U.N. agencies in Malawi say an influx of hundreds of refugees escaping fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo is straining already scarce resources at Malawi’s largest refugee camp. The U.N.’s World Food Program (WFP) has warned it is quickly running out of food aid for the camp’s more than 50,000 refugees and asylum-seekers.

The U.N.’s World Food Program says the influx of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo is putting pressure on resources. The WFP has long provided monthly food ration assistance to more than 50,000 refugees in Malawi.

“Since 2021, WFP has been providing food to refugees through cash transfers,” said Badre Bahaji, the head of communications for WFP in Malawi. “Refugees receive ATM cards and get entitlement in the bank account, while the values are adjusted based on market prices. WFP has been providing reduced rations to about 75 percent of daily caloric needs because we don’t have sufficient resources.”

Bahaji says currently the WFP has sufficient resources to provide food assistance to refugees until February 2023.

“Throughout 2022 food prices have been on the rise, eroding the limited purchasing power of Malawi’s poor and refugees alike. The situation is alarming because as the 2022/2023 lean period approaches, prices would likely shoot upwards,” he said.

Conflict in the DRC has resulted in a continued flow of refugees into Malawi for more than two decades.

Tens of thousands of people in the DRC were displaced recently after rebels captured new territory there.

The U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) says in September alone the Dzaleka camp, about 40 kilometers north of the capital, Lilongwe, received 423 refugees, many from the DRC.

This is slightly above an average of between 300 and 400 refugees per month.

Kenyi Emanuel, the reporting officer for UNHCR in Malawi, says the camp that can hold some 10,000 people is already overcrowded.

“That is one big challenge. Secondly, the funding has been severely cut really, really down compared to previous years. Meaning that providing basic services to the new arrivals and to those already in the camp is becoming a big challenge,” he said.

Emanuel says efforts to ask for more assistance from donors have not been successful.

Last Wednesday, some refugees at the Dzaleka camp protested the loss of food rations after the WFP cut them off from the food ration list as part of its targeted assistance program which seeks to help those in need.

As of Monday, demonstrators were still holding onto a WFP vehicle, saying they will not release it until the U.N. agency meets their demands.

The WFP says it plans to retrieve the vehicle through peaceful negotiations.

Source: Voice of America

TANZANIA and Malawi have resolved to speed up the process of addressing various challenges facing the private sector in order to facilitate trade between the two countries.

The two countries have also agreed to use Lake Nyasa to smoothen economic opportunities, including transportation of goods, services and people for the development of citizens in both nations.

The agreements were reached during the 5th Joint-Permanent Commission for Cooperation held in Dar es Salaam, where the countries signed two agreements to collaborate on defence and security issues.

Minister for Constitution and Legal Affairs Dr Damas Ndumbaro said the agreements focus on cooperation between Tanzania Police Force and Malawi Police Force as well as immigration departments of both countries.

“This meeting has enabled the two nations to agree on various areas, with the main focus being on trade, investment, defence and security, infrastructure, foreign affairs and social issues,” said Dr   Ndumbaro who represented Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation.

Dr Ndumbaro further said that other opportunities which emerged from the meeting include the intention by Malawi to use Mtwara and Mbamba Bay road in Nyasa District in Ruvuma Region to transport goods and services.

Malawi has also agreed to cooperate with Tanzania in education and training through Centre for Foreign Relations in Dar es Salaam.

Dr Ndumbaro explained that despite the existing good diplomatic relations between both countries, Malawi has showed intention of using Mtwara Port and Mbamba Bay due to the fact that the route is shorter compared to other routes the country is using to import goods.

The Minister further called on the Malawian government to continue valuing Kiswahili and stressed on its use. He also asked the country to continue teaching the language at various levels of education.

On his part, Malawian Minister for Justice Titus Mvalo said all the issues agreed upon in the meeting have been reached at the appropriate time where the Heads of State of both countries are committed to see the cooperation between Tanzania and Malawi brings economic benefits to people of both nations.

