BY Gift Chiponde

Lilongwe, August 27, Mana: Biggers Sauli, a Malawian-born educator specializing in Chinese language and Literature, has passionately urged secondary school administrators in Malawi to grant scholarships to deserving students, drawing on his own extraordinary journey as a testament to the transformative influence of education.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA) Sauli highlighted that he was granted a pivotal scholarship to enroll at Maranatha Boys Academy in Blantyre, where he excelled in his academic pursuits from 2014 to 2016.

He noted that the opportunity paved the way for him to pursue a bachelor's degree at the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), and that he is currently embarking on his first year of a Master's Degree program in Chinese language and Literature in China.

"Secondary education is pivotal in shaping one's trajectory.

"It serves as the gateway to higher education and ultimately a prosperous career. I stand as living proof of this assertion," Said Sauli.

In his remarks, Ernest Kaonga, the Managing Director of Maranatha Academy, expressed admiration for Sauli's accomplishments, saying the institution is committed to fostering excellence and providing top-notch education, we take immense pride in the impact we have had in our community.

"We take great pleasure in Sauli's narrative and we are exceedingly proud of him and all those who have preceded and succeeded him courtesy of Maranatha.

"Sauli's remarkable odyssey stands as a beacon of hope for numerous young Malawians, underscoring the crucial role that education plays in unlocking individual potential and propelling national progress," said Kaonga.

Kaonga further stated that Sauli's tale serves as an inspiration for a new generation of scholars to pursue their aspirations, undeterred by any obstacles.

By Salome Gangire

Neno, August 27, Mana: Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has appealed to people in Neno district to welcome National Addressing System (NAS) project that will be implemented in the district as a comprehensive system of street and building naming and house numbering to facilitate an efficient service delivery system to recipients of service and goods.

MACRA Director of Postal and e-commerce, Kondwani Kachika made the call during stakeholders meeting in the district on Monday and further called on the people to avoid vandalising street signs that will be put in place as part of NAS project, which is set to commence soon.

Some of NAS benefits include; provision of verified proof of residence and increased service delivery due to enhanced address accuracy and increased accuracy in census information collection.

The Director of Postal and e-commerce therefore said vandalism of road signs and other physical infrastructure will be a draw back to the objectives of the NAS.

“The project has been marred by vandalism as people of ill intentions vandalise these signs and this is a huge draw back to the project,” Kachika said, adding that the street naming Malawi has adopted has many social economic benefits to communities.

He therefore appealed to the Neno District Council and community leadership to further sensitise people in the district of the social economic importance of NAS once it rolls out.

NAS Data Base Officer, Charles Sabola said NAS objective is to ensure that each and every physical location in Malawi has an address and is in line with Section 124 of the Communications Act of 2016.

Neno District Council Chairperson, Joseph Chiphaliwali hailed MACRA for introducing the project in the district saying NAS will facilitate an easy way of locating places unlike the current situation where residents use other features that make strangers fail to identify their accurate locations.

“The project will modernise villages as they will be well and orderly numbered for easy identification,” he added.

The project was piloted in Blantyre in December 2016 and later rolled out to the northern region and later to the rest of the districts.

NAS has six components namely; National Addressing Standards, National Postal System, National Address and Postcode Database, Physical Infrastructure, Geographic Information System (GIS) Support for the Addressing Database and Public Awareness.

By Hastings Yobe

Lilongwe, August 27, Mana: Airtel Malawi PLC has revised its financial outlook for the year ending December 31, 2023, predicting a significant increase in losses.

According to a trading statement issued by the company, Airtel Malawi expects to report a loss after tax of between MK15.1 billion and MK15.7 billion. This represents a 141% to 143% increase from the previous year's loss of MK36.9 billion.

The revised forecast is a significant departure from the company's initial trading statement issued on December 29, 2023, which predicted a profit/loss after tax of between MK1.75 billion and MK2.0 billion.

The company attributed the variation to a reassessment of the accounting treatment for US$ indexed tower lease contracts.

