She said people who want to succeed should ignore people who may pull them down.

Her advice to young girls is to put God first in everything, dream big and work hard. n

Dear BMW,

What is wrong with men? You mean they can’t resist looking at a woman?

Biggie, I am so pissed off with the pervert of a husband that I have. He ogles at everything in skirt; college students, choir ladies at church, women vendors at the market and any girl or woman who crosses his path, including my maid.

I have been married to him for six months, but I do not know if I will endure his attitude of looking at women. Before he married me, he used to say ‘I am the most beautiful woman alive, I fell from the sky and I am so beautiful like an angel.’ He would swear that he can never look at any other woman. He was sweet, kind and always called me his rose flower.

So, why does he keep staring at other women in my presence?

CS, Balaka, via WhatsApp

Dearest CS,

When elders coined the saying love is blind, you thought they were lying or they were high on some high grade from KK. Hell no! Love is indeed blind and your husband was blind, but now he can see.

If Biggie is to be honest with you, your man is not in love with you because you are the most beautiful woman in the world. My dear, there are millions of women who are way prettier than you, just in the same way you know other men who are handsome, smarter and wealthier than your husband. He lied that you are the most beautiful woman; that you fell from the sky, that you are his rose flower… all he wanted was to get into those knickers of yours.

Biggie, as a man, knows that men do not marry because the woman is too beautiful to resist. In fact, men date the most beautiful woman to show off, but when it comes to marriage many marry an average looking woman because they do not want to lose sleep over their wife. Oh! You can protest all you want, but look around you, which one of your married friends is prettier than you?

So, stop bothering yourself thinking if you leave him, you will find a man out there who does not look at other women, because we all do. In fact, we even ogle at a nun, yes, a Catholic nun; we look at her and imagine things!

BMW

NOTE: You can now send your problems to BMW via WhatsApp number: +265 998-110-975. No calls please!

Ignorance on the importance of vaccines for children has seen many families in the country and across the world being affected by vaccine-preventable diseases.

Long distances to health care facilities, lack of appreciation for vaccines due to information gaps and lack of trust in the vaccines are a few reasons many children do not receive all recommended vaccines.

Nevertheless, experts argue that vaccination is an effective way of preventing childhood illnesses.

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) is a pneumonia vaccine given to newborn children. It was introduced in Malawi in 2011.

But despite high coverage nationally, studies conducted by Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust (MLW) under the Pneumococcal Carriage in Vulnerable Populations in Africa (PCVPA) Study-2015-2019 in urban Blantyre found that it has not had the expected impact of reducing pneumococcal carriage.

Despite indications that the vaccine has reduced disease incidence, there is also evidence of 20 percent carriage of vaccine serotypes (those types of pneumococcus the vaccine should prevent) among vaccinated and unvaccinated populations.

This prevalence is higher than results seen in high-income countries which use the same vaccine, but with a booster dose.

It is suggested that using a booster schedule in Malawi — with the booster at 40 weeks of age — might further improve results.

Consequently, the Ministry of Health and Population (MoH) is working with Unicef and MLW under the Pave Study to implement an alternative World Health Organisation (WHO) approved PCV schedule.

In an emailed response, MLW project manager for the Pave Study Peter Chalusa said the alternative schedule will use the same PCV and the three doses, but offered at six, 14 and 40 weeks of age; replacing the current six, 10 and 14 weeks. The dose at 40 weeks will act as a booster dose.

This will be initially evaluated at 10 randomly selected Blantyre district health facilities and the results will inform MOH policy decision on PCV strategy, including whether to switch to the new schedule that includes a booster dose.

“The major expectation from the Pave Study is to develop evidence as to whether the booster schedule will give Malawi better results compared to the current schedule [no booster] and further contribute to better survival outcomes from pneumococcal illnesses,” he said.

In a written response, Unicef health specialist Steve Macheso corroborated the effectiveness of PCV, which he said protects eight to nine of every 10 children from pneumococcal disease.

He said Unicef is supporting MOH and MLW on the Pave Study to identify the most effective PCV dose schedule.

Macheso added that this will help to protect all children against pneumonia, which is a major cause of deaths in under-five children.

Unicef works with government and other partners to strengthen immunisation programmes and help realise children’s rights to survival and good health.

On his part, MOH spokesperson Joshua Malango agreed that pneumonia is one of the most common causes of death in under-five children in the country, besides Malaria and diarrhoea.

He also reminded the public of the importance of vaccines in preventing childhood vaccine preventable diseases and deaths.

He said: “Prevention is better than cure. PCV protects against pneumococcal infections. The bacteria can lead to serious infections such as pneumonia, blood infections and bacterial meningitis. These infections can in turn lead to loss of lives and costs in treatment for the sick child.”

He highlighted that vaccines are always available in the health facilities across the country, with very minimal stockouts.

The Gavi Alliance website indicates that Malawi saw the birth of 719 240 children in 2019 and 606 279 under one-year survived.

Malawi has since 1979 also operated the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) to reduce infant morbidity and mortality rates due to vaccine preventable illnesses by providing quality immunisation services.

In an earlier interview, Mchinji EPI coordinator, Edward Jere cited the need to appreciate the importance of immunisation for children.

“Some people get used to the fact that newborn children get immunisation and others choose to ignore it. Parents need to know what immunisation does for the child — boosting their immunity,” he said.

He argued that parents who immunise their children just because others are doing it can easily back down if they do not appreciate the benefits.

WHO ssya PCV protects against severe forms of pneumococcal diseases, such as severe pneumococcal pneumonia, meningitis and bacteraemia.

Step Kids Awareness (Steka) home in the Archdiocese of Blantyre is wearing a new face courtesy of Missio Malta through the Pontifical Missionary Society (PMS) of Malawi.

Joan’s Craft Charity of Missio Malta provided funds which have been used to renovate and furnish the home currently accommodating 74 homeless children drawn from various parts of Malawi.

PMS national director Father Vincent Mwakhwawa said Missio Malta was moved to support the renovations and procurement of new apparatus for skills training at the children’s homes because of its uniqueness in supporting the development of vulnerable children.

“I am grateful for the support. The place looks transformed and conducive for the upbringing of a child,” said Father Mwankhwawa.

Apart from providing shelter and food to homeless children, Godknows Maseko and his wife Hellen also provide moral, spiritual and education support to the children at Steka Homes.

Archbishop of Blantyre Thomas Luke Msusa, who presided over the blessing of the buildings, commended the the Maseko family for their selfless love for humanity through Steka Homes.

“I am delighted with what I have seen here. This family is teaching children to be self-reliant; children are being raised holistically, not only spiritually, physically and morally but their skills are also sharpened through educational support to universities and vocational skills colleges,” said Msusa.

Steka director and founder Maseko commended the Archbishop and Missio Malta for the moral and spiritual support, which he said has helped them reach out to vulnerable children.

“I would like to thank His Grace Archbishop Msusa since he has been praying and encouraging us in all that we do here not forgetting the children themselves for their commitment to the work they do, they are self-reliant,” he said.

Steka was established in 2007 to take care of homeless children from the streets, abandoned and damped babies, and orphans that have lost both parents.

Over the years Steka has raised homeless children into independent and reliable citizens through various professional jobs and enterprises they venture in after graduating from Steka homes.

Why this anxious feeling about the future?

People can have anxiety because we have insufficient knowledge about the future and we seem to have limited resources for managing our future.

The nation is challenged by the effects of diseases and politics that even leave the scientific and civil ‘worlds’ puzzled, wondering how to successfully manage an already-challenged health care and government system.

