Vice-President Justice Dr. Jane Ansah has advised beneficiaries of the Lean Season Food Response Programme in the country to refrain from selling the maize provided to them.
She said this on Tuesday at Namalindi Primary School in Chikwawa District, where she presided over the distribution of food and relief items to households struggling with hunger during the 2025/2026 lean season.
Ansah
On his part,Commissioner for the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), Wilson Moleni, echoed the VP’s message, emphasizing that the aid must be used as intended to support affected families.
In his remarks on behalf of Paramount Chief Lundu, Senior Chief Chapananga thanked government for the assistance and appealed for the number of beneficiaries in Chikwawa to be increased from 43,549 to 85,000.
One of the beneficiaries, Neria Langton, who received a bag of maize, expressed gratitude to government for the support and asked for continued assistance for others who remain in dire need.
The latest Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee(MVAC ) report shows that more than four million people are at risk of experiencing food shortages between October 2025 and March 2026.
The Civil Servants Trade Union (CSTU) has urged government to reconsider the newly revised Pay As You Earn (PAYE) structure, arguing that the adjustments will reduce workers’ disposable incomes.
CSTU secretary general Titha Gomani says the union made the appeal during a meeting with the Government Negotiating Team (GNT) held in Lilongwe on Tuesday.
According to Gomani, civil servants are already struggling to meet basic needs due to the continued rise in the cost of goods and services.
Titha Gomani
She says: “The revised PAYE structure will further reduce civil servants’ take-home pay, which is demotivating for the workforce.”
Gomani adds that the GNT indicated it would respond to the concerns after holding consultations with relevant authorities.
When contacted, GNT chairperson Bright Kumwembe confirmed the meeting with the CSTU but declined to provide further details.
Under the revised PAYE system, workers earning K170,000 or less will no longer pay income tax, following an adjustment of the zero-rate band from K150,000.
However, incomes between K170,000 and K1.57 million will now be taxed at 30 percent, those up to K10 million at 35 percent, and a new 40 percent rate will apply to earnings above that threshold.
Malawi is mourning the death of its former iconic footballer, Esau ‘Black Mamba’ Kanyenda, who passed away on Tuesday December 2,2025 in the United Kingdom (UK ) after a battle with liver cancer.
He was 43.
Kanyenda’s death has sent shockwaves across the nation and the wider football community, with tributes pouring in from fans, former teammates, football authorities, and national leaders.
Kanyenda
Known for his explosive pace, lethal finishing, and charismatic presence, Kanyenda rose from humble beginnings to become one of Malawi’s most successful international players.
President the nation on Tuesday led the nation in mourning the Ex-Flames football star , describing him as a patriotic son of Malawi whose talent carried the nation’s flag with pride across the world.
Parliament observed a moment of silence in his honour, acknowledging his contribution to sports development and his role in inspiring young athletes.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) officials also expressed deep sadness, noting that Kanyenda paved the way for Malawian footballers in international leagues.
Throughout his career, he played for clubs in Malawi, South Africa, Denmark, and Russia, becoming one of the few Malawians to make a mark in European football.
As messages of sympathy continue to flood social media, many remember him not only for his achievements on the pitch but also for his humility, mentorship, and passion for developing local football talent.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by the family in due course.
National Bank of Malawi (NBM) plc, says it is impressed with the Scorchers’ overall performance in the Women’s Three-Nations Tournament underway in Lilongwe as the team prepares for the upcoming WAFCON.
During the tournament at Bingu National Stadium, Malawi put up competitive performances, despite their 2–1 loss Zimbabwe in the opening match on Friday, before a one-all with Zambia on Sunday.
With those results, the hosts stand no chance to win the tournament as it is being played on a league-format.
This means Zimbabwe lead the table with three points, followed by Zambia’s point as they head into their last encounter on Tuesday.
Malawi’s consolation goal against Zimbabwe came through a 40th-minute strike from Faith Chinzimu, while Rose Kabzere netted a powerful 56th-minute rebound to secure the draw against Zambia.
