Davis Lungu, 24, from Zingwangwa Township in Blantyre, was on Saturday June 8,2024, announced the fourth winner of the K1million business capital in the ‘Kuthandiza Omwe Alibe Kuthekera Kupita Patsogolo’ project championed by entrepreneur Triephornia Mpinganjira.
Speaking when receiving the cheque, Lingu said he will use the funds to boost his car wash and cleaning service business.
Nyondo handing over the cheque to Lungu
In his remarks, Mpinganjira’s representative Ephraim Nyondo said now 14 people are remaining to secure the funds in the K18million project that the wife to business mogul and philanthropist Thom Mpinganjira introduced to support enterprising youths aged between 18 and 35.
The money is awarded every fortnight to a young person with the most interesting business proposal.
The Malawi Police Service (MPS) says the preliminary findings on the autopsy of the late Ralph Kasambara has revealed that the death was due to heart failure.
National Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya has disclosed this to Nation Online a short while ago.
According to Kalaya, samples have been collected for a more detailed chemical analysis.
Raphael Kasambara
“The results of this examination are expected to be provided to the police in due course,” he said.
He indicated that the autopsy procedures were carried out at Goodwill Mortuary, located in Area 4, by pathologists Dr Tamiwe Tomoka and Dr. Andy Mwale.
Kalaya added that the autopsy was conducted in the presence of Dr.Dan Namalika, who attended on behalf of the family, along with other family members.
Kasambara, a prominent figure in the legal community and former Justice Minister and Attorney General, was found dead yesterday at a lodge situated in Area 47 in Lilongwe.
Mudzi Connect, a local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), envisions a Malawi with vibrant and self-sustaining communities that harness their strengths and assets to shape their destinies with resilience and innovation.
With a mission to unlock the potential of local communities, Mudzi Connect invests in local ideas, strengthens skills, and builds lasting partnerships for sustainable development.
In Dowa district, Mudzi Connect initiated a groundbreaking clustered grant-making project in Traditional Authority(T/A) Msakambewa, implementing ten localized projects across diverse development sectors.
Bertha Mukhuna
The organization invested $83,341.24 in grants, disbursed to Village Development Committees, which implemented projects including classroom blocks, a head teacher’s house, and an Under-Five Clinic.
According to Programme Officer Bertha Mukhuna, the project has triggered increased community participation, with locals contributing $8,656.85 (over 10% of the total budget) and other resources.
Mukhuna notes that this engagement ensures project sustainability and builds a strong foundation for future initiatives.
Mudzi Connect believes in empowering local communities to lead project implementation, strengthening their skills and ensuring sustainability.
The organization collaborated with the Dowa District Council, Civil Society Organization (CSO) Chair, and National Bank of Malawi (NBM) to select Traditional Authority Msakambewa as their impact area.
Currently, Mudzi Connect is conducting a baseline study, led by Professor Singini from Mzuzu University, to evaluate the project’s impact after two years.
This study will aid in assessing the project’s effectiveness in shaping the destiny of Malawian communities.
Chair of Malawi’s Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture Sameer Suleman, has sharply criticized the Tonse Alliance government for failing to take proactive measures to prevent an impending hunger crisis.
Suleman’s remarks come amid rising concerns over food insecurity in the country, exacerbated by factors such as erratic weather patterns and soaring fertilizer prices.
Suleman emphasizes that despite previous warnings, the government has not adequately prepared for the agricultural challenges that Malawi faces.
He notes that the rising cost of fertilizers and other agricultural inputs has severely impacted farmers’ ability to produce sufficient food, which could lead to significant shortages in the coming months.
Suleman stresses that the government’s failure to anticipate and mitigate these issues could result in widespread hunger and economic instability.
Suleman
Suleman has a history of vocal advocacy regarding agricultural issues.
He recently exposed a significant scandal involving the Affordable Input Program (AIP), where MK30 billion meant for fertilizer procurement was misappropriated, leaving the Ministry of Agriculture without the necessary supplies.
This scandal, Suleman argues, is a clear indication of systemic problems within the government’s handling of agricultural resources.
To address the looming hunger crisis, Suleman suggests several immediate actions.
First, he advocates for a temporary ban on maize exports to ensure that local needs are met before surplus grains are sold abroad.
This measure aims to stabilize domestic food supplies and prices.
Second, he calls for increased transparency and accountability in the management of agricultural programs to prevent corruption and misallocation of resources.
Moreover, Suleman urges the government to expedite the implementation of the Fertilizer Bill, which aims to regulate the fertilizer industry more effectively and support smallholder farmers.
He believes that with proper legislative backing and oversight, Malawi can overcome the current challenges and build a more resilient agricultural sector.
The Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, under Suleman’s leadership, continues to press for these reforms, hoping to avert a severe food crisis and ensure sustainable agricultural development in Malawi.
The Parliamentary Committee on Transport and Public Infrastructure says it is impressed with progress of different projects Airport Development Limited (ADL) is undertaking in different airports including at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in Lilongwe.
Speaking Friday after meeting ADL and Malawi Catering Service officials, Chairperson for the Committee, Enock Phale, said the committee was impressed to see ambitious plans ADL has such as rehabilitation of cargo terminals at KIA in order to develop air transport industry in the country.
The Parliamentary Committee on Transport and Public Infrastructure
“As a mother body for transport and public infrastructure in the country, we came to appreciate their plans and what they are doing as well as their reforms which have a huge potential to contribute to the countrys economic growth, he said.
Phale, therefore, assured ADL that the committee will continue to support air transport saying it has potential to help Malawi generate more revenue.
ADL Chief Executive Officer, Victor Lungu, expressed gratitude for the meeting saying it will help ADL work together with the committee in improving air transport in Malawi.
“We have shown the committee where we are and briefed them on the programs and reforms we have at our airports. We have assured them that we will continue to do our best to have quality services from our airports, he said.
According to Lungu, ADL has plans to construct a canopy at KIA which will provide shades to passengers especially during rainy season and also a transit passenger facility as one way of rehabilitating the airports in the country.
He said these reforms also include construction of the airport city at KIA which will include a shopping mall, hotels and aviation university among others.
Restructuring of the airport sector has led to ownership of all airports in the country placed under ADL.