We are still overwhelmed with HIV and Aids pandemic and children dying because of malaria and many other diseases even before they celebrate their fifth birthdays. Now we have the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), and as if that is not enough the political sphere seems to have its own challenges, too.

But when we have faith in God, we will not worry much about what the future holds for, like Job said, we know our Redeemer lives.

Any hope?

God promised us a great and brighter future, and although it may be too obvious to state, but in order to avoid misunderstanding, it is necessary to emphasise that the future is characterised by being unknown and unknowable, yet we all want to pursue living a meaningful life within the normal constraints of earning a living.

Isaiah 65:17-25 gives us the answer as the passage justifies, describes, and critically interprets some concrete answers to the question of what the future holds for us as a family, a church or a society.

Isaiah points to the theological vision of what life can be for the people who have their hope and trust in the Lord God, and the prophet’s traditions are intertwined with memories of the ancient truth and promises of the great future for the people of Israel who were in the bondage of Babylon.

At that time Babylon felt to them like a hopeless place, full of suffering, and devoid of their Hebrew identity. Here we see the three motifs of Isaiah; the motif of the former and latter things, the motif of the glorification of Zion and the motif of the Shalom of the God’s holy mountain.

In this passage, we see God as the Creator in control. He is not one in the far remote place, but the one who is right in front of all the events as they unfold. God alone has the authority to speak new things into being. God alone brought healing and hope for the people in exile and guided them to a future of hope, joy, peace, and harmony.

The Lord God strengthened the devastated people, and memories of the former challenging times faded.

But the nation is devastated?

Our hearts need to be delighted with the promises that all shall be well for God is in control. He reigns on Earth and in Heaven. The picture described in Isaiah, in which violence and fear would be no more, constitutes one of the most beautiful oracles in the Scripture.

When we are in Christ Jesus and have received the joy of salvation, we have a joy and harmony in our hearts, and the fullness of this harmonious joy will come with the second coming of the Son of Man, as God’s people will weep no more with cries of distress, there will be no more premature loss of life, homes will be built and inhabited, vineyards will be planted, and people will enjoy the fruit of their labour.

This is a great promise for the people who lived in great poverty just like as it can also bring joy to us today because God responds to the needs of the people even before they say a Word of prayer.

God is bringing the restoration where there is no more suffering. No longer will there be fights between the weak and the strong. It will be a kingdom where everyone lives in harmony with the other and with creation.

But people are frightened?

It is imperative to be proactive in preventing and preparing for a fight against any pandemic or violence. Nearly all the countries that were facing the challenges of the coronavirus or political violence before us were living so happily and everything was normal.

Learning from them and doing what they did not do at the early stage could have helped, especially that our community is much challenged in many aspects that include a health system so fragile than most of the countries who were on their knees in shutdown before us.

Unfortunately, some people were watering down the need to be proactive saying it was not yet time , yet for the Covid-19 we needed not count much on curative health care but rather on preventive, so a vigilant role in prevention was good for the nation.

Likewise, the political situation can be managed if we all realise that as children of God, we needed to appreciate that we are one, and needed to further follow the principles of natural justice.

What’s the role of the Church in this?

The Church should not stop preaching the news of prevention. We should be doing something for our faithful and the nation at large. We should speak the truth and speak out of love. We should also realise that we can live together regardless of differences in race, religions, and tribe.

We can be good community changers by planting good values of life for the better of our communities.

Let us follow the measures of slowing down the advance of the corona virus and political violence. Let us love and protect one another.

In whatever we do or say, even our way of praying or preaching, we should remember God blessed us with a nation called Malawi to live in.

Let us all join hands in prayers these pandemics should be eradicated and that there be a total healing to all nations. God has a plan for everyone, and the church needs to continue to be the instrument of hope and peace.

Above all, prayer is key to the fight against the Covid-19 and any form of violence that some bad apples may want to perpetrate.

Give us a glimpse into your upbringing and school life?

I am a legal practitioner and Commissioner for Oaths. I have an LLB (Hons), Bachelors degree of Arts (Human Resource Management) and MSc (Leadership & Change Management). I am so passionate about social and gender justice and about people actualising their full potential.

What does your job entail in as far as gender issues are concerned at Escom?

I guide and direct all issues of social and gender inclusion in all organisation’s operations, plans, budgets, policies, programmes, projects, systems, functions and structures for the benefit of employees, customers and other stakeholders.

Take us through your daily routine at the office?

It involves planning, designing, implementing various activities under the Social and Gender Inclusion Policy and the Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy. Monitoring and enforcing the policy targets with departments and directories. Designing and implementing various awareness and capacity building programmes. I do various activities and assignments as a member of major projects implementing unit.

How do these gender issues align with Escom policy? 

Social and Gender Inclusion and Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy is one of the policies that Escom developed and approved by the Escom Board of Directors in April 2017. This falls under thematic area number four of the current Integrated Strategic Plan (ISP) of Escom which talks about a transformed Escom as key. The mandate is derived from Escom’s Social and Gender Inclusion Policy whose objective is to ensure increased meaningful participation of women and men in decision making, zero tolerance on sexual harassment, creating an enabling environment for customers and employees with special needs. The policy targets at least 30 percent female representation in all divisions and departments, ensures sex disaggregated data in all human related reports, 40/60 representation in all appointments, including in teams and committees, equitable medical policies on maternity cases, travel allowance for nursing female employees working out of station.

Any success stories on gender issues at Escom?

There are a lot of them such as approval of the Social  and  Gender Inclusion Policy and Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy which is a huge milestone making Escom the pioneer in the energy and private sector. Introduction of the Scholarship Award to best performing female engineering students at tertiary level is also another first from Escom. Students on scholarship are also offered internship and mentorship during vacations. We also have an initiative called Bring Your Daughter to Work where we allow parents to bring their daughters and female wards to spend a day with Escom staff to create interest in the girls to aspire for engineering roles. We have mentoring and career talks in secondary schools as well as international recognition and commendation of Escom as a gender and social compliant organisation. There are anti-GBV activities at the workplace leading to reduced negative perception and stigmatisation of women employees; women at all cadres from temporary line workers to director level, including at national control centre; increased awareness of men’s and women’s rights at the workplace; increase in women in management from six percent to 15 percent; inclusion of women in all teams, decision making teams and committees, including in factory acceptance tests change in behaviour, attitude, culture and norms like the singing of obscene songs mainly for field staff; increased awareness and appreciation of women’s role and contribution at the workplace; increased awareness of sexual harassment. Increased visibility and confidence in women employees due to specialised capacity building initiatives on mentoring, coaching and leadership skills for women and enhanced social and gender safeguards in major projects based on international standards.

I increased awareness and inclusion of women and other socially marginalised groups as Escom customers and in special distribution projects like Ndawala.

How do these gender issues align with Escom policy? 

Social and Gender Inclusion and Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy is one of the policies that Escom developed and approved by the Escom Board of Directors in April 2017. This falls under thematic area number four of the current Integrated Strategic Plan (ISP) of Escom which talks about a transformed Escom as key. The mandate is derived from Escom’s Social and Gender Inclusion Policy whose objective is to ensure increased meaningful participation of women and men in decision making, zero tolerance on sexual harassment, creating an enabling environment for customers and employees with special needs. The policy targets at least 30 percent female representation in all divisions and departments, ensures sex disaggregated data in all human related reports, 40/60 representation in all appointments, including in teams and committees, equitable medical policies on maternity cases, travel allowance for nursing female employees working out of station.

