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Malawi,DRC sign bilateral air service agreement

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Malawi,DRC sign bilateral air service agreement

By Chisomo Phiri

Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) made a significant breakthrough in aviation cooperation on Thursday,signing a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) that will revolutionize air travel between the two nations.

This landmark agreement enables the national airlines of both countries to operate direct flights to each other’s territories, fostering increased connectivity and economic growth.

Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Engineer David Mzandu, signed the agreement on behalf of the Malawi government, while Mr. Kayembe Katubalondji Francois, Director of Aviation Transport for the Congo Civil Aviation Authority, represented the DRC government.



The BASA outlines several key provisions, including the ability for Malawian Airlines to operate direct flights to the DRC, connecting Kinshasa and Lubambashi.

Similarly, Congo Airlines will be able to fly directly to Lilongwe and operate between Lilongwe and Blantyre.

This agreement will reduce travel time between the two countries and open up new markets for both national airlines, promoting increased trade, tourism, and economic development.

Madame Chakwera expresses gratitude to supporters of underprivileged youth

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Madame Chakwera expresses gratitude to supporters of underprivileged youth

By Chisomo Phiri

First Lady Madame Monica Chakwera has expressed gratitude to individuals, organizations, and institutions that are making a positive impact in the lives of underprivileged girls and boys through various initiatives supporting their education.

Speaking at the Presidential “Together for Tomorrow” Appreciation Dinner, held at the Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe on Friday, Madame Chakwera celebrated the Shaping Our Future Foundation (SOFF) achievements.

Madame Chakwera

She emphasized that the success is a collective achievement for all stakeholders involved in helping vulnerable young people.

Madame Chakwera, who is also the founder of SOFF, acknowledged the great success made during the 2023 Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) and announced the foundation’s target to reach 5000 beneficiaries by 2026.

She called for more support to achieve this goal.

Among other achievements, 54 students under the SOFF Bursary Programme took the MSCE, with 47 passing (87%) and 25 accepted into various public universities.

One of the beneficiaries, Winnie Kiombo, commended SOFF and its partners for changing her life through the bursary.

Kiombo, from a single-mother household, shared her struggles and success in accessing school fees and the impact of the bursary on her academic life.

“When I heard I was taken by Shaping Our Future Foundation Bursary, I felt relieved knowing the weight had been taken off my shoulders,” she said.

During the event, the 25 successful students received various gifts, including laptops, and different stakeholders pledged support in cash and sponsorship.

Malawi cricket team’s exceptional achievement recognized with special luncheon

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Malawi cricket team’s exceptional achievement recognized with special luncheon


By Chisomo Phiri

The Cricket Union of Malawi on Friday held a celebratory luncheon in Blantyre to honor the Malawi Under-19 Women’s National Cricket Team, which recently won the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup sub-regional qualifiers in Kigali, Rwanda.

The event served as a platform to recognize the exceptional performance of the young women who brought home the prestigious cup.



During the luncheon, the Cricket Union of Malawi Board presented a cash reward of K1.8 million to the 16-member team, including the officials who played a vital role in their success.

In his speech,Cricket Union of Malawi President Vivek Ganesan expressed immense pride in the team’s accomplishment, noting that their victory not only elevated the profile of cricket in Malawi but also highlighted the potential of women athletes in the country.

“What this team did was exceptionally excellent and we had to appreciate their achievement in a special way,” he said.

The luncheon also had in attendance the Sports Ministry spokesperson MacMillan Mwale Malawi National Council of Sports marketing, planning and infrastructure development director Limbani Matola and sports development and recreation director Ivy Chinangwa.

Cricket is a bat-and-ball game that is played between two teams of eleven players on a field, at the centre of which is a 22-yard (20-metre; 66-foot) pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps.

Two players from the batting team (the striker and nonstriker) stand in front of either wicket holding bats, with one player from the fielding team (the bowler) bowling the ball towards the striker’s wicket from the opposite end of the pitch.

The striker’s goal is to hit the bowled ball with the bat and then switch places with the nonstriker, with the batting team scoring one run for each exchange.

NCIC,NSO unveil CCI to guide contractors amidst cost pressures

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NCIC,NSO unveil CCI to guide contractors amidst cost pressures

By Chisomo Phiri

The National Construction Industry Council (NCIC) and National Statistical Office (NSO) have developed Construction Cost Indices (CCI) to guide contractors and developers in planning projects amid rising building material costs.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lilongwe on Friday, NCIC Chief Executive Officer(CEO) Gerald Khonje lamented that the construction sector faces significant cost pressures, affecting project timelines, budgets, and quality.



“The sector has faced challenges in planning, budgeting, cost management, and handling cost adjustments, leading to project delays, unattainable projects, abandoned projects, and compromised quality,” said Khonje.

He explained that the CCI will assist the construction industry with price adjustments for projects due to material price changes resulting from currency devaluation.

“Additionally, the CCI will provide short- and long-term cost changes to facilitate more accurate bids and predict future project costs by analyzing past project trends,” he added.

Khonje also noted that some material price hikes are unrealistic and expressed optimism that the CCI will help traders make proper price adjustments.

The indices consider three construction factors: labor, raw materials, and capital costs.

Opposition MPs push for discussion on preliminary report of VP Chilima’s plane crash

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Opposition MPs push for discussion on preliminary report of VP Chilima’s plane crash

By Chisomo Phiri

Opposition Members of Parliament(MPs), led by Leader of the Opposition George Chaponda on Friday urged the government to discuss the preliminary report by German investigators into the June 10, 2024, plane crash that claimed the lives of Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others.

Chaponda informed the House that he had submitted a request to discuss the matter and emphasized the need for members to weigh in on the report’s findings.

However, Government Chief Whip Jacob Hara cautioned that the preliminary report should not be considered conclusive, as a comprehensive report is yet to be released.

Said Hara:”Members with questions or concerns should note that this report is from independent investigators, not the government. We can provide clarification where relevant, but cannot directly address the report’s findings.”

The preliminary report revealed critical issues, including the lack of a flight data recorder, cockpit voice recorder, and a non-functional emergency locator transmitter due to an expired battery last replaced in 2004.

The report also showed that the crash occurred 700 meters from a settlement after the aircraft collided with a tree trunk, impacting the right wing’s outer part at a height of 4.5 meters.

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