Items filtered by date: June 2025

By Phyllis Nkhoma

Kasungu, August 21, Mana: Chief Agricultural Officer for Kasungu, Chikumbutso Liwonde says availability of well established markets can help boost agricultural productivity and assist farmers to progress in agri-business.

In an interview at the end of a three-day agriculture fair in Kasungu on Saturday, Liwonde said availability of good markets in the country would encourage farmers to expand their agricultural enterprises and take agriculture as a serious business venture.

He said: “Every year, our farmers cultivate diverse crops for both food and commercial purposes. However, they do not benefit much because of lack of good markets.

“In most cases, farmers sell their produce to local vendors at very low prices. In the end, they do not benefit anything from their work and in the long run, it discourages and force them to scale down production.”

Liwonde said the district agricultural fair was, therefore, organised to help farmers to meet and interact with potential buyers and also to accord them with an opportunity to learn modern methods of farming for improved yields.

Mayor for Kasungu Municipality, Heese Nyangu, said the agricultural fair was a good platform where farmers exhibited their produce for the attention of prospective buyers.

He encouraged farmers to adopt crop diversification to shrug off climatic shocks and also as a means to earn more from farming.

“Let us produce diverse crops so that we should have enough food and something for sale. This way we can easily prosper,” he said.

One of the farmers, Grace Shaba of Mphomwa Cooperative which produces cooking oil, asked Malawians to be buying farm produce from the local farmers saying most people opt to buy imported products.

“It is disheartening that most Malawians buy imported products while the same products are available locally. Buying locally produced products does not only support local farmers, but also helps to preserve foreign currency which we all know is in short supply,” she said.

Organised by the Kasungu agriculture office under the theme “Enhanced agriculture productivity and market linkage, key to industrialisation”, the fair attracted various farming cooperatives and individuals from across the district.

Agricultural commercialisation and productivity is one of the anchoring pillars of the Malawi 2063 development blueprint which seeks to make Malawi a middle income and self-reliant country by 2063.

By Phyllis Nkhoma

Kasungu, August 21, Mana: Chief Agricultural Officer for Kasungu, Chikumbutso Liwonde says availability of well established markets can help boost agricultural productivity and assist farmers to progress in agri-business.

In an interview at the end of a three-day agriculture fair in Kasungu on Saturday, Liwonde said availability of good markets in the country would encourage farmers to expand their agricultural enterprises and take agriculture as a serious business venture.

He said: “Every year, our farmers cultivate diverse crops for both food and commercial purposes. However, they do not benefit much because of lack of good markets.

“In most cases, farmers sell their produce to local vendors at very low prices. In the end, they do not benefit anything from their work and in the long run, it discourages and force them to scale down production.”

Liwonde said the district agricultural fair was, therefore, organised to help farmers to meet and interact with potential buyers and also to accord them with an opportunity to learn modern methods of farming for improved yields.

Mayor for Kasungu Municipality, Heese Nyangu, said the agricultural fair was a good platform where farmers exhibited their produce for the attention of prospective buyers.

He encouraged farmers to adopt crop diversification to shrug off climatic shocks and also as a means to earn more from farming.

“Let us produce diverse crops so that we should have enough food and something for sale. This way we can easily prosper,” he said.

One of the farmers, Grace Shaba of Mphomwa Cooperative which produces cooking oil, asked Malawians to be buying farm produce from the local farmers saying most people opt to buy imported products.

“It is disheartening that most Malawians buy imported products while the same products are available locally. Buying locally produced products does not only support local farmers, but also helps to preserve foreign currency which we all know is in short supply,” she said.

Organised by the Kasungu agriculture office under the theme “Enhanced agriculture productivity and market linkage, key to industrialisation”, the fair attracted various farming cooperatives and individuals from across the district.

Agricultural commercialisation and productivity is one of the anchoring pillars of the Malawi 2063 development blueprint which seeks to make Malawi a middle income and self-reliant country by 2063.