Airtel Malawi's auditors have not reviewed or reported on the information used to make this trading statement. The final results for the year ending December 31, 2023, are expected to be published by August 31, 2024, following review and approval by the Board of Directors.

The company is listed on the Malawi Stock Exchange Limited and is required to publish trading statements in accordance with listing requirements.

We tried to contact several economic experts to comment on the matter but non of them was available for the media.

By Sellah Chunda

Lilongwe, August 27, Mana: The Non-Governmental Organizations Regulatory Authority (NGORA) has emphasized the need for increased accountability within the NGO sector.

Speaking at a breakfast meeting in Lilongwe organized in preparation for NGO Day, NGORA CEO Edward Chileka Banda highlighted the importance of tracking foreign exchange (forex) provided to NGOs. He noted that while the Reserve Bank of Malawi has supervisory powers under the Banking Act, there are concerns about compliance with financial crime laws, particularly those related to money laundering.

"NGORA needs to delve deeper into the issue of forex management. Under the Banking Act, the Reserve Bank of Malawi has supervisory and monitoring powers, but financial crime laws prohibit activities related to money laundering. NGOs holding foreign-denominated accounts should be closely managed by banks, which are required by law to declare their financial positions monthly. Any gaps in this process must be addressed to ensure that all stakeholders operate within the law," Banda stated.

He further stressed the importance of the Reserve Bank working closely with other authorities, such as the Financial Crimes Authority, to address these issues effectively.

Deputy Director of Planning and Research in the Ministry of Gender, Geoffrey Chimwala, expressed concern over the misuse of NGO funds. He pointed out that some NGOs use the names of Malawians to secure funds, which ultimately do not benefit the intended recipients.

"NGOs are supposed to abide by the NGO Act, which was enacted in 2015 and amended in 2022. They operate in the name of Malawians, so it is crucial that they comply with our laws and regulations. NGOs should provide transparent information regarding the resources they generate, whether in Malawi Kwacha or foreign currency, so that the government can benefit," Chimwala said.

NGORA was established to oversee the operations of NGOs in Malawi, ensuring they operate within legal frameworks and contribute meaningfully to the country’s development.

By Hastings Yobe

Lilongwe, 26 August, Mana: Nyokase Madise, a former member of the Zathu band, is a talented artist who has music running through her veins.

Growing up in a family of passionate musicians, she was destined to make a name for herself in the industry.

"My grandmother was a DJ and journalist at MBC, and my father was into multimedia content and music distribution with the likes of the Blantyre duo Kapirintiya.

“My brothers grew up around studio equipment and would record tapes until they became music producers. I started recording with them, so I grew up in an artistic family, although nobody in my family can sing except my sister and I," Nyokase shared.

Her inspiration to make music came when she watched Ben Mankhamba's Chonde Musatelo video on Music Splash, a popular TV show on MBC.

"I was inspired to start making music when I was only nine years old. That song made me cry, and from that moment, I always wanted to make people feel connected with music," Nyokase added.

Nyokase's music journey began long ago. She started as a female rapper in 2020 under the stage name Young Jazmine, monitored by veteran producer and rapper Dominant 1 during her form four holiday.

"The first song I put out was ‘Glasses in the Air’ in 2010, produced by BFB, but the first one to get radio airplay was ‘Be Alright’, featuring VOR, produced by Skizzy," she said.

Although Nyokase hasn't been active in music recently, she has a competitive spirit and never gave up on her talent.

However, she has announced that she will be releasing an album, Katundu, meaning baggage, which will be released after some singles, Napolo 1 and Napolo 2 on August 30^th this year.

"The album is very honest; I'm letting out all the baggage I've carried on my shoulders for so long. I'm getting it off my chest, and it's an album that the youth can relate to their experiences.

“I grew up on the adage 'katundu wa mu mtima tula,' so I get things off my chest through lenses of ancient storytelling and music," Nyokase explained.

The album promises to be a unique blend of modern soul music and ancient storytelling.

"Some songs are based on proverbs and legends, and for someone who has never had a chance to learn about local anthology, this is the opportunity to learn about our heritage through modern soul music," Nyokase further said.

