By Lesnat Kenan

Lilongwe, January 29, Mana: Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) student, Fortune Milanzi has died after battling with Plastic Anaemia for a long time.

Before withdrawing due to medical conditions, Milanzi was in his second year pursuing a Biomedical Engineering programme

According to his relative Boniface Milanzi, Fortune has been struggling with this disease for a long time and it is this year that the condition worsened and he was hospitalised for months until last night when he took his last breath while receiving treatment at Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in Lilongwe.

Malawi Public Universities Students Union President, Gershom Nyirenda who was also one of the fundraising organisers for Fortune, also confirmed the development saying his death is a loss to his family, friends and the entire MUBAS community.

"We tried talking to well-wishers to provide enough resources for his medical treatment in India and some showed interest in helping until government took the responsibility of covering all expenses", said Nyirenda.

Milanzi failed to travel to India last week as he could not withstand the flight due to his condition and he will be laid to rest on January 30, 2025, in Nkhotakota.

By Agatha Kadzinje

Blantyre, January 29, Mana: Minister of Labor, Vitumbiko Mumba emphasised the need for adequate awareness of labor laws in Malawi, saying ignorance of such laws contributes to gross human rights violations of workers in most workplaces.

He observed this on Tuesday, after inspecting Makandi Estate Conforzi Plantations Limited in Thyolo and Moon Puffs Limited in Limbe, Blantyre.

Speaking after the inspections, Mumba said that many factory workers in Malawi face harsh conditions due to a power and knowledge gap.

“Most factory owners have no relationship with the people who work for them, and there seems to be a great deal of fear. There is minimal communication, and many issues remain unaddressed, leaving workers to suffer in silence,” Mumba explained.

He added that there was a need for factory management to regularly check on the welfare of their employees and prioritise their well-being over profit-making.

The minister also urged factory workers to join trade unions to foster better relationships with owners so that the unions should act as intermediaries.

During an interactions at Makandi, the estate workers revealed issues, citing unfair practices by site managers on weighing scales.

“When the tea is weighed and the scale reads 30 kg, the managers tell us the actual weight is 20kg, claiming that the remaining 10kg accounts for the cloth that carries the tea,” according to the workers.

The workers also reported being forced to purchase raincoats which are deducted from the payroll, adding that the estate had no boreholes, prompting the workers to walk long distances to fetch drinking water, which is mostly unhygienic for consumption.

Following the inspection, the minister ordered the closure of Conforzi Estate for seven days to allow improvements for basic standards.

At Moon Puffs in Limbe, a factory producing soya pieces and snacks, workers revealed various challenges, including being physically assaulted by some staff members if caught taking their lunch.

The workers also disclosed that they are not allowed to take a lunch break despite working from 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on top of being paid K3,500 per day with K300 deducted daily as “tax" by some individuals believed to be part of the factory administration.

In response, Moon Puffs Managing Director, Touffice Bilal Limbada, stated that the administration does not receive complaints from workers, leading to the assumption that there were no challenges.

However, Limbada assured that conditions at the factory will be improved in line with the seven-day ultimatum notice issued by the Ministry of Labor.

The minister began labor inspections in the southern region on Monday, January 27, with a visit to Mapeto (DWSM) Limited at Makata industrial site in Blantyre.

By Linda Likomwa

Phalombe, January 29, Mana: Minister of Health Khumbize Kandondo Chiponda on Tuesday opened Maoni Health Post in Phalombe District, one of 900 health posts the government is constructing across the country.

In an interview after the official opening of the health post, Chiponda said almost 200 health posts have been constructed, adding that this will help shorten the distance people walk to access health services.

“The health post also has two staff houses and communities around Mauzi have welcomed the development because this is the first-ever government health facility in the area," the minister added.

The ministry will consider the construction maternity wing to ensure all health posts provide antenatal services on top of offering under-five clinics.

Paramount Chief Kaduya therefore thanked the Ministry of Health for introducing the health post at Maoni, saying the area had no health facilities, prompting people to walk 20kilometers to Rev. John Chilembe Hospital or Nazombe Health Center to access health services.

The Paramount Chief asked the ministry to construct a maternity wing at the facility saying that pregnant women will still be struggling to access antenatal services.

Member of Parliament for Phalombe Northeast, Dennis Namachekecha said village head signed Social Contract on March 21, 2014, to express their development priorities.

“After signing the Social Contract, I presented the issues in Parliament asking government to consider upgrading Nambazo Health Centre to a rural hospital and to construct health posts at Namalima, Maoni, Mambala and Mtemanyama. I am now proud to report that all four health posts have been constructed,” he added.

The health newly opened Maini Health Post will be providing all services except maternal services.

By Patience Longwe

Lilongwe, January 29, Mana: Minister for Higher Education, Dr Jessie Kabwila, has hailed the Malawi School of Government (MSG) for its outstanding work by playing a crucial role in capacity development, fostering collaboration and enhancing governance thereby contributing to growth and development.

