Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) and its former employees are locked in a battle over the eviction of the retrenched workers from institutional houses.

Admarc set the May 31 2024 as a deadline for the eviction of the former employees, but the ex-staff say the move is in contravention of a court order.

In a May 22 2024 repatriation reminder, Admarc director of corporate services Ethel Zilirakhasu stated that the time-frame for the exercise was four months from February 1 2024 to May 31 2024.

She said the company reserves the right to evict all ex-employees that would still be occupying the corporation’s houses by the set deadline, stressing that the company will not entertain any repatriation requests outside the window.

“The company wishes to inform all ex-employees who are in its institutional houses that their claims in the Industrial Relations Court [IRC] on overtime and skeleton staff are independent of the repatriation exercise and, therefore, are supposed to be repatriated,” reads the circular.

But in a response dated June 1 2024, the former employees , through t h e i r spokesperson Samuel Katambi, said the company risks being in contempt of court if it proceeds with the eviction exercise.

The letter said some former employees had already communicated about being harassed by Admarc officials who are allegedly forcefully evicting them from the houses.

Reads the response:“We were shocked that Admarc was circulating such a memo when actually there is a court order stopping them from evicting us from the institutional houses. In fact, the said court order has not been challenged and it is still a valid order.

“We, thus, find the decision of Admarc to be in clear violation of the order. We reserve the right to engage our lawyers to move the court for contempt of court against the officials of Admarc.”

Ex -Ad m a r c s t a f f chairperson Austin Panja in an interview yesterday said they will go to court should their former employer proceed with the eviction exercise.

He said: “Admarc management should withdraw the repatriation programme, failing which we will file a case against them for not abiding by the court order of last November.”

W h e n c o n t a c t e d y e s t e r d a y, Adma r c spokesperson Agnes Ndovie said Admarc was aware of court order.

She said: “Admarc also gave the ex employees a chance to be repatriated aware that one of the claims in court was repatriation. They were given four months to individually indicate when they need to be repatriated.

“Alot of the ex employees were repatriated within this period using this circular. Some have not done so. and for those who have deliberately opted not to be repatriated and are still in the houses, Admarc will do whatever is required by the law before the evictions start.”

In a court order on a matter between the ex- Admarc staff versus Admarc and Old Mutual, IRC deputy chairperson Anthony Kapaswiche restrained the firm from conducting the repatriation “until the determination of the main matter or further order of the court”.

Reads the order: “An interim relief is granted in favour of the applicants restraining the first respondent from doing the following… evicting the applicants from the 1st respondent’s institutional houses before paying the repatriation costs.”

On January 29 2024, the IRC in Blantyre faulted Admarc over the manner it fired 3 283 of its staff and ordered that they be compensated for unfair dismissal.

The court’s decision followed an application by 3 283 former Admarc employees led by Alex Malikebu who were dismissed in January last year as part of a restructuring process.

The post Admarc, ex-staff tussle over eviction first appeared on Nation Online.

The post Admarc, ex-staff tussle over eviction appeared first on Nation Online.

 The High Court of Malawi has reinstated the 2006 treason case against former vice-president Cassim Chilumpha which was discontinued earlier this year.

Sitting in Blantyre on Friday, High Court Judge Ruth Chinangwa said the case would proceed because the previous discharge did not prevent further legal action.

She has since set September 16 to 20 2024 as dates when the matter should start.

Reads the ruling: “It is this court’s view that the State needs not file an application to prosecute the matter because a discharge does not operate as a bar to subsequent proceedings on the same facts if carried out within 12 months,

“ The court is aware of the delay of 15 years in prosecuting the matter. The court record will show that the State, defence and the court remained silent during the 15 years.”

The judge acknowledged the silence by all stakeholders as unfortunate, but stressed the importance of upholding the law as prescribed in Section 247(1) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code (Cpec).

Chilumpha, along with co-accused Yusuf Matumula, faces charges bordering on a plot to assassinate former president Bingu wa Mutharika. The charges include treason and conspiracy to murder.

Earlier this year, the High Court discharged Chilumpha from criminal prosecution under Section 247(1) of the Cpec.

However, the State later applied for restoration of the matter and submitted that a discharge does not bar subsequent prosecution commenced within 12 months.

But the defence argued that the 15-year prosecutorial delay jeopardised Chilumpha’s right to a fair trial.

Chilumpha, through lawyers from Hawkins Attorneys, on September 22 2023 asked the High Court to discharge all charges levelled against them.

In her ruling dated October 18 2023, Chinangwa said the State had shown no willingness to prosecute the matter having remained dormant for over 15 years.

She said: “Apart from that the State is also asking the court for a further 90 days to, if at all they were, continue prosecuting the matter. It seems that this matter was a forgotten cause for the State.

“If anything, it speaks volumes on how the prosecution manages the prosecution of its cases. To say the least, this matter has been poorly managed. It is only lawful to have the matter discharged in the circumstances.”

C h i l u m p h a a n d Matumula were arrested in May 2006 for allegedly hiring assassins from South Africa to assassinate Bingu.

Court records show that the case was last heard in January 2008.

The former vice-president and Bingu fell out in 2005 after Bingu dumped the United Democratic Front, a party that sponsored his presidential ticket in the 2004 General Elections, to form the Democratic Progressive Party.

The post Court resurrects Chilumpha case first appeared on Nation Online.

The post Court resurrects Chilumpha case appeared first on Nation Online.

Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP) and International Food Policy Research Institute (Ifpri) have said maize imports remain critical for Malawi to avert hunger following poor harvest resulting from weather socks.

In a collaborative blog published on May 31 2024, the organisation argued that winter and irrigation farming, cash transfers as well as local maize purchases are not enough solutions to meet the need and that donors are key to support the imports.

The report comes at a time the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) said it is facing a deficit of about K643.8 billion ($367.7 million) to provide relief support to two million households affected by El Nino weather conditions that have reduced harvest in the country.

The blog is authored by, among others, Ifpri Development Strategies and Governance Unit research fellow Jan Duchoslav, WFP Malawi deputy country director Simon Denhere and FAO assistant country representative George Phiri.

