Items filtered by date: June 2025

Twimepoki Mangani

Lilongwe, August 16, Mana: Minister of Information and Digitalization, Moses Kunkuyu says stable stocks of diesel and petrol will be achieved by the weekend as 3,617 million litres of diesel and 3,507 million litres of petrol which represents a 4.2 days’ cover is making its way into the country.

The Minister made the remarks Wednesday during a press briefing at the Centre of Information (COI) in Lilongwe where he was updating the nation on the position of fuel.

The Minister highlighted that the daily consumption of fuel has shot up to two million litres for diesel and petrol from 1.7 million litres because people are buying out of anticipation of stock outs.

He said the volumes currently available can provide cover for two days.

“What is being processed at the ports right now is 3,354 million litres of diesel and 9,080 million litres of petrol which represents a 60 percent of total imports since 1^st August,” he said.

Kunkuyu said the major challenges of the fuel shortage has been forex which the Ministry of Finance is working on to extend the credit facility.

He revealed a supply deterioration in July when there was a day of up to 80 days in offloading 25,000 metric tonnes of fuel at the port of Beira which affected transit of the product.

 “The issues of lack of letters of credit for banks to process the letters owning to our positon economically has been a challenge as mitigating factor National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) has secured public credit from contracting supplies to about US$50 million (approximately K50 billion),” he said.

Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) Chief Executive Officer, Henry Kachaje highlighted that processes are underway to have Petroleum Importers Limited upscale the volumes they bring into the country so that NOCMA’s volumes go directly into the reserves and not into filling stations.

NOCMA Chief Executive Officer, Clement Kanyama said efforts to enhance use of Nacala- Blantyre railway are being considered.

He said while the challenge is that there is one major storage facility connected to the rail way, the Government of Mozambique has given Malawi land to develop storage facilities which will aid with the necessary quantities.

He also noted that the Beira route had challenges due to issues of natural disaster and that the Government of Mozambique will give priority to cargo that is coming to Malawi through the same route.

NOCMA with the aid of government and other development partners is hopeful that the strategic fuel reserves will be filled before September as necessary processes are underway.

Martha Simchimba

Lilongwe, August 16, Mana: National Social Mobilisation Committee (NSMC) on Tuesday engaged traditional and faith leaders from Kasungu, Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mulanje and Phalombe districts with key family practice messages under Kulumikiza Campaign.

Under the campaign, NSMC, a grouping of social mobilisation experts from different government ministries, is promoting integrated messages on adoption of desired behaviors such as WASH, child marriage, immunisation and nutrition and back to school.

Speaking on the sidelines of the engagement meeting in Lilongwe, NSMC Secretary Wallace Chipeta said faith and traditional leaders play a critical role in promoting social mobilisation activities in their respective communities.

He said the two groups of community leaders have the power to use their influence in society to bringing about desirable behaviors to their followers.

“Through the campaign, we want to have behavior change related data to be easily collected and tracked in order for stakeholders to maintain positive changes whilst we are also finding new ways of overcoming negative behaviors,” he said.

Chipeta disclosed that NSMC will create a platform for youths, mother groups, and community radios to discuss challenges for low adoption of desired behaviors.

He described Kulumikiza as a community responsive campaign that engage participants to come up with solutions to low adoption of desired behavior for their respective communities.   

One of the participants representing Pastors Fraternal Association of Malawi, Bishop Dr Lazarus Gama said the meeting has equipped them with the right information that will help them to disseminate immunisation and cholera messages to their congregation.

Sheikh Yunusu Hayadi commended the meeting and called upon government and non-governmental organizations to continue engaging faith leaders in awareness campaigns saying faith leaders have a number of groupings in their mosques and disseminating messages will be easy.

Apart from coming up with activities to be implemented at a community level, participants to the meeting also received integrated message booklets which NSMC, with support from UNICEF, developed to be used as stakeholders’ guidelines.

By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, August 15, Mana: An ordinary Kasungu District Council meeting on Monday elected Lifupa Ward Councillor Mwambilanso Mbedza as the council’s chairperson, which Minister of Education, Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima, described as a positive development in ensuring that more women take up leadership positions.

Mbedza defied odds in a male dominated chamber to win the council’s chairmanship amassing 12 votes and beating other two male contestants, Charles Binya of Mbongozi Ward and Listed Saka of Kambira Ward who got nine and one vote respectively.

