Items filtered by date: July 2025

By Martha Rukunya

Lilongwe, December 3, Mana: Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has announced its intention to review laws aimed at combating corruption, including the introduction of lifestyle audits for public servants and other individuals.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lilongwe on Tuesday, ACB Acting Director, Hillary Chilomba, highlighted how some government officials conceal their wealth by registering assets under names of relatives.

 "Many government officials appear poor when investigated but in reality, billions of funds are being hidden under the names of their family members. This strategy makes it difficult to trace the true owners of the wealth," Chilomba explained.

The new measures aim to empower the Bureau to investigate any individual, regardless of their employment status, if their lifestyle and declared income do not align.

He added that the Bureau is expanding its focus to include individuals outside government employment.

“You see someone setting up a company and amassing immense wealth within a very short period. This is suspicious, and we need to investigate such individuals, even if they are not public servants,” said Chilomba.

Chilomba called for stronger enforcement mechanisms stressing that corruption is a national problem that undermines development.

According to Chilomba, lifestyle audits will ensure accountability and deter individuals from using dubious means to accumulate wealth. The law must apply equally to all, whether they work in the public or private sector.

“Our ultimate goal is to root out corruption in all its forms and recover public resources that have been diverted through illegal means,” he said.

The Bureau is also working on securing additional legal tools to strengthen its investigations, including partnerships with international financial institutions to track offshore accounts and assets.

The review comes after the Bureau submitted the draft lifestyle audits manual to the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) where it was advised to review Section 32 (Possession of unexplained property) of the Corrupt Practices Act so that it incorporates what is contained in the lifestyle audit manual to include both public and private officers.

By Fostina Mkandawire

Salima, December 3, Mana: Ministry of Lands, in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government, has launched spatial plans for developments under the Regional Climate Resilience Program (RCRP) aimed at addressing climate change related shocks.

Spatial plans are documents that outline how to develop and use space in a given area. They are created by the public and private sectors to guide the distribution of people and activities in a region or municipality.

Speaking during the launch in Salima on Monday, RCRP Deputy Coordinator, who is also Deputy Director in the Ministry of Local Government, Flemmings Nyirenda, urged district councils to prioritize implementing the plans and ensuring community compliance.

"The initiative is falling under Sub-Component 2.2 focusing on district-led resilience; building proper adherence to these spatial plans will help mitigate climate impacts and reduce damage caused by disasters," he said.

Nyirenda emphasized the importance of guiding communities on how to utilize land, pointing out that many people have settled or built infrastructure in areas prone to climate shocks such as flooding, leaving them vulnerable to devastating losses.

"This is a critical step in helping communities understand the risks associated with improper land use. By following these spatial plans, we can prevent losses of property and build resilience against climate impacts,” said Nyirenda.

Commissioner for Physical Planning in the Ministry of Lands, Robins Lukasi, said the programme aims to address challenges brought by climate change, such as flooding and strong winds, which have severely affected communities across Malawi in recent years.

“By training district councils to develop and implement spatial plans, the programme seeks to promote safe and sustainable land use practices," he said.

He said it is important that whenever people are developing in various urban areas, even in rural areas, they should be guided by plans that would take into account issues of disaster and climate change.

Salima District Commissioner, James Mwenda, commended the training saying council officials will be well equipped with skills to manage and enforce the plans.

The initiative is being piloted in seven districts, with plans to cover the rest of the country next financial year.

By Bishop Witmos

Mangochi, December 3, Mana: Minister of Homeland Security, Ken Zikhale Ng’oma, has urged men and women in uniform under the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services to take sporting activities as a profession. 

He was speaking over the weekend at Fisheries College during a Director General’s (DG’s) trophy sports tournament. 

Ng’oma said like the Malawi Defense Force and Malawi Police Service; Department of Immigration is capable of having football and netball teams that can compete with other national teams in the super league.

“I am excited to see soldiers under the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services doing sporting activities to keep themselves physically fit.

“From the tournament, we have seen so many talents from the officers, and because of that, we would want them to join national teams so that they are able to compete with clubs in the super league,” said Ng’oma.

The DG’s trophy stalled for some years and on Sunday attracted all four regions, as well as the department’s headquarters.

Acting DG for Immigration, Fletcher Nyirenda, commended government and other sponsors such as Old Mutual and Standard Bank for supporting the trophy.

