Malawi’s football governing body, FAM, says that the 2024 NBS Bank Charity Shield match between FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Silver Strikers FC played last Saturday at Bingu National Stadium (BNS) was a success.
According to a statement released by FAM, the Charity Shield match revenue grossed MK88.4 million and net income was MK43.6 million.
The statement further revealed that the net is 114% higher than the MK20.4 million raised in 2023 and the highest since the Charity Shield was introduced in 2016.
This year’s proceeds will be used to invest in the education sector where NBS Bank and FAM through its technical implementing partners will construct sanitary facilities at yet to be identified primary school(s) in the central region.
Bullets won the Charity Shield match on post match penalties winning the trophy for the seventh successive time.
In a surprising turn of events at the Malawian Parliament, Member of Parliament for Chitipa South, Welani Chilenga, has given notice under Standing Order 74 of his intention to move a motion that could potentially reshape the political landscape of the country. The motion aims to introduce a private member’s bill that would establish a maximum age limit for individuals seeking nomination into key government positions.
The proposed bill seeks to amend Section 80 6(b) for the presidency and Section 51(1) for members of parliament in the constitution, restricting older individuals from holding office as State President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, or as members of parliament. This move is justified by the argument that these positions require energetic and active individuals to effectively lead the country and drive meaningful productivity.
Mutharika 2025 candidacy under threat
This development follows a series of events involving expelled Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) former presidential advisor Kondwani George Malemia Nankhumwa, who initially intended to table a similar bill in parliament but withdrew during a business committee meeting. Recent rumors on social media suggested that Nankhumwa was planning to reintroduce the bill as a private member’s bill, which he denied, attributing the reports to false information spread by DPP members.
Interestingly, Welani Chilenga’s connection to Nankhumwa dates back to their time in the DPP when both were expelled from the party. Their shared objective now appears to be centered on preventing DPP President Peter Mutharika, who is over 80 years old, from running for president again. Malawians have expressed discontent with the current government under Lazarus Chakwera, accusing it of mismanagement and financial impropriety, leading to widespread suffering among the population.
Chilenga and Nankhumwa’s efforts to impose an age limit seem to align with a broader sentiment among some Malawians who view Mutharika as their only hope for change. The political maneuvering and tensions surrounding this motion signal a critical juncture in Malawi’s political landscape, with implications that could significantly impact the upcoming elections and the future direction of the country.
President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has urged tobacco stakeholders in the country to continue working together in harmony to create a vibrant industry.
Chakwera made the remarks today during an engagement with officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Tobacco Processors Association, at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe.
In his speech, the Malawi leader advised the stakeholders to maintain sanity in the industry by developing quick solutions every time they are faced with challenges.
“Whenever faced with challenges, let’s handle them quickly. Let us continue the engagement, the collaboration and avoid putting spanners in the works,” he said.
Chakwera also appealed to tobacco buyers to ensure that farmers reap the rewards of their hard work.
President Chakwera further urged tobacco farmers to do the right thing by growing high quality tobacco in order to get the best from buyers.
“We can’t continue producing low quality leaf and then expect to get the best from buyers. There is no need for the president standing on the podium to castigate anybody. We just have to do the right thing,” he said.
He also challenged the industry players to ask themselves why the country continues to struggle with forex issues, even when the tobacco season is over.
“We talk of Tobacco as a forex earner, but after the season is over, you don’t see the forex,” said the president.
Minister of Agriculture, Sam Kawale, assured the gathering that his ministry is working around the clock to deal with illegal cross – border trading of tobacco.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Tobacco Commission, Evans Chilumpha, commended the president for creating a cordial working relationship in the industry, due to his open-door policy.
Chilumpha hailed President Chakwera for assenting to the Tobacco Industry Act, saying the move will go a long way in resolving some of the sticky issues in the industry.
On his part, Limbani Kakhome, Chairperson of Tobacco Processors Association asked government to intensify security to deal with illegal cross-boarder tobacco trading.
He also asked government to intensify efforts to ensure that people who do not grow tobacco are barred from participating in the business.
“Let me also ask government to control over supply of the crop on the market to avoid price crash,” he emphasized.
Graduates from various higher learning institutions in the country have been urged to shift their focus from being employed to creating jobs.
Speaking on Tuesday when the FDH Bank Plc was launching graduate start-ups program at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), the bank’s Deputy Managing Director (DMD) George Chitera said it is now time for Malawian graduates to start creating jobs for themselves and others as the job opportunities are scarce out there.
Chitera
Said Chitera:”If you want the government to do everything for you, then forget it. Let us start producing.”
He emphasized the need for the graduates to find solutions to problems the country is encountering.
“Come up with ideas that can change Malawi from number three on the list of poorest countries.
“Malawi is poor because it does not produce or is producing wrong things and called for mindset change,” he said.
In her speech, MUBAS Vice Chancellor, Associate Professor, Nancy Chitera hailed FDH Bank Plc for choosing their institution to be the first beneficiaries of the graduate start-ups program.
“We are very thankful to FDH Bank for choosing our institution to be the first institution to benefit from the graduate start-ups program. This means a lot to us as an institution and we will use the opportunity wisely,” she said.
Chitera then urged the graduates at the institution to utilise the opportunity, saying the university is determined to promote research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
The graduate start-ups program will offer loans to MUBAS students with promising business ideas.
A faith-based-organization called Tikondane Care for Children says it will not relent in providing psycho-social support to vulnerable children who are found in the country’s streets for them to become responsible citizens in future.
The charitable organization which started in 1998 by the Missionary Sisters of our Lady of Africa in collaboration with Catholic Diocese of Lilongwe provides support to children at risk to develop to their full potential by enabling them to return to safe and loving environments to lead a dignified life.
TCCS Project coordinator Sister Marie Sakina said the organization sustains a philosophy of placing the child at the center of all activities by using a holistic approach in offering hands on Care and protection to children at risk.
“We invest all our strength and energies to promote children’s Rights, combat all forms of abuse, rejection and marginalized,” she said.
According to sakina , they use street outreach to sensitize street connected children on the dangers of street life as a first line intervention in helping and protecting children from the streets.
She said through the initiative, some children who have been supported by the organization are now journalists, computer engineers,soldiers among others.
Sakina has since called for collaborative efforts to support the vulnerable children saying street connected children have potential to succeed in life and become responsible citizens.
Tikondane Care for Children has 26 staff members.
The organization reaches out to 700 street connected children with both psycho -social and educational support.