By Abubakar Kanjoka

Kasungu, August 21, Mana: Central East Region Police Commissioner, Rhoda Manjolo, has encouraged female officers to report gender-based violence (GBV) acts which they encounter in their families.

Manjolo said this in Kasungu on Saturday during an orientation of Central East Police Women Welfare members from Kasungu on issues of GBV and women empowerment.

She said despite that spouses of police officers experience different acts of violence in their homes, just like any other women in the society, but mostly choose not to report because of fear.

“We must emphasise that police officers must be exemplary in ensuring that their homes are violence free. If our husbands happen to be the perpetrators of such malpractices, we should not hesitate to report them so that they face the law.

“Equally, as women, we must support and encourage our husbands. As much as there is no justification for violence, we must not be those confusionists that bring misunderstandings that trigger violence in families,” she said.

She said with the nature of their job, police officers need to have a sober and stable psychological state which can be made possible if there is love, peace and harmony in their families.

Manjolo also encouraged the women to venture into small businesses so that they are self-reliant and able to provide basic necessities without depending on their husbands.

“Small-scale businesses will enable us to be independent and very supportive to our families, and men fear to abuse such kind of spouses,” she said.

Chairperson for the group’s Kasungu chapter, Esther Mpakiza, thanked the region’s management for arranging the orientation saying it will help change their homes for the better.

She said: “This training has been an eye opener for us as we were reminded of our roles on how to best manage our homes, specifically in taking care of our spouses and children.

“With the stress management counselling we have received today, there is hope that we will be able to improve the way we manage difficult circumstances without triggering family conflicts. This way we will prevent GBV.”

Mana/ak/wt/ccm/pk

By Manasse Nyirenda

Johannesburg, August 21, Mana: President Chakwera has urged Malawian professionals and investors in diaspora to invest back home and contribute to development of the country.

The president was engaging Malawian professionals and investors based in South Africa on Monday as part of his side engagements at 15^th BRICS Summit which officially opens on Tuesday August 22 at Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

In an interview after the meeting, Minister of Finance, Sosten Gwengwe said the investors showcased their investment interests to the president.

“These investors  are making it big in number of sectors including telecommunications and construction in South Africa among others.

“The good thing is that a number of them are already active in a number of investments back home. The president has just emphasized that Malawi will only develop if Malawians take the lead in championing development,” he said.

Representative of Malawian investors and professionals in South Africa, Fumu Msiska said they had a very fruitful meeting with the president and the team is ready to invest back home.

The president will also meet South African investors on Tuesday.

The president arrived in South Africa on Sunday to attend  BRICS Summit, a grouping of five countries comprising of Brazil, China, Russia and South Africa on invitation by South African president Cyril Ramaphosa.

Among key topics at the summit will be expansion of BRICS to include more members.

A number of African countries have expressed interest to Join which include Egypt, Nigeria and Zimbabwe among others.

By Sheminah Nkhoma

Lilongwe, August 21, MANA: United Nation Childrens Fund (UNICEF) in partnership with the United States of America and Germany government on Monday donated assorted medical equipment to the Ministry of Health.

Speaking in Lilongwe, during the handover ceremony, UNICEF Representative to Malawi, Shadrack Omol said Malawi has for years faced numerous health challenges from significant gaps in the work force due to frequent shortages in essential medical supplies.

“As UNICEF we want to reach every child in the rural and remote areas because when health emergencies like Covid-19 or outbreaks such as Cholera arise it is difficult for Health Surveillance Assistant (HSA) to work due to shortages of medical equipment,

"As such we have donated community health, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) and Screening and Immunization supplies,” he said.

Receiving the donation Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda acknowledged UNICEF for the kind gesture adding that the donation has come in good time as the ministry is conducting polio and cholera campaigns.

“We appreciate for the support that UNICEF has done by donating equipment worth 14 million USD, as Ministry of health we will make sure that all the donation has worked for the intended purpose in the community, so that we can improve our health sector”, She said,

The donation includes three refrigerated vans, 280 vaccine refrigerators,100 cold boxes,6000 vaccine carriers, 100,000 water packs, 700 push bicycles, 11,000 Gumboots, 11,000 Back packs, 11,000 Rain courts, 350 Phone tablets, 12,300 Glucometers and 12,300 BP machines.