It reads in part: “If the government’s plans to grow maize during the dry winter season were realised, they would make up for Malawi’s entire production deficit. But that’s unlikely to happen.

“This leaves only one viable means to ensure that Malawians do not go hungry this year: food imports.”

Like in previous reports, they urge that the purchases should will not close the gap between annual production and annual consumption requirements.

The National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) is targeting 82 000 metric tonnes (MT) for the SGRs, but requires up to 300 000 MT to fill the SGRs.

In its recent anal ysis published on May 31 2024, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FewsNet) said field assessments at the end of April confirmed that most households have started to apply crisis coping strategies to food shortage they are facing.

“Field assessments showed that 15 to 40 percent of households have no food from their own production in the immediate post-harvest period, further exacerbating acute food insecurity,” reads the analysis.

On March 23 this year, President Chakwera declared a State of Disaster in 23 of the country ’s 28 districts affected by the El Nino weather phenomenon.

So far, the World Bank responded favourably and has contributed $56.7 million (about K99.3 billion) to the food relief efforts.

Preliminary assessments show that about two million farming households have been affected, with 749 113 hectares of maize affected, representing 44.3 percent of the national crop area.

The post Maize imports option for Malawi—FAO first appeared on Nation Online.

The post Maize imports option for Malawi—FAO appeared first on Nation Online.

 Malawi Prisons Service has lamented the 1956 Prisons Service Act which it says focuses on suppression and punishment of offenders, thereby contributing to congestion in correctional facilities.

Prisons Commissioner General Masauko Wiscot has since appealed to members of Parliament (MPs) to support the revised Prisons Service Bill when it is brought before Parliament to ease numerous challenges that prisons are facing due to use of the outdated Act.

He said this in an interview on Thursday on the sidelines of a cocktail organised by the Centre for Human Rights Education, Advice and Assistance (Chreaa) at Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe where various legislative reforms, including the Prisons Service Bill, were discussed.

Wiscot said the revised Bill would help ease congestion across the country’s prisons due to a parole system and community service that will be created, which are basically reform areas to help address the challenge of overcrowding.

He said: “Currently, the only way which is being used to decongest our prisons is through the presidential pardons. So, we feel that as a service, if the Bill is passed into law, with the new areas that will be introduced, the initiatives will help decongesting”.

Wiscot said the outdated Prisons Service Act has provisions outlawed by the Republican Constitution adopted in 1994 yet it still remains in use.

However, he was quick to point out that the presidential pardons have managed to partly ease congestion saying since 2020 up to date, over 6 000 prisoners have been released.

Chreaa executive director Victor Mhango in a separate interview expressed frustrations, saying it is surprising that the Bill is not given the priority it deserves.

“The Act is inconsistent with our laws and it is high time that we need to change as we are heading towards reformation with the prison to be called correction services which is good progress,” he said.

Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs chairperson Peter Dimba, in a separate interview, said they will take up the matter with relevant authorities as they intend to summon them on numerous legislative reforms.

In 2013, a Special Law Commission drafted a new Bill which was published in 2018. But since then, it has remained stuck at the Ministry of Justice.

The post Prison authorities decry outdated Act first appeared on Nation Online.

The post Prison authorities decry outdated Act appeared first on Nation Online.

Last year, President Lazarus Chakwera touted carbon credits as one of Malawi’s potential game changers, a pathway for Malawi to generate much-needed forex and simultaneously restore Malawi’s degraded forests.

He said Malawi can leverage its forest reserves and other land resources to generate an estimated 19.9 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide valued at over $600 million or about K1.05 trillion, which it can then sell in international carbon markets through carbon offset programmes.

Carbon offset programmes or carbon financing are financial mechanisms and incentives designed to support projects that reduce greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and methane) or remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Malawi Carbon Markets Initiative member Steve Makungwa says aside from the carbon forest President Chakwera announced, Malawi can also secure carbon financing through the use of renewable energy technologies and more efficient fuel systems.

Ramzy Kanaan, a former chief of party at the Modern Cooking for Healthy Forests, a project co-funded by the United States Agency for International Development and Britain’s Department for International Development, projects that Malawi at $61-85 million per year from its carbon forests alone.

The World Bank estimates present a more modest figure at $25- 74 million per year from its forest carbon.

Despite the vast potential of these carbon forests and other offset programmes, environmental analysts and climate change experts believe that Malawi has not “equitably” benefitted from the initiative that was borne out of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Kanaan, who has spent more than nine years working on climate mitigation and adaptation primarily in the forestry sector and cooking energy sub-sector, said only one forest carbon project, the Kulera Redd+ project, has generated revenue for the government.

In an e-mailed response, he said: “And for the most part, carbon projects have not generated any finance for the Malawian people reducing carbon emissions, for example, improved cookstove users.”

Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (Mubas) deputy vice-chancellor Ishmael Kosamu, said Malawi has failed to tap into this vast resource of financing and revenue because the country has been disorganised.

The vice-chancellor, also a professor in environmental management said Malawi did not have a robust and comprehensive legal framework that would guide the development and implementation of carbon markets in Malawi.

Speaking separately, Steve Makungwa, a senior lecturer and researcher in environmental management and forestry at the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar), said a lack of expertise in carbon financing further undermines its capacity to generate resources from carbon markets.

Makungwa, also a member of the Malawi Carbon Market Initiative, an agency created to oversee the marketing and trading of carbon trading, further observed that the complexities in the processes that surround the approval and certification of carbon financing projects stymied Malawi’s potential.

He said: “There are specific steps that have to be undertaken before you can have your carbon credit approved. First, the project has to be one that can only be financed through carbon financing. If the project can be financed through other means, then it will not qualify as a carbon project.”

“It is also very data-driven. Developers need extensive skill in data archiving and use available information to establish a baseline that can inform where the country is starting from and determine the result after implementing the carbon project.”

The process has to be validated by an independent valuator and assess its feasibility to sequester the amount of carbon that was indicated in the baseline study.

