Renowned comedian Jamil Chikakuda, stage name ‘Che Mandota’, has announced that he will not participate in any future award nominations to pave the way for other artists.
In a statement shared on his official Facebook page, Mandota says for a long time, he been decorated with almost every award locally plus the prestigious YouTube Silver Award.”
Mandota
The statement reads in part: “Through your tireless support, I got these awards, and trust me, they were a motivation and a significant driving force towards an improvement in my work, till we finally got here.”
Mandota has since thanked his fans for their tireless support and asked them to continue supporting him in his future projects.
In a bold move, members of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) arrived at the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) office in Mulanje South West, ready to give the building a fresh coat of paint – but this time, in DPP colors.
The reason behind this takeover? All MCP members in the constituency have defected to the DPP, leaving the MCP office vacant and ripe for rebranding.
This dramatic shift in political allegiance is a significant indicator of the changing tides in Malawi’s political landscape.
The DPP, once a dominant force in the country, had seen some of its members defect to the MCP in recent years.
However, it appears that the tables have turned, with MCP members now flocking to the DPP.
The Mulanje South West constituency has long been a stronghold of the MCP, but the mass defection of its members to the DPP has left the party’s office empty and unused.
The DPP saw an opportunity to reclaim the space and make it their own, symbolizing their growing presence in the area.
While some may view this as a publicity stunt, others see it as a strategic move by the DPP to consolidate its support base in the region.
The party’s leadership has been working tirelessly to woo disgruntled MCP members, promising them a better future under the DPP banner.
“This is not just about painting an office; it’s about sending a message that the DPP is committed to growth and unity,” said a DPP official, who wished to remain anonymous.
“We welcome our former MCP colleagues with open arms and look forward to working together towards a common goal,” he added
The development has sparked mixed reactions from political analysts, with some hailing it as a masterstroke by the DPP, while others see it as a desperate attempt to regain relevance.
As Malawi prepares for future elections, this move by the DPP is likely to have significant implications on the political landscape.
Will this strategic takeover pay off, or will it backfire? Only time will tell.
Nkhotakota District Council has received a significant boost to its infrastructure, courtesy of NBS Bank, which donated a Public Address System worth K8 million.
The donation, aimed at creating a conducive environment for the council chamber, was officially handed over by NBS Bank’s Head of Cluster responsible for Central and Northern Region,Dr. Justin Chikaonda.
According to Dr. Chikaonda, the donation is part of the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, demonstrating NBS Bank’s commitment to giving back to the community.
“We believe in supporting the development of our community, and this donation is a testament to our dedication,” Dr. Chikaonda emphasized.
On his part,District Commissioner (DC) for Nkhotakota, Ben Matengeni Tonho, expressed gratitude to NBS Bank for the timely gesture.
“This donation will greatly enhance our council’s operations, and we appreciate NBS Bank’s continued support,” Tonho said.
This is not the first time NBS Bank has shown its support for the Nkhotakota community.
Earlier this year, the bank donated relief support to flood survivors in Dwangwa, demonstrating its commitment to helping those in need.
NBS Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives have been focused on improving the lives of Malawians, particularly in the areas of education, healthcare, and economic empowerment.
The bank’s efforts have been recognized and appreciated by various communities and organizations.
The donation of the Public Address System is expected to improve communication and productivity within the council chamber, ultimately benefiting the residents of Nkhotakota.
As NBS Bank continues to support the community through various initiatives, its impact on the lives of Malawians will undoubtedly be significant.
In related news, NBS Bank has been at the forefront of promoting digital financial services in rural areas through its Bank Pafupi channel.
This initiative aims to improve financial inclusion and provide access to financial services for underserved communities.
With its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility and financial inclusion, NBS Bank remains a leader in Malawi’s banking sector, making a positive impact on the lives of individuals and communities.
Ministry of Agriculture says all is set for this year’s Affordable Input Programme, (AIP) to be rolled out.
Minister responsible Sam Kawale, has highlighted government’s readiness for the AIP in the 2024/25 farming season.
The Minister made the remarks on Monday, during a press briefing at Smallholder Farmers Fertilizer Revolving Fund of Malawi, (SFFRFM) Warehouse at Kanengo in Lilongwe.