How important are issues of gender equality for an institution such as Escom?

Legal compliance at international and national levels, Constitution, Gender Equality Act are important in complying with requirements of international donors and lending institutions for grants and or developmental loans. Escom would not pass the due diligence for most of the international financing if found non-compliant in social and gender inclusion. Social and gender inclusion makes lots of business sense. Equality is naturally correct.

In your opinion, how has the role of men changed on the gender rights discourse over the years in Malawi?

Inequality had been entrenched and embedded in our culture and society for ages coupled with patriarchal tendencies overflowing to the workplace. Initially, it was not easy for men to relinquish and share the power base, but with a lot of awareness and more women taking strategic positions – the terrain is more accommodating and opening up.  Social and gender inclusion is about power sharing in all spheres and this was predominantly a male domain.

What is your most successful career moment?

Getting the Social and Gender Inclusion and Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy approved by the board. It was not easy, but critical. Another milestone was presenting a paper on social and gender mainstreaming at an international conference in Cape Town, South Africa. 

What is the most challenging thing about this career?

Social and gender inclusion is an emerging issue which is establishing a ‘new world order’ in the way we used to do business and so it is faced with challenges of perception (resistance to change, lack of understanding and appreciation by many culture and tradition), failure to understand, accept and institutionalise change by many, politics of power (political-will needs to be unwavering and unquenched at all times).

In your opinion, what attributes must a gender expert have?

Well-versed in social and gender areas. I had a lot of this in my legal studies. Also, passion for the underprivileged and marginalized as well as  keeping up with relevant new knowledge and literature, networking, lobbying and advocacy skills, focused, resolute, resilient and strong willed.

What does Malawi need to continue making strides in gender issues?

Meaningfully include men and boys in the agenda for equality.  HeforShe Champions should start at primary and grassroot levels. Achieve attitude and behaviour change in the homes, at community level and religious groupings. 

What is the right age for inculcating gender values in children?

These are socially constructed roles and opportunities.  Before birth for example, parents would buy different colours of clothing depending on the sex of the child they are expecting.  At birth, they would buy different toys depending on the sex and as the child is growing up, the parents and society would expect them to behave in a particular manner and perform particular tasks depending on their sexes. Why don’t boys, in Malawi, put on skirts and dresses for instance? Ever thought of why parents would not buy a gun as a toy for the girl child? So, it’s the parents who should change their attitude when the child is still in the womb.

Your final words?

This is a very exciting area to champion and spearhead, fulfilling and challenging.  Very pivotal position and best times to be at, when the social and gender history of the corporation is being written.

Peter Kanjere is the Public Relations Officer at Escom

Have you ever been in distress and ran out of ideas on what to do? Have you ever had a pool of people surrounding you and offering all sorts of possible solutions to your problem? And because you are seemingly stranded, ignoring any one of them seems to be wrong?

I have several scenarios in mind. Recently, my car keys vanished. I do not want to say I lost the keys because nobody just loses a bunch of two keys and a big key holder without anyone coming across them one way of the other, especially more than three months down the line. They simply vanished from a table at a gym and the spare key at home would not start the car. Naturally, people noticed my distress and listened. Upon listening, bright ideas flocked and before long, the only remaining key was bashed left, right and centre with non-workable solutions. It is a long story, but eventually, the plausible solution was to simply programme the spare key and I was good to go. Meanwhile, the bunch of know-it-alls solutions were damaging.

A lady’s car broke down and naturally, the men problem solvers were on the scene. In spite of her explaining what she observed, many decided to overrule her on the basis of a lack of knowledge on vehicles. Solutions flooded with many accusing her of not checking her water levels and caused the car to over boil. They dressed her down like an idiot until others concurred with her later on upon inspection. It was not temperature. It was something more.

And all along the way from her breakdown point, people offered to help. My point is, many who rush with bright ideas, including those onlookers do not even know what they are doing or talking about. Never fall for their seemingly good will and knowledge. I learnt it the hard way and am sure many others have. Everybody wants to know it all and experiment on other people’s problems. Do not take the chance. This does not end at things lost or breakdowns. Even that advice from those we believe to be friends or trusted people. They can mislead and cause us regrets later.

In short, be careful who you trust your lives, relationships, property, family and secrets with. Not every nice person has our best interests at heart. There are many wolves in sheep’s clothing. Select carefully and remain focused.

Dr. Deepa Pullanikkatil is a Civil Engineer turned Environmentalist, co-founder of a small non-profit organisation called Abundance which started in 2016 with two friends after realising a need for integrated development in Malawi.

Pullanikkatil was inspired in this field after living in Malawi for five years, which she describes as life changing for her. She was touched by what she saw and wanted to do something about poverty alleviation.

The organisation works at Mbando Village in Machinga, a remote rural area of Malawi with 105 households mainly farmers and fisher folks.

They villagers face many difficulties, including lack of access to transport, to ferry the sick to the nearby hospital which is three kilometres away.

Using internal funding from contributions of Abundance members, they bought a bicycle ambulance for the community to take pregnant women, the sick and the elderly to the clinic when needed.

Pullanikkatil says the organisation and its members are voluntary.

“Initially, we used our personal savings to start Abundance’s activities in Mbando. Later on, we did crowd funding and wrote proposals to get funds for some of our activities. We touch on human wellbeing and nurturing environment,” says Pullanikkatil.

Being voluntarily run, the organisation thrives on the energy of its team.

It is led by Ruth Mumba, who started off as a volunteer, but was later nominated director.

Moses Phulusa is the community coordinator.

She said coming from an environmental background, she realised that environmental issues cannot be addressed without addressing human needs.

“We got the bicycle ambulance custom made with a stretcher attached to the bicycle made by a kind gentleman Masa Chikapa, who has a small welding and engineering business in Blantyre. Masa has been doing some charity work funded by Malawians in the diaspora, particularly Malawians in Texas, USA.

“He shared pictures of the ambulance with his friends in Texas organisation. They quickly responded saying they want to donate a few ambulances across Malawi. Abundance team was thrilled when Masa said Mbando village will be one of the recipients,” Pullanikkatil said.

She went further to say Mbando Village now has two ambulances which they can share with their 105 households and with others in nearby villages when the need arises.

“The area is remote so electricity is a problem. However, we tried to replace it with solar. The internet network is also weak, but we managed to fit in WI-FI for E-learning. We like to look at challenges as opportunities for growth. This is why I have included problems together with their success because problems are considered to be suited in with solutions, “she said.

She continued to say they are able to scale up a project on E-learning through a timely miracle.

“Some of you may have followed us on social media when we did a crowd funding campaign in June this year through Global Giving to set up an E-learning centre at Chilimba Secondary School.

“Our target was to raise $5 000 within 18 days and we surpassed our target, thanks to well-wishers who generously donated for this project. The centre uses solar power, Rachel and Keepod technologies as low cost computing solutions to provide access to learning resources for 150 people at Mbando Village.

“We planned for 50 people because we had budgeted for 50 keepods at retail prices in Malawi and accordingly raised funds. We were lucky to have been advised by Carl Meyer, the founder of a non-profit IT company Shift IT, who helped us with technical information for this project. Carl is a friendly guy and turns out, he is a friend of Keepod founders Nissan and Franky in USA,” she said.

She said through Carl, they got in touch with Nissan and Franky and to their delight, they confirmed that they would supply them Keepods at the manufacturing price. They cut the price further through a special discount for charitable organizations. The end result they got 150 keepods for the price of 50, three times more than what they originally planned.

