By Rosalia Kapiri

Kasungu, Mchinji, April 3, Mana: Students and teachers from various secondary schools in Mchinji and Kasungu have hailed the Malawi government for the construction of ICT laboratories across the country under the Connect A School (CAS) project.

CAS is a Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) project funded by the Authority’s digital inclusion arm, Universal Service Fund (USF), and currently, there are 75 ICT laboratories under construction nationwide, with many at 90 percent completion.

Speaking to Malawi News Agency during a tour of the ICT facilities in the districts on Thursday, the students and their teachers expressed joy and thanked government for the development.

Fungisai Kandaya, A Form 2 student at Misale Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in Mchinji, said the ICT labs will play a crucial role in bridging knowledge gap among the students.

“I am happy that this facility is being established at my school: It will help me research on various topics related to my studies, moving beyond just reading books, and this will enable me and my fellow students excel academically,” she said.

Another student, Praise Chiponda, from Mtunthama All Saints CDSS in Kasungu, said the ICT laboratories in secondary schools will prepare students for higher education.

“It is high time all secondary schools had ICT labs. With this knowledge, we will enter college already familiar with computers and the internet, making our transition much easier,” Chiponda said.

Similarly, Head teacher at Misale CDSS, Aaron Masaile, commended the government for the CAS project, noting that it comes at a crucial time when technology is advancing rapidly.

He noted that students from remote areas will now have the same access to ICT resources as their counterparts in urban schools.

“This facility will benefit both students and the wider community by providing essential computer skills,” he said.

Ronald Tembo, USF Head acknowledged some challenges faced during the implementation of the project but he expressed satisfaction with the progress.

The project started in June 2024 and it is expected to end in June 2025 and, according to Tembo, four to five ICT labs are expected to be constructed in each constituency by 2030 under the project.

“This [2024-2025] is just the first phase, and soon we will commence Phase 2, which includes the construction of another 120 labs across the country,” Tembo explained.

Each lab will be equipped with 60 computers and free internet access, to ensure that students and communities benefit from digital learning opportunities.

By Leonard Masauli

Lilongwe, April 2, Mana: Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Simplex Chithyola Banda, has taken a swipe at some State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) for performing below expectation and has since assigned the Secretary to Treasury to facilitate performance assessment to see how best to position them.

The Minister made the sentiments Wednesday at the Bingu International Convention centre (BICC) in Lilongwe when presiding over the signing ceremony of shareholder’s Letters of Expectations.

Banda noted that there are some SOEs that are performing below expectation hence the need for initiative to allow them sign letters of expectations for them to work hard.

“The signing letters of expectations will help SOEs to be on their toes in terms of performance and be able to generate revenue. This is a framework under which the ministry monitors their action, work and performance.

“This is the second time. Last year we did the same and some SOEs were able to pay government some dividends and remittances but still some are still struggling. This is a wake up call for SOEs to work extra hard and be able to share experiences for improved performance,” said Banda. 

He said some SOEs are still a burden for implementation of the national budget because they still come forward for bail outs, an indication that they are not performing well.

He said the state is doing assessment through a monitoring framework to appreciate SOEs challenges and environment to ensure they are working within their plans.

“Some of the challenges that we have seen are that some SOEs are too ambitious, and they operate outside their approved budget.

“These are some of the things that we needed to share with them such as compliance to the approved budget and to live according to their Key Performance Indicators that they shared in their letters of expectations and these will be used to measure their performance,” he said.

Chief Executive Officer for National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF), named as one of the best performing SOE, Humphrey Mdyetseni said the letters of expectations are a pathway on how to travel in the next 12 months.

“What is key is that in the key performance indicators are deliverables that are expected of us as SOEs to deliver to Malawians for better service delivery and at the end of the day, make an impact in the lives of Malawians.

“It's significant because the resources we receive from government are not just there to be spent for purposes of spending, but to spend them with the aim of transforming lives of Malawians,” said Mdyetseni.

Comptroller of Statutory Corporations, Peter Simbani, said he is going to monitor SOEs to ensure they achieve results.

“The state corporations or state enterprises have signed these letters of expectation which are going to outline what government expects from each one of them in terms of the targets, on revenues, on expenditures, but also on the dividend or surplus which they are supposed to give to government.

