Items filtered by date: July 2025

By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, November 25, Mana: Democratic electoral processes are predicated on the assumption that voters will make informed choices and the importance of an informed electorate is reflected in international norms that place significant value on the importance of civic education.

As part of the processes leading to the September 16, 2025 General Elections, the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) is conducting voter identification exercise whose third and last phase starts this Thursday and will end on December 11.

National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Public Trust Executive Director, Gray Kalindekafe says voter registration process is a fundamental pillar that upholds the integrity of the entire electoral system, describing it a bedrock upon which the legitimacy of elections rests.

“The shared aspiration to participate in the democratic process can only be realised if the voter registration process is accessible and inclusive, where every eligible citizen, regardless of their status and location, has the opportunity to register and vote.

“This inclusivity is crucial in a diverse society like Malawi, where marginalised groups often face barriers to participation. By addressing these barriers through targeted outreach and simplified registration procedures, the electoral process becomes a true reflection of the people’s will,” Kalindekafe says.

He says Nice takes civic education as a crucial element of the electoral process and employs various methodologies in what it calls a ‘360 Degrees’ approach to civic education where the mission is to leave no one behind.

“People’s participation is the hallmark of democracy. To get them involved, we need a robust voter registration that is transparent. This transparency is achieved through public awareness campaigns that educate citizens about the registration process and their rights.

“When people understand how the system works and their role within it, they are more likely to trust and engage with it. So this is where we come in, employing strategies that reach everyone, regardless of where they are,” he says.

The 360 Degrees strategy involves bombarding all available mediums – the air, water and land – with messages about election processes and citizen participation.

Specifically, it involves the use of music and dance shows, radio and television programmes such as jingles, drama, debate and music.

Additionally, it employs village community meetings, letters and door-to-door visitations, interactive sports bonanzas, drama performances, visits to video show rooms, interactions with bicycle taxi operators and fishermen in water bodies and every other available space for mobilisation.

“We understand the electorate comprises of people with different literacy levels and capabilities hence the model guides us to use various approaches that befit the audience being targeted.

“It worked well in 2014, 2019, 2020 and we are using it in the current processes beginning with voter registration. And with a team of over 12 000 volunteers and programmes officers in all districts across the country, we are assured of reaching out to every person that needs to participate,” Kalindekafe says.

A visit to some districts in the central and southern regions last week revealed that registration numbers had picked up, raising hope for better outcomes than feared.

In Kasungu, District Programmes Officer, Gerald Chirwa says numbers were bad in the initial days of the registration but improved in the subsequent days following a successful mobilisation campaign.

“There is a trend that people tend to do things at the last instance. It was the same with the registration. But we are hopeful that we will have good figures looking at the interventions that we employed.

“We chose democracy and it has its pillars, one being that people must participate in electoral processes, specifically, choosing their leaders. It is a process that starts with voter registration, so people must always be willing to take part in this process or democracy will die,” Chirwa says.

His Zomba and Blantyre and Dowa counterparts also describe the turnout as being fair, pointing out that more women turned out than men.

“We used various strategies to woo people to register such as letters read in prayer houses, night criers, market visits, village meetings, mobile vans and many others.

“One thing that has to be appreciated is that there has been an increase in the number of registration centres which also means that distances have significantly reduce. On its own, this should have been an encouragement for people to go and register,” says Kondwani Neba, officer for Zomba.  

He says citizens must participate in democratic processes such as elections so that they are able to influence the direction of their country.

“When elected officials are truly representative of the population, they are better positioned to address the needs and aspirations of their constituents,” he says.

Elinati Chipwaila of Lupsya Village in the area of Senior Chief Wimbe says she is excited to have registered as a voter, describing it as capital for her children’s future after 2025.

“Messages are all over that we should go and register. The registration process is itself very simple.

“My advice is that wherever the exercise is still in progress, let people go out in large numbers. This is our only political capital and comes once in in a while so we cannot afford to miss it,” Chipwaila says.

On his part Chikumbutso Lyford, from Chibwenza Village in Traditional Authority Chakhaza in Dowa says organisations such as Nice invest a lot and work tirelessly towards electoral processes as demonstrated in the previous elections which should signal to people that participating is important.

