Wednesday, September 10, 2025
No menu items!
spot_img
Home Blog Page 1467

Chakwera assures investors of creating conducive business environment

0

By Chisomo Phiri

President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has assured investors that his administration is committed to removing bottlenecks that frustrate Malawi’s business environment.

Chakwera who is in South Africa for the Brazil Russia India China South Africa (BRICS) Summit, said this after meeting potential investors on Wednesday.

In his address to potential investors,the President said his government remains committed to implementing policies to ensure a favourable business climate.



“We remain steadfast in our commitment to exhaust all efforts in realising the shared vision we hold for Malawi.

“Our endeavours are closely aligned with our developmental objectives, aiming to drive a transformative agenda that aligns with our predefined targets,” said Chakwera.

The Malawi leader disclosed that from the agro-processing aspect, Natal East India Pty Ltd, a rice processing company, has expressed interest in the Lifuwu Rice Mega Farm under an investment model that utilizes out grower schemes to optimize production and a robust export strategy that supports the value chain with attractive markets.

He said :”Another investor at the meeting with a stake in construction and infrastructure development, Sizampilo Projects, is already at an advanced stage of negotiations with our consultants to finance and construct the Twin Towers at Capital Hill in Lilongwe.

“I have assured all these investors of a friendly business climate that is well supported by government’s deliberate policy frameworks.

“We are leaving no stone unturned to make sure that the Malawi we all aspire for is realized in line with our development targets.”

According to the State House press office, the President met with numerous potential investors in the fields of mining, real estate, transportation, media and broadcasting, tourism as well as farming.

Former ACB Boss Matemba denies all charges in K8. 4 billion corruption case

0

By Chisomo Phiri

Former Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Director General Reyneck Matemba has on Thursday denied all charges levelled against him on awarding a $7,875,000 (about K8.4 billion at the current rate) contract to Xavier Limited to supply 350, 000 food ration packs to Malawi Police Service(MPS).

The two charges are failure to declare his interest in a board meeting that reviewed and granted a no objection for the Malawi Police Service’s food ration contract despite knowing that the director of Xavier Limited was Zuneth Sattar, known as Josan or K, who was his close associate and had a direct interest in the said contract.

Matemba



The charge sheet further indicates that Matemba failed to declare his interest and vetted the contract while working as a public officer.

But speaking in court on Thursday, Matemba said he is not wrong and should be set free from the charges.

Matemba was arrested in August, 2022 on the aforementioned corruption allegations.

The corruption is said to have taken place between June and July 2021.

Driemo set to spice up Maranatha Academy’s Heroes event

By Chisomo Phiri

Malawi’s famous Afro-pop and R ‘n’ B musician Driemo is scheduled to perform at the Maranatha Academy’s Heroes Party event slated for Friday at the Bingu International Conference Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe.

Confirming the news to 24 Malawi News, Maranatha Academy Managing Director (MD) Ernest Kaonga says this is to ensure maximum entertainment for the celebrated students.

Driemo



In his reaction the “Popo” star said:

“This is an honour for me to be amongst my fellow youths and share our experiences.

“I just want to be inspired by their hard work as they do with mine.”

At the event, 13 outstanding students in the 2022 Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations as well as 4 students who performed exceptionally well in the 2023 Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSLCE) exams will be awarded.

The recognized students will be from private and public primary and secondary schools.

Chakwera hails Xi Jinping for supporting Tigwirane Manja

0

By Linda Kwanjana

Malawi President Dr Lazarus Chakwera on Thursday commended Chinese president Xi Jinping for supporting his Tigwirane Manja campaign.

President Chakwera launched Tigwirane Manja campaign following the devastation the that Tropical Cyclone Freddy caused in March this year.

The president was expressing these sentiments to Xi Jinping today during their bilateral talk

Chakwera says his first bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, held on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS Plus Outreach summit, went extremely well.

President Chakwera and China’s Xi Jinping

The president said the discussion cemented bilateral partnership to spur rapid infrastructural development and macroeconomic stability.

“I stated to President Xi, Malawi’s deep gratitude for the support his government and the people of China continue to render in areas such as education, telecommunications, infrastructure and during Cyclone Freddy devastation,” he said.

During the discussions, Chinese President Xi expressed appreciation for unwavering support of the One-China Policy and for being a leading voice at BRICS and other multilateral platforms advocating for the interests of developing nations.

“China will support our efforts to build resilience against climate shocks and achieve our developmental aspirations, ” said Chakwera.

Meanwhile, BRICS countries have formally accepted Argentina, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates as part of the grouping.

The Chairperson for the 15th BRICS Summit, President Cyril Ramaphosa, made the announcement during the closing ceremony of the three-day summit at Sandton Convention Centre in South Africa.

The debate over expanding the bloc, which currently comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, was the key item on the agenda of the three-day summit in Johannesburg.

98% of human beings are corrupt, dishonest and nepotistic-Research

0

By Chisomo Phiri

A statistical research on honesty and integrity conducted by a local firm called Products and Services Bureau Ltd(PSB) between 2006 and 2019 has disclosed that 98 percent of human beings such as merchants/ service providers, corporate managers, public service officers and youth are corrupt, dishonest and nepotistic.

This was disclosed by PSB founder and executive chairman William Sichinga on Wednesday at Blantyre Sports Club.

Sichinga said 2 percent of human beings could be incorrupt and honest, but have different levels of nepotism.

He indicated that 97 percent of family and friends expect and exert pressure on their relations in power and on duty to favour them on business, employment, education, and health opportunities hence an increase in corruption cases.

William Sichinga



However,as a way of crippling such rising number of corruption cases most especially in tendering and procurement of goods and services, Sichinga said their company has introduced a digital platform called ‘tenderite’-the first ever corruption vaccine in Malawi.

He said this is a digital platform used by institutions to source and evaluate quotations and bids to deter corruption, fraud, bias, unfairness and nepotism.

“The computerized system checks the process from acquirement of bids and tenders, quotations, processing and evaluation.

“Since 2021 when the product was introduced, we have a client base of about 150 companies. So far, we have handled over 3 000 tenders and bids for goods and services.

“The product has proved valuable in the insurance industry so much that five of the eight players in the country are our clients,”said Sichinga.

According to him, the platform reduces the human influence in procurement decision making.

“It is consumers who suffer the most in corrupt settings since they get goods and services at values higher than the normal prescription.

“So we are going into more awareness on how the application will help them get fair deals,”he said.

He added:” Consumers can now control and stabilize prices of goods and services by supporting firms on tenderite.

“Tenderite is a very important tool as it shields consumers, shareholders, voters from predatory executive managers of businesses and government.

“Smart and honest executive managers appreciate and rely on tenderite as one of their most important tools for personal and institutional integrity,” Sichinga explained.

He then named Reunion Insurance Company Ltd as their 2022 tenderite institution of integrity.

PSB, is a products and services broker with the primary objectives of preventing occurrence of corrupt and fraudulent practices, and rendering a society of equal opportunities for all.

The company’s goal is to eliminate corruption and promote equality in Malawi and across the globe.