“So, as comptroller corporations, I will be there to monitor implementation of the KPIs that are going to be developed so that they are assessed using that and my office is there to monitor the implementation to make sure that they achieve whatever they have agreed with the Treasury,” said Simbani.

By Mary Makhiringa

Balak, April 2, Mana: The body of Wailesi M’bwana who until his death was Sub Traditional Authority (STA) Mbera has been laid to rest at his Mbera Headquarters in Balaka.

Deputy Minister of Local Government Unity and Culture, Joyce Chitsulo, attended the burial.

According to Balaka District Council, STA Mbera died in the early hours on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 due to heart failure caused by high blood pressure.

Chitsulo called for unity amongst the family members as they identify next heir to the throne saying the departed was a peace loving person.

 “Today is a sad day to the Ministry of Local Government and the entire country. We have lost two chiefs, thus Traditional Authority Ndindi of Salima and STA Mbera.

“This is sad as chiefs are custodians of culture and development. It is also sad that in a space of a year Balaka has lost three TAs; Kachenga and Amidu,” she said.

Chitsulo described the passing of the three chiefs in Balaka as an unfortunate development.

On a different note, Chitsulo called on the people of Balaka to remain peaceful as Malawi heads to general elections.

“Let me also take this opportunity to appeal to all people in this area to desist from violence as we are approaching the campaign period.

“Let us respect each other when campaigning. Let us avoid hate speech and political violence as these slowly destroy the country,” Chitsulo said.

Paramount Chief, Kawinga also called for unity among the bereaved family to ensure peaceful succession process on the heir to the throne.

“Most of chieftaincy wrangles end in court because of lack of tolerance among family members. This undermines succession process as it takes too long to be completed,” he said.

Chairperson for Balaka District Council, Pharao Kambiri, said the local authority shall always remember the departed STA for being well organized in mobilizing his subjects to development work, adding that his leadership is worthy emulating.

Speaking on behalf of the bereaved family, Frank Jomo, described Mbera’s death as a big loss, saying he was accommodative, peaceful and always jovial.

“Those that were around here on Monday saw him seated on his veranda, full of life. Anyway, we respect God’s will that everyone has his or her way of departing from this world.

“We will miss his kindness and leadership. He was there for everyone and was ready to assist whenever asked to do so,” Jomo said.

M’bwana was born on January 6, 1933, and was installed as STA Mbera on August 17, 2017.

He survived by a wife and four children.

By Ireen Mseteka

Likoma, April 2, Mana: Government has announced plans to transform Chima Outpatient Department (OPD) into a fully functional maternity wing, with an investment of K61 million, aimed at improving maternal and child health services in Likoma District.

The project, funded by the Government to Enable Service Delivery (GESD), is set to alleviate challenges faced by expectant mothers in the area who, currently, walk long distances to access critical healthcare services.

In an interview on Monday, acting Director of Public Works for Likoma District, Shadreck Msiska, confirmed that the OPD will soon be renovated into a maternity wing.

“Construction will begin shortly once proper procedures for selecting the right bidder are concluded,” said Msiska.

Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer for Likoma District, Chisomo Phethi, emphasized that the new maternity wing will greatly benefit maternal and antenatal health in the district.

“This will significantly improve access to maternal services considering the long distance women travel to reach St Peter’s Hospital,” said Phethi.

Phethi explained that the addition of a maternity wing at Chima Health Centre will ease the burden of accessing services such as antenatal, labour, delivery and postnatal care.

She said women in the district often miss antenatal visits in their first trimester due to long distance to the health facility.

Maria Makomela, a mother of one from Chiponde, expressed gratitude for the initiative.

She noted that it would provide the much needed relief for women who face challenges in accessing maternity services.

“It’s a struggle for us to travel to St Peter’s Hospital. Some women deliver on their way, and others tragically lose their babies. This is heartbreaking,” said Makomela.

By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, April 2, Mana: Misuku Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) learners have applauded Chitipa District Council for constructing a girls’ hostel at the school with funding from the World Bank’s Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) project.

Misuku CDSS Head Girl, Jestina Mtambo, said girls have been walking long distances to school which, she said, resulted in many girls dropping out of school.

She said this Tuesday when the reporter visited the school to appreciate the girls hostel which has been constructed to the tune of K70 million; beds and mattresses inclusive.

Mtambo said the terrain of the area, which is mountainous, has also contributed to early marriage amongst learners.

