Items filtered by date: May 2025

By George Mponda

Mzuzu, March 11, Mana: Police in Karonga have arrested Victor Msukwa, 34 for allegedly taking part in the murder of Christopher Ngonya at Kasewe Village in the area of Traditional Authority Mwakaboko in the district.

According to Public Relations Officer for Karonga Police Station, Margret Msiska, police arrested the suspect on March 9, 2025 following a tip from the public.

“According to investigations, Ngonya's son died after a short illness on January 23, 2025 and community members started accusing him of having bewitched his son.

“On January 25, 2025, after the burial ceremony, some villagers mobilized themselves and took Ngonya into a bush 10 meters away from his house and he was never seen again," said Msiska.

She added that a well-wisher on January 27, 2025, led police to the scene of crime where the body was exhumed in a decomposed state.

"It seems on this fateful day, Ngonya was assaulted, burnt and buried with banana suckers planted on top of his grave,” she explained.

Msukwa is the third suspect to be arrested on the same issue following the arrest of Gift Chawinga, 24 and Emmanuel Mwandambo, 34 in February.

Police in the district appeal to people to provide them with information that can lead to the arrest of the remaining suspects who are currently on the run.

Msukwa is expected to appear before court to answer a murder charge which is contrary to Section 209 of the Penal Code.

The suspect hails from Mwenilera Village in the area of Traditional Authority Mwakaboko in Karonga.

By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, March 11, Mana: Chitipa District Council, on Tuesday approved a K22 billion budget for the 2025/2026 fiscal year.

The budget has been revised upwards from last year’s financial plan which was about K19 billion.

Chairperson for Chitipa District Council Finance and Audit Committee, Saidi Lwanja, said that the budget has been pegged at K22.974, 329, 479, representing an increase of 15 percent.

He attributed the budget increase partly to inclusion of new projects in the budget.

“The budget has been increased because we have included new projects and these projects include Regional Climate Resilient Project, Health Centre Rehabilitation Project besides increased wage bill,” Lwanja said.

The Chairperson of the Chitipa District Civil Society Organization Network, Patrick Ziba, described the budget as a positive investment in development.

“The budget is good but there is need for the council to prioritize infrastructure development, health and education,” Ziba said.

By Brenda Nkosi

Blantyre, March 11, Mana: To control the sky-rocking prices of goods on the market, government is considering introducing an Essential Commodities Bill that will state how much basic and specific goods should be sold.

Minister of Trade, Vitumbiko Mumba said this on Tuesday when he toured Small and Medium Enterprises Development Institute (SMEDI) centres in Phalombe and Blantyre Chatha.

The Minister said price capping is difficult because Malawi is a liberal market but said at the moment the economy is divided.

“Without trade or industry there is no economy. The industry at the moment is divided as we have the black market economy and formal market. We need to work on these divisions,” said Mumba.

The Minister alleged that the promotion of the black market is not by Malawians.

“The people behind division of the economy are the ones behind the unfair price adjustments that the country is experiencing,” he said.

The Minister said the Sugar Bill was drafted because of such problems as the producers have no control beyond distributors.

The Minister therefore said we need to grow SMEs and local industries so they own the market and called them to improve on standard, quality and consistency.

“Cooperatives should first market their products in Malawi before we talk of exporting. It is our responsibility as a country to provide a favourable market for them against international products,” he said.

Acting Chief Executive Officer for SMEDI, Chezani Otaniele said they are working on improvement of products.

“We are missing out a lot because of standard, quality and quantity. An example is at our leather factory, we fail to meet the demand of boots for the Malawi Defense Force which is a missed opportunity in business,” he said.

By Pickson Chipeso and Patience Longwe

Lilongwe, March 11, Mana: The National Programme Coordinator at Farming Access for Rural Markets Smallholders and Enterprises (FARMSE), Dixon Ngwende, stated that through collaborative efforts, FARMSE and its partners have delivered impactful services, empowering individuals, strengthening livelihoods, and fostering sustainable economic growth.

Speaking at a FARMSE Innovation Symposium on Tuesday at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) Ngwende said the innovations have facilitated an increase in access points for financial services, including mobile banking services that enable users to receive and send money, make payments and register with financial service providers.