He says while participation is not compulsory, good citizenship entails that one must participate in making decisions that affects his or her life, in this case, registering to vote.

There have been calls from various stakeholders to extend the voter registration exercise citing challenges such as alleged unavailability of National Registration Bureau crew in registration centres to assist prospective registrants who do not have a citizen identity card as demanded by the new electoral laws. It is feared the challenges would result in many people being disfranchised and leading to a low voter participation.

However, MEC Communications Officer Richard Mveriwa says the electoral body is impressed with the turnout so far.

The MEC has already registered voters in 28 councils and the last phase will cover seven councils which are Lilongwe City and Rural, Mzimba, Mwanza, Chikwawa, Mangochi and Nsanje.

The commission is yet to release figures for its second phase of the registration which covered Likoma, Nkhata Bay, Ntcheu, Kasungu, Dowa, Luchenza, Thyolo, Zomba, Mchinji and Blantyre.

However, in the first phase, MEC identified 2 224 307 voters against a projection of 3 423 066 12, representing 65 percent.

The first phase covered Machinga, Chiradzulu, Neno, Phalombe, Mulanje, Nkhotakota, Ntchisi, Salima, Dedza, Mzuzu and Karonga where at least 56.7 percent of the projected males and 72 percent of the projected females turned out to register.

In line with the 360 Degrees strategy, Nice looks at civic education as a war against the twin enemies of elections which are low registration and voter turnout and null and void votes.

The 2025 general elections, will be the seventh national contest since the introduction of multiparty democracy in 1994 and the third to be held in a tripartite fashion.

Experience shows that intensive and sustainable mobilisation employing the 360 Degrees paradigm is key in dealing with disinterest, voter fatigue and electoral myths and misinformation that result in apathy.

By Pempho Nkhoma

Blantyre, November 24, Mana: In a bid to promote and expose young talented artists, a record label called Warge Records held an Urban Music competition dubbed: 'The Next Big Ting.'

The competition started on October 5 and it was open to artists from different genres.

Founder and Producer at Warge Records, Wanangwa Phiri told Malawi News Agency (Mana) that over the years they have been contributing to Malawi music industry by giving young artists a platform to present their art.

“We have unearthed young talents that have eventually achieved superstar status in our country through our Riddim Projects, as well as Music Shows. It is in the same spirit that we introduced the Warge Records ‘Next Big Ting’ music competition,” he said.

Phiri added that the competition was targeting young artists from the age of 20 below to be given a chance to record five songs for free.

“During the competition the elements that the judges were looking for were originality, melody, composition and lyrics. After the analysis Rixy-B emerged the winner,” he said.

Afro Pop artist, Rixy-B real name Alickangelo Lazaro for winning the competition will get a five all paid for studio sessions at Warge Records, shoot videos and promotion for the five songs that shall be recorded.

In his remarks, Rixy-B observed that the competition was tough, acknowledging that there were many talented artists while expressing gratitude to Warge Records for the opportunity on account that it will help him to grow musically.

“I have been looking for this opportunity to push my music, given a chance to record five songs at Warge Records will shape my career because this is a big studio,” he said.

One of judges, reknowned artist Blaze, real name Blessings Gwengwe said the competition has the potential of helping young stars to find a platform they are pursuing in music circles.

“Being one of the fruits of Warge Records in Malawian music industry, I believe young talented musicians can benefit from this initiative if they follow and subscribe to all the terms and conditions,” he said.

The competition was participated by 15 young artists who recorded their songs with the same instruments and submitted to the panel of judges.

Over the years Warge Records have promoted the talent of artists like the late Mafunyeta, Malinga Mafia, Blaze, Mady P, Gibo Lantosi, among others.

By Prisca Promise Mashushu

Lilongwe, November, 25 Mana: President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has condemned vandalism of ESCOM resources saying it is retrogressive to the company's efforts to make Malawi a free blackout country.

Chakwera made the sentiments on Monday during the official launch of the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Project in Kanengo sub-station in Lilongwe.

“I would like to appeal to Malawians to avoid vandalising ESCOM resources such as poles, cables and others in order to ensure that everyone has access to electricity hence the police should investigate all vandalism cases that are happening in the country.

