By Max Mahara Medison

Salima, January 9, Mana: Salima First Grade Magistrate Court has convicted and sentenced Rashid Peter, 33, to a seven-year jail term for being found in possession of three ivories weighing 4.9 kilograms.

According to State Prosecutor Sub Inspector Justice Manolo, Peter was arrested following a tip-off.

Police learned that he was attempting to sell the ivory at Katelera Trading Centre in Salima.

In mitigation, Peter asked for leniency, citing his family obligations.

The State, however, called for a stiffer penalty, emphasizing the severity of the crime.

The magistrate stated that the three ivory found in Peter’s possession meant that multiple elephants, a protected species and critical to the country’s economy through foreign exchange earnings, were killed which is contrary to the National Parks and Wildlife Act of 2017.

First Grade Magistrate, Anthony Banda, agreed with the State’s submission and imposed the seven-year sentence to serve as a deterrent to other potential offenders.

Peter hails from Mgaya Village, Traditional Authority (TA) Kambwiri in Salima.

By Patience Longwe

Lilongwe, December 9, Mana: The Malawi Peace and Unity Commission (MPUC) has underscored the importance of the strategic plan and communication strategy in promoting peace building and use of amicable conflict in the society.

Chairperson for MPUC, Impi Bishop Mary Nkosi, said during the launch of the launch in Lilongwe on Thursday that the strategic plan will serve to provide strategic direction for the work of the Commission for the medium term.

"I am, therefore, confident that the implementation of the two strategic documents will strengthen the Commission’s performance, enhance its ability to meet stakeholder expectations, and fulfil its mandate.

“In this regard, I would like to request all stakeholders, including government, development partners, community leaders and other peace building agencies, to give the Commission support in the implementation of its strategic plan and communication strategy, for the realization of national peace and development objectives,” she said.

Deputy Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture, Joyce Chitsulo, said the strategic plan will set a clear goal for the Commission to achieve in the next five years as it pursues it's vision of enduring peace and unity for robust political stability and socio-economic prosperity for all.

"I commit that government would provide financial and technical support for the implementation of the two strategic documents. I, therefore, would like to take this opportunity to request the Commission to ensure that all its future planned activities are based on the strategic direction provided through the two strategic documents,” she said.

United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator, Shadrack Omol, said the communication strategy on the other hand will provide direction to the Commission on how it can manage its communication functions in order to enhance its visibility, reduce tensions and promote peace, strengthen partnerships with existing peace actors, build trust and enhance its credibility.

"I would like to emphasize that our commitment as UN to preventing conflict and building peace in Malawi goes beyond the Peace Commission although it forms a major part of our support. For instance, the UNDP’s current Country Programme Document 2024 – 2029, which is UNDP’s Strategic Plan for the next four years, affirms our commitment to strengthening the Malawi peace building ecosystem,” he said.

As part of the launch of the strategic documents, UNDP donated a vehicle to the Commission.

By Max Medison

Salima, January 9, Mana: Green Belt Authority has set an ambitious target of covering 200 hectares for maize production in Salima district, expecting to yield 800 metric tonnes of maize, during the 2024-2025 growing season.

The development was revealed on Wednesday, in Salima when the Authority briefed members of the media from the district. Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager for Greenbelt Authority, Frank Chidampamba expressed optimism of high yield because of thorough preparations.

Chidampamba said to meet this target, the Authority has already hired over 200 seasonal workers and intends to increase the number as the season progresses.

“Our goal for this year is to cultivate 200 hectares, with a target yield of 4 tons per hectare. To ensure we meet this objective, we have recruited over 200 seasonal workers already, and we anticipate increasing this number to ensure success,” he said.

He said the maize once harvested will be delivered to the National Food Reserve Agency as a way of improving food security in the country.

The Authority’s Public Relations Officer, Sam Majamanda, praised the ongoing productive partnership between the authority and Salima District Council and the media. He expressed the authority's commitment to strengthening the collaboration and taking it to new heights while continuing to fulfill its mission.

“We appreciate the cooperation between us and Salima District Council, and we are eager to deepen and expand this partnership as we work towards achieving our goals,” Majamanda said.