He added that the symposium highlighted success stories, lessons learned, and the tangible benefits communities have experienced through FARMSE-supported innovations, stating that these initiatives have introduced digital financial products, bridged gaps in financial services, and created inclusive economic opportunities.

“Inclusive financial systems are not just about transactions; they are about transforming lives, promoting resilience, and fostering economic empowerment. Sustainable financial inclusion requires continuous innovation, strategic partnerships, and a shared commitment to reaching the most underserved,” he said.

The Secretary to the Treasury at the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Dr. Betchani Tchereni said a flagship initiative of the government aims to reduce poverty, enhance livelihoods and improve the resilience of rural households by increasing access to sustainable financial services.

"The program targets 1.5 million households nationwide, with a special emphasis on women and youth.

“Malawi has made notable progress in financial inclusion, with the percentage of adults accessing financial services rising from 54% in 2014 to 88% in 2023. Digital financial services, particularly mobile money and agent banking, have played a crucial role in this growth," he said.

He, therefore pointed out that there is still a need to deepen access beyond basic services. The government and stakeholders must work together to expand access to credit, insurance and investment products, ensuring that rural communities can fully participate in the economy.

 The IFAD Country Director, Bernadette Mukonyora, stated that rural financial inclusion remains a fundamental pillar of sustainable development in Malawi, where most of the population relies on agriculture and informal enterprises. She emphasized that access to appropriate financial services can significantly enhance productivity, resilience, and livelihoods.

However, rural communities have historically faced systemic barriers, including geographical constraints, limited financial literacy, and stringent banking requirements, which have hindered their participation in the formal financial sector.

"While progress has been made, with Malawi’s financial inclusion standing at 88% of the adult population, according to the 2023 FinScope Demand Survey, gaps in the range and depth of available financial services remain a challenge. The responsibility of addressing these gaps does not rest on any single entity, it requires concerted efforts from government, financial institutions, regulators, and development partners," she said.

She added that development partners play a catalytic role in fostering financial inclusion through innovation. At IFAD, they recognize that sustainable rural finance solutions must be inclusive, accessible, and scalable.

"By Providing strategic funding and technical assistance: development partners such as IFAD invest in pilot initiatives that financial institutions may consider too risky in their initial stages. Through the FARMSE Programme, IFAD has facilitated the development and scaling of digital financial services, micro-insurance products, agent banking, and community-based financial organizations (CBFOs). By de-risking investments in these innovations, IFAD through the FARMSE Programme has enabled the private sector to adopt and expand successful rural finance models,” said Mukonyora.

The event encouraged stakeholders to engage actively, share insights and explore new opportunities that will shape the future of financial inclusion, as the financial landscape continues to evolve, the collective goal remains to build a system where no one is left behind.

By Memory Kutengule Chatonda

Blantyre, March 10, Mana: Minister of Tourism, Vera Kamtukule, has emphasized the importance of government and private sector partners incentivising communities engaged in environmental conservation efforts as Malawi strives to restore deforested areas.

The minister made the remarks on Monday during Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi supported tree planting exercise at Michiru Nature Sanctuary in Blantyre.

During the exercise, the minister and other community members planted about 1,000 tree seedlings at the sanctuary.

Speaking to the media, Kamtukule observed that engaging the communities in the exercise would ensure that they continue to take an active role in planting and taking care of the planted trees to increase survival rate.

“The greatest part of conservation is the community. You cannot do conservation work without the communities. Therefore, we need to put governance arrangements from the government perspective, working closely with the communities and other sectors within this country, to ensure that we are taking care of the trees.

“Statistics show that we plant close to 10 million trees every single year, but not so many of the trees survive,” she added.

The minister therefore emphasised the need for communities supporting environmental conservation efforts to be incentivized through income-generating activities and others to support their livelihoods.

"This is voluntary work, and communities work at night under very harsh conditions. Let us motivate them with income generating activities and also support them with protective gear and other incentives," Kamtukule said.

Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Board Chairperson, Tiwonge Mzumata Gawa, concurred with the minister's sentiments.