“The launch of BESS has been designed to reduce blackouts and cost of electricity by having reliability in electricity distribution to all people of the nation, but it can only happen if people in the country protect ESCOM resources since electricity is for all,” said Chakwera.

Echoing with the presidents sentiments, Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola, said the launch of BESS is important to boost energy sector that has been facing many challenges including persistent blackouts and vandalism of electricity resources among others.

“A journey of thousands miles begins with a single step and the launch of BESS is just the beginning of many projects that government is planning to provide to the energy sector in order to ensure that all people have access to electricity without facing blackouts, while  improving climate change,” he said.

Chairperson for ESCOM, Morgan Tembo, said the launch of BESS will help to improve stability and reliability of the national power grid as it will have the capacity to hold 20 megawatts of electricity.

“BESS will facilitate effective distribution of power, reduce outages and increase access to eelectricity. It will also provide frequency support in case of emergencies when electricity is shut down unaccepectebly,” said Tembo.

The project is expected to provide electricity to natives in different parts of the country by June 2025 and ESCOM has fueled US$ about 2.4 millionn to complete the project.

Tembo has, therefore, warned people who engage in vandalism of ESCOM resources to desist from such malpractice saying it is drawing back development in the country.

Vice President for Africa Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), Joseph Karanja Nganga, explained that the launch of BESS symbolises the spirit of ambition and innovation to ensure that Malawi has access to electricity.

“With energy present in the country, our farmers will be able to use technology equipment when farming and also they will be able to store crops easily. It will help in flourishing business activities; schools can work smoothly and the health sector can improve without having any draws back.

“Our ambition is to work alongside visionary leaders such as President Chakwera in order to fulfil a common goal of having access to energy globally,” Nganga explained.

Nganga said that the launch of BESS is also proof that Malawi can overcome tremendous challenges concerning energy.

The project has been funded by the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), the Malawi government and ESCOM.

By Gift Chiponde and Paul Madise

Lilongwe, November 25, Mana: Residents of Dedza district have been encouraged to make effective use of the inputs they procured through the 2024/2025 Agricultural Input Program (AIP) to achieve self-reliance and create wealth at the household level.

The appeal was made by Village Headman Solowa at the Bembeke Fertilizer depot, who emphasized the importance of the AIP in enhancing crop yields and addressing hunger in rural communities.

"It is important to acknowledge the government’s efforts through the Ministry of Agriculture. As beneficiaries, we have to utilize these initiatives to maximize crop productivity rather than selling them to vendors," said Solowa.

Salowa further urged beneficiaries to adopt modern farming methods to increase yields and that farmers should embrace good agricultural methods for them to realize enough yields.

"As government distributes fertilizer to all Malawians nationwide this season, I appeal to responsible beneficiaries to collaborate with the government in tackling food shortages in our communities," Solowa stated.

In his remarks, Village Group Leader Kadammanja from Traditional Authority (TA) Kamenyagwaza noted that the commencement of the AIP demonstrates government's commitment to reach the intended beneficiaries on time.

"We must recognize government's effort, as they have embarked on mass distribution of AIP resources across the country. This development is very encouraging. However, it is concerning that, some may misuse this initiative. Such malpractices are not tolerated in our communities because they lead to food insecurity," said Kadammanja.

Evijenia Maliteni, a beneficiary from T/A Kamenyagwaza, expressed her excitement after successfully purchasing two bags of fertilizer.

“I hope to harvest enough for my family and even have a surplus that can transform our lives through increased yields compared to last year," she stated.

Maliteni further said she has committed herself to effectively use AIP opportunity as a tool for achieving food security.

By Albert Mulizakamba

Balaka, November 24, Mana: Police in Balaka District have apprehended three individuals identified as Mailosi Thole, 42, Francis Banda, 44 and John Akambwiri, 36 in connection with the theft of bags of maize, fertilizer and bales of sugar from a motor vehicle.

Confirming the development, Balaka Police Station Deputy Public Relations Officer, Sergeant Mphatso Munthali said the incident took place during the night of October 4 to 5, 2024 along the Chingeni-Liwonde Road.

"The arrests were made during a targeted operation in the district whereby a truck driver Patrick Awali was transporting fertilizer, maize and other assorted items and he noticed upon reaching Liwonde that his truck had been tampered with," he said.