Mponda Ward Councillor, Nephatali Chikwanda, was elected Vice-Chairperson in the polls that saw 22 of the 28 voting members present. Former Chairperson, Sked Kachigunda, did not seek re-election.

While congratulating the winners, Wirima who is also Member of Parliament (MP) for Kasungu North North East Constituency, said it is exciting that the district has settled for a female chairperson for the first time.

“I’m excited that we have the first female chairperson of the council. We preach that girls must take their places in the spaces that are in their communities and that women must also take up roles of leadership.

“Even the President [Lazarus Chakwera] has empowered us women; there are a couple of us in his cabinet. So, to see the same happening at council level here is exciting and a sign that we are moving in the right direction,” Wirima said.

She expressed hope that the new chairperson would help unite councillors and MPs, and help the local council to source funds for development.

In her acceptance speech, Mbedza said she was aware of the funding challenges in the council, promising to help look for alternative sources to fund development initiatives.

“I have been aiming for this seat and I’m happy that it has finally come to pass. I will work with everyone and ensure that some challenges the council is facing are minimized,” she said.

Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Madalitso Kazombo, who is also MP for Kasungu East Constituency, appealed to the councillors and fellow MPs in the district to be exemplary by supporting the new chairperson.

“We elected a female Speaker of Parliament and we fully support her. We should do likewise at this [council] level. For the secretariat, we also expect you to support her including paying councillors in good time,” he said.

Kasungu has 18 councillors and nine MPs, all belonging to Malawi Congress Party (MCP).

By Sylvester Kumwenda

Dowa, August 15, Mana: District Sports Officer for Dowa, Loveness Phiri says investing in sports is a way of investing in Malawi’s human capital development as the country seeks to attain its 2063 Agenda (MW63).

She made the remarks in Dowa when Opulence Malawi donated sporting equipment to sporting teams of various disciplines at Chimwendo in Traditional Authority Chakhaza on Sunday.

"As local governments, we are championing government’s 2063 Agenda for a better Malawi. One of the important areas is human capital investment, that is, we must invest in the people for them to realise their maximum potential.

"One of the areas is sports. We have many young people with skills in various sports disciplines and all they need is support,” said Phiri.

She then commended Opulence Malawi for the donation which she described as an investment in sharpening skills of athletes in the district.

The district youth officer, however, called on the school-going-age youth to prioritise education, saying it can complement their sporting careers.

To all that benefited from the donation, Phiri advised them to take care of the equipment and ensure they properly utilise the donation as it might not always be there.

"We have seen people utilise a single chance given. You should also make sure that at the end of the day, you achieve something that you can show from this such as strengthened skills, exposure or networking," she advised.

According to Mike Siya, Project Manager for Opulence Malawi RUCOS Sports, the organisation is also implementing various interventions under pillars of education, nutrition and health.

He said the organisation came up with the initiative (donation of sporting equipment) to prevent the youth from idleness in their catchment area spanning 10 group village headmen (GVH).

“Apart from all the other social economic interventions we are implementing, we also want to empower our youth in sports.

“Sports is not only important for our physical wellbeing. It also takes the minds of our youth off immoral behaviours and gives them chance to focus on productive things. That is why we are presenting this equipment,” he said.

On the day, the organisation donated 20 footballs to 10 senior teams, 10 footballs to 10 U14 teams, 10 netballs and netball bibs, 2 volleyballs and upgraded 8 football grounds with metal goal posts.

Group Village Headman Chimwendo, in his remarks, said he was grateful for the various interventions Opulence Malawi is implementing, adding that they (interventions) would improve social economic lives of people in the area.

He, however, called for beneficiaries to make proper use of the donation and support all activities Opulence Malawi is implementing in the area.

The ceremony was spiced up by dancing competitions, volleyball and a netball match between Katungu and Chikwangula with the main event a match between Chimwendo FC and Mlangali FC which ended in a goalless draw.

This was not the first time the organisation donated in the catchment area. On July 10, 2023, Opulence Malawi made a similar donation of 20 footballs, football and netball nets, whistles, referee jerseys and, corner and lines man flags amongst other things.

The organisation has also trained two representatives from every GVH as football and netball coaches, referee and an umpire.

Mana/sk/thz

By Aliko Munde & Andrew Gondwe

Chitipa, August 15, Mana: Chitipa District Council has asked the National Water Resources Authority (NWRA) to reduce application fees and charges for water abstraction points for rural communities which is pegged at K80,000.

Director of Health and Social Services for Chitipa District Council, Dr Mwatikonda Mbendera made the sentiments Monday when NWRA briefed District Executive Committee (DEC) on the authority’s mandate and functions.

