By Patuma Kachoka

Machinga, May 28, Mana: Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Deputy Chief Elections Officer Harris Potani said electoral staff have a unique role to ensure that next year's general elections are conducted in a free, fair and credible manner.

Potani was speaking Tuesday in Machinga District during a bridging course in electoral administration and voter registration for its members of staff.

He said it was important to hold such training with electoral experts as they are crucial in the electoral process to make the process credible.

"This meeting is important because it will assist the members of staff in their day to day work; for us to serve the Malawian nation better, we want people who are well knowledgeable in their duties.

"So, we want our staff to be on top of the game and if they are excellent in delivery of their work, it means the elections will be free, fair and actually will have credible results," Potani said.

He disclosed that MEC is migrating from the old system to a new system called Election Management Device (EMD) which will be used in most electoral processes, including voter registration.

"For the next registration of voters, we are moving away from the old kit and will be now using the Elections Management Devices. Shortly, we will be recruiting people who will be trained on how to operate these gadgets as we plan for voter registration," he said.

Earlier, Assistant District Elections Officer for Balaka, Davis Konondo, said the training was timely.

"The training will help us to work properly as we are preparing for the elections; the training will give us an opportunity to know the new laws so that we should follow all the new laws that have been approved," Konondo said.

MEC is expected to roll out the voter registration process from September to December 2024.

By Levison Lester

Lilongwe, May 28, Mana: Chairperson for Law Commission, Justice John Chirwa, has emphasized the need to legislate Protection of Whistleblower Act, saying this will enhance the culture of reporting malpractices that dwindle individual integrity in the management of public resources.

Speaking during National Validation Conference on the Development of Legislation for the Protection of Whistleblowers in Lilongwe on Tuesday, Chirwa said the enactment of the act will help to deter fraudulent activities in the country.

He further said apart from adequately punishing perpetrators for their actions, whistleblowing will also help nurture the culture of following code of conduct.

"As a democratic nation built on fundamental principles of transparency, accountability and rule of law, adopting legal framework for protection of whistleblowers will foster a safe environment for those who intend to divulge sensitive information on misconduct for the greater good of the country.

"Whistleblowing not only ensures that perpetrators of misconduct are apprehended and punished for their actions, but it also helps to nurture a culture of transparency, integrity and ethical conduct," he said.

In his remarks, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Masauko Chamkakala said the protection of whistleblowers is vital in prosecuting cases, saying people will be able to disclose information of national interest without being intimidated.

He further said the proposed law will not be used for witch-hunting but to promote justice in the course of fighting against corruption.

"DPP is coming in firstly as a policy holder for law reforms, and secondly we provide much needed secretarial services for the law reforms. The law is typically for the protection of whistleblowers in the country. This law will help us to get information which will be used to prosecute cases," he said.

By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, May 28, Mana: Mother to businessperson Frank Mvalo and in-law to Justice Minister Titus Mvalo, Agnes Grace Mvalo, has been laid to rest in Traditional Authority Mabilabo’s Emanyaleni Village in Mzimba at a ceremony attended by Vice President Saulos Chilima.

In his eulogy, Inkosi Mabilabo described the deceased as a mother and pillar for many people within and beyond her home village.

"We have lost not just a woman but a mother and pillar that anchored this village and beyond," he said.

Family representative Peter Mvalo also described the late Mvalo as a loving and hard working mother.

"Her departure is a great loss to the family. Her death is a shock to us," he said.

He said Mvalo got sick while in South Africa where she had gone to cheer her sick sister.

He expressed gratitude to the Malawian High Commissioner in South Africa for assisting the family with arrangements to repatriate the body to Malawi.

The late Agnes Grace Mvalo, who worked as a secretary and a teacher before joining NBS Bank, was born in 1946 and died Tuesday last week aged 78.

A dedicated member of the Anglican Church, she is survived by two children and eight grandchildren.

By Sellah Chunda

Lilongwe, May 28, Mana: Head of Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU), Janet Banda, has said that the mining sector requires 40 percent of the electricity generated from the national grid to support various activities.

Speaking at the launch of the pre-lab meeting held at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) on Tuesday in Lilongwe, Banda highlighted the significant challenges faced by the industry and the need for stakeholder coordination to enhance mineral management in the country.

