By Wanangwa Tembo

kasungu, February 23, Mana: The stage has been set, and voting has started in the Malawi Congress Party primary elections in Kasungu Municipality Constituency and its 10 wards.

The party's Deputy National Director of Elections Mathews Mgemezulu has confirmed three candidates are battling on the representation for Member of Parliament (MP).

One of the three, journalist Wisdom Chimgwede, former mayor for the Municipality Heese Nyangu and retired civil servant Muhabi Paul Chivunga, is to claim victory later in the day and represent the ruling party in the September 16 General Elections.

Candidates for five wards have gone unopposed while the other five will have to be decided through the ballot.

At least 969 delegates are expected to participate in the polls in the newly created constituency.

By Evance Chisiano

Zomba, February 23, Mana:  UK faith based, Equipping Pastors Worldwide has trained 45 pastors and church leaders from different churches to understand letters of Paul the Apostle to prepare them to preach the word with full understanding of the Bible.

The Bible five days training took place at Jail in Zomba and had pastors and church leaders from Lilongwe, Mangochi, Blantyre, Phalombe, Thyolo, Machinga, Balaka and Zomba with some as far as Mozambique.

Main facilitator, David Holdt said the training was meant to build the pastors capacity to understand the Bible and to preach the word so as to satisfy spiritual needs of congregants.

“We expect the pastors will be able understand the Bible so that they should preach the word according to the Bible,” he added as the trained pastors received reference books in their evangelisation.

The training organisers said they decided to host the pastors and church leaders considering that some of them had no opportunity to attend bible schools or theological colleges due to various limiting factors.

The trained pastors and church leaders received certificates after covering the following topics; Gods big story, Pauls letter to the Philippians and its outline, pastors life, reading and preaching the Bible.

Pastor, James Theka of the Malawi Assemblies of God in Migowi, Phalombe said the training was ideal to the pastors as it helped them with better understanding of the epistles of Paul, the Apostle.

“We have a better understanding of the word such that we will be able to preach according to the Bible,” Pastor Theka added

Pastor, Gift Mpaso of Pentecostal Holiness Church (PHC) in Balaka said this was his second time to attend EPW pastors training, after the first in September at Chinamwali also in Zomba.

“The training has really equipped me with better understand of the word. This is second time to be trained by the Equipping Pastors Worldwide and l can testify that l really benefited from the two trainings.

“The training provided us with much knowledge on a number of areas,” he said and thanked EPW for organising the pastors trainings.

He therefore appealed for more trainings, saying other pastors in many areas also need such capacity building Bible trainings to satisfy spiritual needs of congregants and communities in their respective areas.

Apart from Holdt, other facilitators were; Mike Marsland and Joster Jumbe who is also EPW Director for Malawi, Zambia, Uganda and Tanzania.              

EPW training at Jali was the second, after first cohort of 85 pastors at Presbyterian Reform Church (PRC) at Chinamwali in Zomba in September 2024

By Leah Malimbasa

Chikwawa, February 23 Mana: Chikwawa District Council on Saturday approved  K45.27 billion budget for the 2025/2026 financial year, with K1.39 billion coming from  Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) grant, a performance-based funding initiative rewarding councils for effective governance and service delivery.

Presenting the budget before the full council meeting, Finance Committee Chairperson, Councilor, Khofati Malunga, highlighted key allocations, including K22.96 billion for personal emoluments, K4.63 billion for development projects, K14.97 billion for Social Cash Transfers and Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme, K223 million for the General Resource Fund as K2.22 billion allocated for sector funds, and K276.6 million from locally generated revenue.

“This budget will support infrastructure development in the district and the GESD allocation has increased to K1,387,580,538 for the 2025/2026 fiscal year, up from K687,242,912 in 2024/2025, an increase of K700,337,626,

“I also recommend that government should fund the budget timely. Additionally, we should lobby our parliamentarians for increased funding in all sectors to improve service delivery,” he added.

The GESD grant, earned through the Local Authority Performance Assessment (LAPA), is expected to accelerate development initiatives in the district.

GESD rewards councils based on their performance in financial management, transparency, and project implementation.

Director of Finance, Steven Kanyerere, expressed optimism about the councils ability to implement the budget effectively.

“I am very excited that they have passed the budget. This is a full package of infrastructure development and social services to our people across all sectors and spheres of life,” he said.

The council also committed to enhancing local revenue collection through the implementation of the Local Revenue Enhancement Strategic Plan, ensuring improved service delivery and timely project completion.

By Milcah Mathias

Blantyre, February 22, Mana: Young women-led ministry, Women of Faith (WOF), is set to host its 5th anniversary celebration at Kanjedza Hall in Blantyre next month to celebrate growth in spiritual life and other areas of life that include career and finance of members.

WOF Secretary Elsie Mandele told Malawi News Agency (Mana) in the week that the celebration will also include unveiling of the ministry’s 2025 theme.

“The activities that are lined up for the celebration will include the unveiling of our 2025 theme, preaching, praise and worship; this will help to meditate on basic life issues and build meaningful relationships.

