Items filtered by date: May 2025

By Arkangel Tembo

LILONGWE, AUGUST 1, MANA: "Nthawi yopuma tilibe, kumalembe m'bokosi ndiye tchuthi. As you live, you hustle for ana ako kapena mayi ako," musicians were singing the late Victor Mwangobola popularly known as Tremour’s song as their fellow musician brown coffin was being lowered into the grave on Monday.

At exactly, 3:02pm, the body of musician, Tremour, who died on Sunday after being involved in a motorcycle accident was laid to rest at Area 18 cemetery in Lilongwe.

Thousands of people that came to pay their last respects braved the heat.

Father and mother to the late Tremour looked devastated as they waved at the coffin, before being lowered into the grave.

As the coffin was slowly descending into the grave, women shed tears in disbelief, while on the other side choir members were singing, "Ndigoneranji mmanda ndekha."

An announcement was made by the master of ceremonies, "Azibambo senderani kuno tilandirane Ntchito yokwilira manda imafunika kuthandizana."(Meaning they should help grave diggers to bury Tremour).

One man in a black trouser and shirt, standing a far carried a cross bearing all the details of date of birth and death of Tremour. Next to her were women with fresh wreathes made from red and green flowers.

There was total silence when the pastor said," Dust to dust," while pouring the soil inside the grave. 

It was a heartbreaking moment when the mother to Tremour stood next to the grave, with her head looking down at the coffin of his Son six feet under the ground.

In tears, the mother shouted while waving at the coffin, "I still can’t believe you’re gone my Son. Rest in peace Son.

Every single day will be harder than the day before to walk this earth without you by my side. I love you more than this world Son Fly high, it’s not goodbye. goodnight until we meet again, Son.”

Tremour's little sister, could not control her tears, as she shouted, "Why God Why God have you allowed my brother to leave us alone, he always came home with that big beautiful smile of his. It was an absolute pleasure to have had Tremour as my brother. I'm so grateful to have you as my brother." After adzukulu finished their job, the master of ceremonies requested for the cross which was carried by a man."Bwelesani mtanda kuno tikhomele kumutu tamaliza kukonza nyumba ya Tremour"

After the burial ceremony, one by one left the cemetery with darkness going to their various homes leaving Tremour all alone 6 feet under the ground.

He was laid to rest a few meters where another Malawian musician, Martse was buried.

It all started, on a Saturday night when Tremour was coming from the studio in area 25 when he met his fate.

He boarded a motorcycle heading home after work, before a car hit their motorcycle.

He sustained head injuries before being rushed to Kamuzu Central Hospital.

Tremour breathed his last on Sunday and he left Malawians with this message in one of his hits, " Nthawi yopuma tilibe, kumalembe m'bokosi ndiye tchuthi. As you live, you hustle for ana ako kapena mayi ako.

By Ernest Mfunya

Mangochi, August 1, Mana: Global Hope Mobilisation (GLOHOMO) says proper coordination amongst stakeholders in Mangochi has potential to combat trafficking in persons which is a common practice in the district.

Speaking during the commemoration of anti-human trafficking day on Monday, which was held at Kwiputi Primary School in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Jalasi, Case Tracking Officer for GLOHOMO, Madalitso Magelegele said issues of trafficking in persons are common in Mangochi as many people are tricked to find jobs in countries like South Africa.

Magelegele said raising awareness on prevention, prosecution and protection on trafficking in persons would help minimise future occurrence of such incidences.

“It is so disheartening that in this 21^st century, we are still witnessing cases of trafficking in persons, a malpractice which violates human rights, health concerns and governance.

"Mangochi is considered as a transit and destination district for victims and, as an organisation, we believe that working jointly with other districts and community stakeholders can really help the fight against trafficking in persons,” he said.

Magelegele also urged young girls and boys, who are mostly victims of the malpractice, to be on alert and report anyone to authorities once they sense such danger, saying community is crucial in dealing with the malpractice.

Chairperson for Mangochi District Council, Hassan Chikuta commended GLOHOMO for its efforts in curbing human trafficking saying such interventions are bearing fruits in the district.

"As a council, we appreciate what GLOHOMO is doing in Mangochi. As such, we would like to request other able partners to come in and support us in raising awareness against the malpractice," said Chikuta.