Through Mumba, they provide training to girls on menstrual hygiene and reusable sanitary pads making at Mbando Village.

Ruth recognised that girls and women at Mbando have what they call Period Poverty as they use unsanitary methods during their periods, such as using newspaper strips and old cloths.

However, girls were worried that these would fall off and they will be ridiculed and many do not attend school during their periods.

Ruth planned a workshop for supporting menstrual hygiene and dignity for girls and women at Mbando, provided lectures and a reusable sanitary pad making training.

She organised pad making kits which were given to each girl after the training.

Abundance posted the pictures of this training on Facebook and within hours, got an email from Little Big Prints, a non-profit organisation that helps adolescent girls, requesting Ruth to train some girls in their project area on pad making.

Ruth and her sister Grace Moyo trained at another school in Zomba funded by Little Big Prints. Word spread fast and soon after this, Mother Mary Children Centre, a non-profit organisation operating in Chikwawa asked for a similar training for their mothers group members.

She says they are happy and thrilled that news of its activities and trainings are spreading and that they are able to extend beyond Mbando Village.

Currently, Pullanikkatil is a consultant working on climate change based in Eswatini.

She is also a co-director of an international network called Sustainable Futures in Africa. She has worked in Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa and Eswatini for the past 20 year and briefly also worked in India and Scotland.

When asked about her future plans and where she wants to reach, Pullanikkatil says she wants to create deep impact that is lasting and sustainable at Mbando Village which can be a model for other villages.

“We want the village to then in-turn empower other villages in creating ripple effects

since our  dream is to have a world of plenty, where there is no lack, for humans and nature to thrive.

She encourages people to work hard as she believes that all these little miracles happen when you are focused on doing your work with utmost love and devotion.

At Abundance, they pay attention to life and little miracles and they like telling these stories to the world.

On her free time, she likes hiking, meditating and spending time with nature.

Esther Harawa-Mkhutche is a gender protection coordinator who has led the rescue of 25 girls from teen and forced marriages. She has also helped victims of gender-based violence. She works for the Foundation for Civic Education and Social Education (Focese) and also doubles as an advocacy coordinator with Alliance for Sexual and Reproductive Heath Rights (SRHR) organisations in Malawi. Esther had a chat with MIKE VAN KAMANDE.

Who is Esther?

I was born in Rumphi on October 2 1995 and I am the first born in a step family of seven, three boys and four girls. I grew up in Mzuzu. I went to Bandawe Primary School up to 2008 before I went to Bandawe Girls Secondary School in Nkhata Bay.

I graduated with Bachelor of Arts (Humanities) in Drama and Philosophy from Chancellor College. Presently, I am studying for a Master of Arts in Theater and Media Communications in Development.

I am married to Wonderful Mkhutche and together we have a four-year-old daughter, Malaika.

What was your upbringing like?

In 2005 when I was only 10 years old, I lost my mother and went to Luwinga, Mzuzu where I grew up with my father and stepmother. Life was not easy for my father to provide for the family, but he tried and I was able to get to college.

He was a constant presence and inspiration in my life until we lost him in a car accident in November 2018. As the first born, my father would always say that I am also a parent to my siblings and this made me grow with the responsibility of looking after them. In addition, my father always believed in me and this inspired the spirit of hard work in me. Although no longer with us today, I can proudly say that what is best in me I owe it to him.

Who is a gender and protection coordinator?

A gender and protection officer works towards achieving gender equality between women, men, girls and boys making sure everyone is protected. She/he leads in planning, implementation and monitoring of gender mainstreaming and protection project activities. Again, she/he also provides strategic direction, leadership and overall technical and management assistance to integrated gender and age responsive protection programming.

How has your career been?

I do not remember deciding to be in drama and theatre while growing up. But I would take part in church and school plays.  While at college, I used to do field works as Theatre for Development Troop member and facilitator with organisations such as Creative Centre for Community Mobilisation (Creccom), Art and Global Health Centre Africa (AGHCA) and Applied Development Communication and Training Services (Adecots). When in my third and fourth years, I was also asked by Fine and Performing Arts Department to be tutor for first and second-year students in Malawian Music and Theatre for Development at the college.

In early 2019 I took up a job as part-time lecturer in Drama Practice and Theatre for Development at Malawi Assemblies of God University in Lilongwe while working with Office of Ombudsman as a hospital ombudsman. Soon after that, I took up my present job with Focese.

What are some of your career highlights?

Through my work with Focese, we have rescued over 25 girls from child marriages and helped them back to school. This was possible because we worked together with volunteers, traditional chiefs, police and the judiciary.

Furthermore, through our coordinated work, we have brought perpetrators of rape, incest and child marriages to justice.

I attended training in Effective Feminist Advocacy by the African Women Development Fund (AWDF) in Accra, Ghana, November 2019. From the training, I gained new knowledge, insight and skills on how to effectively advocate for the rights of girls and women. As a result, I have recently been using television, radio, social media and newspapers to highlight issues affecting girls and women in Malawi.

What inspired you to work as gender and protection coordinator?

Inequalities and injustices in our society affect women and girls. Our culture as well as religion has positioned females as lesser beings to males. In many homes, women are raised for marriage. At church, women are denied some positions not because they cannot perform, but because of their gender. This view has left girls and women susceptible to rape, marginalisation and early marriages. It is through such experiences that my interest in advocating for better opportunities for girls and women grew.

Thus working as gender and protection coordinator is an epitome of the kind of world I would like for girls and women.  But let me also recognise inspiration from Dr. Catherine Makhumula of Chanco, Mercy Simbi of Adecots, Christie Banda, Focese executive director, Rose Chunda of Creccom and Habiba Osman of UN Women.

What are some challenges you face?

Generally, people have wrong perception towards gender activists. Calling for gender equality is seen as a deconstruction of the society by most people. They believe that the inequalities we have between men and women are natural or divine. As such, when a young woman like me is pursuing such objectives, they are considered naïve and unruly.

There are also issues of contraceptives and other sexual reproductive health rights (SRHR) especially for girls. I believe that girls should have access to these. But this position meets with a society that believes otherwise and it becomes a challenge. As a young woman, I cannot emphasize enough the need to change how we view SRHR in the lives of girls and women.

What makes you excel?

I was raised to value independence of mind in me and others. My job deals with controversial issues in most cases, but I understand the society we are in. This is the knowledge that keeps me going. In addition, I also have a great circle of influence and support system. My husband is also my cheerleader who tells me we only have one life and we need to make most of it by reaching our full potential. Through this, I feel empowered to pursue and achieve more.

Lately, there has been the sprouting of videos in the social media meant to achieve various purposes. Many are usually done by same people who have branded them for those particular purposes ranging from comedies, general social observations and advices. Some are in line with topical issues, but the general idea is to amass following and simply trend.  Great idea and in a free society, the sky is the limit.

I have, however, observed a few videos by a girl, probably seven years old. So far, I have seen three of her videos and while I believed the initial one was just a one off caught-on-camera wonder, I have realised that they are stage managed and probably directed and orchestrated by one or more adults behind the scenes. They are here to stay and someone out there believes he/she is doing a wonderful job, spicing the videos with sound tracks. I wish I knew this girl’s name so that I send the message across to the players directly and get her help.