“A cake will also be cut to celebrate the 5^th anniversary, milestone and enlighten the vision for the next three to five year,” she added.

Mandele therefore urged the public to patronise the event and join the young women ministry and promised that attendees will testify the power of the Holy Spirit, as well as experiencing miracles and an elevation in their lives.

WOF Ministry holds a lot of outreach activities to get closer to less privileged people and young women for spiritual growth.

According to Mandele, the ministry is centered on the totality of a young woman's well-being and is open for everyone to join.

By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, February 22, Mana: Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture, Richard Chimwendo Banda, has emphasized the need for oneness amongst Malawians to foster peace and unity in the country.

Banda said this on Saturday in Chitipa during the elevation of Sub Traditional Authority Lwangwa to Traditional Authority and six other Group Village Heads to Sub Traditional Authorities.

Banda applauded Paramount Chief Kyungu and Senior Chief Mwabulambya for demonstrating unity during the function.

“These sub chiefs have been working very hard as Group Village Heads hence their elevation. And we want to thank Paramount Chief Kyungu and Senior Chief Mwabulambya for the unity that has been demonstrated here because that is what we need. We want Malawi to continue to live in peace and harmony,” Banda said.

He said that the elevated Traditional Authority and Sub Chiefs will help the government in making sure development is sustainable.

On developmental projects in Chitipa district, the minister said that the country has had challenges with revenue but the projects are progressing.

“We have not abandoned any project. All the roads that we started here are continuing and we believe we are going to finish them. But for Rumphi-Nyika-Nthalire Road, one contractor is not enough because Plem Construction Company is doing it from Rumphi but we want another contractor or two contractors to join from Chitipa side, going all the way to Rumphi.

"If we take the pace Plem Construction Company has taken, we may even take five years before finishing this road,” he said

Paramount Chief Kyungu thanked the government for endorsing the names of the elevated chiefs, which he said is a bonus to Chitipa District.

He appealed to the elevated chiefs not to be arrogant but to respect their subjects.

“Chiefs should not be arrogant but humble. If you are arrogant then you are not supposed to be a leader,” Paramount Chief Kyungu said.

Sub Traditional Authorities Mwenefumbo, Mwenechendo, Mkombanyama, Mlambya and Mwamkumbwa have been elevated under Senior Chief Mwabulambya and Sub Traditional Authority Mwandisi and Traditional Authority Lwangwa have been elevated under Senior Chief Mwenemisuku.

President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera elevated the seven chief on 3rd February 2025.

By Sheminah Nkhoma

Mchinji, February 22, Mana: President Dr Lazarus Chakwera  has emphasised  on the need  for more financial investment in the agriculture sector to  address issues of persistent food shortages in the country.

Speaking at Lombwa Farm in the area  of Senior Chief Mkanda in Mchinji where he went to inspect his farm, Chakwera said it is possible for Malawi to be a hunger free nation only if the private and public sectors work together to promote and finance agriculture projects.

He said there is need for collaborative efforts to make sure that farmers have access to loans for them to boost their agricultural production.

Chakwera stated that as a president he wants to lead by example that is why he has invested in agriculture to make sure that commercial farming, aimed at ending hunger in the country, is promoted.

“With the help NBS Bank, I was able to finance my farm. I, therefore, urge all banks in the country to supporti farmers,” said Chakwera.

Minister of Agriculture, Sam Kawale, said the mega farm has helped to create about 500 jobs for people around the area.

He called on for more support to help in the mega farm initiative saying it is helping ensure that the country is food secure.

NBS Bank Chief Executive Officer, Dr Kwanele Ngwenya, said as a Bank  it is important to finance mega farm project because agriculture is one of the important sectors in the country.

He, therefore, urged all farmers to be working with the Bank to promote food security.

Lombwa Farm has a total of 1,000 hactares and out of this 400 hectares has been cultivated to grow maize.

A total of 722 people across the country have benefited from the mega farm initiative.

By Tikondane Vega

Lilongwe, February 22, Mana: One of the Malawian ladies based in the United States of America (USA), Chawezi Banda, donated assorted items to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) on Saturday as part of her birthday celebration, which is scheduled for March next month.

The items, including Sugar and soap, were donated to the Children's special care ward and Paediatric Nursery ward.

The items were donated by Arkangel Tembo a well-known journalist on behalf of Chawezi Banda popularly known as CHACHA.

Speaking during the donation, Tembo said Banda decided to donate the items so that people could also celebrate with her during her birthday.

“Not only that, Banda has a daughter who was born at QECH such that she knows better challenges that many people face when they are in the hospital. This donation therefore saves as a reminder to her,” said Tembo.

Flora Mkandawire one of the people who received sugar and soap was in disbelief after receiving the items describing it as a mercy from God.

She said,” I was referred here from Ndirande Health Centre with nothing to help me, receiving sugar and soap is a huge relief. May God bless Chawezi Banda today and forever.

On her part, Nursing Officer for the Paediatric Ward at QECH, Gladys Kalimbuka commended Banda for the donation saying very few remember people who are in the hospitals.

Kalimbuka has since called on other well-wishers to emulate good gesture from Banda saying donating in hospitals is a sign of love to the sick people.