Member for Malomba Area Development Committee, Elias Kandiotchi, conquered with the council chairperson saying through Tigwirane Manja Project, the committee has managed to rescue four people out of seven cases reported to them this year.

Kandiotchi, however, said the committee faces numerous challenges such as lack of transportation in their fight against the trend.

GLOHOMO is implementing Tigwirane Manja Project with funding from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in nine districts of the country including Mangochi.

The organisation has been following and supporting a total of 45 trafficking cases that are in the courts across Malawi particularly in the focused districts of Phalombe, Machinga, Dedza, Ntchisi, Kasungu, Mzimba, Mangochi, Karonga and Ntchisi.

Out of 45 cases, five are from Mangochi.

By Maria Tembo

Ntchisi, August 1, Mana: Business operators from Malomo Trading Centre in Ntchisi District on Monday marched to the office of the District Commissioner (DC) to submit a petition to have foreign nationals of Burundi and Rwanda removed from the trading centre.

The demonstrators argued, among other concerns, that the foreign nationals were operating illegally and were also a security risk as sometimes they converge at night and gunshot sounds come from their meeting.

Reading the petition before handing it over to the DC, Lusizi Nhlane, the group’s chairperson, Yatimu Hamazi said Burundians who were told to go back to Dzaleka Refugee Camp have returned to the area and some of them did not relocate to the camp even though government had ordered them to.

Hamazi also highlighted issues such as conducting multiple businesses with one license and illegal brewing of strong alcoholic beverages that were not vetted by the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) thereby putting the lives of the youth in the area at risk.

The demonstrators had, in their petition, issued an eight-day ultimatum for the Council officials to vacate the foreigners from the trading centre failing which they would carry out an unspecified action.

Receiving the petition, the DC asked the gathering to hold patience as procedures to have their request submitted to the relevant authorities for action would take time and the eight-day ultimatum would not be practical.

He, however, assured them that law enforcement officials from the Council would visit the trading centre to verify the allegations and execute an action.

“We are hoping that what the DC has told us that a team of police officers will inspect the area and verify our concerns will come to pass,” explained Hamazi in an interview after delivering the petition.

By Phyllis Nkhoma

Kasungu, July 31, Mana: Member of Parliament (MP) for Kasungu Central Constituency, Ken Kandodo, says the new road being constructed within Kasungu Central Business District will help boost economic activities in the municipality and beyond.

Kandodo, a Malawi Congress Party (MCP) legislator, said this Saturday when he inspected construction works on the K2 billion road project to appreciate its progress.

Accompanied by party supporters, Kandodo said he has engaged the Roads Fund Administration to consider erecting streets lights in the municipality after the completion of the project.

He said: “I decided to come to see for myself the work progress amidst reports that the people of Kasungu came in large numbers to witness the road construction. What is remaining now is to erect street lights.

“So far I am impressed with the good work that the contractor is doing. For several years we did not have good roads in the municipality which was affecting economic activities.” 

Kandodo expressed hope that all the roads in the constituency will be upgraded to accelerate process of turning the municipality into a city.

“We are rehabilitating the entire road network within the constituency with Constituency Development Fund (CDF) which is now pegged at K100 million per constituency per financial year,” he said.

Councilor for Chankhanga Ward, Brighton Ngalande, said the road works signify the seriousness of the country’s leadership to transform the transport infrastructure as a means of promoting economic activities in the communities.

Early last week, Mayor for Kasungu Municipality Heese Nyangu expressed satisfaction with the quality and progress of the six-month project being carried out by Master Construction.  

The project which started in April is expected to be completed by October this year.

By Aubrey Kashoni

Thyolo, July 31, Mana: Thyolo District Council has elected Councilor Listen Banda as its new Chairperson with Idrissa Gausi as his vice.

The Council held its elections on Monday where Banda defeated Maggie Kambewa and Magrisa Zuze while Gausi outclassed Petrol Bomani and James Sayenda.

Speaking after the elections, Banda said he will continue from where the outgoing chair has left in as far as development is concerned in the district.

He said he will engage all relevant stakeholders to promote development activities in the district and ensure that the Council is delivering positively.