She noted that despite facing issues such as electricity shortages, political will has been crucial in driving sector transformation.

"The mining sector struggles with inadequate infrastructure, particularly in energy access and roads, lack of capacity, lengthy bureaucratic procedures for obtaining licenses and signing agreements, and insufficient investments.

“We have identified energy access as a key challenge because the mining sector needs at least 230 megawatts, which constitutes 40% of the country's current generation capacity," she explained.

Banda further emphasized government's commitment to transforming the mining sector by establishing cooperatives, signing agreements, and improving the value chain.

Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Mining, Joseph Mkandawire, also stressed the importance of the pre-lab meeting in identifying issues hindering the sector's progress.

He added that the public would benefit from the sector if mining development agreements are advanced.

"There is progress in the mining sector, but it needs enhancement. Kanengo is using our coal, and road construction is utilizing our quarries, which shows progress. Now, we seek companies that will export our minerals. This is why we are advancing mining development agreements for the country's benefit," Mkandawire stated.

By Eunice Disi Lole

Lilongwe, May 28, Mana: President Lazarus Chakwera on Tuesday received letters of credence from Mozambique Ambassador Alexandre Herculano Manjate at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe.

 Speaking to journalists after presenting his letters of credence, Manjate expressed his eagerness to build a strong partnership between Malawi and Mozambique, focusing on increasing trade, transportation and energy through the Malawi-Mozambique electricity interconnection.

He said the partnership will create opportunities for both countries to enhance integrated business between their communities.

Speaking on behalf of President Chakwera, presidential spokesperson Anthony Kasunda reaffirmed Chakwera’s commitment to strengthening relations with the Government of Mozambique.

He said the president has made it a point to be in good terms with Mozambique, as it is beneficial to Malawi’s economy when it comes to trade and transportation of goods, as well as in the agriculture sector where Malawi’s fertilizer is transported through Mozambican ports.

“Mozambique and Malawi have been in bilateral relations for quite a long time and, as we all know, Malawi is a landlocked country and, as such, it relies on Mozambican ports to receive goods from other countries hence the need to strengthen the bond,” Kasunda said.

By Sylvester Kumwenda

Dowa, May 27, Mana: Minister of Agriculture Sam Dalitso Kawale has asked people in Dowa to own projects to ensure sustainability.

He was speaking on Monday at Chibanzi Community Day Secondary in Dowa after he launched construction works of an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) lab at the school.

The lab is one of the 75 smart labs the Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (MACRA) is constructing across the country, 73 in CDSS's, one in a national secondary and one in a primary school.

"Sustainability of every project heavily relies on community ownership of that project. If a community requests something and we have provided that project or service, it is imperative that they have to be fully involved in that project.

We have seen in other scenarios the community abandoning a project, even failing to make small maintenances as a community, waiting for the one who provided that project to maintain it. There is no way we as a nation can develop like that.

"That is why we encourage chiefs, citizens, parents, students to take care and take ownership of projects like these so they may be sustained," he said.

Kawale said access to ICT services will help students at the school to access quality education within their localities, and open various linkages to the global world for both learners and the community.

He then urged learners to avoid spending time on the internet on useless things but use it for their career and personal development.

The labs are being constructed under MACRA's Universal Service Fund through the Connect a School project.

MACRA IT Manager Gabriel Alli said as Malawi 2063 agenda envisions all Malawians to have access to ICT services, young people must also be empowered technologically.

"Through these labs, learners will have access to computer, online lessons, coding, programming, research and other things which is an important step in the digitalization vision of Malawi.

And for the community, they will be able to access the internet at a radius of 100 meters which they can use for their socio-economic activities," he said.

In his remarks, Head-teacher for the school, Lawrence Samuel Mtembe thanked the minister who is also parliamentarian for Dowa north east for spearheading the construction of the lab at the school.

"This lab is vital to us because unlike other nearby schools, our infrastructure here is old and we lose a lot of students to other schools, but this development will attract many learners to this school.

But most importantly, the lab will help our learners access important information and help teachers in various ways like keeping records, as such improving the quality of education here. We promise to take good care of the construction resources and lab equipment," he said.

Senior Chief Nsakambewa representative thanked government for the lab but asked for staff houses at the school observing that many teachers at the school reside far from the school due to lack of school teachers’ houses. This he said was a challenge in provision of quality education.