By Santos Zefania

Lilongwe, 23 April Mana: Professional Psychosocial Counsellor for Bwaila hospital, Chandulo Kayira, conducted a youth counselling session on behaviourism affecting mental and emotional wellness in Area 23, Lilongwe

Speaking during the visit on Tuesday, he stated that some lifestyles are costing their health and wellbeing, hence negatively affecting their mindset.

"Too much exposure to technology has brought serious issues. instead of doing small businesses, they wish to create wealth within a short period of time without hard work, such as spending a lot of time on premier betting zones, which they have suggested as an alternative way of making instant money, hence, this has led to corruption and gambling behaviour among the youth.

“Another mental and emotional challenge facing youth is drugs and substance abuse, leading to aggressive and potentially dangerous behavior, putting them addicted to a certain behavior, henceforth exposed and also leading to crimes resulting in injuries, perhaps deaths,” he stated.

In another statement, despite being addicted to bad behaviors several factors should make them stay positive.

Kayira said frequent failures to get what they want in life should not result in drug abuse or committing suicide; however, having mentors and role models to navigate difficult situations is essential

Apostle Duncan Kachepa highlighted the importance of religious leaders joining hands with teachers and other motivational speakers would help to promote life expectancy among the youth.

“If we want to build future leaders of tomorrow, we better invest in our youth of today. however, religious leaders should also bear responsibilities in assisting them to cope with the situation, leading stress and anxiety and managing it accordingly,” he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Victor Chinkhota, expressed gratitude following the completion of the lesson.

"I'm glad that the professional counsellor has taught us the crucial importance of seeking counselling from responsible individuals to prevent getting addicted to something that could cost our lives, such as drug abuse, volunteering in different youth clubs and finding productive activities to get involved in”, Victor added.

By Elias Masamba.

Phalombe, April 23, Mana: Tiwasamale Youth Organization urged young people in Phalombe to ignore politicians whose manifestos have nothing to do with young people’s interests.

Tiwasamale Youth Organization, Executive Director, Gift Kasanga made a call on Tuesday during a briefing in Phalombe, where he unveiled plans for a series of orientations for youths in the district ahead of local government, parliamentary and presidential elections in September this year.

They said the youth organization will mobilize young people to mainly vote for leaders who prioritise young people’s interests in their manifestos.

Kasanga observed that young people constitute a larger percentage of Malawi population, saying young people should therefore be considered in most national development plans to enable them to play an active role in national development.

“We intend to start sensitizing young people on the importance of voting for leaders that will bring tangible development to their communities and, more importantly, include them in political decision-making processes, “Asanga said, adding that no politician should exploit young people in inciting violence in the electoral process.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency, political analyst, Wonderful Mkhutche, urged young people not to sell their democratic rights for short-term gains.

“Youths must realize that their involvement in politics, whether positive or negative, is entirely up to them; no one can engage them without their consent, and their participation should be a conscious choice, as the democratic space is open to all,” said Mkhutche.

Malawi is expected to hold tripartite elections on September 16 this year.

By Zenak Matekenya

Dedza, April 23, Mana: Chiefs in Dedza have asked Women's Legal Resources Center (WoLREC) and Oxfam to organize an interface meeting for the district’s key electoral stakeholders to address all concerns related to violence ahead of the September 16, 2025 General Election.

The two organizations are implementing the ‘Promoting Gender Transformative and Youth Inclusive Democracy in Malawi project’, which aims to encourage women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) to run for parliamentary and local government positions.

However, electoral violence remains a significant obstacle with some female candidates lamenting abuse, including demeaning remarks from male opponents.

In an interview on Tuesday, following a meeting with chiefs and faith leaders on promoting violence-free elections the chief emphasized that bringing together all relevant stakeholders is key to addressing the issue.

“The meeting has identified party leaders, aspirants, chiefs, faith leaders, civil servants, and police among potential agents or conduits of electoral violence.

“By coming together we can better understand each other’s weaknesses and move beyond speculation. This will help us to develop a unified strategy that everyone can commit to. That way we can promote a peaceful election,” said T/A Kamenyagwaza.

He stressed the importance of fostering an inclusive environment that empowers women, youth, and PWDs to contest in elections, ensuring their groups have a voice in decision making processes.

Dedza District Pastors Fraternal Association of Malawi Treasurer Rev. Daniel Makumba Nkhoma of Nazarene Church said faith leaders who publicly display affiliation to political candidates or parties risk offending their followers who hold differing political views.

“For us faith leaders it is essential to maintain neutrality by keeping our political affiliations private, thereby avoiding unnecessary conflict. As a pastor’s fraternity, we advise each other to pray generally when asked to do so at political rallies, rather than specifically endorsing a candidate,” he said.

He commended WoLREC for establishing a platform to address violence noting that many people need to be educated on the dangers of violence.

Promoting Gender Transformative and Youth Inclusive Democracy in Malawi project is funded by the European Union.

By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, April 23, Mana: Two people died and two others sustained serious injuries on Tuesday after a motor vehicle they were travelling in swerved off the road and overturned at Magalagala slope along the Karonga-Chitipa M26 Road.

Assistant Public Relations Officer, Constable Mathews Mfune, said the accident involving a Fuso lorry, registration number KA 10759, happened at around 18:00 hours, and the two people died on the spot due to severe head injuries.

