By Priscilla Phiri

Lilongwe, August 20, Mana: In a heartbreaking announcement, Sand Music Events Festival team has confirmed the cancellation of the 2024 event, originally scheduled for September 27th to 29th at Sunbird Nkopola Hotel in Mangochi, following the untimely passing of Sir Lucius Banda, Chief Executive Officer for Impact Events and Chairman for Sand Music Festival and Sand Arts Festival events.

According to the announcement, Sir Lucius Banda was more than just a leader as he was the driving force behind the festival's success who through his passion, dedication, and relentless pursuit of excellence transformed the Sand Music Festival into a vibrant celebration of music, culture, and togetherness.

"It is with an indescribable heaviness in our hearts that we must share the news of the cancellation of the Sand Music Festival 2024. His loss has left an unfillable void in our hearts and in the very soul of our organization.

To continue with the festival so soon after his passing would not only be impossible but would also feel like a disservice to the man who gave so much of himself to this cause," stated the organizers in the announcement.

The organizers also expressed their deep sorrow and acknowledged the disappointment that the news will bring to  thousands of fans who were eagerly anticipating this year's event and conveyed their gratitude, by saying, their excitement, loyalty, and unwavering support have been the lifeblood of the festival.

In a message to fans, the Sand Music Festival team assured supporters that the festival would return stronger and more inspired in 2025, with the next event scheduled for the weekend of September 26th to 28th.

"We are more determined than ever to return next year stronger and more inspired, to honour the legacy of Sir Lucius Banda in a way he would have wanted,

"We remain committed to honoring Sir Lucius Banda's legacy and making the 2025 festival an unforgettable tribute to his contributions,” they stated.

Meanwhile, details of the venue and lineup will be announced in due course as the team navigates this period of mourning and reflection.

Commenting on the same, some fans on social media have received the news well, saying they respect the organizers’ decisions, as this will give them enough time to organize a befitting event to honor the legend.

On the other hand, majority of the fans have shown their disappointment upon hearing the announcement by saying the managers of the event have missed an opportunity that would have gathered fans and loved ones together in honor of Sir Lucius Banda.

The Sand Music Festival is Malawi’s annual hallmark event that draws together tourists, local people, business youth among others to celebrate Malawi’s richness, diversity dynamism and heritage.

By Patience Kapinda

Lilongwe, August 20, Mana: The highly anticipated UMP Festival is set to take place from October 25-28, 2024, at the scenic lakeshore of Cape Maclear. This year's edition, dubbed "The Evolution," promises an exciting experience, combining entertainment, culture, and philanthropy.

The festival features a diverse lineup of local and international artists, including Onesimus, Ethel Kamwendo Banda, Theresa Phondo, Sean Morgan and many more.

The event celebrates African urban arts and culture, showcasing music, film, dance, fashion, and sports.

Beyond entertainment, UMP Festival is committed to philanthropic initiatives, focusing on sustainable development and empowering lakeshore communities.

Efforts include cultural tourism development, community empowerment, environmental conservation, gender empowerment, healthcare access, education, and advocacy for policy change.

Organizers emphasize on effective coordination, waste management, and community engagement.

UMP spokesperson, Marie Thom said, "We have specialized teams ensuring seamless execution."

"We're working with community leaders for sustainable waste management, benefiting Malawi and Cape Maclear," Thom added.

Sean Morgan, one of the performing artists, shares his inspiration for participating in the festival.

"I'm drawn to UMP Festival's commitment to empowering local communities and promoting sustainable development. With my set, I aim to deliver an electrifying experience, showcasing my unique blend of genres while highlighting the beauty of African culture."

Morgan's music and platform focuses on storytelling, social commentary, and uplifting messages.

He believes his performance can contribute to UMP Festival's efforts by promoting cultural exchange, social awareness, and environmental consciousness.

"I engage with fans and the local community through authentic, relatable lyrics and interactive performances. My music conveys messages of hope, resilience, and unity."

Festival-enthusiast, Brian Mwale expresses his excitement, "I've been following UMP Festival for years, and this year's lineup is incredible! I'm looking forward to experiencing the unique blend of arts and culture."

Attendees eagerly anticipate the festival, citing favorite artists and expectations. "I'm excited to see Crispy Malawi perform live," said one festival- enthusiast, "UMP Festival represents a celebration of our culture and community."