Nyirenda said apart from keeping officers physically fit, the tournament will also provide platform for officers to interact.

“We are happy now that the trophy is back and that we have government’s full support. This is a good platform where our officers come together to interact and socialize thereby creating a conducive platform for seniors to share ideas with their juniors,” said Nyirenda.

Over 300 immigration officers across the country participated in the trophy, which had games like tag of war, volleyball, basketball, football and netball.

By Elia Chibwe

Lilongwe, December 2, MANA: Business tycoon Napoleon Dzombe and Senior Chief Kayembe have hailed the establishment of Friends of Kayembe Association (FOKA) in Kayembe community as the genesis of changing people’s mindset and a tool for making people to embrace hardworking spirit in their respective area of occupation to become self-reliant.

Speaking during the meeting of FOKA Tidziwane at Lingadzi Inn in Lilongwe, Dzombe highlighted the need of knowledge and hardworking spirit for one to be successful.

He said people are performing well in various organizations, companies and government entities but they fail to have their own innovations based on the skills and knowledge they gained and develop hard working spirit in those particular innovations.

"The word of God tells us that a person will eat his sweat until he enters the grave which means that if a person does not work hard then he will be against the word of God, but those who want to eat they have to work hard. So let's encourage each other that if we want success then let's work hard.”

"Knowledge and hardworking must go together. And let's work hard in our own work if we want to succeed. I have seen tobacco farmers, they leave their homes and stay with someone on contract basis, then they yield quality leaf and yield many tobacco bales which they fail to produce on their own," Dzombe said.

He further hailed FOKA Association saying it will play a great role in developing Kayembe community for ensuring oneness and unity

"Steel sharpens steel, the same with the people, if you want to do great things, you should come together to share ideas with the goal of making what you want to do possible. Any big project requires a lot of people to come together, so the team is very important," he added.

Senior Chief Kayembe said FOKA Association will assist to change the way of thinking as they get knowledge from educated people from FOKA Association.

"I welcomed the FOKA organization to my area knowing that there are different people working in different jobs in this Association. This will help to change the way of thinking of these people when they are receiving knowledge from these educated persons.

"Many people in rural areas have a hard time thinking. So  these people have been helped  to work hard. In the village there are problems of hunger, transportation, bridges but if we come together it will help us to be self-reliant," she said.

Chairperson for FOKA Association, Martin Majomeka, commended the meeting, saying it's objective has been achieved as they witnessed large number of people participating.

"We called for this meeting just to know each other as sons and daughters of Traditional Authority Kayembe and we believe that this opportunity has been achieved. We noted through lively participation from all members," Majomeka said.

He further highlighted several projects they want to implement, urging team working spirit to achieve those activities.

According to Majomeka, FOKA was enstablished in 2023 to promote socio-economic development of Kayembe community, promote child education, reduce environment degradation among others.

By Martin Chiwanda

Machinga, December 2, Mana: In a move to address mobility challenges faced by Machinga District local governance structures that support the rights of the youth, Power to Youth, through AMREF has donated bicycles valued at K7.780 million.

The structures that have since benefited from the donation are the Men Engages, youth networks, chiefs’ forums and victim support units from traditional authorities Kapoloma, Sale and Mizinga.

Presenting the bicycles, Power to Youth Country Coordinator, Thandi Mphwiyo said the donation is in response to a plea from the structures on mobility.

Mphwiyo said the structures have had mobility challenges when making follow-ups on cases in their respective areas hence the donation to ease the challenge.

“We are very sure that the donation will contribute in terms of following up on cases. The groups have been doing enough on the ground but they could have done more and am sure that with this support, they will continue working effectively,” she said.

She challenged the duty bearers to safeguard the rights of the girl child saying, anyone who impregnates a girl under the age of 18 need to face the law.

“Let me put it clear that anyone under 18 is a child. Therefore, whoever impregnates a girl under 18 has to face the law,” she emphasized.

Traditional Authority Sale chiefs’ forum secretary, Innocent Bamusi, applauded Power to Youth for the donation.

Bamusi said the bicycles will improve the ability of the governance structures to respond swiftly to cases of violence, especially in remote and hard-to-reach areas where mobility has been a major challenge.

“The bicycles we have received will facilitate rapid interventions. We have been walking long distances to follow up cases. This has not been easy. We are very thankful for the support,” said Bamusi.  