"A subsequent check revealed that an unspecified number of bags of maize, fertilizer and other items were missing," he said.

Munthali added that the incident was later reported to Balaka Police Station and through diligent intelligence gathering; the three suspects were arrested on November 22, 2024.

Meanwhile, police have recovered nine bags of maize, 11 bags of fertilizer and six bales of sugar, all valued at K1,600,000.

All suspects hail from Khozi Village in the area of Traditional Authority Makwangwala in Ntcheu District and they are expected to appear in court soon to face charges related to the theft.

By Milton Sukasuka

Balaka, November 24, Mana: Police in Balaka have arrested a 46-year-old man, Paul Lipenga, for allegedly vandalizing and stealing Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) property valued at K5.5 million.

Balaka Police Station Public Relations Officer, Gladson M'bumpha said the incident happened on Friday at Mbera Trading Centre where Lipenga is accused of stealing 300 meters of 50mm Hazzle wire valued at K5.5 million.

M'bumpha said the detectives received the information that the suspect was keeping stolen ESCOM wires at his home.

“When the police followed up on the issue, they conducted a search at the suspect’s house and recovered the stolen wires leading to his arrest,” said M’bumpha.

He added that during investigations, Lipenga led the police to the scene where vandalism and theft occurred.

The suspect hails from Mgwira Village in Traditional Authority Nsamala, Balaka District and is expected to appear in court soon to answer charges of vandalizing and theft of ESCOM property.

By Joel Phiri

Mzimba, November 24, Mana: A 5-magnitude earthquake was Sunday felt in some parts of the northern region causing panic to some people in Mzuzu City, Karonga, Mzimba, Karonga and Nkhata Bay districts.

According to some of the people whom Malawi News Agency spoke to in random interviews, the earthquake which hit at 9:58 am caught them off guard as most of them were attending prayer services in various churches.

Others experienced while at home as some had its feel at entertainment places, being a weekend.

Justice Nantchengwa of Saint Paul Primary School in Mzimba described the moment as terrifying.

“I was with my children preparing breakfast in the kitchen when the ground started shaking, making me think that it was the end of the world. I grabbed and took my children outside the kitchen for safety,” said Nantchengwa.

As news spread people panicked at different places and some abandoned business places and rushed home to check on their loved ones.

In Likoma, a fisher James Mwasesa who was on Lake Malawi when the earthquake hit said that he felt his boat rocking violently and he thought that it was due to waves.

“I then saw some people running at the shore screaming and I immediately paddled back for safety,” said Mwasesa.

Mercy Phiri with others were in the middle of singing in church when it started shaking and some of the congregants ran outside the church as others were screaming in fear of what would befall them.

A resident of Karonga, Sarrah Chirwa said that she was scared as he thought of her family and house and I quickly called my husband to check the house if it was not affected by the earthquake.

“We were all relieved when we found the house in its stable condition,” said Chirwa.

People attending a conference at one of the tourism units in Nkhata Bay resorted to scampering their dear lives following the earthquake.

“It is reported that one of the speakers holding a microphone jumped outside the conference room. It was pure comedy seeing people running,” said a source who opted for anonymity.

At Nkholongo in Mzuzu City, some people who were on a church’s veranda jumped out to save their lives as they said the shaking was heavy.

Councilor for Boma Ward in Nkhata Bay, Cyria Adamanda said that he was reclining on her couch but he felt his house shaking until after some time when he realized that it was an earthquake.

Adamanda then advised people in the district and the country as a whole to construct houses, which can withstand natural disasters such as earthquakes.

The earthquake occurred in Lake Malawi at about 10:58 am (East African Time) with its epicentre at about 2 kilometres (km) northwest of Bamba Bay in Tanzania at a depth of 10 km.

Light shaking was felt throughout much of Northern and Central Malawi, South-western Tanzania, North-western Mozambique and far eastern Zambia.

By Hope Chimwala

Blantyre, November 24, Mana: Vice President, Dr. Michael Usi has encouraged the youth to indulge themselves in activities that will bring sustainable benefits to the future generation.

Speaking on Sunday at Mbayani Market, Usi emphasized on the need for the youth to be patriotic citizens who can also work hard to achieve their goals while maintaining peace and unity in the country.

