The Middle, The End, The Beginning

  The International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) is celebrated annually on 28 th   September. A day established by the United Nations to raise awareness about the importance of access to information as a fundamental human right and to promote transparency, accountability, and sustainable development. This year we spotlight on the theme: "the Importance of the Online Space for Access to Information." In an increasingly interconnected world, the internet has become a pivotal tool in ensuring that information is universally accessible, enabling individuals to exercise their right to know, learn, and participate in the digital age. The internet has revolutionized the way information is access and shared. As a digital rights campaigner, I am bound to raise awareness highlighting the importance of the online space for access to information. The online space has the potential to bridge the digital divide by providing access to information to those who were previou...

  80 years, but still strong carrying out farming activities to feed his family, Mr Kaipanzeru Kanthole vividly remembers that even though households that consider cassava as their staple food were encouraged by extension workers to intercrop with maize for diversity, they were reluctant to do so. As a result, most farming families in Chiboko village have struggled to be food secure for years due to late maturing Cassava varieties commonly grown. “I have relied on Cassava to feed my family for many years, our generation has been christened that Cassava is our main food,” he says. Kanthole is a chief of Chiboko Village, Traditional Authority Mphonde in Nkhotakota District. He is one of the many farmers in the district who have learned about the improved crop varieties by doing demonstrations. He received a small pack of 600grams of MH36 (Manthu) an improved maize variety that is being multiplied and distributed by Multi Seeds Company Limited (MUSECO) through a network of agro-de...

MISA Malawi, in collaboration with DW Akademie, is pleased to announce a call for Expressions of Interest (EoI) to participate in an upcoming five-day online training on Fact-Checking Skills for Journalists. The training is scheduled to take place from September 18 to 22, 2023. The need for this training arises from the growing prevalence of online and offline misinformation and disinformation, both in Malawi and globally. Recognizing the detrimental impact of such false information on society, MISA Malawi believes that equipping journalists with fact-checking skills is essential in combatting this issue effectively. Target Audience: This training opportunity is open exclusively to journalists who are registered members of MISA Malawi. Selected participants are expected to commit to attending the full five-day training. Training Highlights: Participants in this training will acquire practical skills and methodologies employed by fact-checkers to unveil misinformation and disinformation...

  By:  Onyango Nyamol     [NAIROBI] The invasive crop pest fall armyworm is well known for its devastating effects on maize yields in Africa, but few studies have been done on its broader impact on poverty levels and food security. Now a study in Zimbabwe has found that smallholder maize-growing households blighted by fall armyworm are more likely to experience hunger and could see their income almost halved in severe cases, highlighting the urgency of strategies to tackle the pest. “Our study suggests that the outbreak is threatening food security and negatively affecting farmers’ livelihoods, hence urgent actions are needed.” Justice Tambo, CABI According to the study, estimates from 12 maize‐producing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa including Benin, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe indicate that without control measures, the pest could cause maize losses of up to 17.7 million tonnes, translating into rev...