Kawale said 1,054,945 smallholder farmers will benefit from the program.
Hon Sam Kawale and Hon Kunkuyu
He said beneficiaries will be entitled to buy one 50 kg bag of Urea and one 50 kg of NPK and 5kgs cereal seeds while paying K15,000 for a 50 kg bag of Urea and NPK respecively.
The total amount of fertilizer required for this years program is 104,845 MT of which 102,845 MT is from the carry over stocks.
Currently the Ministry has engaged 19 private suppliers mostly local Malawians to supply fertilizer to government through the Smallholder Farmers Fertilizers Revolving Fund of Malawi warehouses.
Kawale emphasized government’s commitment in supporting commercial oriented households through various initiatives such as Farm Input Loans under National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF), AGCOM 2 funding for large-scale farming, the Mega Farm Support Unit, AGRA’s Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Food Agriculture Programme (YEFFAP), and the Sustainable Agriculture Production Programme 2 (SAPP2).
Kawale further said government plan to assist more than two million households with food aid, cash transfers, and grants in the upcoming financial year.
He added that Ministry of Agriculture is transition to digital agriculture to enhance data utilisation and system integration, including the National Agriculture Management Information System with Land Information Management System (NAMIS) and Unified Beneficiary Registrar (UBR) to effectively categorize farmers for targeted interventions.
“Our efforts are concentrated on identifying productive farmers through the NAMIS census and allocating resources centrally, to ensure fair distribution for beneficiaries,” said Kawale.
Kawale said the ministry will also facilitate organic fertilisers and new varieties to enhance soil health and crop production, with ongoing initiatives towards commercialisation for wider accessibility.
On Vulnerable households, Kawale disclosed that Government will support these households who include ; the elderly, chronically sick, and people with disabilities that may prevent them from engaging in farming activities.
He said these households are supported under the Social Cash Transfer Programme, which is managed by the Ministry of Gender, Community Development, and Social Welfare and that about 305,000 households are being supported with an estimated budget of K192 billion.
Two activists Bon Kalindo and Lytone Mangochi have advised former President Dr. Bakili Muluzi to side with Malawians especially now that all are demanding Commission of Inquiry to investigate circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Dr. Saulos Chilima and eight others, in the Chikangawa forest in June this year.
Kalindo and Mangochi have told Dr. Muluzi that Malawians love him and will continue to respect him forever for championing democracy in the country from one-party state and dictatorship to multiparty democracy in 1994.
They have asked Dr. Muluzi never and ever championed democracy from where it is today to one-party state and dictatorship reminding him that Malawians of today are not the same as they were in 2020, side with Malawians for his legacy to continue to be respected.
Speaking through different audio clips circulating in various media platforms, Mangochi says it was not good for Dr. Bakili Muluzi stands at a podium accusing United Democratic Front (UDF) members that have taken a hand in blocking the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) from attending UDF Convention.
Mangochi has advised Dr. Muluzi said that if he is holding secret meetings with the MCP to take UDF members to support President Chakwera’s bouncing back into government in 2025 that is a waste of time and resources.
He has appealed to Dr. Bakili Muluzi takes his son, Atupele to the MCP and leaves UDF members alone saying UDF members whatever circumstances are sailing through, no one is ready to join the MCP which has been labelled the party of death and darkness.
“You better go alone with your son Atupele, UDF members will join Malawians in a quest of pushing President Chakwera to constitute the Commission of Inquiry to prove him and his MCP not guilty to have taken a hand in the killing of Dr. Chilima and eight others,” says Mangochi.
On his part, Kalindo has advised the UDF not to make a mistake of making a political alliance with the MCP saying do so will make the party end like curtains on the wall assuring Dr. Muluzi and Atupele said that their speeches at the Convention were questionable that one leg is with the MCP.
Kalindo says the UDF has a good history of democracy In Malawi saying its duty is to safeguard the hard-won democracy assuring it that nobody in Malawi will erase UDF history, the party is supposed to walk, and speak of what Malawians are wanting to do.
“Crocodiles have no democracy, they are wild animals, if you want the UDF history of you and Atupele to be erased in the country’s political history, join the MCP, the UDF which is being seen today, tomorrow won’t be there,” he says.