"Bringing good development need good communication. As such, I will make sure that there is proper coordination among the Council members and the people in the district.

“I will also work hand in hand with the Council on Community Development Fund and other government resources to ensure it is being used for its intended purpose,” he said.

Outgoing Chairperson, George Matiya said, during his tenure, he brought unity between Council directors and the office of the District Commissioner hence urged the newly elected Chair to consult him where need be.

The election was graced by Members of Parliament, District Executive Committee members, Ward Councilors, officials from the Malawi Electoral Commission and Traditional Authorities, among others.

By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, July 31, Mana: Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Security has given a nod to government to relocate a refugee camp from Dzaleka to Kayilizi area in Chitipa.

Chairperson for the Committee, Ralph Jooma hailed government for the move to relocate Dzaleka Refugee Camp to Kayilizi saying the area is ideal for the camp.

Jooma said this Sunday after touring the proposed area in Senior Chief Mwenewenya in Chitipa District.

"We have shortage of land at Dzaleka which has 201 hectares of land while here we have 330 hectares which is a great improvement and ideal for a refugee camp," Jooma said.

Jooma said his Committee was impressed with the land as it is bigger and close to the border unlike Dzaleka which is in the interior of the country thereby raising security concerns.

He expressed his Committee’s gratitude to traditional leaders and the people of Kayizili for welcoming the development saying the refugee camp will also fast track development in areas such as education, health, trade and road infrastructure.

In his remarks, Group Village Head Kayilizi dismissed rumours of resistance by his subjects.

"My people have welcomed the project wholeheartedly. Actually, this is a very rural area and it would have taken ages for us to reach urbanisation. However, with the coming of the camp, we stand to benefit in all sectors," said Kayilizi.

Government decided to close Dzaleka Refugee Camp and find a new site close to the northern borders of the country as one way of improving refugee management.

By Shaffie Bakali

Mangochi, July 31, Mana: Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) says media practitioners have a critical role of raising awareness on new electoral laws to the general public as new guidelines for electoral processes.

The new electoral laws; Constitution (amendment) Act, Electoral (amendment) Act and Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Elections act, all become in effect in 2023.

Speaking to Mangochi-based journalists on Saturday, MEC chairman of Research, Evaluation and Monitoring committee who is also member of Media, Civic and Voter Education, Commissioner Dr Emmanuel Fabiano said journalists are key players in educating the public about the newly amended electoral laws.

"Journalists are very close to people and we have imparted knowledge in them so that the knowledge reaches the public through programs and articles of their respective radio stations and newspapers," Fabiano said.

The Commissioner also challenged journalists in the country to maintain fairness, accuracy and objectivity when reporting matters related to elections.

In his remarks, one of the participants, District Information Officer for Mangochi, Bishop Witmos commended MEC for the training, saying that it was an eye opener.

Witmos therefore assured MEC that the media in Mangochi will work collaboratively with the commission in disseminating electoral information and educating the public to ensure that communities are able to make informed decisions.

Currently the commission is in preparation for by-elections of councilor for Mwasa ward in Mangochi Central Constituency, and Mtiya ward in Zomba Central Constituency, scheduled to take place on 26 of September this year.

One of the amendments made to the Constitution is in section 36 (2) where by-elections will be held within 30 days from the day that the position became vacant and no by-elections within 12 months to the general elections.

On the other hand, Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Elections act classifies defamation or downplaying as not fair form of campaign and thus subject to court sanctions while fine for obstructing electoral processes is K10 million or in default serve five years in jail.

These new guidelines were approved in parliament in December of 2022 and became effective on June 15, this year.

By Joel Phiri

Mzimba, July 31, mana: Mzimba based extension workers have been challenged to share knowledge they gain from various trainings with local structures in order to benefit local communities and improve the environment.

Speaking on Saturday in Mzuzu during a training for extension workers from Mzimba under the Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme, District Commissioner for the District, Rodney Simwaka said extension workers are the bedrock of agricultural field work hence success in the field can be registered if they share knowledge gained during the training with local structures.

‘‘Extension workers are vital on which the success of all agricultural activities revolve around because they work on the ground with local structures. If we need to implement agricultural activities in areas such as forestry and farming extension workers are critical. But they should be able to work with the communities and share the knowledge, ’’said Simwaka.