He said the Authority also regards Salima as one of their core strategic districts due to its easy access to Lake Malawi and hopes to make good use of the available resources in pursuit of its goals.

On his part, Love Community Radio Station Manager Henry Mlelemba commended the good working relationship that exists between the media and the Authority. He said timely sharing of information is the backbone for ensuring an informed community.

"By engaging us on their production plans here in Salima shows how eager the Authority is to inform the public about their continued commitment to be transparent in their operations in the district," he said.

The Chikwawa irrigation scheme located in the area of Senior Chief Khombedza in Salima is one of the Green Belt Authority mega farm projects aimed at promoting food security and economic growth for the country.

By Brighton Thengoliweta Chimsinde 

Mchinji, January 9, Mana: Mchinji District Rehabilitation Officer for Malawi Council for Disability Affairs (MACODA) Master Chingson Kachule has appealed to non-governmental organizations and well-wishers to provide wheelchairs for children with physical disabilities in the district to help in their education.

Kachule made the appeal on Thursday when MACODA district office in collaboration with Malawi Against Physical Disabilities (MAP) distributed five wheelchairs to children with physical disabilities.

“The office mobilized the wheelchairs for children from our local working partner, World Vision Malawi (WVM) but they are not enough considering the district population of children which is over 2500 children with physical disabilities. We are appealing for additional support to meet the demand,” Kachule said.

MACODA thanked WVM for helping with the wheelchairs and appealed to other non-governmental organizations and well-wishers to emulate gestures displayed by World Vision Malawi.

Jacqueline Sipuliyano Banda, a widow and mother to Esther George thanked MACODA for the initiative and for considering their children to be on the recipient's list.

“We felt lucky that our children are receiving wheelchairs today. Some of the children are over 10 years old but they have been denied access to education due to lack of mobility facilities.

“Receiving the chairs will help our children who have never gone to school to enrol and start going to school because the chairs will ease mobility,” Banda said. 

MAP Regional Supervisor and Physiotherapist Petros Chiyombo advised parents to take care of the wheelchairs.

"I urge the parents to ensure that children attend classes for them to be productive citizens in the future," he said.

By Patience Harawa

Karonga, January 9, Mana: Police in Karonga are keeping in custody a clinical officer, Chimwemwe Kaonga, 37, on allegations that he abducted a 17-year-old girl, a student at Nyungwe Community Day Secondary School in the district.

Public Relations Officer for Karonga Police Station, Margret Msiska confirmed the development in an interview on Thursday.

She said Kaonga, who works as a clinical officer at Thawilo Health Centre, proposed to the girl on December 18, 2024, and took her to his house for marriage.

"The suspect is believed to have taken the girl to his house where he claims they were living as husband and wife. This was done without the knowledge or consent of the girl's parents, who later reported the matter to Nyungwe Police Unit which led to his arrest on January 8, 2025," said Msiska.

"He has since been charged with abduction contrary to section 136 of the Penal Code and investigations are underway to establish allegations of having sexual intercourse with the minor during the time of their stay at his house," she added.

Kaonga hails from Mwakasangila Village, Traditional Authority Kilupula in Karonga district.

By: Aisha Chiwaya

Salima, January 9, Mana. In a bid to ensure sanity in the district, prevention of fire accidents and fuel panic buying, Police in Salima on Wednesday, confiscated 65 litres of fuel plus empty plastic bottles and gallons from illegal vendors.

According to Salima Police Public Relations Officer, Sub Inspector Rebecca Ndiwate, the illegal vendors are suspected to have been buying the commodity at a lower price from fueling stations, and selling them at a higher price.

"The act of these vendors keeping fuel in plastic Jerry cans and containers do not only go contrary to Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority Act but also posing danger to lives of people surrounding the storage area," she said.

In addition, the operation 'chotsa zigubu' also aims to ensure that no one is found buying fuel using gallons or selling or keeping fuel in unauthorized places.

She said anyone found doing the same will be arrested to answer relevant charges. Meanwhile, Police have appealed to the public to report anyone found buying fuel in Jerry cans, selling and storing the same without a permit.