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NBM plc set for 2025 Mo626 Varsity Games launch Saturday

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NBM plc set for 2025 Mo626 Varsity Games launch Saturday

By Linda Kwanjana

National Bank of Malawi (NBM) plc says all is set for the launch of the inaugural Mo626 Varsity Games at Mzuzu University (Mzuni) this Saturday.

The games, bring together tertiary institutions across the country in a vibrant celebration of sporting excellence and youth development in the country.

Speaking in an interview, NBM plc’s Marketing and Corporate Affairs Manager, Akossa Hiwa, said the Bank is fully ready to roll out the final component of its sports sponsorship programme.

Akossa Hiwa



“We are now at the launch of the final component of our sports sponsorship, and we are very excited because everything is set for us to head to MZUNI. As a sponsor, this is a key element not just in sports but also in youth empowerment, and we are prepared to roll out all the activities that come with it.”

“After the launch, we are ready to conduct activations in the different tertiary institutions to meet our stakeholders, engage with students who hold accounts with us, get feedback, and ensure that the brand is serving them as it should,” said Hiwa.

On their part, Tertiary Sports Association of Malawi (TESSAM) Vice President, Geoffrey Biya said preparations have also been completed, with institutions already finalizing travel, team lists, and training programmes.

Biya commended NBM plc for the sponsoring the games, saying they will help athletes prepare for the Confederation of University and College Sports Associations (CUCSA) games next year in Botswana.

“We are very excited about the National Bank Mo626 Varsity Games, which we are launching this weekend in Mzuzu. A total of 21 universities will participate, competing in football and netball, with football featuring both men’s and women’s teams,” said Biya.

BASMAL Vice General Secretary, Edda Mkombezi also confirmed that preparations on the basketball front have been concluded, with participating teams ready to hit the court

She said this year’s competition will be more vibrant, with returning teams and new entrants all prepared for the challenge.

“The Mo626 Varsity Games continue to grow in strength and impact. We are thrilled to welcome four new university teams to the basketball category, alongside defending champions Malawi Assemblies of God University (Magu) and other strong sides such as the University of Malawi (Unima) and Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS,” said Mkombezi.

Early this year, NBM plc committed K1.58 annual sports sponsorship targeting three key areas of women’s football, tertiary sports, and grassroots football in the country.

The Mo626 Varsity Games were allocated K450 million.

Scotland FC set to make big changes as Muyaba’s future hangs in the balance

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Scotland FC set to make big changes as Muyaba’s future hangs in the balance



By Rahim Abdul

Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League champions Scotland FC are reportedly preparing for a major squad overhaul at the end of the current season, with Malawi international Khuda Muyaba among the players who could be shown the exit door.

According to sources close to the club, management is dissatisfied with the team’s overall attacking output despite clinching the championship. While Muyaba’s experience and professionalism have been praised, insiders say his limited goal return just one strike against Bikita United has raised questions about his long-term role in the team’s plans.

Muyaba



The former Silver Strikers and Moyale Barracks forward joined Scotland FC earlier this year from Venda Academy in South Africa on a two-year deal.

However, he has spent most of the season coming off the bench, a situation that reportedly frustrated both the player and supporters who expected more firepower from the Malawian hitman.

Sources within the club have hinted that the technical panel, led by coach Tinashe Mhere, is planning to release at least 11 players as part of efforts to rebuild a more competitive and youthful squad ahead of next season’s CAF Champions League campaign. Muyaba’s name is said to be on that list.

While there has been no official communication from the club, those familiar with the situation say Scotland FC is eyeing new attacking options from within Zimbabwe and abroad to strengthen their frontline.

Meanwhile, football analysts Ibrahim Phiri said in Malawi believe Muyaba’s potential exit could open doors for him to explore other opportunities across the region with a possible return to the TNM Super League or another move within Southern Africa.

Khuda Muyaba, 31, remains one of Malawi’s most recognized forwards, having previously finished as TNM Super League top scorer and represented the Flames in various international competitions.

Scotland FC set to make big changes as Muyaba’s future hangs in the balance

247Malawi
-
0
Scotland FC set to make big changes as Muyaba’s future hangs in the balance



By Rahim Abdul

Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League champions Scotland FC are reportedly preparing for a major squad overhaul at the end of the current season, with Malawi international Khuda Muyaba among the players who could be shown the exit door.

According to sources close to the club, management is dissatisfied with the team’s overall attacking output despite clinching the championship. While Muyaba’s experience and professionalism have been praised, insiders say his limited goal return just one strike against Bikita United has raised questions about his long-term role in the team’s plans.

Muyaba



The former Silver Strikers and Moyale Barracks forward joined Scotland FC earlier this year from Venda Academy in South Africa on a two-year deal.

However, he has spent most of the season coming off the bench, a situation that reportedly frustrated both the player and supporters who expected more firepower from the Malawian hitman.