NBM plc Product Development and Strategy Manager, Ibrahim Chapeyama, said that as the official Scorchers’ sponsors, they were satisfied with the team’s overall performance and described the tournament as an important foundation for WAFCON preparations.
“We are focusing on the positives because the coach was able to try out new players. We are impressed with what we have seen and are hoping for the best,” said Chapeyama.
He added that the Bank’s sponsorship aims to strengthen the development of women’s football and enhance Malawi’s competitiveness at the continental level.
“We have been with them from the start. We sponsored the premiership that led to WAFCON qualification. Our message has always been the same: keep pushing and make the dream come true. We want the team not just to qualify again, but to go beyond and win it,” he said.
Commenting on the matches, Scorchers Coach Lovemore Fazili said he was also encouraged by the team’s performance and emphasized the need for squad depth as part of the build-up to major future competitions.
“The games were not bad. I wanted to give a chance to players who have not played before. We cannot rely on just a few individuals building a strong team requires depth” he said.
He said friendly matches are vital for assessing new combinations and refining tactical harmony.
“Even though we failed to win the tournament, I was looking for coordination between the new players and the usual squad. We learnt a lot from Zimbabwe and Zambia, and I believe they learnt from us as well,” Fazili said.
Zambia Coach Charles Haaluubono also praised Malawi’s continued progress in women’s football.
“They keep improving, and we are now almost at the same level if not already there. You can see young players coming in and performing very well. I follow the Malawian league closely, and the development here is impressive,” he said.
Mzuzu University (MZUNI) emerged as the overall winner of the Tertiary Students Sports Association of Malawi (TESSAM) Weekend Sports Festival, held on Saturday and Sunday at the University of Malawi in Zomba in a competition designed to scout athletes for the 2026 CUCSA Games in Botswana.
MZUNI outperformed its rivals with victories in men’s and women’s football, netball and volleyball, securing its position as the top institution of the tournament.
Tawina Malata
Bunda College claimed both men’s and women’s basketball, the University of Malawi triumphed in chess, while Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) led in athletics.
The festival, sponsored by National Bank of Malawi (NBM) Plc through a K17 million investment, brought together universities and colleges for a high-stakes talent identification platform aimed at assembling the next national university team, TESSAM Malawi.
Zomba NBM Plc Service Centre Manager, Tawina Malata, expressed pride in the Bank’s role in supporting Malawi’s sporting youth.
“We strongly believe that the future of our country rests in the hands of the youth, and supporting this festival allows us to nurture their talents and potential. We are pleased that several outstanding players have been identified to represent Malawi. As National Bank, we are honoured to stand with institutions in promoting discipline, ambition, and national development through sports,” said Malata.
TESSAM Malawi Vice President, Geoffrey Biya, said the tournament fulfilled its primary mission of scouting athletes for the CUCSA Games and praised NBM Plc for bridging the resource gap universities often face.
“These games were specifically organized to identify players who will represent Malawi next year. National Bank’s support made it possible for all these universities to come together and compete at this scale. We are grateful for their commitment to youth development and sports excellence,” said Biya.
MZUNI Sports Director, Thomas Movetie, whose institution delivered the strongest overall performance, described the victory as a proud moment for the university.
“We are extremely proud of what our athletes have achieved. Their hard work has paid off, and it shows the strength and determination of the MZUNI community. We also appreciate National Bank Plc for stepping in to support university sports and helping create opportunities for young athletes across the country,” said Movetie.
The festival successfully met its objective, with 30 netball players, 12 chess players, 24 volleyball players, 24 men’s basketball players, 34 women’s basketball players, 28 women’s football players, and 34 athletics competitors scouted for provisional inclusion in the national university squad.
Selected athletes will begin preparations for Botswana with their first training camp in January, followed by monthly camps until the final CUCSA team is confirmed.
Other institutions that participated in the TESSAM sports festival included Kamuzu College of Health Sciences, Natural Resources College (NRC), University of Livingstonia, DMI St John the Baptist University, MUBAS, and Bunda Campus of LUANAR.