Makungwa says Malawi loses out on the potential market because it has to engage experts who can navigate the complex process of carbon markets, a development which gives them an advantage during negotiation and leads to the loss of about 70 percent of the earnings from carbon markets.

Fadhel Kaboub, a senior advisor with Power Shift Africa and the President of the Global Institute for Sustainable Prosperity, believes that the configuration and power dynamics between developers and developing countries leave the latter exposed to exploitation.

He said: “And through the dominant market power of the corporations that buy these pollution permits, they pass the cost of the carbon credits on to their customers, many of whom are actually in the Global South, so we end up paying for it indirectly.”

Kosamu says Malawi should prioritise developing a robust and comprehensive regulatory framework that can guide the development of the carbon markets in Malawi, especially prescribing who will be responsible for implementing carbon markets and handling grievances.

He said: “We also need to amend the Environment Act of 2017 to protect the country from exploitation by unprincipled developers. The government can limit the jurisdiction of the developer to the forestry above the ground and exempt mineral resources that may be underground.”

Agreeing with Kosamu, Kanaan urged the government to carefully screen potential carbon developers to ensure that Malawi partners with “well-established entities whose goals and ethics align with national interests.

He said: “Furthermore, Government can and should encourage and support the development of domestic carbon project developers, and should prioritise working with such entities and then effort to both increase carbon finance flows into Malawi, and to better sustain the delivery of carbon projects.”

In response, Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change Michael Usi said the government has developed a Framework for International Carbon Market Engagement, a requirement under the Climate Change Convention for countries to use when transacting in Carbon Markets.

He said: “It provides an institutional setup for carbon trading in Malawi which includes the establishment of a carbon Market office, approval and authorisation process, fees to be paid by carbon project developers, eligible mitigation activities as well as monitoring and reporting requirements under the UNFCCC.”

The framework has undergone stakeholder validation and is scheduled for approval by the Cabinet by June 2024.

The post Unlocking the untapped potential of Malawi’s carbon market first appeared on Nation Online.

The post Unlocking the untapped potential of Malawi’s carbon market appeared first on Nation Online.

Kwera, a non-profit organisation, has supported needy students from public universities with tuition fees and laptops to ease the burden of resources in their academic studies.

The support comes against the background of some needy students from public universities withdrawing due to lack of fees and upkeep resources. 

The situation has become harder following the hike of fees by the institutions of higher learning since 2023.

Speaking in an interview during a handover of computers at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (Mubas), Kwera project manager Richard Makala said they support university students to complement government’s efforts to create an educated and skilled human resource to develop the country.

“Our support in terms of computers and fees seeks to empower needy students in public universities to achieve their academic goals,” he said. 

Mubas director of student affairs Dr. Gertrude Cynthia Sitolo commended Kwera for the donation.

“Many students need computers to type assignments, read notes and even log in to the Internet for online classes,” she said.

Her counterpart, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (Kuhes) director of student affairs Dr Benjamin Kumwenda said the donation will ease congestion in computer laboratories.

Kuhes physiotherapy student Glory Kadzuwa said she waited for two years to receive a laptop computer from Kwera, adding that the gadget was crucial for her studies.

The post Project bails out ‘varsity students first appeared on Nation Online.

The post Project bails out ‘varsity students appeared first on Nation Online.

South Africa-based forward Frank Gabadinho Mhango says he respects Flames coach Patrick Mabedi’s decision to drop him from the squad for the forthcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The revitalised Moroka Swallows hitman was the surprise exclusion in the 26-member squad that will face Sao Tome and Principe at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe this Thursday before taking on Equatorial Guinea away four days later.

Sounding relaxed in an interview from his Johannesburg base on Monday, the 31-year-old said: “For me, I am OK with it, I am good. At the end of the day, it is the coach’s decision and there is nothing I can do.

“As much as I would love to represent my country, I have to respect his decision. I love representing my country, but maybe I don’t suit the coach’s plans.

“I have no doubts that my time will come and I will be back in the national team.”

The former AmaZulu, Orlando Pirates, Bidvest Wits, Lomontville Golden Arrows and Bloemfontein Celtic player also wished the Flames the best of luck.

“I just want to urge the guys to go there and give their all for the nation and we will be behind them all the way,” he said.

Mhango was in top form towards the end of the season in the DStv Premiership, scoring five goals in the last eight games and being named man-of-the-match twice. He scored eight goals in all competitions.

Mabedi was not available for comment on Monday.

But former Flames coach and Malawi’s all-time leading scorer Kinnah Phiri said unless the coach has other reasons not related to football, the player deserved to be in the team.

“It is disappointing and unfair to drop such an experienced player who is enjoying good form. It is frustrating to the player. If there is something that the country does not know, then let him [Mabedi] come out,” he said.

The Flames gaffer has called seven foreign-based players, namely South Africa-based Brightone Munthali, defender Dennis Chembezi based in Iraq, Zambia-based trio of midfielder Robert Saizi and strikers Chawanangwa Kaonga and Chifundo Mphasi, captain John ‘CJ’ Banda based in Mozambique as well as US-based forward Henri Kumwenda.

Munthali, Chembezi and Kumwenda are already in camp while the rest were expected to arrive on Monday.

The post I respect the coach’s decision, says Gaba first appeared on Nation Online.

The post I respect the coach’s decision, says Gaba appeared first on Nation Online.

Local and international fashion designers brought fashion to life on Sunday at the inaugural Mzinda Lifestyle fashion show in Lilongwe.

Elegance and style were on display as designers paraded their creations on the runway at the Bingu International Convention Centre’s Amphitheatre.

The featured designs included, Dolphin Designs from Malawi, Chico Fashions of  Zimbabwe, Nana’s Closet from Malawi and Maso Soma of Nigeria.

Models had the luxury of showcasing a variety of designs, mostly a fusion of classic African and Western wear, aspiring to create a unique touch “which people from all cultures can wear and identify with”.

Like most African fashion shows, one of the main highlights was the chitenje and ankala designs the models donned.

Throughout the show, designers paraded more than 60 outfits, which not only sparkled on the red carpet runway, but also displayed the diversity of fashion.

