In a move aimed at sustaining economic stability, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) has maintained the policy rate at 26 percent.
This was announced in a statement from the MPC’s third meeting of 2024, published by the Central Bank on Thursday afternoon.
Reserve Bank of Malawi
According to the statement, the MPC noted that the current monetary policy stance has stabilized non-food inflation and sufficiently contained the spill-over effects of food inflation on non-food inflation.
“The Committee further noted that maintaining the current policy stance will help contain inflationary pressures and ensure that inflation declines towards the medium-term objective of 5 percent,” the statement reads in part.
The policy rate is the interest rate at which commercial banks borrow money from the central bank.
The Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has called on the Malawi Police Service(MPS) to launch an independent investigation into a health worker’s conviction for theft of drugs at Lupembe Health Centre in Karonga.
Despite the conviction, the worker remained on the payroll, sparking concerns.
Speaking on Thursday during the dissemination of an investigation report in Karonga,MHRC Commissioner,Boniface Massa said it is unacceptable for a convicted individual to continue receiving a salary while innocent citizens suffer.
“We are disturbed by the reports and urge the police to investigate this matter thoroughly,” he said.
Massa emphasized the need for accountability.
“The Medical Council of Malawi must also investigate reports of increased maternal deaths and health workers prioritizing private practice over public healthcare,” he added.
Director of Health and Social Services for Karonga, David Sibale,acknowledged the findings.
“We will use these findings as a benchmark to improve our services and regain public trust,” he said.
The MHRC investigation, conducted in December last year, uncovered alleged violations of the right to health and mismanagement of resources at Karonga District Hospital.
Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) Commissioner General John Biziwick has urged journalists in the country to accurately report on tax issues so that the public can understand.
He made the call in Blantyre when he opened a media training on new tax measures and MRA initiatives for the 2024/2025 fiscal year.
Biziwick described the media as a crucial partner in as far as tax compliance is concerned in the country.
“We rely on the media to raise awareness and foster a culture of tax compliance,”said Biziwick.
He further urged journalists to educate the public on the issue of tax stamps which has created a lot of interest from the general public.
“Tax stamps have always been there, we are just extending the tax stamps to a few other products like energy drinks and imported beer,” he said.
Biziwick assured the general public that the public tax collector is eyeing a K3.26 trillion profit by the end of the 2024/2025 financial year which will be on March 31, 2025.
He disclosed that in the first half of the year,MRA has collected K656.48 billion representing a 41 per cent growth when compared to the collection for the first quarter of the 2023/24 fiscal year.
Chairperson for the Parliamentary Committee on Media, Susan Dossi echoed Biziwick`s sentiments on the importance of the media in disseminating accurate information to the public.
“There is a lot of disinformation in this country and if media houses are given the right information they will be able to communicate effectively to the general public,” Dossi said.
Dossi commended MRA for being vibrant in the implementation of the Access To Information (ATI) law.
MRA was established by an Act of Parliament in 1998 and was launched in February 2000.
The Authority is charged with the responsibility of assessing and collecting specified revenues on behalf of the Government of Malawi.
Lilongwe police have launched an investigation into the alarming abduction of Muhamad Kasiman, a 26-year-old British national, in Falls Estate.
The incident happened on Wednesday.
According to Lilongwe police spokesperson Hastings Chigalu, Kasiman, an employee of Universal Industries, was forced to stop his vehicle when he encountered a roadblock while returning from a mosque.
“When he exited his vehicle to investigate, unidentified assailants seized him and dragged him into their car,” says Chigalu.
He says fortunately, police have recovered Kasiman’s iPhone, which was discarded at a separate location from where his vehicle was found and that authorities are working tirelessly to rescue Kasiman and uncover the motives behind this disturbing incident.
The Public Appointments Committee of Parliament (PAC) on Thursday officially confirmed the appointment of former Commander of the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) General Vincent Nundwe,as Malawi’s Ambassador to Morocco.
Nundwe
Announcing the confirmation was the committee’s chairperson,Joyce Chitsulo.
She said:”We are pleased to announce that General Nundwe has been endorsed as Malawi’s Ambassador to Morocco.His vast experience and leadership skills make him an ideal candidate for this role.”
Chitsulo said the committee is confident that General Nundwe will effectively represent Malawi’s interests in Morocco and foster strong diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Last year, President Lazarus Chakwera appointed Paul Valentino Phiri as new MDF Commander, replacing Vincent Nundwe.
Nundwe was reappointed to the position after Chakwera won the June 23, 2020 presidential election.