Machinga District Youth Officer, Hope Mwafulirwa, commended Power to Youth for the support and promised to make sure that the bicycles were used for the intended purpose.

The Power to Youth Consortium's mission is to empower adolescent girls and young women from underserved communities by ensuring their meaningful participation in decision-making processes concerning harmful practices, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and tackling unintended pregnancies.

By Brian Wasili

Mwanza, December 2, Mana: Vice President, Dr. Michael Usi has said government is committed to initiating various development projects in Mwanza West Constituency for people in the area to benefit.

Usi was speaking on Monday at Thambani Community Ground when he wound up a whistle stop tour in the constituency where he visited various development projects underway in the areas of senior chiefs Nthache and Govati, respectively.

“Over the past years, false promises have been made by previous governments that they would bring various development activities to this area but never fulfilled,” said Usi.

He cited inadequate health facilities, lack of safe and potable water, poor learning facilities and Mwanza Thambani Road, which is in bad shape as some of the challenges which government is committed to address in the area.

The Vice President, therefore, urged people in the area to register in the ongoing voter registration underway in the district so that they are able to vote during next year’s elections.

Before touring various projects including Senior Chief Nthache's house under construction by government, Usi was met traditional leaders in the area and asked them to encourage their subjects to register to vote in the upcoming general elections.

Earlier, the Veep inspected Kayera Health Post before appreciating Senior Chief Govati's house constructed by government.

Usi, therefore, assured people in Mwanza that government has good plans for people in the district including improving their health status by upgrading Thambani Health Centre to a rural hospital as requested by Member of Parliament for Mwanza West, Joyce Chitsulo.

In an interview, Chitsulo hailed the VP’s visit to her constituency, saying it shows government’s commitment to improving the welfare of the people in the area.

“We are assured that the government will take into consideration issues raised here that need immediate action such as hunger and inadequate number of Affordable Inputs Programme beneficiaries so that people should harvest enough next year,” she said.

Usi also donated solar torches to learners from various schools, bags of maize to some households and a motorcycle to Kalanga Police Unit to address mobility challenge at the institution.

Maxwell Yambani, a learner thanked the vice president for the donation of torches, saying he will be able to do school work even at night.

By Milcah Mathias

Blantyre, December 2, Mana: A visual artist, Cris Taulo says he drew his painting inspiration from the death of his mother who died in 2012.

Christopher Taulo, also known by his brand name Cris Taulo, revealed that the loss of his mother ignited his passion for art. He explained that his journey into painting was driven by grief, using it as a way to cope and find solace in his sorrow.

However, he said at first he did not start painting to build a career out of it.

“During that time, I saw that there was a possibility that I could make it into a career as people started approaching me and recommending my work,” said Taulo.

“My family was also going through a hard time financially, so I saw it fit that this could be a source of income for me to help the family; then I ventured into art as a career,” he added.

Taulo, who is also an art educator, began researching ways to bring his artwork to market. In 2018, he met veteran visual artist Peter Masina, a sculptor at the Museum of Malawi, who took on the role of his mentor.

The art educator, who is also hosting Cris Taulo's Crimson Solo Art exhibition from December 7 to December 14 at Kaliso Art Gallery in Lilongwe, said he came up with the “Crimson” theme because red colour symbolizes power, love, strength and has great impact to society.

Taulo, a Next Level Malawi 2024 certified graffiti artist is calling out for the corporate world and people with goodwill to support visual artists, saying this will inspire more visual artists in the country who think they cannot build a career out of it.

Speaking in a separate interview, Director of Kaliso Art Gallery, Evelyn Chisambiro said talented artists like Cris Taulo deserve the space to showcase their work for people to appreciate what they do.

“People can only know about artists when they put themselves out there, showcasing what they do and providing a platform like the Art Gallery is one way of promoting visual artists as well as arts in the country and even beyond for the development of Malawi,” said Chisambiro.

Chisambiro added that the exhibition will help the art industry in Malawi because this will be one way of promoting art on a global market and inspire Malawian talented visual artists to be confident enough so as to come out and sell out their works.

The event activities will include the opening night; whereby, he will showcase a short animation; workshops on painting; Sip and Paint; and on the other days he will be meeting with people who are inspired and interested to learn about art.