The guest of honour at the show, award-winning fashion designer Lily Alfonso, hailed the Mzinda Lifestyle Fashion Show for providing a platform where designers can collaborate and work together.

She said: “Today’s fashion show is magnificent and symbolizes that fashion is going in the right direction. Inviting designers from other countries inspires local designers to think differently.

“Local designers should start thinking of collaborating with other designers so that we build the African fashion industry.” 

Alfonso also stressed the need for people to pay fashion designers fairly, recognising the effort put into their creations. She encouraged fashion designers to explore opportunities that can help put Malawi and Africa on the global fashion map.

Echoing Alfonso’s sentiments, Jowie Beku, a fashion designer and model based in Ghana who was in the runway, added that collaboration is what African fashion needs.

“Collaborations are crucial, and that is what Africa should be about when it comes to fashion so that we take over global stages with our unique designs as Africa,” she said.

Reflecting on the night, Isaac Mayowa of Maso Soma Designs said the show allowed them to showcase Nigerian fabric.

“The Mzinda Lifestyle Fashion Show allowed us to show our unique fabric that you can’t just find anywhere,” he said.

The organiser, Happy Shaba, expressed excitement at the inaugural event and the turnout.

“We wanted fashion designers, but also models, to network as a way of bridging the gap between the local and international fashion industries, as well as helping them find business partners,” he said.

The post Mzinda Lifestyle Fashion Show debuts in style first appeared on Nation Online.

The post Mzinda Lifestyle Fashion Show debuts in style appeared first on Nation Online.

Digital Satellite Television (DStv) service providers MultiChoice Malawi have urged parents to safeguard what their children watch by utilising the parental control facilities.

A MultiChoice Malawi statement said that although the parental control mechanism is in place, most parents do not use it, thereby posing a threat on what children are being exposed to.

“As DStv we understand the importance of providing a safe enjoyable entertainment experience for your entire family. That is why we offer comprehensive parental control features, allowing you to customise your viewing experience and ensure your children are exposed to age-appropriate content,” reads the report.

Mzuzu resident Joyce Chirwa in an interview said as parents there is a need to be responsible to control what the children are being exposed to on television.

“You know children are inquisitive in nature and are quick to grab new things, as such, exposing them to negative and rated content will make them try such things; hence, impacting immoral behaviour in them. We should closely control their screen content,” she said.

Social commentator Lucy Mbewe  said if children continue  being exposed to content beyond their age, the country risks grooming a generation that is irresponsible and immoral.

“For some time now, parents have relaxed on their role to protect their children from harmful content they see whether on television or the Internet, as such, they are giving too much freedom to children to be exposed to inappropriate content,” she said.

Mbewe further said if nothing is done quickly, the future generation will be full of notorious, rude, irresponsible and disrespectful citizens.

According to Child Care Protection and Justice Act of 2010, parents have the responsibility to protect their children from neglect, discrimination, violence, abuse, exploitation, oppression and exposure to physical, mental, social and moral hazards.

Studies by National Institute of Mental Health shows that children who view shows in which violence is realistic, frequently repeated or unpunished, are more likely to imitate what they see in their everyday lives.

A World Health Organisation study showed that children who are exposed to sexual materials are more likely to become sex offenders in future.

The post MultiChoice Malawi urges parental control first appeared on Nation Online.

The post MultiChoice Malawi urges parental control appeared first on Nation Online.

The Lilongwe Motor Show held on Saturday transformed into a lively event as it attracted car enthusiasts and families alike for a weekend of automotive excitement and entertainment.

Held at the Bingu International Convention Centre (Bicc), the event drew a large crowd, with families streaming in to admire the vehicles on display.

From the moment the gates opened, music filled the air, creating a backdrop for the array of vehicles. DJs on the deck kept the beats flowing, setting a festive tone.

The host, with an engaging presence, continuously struck up conversations with exhibitors and attendees ,encouraging questions about the featured cars while enhancing an interactive experience.

With a notable emphasis on electric cars, vintage classics and luxurious models, each section of the exhibit offered something unique, catering to the varied tastes of the crowd.

Car lovers gathered around the electric vehicles, impressed by the latest advancements in automotive technology. Meanwhile, classic car lovers were drawn to the vintage section, where restored vehicles such as the 1964 Volvo P1800 and the 1990 London Taxi took them down memory lane.

“I’ve never seen so many amazing cars in one place,” said one patron, James Banda, who attended with his young son. “It’s fantastic to see the variety, from the old classics to the futuristic electric cars. My son is having the time of his life,” he remarked.

Luxury models such as the Dodge Ram, Toyota Camry, and Ford Raptor captured the admiration of many, including the built Megatron G1 robot model.

The excitement peaked with the car parades, showcasing the power and elegance of various models. Electric cars glided silently by, reflecting the future of eco-friendly driving. BMWs, with their sleek designs and powerful engines, captivated many.

Patrons also enjoyed thrilling performances by stunt drivers, who demonstrated spins and drifts with a Nissan Skyline and the legendary BMW Gusheshes, known worldwide for their spinning and drifting capabilities.

“It’s incredible to watch these drivers in action. The skill and precision they have is just mind-blowing. The Gusheshe is my favourite; it’s such an iconic car for spinning and drifting.”

Lilongwe Motor Show chief executive officer Alinane Njolomole said they are encouraged with the response the show received.

“We had 20 exhibitors and the attendance was the best we have had. We also managed to sale one unit [car],” he said.

Njolomole said the next motor exhibition will be held on October 26 in Blantyre. He has since appealed to the corporate world to support the initiative.

He said: “Our aim is to bring players together to make more connections and get new clients.”

As the sun began to set, the crowd gathered near the main stage. Bucci took center stage with his energetic performance. The audience, captivated by the show, danced along, creating a joyous and memorable atmosphere.

Joined on stage by his choreographers, the performers brought the event to a close as patrons went home excited about the day.

The Lilongwe Motor Show, with its blend of automotive display and entertainment centre-stage left patrons cheering the day.

The post Lilongwe Motor Show entertains first appeared on Nation Online.

The post Lilongwe Motor Show entertains appeared first on Nation Online.

The Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA) has rejected a Roads Authority (RA) submission to award a contract for the construction of Rumphi-Nyika Road to Plem Construction.

In an interview yesterday, PPDA director general Eddington Chilapondwa confirmed that the authority has not granted a no-objection, saying RA did not apply preferential treatment for indigenous contractors.

He said the PPDA has since advised RA to re-evaluate the bids and resubmit.

“It is something that they can look into within a day and resubmit. It is up to them to re- evaluate and submit but is a minor issue,” said Chilapondwa.

The preferential treatment is provided for under Section 44 (10) of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA) Act, and compels procuring and disposing entities to award 60 percent of all contracts under the National Competitive Bidding to indigenous black Malawians and the remaining 40 percent to others.

Awarding of contracts are also to follow a 20 percent preference for a local Malawian when a Malawian is competing with a foreigner. This means that if the bid from a Malawian contractor is 20 percent higher than for a foreign contractor, the contract is supposed to be awarded to a local contractor.

In a written response, RA board chairpeson Matilda Matabwa said RA is working on some matters as regards the Rumphi-Nyika Road and hence could not provide more information.

She said briefly: “The information requested will be made available once those matters are concluded.

“However, be assured that this project will be implemented and completed.”

When contacted, Minister of Transport Jacob Hara said he needed more time to cross-check the facts of the matter.

In an interview yesterday, Rumphi West member of Parliament Yona Mkandawire, in whose area the road project falls, expressed concern that any further delays will worsen challenges for people living along the Rumphi-Nyika-Chitipa Road and surrounding areas.

He said already, healthcare referrals to the district hospital are facing unnecessary delays due to the poor state of the road.

Said Mkandawire: “We have been experiencing cases of maternal and other deaths as it takes time to get to Rumphi District Hospital for medical attention.

“Today, we have lost a woman and a baby because the woman delayed to reach the hospital.Last week, we also had a case of a man who died on the way to the hospital. The road is bad and it takes time to get to the hospital.”

He wondered why the PPDA was citing issues of preference when the same contractor, PLEM Construction, is working on several huge projects, including roads in Mzuzu.

“We are Malawians too and we need better services. RA first identified China Rail No 20 but PPDA said it had many projects. Now they are saying PLEM is not owned by an indigenous Malawian. It is very sad that we are being treated this way.

“The budget allocation for the road has also been reduced from K5 billion to K3.4 billion and you wonder if really we will have this road,” said the MP.

In July 2018, former president Peter Mutharika launched construction of the the 241 kilometres Rumphi-Nyika Road.

The road, funded by government, was to be constructed in phases with each phase covering 20 kilometres.

The contract was initially awarded to Mota Engil. However, after the Tonse Alliance took over government in 2020, the contract with Mota Engil was terminated on the basis that construction firm was overwhelmed by other projects.

The project was later awarded to a Chinese company Unik Construction Ltd, which later dumped the project, forcing government to retender the works.

The post PPDA rejects submission for Nyika Road project first appeared on Nation Online.

The post PPDA rejects submission for Nyika Road project appeared first on Nation Online.

Earnings from tobacco, the country’s major foreign exchange earner, have hit $182 million (about K318.6 billion) in seven weeks of sales, Tobacco Commission (TC) and AHL Group market updates have shown.

In its update released yesterday, AHL Group said  64.7 million kilogrammes (kg) of all tobacco types have been sold this year, representing a 28.6 percent increase in sales volume after seven weeks of sales compared to 50.3 million kg traded during the same period last year.

The update reads in part: “By the end of week seven, the seasonal average price stood at $2.81 [about K4 920] per kg, a marked increase of 26 percent this year, compared to 2.23 (about K3 904) per kg recorded during the same period last year.

“To date, proceeds from the already traded tobacco, the country has earned $183 million this year, representing 62 percent in sales revenue, compared to $112.1million realised from tobacco sales during the similar period last year.”

TC spokesperson Telephorus Chigwenembe said the performance offered a good basis to be confident that 2024 will be one of the best tobacco marketing seasons in recent times as the average price is increasing weekly.

He said: “We have seen the average price per kg going up every week. By week five, it was $2.74 per kg [about K4 797], by week four, it was $2.70 per kg [about K4 727].

“By week three, it was $2.67 per kg [about K4675] while by week two, it was $2.64 per kg [about K4 622] and in week one, the average price per kg was $2.57 [about K4 500]. This means increased earnings for tobacco farmers and improved forex inflow.”

Going by TC’s figures, the price has increased by an average of four cents per week since President Lazarus Chakwera opened the season at Chinkhoma Floors in Kasungu in mid-April 2024.

Tama Farmers Trust president Abiel Kalima Banda said overall the market is progressing well with better than the government set minimum prices being realised from burley tobacco although with some reservations on flue-cured leaf.

“The market is still progressing to the advantage of farmers because prices remain impressive. I have seen the highest price hitting $3.15 per kg [K5 515], especially for burley which is giving hope to tobacco farmers,” he said.

But Banda said farmers were concerned with prices of flue-cured tobacco which is being bought at government minimum prices.

This year, the country is projected to produce 140 million kg against the buying companies’ demand of about 190 million kg.

The tobacco season, which started on April 15, is expected to run for 17 weeks to finish on August 4, according to TC.

The post Tobacco revenue at K318.6bn in 7 weeks first appeared on Nation Online.

The post Tobacco revenue at K318.6bn in 7 weeks appeared first on Nation Online.

Vice-President Saulos Chilima has expressed optimism that the Korea-Africa Summit that opens today in Seoul, South Korea will give Malawi tangible outcomes in areas of trade, investment and infrastructure development.

Briefing the Malawi media covering the event, he said his presence at the summit seeks to forge strategic partnerships and that he will present a compelling Malawi case to tap from financial deals on offer.

Chilima said the summit, being held under the theme ‘The future we make together; Shared growth, sustainability and solidarity’ presents a unique opportunity for Malawi to strengthen ties with this strategic partner and accelerate collective progress.