For those who may not know what I am talking about, one video shows the girl seemingly disgusted by something or somewhere and she retorts while beating her chest and shaking and in a bitchy tone: “musandilongoloze. Mundisiye ndikhale ndi moyo wanga.” In this video, an adult voice is subtly heard directing her through the script. Her other video shows her in the course of wearing heavy make-up with a male voice in the background asking her what the occasion was. She responds in a cheeky voice that she is on her way to town for interviews. The third shows has seemingly on a phone call with what sounds like a not well-to do person. The content is quite deep in the sense that the girl should not be allowed to even talk about it.

It goes: “kodi inunso ndi amuna oti tingakukeni m’botolo? M’botolotu timaika amuna enei eni ife, agalimototu osati a njinga. Usandivute ine. Osamangonyenda bwanji ndi dzikoli”.

Now, I am having problems with these videos concerning a minor. She is deliberately directed to do things to portray a certain adult or adults’ perception. She is being used and some content already should be censored. But here she is being taught a way of life contrary to the uprightness a girl.

Please, if anyone can hear me and knows what I am referring to, stop this madness and abuse of the innocence here being raped. We cannot have a girl talking about putting men in bottles magically and to choose only rich men. This is tantamount to prostitution and pimping on the part of the adults involved. Why are they exposing his girls to such public limelight and sexual predators?

This is a wrong attainment to fame. Stop it and teach this girl something different and fruitful.

She was 15 and in Form Three at a community day secondary school in Lilongwe when Ephrida Banda found out she was pregnant.

She panicked. “I was not ready to become a teen mother,” she says.

Like other women who find themselves in similar situations, Ephrida decided to abort and her peers helped with ideas.

“They told me to swallow 10 brufen pills to get rid of the pregnancy. Some advised me to prod the foetus with a hanger or cassava stem, while others said I should drink as much aloe vera juice as I could,” she recalls.

The cassava stem idea seemed easy and cheap for her, but regrettably, it landed her in hospital having dilation and curettage (D and C)— a procedure to remove tissue from her uterus.

At least she survived the ordeal. And unlike others, she was not injured for life and she lives to tell the story of how she escaped death.

Her story embodies thousands across the country facing unsafe abortions.

In an interview, renowned gynecologist Dr. Chisale Mhango indicates that abortion is the commonest cause for admissions in gynaecology wards in Malawi and other countries within the region.

“We have done two studies which indicate that abortions are increasing. As more women reach adulthood, more of them are getting unwanted pregnancies. The commonest problem the women come with is infection from the use of unsterilised stuff to prod the foetus and most of them die from such infections. Bleeding is another problem, but it only happens if the pregnancy is big — if small, the bleeding is not very serious,” Mhango explains.

He adds that when the womb becomes infected and the infection moves to the rest of the body, women die. Consequently, doctors just remove it before the infection spreads into the blood system.

“It is sad when young women go back without a womb because it means they will never have babies,” he observes.

Abortions are the result of unintended pregnancies. A 2015 study, Incidence of Induced Abortion in Malawi, found that 53 percent of pregnancies in 2015 were unintended and almost 30 percent of them ended in abortion.

This is evidence of high unmet need for contraceptives, which is critical in reducing rates of unintended pregnancies which lead to unsafe abortions and maternal deaths and injuries.

In relation to this, youth activists note that many of them are distressed when it comes to accessing sexual and reproductive health services.

National coordinator for Alliance for Youth Sexual, Reproductive and Health Rights (SRHR) Organisations (AYSO), Prisca Kunsida says many local health care facilities are not youth friendly — often manned by adults who condemn the youth seeking SRHR services.

This in turn discourages the youth from even going. She thus believes that young people should be assisted by other young people in health care facilities.

She notes that most facilities prioritise older and married women for contraceptives due to inadequate medical supplies.

This means that the youth’s only option is to pay for such services in private facilities, and most of them cannot afford.

Kunsida also observes that health care facilities are far in most hard to reach areas, forcing the youth to walk long distances to access SRHR services.

As a result, the youth engage in unprotected sex which end up in unplanned pregnancies.

Abortion sometimes follows unplanned pregnancies from rape, incest, defilement, myths and misconceptions, among other things.

Some of these misconceptions include myths that urinating shortly after intercourse or taking Panadol tablets or soda solution prevent pregnancy.

Kunsida highlights that in the case of incest, rape and defilement, reporting the incidence shortly after, helps prevent pregnancies as victims receive appropriate treatment from hospitals.

However, she contends that there is huge information gap on issues of SRHR and services among the youth which could be key in preventing unwanted pregnancies and reducing unsafe abortion rates.

SheDecides head of communications Annette Nalikungwi notes that sex talk between parents and children remains taboo in society, leaving the youth unequipped with the right SRHR information.

She feels more civic education on SRHR is vital. She also agrees that the attitude of most health personnel in clinics is derailing.

Nalikungwi says: “It is her body; she has the right to decide what happens to it. When we look at the millions spent on post abortion care in the health sector, it is important for the government to reconsider because such expenditures would tremendously drop if safe abortion was an option to Malawian females”.

Hundreds of Church of Central Africa Presbyterians (CCAP) faithful from Karonga, Zomba and St Columba Church in Blantyre last Sunday thronged Chisasa Village in Traditional Authority (T/A) Chindi in Mzimba to pay their last respects to Brave Chipeta who was a preacher and lecturer at the Catholic University of Malawi.

Chipeta, who died on Friday at Partners in Hope Hospital in Lilongwe, was also the leader and founder of the global ministry of Performers of Unusual that targets youths around the world to be evangelists.

“I knew Brave, when he came in contact with my son when he was launching his ministry that helps youths to be soldiers of Jesus Christ. Our Lord blessed him with the gift of performing miracles and he helped my mother who had challenges with walking,” said Rev. Mediceni Nyirenda in his homily.

In his speech, Registrar of the Catholic University of Malawi, Francis Nkhoma commended Chipeta as one of the lecturers who joined the university to serve the nation in shaping a productive labour force for the country.

“He has not stayed with us for so long, but we were convinced that he was very ready to help our students to be responsible future leaders for this country,” said Nkhoma.

He also commended the hand working spirit that Chipeta demonstrated that was evident by the students within the four months he worked at the University.

Chipeta was the first-born in a family of three. He was born on March 22 1991. He did his secondary school education at Cobbe Barracks Secondary School before enrolling at Mzuzu University for a Bachelor’s degree of Science in Mathematics and Physics.

Chipeta later joined the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences (Aims) in Cameroun for his Masters’ degree in Mathematical Sciences and did his second Masters’ degree in Mathematical Cryptography at Università Degli Studi di Trento in Italy, before joining the Catholic University of Malawi in Mathematics Department.

Members of the Providence Industrial Mission (PIM) church in Blantyre, Mwanza and Neno last Sunday offered gifts to Saint Morris PIM Church, Blantyre City 2 resident pastor, the Reverend Frank Kanchiga.

The gesture was aimed at enhancing pastors’ ministry in the districts and to manifest God’s glory for His love and mercies upon His people.

Chairperson for pastors’ welfare in the district, Stewart Muyaya, said he was pleased to note that Christians have embraced to giving culture to support pastors in their endeavours.

The offertory netted K475 175 and various gifts in kind.

In an interview last Sunday at Saint Morris in Blantyre, during pastors’ day function, Muyaya said he was thankful for members’ support to their pastors because by doing that, it would help the ministry to reach out to greater heights.

“Giving always builds strong foundation for abundant blessings. We praise God that many Christians have massively contributed to the welfare despite numerous challenges in the households. This is the greatest moment to test the person’s confidence in the care of

Jesus Christ because giving becomes the foundation of people’s faith and confidence in Him. So, the aid will also help change pastors’ status quo when propagating the Gospel,” said Muyaya.

