By Thom Ali

Lilongwe, 23 April Mana: The Malawi Government, through the Ministry of Health, in partnership with UNICEF, the National Planning Commission (NPC), and other stakeholders, has launched the First Foods Africa Initiative in the country.

Speaking at the launch, Deputy Minister of Health Noah Chimpeni stated that the initiative is important as it addresses child food poverty in Malawi.

He added that the government will promote the use of local food products to tackle child nutrition challenges by supporting local production, improving policies, and encouraging consumption.

Acting NPC Director Joseph Nagoli emphasized that transforming the food system is key to ensuring vulnerable children have access to nutritious food.

He urged all stakeholders to collaborate in strengthening food systems and help achieve Malawi’s Vision 2063.

UNICEF Country Representative Johannes Wedenig affirmed that UNICEF remains committed to supporting the production and consumption of food, which is nutritious, safe, affordable, and sustainable for young children.

By Prisca Promise Mashushu

Lilongwe, April 23 Mana: The Minister of Homeland Security, Honourable Ezekiel Peter Ng’oma, says the report signifies the government's commitment to enhance data correction, processing and its usage in the country while securing the legal identity of every citizen's information electronically.

He made the remarks during the official launch of the vital statistics and verbal autopsy at Crossroads Hotel on Tuesday in Lilongwe.

Ng’oma explained that since the establishment of the NRB and also through the help of the National Registration Act, the government has embarked on a transformative journey moving away from the outdated 2004 Birth and Death Registration Act.

“Before these reforms, civil registration was not compulsory for the indigenous population which resulted into countless Malawians born before 2015 to be without birth or death certificates hence it’s launching today is very imperative as it will help to address this legacy while striving for a future where every citizen is recognised and afforded Equal rights as guaranteed by the constitution of the nation.

“For government to make important decisions, they have to know the number of people in the country starting with the number of people born each day at every hospital and the number of people who have died per day to make good development plans that includes economy, education, health and others to avoid over budgeting for the nation,” explained Ng’oma.

Principal secretary under the National Registration Bureau (NRB), Mphatso Augustine Sambo, said the implementation of the civic registration commenced in 2015 by the introduction of the birth and death certificates, with the first registration on the first of August 2015 in four districts of the country.

“From 2015 up to the year  2022,  we reached 28 districts and the bureau noted that other deaths are happening outside the health facilities due to many factors and it is estimated to about 2.5 percent across the country and about 75 percent of the deaths occur in the communities hence as such the process introduced the community both and death registration and up to date only ten districts are remaining to finalise the process.

“The bureau is working hand in hand with the ministry of health and the national statistics office of that nation to come up with all the right processes and all health facilities to be able to register birth and death certificates easily in line with our mandate and procedures,” he said.

Meanwhile, Principal secretary in the ministry of health, Steven Kayuni expressed gratitude over its launch as it will enable the ministry to register and know the number of children born per day in every district as well as knowing the number of people who have died each day electronically in line with the NRBs procedures and mandates.

“The official launch of the Malawi vital statistics and verbal autopsy report will help the ministry to be able to identify the causes of deaths of the people at the hospitals as well as it will help the ministry to plan better when it comes to it’s services by offering trainings to all health personnel on the most common diseases that causes death among people in the country.

“We need to share data with our facilities and be able to learn about it by discovering the top ten causes of deaths in the country and finding the best preventive measures,” he explained.

By Fostina Mkandawire

Salima, April 23, Mana: The Malawi Gaming and Lotteries Authority (MAGLA) has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a fair, regulated, and responsible gaming industry in the country.

MAGLA Board Chairperson Fredrick Changaya made the statement on Wednesday during a stakeholder workshop on responsible gambling in Salima, which aimed to address challenges within the growing gaming and betting sector.

He explained that the training is part of ongoing engagements MAGLA has had with international experts, including the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation, to promote best practices within the sector.

According to Changaya, gaming industry in Malawi is still in its infancy, which calls for proactive measures to ensure both operators and players understand their roles.

“This workshop is not just for us as the authority, but also for operators to understand the boundaries and promote responsible gambling,” he said.