He said: “Therefore, for us, we are looking at this as a Korea-Malawi summit. We have our own expectations. In the next few days, we will be updating what we have managed to accomplish. We don’t take such summits for fun. These are intended to benefit the country.”

The summit has $10 billion (about K17.5 trillion) concessional loans on offer to African countries and $14 billion (about K24 trillion) for Korean companies to expand their footprint into African countries.

Earlier yesterday, the Vice-President held several side meetings where he highlighted Malawi’s potential as a gateway to the Southern African Development Community market.

He also met South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee before meeting former United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-Moon, who heads the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), an intergovernmental organisation supporting and promoting sustainable economic growth in developing countries.

During the meeting, Chilima appealed to Ban to consider assisting and working with Malawi to fight climate change, arguing that global warming is a threat to food security.

In his response, Ban said Malawi should join GGGI as a member to benefit from support for social economic development. Currently, 48 States are members of GGGI.

He said “Addressing these climate change issues, greening your economy, we have experts, and we can even establish an office in your country to work with your government on green economy.”

Chilima is at the summit alongside Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nancy Tembo and Deputy Secretary to the President and Cabinet Janet Banda.

The Vice-President also addressed a high-level panel discussion on forestry and desertification hosted by the Korea Forest Service and the UN Convention on Desertification.

The post Chilima positive on Korea-Africa Summit first appeared on Nation Online.

The post Chilima positive on Korea-Africa Summit appeared first on Nation Online.

Despite spending about K4 billion on a purpose-built High Court of Malawi Commercial Division in Blantyre, the project is behind schedule by nearly 12 years.

During a spot-check at the four-storey building located next to the National Registration Bureau along Independence Drive leading to Sanjika Palace yesterday, The Nation only found security guards on site.

Judiciary sources yesterday attributed the delays to bureaucratic tendencies.

One source said the contractor was yet to demobilise some of its equipment because the government is yet to pay to enable the contractor finalise electrical installations.

Meanwhile, the Judiciary continues to pay rent in Mpico House, formerly MDC House along Glyn Jones Road for the High Court Commercial Division.

High Court of Malawi and Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal registrar Kondwani Banda could not be drawn to comment as he said he was in a meeting.

Ministry of Justice spokesperson Frank Namangale also said he could not comment because the structure is the property of the Judiciary.

But in an interview yesterday, Human Rights Defenders Coalition chairperson Gift Trapence described the delays to occupy the building as unacceptable.

“HRDC is calling upon the government to speed up the completion of the infrastructure. Delaying the process is the same as delaying Malawians to access justice.  The building is there to improve service delivery from the Judiciary,” he said.

Governance analyst Mavuto Bamusi said the continued renting of office space by the Judiciary for the Commercial Court Division was wastage of public resources and it reflects serious negligence that has deep negative repercussions on access to justice.

He said: “Taxpayers are paying twice by paying rentals for commercial courts operating in rented premises.”

Construction of the Commercial Court Division building started in 2010 and was expected that the project would cost Malawi Government K1.7 billion and be completed in 2012.

However, between 2013 and 2016, the project stalled due to a dispute between the Judiciary and the contractor over arrears.

Construction resumed after the government allocated K1.5 billion for the project in the 2016/17 National Budget.

In the 2023/24 fiscal year, the project was allocated K914 million.

The post Commercial Court stalls, takes up K4bn first appeared on Nation Online.

The post Commercial Court stalls, takes up K4bn appeared first on Nation Online.

Newly-appointed Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) interim-president Vitumbiko Gubuduza says her committee will strive to unify the netball fraternity and make the sport a winning brand.

The Blantyre and Districts Netball League (BDNL) chairperson said this yesterday after accepting her appointment during a meeting which the Malawi National Council of Sports held with NAM regional and district committee chairpersons at the Kamuzu Institute for Sports in Lilongwe.

The meeting was aimed to chart NAM’s future following the resignation of the Abigail Sharif-led executive committee a few days ago.

Said Gubuduza: “We have work to do and our job is to make sure that netball wins and thrives. It is also important to unify the netball fraternity.”

The lawyer, who works as NBS Bank head of compliance, said she will meet with fellow executive committee members to discuss the next step and will provide feedback at the appropriate time.

“But clearly, there will be a number of action plans to be worked on in the short, medium and long-terms,” she said.

Gubuduza, who contested for the NAM vice-general secretary post in the 2021 election, will lead the association for a year with the support of interim general secretary Yamikani Kauma, treasurer Cecilia Mtukule-Bondwe and committee members Tamara Fweta, Fernando Ligola, Justice Katika and Margret Maluwa.

On his part, Sports Council chief executive officer Henry Kamata yesterday said they could not comment on the latest developments until the Council’s board sits down to finalise the process.

A few days ago, the immediate-past NAM executive committee stepped down following concerns its affiliates raised in a petition submitted last month.

In their petition, the affiliates, among others, pointed at the committee’s failure to fulfill promises made ahead of the 2021 NAM elections, including securing additional sponsorship, setting up developmental structures and ensuring transparency and accountability.

In a letter dated May 30 2024, signed by the entire former executive committee and addressed to Sports Council, the leadership stated that having critically examined the concerns “and acting in good faith for the sake of netball, the ex-co decided to step down from office with immediate effect”.

The post Interim NAM president for unity first appeared on Nation Online.

The post Interim NAM president for unity appeared first on Nation Online.

Super League of Malawi (Sulom) says it will spare no one on the issue of violence that occurred during and after Sunday’s TNM Super League match between hosts FCB Nyasa Bullets and Silver Strikers at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.

Suspected Bullets fans threw objects on the pitch while Silver Strikers’ team bus was smashed and had its tyres slashed.

The home team was not spared of the ugly scenes as their team bus’ tyres were also deflated by the hooligans.

Sulom vice-general secretary Donnex Chilonga yesterday said those responsible will be punished.

“No team will be protected, we are governed by rules and be assured that the rules will apply withour fear or favour,” he said.

A statement released by the flagship football league runners says appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against those responsible in accordance with all applicable rules and regulations.

Reads the statement in part: “The stoning incident is unacceptable and goes against the spirit of sportsmanship and the values that we uphold in the league.