By Petro Mkandawire

Blantyre, December 2, Mana: The Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS) has advised lake users to take necessary precautionary measures due to the coming week of strong winds over water bodies and thunderstorms within vicinity.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency on Monday, Head of Public Weather and Aviation Services at DCCMS, Yobu Kachiwanda said from 2 to 8 December rough conditions will be experienced over water bodies of Lake Malawi and Lake Chirwa, as other parts of the country will experience partly cloudy and hot weather conditions with generally isolated showers.

“The people with small boats need extra care and if they observe an increase in wind speed they have to go offshore. Beach villages need to stay indoors, avoid open fields, tall trees and metal objects,” said Kachiwanda.

He added that Blantyre is expected to have more sun but on Thursday it will experience some changes of isolated rains, leading other parts of the district to face heavy rains on Friday.

Chairperson for Mangochi Sub Fisheries Association, Amidu Kalulu commended DCCMS for the weather forecast saying the message has come at the right time and it will help to reduce the increase of falling overboard cases.

“Fishing hooks and rods can be dangerous if not handled with care. As such, we as farmers must utilize the message provided by the department. As part of avoiding risks which occur due to climate change, we will involve our fellow farmers in sensitization,” said Kalulu.

According to the department, during the past week many areas experienced windy, overcast and hot weather, accompanied by thunderstorms which were locally heavy, resulting in significant damage in some areas with the maximum temperature reached 43.0 degrees Celsius at Ngabu in Chikwawa.

The most noteworthy rainfall over a 24-hour period was 181mm recorded at Mwaulambo in Karonga followed by Nkhatabay meteorological station which reported 113.3mm on November 30, 2024.

By Innocent Chamtulo

Mulanje, December 2, Mana: Village Savings Loans (VSL) group and business persons in Traditional Authority Ndanga have hailed the use of digital financial services being promoted by the Reserve Bank of Malawi.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency on Monday, Chairperson for Talimba Group Chrissy Nyaka said in the past years they have been keeping their money in the house which was putting it at high risk of getting damaged or stolen.

“We appreciate government for the training that have been provided by the Reserve Bank of Malawi. We had little knowledge on modern ways of keeping our money safe but after this interaction we believe that we will make sure that we follow what have been learnt,” she said.

She further said the use of digital platforms will help to promote accountability and transparency in running affairs of their village savings group when it comes to management and safety of finances.

Oliver Selenje from Limbuli Market in Traditional Authority Njema said she noted that the use of digital platforms when facilitating business is ideal since it is less risky than keeping hard cash at home.

“We have warmly welcomed the initiative, I believe this will help us to make easy calculations on the profits that have been made on every day of business," she said.

Mulanje District Council Community Development Officer, Janet Nsongolo said financial literacy was one of the key areas they teach VSL groups during formation and as refresher trainings.

A 20-day campaign which started on 26^th November in Mulanje District is expected to reach out to the whole district mainly trading centers and secondary schools with road shows and sensitization meetings.

By Charles Nkhoma

Lilongwe, November 30 Mana: Chairperson Parliamentary Committee on Health, Dr. Matthews Ngwale has emphasized the often-overlooked human rights abuses faced by women during pregnancy and childbirth at a regional sensitization workshop on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (ASRHR) legal frameworks held in Lilongwe on Monday.

He was speaking at a workshop organized by the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI), which aimed to enhance awareness and implementation of legal protections for women and adolescents.

“Some practices that we consider normal during pregnancy and delivery are, in fact, human rights violations. Forcing a woman to carry a pregnancy against her will is a violation of her rights. Similarly, the use of force during childbirth, such as coercively pushing a baby out, constitutes abuse,” Dr. Ngwale stated.

He further highlighted that neighboring countries like Zambia allow women access to safe abortion services, a right that remains restricted in Malawi, effectively undermining women’s reproductive rights.

Programme Officer for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights at NANHRI, Robert Afewa, underscored the significance of protecting women’s rights under the Maputo Protocol, a key African treaty addressing violence against women.

“We are currently observing 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. The Maputo Protocol, which Malawi has signed and ratified, advocates for safe abortion, comprehensive sexuality education, and measures to combat violence against women. Our efforts are focused on ensuring that the provisions of this protocol are implemented effectively,” Afewa said.

The workshop also emphasized the importance of addressing gender-based violence and promoting access to sexual and reproductive health services as integral to achieving broader human rights and health goals.

By fostering collaboration and advocacy, NANHRI and its member institutions aim to create a more equitable legal and social environment for women and adolescents across Africa.