When the legendary Ned Mapira died soon after releasing his album that contained the smash hit “Kaphiri Ka Kwathu” many believed his music will stand the test of time. Little did we know that out of the family will also spring another talented musician ,her daughter who will carry on his father’s legacy and is ready to cement the Mapira name as the music legends in the country.
The daughter Mtisunge “Finah” Mapira is currently in the studio working on full album, However a single entitled “Written” has already been released.
Finnah Mapira
The late Ned Mapira grew up in Balaka and his home village was in Mulanje. He started making music in the 90s and died in 2000 soon after releasing his first album called “kwanu nkwanu”.
22 years down the line, the late Ned Mapira’s daughter, Finah follows her father’s footsteps as she is busy in the studio working on her first album.
President Lazarus Chakwera on Friday, September 9,2022 engaged various international partners in discussions on economic and developmental matters for Malawi at Kamuzu Palace in the capital Lilongwe.
In a series of engagements, Chakwera met Thomas Ostros Vice President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) which is the main financier with K98 billion in the rehabilitation of the country’s M1 road.
During the meeting with President Chakwera, Ostros was accompanied by a delegation which included Rune Skinnebach, an European Ambassador to Malawi.
President Chakwera later engaged Electrica delegation led by Mohamed Atef, Vice President for Elsewedy Electric and Heba Samir who is the country’s director for the Egyptian multinational energy company to discuss issues surrounding country’s energy deal that President Chakwera secured from the company at the Intra-African Trade Fair held in Durban, KwaZulu Natal, in November last year.
Writing on his official Facebook page few hours ago, President Chakwera said in part; “I received from the delegation an update on impending projects the company will undertake in clean and reliable energy as part of the $1 billion investment package secured at the Intra-African Trade Fair last November.
Among the target projects, Elsewedy Electric plans to construct a 50-megawatt solar power plant in the country.”
As we went to press, Malawi leader was scheduled to hold virtual bilateral talks with Sidi Ould Tah, Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development (BADEA) regarding the $50 million facility President Chakwera’ administration has successfully secured from the bank for regularization of the fuel supply shortage that has recently hit the country.
Sources indicate that President Chakwera will also meet his cabinet later in the day.
President Lazarus Chakwera has described the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as a blow to the Commonwealth, saying her death has left indelible mark on the whole world.
Speaking to BBC after the announcement of the death, President Chakwera said the whole world is grieving upon receiving the communication about Queen’ demise at the age of 96.
“It marks the end of an era, and birth of a new one not only for British Monarch but the whole Commonwealth. Malawi is part of that, and the whole world is grieving because she has left an indelible mark on the world having been part of much history in the past 70 years.” President Chakwera said.
President Chakwera signing Book of Condolences at UK Embassy in Lilongwe
He further told BBC that departed Queen Elizabeth II was a shining example of dignity member of the society, saying even her visit to Malawi testified her role played in the country’s transition from British Protectorate to an independent state, and republic.
Added President Chakwera; “It is feeling that Malawi’s largest referral hospital is named after her, for she contributed greatly to the smooth transition towards independence for many African States.”
President Chakwera has since conveyed his condolences to the British Royal Family, and the people and government of Great Britain on behalf of all Malawians on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, while wishing King Charles III best of lucky as he takes over the mantle left by the Queen.
Britain and Malawi have been in sister relationship since Kamuzu era after the colonial reign in which Malawi was under the British colony.
On friday morning, President Chakwera, visited the British High Commission, where he was welcomed by Mr. David Pert, the UK’s Deputy High Commissioner to Malawi, to sign the book of condolences to His Majesty King Charles III, the British People, and the whole Commonwealth on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who was also Queen of Malawi from 1964 to 1966.
The University of Strathclyde has been awarded £3 million from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to lead a project to improve adolescent health and wellbeing in Malawi.
The Global Health Research Group funding award brings together experts from Strathclyde, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences and the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences.
The team will work with adolescents, family and community members, health workers, policy makers, and other organisations to design, implement and evaluate approaches to improving adolescent health and wellbeing.
The United Nations estimates there are more 10-24 year olds alive today than at any other time in human history, the majority of which live in low and middle income countries such as Malawi.
Within these settings, adolescence is affected by several health and wellbeing burdens that are worsened by poverty. However, adolescents are often the most neglected group in health care service provision, particularly those in early adolescence (10–14 years), a time considered critical in shaping their future lives.
Limited progress
In Malawi, despite efforts to prohibit child marriage, and expand youth-friendly health services, there has been limited progress towards meeting the needs of adolescents.
For example, rates for completion of primary school remain low (44% male; 37% female), and pregnancy rates for adolescents remains high. These factors have worsened because of the COVID-19 pandemic which has affected both schooling and health access.
The four-year project led by Strathclyde’s Dr Tracy Morse, Head of the Centre for Sustainable Development in Strathclyde’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Dr Effie Chipeta, of Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, will bring together cross-disciplinary expertise in environmental health, education, social care and social policy, health economics, sexual and reproductive health and rights, health systems and health policy.
Dr Morse said: “We will work hand in hand with adolescents from rural Mchinji and urban Blantyre to understand their lived experience, and the challenges they face in their day to day lives.
“We will then work with adolescents, parents and guardians and other interested parties to develop promising approaches to improve their health and wellbeing. These interventions will focus on three areas: gender, sexual and reproductive health rights; aspirations and wellbeing, including mental health; and water, sanitation and hygiene.
Immediate benefits
Dr Chipeta said: “We hope that our approach will bring immediate benefits to adolescents, as well as benefits throughout their future adult lives and for the next generation of children.
“We aim to identify new approaches that will ensure more effective peer, parental and multisectoral support to enable young people to maximise their life chances.”
The programme will also build capacity across a range of disciplines in Malawi at both Masters and PhD level to lead and support these programmes in the future.
Malawi and Norway have agreed to deepen the bilateral ties between them to benefit the people of the two countries.
This has been discussed on Thursday, September 8,2022 when President Lazarus Chakwera hosted the incoming Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway, Her Excellency Ms. Ingrid Marie Mikelsen, who presented copies of her Letters of Credence to him at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe.
Writing on his official Facebook page, President Chakwera said; “We have discussed key development priority areas such as education, agriculture, health, climate change management, gender equity and good governance.”
Further, Malawi leader said the new envoy has shown good diplomatic insights and plans on how to strengthen the bilateral ties and cooperation with Malawi.
Ms. Ingrid Marie Mikelsen has replaced Steinar Egil Hagen as Norwegian Ambassador to Malawi.