“The construction of the hostel has seen many girls committing to education rather than marriage,” Mtambo said.

Misuku CDSS Head Teacher, Patrick Kamanga, said construction of the hostel has contributed to quality of education for girl learners.

“For the first time in the history of the school all the girls who wrote Junior Certificate of Education and Malawi School Certificate of Education examinations last year passed.

“We attribute this to the hostel because girls are able to concentrate on their education than thinking of long distance going back home after classes,” Kamanga said.

According to Kamanga, the highest learner got 15 points and highest amongst girls got 27 points, which he said is an achievement to a rural school like Misuku.

Chitipa District Council Director of Public Works, Engineer Misheck Gondwe, said the council decided to construct the hostel at Misuku CDSS to accommodate girl learners on campus so that they concentrate on education.

“We do not want our girl learners to travel long distances to school. The girl learners are no longer exposed to sexual harassment since they are on campus. It is expected that the girl learners' performance will improve significantly and dropout rate will be reduced,” Gondwe said.

GESD is a Government of Malawi project implemented by the Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Finance and the National Local Government Finance Committee with funding from the World Bank.

By George Bulombola

Mzuzu, April 2, Mana: Mzuzu City Council (MCC) has handed over two bridge construction sites to contractors who emerged successful bidders for the construction of the duo road infrastructures in a bid to address some of the challenges which commuters face within and outside Mzuzu City.

MCC intends to construct Target Bridge which will connect Mchengautuba East Ward and Mchengautuba West Ward besides Lupasso Bridge at a cost of over K54 million.

The two bridges will ease mobility of people of Lubinga and Nkholongo wards in the city.

Speaking during the handover ceremony of the sites on Tuesday, MCC Director of Planning and Development, Philemon Maseko, said the projects are a few amongst several bridge construction projects in the city.

“MCC is mostly characterized by streams which cut across most road infrastructure hence the intervention which is being supported by government through Infrastructure Development Fund,” said Maseko.

He said the projects once completed are expected to contribute towards the country’s attainment of Malawi 2063 through Urbanization Pillar with Economic Infrastructure as its enabler which advocates for urbanization across the country.

Councillor for Mchengautuba East Ward, Mandinda Ng’oma, commended MCC for prioritizing bridge construction projects across the city, saying the initiative will go a long way in reducing communication and transportation challenges in the city.

“This is a good development which need not politicized as resources for these projects have been provided by government, hence we all need to own them for their successful completion.

“Apart from creating this infrastructural asset for public use, the project has also created employment opportunities for local people including women,” said Ng’oma.

Councillor for Lubinga Ward, Gift Desire Nyirenda, advised people who would be employed to provide unskilled labour at the construction sites against theft of construction materials.

Target Bridge Construction Project and Lupaso Bridge Project have been awarded to Uhuru Civil Engineering and Tam Civil Works respectively.

Both projects are expected to be complete within two months.

By Sylvester Kumwenda

Dowa, April 2, Mana: Police in Mponela, Dowa have arrested a 31-year-old man for allegedly killing a supporter of a rival football team over goal celebrations.

Mponela Police Public Relations Officer, Macpatson Msadala, identified the suspect as Luke James, of Changunda Village in Senior Chief Chakhaza in Dowa.

He is suspected of killing Austin Kayera, 35, who hailed from Kapichira Village, Senior Chief Chakhaza in Dowa.

Msadala said a controversy emerged on March 30, 2025 around 3pm during a football match between Magantha and Changunda football clubs held at Kabwinja Primary School ground.

"In the course of the game, Magantha football club, which Kayera was supporting, scored a goal. Kayera went to celebrate the goal on the other side of the ground where there were fans of the rival team.

"This provoked the fans of Changunda team who started chasing him. Kayera run away heading towards Kabwinja School teacher’s houses. While chasing him, James took a hoe handle and hit Kayera at the back of his head," said Msadala.

When he went home, Kayera complained of body pains and his relatives took him to Madisi Mission Hospital which, upon assessment, refered him to Mtengowanthenga Mission Hospital.

However, medical officers there on the same day further refered Kayera to Kamuzu Central Hospital.

"On March 31 Kayera was pronounced dead while receiving treatment. Postmortem which was conducted the following day established that death was due to severe traumatic brain injuries with severe intracranial hemorrhage, secondary to the assault.

The suspect will appear before court soon to answer murder charges.