She was speaking at MSG Kanengo Campus in Lilongwe on Tuesday during a familiarization tour to the institution.

She said the tour was not only a chance for her to witness the outstanding work at the institution but also an opportunity to discuss ways to enhance collaboration.

“We can guarantee that MSG continues to be a centre of excellence, producing graduates who are not only well informed but also prepared to address the urgent challenges of our era,” she said.

MSG Director General, Prof. Asiyati Lorraine Chiweza, emphasized MSG’s primary objective of enhancing leadership, management and governance through specialized training programs, workshops and seminars.

“These initiatives are carefully designed to equip individuals with the expertise needed to excel in their roles,” he said.

Chiweza believes that the minister’s wealth of experience and vision will provide the necessary support for the institution to overcome challenges and achieve their goals.

By James Mwale

Blantyre, January 29, Mana: Ntchisi District Council on Tuesday presented its 2025/2026 fiscal year budget pegged at K2.5 billion to the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC).

Speaking during the annual budget review meeting at Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre, Ntchisi District Commissioner, Lusizi Nhlane, said the 2025/2026 budget would prioritise infrastructure development in the health, education, security and portable water sectors among others.

He said among means to live up to the budget, the Council would set up strategies to boost locally generated revenue saying the district had already made strides in previous fiscal years on the same.

He said: “We have been setting targets for our revenue collecting staff where those who meet their targets or at least collect more than their colleagues get more commission.

“This has created competition among revenue collectors which has, in turn, had a boost in the council’s locally generated revenue.”

The Council plans to invest in mega farms as one way of further boosting locally generated revenue.

Previously, the Council had suffered low income in revenue due to communication gaps between officials and locals but the misunderstandings were ironed out through community engagement and intensive sensitisation campaigns.

Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture Principal Secretary, Esmie Kainja, was impressed with the way councils are performing throughout the review sessions but advised that budgets should be realistic for council’s to meet set targets.

She also advised that development projects should align with government’s development agenda.

Meanwhile, the budget estimates are pending ceiling after being scrutinised and refined at the review meeting.

President Chakwera holds bilateral discussions with Hichilema

By Stanley Nkhondoyachepa

Dar es Salaam, January 28, Mana: Malawi`s President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera on Tuesday held an interface meeting with his Zambian counterpart, Hakainde Hichilema aimed at deepening bilateral ties to facilitate trade and economic cooperation.

Speaking after the meeting held on the sidelines of the 300 Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the President said of particular interest was a discussion on the challenges Malawi is facing to lift volumes of Petroleum products from other regional ports.

“I have therefore suggested to President Hichilema long-term alternatives that bring Zambia into the equation,” he said.

President Chakwera said some of the suggested alternatives involve lifting some of Malawi`s fuel from Lusaka by leveraging the pipeline that reaches there from Dar es Salaam and the other involves bringing some of Malawi`s fuel by rail from Chipata through Mchinji.

The President observed that both ways would leverage Zambia`s experience from its establishment of linkages to the sea in Lobito, Angola.

The Malawi leader said he together with the Zambian President remain committed to ensure that the two countries continue learning from each other in advancing their respective development agendas around Agriculture, Tourism, Mining and Trade, among other key sectors.

Malawi has for the past months been facing interrupted fuel supply leading to scarcity of the commodity.

President Chakwera`s effort to find alternative means of bringing fuel into the country will likely minimize the challenges and ensure a stable supply of the commodity

By Blackson Mkupatira

Chiradzulu, January 28, Mana: Minister of Labour, Vitumbiko Mumba has assured that government will complete all the six community technical college (CTC) projects that have stalled so that young people in the country can benefit from technical and vocational skills.

The six colleges are; Rula in Rumphi, Ngabu in Chikwawa, Mtowe in Nsanje, Malinda in Nkhotakota, Machinga in Machinga and Nsoni in Chiradzulu.

Speaking on Monday when he visited Nsoni Community Technical College, Mumba said government wants to operationalize all the colleges, as one way of empowering the youths to be self-reliant and boost the country's economy.

"When I was appointed Minister, President Chakwera gave me an assignment that all community colleges under construction should be completed. So, I came to appreciate the works being done here so that when we are doing budgets, I should have something in mind," he said.

Mumba, therefore, commended the contractor for building a high-standard facility and assured the community members that government will make sure that the institution is completed within the year so that communities can reap its benefits.

On his part, Sandstone Building Contractors Contracts Manager, Thomas Chirwa said 98 percent of the works at the college were done but due to lack of funding the facility has stalled for three years.

"We are just remaining with electricity, a little plumbing and landscaping. With resources, in six weeks everything could be completed," he said, adding that there was a need for urgency as the facility is currently under threat of theft.

Traditional Authority Mpama expressed joy with the minister's visit, saying there was now hope that the facility would be completed soon to benefit people from the district.