Tickets, accommodation, and travel information are available on the UMP Festival website.

Written by Elia Chibwe

Lilongwe, August 19, Mana: “Schools are expensive, my house maid requires a lot of money to look after her as my daughter cannot go to the toilet by herself, and rental houses are costly due to security concerns for my autistic child. Sometimes, she even damages people’s property,” lamented Manyanani Mwakibinga Munthali, a single mother, her face etched with despair.

Munthali, a 56-year-old single mother from Mwangwera village, Traditional Authority Kilupula, Karonga, has faced numerous challenges in caring for her 31-year-old daughter, who was diagnosed with autism.

For four years, she was unaware of her daughter’s condition since her birth in 1993. It wasn’t until she encountered a psychiatric lecturer from the University of Malawi that she learned her daughter’s condition was related to retardation of mental development.  

Munthali faced a lot of challenges in managing ad educating her daughter, who faced daily complaints from school teachers. The child’s behavioral issues and discrimination from peers made education nearly impossible.

Other people uttered scorning words and slating gossip meetings calling her a witch and claiming that she had deliberately harmed her daughter for reaches, while others regarded them as cursed people.

The life of a single mother was really engrossed in the sea of miseries and calamities as depression attacked her due to the discrimination that her daughter faced and cost of secure housing for her autistic child.

Her family has separated 18 years ago, leaving her to raise two biological children and three others alone.

Munthali wishes for a government program to support parents of autistic children financially, to ease their burden.

Although a psychiatrist lecturer had identified her daughter’s condition as mental retardation years ago, it wasn’t until the autism awareness campaign began in 2010 that she understood it was autism.

“Even after my encounter with the psychiatrist from University of Malawi several years ago, I still thought that witchcraft did such evil to my child and I was stressed for that until the awareness campaign clarified it. The campaign has been a great help, providing support through local parent groups where we share information on caring for autistic children,” Munthali said.

Attempts to reach the Ministry of Health for comments on support programs for autistic children were unsuccessful. Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Adrian Chikumbe did not respond to or the questionnaire sent to him through WhatsApp.

Mental Health Expert, Dr. Precious Makiyi acknowledged the positive impact of awareness campaigns in reducing discrimination and improving diagnoses.

“Knowledge has increased; people are being empowered. So we had the cases but now we are becoming more aware as knowledge has increased as we have many mental professionals than before. So obviously, the professionals are able to diagnose the cases,” Makiyi explained.

He said late marriages now contribute to higher autism rates, compared to the past when people married younger around 18 and 25 years and would have children early in time.

“Obviously when someone is giving birth at an advanced age. For instance, 35 and above that become a risk factor for developmental disorder as autism, unlike in the past where people would marry and start bearing children at 18 and by around 35 they finished bearing children,” he said.

He added that people look at such children as troublesome and this becomes more of a challenge to the guardians or parents.

Lauryn Sulani, Director for Centre for Down Syndrome, Sickle Cell Anaemia and Autism (CEDOSSA), described autism as a complex condition related to brain development that affects how a person perceives and socializes with others, leading to difficulties in social interaction and communication.

She said genetic and environment factors play a role in its development, highlighting that autism is highly heritable and having a sibling with Autism increases the likelihood of having it.

According to the Director, age and perinatal exposure are also contributing factors but the exact interplay between these two factors remains an ongoing area of study.

Sulani noted that her organization offers psychosocial counselling sessions, support groups and economic empowerment based on individual capabilities.

She said the suggested number of the people with autism in the country in 2014 was 130, 000 but her board has planned to do a national wide research to have exact figures to enable them in proper planning and programming of the activities of autism.

For knowledge sakes, the signs and symptoms of Autism are: having difficulties with social interaction, children with autism may have an unusual interest in specific objects, having difficulties with changes in routine, having great ability in one area and great difficulty in another, having unusually strong reactions to one or more of their five senses, doing the same thing over and over again, or talk constantly about specific things that interest them, having intense and prolonged emotional reactions.

By Abel Ikiloni

Rome, August 20, Mana: President Dr Lazarus Chakwera says his government has confidence to turn Malawi into an inclusively worth, self-reliant nation which is well industrialized and an upper middle income economy.

He emphasized on the Agriculture, Tourism and Mining (ATM) strategy as a strategy that can accord the country to move into mechanization and commercialization.

“We need to put emphasis on the ATM strategy so that we move from subsistence farming to commercialization.

