Football Association of Malawi (FAM) on Thursday paid the Flames players their game bonus immediately after their 3-1 win over Sao Tome and Principle in a World Cup qualifier.
This is the first time ever that players have received their bonus on the same day of the match.
The players are entitled to a K500,000 bonus for a win but FAM added K250,000 on top making it K750,000 which was paid to the players before their departure to Malabo for tomorrow’s encounter against Equatorial Guinea.
Flames
“I have been part of the Flames set up since 2011 and never have we been paid our game bonus on the same day. This is historic and very commendable.
“It just shows the new leadership has the welfare of the players at heart. FAM has done its part and has shown its commitment to improve our welfare and its now our turn to deliver on Monday,” said Flames captain John Banda.
Financial rewards in the form of bonuses paid to football players are considered compensation for past struggles and private investments made into players’ futures, some analysts suggest.
However, the payment of bonuses has become a thorny issue in Africa.
Bonuses are frequently awarded for: match appearances, cup round progression, win-bonuses, and also at the end of the season contingent on promotion, league table placing, cup success, or league survival.
Kondwani Nankhumwa, the interim president of the newly formed People’s Development Party (PDP), faced a significant challenge as he launched his party at Masintha Ground in Lilongwe on Sunday June 9,2024.
Despite the opportunity to articulate a compelling vision for Malawi, Nankhumwa failed to differentiate PDP from existing political parties, ultimately leaving the crowd unimpressed.
Nankhumwa’s speech lacked substance and originality, as he simply regurgitated promises and plans that echoed those of his former party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Nankhumwa
His announcement that PDP would revamp ADMARC, a familiar refrain from Peter Mutharika, fell flat with the audience and failed to inspire any enthusiasm.
Furthermore, Nankhumwa’s attempts to discuss the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) lacked coherence and failed to garner support.
His promise that all positions within the party would be up for grabs at the upcoming convention in September rang hollow, particularly as he previously declared his intention to run for president regardless.
The lack of a concrete plan to address hunger and poverty in Malawi further undermined Nankhumwa’s credibility.
His failure to present innovative solutions or distinguish PDP from other parties highlighted his lack of vision and leadership.
Nankhumwa’s questionable tactics, such as ferrying people from Mulanje using vehicles bearing the name “Abiti Gambato,” raised suspicions about his motives and commitment to the party.
Members wearing PDP attire openly admitted that they were only interested in financial gain, casting further doubt on Nankhumwa’s ability to inspire loyalty and genuine support.
The absence of key supporters, including prominent figures like Grezelda Geoffrey, Nicholas Dausi, and Cecilia Chazama, raised questions about the party’s internal cohesion and overall viability.
The fact that three party trustees were missing from the launch also fueled speculation about the party’s readiness for the political arena.
In light of Nankhumwa’s controversial past, including his dismissal from the DPP for misconduct and his failure to return party vehicles, doubts remain about his integrity and commitment to ethical leadership.
The symbolic gesture of rebranding DPP vehicles with PDP symbols without permission further underscores Nankhumwa’s questionable ethics.
Overall, Nankhumwa’s lackluster launch and the lukewarm reception from the crowd suggest a rocky road ahead for PDP.
Without a clear and compelling vision for Malawi’s future, Nankhumwa’s political journey within the party is likely to face significant challenges and skepticism.
In addition to the lackluster reception at the launch event, Kondwani Nankhumwa’s leadership style and political track record also raise concerns about his ability to lead the People’s Development Party (PDP) effectively.
Nankhumwa’s past association with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and his subsequent dismissal for alleged misconduct call into question his integrity and trustworthiness as a political leader.
This history may make it difficult for him to gain the trust and support of the Malawian people, especially considering the country’s recent history of political corruption and mismanagement.
Moreover, Nankhumwa’s failure to outline a clear and comprehensive policy platform during the launch event suggests a lack of coherence and direction within the PDP.
Without a strong policy agenda that addresses the pressing issues facing Malawi, such as poverty, unemployment, and corruption, it is unlikely that the party will be able to attract broad-based support from the electorate.
Nankhumwa’s focus on vague promises and recycled ideas from his time with the DPP does little to inspire confidence in his ability to bring about meaningful change.
Furthermore, the absence of key party figures and supporters at the launch event raises questions about the level of internal cohesion and unity within the PDP.
The fact that prominent individuals like Grezelda Geoffrey, Nicholas Dausi, and Cecilia Chazama were missing from the event suggests that there may be divisions or disagreements within the party ranks that could hinder its ability to present a united front to the public.
These fellows have been behind Kondwani Nankhumwa all along and their abscondement was a sign of no confidence in Nankhumwa.
Without strong leadership and a unified party apparatus, the PDP may struggle to compete effectively in Malawi’s political landscape.
Additionally, Nankhumwa’s reliance on questionable tactics, such as using vehicles bearing the name “Abiti Gambato” to transport supporters to the launch event, undermines the party’s credibility and raises doubts about his commitment to ethical and transparent governance.