Simwaka said Mzimba just like most districts in Malawi is facing environmental degradation due to among other factors tree cutting due to charcoal burning. He also lamented the low tree survival rate.

‘‘Taking care of the environment should be a shared a responsibility. This means the extension workers should be able to work with local clubs and everyone in the local communities on conserving the environment.’’

Simwaka said the training was organised with an aim of imparting skills to the extension workers on how they can set up woodlots and nurseries and also take care of the general environment.

Director of environment and natural resources for Mzimba, Ezra Mbendera challenged the extension workers to work hard in preserving the environment by involving grassroots structures.

One of the extension workers, Jimmy Allan Phiri from Champhira extension area said the training helped him get insights on establishment of woodlots and nurseries.

The programme is being implemented by Malawi government through the National Local Government Finance Committee with funding from World Bank.

It focuses on land resource and forestry conservation to improve soil fertility as a means of responding to effects of climate change.

By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, July 31, Mana: July 8 will go down in the history of one Lemekezani Phiri, 45, as a day he cheated death from two fronts right inside his home at Chiwoko Village in Senior Chief Chulu in Kasungu North West.

He narrates: “I was sleeping on a mat on the floor while my wife and a child were sleeping on the bed. At around 11pm, I heard a squeaking noise outside the house. I knew it was an elephant because I have encountered them before.

“This time it was right on the door of my house. Before I had done anything, I saw bricks falling where the wife and the kid were sleeping. I was lucky because the bricks did not fall on me but the wife and child were hurt.”

The elephant had pushed the walls making them crack and collapse narrowly missing him. After this narrow escape, Phiri now had to face the elephant – a huge towering beast making way into his house.

“I had kept some bags of maize in the house and that was its target.  We quickly took a few things and run away while calling for help. Rangers from the nearby Kasungu National Park arrived a few moments later,” he recalls.

When Phiri returned to his house in the company of rangers, he helplessly saw the beast holding up a bag of maize pouring the grain down its throat before being scared away by fireworks.

It was a long night for the family as another elephant came to the same house to finish off the remaining grain and a bag of flour. At least six elephants had visited the village on the night.

“I lost four bags of maize in total, my child was injured and I spent a lot of money on hospital bills and the house is as you can see,” Phiri says, pointing at the debris of his destroyed house.

Left with nowhere to live, Phiri sought refuge at his mother in-law’s place together with his three children while his property was deposited at the village chief’s house.

In another incident, a lactating elephant trampled to death a 32 year old mother of five, Masiye Phiri, as she went out to gather vegetables at a garden near the park boundary.

“Ms Phiri was gathering vegetables near the park boundary when a female elephant with a calf attacked her. The woman was carrying her two year old baby who survived the incident unhurt and was immediately rushed to the hospital for observation,” says International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) in a statement.

The baby’s grandmother, however, says the baby was lifted up and hit onto the ground and had its leg fractured in the process.

Communities in the area tell tales of horrific and routine attacks by elephants which take advantage of the absence of a perimeter fence along the densely populated eastern park boundary.

Group village headman (GVH) Nyambo says the problem of elephants is getting worse.

He says: “All along we have lived peacefully here until February this year when we started seeing elephants invading our homes although the situation was not bad.

“Somewhere around April, we saw the situation getting bad until now when we see the elephants coming every night. We are not safe at all and live in fear,”  

He says infrastructure supporting irrigation farming in schemes lie idle because the schemes have been abandoned as crops get damaged or eaten away.

“Kachere scheme, for instance, used to support 52 household farmers on 11.5 hectares of land. This time as you can see, the facility lies idle. We stopped everything we were doing here.

“This time we have nothing, except poverty. We are farmers; that is how we survive. Now we don’t know what to do,” says Nyambo, sounding frustrated. 

Concurring with Nyambo is GVH Chafwamba who points out that people in the area do not have food as the elephants ate their crops in the gardens and now break houses eating maize, flour and groundnuts.

He says: “My people here have no food. All the crops in the field were eaten. Those who managed to buy some maize are equally hungry now as elephants break houses and eat the maize or flour they find.