By Petro Mkandawire

Blantyre, February 22, Mana: Mozambique SEPROF consultant, Domingos Diongo, has expressed satisfaction over the Last Mile Infrastructure Project, following his one-week tour in Malawi to appreciate progress of the project.

Diongo said on Thursday in Blantyre at a meeting that he saw value in the Last Mile Infrastructure Project in Malawi, observing that the project has potential to increase regional trade coordination, reduce trade costs and time and develope regional value chains.

Last Mile Infrastructure Project is a sub-project implemented in Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique under Southern Africa Trade and Connectivity Project (SATCP) with a US$150 million World Bank funding, running from July 2021 to June 2027.

 “There is a need to align the project in Mozambique and Malawi to avoid duplication of efforts, to simplify trade and connectivity among countries and to increase private sector activities along targeted corridors of Malawi and Mozambique,” the consultant said.

Diongo added that the two countries have social and historical links, and he expressed hope that SATCP was there to improve the links for common development benefits.

Some of the places and institutions the Mozambique team visited included Ministry of Agriculture, Dedza border, Wakawaka and Mitundi markets, and Public Private Partnership Commission offices.

In Malawi, Last Mile Infrastructure Project is being carried out in 10 sites out of the 41 identified within border post areas of central and southern regions.

The project also includes construction of bridges, markets, storage facilities and roads, such as the 47-kilometer road from Matawale in Zomba to Liwonde.

SATCP communications specialist Joab Chakhaza said Malawi was ahead of Mozambique in the project implementation and that Last Mile Infrastructure Project was coming in to help in building regional infrastructure connectivity, promoting trade and market integration activities.

“There are a lot of things that are mirroring each other; as such, the way we are doing things in Malawi should also be the way Mozambique is doing. Communication and interaction within the countries should be enhanced to amplify trade and connectivity, which will improve development and economic industries,” he added.

Chakhaza further said the project also aims at reducing trade costs, strengthening regional coordination and project implementation, strengthening value chains for regional integration and strengthening transport infrastructure to improve market access.

“Through connectivity, Malawi will be able to find the right mechanism of coordination and will see how Malawi and Mozambique handle SATCP activities, which in turn will help the country to move faster in different aspects” said Chakhaza.

By Majona Jabesi

Mchinji, February 21, Mana: Tobacco Commission (TC) has seized a large quantity of tobacco in Mchinji district, believed to be part of an illegal operation to smuggle the product outside the country.

The tobacco was seized during a joint operation conducted by the TC, well-wishers and police forces on Tuesday this week as a part of the ongoing effort to combat illegal tobacco trading.

Following this development, TC Public Relations Officer, Telephorus Chigwenembe has issued a strong warning that anyone involved in the illegal tobacco trade shall face severe penalties.

"Members of the public should desist from attempting to export tobacco without a license. If they try, they will lose a lot. All tobacco grown in Malawi should be sold at designated selling floors."

"And those involved and caught will be charged with 'exporting tobacco without a license' as provided for by the Tobacco Industry Act of 2024", Chigwenembe said.

Meanwhile, TC has urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities involving tobacco trafficking.

The commission also emphasized that its continued efforts to crack down on illegal tobacco trading are essential for maintaining the integrity of the industry and protecting the livelihoods of legitimate.

Tobacco remains one of Malawi’s most important agricultural exports, and government has regulations in place to monitor the production, sale, and export of tobacco.

Violations of the regulations can result in severe penalties. 

By Prisca Promise Mashushu

Lilongwe, February 21, Mana: President Dr. Lazarus MacCarthy Chakwera has promised to launch a youth innovation grant that aims at providing the youth with loans to be used in different areas including agriculture, education, and tourism among others.

The President disclosed this on Friday during a live youth engagement event at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe, where the youth had an opportunity to ask questions on the State of the National Address delivered in Parliament on Friday last week.

He explained that youths must be at the forefront when it comes to the developments of the country to make a difference by involving themselves in different entrepreneurship skills through loans obtained from the government under National Economic Empowerment Funds (NEEF) and other stakeholders while answering a question from Memory Ngwira who represented young entrepreneurs.

“The introduction of youth innovation grant will help to engage youths in different sectors including agriculture, economics, and tourism by working together with different stakeholders such as the World Bank, microfinance institutions and others that facilitate finances for youths.

“Government will also ensure that NEEF loans are granted to youths to boost their entrepreneurship and businesses,” he explained.

The president also acknowledged that there are unemployed youths who need support through social welfare development.

Answering the question concerning the Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB), the president assured youths that government will increase funding to the organisation so that it can continue to operate independently for it to fight corruption.

“I want to encourage youths to be whistle-blowers if they have any issues regarding corruption in the country by working together with the ACB and other justice organisations to build a free corruption Malawi.

“Government is also committed to ensure that youths are engaged in the health sector by addressing different issues such as mental health and sexual reproductive rights and also government will ensure that health care remains affordable for all,” he said.

The President then assured the youth that government will continue to provide high-quality teaching and learning materials which includes the construction of school blocks, laboratories, libraries and others.