“Smallholder farmers can be in groups and cooperatives and be empowered so that we can have more products and then add value to such products. We have industries across the country for the products,” he said.

He said it has been tough for Malawi with the effects of climate change hence the need for deliberate efforts on irrigation.

According to Chakwera, all the irrigation schemes that were no longer functional have been resuscitated and new ones have built and with the help of the World Bank Malawi expects to have one of the largest irrigation schemes in Southern Africa.

Chakwera assured the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) that he will make sure that agriculture becomes a big business in Malawi by utilizing water from Lake Malawi for irrigation and create more mega farms to address El Niño which brought hunger in Malawi.

About 5.7 million people this year have affected by hunger.

FAO Director General, QU Dongyu, thanked President Chakwera for his commitment to addressing issues of climate change thereby averting hunger.

Dongyu said they are committed to supporting Malawi in irrigation.

By Elia Chibwe

Lilongwe August 19, mana: President for Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), Rev. George Desmond Tambala said the five-day-assembly for Association Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA) will facilitate the church to engage with different stakeholders.

Speaking during the Opening MASS for ACWECA Plenary Assembly on Monday at Civo stadium in Lilongwe, Tambala recognized the need of hosting the sisters’ meeting, saying it will enable sisters to make decisions that would assist the church to engage with stake holders.

“For us it is a privilege and we are greatly honored to host this meeting of sisters. The primary expectation that we have is that through their discussion they will be able to come out with a decision and solutions that will help us as a church to engage with different stakeholders in the church,” he said.

He said the discussion would also focus on solutions for the problems associated with youth generation in the country in order to alleviate suicide cases in the country.

“The youth for example, are not only Catholic youths but they are from all over Malawi and would like to see how they can be at the service and also we do engage in other areas like in health and in social work.

“We already have some tools but at least from their side as sisters, they will be able to provide some tools which we can engage the youth and women in various sectors but also those who are in very vulnerable situations such as those that are losing the meaning of life and committing suicide.   

In her remarks, the president of ACWECA, Rosalia Sakayambo said it is high time they look back where the association started and reflect on it and thank God as it is a 50-year celebration.  

“There is a lot that have been put in place for us to discuss. Remember I said that we have this meeting for five days and in those five days we have a time first of all to look back on the last 50 years and also on the last three years because our plenary assembly always comes after three years but it’s only that this is a special one that it is falling in the year of the jubilee.

“So the jubilee time, is a plenary time to look back and reflect to thank God. Those things go together; we thank God for his faithfulness to us. We have stayed for 50 years now as an association and you would know that as an association the needs now are different unlike when it just started,” Sakayambo said.

She urged people to use the time for realignment and reflection with God’s spirit as it is the one to enable them in progressing.   

The Papal Nuncio to Malawi and Zambia, Gian Luca Perici applauded the huge gathering of the people from different parts of African continent who came for the Mass occasion.

Representative for National Laity, Dr. Mary Shawa lauded the priests by honoring them by the decision they made for hosting the assembly in Malawi.

The ACWECA is comprised of ten African countries and the opening Mass was held under the theme: “Transformative holistic formation for authentic living towards a deeper Evangelisation in the ECWECA Region and beyond”

By Chisomo Kambandanga

Nkhata Bay, August 20, Mana: An angry mob in Nkhata Bay has killed a suspect identified as Isaac Manda who is alleged to have brutally killed a father and his son by hitting them with a piece of wood for no apparent reason.

In an interview Monday, Nkhata Bay Police Spokesperson, Sergeant Kondwani James said the two have been identified as Lawrence Mwale, 46, and his 4-year-old son Winton of Nkholozo village, Traditional Authority Zilakoma in Nkhata Bay.

"The duo were hit in the head on August 17, 2024 by Isaac Manda who is believed to be mentally challenged. They were later pronounced dead on August 18, 2024 while receiving treatment at Chintheche rural hospital," James said.

According to James, relatives and other villagers were not pleased upon hearing of the death, hence started hunting for Manda on the same day and assaulted him to death in retaliation.

Upon receiving the report, police officers from Chintheche Police Post rushed to the scene to calm the situation and are currently gathering enough information that will lead to proper action in accordance with the law.

Meanwhile, police in the district are urging citizens to avoid taking the law into their own hands as the act gives unlawful punishment to those alleged to be in the wrong side of the law.