He identified one of the deceased as Maganizo Munyimbiri, 24, from Phaniso village in the area of Traditional Authority Kilupula in Karonga District.

Mfune said the vehicle was being driven by Elias Phiri from Lufita Trading Centre heading to Chisitu Trading Centre along the Chitipa-Karonga Road.

He said upon arrival at Magalagala slope, Phiri failed to negotiate a corner, resulting in loss of control of the motor vehicle, which swerved to the offside and overturned.

“Following the impact, an unknown male passenger and Maganizo Munyimbiri sustained serious head injuries and died on the spot, while two other passengers sustained serious injuries and have been admitted to Chitipa District Hospital,” Mfune said. 

He, however, said Phiri was treated as an outpatient.

By Brighton Chimsinde

Mchinji, April 22, Mana: Treasurer General for Malawi Congress Party (MCP), John Paul has pleaded with smallholder farmers in Mchinji District to take control of their farm produce prices when they are dealing with vendors.

Paul, who is also an aspiring parliamentarian candidate for Mchinji Central Constituency, made the plea in an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Tuesday, saying the farmers should realise that the farm produce is what makes them farmers.

“It is my plea to the them that they are farmers because of their farm produce. Therefore, they should have the liberty to dictate what to do with the produce and have control over prices when they are dealing with vendors,” Paul said.

The MCP treasurer general reminded the farmers that if they sell their produce to unscrupulous vendors at a low price, they should expect to get the produce at a higher price later.

“If they get robbed now, they will buy the produce at a higher price later, so they better be more careful when deciding to sell,” he said.

Paul called on traditional and community leaders not to allow the unscrupulous vendors to rip off the farmers under their respective jurisdictions.

In a separate interview, Senior Chief Dambe of Mchinji said his office has engaged community policing members to work hand in hand with village heads and relevant stakeholders in guarding against the malpractice.

“We are vigilant in fighting against the unscrupulous vendors. I have ordered all village heads in my area to work closely with community policing members and Mchinji District Council Officials to not allow uncertified weighing scales and lower prices than the gazetted ones and nyone found will face the consequences,” Dambe said.

The Chief also commended the government under the leadership of President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera for being considerate to farmers by ensuring that farm produce is fetching good prices on the market.

By Gift Chiponde

Lilongwe, April 21, Mana: Tourism stakeholders across Malawi have welcomed the upcoming Malawi International Tourism Expo (MITE) as a strong demonstration of the government’s commitment to the growth and promotion of the industry.

This year's MITE is set to take place from April 24 to 26, with President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera scheduled to open the session at the Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe on 24th April from 2 pm.

In an interview with the Malawi News Agency on Monday, Branch Manager for Singelenge Hotels Group, Benjie Ngwira reflected on the growth and impact of the MITE, highlighting that this is likely to boost the country's tourism sector.

He recalls the first Expo, where his team creatively used lake sand to recreate a beach experience, which attracted interest and boosted tourism along lake destinations.

Ngwira emphasized how the Expo has advanced MICE tourism such as meetings, incentives, conferences, and events, noting that more visitors now prefer lakeside locations for meetings due to the unique ambiance.

"The expo has also contributed significantly to Malawi’s Growth Domestic Product and job creation, particularly in hospitality and tourism sectors in cities like Lilongwe and lakeside areas like Salima,” he said.

He stated that the Expo is growing in participation and is becoming a key marketplace for both local and international tourism buyers.

Ngwira also mentioned the potential of tourism to boost Malawi’s foreign exchange (forex) reserves, especially if hotels accept both Malawian Kwacha and United States Dollars.

He encourages continued government support to ensure the expo’s sustainability and growth over the years.

He stated that the expo is not only beneficial for economic growth but also sparks entrepreneurship, foreign investment, and long-term forex gains.

Ngwira remains optimistic about the future of tourism in Malawi, calling the expo a rare and valuable opportunity for the country.

In his remarks Ramy Waheed, General Manager of Amaylis Hotel, emphasized the importance of MITE in creating visibility for Malawi’s tourism industry.

“This event will provide a broader picture of Malawi's tourism potential. It’s not just about showcasing what we offer; it’s about telling our story to the international market,” said Waheed.

He noted that the expo would serve as a valuable networking space, particularly for those looking to engage with potential partners and clients from around the world.

James Manyanda, a curios seller based in Lilongwe, expressed his enthusiasm about the international exposure the event could bring.

“We are looking to establish connections with international buyers, especially from the UK, South Africa, the USA, and other European countries. This is our chance to break into those markets,” he said.

Manyanda, who has been in the curios business for over a decade, believes that such events can uplift small and medium enterprises in the tourism value chain by providing them with global access.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Tourism has assured the public of its full support.

Joseph Nkosi, spokesperson for the ministry, stated, “We are committed to delivering a world-class tourism expo.

“This event is not just for Malawi, but for Africa. We expect participation from various players within and outside Malawi, and we will ensure that they have the best possible experience,” he said.

MITE is regarded as a game-changer for Malawi’s tourism sector, with many anticipating increased visibility and economic opportunities for the country.

The expo has become a fixture on Malawi’s tourism calendar, drawing attention to the country’s unique blend of natural beauty, culture, and hospitality.

MITE has already attracted interest from several international and local tourism players.

The event is expected to showcase Malawi’s tourist attractions, culture, and services, bringing together hoteliers, travel agencies, tour operators, and artisanal traders under one roof.