"Let us do things in regard to the future generation that is coming and most of the youth here are not working, so let us do things that will benefit ourselves instead of just moving around in these streets, there is a need to work hard to be productive citizens," said Usi.

"In this country, we have life today and tomorrow we are dead, so let us do reasonable acts that will benefit us, how can someone early this morning drink alcohol?," asked Usi.

He also called on Mbayani Market Committee to elect the leadership at the market, with two women and men, respectively as chairperson and vice who are doing business at the market, to follow him to his Mudi Residence to discuss issues of NEEF loans in the quest of supporting small-scale businesses in the area. 

"Some people say, they are just lying to us, so here we are telling you, go and knock so in the process of knocking, the door will be opened for you. So I need two women and two men who will follow me to Mudi and I will notify you what to do and where to go," said Usi.

"Poverty is not something to be happy about. I know what poverty is, people are suffering, as they don't even know what to eat, they are always sleeping on an empty stomach without knowing what tomorrow will hold. I saw some woman crying that she hadn't eaten anything and when I looked at her I knew she was telling the truth," Usi added.

He, however, advised the youth who always use foul language to be conscious and desist from doing so whenever the President's convoy is passing by in the streets, as it is not within Malawian culture, fearing that such acts have the potential to fuel violence, which disrupts economic activities and property.

By Rosalia Kapiri

Lilongwe, November 23, Mana: A few months after delivering her third child, Margaret Kawala of Traditional Authority Dzoole in Dowa District discovered she was pregnant again. The news filled her with despair. After discussing it with her husband, the couple sought an abortion at a nearby hospital. However, healthcare workers declined, citing fear of legal repercussions.

Desperate and without options, Kawala turned to a herbalist for an unsafe abortion.

“I had no choice but to seek help from a herbalist who gave me a concoction. It was a decision my husband and I made together,” Kawala recounts.

She continued to narrate that a few hours after taking the herbal mixture, she began experiencing excruciating pain.

"It felt like a grinder was cutting through my womb. I started bleeding heavily and eventually lost consciousness," she says.

Her relatives rushed her to a private hospital, where her condition was deemed so severe that she was referred to Kamuzu Central Hospital.

“I had lost so much blood, and the doctors told me my womb was damaged. The only solution was to remove my uterus. It was heartbreaking to learn I would never give birth again,” she recalls tearfully.

Her suffering didn’t end there. A year after her uterus removal, her husband left her, saying he wanted more children, a possibility she could no longer offer.

Kawala’s story mirrors the pain of many Malawians, including widower Humphrey Zembeni from Kamwana Village in Lilongwe. Zembeni lost his wife after an unsafe abortion. Despite being on contraceptives, she fell pregnant with their seventh child.

“We weren’t ready for another child, so we sought help from a traditional healer,” Zembeni explains.

“The concoction caused severe bleeding, which resulted in a punctured uterus and internal injuries. Tragically, these injuries led to her death.

“It is Malawi’s law on abortion that killed my wife. That law is a killer and should be repealed,” Zembeni laments.

According to a 2017 report on the Incidence of Induced Abortion in Malawi, unsafe abortions contribute to 18 percent of maternal deaths in the country.

Coalition for the Prevention of Unsafe Abortion (COPUA) Vice Chairperson, Dr Amos Nyaka, explains that the problem has worsened over time.

“From 2009 to 2015, the abortion rate was 23.5 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 45. By 2022, this figure rose to 38 per 1,000 women,” says Dr. Nyaka.

A 2015 study by the Guttmacher Institute and Malawi’s College of Medicine revealed that over 140,000 women and girls induced abortions that year.

Dr. Nyaka further notes that most women seeking abortions in Malawi are married.

“Malawi’s abortion law permits termination only when the life of the pregnant woman is at risk. However, you cannot stop someone who has decided to terminate a pregnancy, leading them to unsafe methods,” he adds.

Data from government health facilities showed that in 2022 alone, over 36,000 women and girls sought post-abortion care from government hospitals due to complications from unsafe procedures.

Nyaka notes that this places a significant burden on healthcare resources that could be used for other priorities, underscoring the potential benefits of legalizing safe abortion in the country.