“We would like to assure all stakeholders, including players, fans and officials that the Super League of Malawi will not tolerate such behaviour.”

Sulom further said it is committed to ensuring the safety and security of everyone involved at its matches “and will work closely with law enforcement sgencies to investigate this incident thoroughly”.

Meanwhile, Silver, who won the match 1-0, have said they incurred extra costs following the smashing of their team bus as they could not depart for Lilongwe soon after the match.

In an interview yesterday, the club’s chief executive officer Patrick Chimimba said: “It was impossible to travel, we had to incur extra costs for the night as our bus couldn’t  make the trip.

“It’s windscreen was smashed, rear view mirror was vandalised and the tyres slashed.”

On whether Bullets acknowledge the involvement of their fans in the violent acts, Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga said: “We wouldn’t want to draw conclusions as yet.  We will soberly react to the incident after we critically make a postmortem of what actually triggered it.

“Having said that, there is no room for violence in the game of football. Bullets subscribes to fair play, sportsmanship and respect for others.”

Meanwhile, a football supporters grouping, Mpira Umodzi Supporters Initiative (Musi), formerly known as MBC Stand Supporters Initiative has also condemned the violent acts.

In a statement, the grouping said: “We express our deep concern and sadness regarding these regrettable incidents and call for immediate action to address this issue.

“Football has always been a source of joy, unity and passion for millions of fans worldwide.

“It transcends boundaries, brings people together, and promotes the values of teamwork, respect, and fair play.”

The post Sulom vows to act on violence first appeared on Nation Online.

The post Sulom vows to act on violence appeared first on Nation Online.

Malawi is yet to register significant gains from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa’s (Comesa) Simplified Trade Regime (STR) facility, 14 years after its adoption.

A review by Trade and Law Centre (Tralac) of Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi trading under the Comesa STR shows that there has been no increase in trade volumes which could suggest increased utilisation of the STR.

This is happening at a time the bulk of traders continue to use traditional informal border crossings while smuggling remains rampant as red tape at the border increases the cost of doing business. 

Reads the review in part: “Despite the successes of the Comesa STR as evidenced by the implementation of the STR in the East African Community and recommendations for a similar STR under the African Continental Free Trade Area [AfCFTA] agreement, more needs to be done.

“Lack of awareness among informal cross-border traders remains a constraint for its utilisation and must be addressed.”

Tralac says there is need to be mindful of the political and economic obstacles that could hinder the adoption of trade-promoting protocols and measures as certain stakeholders may feel threatened.

STR is a trade agreement facilitated by the 21-member Comesa bloc that allows cross-border traders within the bloc to enjoy duty-free status when importing goods originating from other member States.

According to Malawi Revenue Authority, the list of eligible products include live animals, food products, furniture, stationery and other assorted items. Traders enjoy duty-free status on such goods originating from any of the three member-States.

Malawi, with a threshold of $3 000 (about K5.2 million), joined the Comesa STR to facilitate informal cross-border trade activities for small-scale traders operating in border areas where informal trade is common.

Cross-Border Traders Association of Malawi president Steve Yohane said in an interview yesterday that Malawi is failing to benefit largely because of bureaucratic factors.

He said: “STR is a good vehicle enabling cross-border trading duty-free of not more than $3 000 (about K5.2 million). However, the systems are not user friendly and some are a cost to business.

“For example, to get an import or export permit, one has to travel to Lilongwe and get the permit and this adds to cost of doing business.”

Yohane said besides that, they also have to incur border charges on both sides apart from non-tariff barriers.

Minister of Trade and Industry Sosten Gwengwe said in an earlier interview that his ministry will continue to support the local industry to benefit from the opportunities offered by Comesa.

Tralac data shows that Zimbabwe’s ICBT’s total trade flow to Malawi under STR ranged between $400 000 (about K7 million) and $1.7 million (about K2.9 billion) in 2023 with Zimbabwe’s main imports from Malawi being groundnuts while exports consists of a diverse range of mostly manufactured goods with bottled water.

On the other hand, Zambia’s value of ICBTs on Malawi under STR range between $1.67 million (about K2.9 billion) and  $6.67 million (about K11 billion) in 2021.

Comesa has 640 million people with a gross domestic product of $1 trillion.

The post Malawi losing out on Comesa trade facility first appeared on Nation Online.

The post Malawi losing out on Comesa trade facility appeared first on Nation Online.

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has appointed a committee to assess concerns some members have raised over the party’s resolutions ahead of its elective convention in August.

Speaking in an interview on Sunday, MCP director of legal affairs Titus Mvalo confirmed receiving several letters raising concerns, but said internal processes were underway to resolve the issues.

He said: “This internal process is about the same issues being raised, it is not about the entire convention. But these issues are being looked into and I will provide a response on how we have gone about these issues once the process is complete.”

Some disgruntled MCP members have asked President Lazarus Chakwera and Mvalo, who is also Minister of Justice, to intervene on the in-house disputes over selection of delegates to the convention and filling of vacancies in regional committees.

The other issue relates to the decision by MCP national executive committee (NEC) barring members who have served less than two years and those without any position in the party from contesting for NEC positions at the convention scheduled for August 8 to 10.

On May 24 2024, MCP member Eddie Banda wrote Chakwera, saying the new policy barring others should be subjected to the convention before any implementation.

He said implementing amendments to the MCP constitution, disguised as policies, sets a troubling precedent for the party, and undermines the integrity of the MCP constitution.

Reads Banda’s letter: “Members who have recently joined our esteemed party are questioning whether they will also require a two-year minimum membership to vote for you, in the general elections.

“Most district chairmen have since reported that potential grassroot MCP members are reconsidering their affiliations due to feeling aggrieved by this policy. These developments will surely make it challenging to welcome new members into the party.”

Reacting to the developments, Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace national coordinator Boniface Chibwana urged the MCP leadership to realise that a stalemate on the matter was a recipe for disaster.

He said: “The party should quickly rectify these issues by making proper clarifications to its membership on the laws governing the party on issues relating to holding conventions and appointing people to positions through filling up vacancies.”