Nyokase has assured her fans to expect the best from her new album.

"I want people to feel this album and not just hear it. They should expect to be shaken with a lot of honesty, and I'm hoping that people can listen to this album in their most secret times when they are scared to talk to themselves, and the music will talk to them," said Nyokase.

Among other songs in the album is Napolo, produced by That Guy and Black Eye, which tells the story of a woman going through heartbreak and seeking vengeance.

One of the artists she has collaborated with in the album is Hayze Engola, a hip-hop artist known for his poetic expressions.

"I have known Hayze for a very long time; we have worked together music-wise. He is very poetic in the way he writes his music and uses metaphors.

The first song is very melodic, so together with my co-executive producer, we thought of adding a hip-hop punch in part 2 from someone who understands the music, and he delivered beyond expectation," Nyokase added.

Hayze Engola one of the artists which she has collaborated with says the album is very natural, classy and traditional that the fans will enjoy.

“Nyokase is an amazing artist with a unique touch of music, for instance this new upcoming album is very natural, traditional and classy with stories that speak for themselves and it has deep messages with unique titles, catalogue and track list,” he said.

The album's executive producer, That Guy, praises Nyokase's unique talent, saying her music stands out from the crowd.

"Her music has that element of narrative and storytelling that is missing in most of the music that artists in today's world are producing. The album is actually a tribute to the fallen musical heroes; it celebrates Malawian culture, our folktales, et cetera.

“You can see this in songs such as Napolo, where she talks about a brief history of Napolo that came down the mountains, but she did it in an artistic narrative, which is impressive," That Guy said.

Although the production process was fun, the producer noted that they lacked equipment for the album to be fully functional as planned.

Kelly Chikoko, one of Nyokase's fans, expects the album to be exceptional, with a touch of storytelling and excellent vocals.

"Knowing Nyokase's vocal abilities and her pen brilliance, I am expecting a creation that is different and amazing. Her patience in music creation and the thorough research she has been doing, I believe, will produce an album one needs to listen to," Chikoko said.

Before the artist releases the album, she will host listening party sessions on dates which are to be communicated later.

By Mwai Likhomo

Zomba, August 26, Mana: Deputy Public Relations Officer for the Malawi Police Service, Harry Namwaza has urged all road users to adhere to traffic laws and regulations as the country continues to record high rates of road accidents.

According to Namwaza, non-compliance by drivers and motorcyclists is the leading cause of some of the accidents, with common violations including over-speeding, reckless overtaking, overloading, drunk driving and general disregard for road safety rules.

Namwaza disclosed that while the total number of road accidents has decreased slightly compared to last year, the situation remains worrisome.

He said of all the accidents, pparticularly alarming was the rise in motorcycle-related accidents, which also pose a significant threat to pedestrians.

“Last year, we recorded 2 627 road accidents in the first six months of which 466 involved motorcyclists. This year, from January to June, we’ve recorded 2 024 accidents, with 485 involving motorcyclists. Although the overall number of accidents has decreased, motorcycle accidents are on the rise, which is troubling,” Namwaza said.

He attributed the increase in motorcycle accidents to lack of proper training on the high way code among motorcyclists.

“The problem is that many motorcyclists are not adequately trained. They often just learn the basics, get on the road and pose a danger to themselves and other road users,” he added.

Namwaza, however, advised the public not to fear the law simply because of police enforcement but to view it as a protective measure for everyone’s safety.

“People tend to follow the rules only when they see a police officer nearby, instead of consistently observing the rules as a precaution to ensure their own safety and that of others, including pedestrians,” he stated.

He emphasized the seriousness of the situation, noting that road accidents are a major cause of death in the country. Namwaza, therefore, called on all Malawians to join forces with the police to reduce road accidents figures.

“The laws are there for everyone’s protection, yet some people end up resenting the police when these laws are enforced. I urge everyone to cooperate with us so that we can end road accidents in Malawi,” he said.

Namwaza added that the police are actively engaging the public, enforcing traffic laws and using the media to educate citizens on road safety.

“These efforts will only be truly effective if we all work together to address this issue,” he said.