By Manase Nyirenda

Johannesburg, August 21, Mana: Minister of Foreign affairs Nancy Tembo has said the BRICS will offer more access to developmental financing for Malawi, as the grouping focuses on economic development.

Tembo made the remarks on Monday on the sidelines of a meeting president Chakwera had with Malawian investors based in South Africa at Danvici Hotel in Johannesburg.

“The BRICS have huge ambitions for development financing and for the continent of Africa.  This gives us additional resources for financing projects in Malawi.

“That means Malawi will have a chance to tap into different funds for development in addition to the IMF and World Bank,” she said.

She said the president’s presence at the Summit will offer the government of Malawi a platform to engage the leaders of the BRICS on the challenges Malawi is facing.

The president is attending the summit on invitation by South African president Cyril Ramaphosa who is hosting the summit.

President Chakwera said he would take advantage of the summit to engage Malawi’s development partners on Malawi’s debts among others.

Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Africa (BRICS) is a grouping of five emerging world economies formed in 2006.

It accounts for a quarter of the world’s economy and at least 40 percent of the world’s economy.

Presidents of China, Xi jinping Brazil Lura Da Silva and India’s prime minister, Nalendra Modi respectively including many other invited delegates from different are also expected to attend.

Expansion of the BRICS is expected to feature highly at the meeting and Ramaphosa during his national address on Sunday said South Africa supports expansion of the BRICS.

The meeting officially opens on Tuesday, August 22 at Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

By Sheminah Nkhoma

Lilongwe, August 21, MANA: United Nation Childrens Fund (UNICEF) in partnership with the United States of America and Germany government on Monday donated assorted medical equipment to the Ministry of Health.

Speaking in Lilongwe, during the handover ceremony, UNICEF Representative to Malawi, Shadrack Omol said Malawi has for years faced numerous health challenges from significant gaps in the work force due to frequent shortages in essential medical supplies.

“As UNICEF we want to reach every child in the rural and remote areas because when health emergencies like Covid-19 or outbreaks such as Cholera arise it is difficult for Health Surveillance Assistant (HSA) to work due to shortages of medical equipment,

"As such we have donated community health, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) and Screening and Immunization supplies,” he said.

Receiving the donation Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda acknowledged UNICEF for the kind gesture adding that the donation has come in good time as the ministry is conducting polio and cholera campaigns.

“We appreciate for the support that UNICEF has done by donating equipment worth 14 million USD, as Ministry of health we will make sure that all the donation has worked for the intended purpose in the community, so that we can improve our health sector”, She said,

The donation includes three refrigerated vans, 280 vaccine refrigerators,100 cold boxes,6000 vaccine carriers, 100,000 water packs, 700 push bicycles, 11,000 Gumboots, 11,000 Back packs, 11,000 Rain courts, 350 Phone tablets, 12,300 Glucometers and 12,300 BP machines.

By Esnath Kalawe

Lilongwe, August 20, Mana: Mentors International Malawi on Friday awarded international certificates to 115 students after successful completion of a 15-week training course in different programmes.

Mentors International Centre of Education and Mentoring (CEM) is a high quality training centre which focuses on the success of its students sponsored by foreign donors, who understand that the only way out of the cycle of poverty is through providing education, and one to one mentoring.

The graduation provided foreign donors a platform to watch the function live via zoom.

Guest speaker, Leinhad Amos, Civil Engineer and Managing Director for XLT Construction Company urged the graduating students to be disciplined and utilize the acquired skills to allow them discover other opportunities.

“This is great motivation to see you graduating today. When you go out there, be committed, grab the opportunities and impress your employers. The skills learnt are highly interactive and will be used throughout your life in career advancement or building your own businesses,” said Amos.

Mentors International Malawi Country Director, Lameck Chisale was glad seeing students graduating after 15 weeks of hard work.