He, however, wished the newly elected President Lazarus Chakwera, good health and wisdom from God. He said it is God who puts leaders in various positions; hence, they require love, humility and perseverance to meet people’s needs effectively and efficiently.

Saint John PIM Church pastor at Kanjedza, the Reverend Austin Nangoma said was grateful for Christians’ oneness in aiding pastors to fulfill God’s mission.

On his part, Reverend Kanchiga hailed pastors and the faithful for the support rendered towards his ministry.

A Muslim Students Association (MSA) was recently born at Nalikule College of Education (NCE) in Lilongwe. Our Correspondent RICHARD FOLOKIYA wanted to find out more from the association’s chairperson BROTHER IMAAM MSUME; Excerpts:

What is Muslim Students Association?

It is a grouping of Muslim students and, in this case, students at the Nalikule College of Education. But it does not mean that the Muslim students were not praying at the institution. There was just no organised union; hence, students elected us to help steer the movement of fellow Muslim students as is the case in most schools and colleges. We felt it imperative to launch the association at a function that was spiced up with poems, drama, Quran recitation, Hadith and some speeches.

What did the speakers tackle on?

As a chairperson, I talked about the history and birth of association, introduced the NCE-MSA executive members to the guests and the whole gathering while Brother Yusuf Sumaili, who is the publicity secretary presented NCE-MSA aims, objectives and goals.

The college’s dean of students, Lot Botha, hinted that Nalikule College of Education accommodates students from various religious beliefs and always encourages coexistence in line with the rules and regulations that govern the institution, the education ministry and the country as a whole.

A Muslim scholar, Dawah and counseling specialist Hafez Sheikh Daud Mkanje urged the Muslim students to also strive to master Qur’an and other Islamic fields of Tauheed [believing that there is only one God], Fiqhi [principles of Prophet Muhammad peace and blessing be upon him], among others.

Mkanje, who has authored several Islamic literature, newsletter and articles, also pointed out that possession of top educational papers such as degrees should not make someone disregard religion or Allah; hence, he encouraged us [students] to be performing five daily prayers, always be just and lead by example.

Brother Abdul-Salaam Faduweck, spokesperson of Hijab Task Force, encouraged female students to be wearing hijab as per the Islamic rule.

Overstone Khondowe, chairperson of African Union for Persons Living with Albinism, called upon all Muslim students to have a role and responsibility in safeguarding the lives of persons living with albinism. 

Leaders from other Muslim associations also had a platform to share their respective experiences.

But was the launch necessary?

Yes, Muslim students started gathering as a family sometime back and a constitution was developed in 2017, so it was worthwhile to do the official launch after being convinced that we really needed Muslim Students Association at this institution.

Actually, the launch provided a platform for the executive and other Muslim students to learn how to make the association tick as presented by some of the invited guests and colleagues from already established Muslims associations.

The launch also served as a connection between the Nalikule College of Education Muslim Students Association and those from other institutions. It also offered a chance to other religious associations at the college to understand the Muslim faith better and also interact with many Muslims and leaders.

Who are those in the executive?

There is me [Imaan Msume] as chairperson and Alex Imaam as vice while Fatima Mustapher and Amina Mussah are secretary general and vice secretary general, respectively. Publicity secretary and vice are Yusuf Sumaili and Shabina Senga, respectively while the treasurer is Hawah Austin and Brenda Kamoto is the vice.

What is the objective of the association?

The core objective is to strengthen Islam by enhancement, promotion of fellowship, love among Muslim students fraternity and encouraging amicable coexistence with students of different religions and denominations. We are eager and ready to participate in all different activities with other Muslim institutions within Lilongwe and beyond. Our vision is to see an improved performance of Muslim students at national level to uplift brotherhood within Muslim students set up at all levels without overlooking the importance of secular education.

Any last word

It was a blessing to listen to what various speakers had during the launch and the expectation on how the association should run. We have learnt a lot and we shall strive to fulfill our mandate. To quote Brother Faduweck: “By choosing to launch a Muslim Student Association, we have chosen to be Islamic and we shall always be Islamic.”

Andikuza Litete-Makhumula, 59, is the brains behind Literacy for Change (L4C) Trust, an organisation geared at addressing illiteracy and poverty among marginalised social groups, particularly women and girls with disabilities.

L4C does this through adult literacy and community development activities.

Among other things, the mother of two has been instrumental in developing research topics to advance women’s empowerment and financial inclusion.

She has also been involved in various activities linked to women’s financial literacy, access to finance, strengthening the business environment for women entrepreneurs and fast-tracking women’s leadership in the financial sector.

She wore the hat of executive director and founder for L4C after retirement, following 30 years of humanitarian experience in the United Nations (UN) system working with United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and World Food Programme (WFP) at national and international levels — specifically in Pacific Asia (Myanmar).

Litete-Makhumula says she first became aware of issues surrounding the plight of women while growing up in her hometown Zomba, the then capital city of Malawi. 

She explains: “Although we lived in town, my late father always insisted that we spend holidays in the village. His viewpoint was that we should experience both sides of life.”

Despite the poverty and hardships of life in the village, she still cherished some moments such as the warm moonlit nights when all the children as well as her mother and aunts would sit in the yard and tell stories.

“My mother was always the lead storyteller,” she recalls. “She would tell stories about the singing birds, the smart hare and the greedy hyena and his misadventures.  Some nights, our mothers would instill in us some beliefs and values,” she adds.

Some of those distinct values she recalls, included calls for them to be sensitive to the plight of others and to act whenever they see injustice.

By her final year in primary school, most of the girls she grew up with in the village had been married off and some of them were forced into marriage.

Consequently, the village visits were no longer as exciting as before and the visits were minimised.

She remembers that one time while driving to the village when she got older, she was flagged down by anxious looking women.

Upon stopping, they told her that there was a woman in labour and that they only had a donkey cart to carry her. 

“The young woman was lying under a tree. Her expressionless gaze told me that she was not with us anymore, but I agreed to take them to the hospital anyway. Upon arrival, the nurses gave us accusing looks and reprimanded us for delaying in bringing the woman to the hospital. On my way back from the hospital, several questions flooded my mind; how many women will die at childbirth? Why did she look so undernourished? Was there something I could have done?” she recalls.

From that moment, the power within her to bring change began to manifest. Years later, she was employed by the UN and while working in the fields, she realised that her experience with poverty and social justice back in her village did not prepare her well enough for what she was to encounter in the fields.

As time flew by, she won a scholarship and got an opportunity to pursue a diploma programme in development leadership in Canada at the Coady International Institute — St. Francis Xavier University.

Through that programme, she got interested and intrigued about issues of social justice, social change, gender and power. 

From her many years of interacting with marginalised people at the grassroots, she was constantly reminded of the social inequalities taking place in society.

“It was then that I committed to fighting for equity in access and opportunity,” says Litete-Makhumula.

Later, the Coady Women Leaders Research (2017) fellow learnt that illiteracy was the major cause of poverty, standing in the way of many people from accessing basic needs to flourish.

She also worked on an independent study titled Interventions for Changing Traditional Mindsets and Practices Regarding Gender Disparities and Discriminations among Women, with the basis of learning Adult Literacy and Community Development. 

“Adult literacy improves all aspects of life for learners, their families and society at large. They can participate and engage more effectively when dealing with social issues such as politics and basic health services, including HIV and Aids. 

