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National IDs pivotal in achieving credible 2025 elections

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By Linda Kwanjana

The government has embarked on a sensitization campaign about the importance of national identity cards, saying they will be used to register and vote in the 2025 general elections.

This follows a meeting involving officials from the Ministry of Homeland Security and Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) which was convened on Friday.

During the meeting officials from the two parties among others discussed how best the national identity cards can help the country to have fair and transparent elections.

Dr Ken Zikhale Ng’oma



Speaking in an interview, Minister of Homeland Security, Kenneth Zikhale Ng’oma stressed that both parties are actively engaging in civic education to inform Malawians about the role that national identity cards will play in the 2025 elections.

“We are reviewing wherever it is required to have in 2025,so we went through a voter’s registration and national identity card issues.

So our emphasis is on civic education so that people should be aware about the importance of the national identity cards in the coming elections,” Ng’oma explained.

Ng’oma revealed that his Ministry has received 4 million United States Dollars from the Reserve Bank to procure necessary materials for the smooth production of national identity cards.

Meanwhile, the Homeland minister has said that the government is working to review the system to improve the registration process and production of national identity cards.

Illovo Sugar Malawi pays a deaf ear to sugar price reduction demand

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By Chisomo Phiri

The country’s largest sugar manufacturer Illovo sugar Malawi says it will maintain the current sugar prices in the country.

Speaking on Friday during a public inquiry into sugar production and pricing by Parliamentary Committee on Industry,Trade and Tourism, Illovo Sugar Malawi Managing Director Lekani Katandula said the price of sugar in Malawi is lower compared to prices in neighboring countries hence no need to reduce the current price.

Katandula

Katandula said it is even necessary to increase the prices to avoid cases of exporting sugar to other countries.

“Here in Malawi sugar is very cheap as compared to other countries like Zambia, Mozambique and Tanzania. I do not see any reason to reduce the current price as demanded,” said Katandula.

On his part, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Trade Christina Zakeyu insisted that prices of sugar in the region are lower than prices offered by Illovo Sugar company.

Zakeyu said the ministry is still negotiating with Illovo Sugar and other stakeholders on the issue.

He disclosed that currently, the ministry of trade is issuing sugar import licences to other traders as a way of introducing competition in the industry and bring prices down.

In his brief comment, Chair for Parliamentary Committee on industry, trade and tourism Paul Nkhoma said the committee will see the way forward on the issue as they have heard from the concerned parties.

The inquiry came following a general outcry over high prices of sugar with people asking government to intervene and help bring down sugar prices.

However,the Parliamentary Committee on Industry, Trade and Tourism summoned officials from Illovo Sugar, Ministry of Trade and the Malawi Revenue Authority(MERA).

Speaker Gotani Hara storms Kafukule in Mzimba

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By Linda Kwanjana

After strengthening the party at Vibangalala Primary School Ground in Mzimba few weeks ago, Speaker of National Assembly who is the also party Deputy Secretary General Catherine Gotani Hara on Saturday 15 July, 2023, is destined for Kafukule Ground where she is expected to address the rally.

Hon Gotani Hara will be accompanied to the rally by the northern region Senior party officials.

Hon Gotani Hara



Some of these include; Northern Region Director of Women , Martha Chimpozo, Regional Chair of North North, Honourable Chavula, Member of Parliament Hon Chambulanyina Jere and Director of youth Hon Manda.

Currently MCP is conducting meetings throughout the country as one way of communicating to the people on the ground challenges which the country is facing economically.

Party officials are also briefing communities development projects taking place in their areas.

End of the road!Flames Cosafa Cup dream shuttered after loosing 3-0 to Lesotho in penalty shootout

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By Staff Reporter

Malawi national football team, ‘The Flames’ dream of winning the HollywoodBets Cosafa Cup came to on end on Friday following their 3-nil loss to Lesotho on post-match penalties after the game ended 1-all in regulation time.

Flames failed to take advantage of their numerical superiority at King Zwelithin Stadium as they failed to beat the very organized Lesotho side.

Lesotho took the lead in the 17th minute but Flames equalized just six minutes later through Chawanangwa Kaonga who scored from the spot after a had ball incident in the box.

Lesotho played the last 45 minutes with 10 men after one of their defenders was sent off following a foul on Chawanangwa Kaonga.

Kaonga had a chance to double Flames’ lead 11 minutes in the second half after he received a pass from Lanjesi Nkhoma but the Zanaco FC player shot wide in an unbelievable circumstances.

The match ended 1-all in 93 minutes and went straight into penalties where Chimwemwe Idana, Stanley Sanudi and Patrick Macheso had all their shots saved by the Lesotho goalkeeper Sekhwane Moerane who also scored the winning penalty for his team.

In a post match interview, Flames Coach Patrick Mabedi bemoaned missed opportunities by his side but praised his charges for a good performance at the tournament.

“I have to give credit to my players. They did their best and we struggled to penetrate Lesotho defence as they dug deep. We had opportunities too but we missed them. We were not composed enough. Sometimes you need to be patient and not be rushing. But all in all we did all we could. It just wasn’t our day,” said Mabedi.

Despite the loss, Flames midfielder Chimwemwe Idana was named player of the match.

The win has taken Lesotho to their first Cosafa Cup final after 23 years and they will face the winner between South Africa and Zambia in the Final which will be played on Sunday.

NBM gives security cameras to BT Police

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By Linda Kwanjana

National Bank of Malawi (NBM) Plc has donated five security cameras worth K8.1 million to Blantyre Police as they plan to enhance security in the city.

Earlier this year, Blantyre Police launched an initiative to install surveillance cameras in Blantyre City.

Speaking during the handover ceremony at the bank’s head office in Blantyre on Wednesday, NBM Chief Financial Officer, Masauko Katsala said the Bank is geared to collaborate more with the Malawi Police Service (MPS) to help them carry out their duties effectively.

”As ‘The Bank of the Nation’ we are very much aware that security and peace is one of the prerequisites for conducting business, so, we cannot run business effectively or successfully if there is no security and peace, therefore security comes as a priority,” said Katsala.

Blantyre Police Officer-in-Charge, Deputy Commissioner of Police Obrey Nyirenda expressed gratitude to NBM for the donation saying it will go a long way towards the drive of combating crime in the city.

“We are moving in the right direction though we haven’t yet installed the CCTV cameras in Blantyre CBD, we have procured and secured some of the gadgets, so as we are now receiving this donation we know that our drive towards crime and traffic management will be done in a manner that we want it to be to make Blantyre a secure city,” said Nyirenda.

He however assured residents that cameras will not be used to infringe on people’s rights but for security surveillance purposes only.

Blantyre Police plans to plant about 50 cameras in the city to monitor every hotspot area rolling out in the next two months.