The perception that some members of the party are primarily motivated by financial gain rather than genuine political beliefs further erodes confidence in the PDP’s ability to serve the interests of the Malawian people.
Without a clear commitment to ethical conduct and accountability, the party risks alienating potential supporters and losing credibility in the eyes of the public.
In conclusion, Kondwani Nankhumwa’s lackluster launch of the People’s Development Party (PDP) highlights significant challenges facing the party as it seeks to establish itself in Malawi’s political landscape.
Without a coherent policy agenda, strong leadership, and a commitment to ethical governance, the PDP is unlikely to gain widespread support or make a meaningful impact on the country’s political future.
Nankhumwa’s past controversies, the absence of key supporters, and the use of questionable tactics all raise red flags about the party’s viability and potential for success.
As Malawians look towards the next election, it will be crucial for the PDP to address these shortcomings and present a compelling vision for the country’s future in order to gain the trust and support of the electorate.
The National Liberation Party (NLP) President Isaiah Emmanuel Sunganimoyo, has come out in the open place to say that he was one behind many people mobilizing Malawi Congress Party (MCP) supporters to block activists from organizing and holding demonstrations in Lilongwe.
Sunganimoyo says stopping demonstrations in Lilongwe did not come as a surprise but for the love of the country observing that demonstrations had evil motives, to make the Government of President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera ungovernable.
President Isaiah Emmanuel Sunganimoyo
He says the demonstrations were being organized by one tribe only in the southern region, the region which had produced two Presidents while in the Eastern Region, people behind holding demonstrations were those Malawians living in South Africa.
Speaking through a video clip circulating in various social media platforms, Sunganimoyo says in the way he was seen mobilizing MCP members to defend Lilongwe from activists holding demonstrations, many Malawians thought he was bought with millions of Kwachas to support MCP.
He claims that following him leading by example in mobilizing people not to allow activists and demonstrators in Lilongwe, the MCP has taken this as a weapon of defending and protecting President Chakwera and the MCP to be regarded as the force to reckon with.
He says beside doing a good job to the MCP, the party has never and ever recognized his work and even senior party officials do not have time to remember his works speaking for itself that some people have declared Lilongwe and the central region as belonging to only the MCP.
The NLP President says he loved President Chakwera and he voted for him in the June, 2020 elections saying he has courage to speak before Malawians on issues affecting the country and some people were planning to take away his life.
“The challenges which Malawi as a country is sailing through, did not come because of Chakwera ,” says Sunganimoyo.
He has however,expressed hope that the MCP and President Chakwera will find time to praise him for being a standing block to activists and demonstrators to hold demos in Lilongwe claiming that without him, this government would have been taken away from the hands of President Chakwera.
Football Association of Malawi(FAM) President, Fleetwood Haiya, has warned districts and regional football administrators against playing double standards to frustrate the ‘transforming the game’ agenda which his administration is implementing.
According to Haiya, many football clubs now utilise ‘wearable smart technology’ during both training and games in order to acquire and analyse players’ data, which in turn can be examined by experts to understand the players’ strengths and weaknesses,all of which means the data can be invaluable.
Haiya
He says the tactics reflect the importance of planning for matches.
“Tactics create a playing system that links a team’s formation to a particular style of play (such as attacking or counter attacking, slow or quick tempo, short or long passing, teamwork or individualistic play).
“With the first legal forward pass completed in 1906, the football really began to change.
“It was still clunky at nearly 1 pound, but players could keep a better grip on it and throw it around the field with improved accuracy.
“The more time you spend with your football, the better you will become. Practicing football drills, tutorials, and playing in games will get you on the right track to improving your skills. You should also work on conditioning, cone dribbling, passing, trapping, and understanding your position to be the best player,” says the FAM President.
The body of the departed Former Cabinet Minister Raphael Kasambara has arrived in Mzuzu en route to his home Village of Chijere in Nkhatabay.
Earlier in the day People from all walks of life gathered at former Minister of Justice’s residence in Nyambadwe, Blantyre to pay their last respects to the departed legal professional.
Some of the notable faces present include Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Michael Usi, Judges of the High Court of Malawi and lawyers, among others.
Kasambara died on Friday June 8, 2024 in Lilongwe.
Paying last respect provides some comfort to the grieving family, because when someone shows their respect, the family is reassured that the deceased person really was loved and cherished by others.
When it really comes down to it, that is why we have funerals.
We want others to be around us in our time of sorrow.
Ralph Kasambara had attempted to self-administer first aid before his untimely death at a lodge in Lilongwe, the Malawi Police have revealed.
Kasambara, 55, was found dead in his room at Damron Lodge in Area 47, Sector 5, Lilongwe, where he was a regular guest.
The report alleges that Kasambara was found by a hotel staff member when it was time to clean the room, as instructed the day before by the lawyer.
The police, who were called to the scene, say they observed that Kasambara had attempted to administer first aid on his own prior to the tragic incident.