In a separate interview, governance pundit George Chaima said Chakwera has the power to lead in resolving any internal disputes without entertaining a stalemate.

But University of Malawi law professor Garton Kamchezera, in an earlier interview, said the NEC was acting within the law to come up with convention regulations.

However, he said the decision can be challenged at the convention based on Article 63 of the MCP constitution.

The post MCP intervenes on internal dispute first appeared on Nation Online.

The post MCP intervenes on internal dispute appeared first on Nation Online.

Demands by some staff in the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services for the removal of director general Charles Kalumo are finally getting government’s attention.

In a written response on Monday after days of avoiding the issue, Minister of Information and Digitisation Moses Kunkuyu said at the moment the Ministry of Homeland Security was yet to revert on the way forward after some staff raised concerns against their boss last week, but there is movement on the matter.

Said the official government spokesperson: “The ministry will address the issue, but as of now they have not yet given a response.”

Ministry of Homeland Security Principal Secretary for administration Erica Maganga on Monday referred The Nation to Principal Secretary Steven Kayuni who, however, did not respond to our phone calls and questionnaires.

About 300 Immigration staff across the country have threatened to shut down their offices, including at airports and land border posts if government fails to fire Kalumo by tomorrow.

The staff said they made the resolution during a meeting held last week at the Immigration headquarters in Blantyre.

One of the senior officers who attended the meeting accused Kalumo of destabilising the department’s hierarchy through unjustified changes.

The concerned staff’s spokesperson Charles Chisi said in an interview on Monday the workers expect the issue to be addressed without the strike.

“Immigration is a disciplined department. We hope government will respond positively to our demands within the agreed period of 10 days to avert the planned industrial action,” he said.

The concerned Immigration officers on Monday last week gave Kalumo 10 days to resign over allegations of a tyrannical administration and unfair interdictions.

A team sent to represent the disgruntled staff on Monday evening presented a petition to government through Maganga, who is said to have promised to act within the stipulated period, according to Chisi.

He said the staff want Kalumo to be removed for allegedly verbally suspending several officers without according them the right to be heard.

Efforts to speak to Kalumo over the allegations proved futile as his phone went unanswered despite several attempts.

Early last month, a group of passport-seekers petitioned President Lazarus Chakwera to fire Minister of Homeland Security Ken Zikhale Ng’oma and Kalumo within 15 days for allegedly failing the nation.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has asked the President to address the crisis rocking the department, including removing Kalumo.

In a statement dated June 2 2024 co-signed by HRDC chairperson Gift Trapence and national coordinator Kelvin Chirwa also implores Chakwera to terminate the passport issuing contract with local firm E-Tech Systems and facilitate an open tender process for passport printing.

Malawi is reeling under a passport production crisis that has left Immigration with a passports application backlog of 35 000 against a printing capacity of about 500 booklets a day.

The country has experienced passport issuance challenges ever since Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda in December 2021 cancelled a $60.8 million (about K103.3 billion) Techno Brain contract due to alleged poor handling of the contract.

The post Govt’s Kalumo problem grows first appeared on Nation Online.

The post Govt’s Kalumo problem grows appeared first on Nation Online.

From Monday to Friday, Mangalita England, 17, leaves home before sunset to get to Chang’ambika Community Day Secondary School in Chikwawa District on time.

She laments that she often gets to class late and tired to learn.

“For two years, I’ve made this tiresome trip which takes over an hour, but I’m determined to stay in school until my dreams are fulfilled,” says the Form Two student.

The girl,from Chapananga in Chikwawa West, will soon wave goodbye to the long walks as Chikwawa District Council is constructing a 122-bed girls’ hostel at her school.

The K86.2 million facility is part of the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (Gesd) Project funded by the World Bank.

The performance-based project seeks to improve how district councils spend public funds and account for them for the good of the citizenry.

Mangalita is counting down to the end of h er wor r i e s a b o u t inconveniences caused by long trips and coal trains from Moatize to Nacala Port in Mozambique that cross a footpath to her school.

“To us, the hostel is not just a place of shelter, but a gateway to a brighter future,” she states.

Chang’ambika CDSS head teacher Freeds Malata says the hostel will boost girls’ enrolment, performance and education attainment at the school, which opened in 1992.

He closely monitored the project from conception till the final brick laid to ensure everything went according to plan.

“At first, there was community resistance to provide land for the project. However, I remained steadfast because every girl deserves a quality education,” Malata says.

He negotiated with the communities and secured the necessary approvals from community leaders and concerned parties.

Says Malata: “Construction works are complete. We are just waiting for water and electricity connection for the girls to move in and stop worrying about exhausting walks and unpredictable train schedules.”

The teacher believes sheltering girls on campus liberates them to focus on their studies.

Girls Education Trust executive director Limbikani Kamlongera says girls now have a safe and enabling environment for learning.

“This will shield them from various societal pressures and dangers, including risky sexual activity that may hinder their education,” she explains.

Kamlogera expects the hostel to improve girls’ team play and peer-to-peer learning and access to essential resources such as electricity, study materials and mentorship.

“Hostels play a crucial role in ensuring rural girls have the opportunity to pursue their education in a secure and nurturing setting for brighter futures,” she says.

Chikwawa District Council director of planning and development Thokozile Munthali says girls will occupy the hostel next academic year.

“Hostels are significant in keeping girls in school. That is why we included the construction of more hostels in the district development plan,” she says.

The council built the hostel in consultation with communities around Chang’ambika CDSS.

“We propose the projects from the district development plan to Chapananga Area Development Committee for the target community. Then, we discuss the idea and set priorities according to the area’s needs,” said Malata.

After the consultations and field trips, the council and the committee settled on the hostel to save girls from long walks that put them at risk of dropping out and violent attacks, including sexual assault.

The World Bank reports that gender-based violence not only hinders a girl’s chances to access education and stay in school but also her mental and physical well-being.

Gesd is facilitated by the Local Government and Finance ministries through the National Local Government Finance Committee.

The post Mangalita’s last steps to school first appeared on Nation Online.

The post Mangalita’s last steps to school appeared first on Nation Online.