Chisale said it is an inspiration to many hence urged the students to work hard as they embark on altered prospects to be self-reliance.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA) one of the students, Thokozani Kumwenda, a Microsoft Office Essentials graduate, acknowledged Mentors International for providing the opportunity of high quality education hence assured to utilise the skills to positively contribute towards the development of the nation.

“We thank God for taking us this far. I have acquired great experience with Mentors International. The skills will help us be marketable in grabbing opportunities as we go out there,” said Kumwenda.

Mentors International is a non-profit charitable organization that aims at uplifting the less privileged students from developing countries by providing them with basic education.

Students attained different credentials in Microsoft Office Essentials, English, Keystone as well as Graphics and Designing.

By Golden Kang’oma

Salima, August 20, Mana: Police in Salima District have arrested two people and launched a manhunt for other three suspects on robbery allegations robbery allegations reported in different lodges in the districts.

Confirming the incident to Malawi News Agency (Mana), Salima Police Spokesperson, Inspector Jacob Khembo, said the arrest of the dual was on Friday following a series of robberies that occurred in Salima and also in connection with suspected robberies that occurred in Mzuzu recently.

The law enforcers have managed to recover some electrical appliances and 500 Namibian dollars in course of their investigation.

“A number of robberies in lodges were reported at the station a week ago, and after our investigation and operations, we have arrested these two and are yet to make more arrests as we are still hunting for the remaining three,” said Khembo.

Police have identified the arrested two suspects as Peter Mofolo, 34 who hails from Likhala Village in Traditional Authority Mwambo in Zomba and Levison Gomani, 40 of Chilipa Village in Traditional Authority Chimwala in Mangochi District.

Mana/gk/thz

Lilongwe, August 19, Mana: Blue Eagles suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Moyale Barracks in the TNM Super League on Saturday at Nankhaka Stadium.

Chifundo Damba’s strike in the second half was enough to hand Blue Eagles their 7^th loss of the season, further dampening their campaign, placing them 15^th on the log table with 17 points from 18 games.

The hosts were coming from a 2-2 draw against Bangwe All Stars and were in search of a result to add some sunshine to their gloomy season.

Moyale Barracks initiated the attacks and caused Blue Eagles to do some early defending. They nearly drew first blood in the 10^th minute when Raphael Phiri won the foot race against the host team’s central defenders and over looped the ball over the charging goalie Chakonda Majanga.

Before Blue Eagles’ attackers got into the groove, left back MacDonald Lameck overlapped and tried a shot from distance which went wide.

Half way into the first half, the momentum shifted to the hosts, as attackers Schumaker Kuwali, Chikondi Mvula and Richard Lapson found their footing, exchanging passes and taking turns to test the visiting shot stopper, Jeremiah Simfukwe.

Mvula had a moment when he launched another attack from the right flank, used a perfect dummy to lose his man before laying off a pass to Kuwali whose thunder bolt promising shot smashed into team mate, Christopher Gototo.

The lone goal came in the 65^th minute when a team effort resulted into a cross which Damba who was unmarked, comfortably slotted home at the left post.

Moyale’s Lusekero Malema received his matching orders in the 73^rd minute after receiving his second yellow card.

Speaking in post-match interview, Coach for Blue Eagles, Elia Kananji expressed worry over the team’s current form and also admitted that the absence of players such as Micium Mhone and John Soko who are away on official duty has affected the team.

“Am not sure why we are struggling that’s why we have asked the team’s executive body to have an audience with the players on Tuesday in our absence as coaches,” he said.

Kananji however remains optimistic that the team will turn things around and shall not face relegation.

Meanwhile Coach for Moyale Barracks, Nicholas Mhango urged his squad to continue working hard and build momentum from the victory.

“Our plan was to score early, but we couldn’t and in the second half though the boys were fatigued but I told them to at least score a goal,” he said.

Following the victory, Moyale Barracks sits on position 8 with 22 points from 17 games and 5 wins.