"Many young people in my area are currently just staying home because of lack of employment, if they could be trained in various technical skills, they could have some income-generating activity to support their families," she said.

Construction of the K847, 762, 500.00 Nsoni Community Vocational Training began in January 2020 and was expected to end in June of the same year. –

By Sheminah Nkhoma

Lilongwe, February 6, Mana: Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), His Excellency Moussa Faki Mahamat, has departed Malawi through Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) on Thursday morning following a two-day diplomatic visit.

The Chairperson was seen off at KIA by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nancy Tembo and other government officials.

Speaking before the departure at KIA, Spokesperson for Mahamat, Ebba Kalondo said the visit for the Chairperson was very important as they have discussed issues pertaining to the country as well as the African continent with President Lazarus Chakwera.

She said the Chairperson was in the country to appreciate the support which President Chakwera has been giving him throughout the time he has been Chairperson of the AUC.

“The Chairperson thought it wise to visit Malawi so that he should bid farewell to the Malawi president as his eight years tenure has come to an end,” said Kalondo.

She further stated that the visit has also helped the two leaders to discuss continental agendas which Malawi has been standing in all the operations of the AUC.

Kalondo said Malawi has been addressing great challenges including climate change as it was affected by drought and heavy rainfall.

“Malawi is among some African countries who benefited from solidarity funds of the AUC after it was affected by El Nino,” she said.

The Spokesperson further said the two leaders have tackled issues to do with intra-African solidarity and unity, on how to address problems the continent is facing so that peace and security should prevail.

Mahamat, was first elected chairperson for a four-year term on January 30, 2017, after seven rounds of voting beating Kenya's Amina Mohamed.

He was reelected in 2021 for another four-year term which ends this month

By James Mwale

Ntchisi, February 6, Mana: Deputy Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture, Joyce Chitsulo has challenged contractors undertaking government projects to either meet their set deadlines with quality results or step down and pave the way for their capable counterparts.

Chitsulo was speaking in Ntchisi district Wednesday after inspecting the progress of development projects under the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD).

She expressed dissatisfaction with delays in the construction of Malambo police unit and police officer’s house in the area of Sub Traditional Authority Masanya, which she said should have been completed as the deadline was three months ago.

She said: “As a Ministry, we are not impressed and we have urged the district council to get in touch with the contractor to agree on the final deadline which I am told is 27^th February 2025. Failure to meet this deadline will force us to award the contract to another contractor who will finish in time.”

She, however, was impressed with the completion of a police officer’s house construction at Kansonga in the area of Senior Chief Malenga, and a two-classroom block at Masangano Primary School in Senior Chief Kalumo.

She said the two projects are of good quality and that the contractors have done a commendable job.

Chairperson for Ntchisi district council, Marko Mphenzi Mtengo commended government for awarding such development projects to Malawian contractors.

He, however, warned contractors who miss deadlines and put out substandard work saying they are sabotaging government’s development initiatives.

Governance to Enable Service Delivery is a government of Malawi project funded by the World Bank and is being implemented by the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC).

By Joyce Menyere

Lilongwe, February 5, Mana: The Minister of Trade, Sosten Gwengwe expressed his satisfaction with the progress made by the Malawi Police Savings and Credit Cooperative (SACCO) in its implementation of the financial inclusion and security at large and household level, where Malawi police SACCO is handing out loans to small and medium-sized enterprises and farmers.

 Speaking during the event on Tuesday, Gwengwe said having toured different Sacco’s in Malawi people are hardworking and have ideas but have a challenge when it comes to financial access. He encouraged the Malawi police SACCO to continue the good work that they are doing as it is reaching many hardworking and creative people in the country.

“the financial cooperatives that we are working with is Reserve Bank of Malawi to simplify the regulatory regime that are for small SACCO’s which should be hand holding rather than applying bracket regulations for big banks to let the SACCO’s grow”, Gwengwe said.

 Ian Mwalungira who is an officer with the Malawi police and a member of SACCO, said that they are happy that as an institution they have grown from 65 to 14,900 members as of 31^st December 2024 and total asset book has increased from K300 thousand in 2014 to K7.2 billion.

“K 6 billion has been advanced as loans to the members, who have also been able to mobilize K4.7 billion in shares and savings that are used for onward lending. Our headquarters is here in area 30 and we have now opened a branch in Mzuzu and its satellite in Karonga, another branch in Blantyre and a satellite in Luchenza, and a branch in Zomba and we intend to have a satellite in Mangochi”, he said.

He added that they are yet to reach more members with the use of technology using the member portal and plan to move to mobile banking.

“The Government has a vision of the 2063 agenda of the financial inclusion aspect and access to financial services, where they are trying to create vibrant financial institutions for self-reliance initiatives as offering loans for members, and the ATM strategy where people like those supplying meat in the tourism industry borrow from the SACCO and buy goats”, Mwalungira said.

The Minister of Trade will continue to work with the Reserve Bank of Malawi to simplify the regulation of small SACCO institutions.