Responding to concerns about the growing number of underage individuals engaging in gambling, Changaya said MAGLA is taking necessary steps, including the deployment of advanced technologies.

“We are exploring the use of biometric and AI-driven systems capable of verifying users’ age before they access gambling platforms. The goal is to have a seamless national system that operators must integrate into, allowing MAGLA to monitor compliance in real time.” He explained.

Changaya also disclosed that six new regulations have been enacted this year to control how gambling operators advertise their services.

One of the gaming operators in attendance, Mini Monte Gaming Limited, through its Manager and Compliance Officer, Madalitso Gongwa commended MAGLA for organizing the workshop, describing it as timely and impactful.

“This kind of training helps us acquire new knowledge and skills that are critical for effectively operating and managing our businesses in a compliant and responsible manner,” he said.

Among the companies participating in the workshop are Premier Bet, Betika, and BetPawa.

By Solister Mogha

Lilongwe, April 23, Mana: Nutrition, HIV and Aids Office at Zomba District Council organized an orientation for council staff to discuss HIV prevention as the district currently records 71,000 people living with HIV, while 67,000 people are on Antiretroviral (ARVs)

The District Commissioner for Zomba, Reinghard Chavula, therefore advised members of staff to consider HIV and Aids a real threat.

Chavula gave the advice on Wednesday during the HIV and Aids, Messages of Hope orientation workshop in Zomba.

She noted, “It appears many people are underrating the existence of the pandemic and rarely care about themselves. Though awareness seems to have gone down, the disease is a big threat to human life. We must keep talking about HIV and Aids even in our workplaces. For your information, the disease is still a health threat”.

Chavula therefore hailed the Nutrition, HIV and Aids sector for organizing the workshop, which she said will remind council staff of the need to abstain from behaviours that can contribute to HIV transmission on top of the need for the members of staff to disseminate the message of hope across the district.

“Please, take good care of yourselves, avoid multiple sexual relations. Those who are married should stick to one spouse only,” she added.

Chief Nutrition and HIV Officer for Zomba District Council, Maggie Chiwaula, said the workshop was meant to disseminate messages of hope to the staff and the public.

She added that abstinence is key in HIV and Aids response and called on the members of staff and the public to stay away from factors that can lead to sexually transmitted infections.

By Santos Zefania

Lilongwe, 23 April Mana: Professional Psychosocial Counsellor for Bwaila hospital, Chandulo Kayira, conducted a youth counselling session on behaviourism affecting mental and emotional wellness in Area 23, Lilongwe

Speaking during the visit on Tuesday, he stated that some lifestyles are costing their health and wellbeing, hence negatively affecting their mindset.

"Too much exposure to technology has brought serious issues. instead of doing small businesses, they wish to create wealth within a short period of time without hard work, such as spending a lot of time on premier betting zones, which they have suggested as an alternative way of making instant money, hence, this has led to corruption and gambling behaviour among the youth.

“Another mental and emotional challenge facing youth is drugs and substance abuse, leading to aggressive and potentially dangerous behavior, putting them addicted to a certain behavior, henceforth exposed and also leading to crimes resulting in injuries, perhaps deaths,” he stated.

In another statement, despite being addicted to bad behaviors several factors should make them stay positive.

Kayira said frequent failures to get what they want in life should not result in drug abuse or committing suicide; however, having mentors and role models to navigate difficult situations is essential

Apostle Duncan Kachepa highlighted the importance of religious leaders joining hands with teachers and other motivational speakers would help to promote life expectancy among the youth.

“If we want to build future leaders of tomorrow, we better invest in our youth of today. however, religious leaders should also bear responsibilities in assisting them to cope with the situation, leading stress and anxiety and managing it accordingly,” he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Victor Chinkhota, expressed gratitude following the completion of the lesson.

"I'm glad that the professional counsellor has taught us the crucial importance of seeking counselling from responsible individuals to prevent getting addicted to something that could cost our lives, such as drug abuse, volunteering in different youth clubs and finding productive activities to get involved in”, Victor added.

By Elias Masamba.

Phalombe, April 23, Mana: Tiwasamale Youth Organization urged young people in Phalombe to ignore politicians whose manifestos have nothing to do with young people’s interests.