He further said that Malawi government was making efforts to promote the growth of Kiswahili in the country, among others adding the subject into the country curricular.

“One of the main quality of Kiswahili is that it has no tribalism basis, we are proud of this language… it is a traditional language with African origin which connects many people in the continent”, Mvalo said.

Mvalo, however, called upon all sectors to ensure that they meet regularly in order to monitor implementation of all issues agreed in the meeting.

The 5th Joint-Permanent Commission for Cooperation (JPCC) has been held for three days from Oct 26 to 28 this year. —

Source: Nam News Network

Malawi, Lilongwe– On the October 24, UNFPA and Shaping Our Future Foundation (SOFF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding will facilitate collaboration between the parties in areas, in social mobilization and the strengthening actions for the elimination of gender-based violence, (GBV) and promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for women and girls.

Shaping Our Future Foundation is a charitable NGO founded by Her Excellency, Madam Monica Chakwera, The First Lady of the Republic of Malawi. The Foundation exists to promote the holistic development of the girl child and street child. Its vision is a “holistic citizen, empowered for social impact through emancipation from difficult childhood in the village”.

With a deliberate focus on girls, SOFF’s activities ensured that women and girls in rural areas access education prosper and fulfil their potential. A lot of progress has been made including increased scholarships support for girls in rural and ultra-poor households.
Empty heading This signing is part of UNFPA’s new Strategic Plan 2022-2025, which notes that women-led organizations and initiatives are essential to the achievement of the Program of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the Sustainable Development Goals as well as within the framework of UNFPA support to the Government under the eighth Country Programme of cooperation.

Her Excellency, Madam Monica Chakwera said: “I am excited because this partnership with UNFPA will help marginalized girls stay in school with improved learning outcomes. In addition, this partnership with UNFPA will help SOFF to engage communities to change social norms that devalue women and girls. It will also help to increase knowledge and awareness of infertility, a highly prevalent reproductive health condition in Malawi.”

Officer-in-Charge, UNFPA Malawi, Ms. Miranda Tabifor said: “Strengthening and expanding partnerships, including those with civil society organizations, is key to achieving the three transformative results, on ending preventable maternal deaths, (b) ending the unmet need for family planning, and (c) ending gender-based violence and all harmful practices, including child marriage.”

She further added that collaboration and coordination is key to tackle the challenges that Malawi is facing.

“Achieving sustainable and life-changing results require inclusive partnerships and collaboration at all possible levels and the decision lies in our hands to work together until we are able to truly leave no one behind,” she explained.

UNFPA together with the SOFF’s team will work on the work-plan and start the implementation of activities immediately.

Source: United Nations Population Fund

Malawi’s president has ordered the Reserve Bank of Malawi to prioritize buying fuel in any foreign currency the country can secure to deal with a fuel shortage. The shortage has forced Malawi’s drivers to wait hours in line, or to buy fuel smuggled in from neighboring Mozambique.

The scarcity of fuel in Malawi is largely attributed to a shortage of foreign exchange, especially U.S. dollars.

The shortage has forced Malawi’s drivers to wait hours in line, sometimes overnight, or to purchase fuel illegally smuggled in from Mozambique.

The problem is more rampant in central and northern Malawi where many pump stations have run dry for weeks.

Clement Chinoko is a journalist working for the daily Nation newspaper in the capital Lilongwe, where fuel remains in short supply. “It has been a hustle. The last time I fueled I had to wait for about three hours in Lilongwe City Centre. This is the main business area of the capital city. That was three days ago. Today, I am back on the queue as well, hoping that I am going to be serviced.”

Another motorist Matilda Chibambo from Blantyre, says she had to abandon her car on her way to northern Malawi.

“I was supposed to be in the meeting in Mzuzu yesterday, that is Wednesday, but until now I am in Salima, I am stuck because there is no fuel. I am trying to board a public bus but I have also noted that the bus fare has increased. So, the situation is so, so frustrating and I am so angry right now.”

Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera said Wednesday the government is taking steps to improve the fuel supply.