At the request of the Ministry of Health, a special Law Commission reviewed the Penal Code provisions related to abortion, and in 2015 proposed the Termination of Pregnancy (ToP) Bill .

The bill included other four permitted grounds for terminating pregnancy namely; pregnancy would be allowed to be terminated if it would endanger the life of the pregnant woman, prevent injury to the physical and mental health of the pregnant woman, there is severe malformation of the foetus so that it cannot survive after birth and finally if the pregnancy is a result of rape, incest or defilement.

However, despite these guidelines for the termination of pregnancy, there has been resistance from religious groups, as well as cultural, societal, and traditional communities.

Human Rights Lawyer, Chrispin Sibande, says people need to understand what the law says as not everyone has grasped the exact guidelines stipulated in the bill.

“There is need for mass awareness on this. The bill says termination of pregnancy shall not be provided because a woman demands the service but rather the health provider authorised by law to terminate pregnancy would determine whether the legal grounds for termination exist,” Sibande explains.

Sibande further explains that restrictive laws instil fear in women, discouraging them from seeking safe options for terminating a pregnancy and that this fear drives many to pursue secret and unsafe abortions, which significantly increase maternal mortality, rates.

He also highlights that such laws contribute to stigma surrounding abortion, subjecting women to societal judgment, social isolation, and emotional distress.

The law on abortion dates back in the 1930s hence the call for review to protect rights of women including allowing them to access safe abortions so that they can live in good health.

“Abortion is a challenging issue. Religious leaders should try to resolve the dilemma by letting the state do its work to protect the health of women,” Kaliya said.

Executive Director for the Centre for Solutions Journalism, Brian Ligomeka, commends the government for its efforts to reduce maternal mortality, including raising the legal marriage age to 18 and enacting the Gender Equality Act.

Ligomeka emphasizes the need to pass the ToP Bill, “When passed, this bill will significantly reduce unsafe abortions in Malawi,” he asserts.

At a media workshop in Lilongwe, Ligomeka urged journalists to cover sexual and reproductive health issues professionally, highlighting topics like fistula, abortions, and contraception to promote informed public discourse.

The stories of Margaret Kawala and Humphrey Zembeni underscore the urgent need for Malawi to reform its abortion laws.

Unsafe abortions continue to claim lives and devastate families. By legalizing safe abortion and increasing public awareness, Malawi can protect its women and reduce maternal deaths caused by unsafe procedures.

By Gift Chiponde and Paul Madise

Lilongwe, November 24, Mana: Beneficiaries of the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) in Nathenje and Nanjiri, Lilongwe, have described the implementation of the 2024/205 AIP as a transformative opportunity for their community, particularly in terms of food security and improved livelihoods.

This development coincides with the government’s nationwide rollout of the AIP, which aims to support a large number of beneficiaries and enhance productivity among smallholder farmers across the country.

Stephano Kachelenga, a beneficiary from Makhwa Village in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Kalumba, expressed gratitude for being included in this year's AIP.

He stated that during previous growing seasons, he was relying on organic fertilizers, and that participation in the AIP will enable him to create a self-reliant home and increase his productivity.

"I am very certain that if we experience favourable rainfall patterns, I will achieve a bumper harvest," Kachelenga said. "This is my first time being part of the AIP beneficiaries, and I am grateful that the government has considered me for this initiative."

Kachelenga encouraged AIP beneficiaries to use the inputs provided for their intended purpose, emphasizing the importance of improving food security, increasing production, and fostering self-reliant households, both at the family level and within the community.

In her remarks, Daleni Chiseka from Njole Village, T/A Kalumba, speaking at the Nanjiri depot, also expressed satisfaction with the AIP implementation.

She is optimistic that the distribution will yield positive results, as many people in the area are active farmers.

Mathews Laurent Phiri, a sales clerk at Nathenje depot, provided an overview of the AIP proceedings, stating that since the programme commenced, they have been able to sell inputs due to the discipline exhibited by community members.

He stressed that the sales team is committed to ensuring all AIP protocols are followed and that every beneficiary has access to the inputs during selling hours.

"This season, we are making sure that every AIP beneficiary has access to all farm inputs. Currently, we do assist over 100 beneficiaries daily through Village Development Committees (VDCs)," he added.