“Communities or scouts play crucial role in protecting the environment, including the trees we plant year in and out. As such, they need to be supported with basic stuff,” Gawa added.

Traditional Authority Chigaru pledged to intensify bylaws to punish those found wantonly cutting down trees in protected zones.

About 7,000 tree seedlings are expected to be planted by WESM in the Michiru conservation area.

By George Bulombola

Mzuzu, March 10, Mana: Preparations for Northern Region Top 5 Supper League Teams Bonanza are almost complete.

The five teams participating in the bonanza are Songwe Border United Football Club, Moyale Football Club popularly dubbed as the Lions of Kaning’ina Forest.

The others are Karonga United Football Club also called Ingwina Syamwakaronga on field of play and Chitipa United and Mzuzu City Hammers.

This was disclosed recently by the vice chairperson of the organizing committee of the bonanza, Paul Tembo during a press briefing on updates of the preparations in Mzuzu.

According to Tembo, in terms of resource mobilization, the committee is in discussion with banks, corporate bodies and individuals who love football to woe resource assistance towards the bonanza and that the committee will soon announce the partners.

“We therefore appeal through this resource mobilization drive, appeal to all those interested in football reach out and partner with us as we continue preparing for the bonanza which is scheduled to take place at Rumphi Stadium from 21-23 March, 2025.

The three days are enough to accommodate all the five teams and we expect that it will be an    intense kind of bonanza,” said Tembo.

Tembo then thanked the participating five teams for trusting the committee’s member with the task of mobilizing resources, planning and execution of the bonanza.

“The bonanza is very key as the teams will soon be going into Supper League of Malawi (SULOM), hence they need to prepare and test themselves, identify their shortfalls and understand how strong they are.

“We also have a new team by the name ‘Songwe Border FC’ that needs to access their level of preparation for them to survive and fare in the elite league for the first time,” he added.

He said that the aim of the committee is to avoid losing any team from the league and that if anything, the number of new teams joining the league should increase.

General Secretary for Mzuzu City Hammers, Benjamin Thole, stated that his team, the defending champions of the bonanza, is ready to defend the title.

“The bonanza will provide us with a platform through which the participating teams can prepare for the league hence it will be worthy to patronize and watch,” said Thole.

By Manasse Nyirenda

Rumphi, March 10, Mana:  A Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) graduate in Rumphi, Zakeyu Banda, now owns at least 20 pigs worth millions which he has accumulated over a period of five years since he got enrolled into the programme.

Banda from Kasalika Village in Senior Chief Katumbi says before he became a beneficiary of the Multi Donor Trust Fund and World Bank funded programme he struggled to feed his family of seven, but once he got the opportunity he utilized it fully.

"Once I joined the programme I knew it was a chance to transform my life for the better. I bought one pig which has multiplied to at least 20 now. I can now afford farm inputs and produce food for my family by selling some of my pigs.

"I have also built a decent house thatched with iron sheets. I also own six acres of farm land. I have achieved all this through the programme," said Banda.

Another former beneficiary, Hellena Mkandawire, from the same area says through the programme she has connected her house to piped water, bought solar power, renovated her house and also owns goats.

Desk Officer for Social Cash Transfer Programme in the district, Abel Ndlovu has urged new beneficiaries of the programme to invest their money in order to achieve self-sufficiency.

SCTP is a Malawi Government programme under Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Programme (SSRLP). There are 5,061 SCTP beneficiaries in Rumphi and most of them have just been enrolled into the programme.

By Gift Chiponde

Chitipa, March 11, Mana: Business community in Chitipa has commended government for initiating Malawi Education Reformed Programme (MERP), which has not only improved school infrastructure but also empowered local entrepreneurs by prioritising local suppliers for construction materials.

One of the suppliers who is the beneficiary of the project Lameck Ngomale, a supplier of cement and iron bars, described MERP as a lifeline for small businesses in the district.

“In the past, major construction projects often sourced materials from outside Chitipa, making it difficult for us to grow. But under MERP, we have had the opportunity to supply cement and iron bars for school construction projects. This has boosted our sales and allowed us to expand our business,” he said.

Another entrepreneur, Liness Kanyika, who supplied cement bricks, said that the programme has proven to be a pillar of small businesses.

