By Deogratias Mmana:
The Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture has started implementing a project aimed at promoting peace, socio-economic empowerment and the establishment of a national peace architecture in Thyolo and Nsanje districts, The Daily Times has learned.
This comes after the Japanese and Malawi governments signed a K2 billion grant to help the country implement the project through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The project will also strengthen the capacity of district peace and unity committees (DPUCs) in their role of mediating and coordinating potential conflict drivers at national level through inclusive stakeholder discussions.
The K2 billion grant also includes a project that is premised on helping the country in climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change.
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Since the signing of the grant, the Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture has taken the project to the two districts to establish and improve the capacity of DPUCs.
“It is pleasing that both councils accepted the project. The endorsement was followed by the socio-economic assessment mission to map specific needs and gaps of the communities in the field of conflict prevention and resolution,” the ministry’s spokesperson Anjoya Mwanza said in an interview.
“We have asked the councils to nominate potential candidates for membership into the committees in line with the Peace and Unity Act. Once the candidates are identified, we have planned for an orientation workshop next month [November], after which the committees shall be established,” she added.
Mwanza said, through the project, they have capacitated DPUC members in Karonga, Nkhata Bay, Kasungu, Salima, Mangochi and Mulanje districts with skills.
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According to Mwanza, DPUC members in the six districts are now able to initiate their own programmes at council level and the councils are able to fund activities that are meant to identify early warnings, conflict prevention and management through mediation sessions.
“The project is on course and we are positioned to implement all the activities in line with the plan of work,” Mwanza said.
Japanese Embassy Deputy Head of Mission to Malawi Seiji Tashiro said he was impressed with progress made so far.
“It is our expectation that the funds will be used to benefit many Malawians. Progress that has been made since the signing of the grant in June is quite encouraging,” Tashiro said in an interview.
During the signing ceremony of the grant, Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change Michael Usi warned public officers entrusted with the implementation of donor-funded projects to avoid writing reports that hide the truth just to please donors.
Deputy Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture Owen Chomanika welcomed the projects, saying peace is now lacking among people because of, among other factors, the depletion of natural resources.
“Most of the conflicts are related to climate change— for example, lack of food, water, land and energy. This peace-building project excites us because it will help bring peace among people, who will live in harmony with nature,” Chomanika said.
At the event, Japanese Ambassador to Malawi Yoichi Oya said, under the project, UNDP will provide solar irrigation schemes, capacity building for women and the youth and improve energy access and also support Malawi’s efforts to build a peaceful society and sustainable livelihoods.
