A Thorn In The Flesh

Ndalama-Chisomo and Zeb monitor intercropping

We made our way across a noticeably changing landscape that had been worked for 18 months by the good people of Ndalama. They had clearly understood the benefits of intercropping with maze and tomatoes now growing side by side. They had also grasped the importance of crop rotation. All this has been aided by the huge advantage that composting brings rather than using fertilizer.

At one point we pushed through over hanging sugar cane and Zeb Williamson pointed out how the field on the left was anchored by a large tree whose roots had contributed to better growth compared to the other side of the field. “You need to plant more trees like this over there to get a stronger crop.” “No sir, was the answer.” Zeb explained, the tree roots are helping the crop and you should plant more trees like this. No sir, was the answer.

The man pointed to his opened toed flip flops and said, when we harvest this field, the thorns stick in our feet. The tree was most likely a Vachellia - an acacia tree with large thorns. It’s not a difficult problem as we can substitute it with something like a Faidherbia Albida (look it up) which provides great shade while drawing nitrogen out of the air and pumping it into the soil via its roots. Solving problems does not need to be difficult and by making time to listen and building in some patience, we can avoid some of those thorns in the flesh.

“Where you are born should not determine if you live or die” - Bono, U2

Not Worth Saving

As of July 2025, there are no official plans to devalue the Malawian Kwacha, but everyone is nervous as prices rise almost daily! The Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) has consistently dismissed rumours of impending devaluation and emphasizes that the central bank is actively addressing black market activities to stabilize the economy. The Malawian economy has faced significant challenges, including a 44% devaluation of the Kwacha in November 2023.

There have been efforts to align the currency with market realities and address a widening trade deficit and declining foreign exchange reserves. Despite these challenges, the RBM has maintained that there are no plans for further devaluation. Why would there be? There’s an election on September 16th. The truth, it’s not worth saving.