“MERP has been a great opportunity for my business. By securing contracts to supply cement bricks for new classrooms, I have been able to employ more workers and improve my financial stability. The programme is not just about education; it is also uplifting local businesses,” she said.

In his remarks, David Phiri, a quarry stone supplier, said that the impact of MERP has been equally significant.

 He stated that the increased demand for building materials has allowed him to scale up operations.

 “Before MERP, our business was struggling with inconsistent sales. But now, with the construction of new schools in Chitipa, we have seen a rise in orders. This has helped us invest in better equipment and create more jobs for the youth in our community,” he said.

Phiri has since urged government to maintain its commitment of supporting local suppliers in future projects.

He believes that by prioritising local businesses, more people in rural areas will benefit from economic growth, fostering self-reliance and long-term development.

“We thank government for ensuring that development projects like MERP benefit not only learners but also local entrepreneurs.

“This is the kind of empowerment we need to grow our businesses and strengthen our communities,” said  phiri.

Chitipa’s local business owners remain optimistic that their involvement in government projects will lead to sustained economic transformation in the district.

By Pempho Nkhoma

Blantyre, March 10, Mana: Mental Health Awareness Hub (MeHA) has organized a mental health awareness campaign on Friday March 14 at Blantyre Secondary School (BSS) to promote mental wellbeing among individuals.

The campaign targets students and teachers at BSS and will be held under the theme; Healthy minds, happy lives.

Founder of MeHA, Bright Kanola, said the hub always hold online awareness sessions and thought of organising a physical session to accommodate others that have no access to online platforms.

“Many people are not aware that mental health issues cover wide range of areas, including depression, substance abuse and addiction, stress, anxiety, gambling addiction among others. This event will cover some areas mentioned above to sensitize people to know when and where to seek for help,” he said.

Kanola therefore urged the general public to be open and seek support whenever they struggle with mental health issues like, stress, depression and having thoughts of committing suicide.

“Reach out to a trusted friend, family member, or mental health professional, and let them help you find the strength to keep going. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness but strength,” he added.

Other activities like quiz and drama will be used to deliver mental health information to the attendees.

One of the speakers for the event, Funny Chapalapata, urged people to patronize the event saying prioritising mental health discussing sessions is of high importance for a health mind and happy living.

“We will tackle topics like; substance use disorders directed to the students and stress related disorders directed to workers. This is because we have seen that due to stress workers in different institutions have not been able to perform productively. Mental health awareness provides chance to identity stressors and help those stressed with good coping skills to ensure quality outcome,” she said.

Other speakers that will have presentations on different topics include Elizer Kanyika, Willard Waile, Pilirani Kumundayayi, Alice Phiri, Glory Benson, Rosemary Mkumba,

This is the second physical mental health awareness session organised by MeHA, the first one was held in October 2024 at Ngumbe Secondary School in Chileka.

By Bazilio Chingoli 

Ntcheu, March 11, Mana: Beneficiaries of Social Cash Transfer Program popularly known as Mtukula Pankhomo in Ntcheu District have hailed the program for transforming their livelihoods.

Speaking on Monday during Media tour on the program's impact, Jane Sakaiko one of the beneficiaries at Chiluzi Village in the area of Traditional Authority Ganya, said the program has enabled them to live a dignified life by providing them with their daily needs.

"l have managed to venture into goat farming from the money I received through the program and am living happily with my three children than before," she said.

Another beneficiary, Patrick Sipiyano from kuntomba Village Traditional Authority Ganya said he invested the money into fish business and he is making a lot of profits where he has managed to buy a bicycle and build a house and a kitchen both with iron sheets.

Social Welfare Officer responsible for SCTP in the district, Catherine Ngoleka, has advised beneficiaries of the program to use the money efficiently and keep safe automated teller machine card (ATMs) and passwords to avoid fraud.

Ngoleka adds that the program aims at alleviating poverty among ultra-poor families and that the beneficiaries in the district are receiving their money using E- payments through FDH Bank hence the need to be careful.

Ntcheu District has 114 clusters with 14,347 beneficiaries of SCTP with funding from Irish Aid.