Tiwasamale Youth Organization, Executive Director, Gift Kasanga made a call on Tuesday during a briefing in Phalombe, where he unveiled plans for a series of orientations for youths in the district ahead of local government, parliamentary and presidential elections in September this year.

They said the youth organization will mobilize young people to mainly vote for leaders who prioritise young people’s interests in their manifestos.

Kasanga observed that young people constitute a larger percentage of Malawi population, saying young people should therefore be considered in most national development plans to enable them to play an active role in national development.

“We intend to start sensitizing young people on the importance of voting for leaders that will bring tangible development to their communities and, more importantly, include them in political decision-making processes, “Asanga said, adding that no politician should exploit young people in inciting violence in the electoral process.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency, political analyst, Wonderful Mkhutche, urged young people not to sell their democratic rights for short-term gains.

“Youths must realize that their involvement in politics, whether positive or negative, is entirely up to them; no one can engage them without their consent, and their participation should be a conscious choice, as the democratic space is open to all,” said Mkhutche.

Malawi is expected to hold tripartite elections on September 16 this year.

By Zenak Matekenya

Dedza, April 23, Mana: Chiefs in Dedza have asked Women's Legal Resources Center (WoLREC) and Oxfam to organize an interface meeting for the district’s key electoral stakeholders to address all concerns related to violence ahead of the September 16, 2025 General Election.

The two organizations are implementing the ‘Promoting Gender Transformative and Youth Inclusive Democracy in Malawi project’, which aims to encourage women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) to run for parliamentary and local government positions.

However, electoral violence remains a significant obstacle with some female candidates lamenting abuse, including demeaning remarks from male opponents.

In an interview on Tuesday, following a meeting with chiefs and faith leaders on promoting violence-free elections the chief emphasized that bringing together all relevant stakeholders is key to addressing the issue.

“The meeting has identified party leaders, aspirants, chiefs, faith leaders, civil servants, and police among potential agents or conduits of electoral violence.

“By coming together we can better understand each other’s weaknesses and move beyond speculation. This will help us to develop a unified strategy that everyone can commit to. That way we can promote a peaceful election,” said T/A Kamenyagwaza.

He stressed the importance of fostering an inclusive environment that empowers women, youth, and PWDs to contest in elections, ensuring their groups have a voice in decision making processes.

Dedza District Pastors Fraternal Association of Malawi Treasurer Rev. Daniel Makumba Nkhoma of Nazarene Church said faith leaders who publicly display affiliation to political candidates or parties risk offending their followers who hold differing political views.

“For us faith leaders it is essential to maintain neutrality by keeping our political affiliations private, thereby avoiding unnecessary conflict. As a pastor’s fraternity, we advise each other to pray generally when asked to do so at political rallies, rather than specifically endorsing a candidate,” he said.

He commended WoLREC for establishing a platform to address violence noting that many people need to be educated on the dangers of violence.

Promoting Gender Transformative and Youth Inclusive Democracy in Malawi project is funded by the European Union.

By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, April 23, Mana: Two people died and two others sustained serious injuries on Tuesday after a motor vehicle they were travelling in swerved off the road and overturned at Magalagala slope along the Karonga-Chitipa M26 Road.

Assistant Public Relations Officer, Constable Mathews Mfune, said the accident involving a Fuso lorry, registration number KA 10759, happened at around 18:00 hours, and the two people died on the spot due to severe head injuries.

He identified one of the deceased as Maganizo Munyimbiri, 24, from Phaniso village in the area of Traditional Authority Kilupula in Karonga District.

Mfune said the vehicle was being driven by Elias Phiri from Lufita Trading Centre heading to Chisitu Trading Centre along the Chitipa-Karonga Road.

He said upon arrival at Magalagala slope, Phiri failed to negotiate a corner, resulting in loss of control of the motor vehicle, which swerved to the offside and overturned.

“Following the impact, an unknown male passenger and Maganizo Munyimbiri sustained serious head injuries and died on the spot, while two other passengers sustained serious injuries and have been admitted to Chitipa District Hospital,” Mfune said. 

He, however, said Phiri was treated as an outpatient.