The government through the ministry of Agriculture has on Thursday announced farm-gate prices for the 2023 season with minimum price for Malawi’s staple commodity, maize, set at K500 per kilogram up from K220 per Kilogram in 2022.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Dixie Kampani confirmed the development to the local media.
He said the new staple food price means that a 50 Kilogram bag will be now sold at 25,000 kwacha.
Kampani said Soya beans price has been set at K800 per Kilogram, unpolished rice at K500 per Kilogram while polished rice at K1,000 per kilo while pure beans is now at K700 per kilogram.
He continued to say that the prices are with immediate effect and that people intending to be buying farm gate are urged to obtain buying licences from district councils and complete application forms.
“The prices are with immediate effect. All agro-dealers, agro- processors and others who deal with commodities are requested to buy the stated crop commodities at prices not less than those stipulated above.
“The applicants applying for buying licences will be required to complete application forms indicating location of their warehouses and serial numbers of scales they will use for buying the produce. All scales must be assized and certified by Malawi Bureau of Standards,” he said.
The ministry of Homeland Security has given a fourteen day ultimatum to refugees and asylum seekers residing in rural and urban areas to relocate to Dzaleka refugee camp.
In a statement this publication has in possession, Minister of Homeland security Ken Zikhale Ng’oma, says the notice is effective 1st April to 15 April 2023.
The Minister further says thereafter, relocation process by the state will be enforced by Malawi Police Service and the department of Immigration and Citizenship.
Ken Zikhale Ng’oma
Commenting on the matter, Patrick Botha, Public Relations officer for the ministry said any person or group meddling in the process or harassing the refugees and asylum seekers will face the law.
The Dzaleka refugee camp was meant to host about 12,000 refugees.
However, it is now home to more than 50,000 refugees, many from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the rest from Burundi, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Somalia.
On Thursday afternoon, Parliament passed the 3.7 trillion Kwacha 2023/24 national budget.
This is after the house successfully completed the committee of supply scrutiny of the budget allocations towards ministries, departments and agencies.
According to the initial plan, the budget was supposed to be passed today Friday March 31,2023.
In his remarks, Finance Minister Sosten Gwengwe said he is happy that the revised budget has been passed after members from both sides of the house took their time to scrutinize by votes.
Finance Minister Sosten Gwengwe
The Minister described the budget as the most difficult one to put together following devastating cyclone Freddy.
According to Gwengwe, the budget has put much resources on maintenance so that the country recovers from cyclone Freddy.
On his part, Richard Chimwendo Banda, Leader of the House highly hailed members of parliament for heavily debating and scrutinizing the budget allocations for betterment of the country.
Gladys Ganda, Chairperson for parliamentary committee on budget and finance described the budget as fair for it has managed to reallocate some funds to water, development and recovery from the impact of cyclone Freddy.
The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has disclosed that it will not renew the contract of Flames head Coach Mario Marinica when it expires this coming month of April citing poor performance as the major reason.
The decision was reached at during an emergency meeting which the Malawi National Council of Sports Board summoned with representatives of the FA on Thursday night.
The meeting came hot on the heels of the Flames’ recent dismissal showing in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nation qualifiers in which they lost 2 back to back games against Egypt to blow away any slender chances of qualifying for next year’s tournament in Ivory Coast.
Meanwhile Football Association of Malawi officials are expected to meet Mario today, on 31st March to discuss with him the FA’s decision and possible termination of the contract is not completely ruled out with a month to go.
Board Chairperson, Sunduzwayo Madise and members; Susan Namangale, Chisomo Mwamadi and Hellen Mpinganjira Tasosa represented Sports Council whereas FAM was represented by its president, Walter Nyamilandu and General Secretary, Alfred Gunda.
Malawi are third in Group D owing to a better head to head over Ethiopia who also have 3 points but lie bottom having lost to Malawi in the first leg of the qualifying campaign.
Malawi National Council of Sports Chairperson, Sunduzwayo Madise said they wanted to engage the Football Association of Malawi before acting on the issue.
“We wanted to get a comprehensive report from the Football Association of Malawi on the Flames’ comical display.
“We wanted to engage the Fam before reacting. National Team is for all Malawians and not an individual. It is clear that people want results, ” said Madise.
According to a leaked document of Mario’s contract, the Romanian who took control of the Flames last year after replacing Meke Mwase receives a net salary ofUSD 8,000 which is over K8 Million at the current exchange rate.
In a contract that the Association offered the Romanian in 2022, April 9 signed by the General Secretary of the association, Alfred Gunda, two third (2/3) of his salary was being being transferred to Mario’s Bank Account in his homeland directly from FAM’s account while the remaining balance was being paid directly to his local account in Kwacha.
Football Association of Malawi promised to adjust Mario’s contract by 10% on renewal of the contract and then 10% every year.
During his term of employment, FAM offer was entitled to a suitable fully furnished house in a low density area within the City of Blantyre or a 4 or 5 Star Hotel room, full-time 24 hour security in case of accommodation, K150, 000 for utilities and domestic costs in case of house accommodation, a motor vehicle with 350 litres of fuel every month.
Mario was also offered Life Insurance Cover, Workers Compensation Insurance, VIP Medical Insurance Cover under MASM,Telephone Allowance of K100, 000 per month, a leave grant in the sum of K4 Million, DStv subscription for a full bouquet, one economy flight ticket to any holiday destination per year mong others.
Marinica replaced Meck Mwase who took Malawi to their third Afcon appearance after nearly ten years of walking in the wilderness.
Under his reign, Marinica registered two wins in eleven matches across all the completions, scoring nine goals and conceding fourteen.
In the Afcon qualifiers, he registered one win and three loses, scoring two goals and conceding eight.
Minister of Information and Digitalisation Moses Kunkuyu has commended radio stations in the country for actively reporting on Tropical Cyclone Freddy that has claimed many lives in the country.
Kunkuyu made the sentiments on Tuesday during the World Radio Day commemorations that took place at Youth Net and Counseling (YONECO) offices in Zomba, with support from Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA).
The Minister indicated that through the frequent news updates government and various stakeholders were able to make swift decisions in rescuing the survivors that were trapped due to the survivors effects of the cyclone.
“However, radio stations should consider paying good perks to their staff to achieve professionalism,” he said.
He said the power and influence of radio in shaping up public opinion, promoting sound decision-making, and preventing or ending conflicts can never be underestimated.
“Radio stations, especially Community Radio Stations, have the responsibility and the power to build peaceful communities and a peaceful Nation.
“As a country, we must therefore strive to ensure that our radio stations are managed professionally to take this huge responsibility of building a peaceful Malawi,” said Kunkuyu.
On his part, MACRA board member Reverend Father Saindi also agreed with the Minister saying radio stations are playing a crucial role in informing and warning people from the affected areas about the impact of cyclone Freddy.
Moses Kunkuyu
“As we all know the southern region of Malawi has been hit by Cyclone Freddy which has left many families homeless, among the leading communication channels to warn or inform the public of any development regarding the impact of the cyclone,” Father Saindi said.
Speaking on behalf of the three co-hosts board chairperson of YONECO Prof Dixie Maluwa expressed his gratitude to MACRA for the timely donation.
The commemoration started with a solidarity march from Chinamwali Trading Center to Yoneco premises led by the Malawi Prison Brass Band and traditional dances.
This year, the day was set to be celebrated on February 13, but each country is at liberty to choose a convenient day to celebrate it.