The NWRA has set November 24, 2023 as the deadline for individuals and institutions who own water abstraction points such as boreholes, to declare them to the authority or risk being punished by a fine which range from K4 million to K10 million.

Mbendera said the application fees and charges are highly exorbitant for communities who mostly use water for domestic use.

"It is unfair to charge fees for communal abstraction water points the same as institutions. This is overcharging rural people. You have to go back and ammend the application fees and charges,” Mbendera appealed.

Director of Administration for the council, Clement Gonthi said the authority should categorise the fees based on the use and purpose of the water abstraction points.

“For instance, water that is used for domestic purposes should have lower fees compared to the water that is used for commercial purposes.

“This would help rural masses to access good and quality water through legal boreholes,” said Gonthi.

Spokesperson for NWRA, Masozi Kasambara said the authority will present the concerns to its board.

He advised the council to take up the responsibility to civic educate people of Chitipa on the mandate of the authority and duty of people in the district.

“Let them declare their water abstraction points and have legal licenses by paying the fee when they want to construct the water sources such as boreholes, wells and dams.

"All people and institutions who have water abstraction points such as boreholes, irrigation schemes, fish ponds and dams that were constructed without the certification from NWRA must declare them to the NWRA by November 24, 2023,” he said.

Kasambara said the data will assist the authority to make a thorough assessment and decision on whether the points should be legalized or closed down.

Recently, NWRA conducted the borehole spot check inspection and test in four major cities of Mzuzu, Blantyre, Zomba and Lilongwe.

The assessment found out that 75 percent of the 44 boreholes contain water which is biologically contaminated and unfit for human consumption.

By Tabbu Kitta Kauye

Lilongwe, August 15, Mana: President Dr Lazarus Chakwera is impressed with the work that the Malawi National Examinations Board (MANEB) is doing in ensuring that examinations are administered without leakage and corruption.

President Chakwera made the remarks Tuesday at Capital Hill in Lilongwe, where he spent the day working in his office.

Chakwera arrived at 8:30 in the morning and finished his work at 5:00 pm in the evening.

Speaking to journalists after his meetings, the president described the meetings he held with various ministries and institutions as fruitful.

Chakwera cited the meeting with the Ministry of Education and MANEB as a highlight saying officials reported to him the state of Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education and Junior Certificate of Education examination results.

“The fact that MANEB has taken my admonitions is impressive. I also commend them for leakage and scandal free examinations for four consecutive years.

“It is also impressive to note that 14 new schools are ready thereby increasing access to education. We are still far away from our target. However, we can still celebrate the small wins,” said President Chakwera.

The President also hailed MANEB for the E-payment initiative where candidates seating for MANEB examinations pay their examinations fees remotely through mobile money and the bank.

He said the E-payment is a good initiative in curbing corruption as such he encouraged other ministries, departments and agencies to follow suit.

The president also met with Ministers of Water and Sanitation, Abida Mia; Homeland Security, Ken Zikhale N’goma and the Speaker of National Assembly, Catherine Gotani Hara.

Mana/tkk/pk

Blantyre, August 15, Mana: Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) has launched the first ever Research and Innovation Week which aims at bringing awareness to the nation about research and innovations that the institution is undertaking.

Speaking to Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Monday after the launch, Vice Chancellor of the university, Nancy Chitera said MUBAS is working towards achieving the vision of being a research intensive, innovative and entrepreneurial university.

“We need to bring awareness about research and innovations to the nation. Our members of staff and students should know that we have put these in place to help us move towards the vision that we have and this is in response to Malawi 2063.

“We are doing quite a lot of research and innovations, at the same time we are creating spaces and structures that should move us towards to our vision,” she said.

She added that MUBAS has come up with measures that will help the school to be on the global university rankings in the near future.

“To be there, there is need for a systematic approach. We have the space and structure that will help MUBAS appear on World University Rankings, and one of the structures that we have put in place is to develop research, market and other elements that can help MUBAS to be ranked the way we would want to be in the global rankings,” she said.

Acting Director General for National Commission for Science and Technology, Gift Kadzamira who was the guest of honour said Malawi, like many other countries, cannot achieve socioeconomic development without research and innovation.

Kadzamira added that the commission is working to ensure that all research and innovations are helping towards achieving the goals of the Malawi 2063.

"With all the research, innovations and technologies being proposed and advanced, we need to ensure that we are enhancing productivity in all sectors of the economy.