“Literacy also liberates and empowers people to make meaningful decisions, choices and actions. It can also help people to reflect on their situations, explore new possibilities, initiate positive and constructive change,” she notes.

However, running the project comes at a cost and as a way of raising funds for the L4C projects, they have invested in Greenleaf Investments — a social enterprise known with portfolios in waste management and sustainable reusable apparels and accessories.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Greenleaf Investments through its sustainability portfolio designs reusable face masks to help prevent and protect people from contracting the novel Corona Virus.

She claims that the reusable face masks are made from 100 percent recycled cotton as per World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines. The masks also have an inside pocket where one can insert their own filter for added protection.

Greenleaf is among the 1 000 winners of Digital Africa Competition Programme of French and African partners, and will benefit from funding, training, networking and visibility. 

Born in 1960 at St Jean’s Hospital in Domasi, Zomba, Litete-Makhumula holds a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the Management College of Southern Africa (Mancosa); a post-graduate diploma in Project Management from the University of Cambridge and post-graduate diploma in Strategic Human Resources Management from the Association of Business Executives.

An ardent environmentalist with a passion for gardening and sustainable apparels and accessories, the grandmother of three comes from Kumbwani Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Kumtumanji in Zomba.

She is the first-born daughter in a family of seven children born to the late Mr and Mrs. Percy Pearson Litete (the author of Mkwatibwi Wokhumudwa, a Chichewa textbook which was previously used in secondary schools).

It is market day in Golomoti, Dedza, a day when business of nearly everything flourishes.

Because an early bird catches the worm, 26-year-old Esther leaves at six with a basket full of tomatoes to sell to support her family.

A mother of two from her first marriage, Esther leaves behind warm bathing water and breakfast for her husband and the children.

She gives special instructions to Patuma, the eldest child to watch her brother who is physically challenged.

Esther assures the family she would be back in time to organise the second meal of the day.

After their baths and breakfast, the children play. A knock disturbs them.

Someone offers Patuma a piece work to wash clothes. She leaves.

Upon return, Patuma sees her stepfather coming out the room she had left her brother. She is shocked to find the three-year-old boy dead, wrapped in a cloth.

Neighbours are called and an autopsy conducted at Mua Mission Hospital later shows the death was due to strangulation. 

Meanwhile at the market, Esther was reluctant to return home when called as she insisted on selling all her merchandise first—until she was bluntly told the news.

She could not believe that the suspect was none other than her 29-year-old husband.

Executive director of the Family Rights, Elderly and Child Protection (Frechi) condemned the toddler’s murder.

“We are disturbed by the murder of the three-year-old child with disability in Dedza. What has mostly shocked us is the revelation that the innocent child has been murdered by a stepfather. We condemn that in the strongest terms,” she said.

Tembenu said it was disappointing that some cruel (step) fathers can resort to killing children without mercy, thereby, violating their right to life.

She said: “We urge single mothers not to rush into marriages. They must take their time to study the man they want to marry before entering into marriage.”

Dedza Police deputy spokesperson Cassim Manda who confirmed Kachingwe’s arrest said the incident happened on July 23 2020 at Pitala Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Kachindamoto. He said the suspect was charged with murder.

“We are yet to establish the motive, but during the statement recording, Esther alleged that her son used to look scared every time the husband appeared,” he said.

Tembenu warns that women ought to be very watchful to their children.

“If a woman notices fear in a child whenever they are close to any person, they must find out why that is happening and act.

In Chikwawa, police are looking for suspects into the brutal murder of a five-year-old boy in Bankamu Village in T/A Chapananga on July 22 2020.

Deputy spokesperson for Chikwawa Police Station Dickson Matemba said the boy’s body, who was a Standard One pupil at Dzinthenga Primary School, was dumped in a garden with his private parts removed.

The deceased’s uncle, Safunika Biliat said the boy went out to a video show at around 1900 hours and never returned home.

Postmortem revealed death was due to bleeding from deep cuts hesusustained and police are appealing to the public for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators.

Tembenu has challenged law enforcers to professionally deal with the alleged murder cases by committing suspects to court for justice.

She also cautioned women to refrain from applying for either withdraws or closure of cases where their husbands have violated the rights of their children.

In his reaction, executive director of Muslims Forum for Democracy and Peace, Sheikh Jaafar Kawinga, said wheels of justice should move in the two murder cases.

Listening to a male-dominated conversation last week, I was prompted to write this piece as their concerns inspired me. I learnt one or two things from it and decided it was pertinent to share.

One man began by questioning whose money the woman or wife’s was. His dilemma emanated from the experience that wives or women will not release their finances even in the direst of needs. He asserted that even when a couple’s child has been turned back from school for lack of fees— the woman, even when capable— will not release money to bail out a struggling husband. She may do so upon loaning the same to the husband, complete with lending conditions.

“Women are strange and will beg for money even when loaded. They will not dare contribute towards food even when their men are broke, even if it means going hungry as long as they are not buying. A few out there will dig into their pockets and help out a man, but many believe it should be their man’s or husband’s responsibility,” he said.

Some friends chirped in while others simply muffled out laughs. The general consensus was that women have other plans for their incomes, but may not even include hair and make-up as they also pester their men for the same. Intriguing indeed.

One participant to the conversation went further to add that many men in relationships also suffer physical abuse. He dared anyone present who had never been beaten by the wife, but chose to remain silent. Many decided to exercise their right to remain silent with one brave one simply claiming he does not hit back for fear of the feminine backlash should she decide to report.

The abuse was just a by the way, but I thought turning a blind eye by a woman to matters concerning her family was appalling. Unless done to a lazy, good for nothing husband, a hard working one deserves understanding and help, at least occasionally if she cannot commit wholly, rather than being selfish. How should a child be turned back from school when we can help?

There are women who actually share responsibilities with men and I commend those. There are some who actually support their families with husbands ‘helping’ out. They don’t even wait to be asked. That should be the way to go. 

For sure, 1 Timothy 5:8 says : “anyone who does not provide for their relatives and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” This speaks about some of the many roles of the man in particular as the provider and protector

Genesis 2:18 reads: The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

Form the above scriptures, we can see that everybody has a role meted out by God and we all are meant to adhere to. Take up your position.

Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM) says it is excited that the Islamic Information Bureau billboard that was demolished two weeks ago has been replaced.

 The billboard attracted controversy after it read: “If you have read the Old Testament and the New Testament, now read the last testament Quran,” was not well-received by a certain section of Christians.

However, the replacement was changed and it reads: “Read the Quran. The ultimate miracle.”

MAM chair Sheikh Idrissa Muhammad in an interview on Tuesday urged fellow Muslims to show tolerance to divergent views.

 “For centuries, Muslims and Christians have coexisted in Malawi and we look forward to the continued harmony in a multi-religious environment where people freely profess their faith.

“We call upon all Muslims to remain peacelful always,” said Muhammad.

Commenting on the replacement of the billboard, MAM publicity secretary Sheikh Dinala Chabulika said one cannot be a Muslim without believing in Jesus Christ.

Chabulika described Quran and Bible as books to be read by everybody, claiming that Quran is the book of history while Bible is the book of prophecies.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration at Shimla University in India in 2017, she came back home to a tight job market, making it difficult for her to put her attained skills to good use.

But coming from Mangochi, which is one of the hot spots for early marriages in the country, Jacqueline Banda is lucky that at 26, she still does not have children and is not yet married.

And in her family of four girls, she is the only one who graduated.