Sources within the club have hinted that the technical panel, led by coach Tinashe Mhere, is planning to release at least 11 players as part of efforts to rebuild a more competitive and youthful squad ahead of next season’s CAF Champions League campaign. Muyaba’s name is said to be on that list.

While there has been no official communication from the club, those familiar with the situation say Scotland FC is eyeing new attacking options from within Zimbabwe and abroad to strengthen their frontline.

Meanwhile, football analysts Ibrahim Phiri said in Malawi believe Muyaba’s potential exit could open doors for him to explore other opportunities across the region with a possible return to the TNM Super League or another move within Southern Africa.

Khuda Muyaba, 31, remains one of Malawi’s most recognized forwards, having previously finished as TNM Super League top scorer and represented the Flames in various international competitions.

World Bank approves $150 million GESD 2.0 project for all urban city councils in Malawi

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World Bank approves $150 million GESD 2.0 project for all urban city councils in Malawi





By Burnett Munthali

The World Bank has approved a proposal by the Malawi Government to include all urban city councils among the beneficiaries of the Bank-funded Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) 2.0 project, valued at $150 million, equivalent to approximately K260 billion.

Minister of Local Government, Ben Phiri, confirmed the development in an interview with Zodiak Online, describing it as a major step forward in improving urban governance and development.

Ben Phiri



He explained that the approval follows a series of engagements and a high-level meeting he held with World Bank officials on Tuesday, where Malawi’s proposal received positive consideration.

The GESD 2.0 project is designed as a performance-based initiative, rewarding councils that demonstrate excellence in governance, service delivery, and financial management.

According to Phiri, the inclusion of all eight urban city councils means that cities such as Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mzuzu, and Zomba, among others, are now eligible to receive funding based on their performance outcomes.

He emphasized that this development marks a significant expansion of the project, which previously focused mainly on rural councils under GESD 1.0.

Phiri added that the grants will help city councils strengthen their administrative capacity, enhance accountability, and accelerate the delivery of key public services to urban residents.

He further noted that the government remains committed to ensuring that local councils operate efficiently and transparently to justify continued World Bank support.

Executive Director for the Malawi Local Government Association (MALGA), Hadrod Mkandawire, welcomed the inclusion of urban councils but urged them to address operational inefficiencies before accessing the funds.

Mkandawire said improving institutional performance and service delivery systems at council level will help ensure that the World Bank’s resources are used effectively and sustainably.

He also emphasized that the funding presents an opportunity for councils to align their development strategies with the government’s decentralization and urban transformation agenda.

The GESD 2.0 project, one of Malawi’s largest local governance initiatives, is expected to drive improved infrastructure, social services, and accountability mechanisms across both rural and urban areas.

As Malawi’s urban population continues to grow, the approval is being viewed as a timely intervention to strengthen local government institutions and promote equitable service delivery nationwide.

A Nation in the Dark,Thirst — The Urgent Need for Action on Malawi’s Fuel, Power, and Water Crisis

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A Nation in the Dark,Thirst — The Urgent Need for Action on Malawi’s Fuel, Power, and Water Crisis




Malawians are once again bearing the heavy burden of a country caught in the grip of multiple crises such as crippling fuel shortages, erratic electricity supply, and worsening water scarcity.

These are not merely inconveniences,they are indicators of deeper systemic failures that continue to erode public confidence and choke national productivity.

For weeks now, long queues at fuel stations have become a common sight across the country.Businesses are stalling, transport costs are soaring, and livelihoods are being disrupted. The scarcity of fuel is not only paralyzing mobility but also stifling economic activity at every level from small-scale traders to industrial operations. It is unacceptable that a nation so dependent on imports continues to rely on fragile foreign currency reserves without sustainable contingency plans for fuel procurement and storage.



Compounding the crisis is the unreliable electricity supply. Frequent power outages have rendered industries idle, frustrated students and health workers, and exposed our collective vulnerability. The failure to invest adequately in energy diversification particularly renewable sources like solar and hydro innovations has left the Malawi Electricity Supply Corporation (ESCOM) struggling to meet growing demand.

Equally alarming is the deepening water crisis. In many parts of Malawi, taps have run dry for days, forcing residents to depend on unsafe water sources. The scarcity of clean water poses serious health risks and undermines efforts toward hygiene and sanitation, especially in urban and peri-urban areas.

These three crises, fuel, electricity, and water are interconnected. They are the arteries of any modern economy, and when they fail, everything else bleeds. The government must therefore respond with urgency, transparency, and long-term planning. We need deliberate investments in energy infrastructure, sustainable water management systems, and prudent foreign exchange management to ensure stability in essential supplies.

Malawians are patient, but their patience is wearing thin. Leadership means anticipating crises before they explode and taking responsibility when they do.

It is time for policymakers to stop issuing excuses and start delivering solutions that restore normalcy, dignity, and hope to a nation too often left in the dark  and now, too often left without water.

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