By Emily M’mangisa

Zomba, April 17, Mana: Eastern Region Police Commissioner, Violet Magwaya says police in the region is geared to ensure that the September, 2025 general elections are conducted in a free and fair manner.

The Commissioner made the assurance Tuesday in Zomba during a meeting which was organized by Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) with district commissioners, chief executive officers and officers in charge from the eastern region.

“This time around, there will be no violations of human rights and let me assure you that police will arrest anyone who will try to mess up things during election period,” Magwaya said.

Magwaya also assured citizens of maximum security during registration period and poling day.

District Commissioner for Zomba, Reighgurd Chavula said the meeting with MEC was crucial and timely.

“This meeting was very important to us because we have been equipped with relevant information which will help us to carry out this task in a fairly,’’ Chavula said.

MEC Chairperson, Justice, Dr. Chifundo Kachale, said the meeting was meant to familiarize all electoral stakeholders with electoral reforms that have taken place in the electoral laws.

By Ernest Mfunya

Mangochi, May 4, Mana. Secretary for Information, Baldwin Chiyamwaka has said government is working on National Government Communication Policy and National Communication Strategy which are expected to guide all communication processes.

Chiyamwaka made the remarks during a panel discussion held at Fort Johnston Hotel in Mangochi where members from various media houses met to commemorate World Press Freedom Day which falls on May 3 every year.

He said the National Government Communications Policy and strategy are aimed at harnessing and coordinating all forms of information and communications in the country.

"We have the Communications Act which is regulatory in nature, but this strategy will ensure how we can operationalize government and public communications and coordinate all forms of information," said Chiyamwaka.

During the panel discussion media representatives expressed concerns over poor welfare and low salaries in their respective media houses.

However, Chiyamwaka said good policies are demand driven and urged journalists to demand what they want using the institution such as MISA Malawi and Media Council of Malawi.

“When you look at human rights based approach there is demand and supply sides and the same applies to the media because it’s the media itself that knows what's good for them,” he said.

The Information Secretary said government is committed to ensure good welfare of the media personnel in both public and private sectors.

Chairperson for Media Council of Malawi Dr. Jolly Ntaba said dissatisfactory economic welfare is one of the factors that negatively affect the media in Malawi, observing that low salaries have negative impact on the welfare of the media practitioners which in turn affect their profession.

He has since urged journalists to develop and invest in themselves, citing upgrading in educational qualifications rather than waiting for organizations to improve their welfare.

“It is imperative for journalists to invest in themselves and do personal developments. Add more education to what they have and look at opportunities that the new media platforms are offering by becoming an entrepreneur within the media industry,” said Ntaba.

By Steve Chirombo

Dedza, May 3, Mana: Director of Administration for Dedza District Council, Chris Salaniponi, has advised members of the District Elections Supervisory Team (DEST) to be professional in handling electoral matters in the district in light of the forthcoming 2025 general elections.

Salaniponi made the call Friday during a meeting between officials from the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) and DEST members where, among others, the two sides shared some developments that have taken place and also expectations from each other.

He pointed out that members need not to be political partisans instead they need to leave their political affiliations aside when discharging their duties.

“The elections are a national event and the way we present ourselves will be a seed on the outcome of the polls. As DEST members, we are entrusted in defusing the pressure during the electoral period and not vice versa.

“On the other hand, let’s work together. Electoral processes can’t be done by one person. Let’s work as a team,” he said.

He commended MEC for organizing what he termed as an insightful engagement adding the forum reminded members of their important roles during the elections while calling on members to use previous challenges as stepping stones on how they will improve in the next elections.

MEC Director of Electoral Services, Hastings Bota, said the electoral body appreciates unwavering commitment and support that DEST members provide before, during and after every election.

He said DEST, is one key stakeholder when it comes to the electoral body’s achievement of its mission, vision and mandate.

“You have been instrumental in managing the delegated electoral authority,” he said.

By Linda Likomwa

Phalombe, May 3, Mana: Phalombe District Social Welfare Office has expressed concern over men who continue to impregnate women with mental illness saying this is accelerating cases of abandoned children in the district.

In an interview on Thursday, Acting Social Welfare Officer, Stanley Gundeni, said his office started receiving cases in 2021 and so far nine have been reported.

He said the situation has led some of the women to abandon their children at the hospital soon after giving birth.

“Three women run away from the hospital soon after giving birth abandoning their children. We had to take them to Chisomo Children’s Home at Bvumbwe in Thyolo for care; two children have been adopted at Chiringa and one died during the adoption process,” said Gundeni.

He said most of the women impregnated are those who cannot speak and are illiterate which makes his office difficult to trace the perpetrators.

Gundeni has since asked government and Civil Society Organizations to support his office in constructing a home so that children can be taken care of within Phalombe than sending them to other districts.

In random interviews, most people said beliefs are fueling such tendencies saying others think sleeping with a mentally challenged woman grows their businesses grow hence getting rich.

One of the men in the district, Mabvuto John, said he was once told by his friend to sleep with a mentally challenged woman for his business to do well.

He said this shows that most men are doing it with other purposes than quenching their sexual desire.

He noted that children raised by women with mental illness cannot grow well since they lack parental care like providing basic needs and sending them to school.

Traditional leaders in the district have since pledged to address the issue during community gatherings to avoid further abuse of women with mental illness and their children.

By George Mponda

Karonga, May 3, Mana: Farming activities around Karonga Stadium have contributed to water flooding at the facility which was opened in 2018.

Stadium Manager for Karonga Stadium, Wilson Ngwira, was speaking Friday when Minister of Youth and Sports, Uchizi Mkandawire, inspected the facility following media reports of the stadium’s poor state.

"The stadium has water ponds outside which are used to drain water from the facility's drainage system. Unfortunately, the ponds are full of silt because local people cultivate rice around them.

“The stadium was also constructed on a water logged site and Karonga ground water has high iron content which quickly corrodes iron poles around the stadium. Community members have also been vandalising toilets, wire fences and electrical equipment,” said Ngwira.

In his remarks, Mkandawire said Karonga District Council owns the stadium hence the need to engage the community to address such challenges.

“The Council is expected to utilize the facility for revenue generation and invest them in maintaining shape of the stadium.

“If Football Association of Malawi (FAM) bans the stadium from hosting games; teams, community members and the Council will be affected hence the need to ensure that the facility is always in good condition,” Mkandawire said.

The minister commended the Council for its efforts in repairing some of the damages caused by heavy rains.

He pledged to engage Sports Council of Malawi to stop collecting any percentage of gate collections for the Council to have enough money for repairing the facility.

By Brian Wasili

Mwanza, May 3, Mana: Catholic men in the country on Wednesday joined the rest of the catholic community at St Paul’s Parish in Mwanza in celebrating World Labour Day, which is also St Joseph the Worker Day.

Speaking during mass to commemorate the day, Archbishop of Blantyre Archdiocese, Thomas Luke Msusa, urged Catholic men to preserve their integrity by being exemplary to society and their families so that their children are groomed into responsible and productive citizens.

“We cannot develop as a country if men are not responsible and patriotic and this starts from the family whereby one is brought up,” said Msusa.

In an interview, Catholic Men Association National chairperson, Gibson Mkanda, of Kagwa Parish in the Archdiocese of Lilongwe commended men in the Catholic Church for accepting the calling to serve God through the association.