“I am determined about what I want in life. I have sisters who have children and seeing how our family is, having a baby would mean that I am not loving my parents and won’t help put an end to poverty because our problems would be piling up. So, I decided to be focused and work hard. Even most of the friends I went to school with in Mangochi are either married or have children,” Jacqueline says.

Born on April 7 1994 at Mangochi District Hospital, she grew up within the district.

After her primary and secondary school studies, she studied business management at Pact College.

There Jacqueline attained an advanced diploma from the Association of Business Executives (ABE) before proceeding as a mature entry student at Shimla University.

In college, she was involved in a lot of education empowerment activities for girls.

At the time, she even represented Malawi at the Commonwealth Youth Summit that was held in New Delhi, India in February 2017.

“I was the first Malawian woman to attend the summit. And with low literacy rates in the country, my focus was on children in the village,” says the second born of four girls.

Jacqueline’s presentation at the summit focused on the challenges they face and what the government is doing, as well as what citizens are supposed to do by 2023.

Mangochi was one of the districts I used as an example, because being a tourist destination, education is not a necessity for most girls.

Upon completing her studies, she founded Awaken Mangochi Girls Initiative, a community-based organisation (CBO) through which she would visit schools to empower girls and talk to parents to help them change their mindsets.

The idea was to stop parents from taking girls as liabilities, but assets.

“The motive was to increase the number of educated girls in Mangochi and to change parents’ mindset that girls are supposed to get married and make babies; and that education is for boys because they will become heads of their houses,” she says.

She continues: “My heart will be at ease when I see more girls from Mangochi holding good positions in the job market and when parents start encouraging girls to go to school rather than starting their own homes when they are still young.”

Jacqueline admits it has been a huge challenge convincing parents that girls need to get education, as most parents feel that no one can tell them what to do with their children.

Still she managed to convince some after laying out the benefits they will enjoy when their daughter is educated.

She was also paying fees for few students in secondary school, but when her employment contract ended, she had no means of helping the children. She reached out to her friends who assisted her with the fees until the children completed their studies.

“It pained me that they did not do well in the Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations, but I could not afford to take them back to school because I was not working,” she explains.

Unfortunately, the CBO died a natural death when Jacqueline went to live in Mzuzu where she worked as an intern with the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA).

However, when her contract came to an end in April this year, she had no idea what she would be doing and the novel Covid-19 pandemic made things worse in terms of opportunities—not only for her, but for other youth as well.

She explains: “The youth have a lot of needs and our parents cannot afford to provide for all of them. I once worked as a shop keeper in 2011 after high school to support my needs where my parents could not provide although I was just working to pass time. After I graduated, I realised how difficult it is to find a good job. And that at the end of the day, people get involved in bad behaviour just to kill stress.”

And now with the Covid-19 pandemic amidst us, she thought long and hard of what she could do to engage the youth so that they should not end up on the bad road.

“I thought of creating something to support me, through which I would also create jobs for the youth so that with the little they get, they should also support their families and themselves,” she says.

So, she has started a chilli making venture which currently has 13 youths employed both in processing and cultivation.

“Chilli suppliers always opted to sell to bulk buyers as opposed to smaller scale businesses like us. This motivated me to start cultivating my own chilli. My grandfather has given me a piece of land at my home village where I have 10 employees tending the garden. I am cultivating chilli, onions and sugarcane,” says the young woman who comes from Chinana Village, Traditional Authority Bwananyambi in Mangochi.

Her biggest inspiration is hearing girls and young women say she inspires them.

“Every time when I want to give up, I remember those words and I put an effort, because looking back to where I am coming from; and looking at where I am now and where I am going, I can say that I am not contented yet, but I like the little progress I have made,” says Jacqueline who in her free time likes cycling, hiking, spending time at the beach and listening to music.

Alice, 40, from Mulanje is a woman down in the dumps.

In May this year, her uncle, 72, defiled her 14-year-old daughter in the presence of her other 17-year-old daughter.

“He intended to defile both, but the elder one was menstruating at the time. She was made to watch the ordeal. She was defiled until she lost consciousness and he ran away.

“We went to police who referred us to the hospital, however, the perpetuator is walking free in the village. I even sold chickens and engaged community police who demanded K4 000 to apprehend the culprit, but to no avail,” Alice said.

She said her girls are traumatised and she is angry. She is contemplating hiring vigilantes to catch him.

Another mother whose tears can’t just stop trickling down her pimpled cheeks is Joyce, 38, from Mulanje near the Mozambique border.

According to Joyce, her 15-year-old daughter was abducted by a 37-year-old man on July 25 this year.

“The man is married with two children and hid my daughter at his parents’ home for over three weeks where he was sleeping with her.

“We reported the matter to the chief and Youth Net and Counseling [Yoneco] child protection workers who referred us to police, but action is taking ages. My daughter is too young to be in a polygamous relationship and I want her to finish school,” Joyce said.

She said she wants the law to take its course to set a deterrent to other men who disregard the law with impunity by defiling miners.

The story of another 13-year-old also from Mulanje shows how wicked and insensitive some men can be.

According to her mother, the Standard Five pupil has had her future literary wrecked by a brother-in-law who imprignated the minor

“He defiled her at the dimba continuously while I was away at the hospital with my late husband. My child is completely traumatised by the experience.

“We fear is she will have problems delivering since she is just a minor. I need justice for my daughter at whatever cost,” she said.

Rhoda, also from Mulanje is another woman spending sleepless days crying for justice for her seven-month pregnant girl.

“My daughter is 14 and was sleeping with a 27-year-old who is married to my sister. He has two children and yet he is on the prowl defiling other peoples’ daughters.

“As parents, we are devastated because we are uneducated. We hoped our first-born would attain education and care for her siblings in future,” she said.

Ishmael Hollege is a social wlefare officer in Mulanje. He says coordination among stakeholders speeds up justice delivery.

“Justice for sexual-gender-based violence (SGBV) such as incest, rape or defilement takes long to conclude because of lack of coordination. Rape or defilement cases do not need any discussion, but outright arrest if there is evidence. This is not the case,” he says.

Hollege adds that when victims or guardians take their own initiative to have the perpetuators arrested, it means the wheels of justice are moving backwards, defeating its purpose.

Senior Chief Chikumbu of Mulanje says the slow progress for SGBV penalises victims since they spend a lot on transport or withdraw the cases altogether.

“It is demoralising when you see the perpetuators roaming around because authorities dilly-dally arresting them. The impunity of SGBV continues because justice is delayed,” he said.

Mulanje gender officer Mafunga Jamu encourages parents to advocate justice for their sexually-abused daughters.

“Some parents bury their heads in the sand. Parents should report SGBV and demand justice,” he said.

Naison Chibondo, Mulanje station community policing coordinator said collective responsibility is needed for  speedy conclusion of SGBV cases.

“When cases delay, we lose evidence. Every stakeholder should account for action taken on a particular case because others are sleeping on the job.

“Section 36 of the Child Protection Care and Child Justice Act says witnessing an abuse, but failing to report the same on is liable to an offense,” he said.

McBain Mkandawire, Yoneco executive director said his organisation, with funding from Global Fund channelled through Action Aid is implementing the Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) Project in a bid to change the mindset of different stakeholders in the child justice system.

“The child justice system in the country is sick. If an errant politician is in the wrong—fuel to go hunt down the person is instantly found—but for a child abuser, they say no resources.

“Institutions are sleeping on the job and within government system, we have accepted high level of mediocrity. We pray that the reform processes permeates the entire government system, including the child justice,” he said.