“I know that the current shortage of fuel is adversely affecting manufacturing, businesses, work, and domestic life, and I want to assure you that we are seized of this matter to ensure that there is product in the service stations in the short term, while we work on the long-term forex issues that are at the root of this problem.”

Malawi obtains most of its foreign exchange earnings from tobacco. However, statistics from the Auction Holding Limited show that this year tobacco crop raked in $182 million, compared to $197 million last year, a decrease of 7.7 percent.

Fuel company Petroleum Importers Limited told reporters this week that it is struggling to bring in fuel because it lacks the $22 million in foreign currency required each month.

President Chakwera said the government is working with banks to acquire the needed funds.

“So, as we speak, we have therefore already secured $28 million dollars from local banks for this purpose, and we are in pursuit of another $50 million dollar facility for the same, on top of instructions the Reserve Bank has received to prioritize fuel procurement in the allocation of any forex we secure.”

The president said imports have resumed and the country is tapping its reserves.

“So, as we speak, we have over 6 million liters being brought into the country, while at the same time we have doubled the daily distribution of the product we already have in our reserves to ease the burden.”

Motorists like Chikono and Chibambo hope the government can find a long-term solution, like increasing the export base to curb the shortage of foreign exchange.

Source: Voice of America

Lubango – Difficulties in marketing this year forced the freeze on the implementation of a new plant for processing improved maize seed in the municipality of Lubango, southern Huila Province.

Data from the Ministry of Agriculture indicate that to double

production levels from an average of 1,000 kg per hectare, the country needs 70,000 tons of improved maize seed, each agricultural year, and massive distribution to producers.

In an interview with ANGOP, the director general of the Jardins de Yoba group, which owns the project, João Saraiva, said that this unit with guaranteed funding would be the company’s second, specialized in the multiplication and processing of improved seeds and would join na old one, with over 50 years od existence, which today

processes 20 tons/day.

The group’s new project, whose implementation had to be stopped, plans to process, according to the source, 20 tons per hour, and is planned for the Arimba commune. “We are going to invest more than five million dollars in this industrial unit at Arimba and we already have the financing, but we are afraid, because we need to be sure that the amount of seed to be processed will be sold, through a

programme-contract with the government, before that we think that we’ll not take the step forward”, justified the businessman.

João Saraiva stated that when they entered the National Seed Programme, they decided to reach the figure of two thousand tons of improved seed in less than five years of activity, which can already be achieved through a contract with the state, to give greater security to the investment, as the goal is to reach five thousand tons in ten years.

He complained of a “slowdown” by the state in the acquisition of improved seeds, in a country where there is a need for 70 thousand tons/year. According to the interviewee, the group has, in terms of seed production, all the stages defined, the scale of production

established, through its own fields, which allow it to reach two thousand tons/year and the identified partners that can act as facilitators to guarantee the desired production volume.

“In the case of improved maize seed, the country’s needs are 70,000 tons/year, because we still have a productivity of less than 1,000 kilograms per hectare, due to the poor use of improved seeds, when neighbouring countries such as Malawi and Zambia harvest more than two thousand

kilograms per hectare and South Africa five thousand”, he argued.

The Ministry of Agriculture, according to the source, with the

improved seed that it acquires distributes close to five thousand tons that serve only to cover five percent of the country’s total arable area and the remaining 95 percent is from agriculture made with the producer’s seed, with a very low degree of productivity.

To the entrepreneur, the difficulties in acquiring improved seeds in the national territory mean that average productivity is the lowest in relation to neighbouring countries, so it is necessary to look for a greater

distribution of the improved product to farmers.

The company Jardins da Yoba owns four farms, namely Humpata, in the municipality with the same name, Maheque, Mucuma and Chaungo, in Chibia.

It also has partnerships with two others, Chivemba (Cunene Province) and Tandanda, in Matala (Huíla), all aimed at the production of improved seeds. It currently employs 300 workers, 30 of whom have recently graduated and joined the company in the last two years.

It also has a public-private partnership with the Agricultural Research Institute.

Source: Angola Press News Agency