Mighty Wanderers president and board chairperson Thomson Mpinganjira has accepted the club’s participation in the 2026/27 edition of the CAF Champions League.
In an interview with local media, Mpinganjira, who is also the team’s main sponsor said:“We will join the CAF tourney. I have approved the team’s participation. I believe we have a strong squad capable of doing the job.”
Mpinganjira
On plans to strengthen the team ahead of next season, Mpinganjira said:“Like every club, we are working to beef up the squad during the off-season.”
Commenting on the matter, Wanderers’ director of football development, David Kanyenda praised Mpinganjira’s continued support.
“As national champions, we are obliged to participate in continental competitions, but the budget is always steep
“Last year, we participated in the same competition.Although we were eliminated early, this time we aim to repay him by progressing into the group stages. This is an exciting development and reaffirms our purpose to make Mighty Mighty Again,” he said.
Last year, Mpinganjira personally funded the team’s campaign with K500 million in the CAF Confederation Cup, which ended in a first preliminary round exit against Jwaneng Galaxy of Botswana.
The tie ended 1-1 over two legs, with Wanderers losing 4-3 on penalties.
The sponsorship covered chartered flights, accommodation, allowances, and pre-tournament training camps.
Castel Malawi Limited has replanted 2000 trees at Mudi catchment area in Ndirande, Blantyre, as part of efforts to restore the environment and support water conservation in the area.
Speaking during the tree-replanting exercise on Friday, Castel Malawi’s Human Resource and Corporate Affairs Director, Gloria Zimba said the initiative aligns with the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability considering the amount of water used in beer production.
“When we are making beer, the ratio is 3:1, meaning in every one litre of beer, there are three litres of water. As a corporate entity we believe that the citizens should not lack access to safe and potable water, hence this initiative,” said Zimba.
She further said Castel Malawi, for the past 4 years, has been conducting annual reforestation activities across the country.
Zimba added that the company works closely with the local communities, the law enforcement agencies and community policing structures to ensure the forest is protected.
“We involve the community because they are the custodians of the land. Throughout the planting and weeding process, they are actively engaged. We also provide protective gear such as overalls, gumboots, whistles, panga knives and hard hats,” said Zimba.
Deputy Director of Forestry Responsible for the South Zone, William Mitembe urged citizens to actively participate in tree-planting initiatives, saying reforestation helps restore degraded land and improve tree survival rate.
“The Southern area is highly degraded. There is need for consistent tree planting to restore our environment,” said Mitembe.
Assistant Commissioner of Police responsible for Ndirande Police, Frank Dzimbiri said the police will support efforts to protect the newly planted trees and encouraged other stakeholders to emulate Castel Malawi environmental initiatives.
“This is a milestone for us as the Police. Trees and water are essential for the community,” said Dzimbiri.
By last year, Castel Malawi had planted a total of 16,000 trees at Mudi – Blantyre, Area 33 near Lilongwe Bridge, and Kaning’ina Forest in Mzuzu since 2022.
FDH Bank Plc has positioned itself as a strategic bridge between global capital and Malawi’s extractive potential following its participation in the 2026 Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town, South Africa.
Representing the bank were Head of Corporate and Institutional Banking, Kawawa Msapato, and Head of Personal and Business Banking, Daniel Pinto Khamula, who engaged with global investors and stakeholders to position Malawi as an emerging investment destination within Africa’s extractives sector.
Msapato (left) and Khamula at the conference
Speaking with the media, Msapato said the delegation’s presence was strategic and aligned with Malawi’s broader development agenda.
“We are proud to have been on the ground at this year’s Investing in African Mining Indaba, representing Malawi’s vibrant financial sector on the continental stage. Our focus is on attracting global capital, aligning with Malawi’s national development vision, and facilitating meaningful knowledge exchange,” said Msapato.
He added that sustainable economic transformation requires bold partnerships and investment-ready ecosystems.
“As a homegrown bank, we are committed to being more than just a financial institution. We see ourselves as a catalyst for the growth of Malawi’s extractives sector. By bridging the gap between potential and prosperity, we are helping to build a resilient and diversified economy for all,” said Msapato.
The broader tone of the conference was set by keynote speaker Duncan Wanblad, Chief Executive Officer of Anglo American, who reflected on the evolving global landscape and the growing responsibility of the mining sector.
“We are operating in a world of greater geopolitical complexity and rising demand for critical minerals. In this environment, mining has moved firmly into focus, not only as a supplier of essential materials, but as a sector that can act as a champion for human progress,” said, Wanblad.