“We have abandoned our schemes now because anything we can plant is destroyed. Just last night, someone has had his house destroyed, maize eaten and is now destitute. Today it will be another person.”

Drying stems of bananas, broken houses and deserted gardens are a common sight in the area bearing testimony of the destructive conduct of the world’s largest land mammal.

The genesis of the mayhem is the absence of a perimeter fence in some stretches along the 130km eastern park border where communities have also invaded the buffer zone meant to hedge the park and keep gardens away from the sight and sniffing distance of animals.

Park authorities have so far managed to erect 67.2km of wire fence and say they will add another 20km with support from International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) by December this year to cover Chulu area, meaning at least 40km up to Chisinga near the Zambian border will still be without a fence.

Kasungu National Park Manager Ndaona Kumanga says materials for constructing the fence are being procured, assuring the communities that the area will be fortified at least by December.

“The challenge we have is that the fence is very expensive. It costs $10 000 [about K10.6 million] per km. However, we assure the communities that we will cover the entire stretch.

“Another challenge is that people cultivate too close to the park  and the buffer zone has long been destroyed. In that case, elephants can always smash the fence and destroy the crops,” Kumanga says.

According to park authorities, the taste of grass in the western park boundary is somewhat sour unlike the eastern side where the grass is said to be sweet hence the elephants are expanding their home range eastwards.

“So as they go east, they see crops which are grown very close to the park. In the absence of the wire, they easily go and destroy those crops.

“It is a big problem that requires the efforts of all stakeholders including our colleagues in the agriculture sector. We need to sit down and see which crops can be grown near the park boundary in the absence of a buffer zone,” Kumanga says.

District Commissioner for Kasungu, James Kanyangalazi, says the government is aware of the human-animal conflict and its impact at Chulu area adding there is an assessment report being done to know the exact extent of need.

He says: “We have received reports on the situation here and that is also why we went to visit and see for ourselves. There is an assurance that the fence will be erected this year covering an additional 20km.

“I plead with the communities to be cooperative and own this project so that we do not see the fence being vandalised. We hope after the fence is erected, their lives will get back to normalcy.”

Kanyangalazi thanked the people of Chulu for being peaceful despite the many challenges they are facing.

“I assure you that this is the last year you are encountering this problem. We are doing everything to protect this community. When the fence project commences, let’s support and own it,” he says.

Member of Parliament for the area Bauden Mtonga also assures the communities that the fence project will commence soon and that lives will get back to normality.

Established in 1970, Kasungu is country’s second largest national park siting on 2 316 square km and is home to about 400 elephants, 263 of which were translocated from Liwonde National Park. 

As the wait for the fence continues, lives, houses, crops and peace also continue to be lost, throwing the once prospering communities in socioeconomic disarray and a growing reality of deepening poverty and insecurity.

By Wakisa Myamba

Karonga, July 30, Mana: Chairperson for the Parliamentary Committee on Transport and Public Works, Enock Phale Saturday said the committee is impressed with  construction progress of  Nthola-Ilola rice processing factory in Karonga. Phale made the remarks alongside the committee’s tour to Nthola-Ilola Irrigation Scheme in the district which is being implemented by Green Belt Authority (GBA).

parliamentary committee toured the rice processing factory. “We are impressed with the progress which has been registered on this project. It is almost done as it is at 90 percent completion level,” said Phale.,Phale pledged that the committee will continue monitoring and following-up the irrigation’s corresponding water intake construction works until the scheme becomes functional.

In his remarks, Paramount Chief Kyungu applauded the government through GBA for investing in irrigation activities in the district. He said the factory and rice irrigation scheme has great potential to contribute towards the development of the country once completed and utilized efficiently. Director of Irrigation Operations at GBA, Dr Chisomo Kumbuyo asked the parliamentary committee members to assist the institution by lobbying government to ensure that funds allocated to the authority are disbursed in time and in full amounts for fast progression of the project. Kumbuyo said that the authority's projects fully rely on public funds as such any delay in financial disbursement leads to delays and sometimes stalling of projects. "We are committed to delivering this project. We appeal to the committee for your support," Kumbuyo said.

According to the contractor, the rice processing factory will be finished in the next 30 days, Upon completion, the factory is expected to contribute greatly to rice processing and value-addition strides.