"Research helps countries to solve problems in many crucial areas including health, agriculture and education, among others. Solution based research and innovation in such areas can also help us achieve our vision as a nation," Kadzamira said.

The Research and Innovation Week is being held under the theme “Generating Knowledge and Innovations for Sustainable Development”.

Mana/gm/tv/

By Salome Gangire

Neno, August 15, Mana; Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has disbursed cash amounting to K41,449,600 to 400 farmers in the area of Traditional Authorities Chekucheku and Dambe in Neno to improve agricultural productivity.

Speaking during the disbursement ceremony held at the district council offices on Monday, FAO Programme Officer Aubrey Sidik said the funds will help beneficiary households to improve their agricultural productivity through adoption of climate smart agricultural practices such as manure making and application to their crop fields and conservation agriculture.

Each beneficiary household is receiving about K103,700 to help them prepare for the coming farming season by procuring farm inputs.

“They need to start preparing for the coming season now and the cash will support them in the preparatory processes for the coming growing season,” Sidik said.

He, therefore, encouraged the farmers to invest the cash into productive streams such as making of Mbeya fertilizer and accessing improved seeds.

District Commissioner for Neno, Hudson Kuphanga encouraged farmers to use the money for the intended purpose so that they realise bumper yields.

“Utilise the money for the intended purpose of buying farm inputs in order to change your livelihoods for the better,” Kuphanga said.

He, therefore, thanked FAO for the cash disbursement saying it will enable farmers in the district purchase farm inputs in good time in preparation for the growing season thereby enabling them achieve food security.

One of the beneficiaries from Mpakati Village in the area of Traditional Authority Chekucheku, John Henderson said the funds will help him prepare well for the 2023-2024 growing season.

He said the money will enable him buy seeds and fertilizer in time before the rainy season.

FAO is implementing a project of promoting coherence between disaster risk reduction climate action and social protection in the area of Traditional Authorities Dambe and Chekucheku in Neno district.

By Glory Msowoya

Blantyre, August 15, Mana: National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST) has challenged innovators in the country to always fine-tune their ideas first for their businesses to thrive on the market.

The call comes against the backdrop that most innovation fails to materialise due to lack of support of ideas.

Speaking to Malawi News Agency (MANA) NCST Acting Director General, Gift Kadzamira urged innovators to always seek guidance from the Commission as one way of helping their ideas become successful.

According to Kadzamira people should not rush to social media with their ideas before involving the right technocrats who can assist in fine tuning their innovations.

“The Commission has noted that Malawians rush to social media and announce their ideas without consulting relevant authorities on how best they should go about them.

“With this, chances are very high that the ideas cannot materialise. I am, therefore, urging innovators to take their time and seek guidance, where necessary, so that they can enjoy the fruits of their ideas,” she said.

Kadzamira said the Commission is committed to give guidance, regulate, support and promote research, science, technology and innovation in the country.

 “NCST will continue to provide grants through the S and T Fund which will be launched soon and the Grand Challenge Initiative and promotion of public understanding of Science. We are doing all this to help all the ideas from the innovators to materialise,” she said.

According to Kadzamira, NCST is collaborating with the Registrar General’s office to protect the works of Malawian innovators through the legal framework.

Vice Chancellor for Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), Nancy Chitera said the university is open to work with innovators in polishing up ideas.

Chitera believes that ideas that have been exposed to social media, once polished, have a great impact in addressing some of the challenges rocking the nation.

Mana/gm/mmm/pk

By Ireen Mseteka

Mzuzu, August 15, Mana: Department of Economic Planning and Development in the Ministry of Finance, says community radio stations are vital in disseminating Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Project (SSRLP) information.

Department of Economic Planning and Development Principal Economist, John Funny Mwale made the remarks in Mzuzu on Tuesday when he opened a two-day orientation workshop for reporters from community radio stations in the northern region.

Mwale noted that most communities are not well versed on SSRLP related issues hence the department’s expectation that the radios, through well designed programs, will assist in disseminating the right information to their target audiences.

“Community radios are a critical stakeholder in community engagement as they use local languages which can easily be understood by the target population hence promoting communities’ participation in SSRLP activities,” said Mwale.

National Local Government Finance Committee Research and Documentation Officer, Symon Lubanga said the orientation will also improve working relationship between the radios and local authorities in spearheading development.

Among others, the reporters are being oriented on effective programing and dissemination of SSRLP information to communities and duty bearers at district councils.