The themes of partnership, infrastructure development and sustainable growth resonated strongly with FDH Bank’s engagement at the Indaba, reinforcing the critical role financial institutions play in unlocking investment and supporting national development ambitions.
Through participation in high-level continental platforms, FDH Bank Plc continues to position itself as a strategic partner in advancing Malawi’s mining potential and building a resilient, diversified economy.
The Investing in African Mining Indaba is one of the continent’s premier mining investment conferences, bringing together global mining companies, financiers, policymakers and industry experts to shape the future of Africa’s extractives sector.
Held annually in Cape Town, South Africa, for more than 30 years the platform serves as a strategic meeting point for deal-making, policy dialogue and partnership-building aimed at unlocking sustainable mineral development across Africa.
Tension is mounting within the ranks of the UTM as party supporters express outrage over the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) silence regarding the establishment of a new commission of enquiry into the death of former Vice President Saulos Chilima. Loyalists of the late leader are accusing the DPP of exploiting Chilima’s name and memory for political gain during the last electoral cycle, only to abandon the cause now that the votes have been cast.
Supporters are particularly incensed by what they perceive as hollow promises made by DPP President Peter Mutharika. They allege that the party used the tragedy to garner sympathy and secure votes, yet has remained conspicuously quiet on pushing for a fresh probe into the fatal plane crash. One furious supporter voiced the deep-seated anger within the party’s base. “Inali show yofuna mavuto? Inali kanena chabe!!” She fumed, accusing the DPP of hypocrisy.
Speaker Suleman at Chikangawa
The sentiment on the ground suggests a growing disillusionment, with backers feeling used and discarded. “Using someone’s death for their gain but God the creator who created heaven and earth is not sleeping nor slumber!!! He’s not a man like you lot that he will lie,” the supporter warned, suggesting divine retribution for political duplicity. Another questioned the DPP’s sudden inaction, asking, “Kunyamuka mmakwawo kupita ulendo wautali kungofuna kutamika awoneke ngati anthu abwino?” expressing a belief that change is imminent.
The frustration has reached a boiling point, with comparisons being drawn between the current administration and the previous regime they helped oust. “Ine sindiopa kumena chilungamo!!! You guys are the same as the ones we booted out!! Im sorry we are not going to paint you with a different colour red yomweyo yamagazi!!!” the supporter declared, signaling a potential fracture in the political alliance as demands for justice for Chilima grow louder.
As climate change continues to threaten communities in southern Malawi, Chilobwe United Club has shifted the spotlight from football to environmental restoration, intensifying efforts to protect Soche Mountain.
Through its initiative known as Chilobwe United Forest under the “Restoring Soche Mountain” programme, the club is urging Malawians to take responsibility for conserving the environment in their respective areas as a practical way of reducing the impacts of climate change.
Club representatives Julio Chimbuzi and Apatsa Galagade made the appeal as the team prepares to plant 1,300 trees on February 21, 2026, on Soche Mountain. The initiative forms part of a broader campaign aimed at rebuilding degraded forest cover.
Julio Chimbuzi and Apatsa Galagade
Chimbuzi said their 2025 tree-planting exercise yielded encouraging results, with 80 percent of the trees planted surviving due to proper planting techniques and consistent aftercare.
According to him, the success rate demonstrates that environmental restoration is not just about planting trees, but about ensuring they are nurtured until they mature.
He expressed concern, however, that many tree-planting efforts fail because people neglect the trees after planting them, leading to high mortality rates and wasted resources.
Galagade, on his part, called on government authorities to collaborate with and support community groups that are actively involved in environmental restoration initiatives.
He stressed that partnerships between authorities and grassroots organisations are essential if Malawi is to achieve meaningful progress in combating deforestation and climate related disasters.
The importance of restoring Soche Mountain became even more evident in 2023 when communities surrounding the area, particularly in Chilobwe, suffered devastating consequences from Cyclone Freddy.
The cyclone, one of the most destructive weather systems to hit southern Africa, left more than 5,000 people homeless in parts of Blantyre, claimed lives, and destroyed property worth millions.
Residents of Chilobwe were among the hardest hit, highlighting the vulnerability of settlements located near degraded hills and deforested areas.
Against this backdrop, Chilobwe United Football Club now plans to plant a total of 1,400 trees during this year’s planting season, which runs until April, reinforcing its commitment to long term environmental recovery.
Through this initiative, the club is proving that sports institutions can play a transformative role beyond the pitch becoming champions of environmental sustainability and community resilience.
