Death has been announced of former Flames goalkeeper Charles Swini.
Reports indicate that Swini died on Tuesday morning at Kamuzu Central Hospital after battling Kidney problems for months
Born on 28th February 1982, Apart from playing for the Malawi National team, Swini also played for the defunct Escom United, Silver Strikers, H.B Songo FC in Mozambique and his very last club was Civil Service United in 2022.
The late Charles Swini
Football fans have been quick to pay their tributes to the player who made a difference in Malawi football
His close friend Rodney Domingo told the media that the late Swini was rushed to the Kamuzu Central hospital yesterday after collapsing at his home where he died.
Swini was a member of the Flames squad of the 2010 Africa cup of nations and was a regular after the retirement of Swadick Sanudi.
The former Flames head coach Mario Marinica has signed a two-year contract with Liberia national football team as a head coach.
Marinica who uses fast and furious football method in his coaching was unveiled yesterday by the Liberian Football Association with a target to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
“It is true, I have been appointed as Lone Stars coach,” Marinica confirmed of his appointment.
Mario Marinica now Liberia Coach
The 59-year-old Romanian-British-born coach holds a UEFA Pro Licence and has coached at the top level with Romanian clubs, including the prestigious Rapid Bucuresti.
He also had stints with Arsenal youth academy and Crystal Palace in England.
In Africa, Marinica has worked with Azam F.C. in Tanzania and Black Leopards in South Africa.
Malawi and Liberia are in the same qualifying group of the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea, Namibia and São Tomé and Príncipe.
In the process of fulfilling 1 million jobs creation promise,the President Lazarus Chakwera’s government through the Ministry of Education has announced the recruitment 2,681 secondary school teachers and promotion of 2,259 teachers.
This is according to a statement released on Monday evening.
“In addition, 3,997 teachers have been promoted as Senior Teachers/Heads of Department (Grade TH).
“Further, the Ministry has promoted 316 teachers to the position of Heads of Department (Grade TG) and 500 as Head Teachers (Grade TG)” reads the statement signed by Secretary for Ministry of Education Chikondano Mussa.
Chikondano Mussa, Secretary for Education
According to the ministry, this is a way of expanding secondary education in the country.
Further reads the statement:”The names of the 9,753 successful candidates can be accessed at the Ministry’s website and various education division and district education.”
The Ministry has also released the names of candidates who have been selected to undergo the 19th cohort of a two-year Initial Teacher Primary Education (IPTE-19) training program.
In his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA), Chakwera said he has created over 1 million jobs since he was elected the president of Malawi in 2020.
Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA) Executive Director, John Kapito, has described Illovo Sugar’s assertions on reasons of the commodity’s scarcity on the market as a joke and an insult to consumers.
At a presser held in Blantyre on Friday, Managing Director for Illovo Sugar, Lekani Katandula, said Cyclone Freddy that hit the country last year has had an impact on the firm’s sugar output, resulting in the scarcity.
Katandula said, unlike last year from September to February, when the company produced 119,000 tonnes of sugar, this year they have only managed to produce 77,000 tonnes of the commodity.
Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA) Executive Director, John Kapito
In an interview on Monday, Kapito said sugar scarcity is not a new problem as Malawians have experienced it before and, as such, the sugar company could have found ways of solving the problem.
“I don’t find their reasons valuable but an insult to consumers. Cyclone Freddy is a year old and for them to still attribute it to the recent scarcity of the commodity is a sign of arrogance on their part. They are ashamed to admit their failure,” said Kapito.
A visit to Chipiku Stores in Mzuzu on Monday was met by empty shelves of sugar whilst at Sana Stores, consumers were scrambling for the few packets left on the shelf, with many clearly expressing their frustrations regarding the problem.
One of the consumers, Dominique Luhanga, who resides in Chiputula, Mzuzu said as a consumer he is greatly affected by scarcity of the commodity and thinks the problem is politically motivated.
“Sugar is one of the commodities we rely on. I am of the view that politics is having a role because government is trying so hard to ensure the commodity is found on the market and this might be a ploy to frustrate government’s efforts,” said Luhanga.
Earlier on, Minister of Trade Sosten Gwengwe assured Malawians that his ministry had engaged Illovo Sugar Malawi to iron out issues behind the sugar crisis in the country.
In the heart of Malawi, nestled between the bustling urban cities and the serene rural villages, lies a group of children with a burning passion for education. These children, regardless of their background, walk long distances to school, eager to learn and improve their literacy levels. Among them, a special group stands out – the participants of the Malawi National Spelling Bee.
The annual Spelling Bee competition is not just about winning trophies. It is a platform for these children to build their vocabulary, adopt a reading culture, and build confidence in their abilities. It is a chance for them to improve their public speaking, reasoning skills, and gain exposure to new opportunities. But for some of these children, the journey to the Spelling Bee is not without its challenges.
In a recent competition held at Dowa Secondary School, 126 spellers turned up to compete, hoping to showcase their spelling prowess. Among them were 19 children from rural backgrounds, wearing worn-out uniforms and walking barefoot to the event. Despite their challenges, these children showed up with a determination that could not be ignored.
The Malawi National Spelling Bee is now appealing to the public to support these rural participants in any way possible. Whether it be donating school uniforms, shoes, exercise books, or school bags, every contribution can make a difference in the lives of these children. The vision of Vision 2063 is for this generation, and it is up to us to support them now.
As the Spelling Bee team works tirelessly to create opportunities for these children, the impact of their efforts is undeniable. Through the power of education, these children are not only transforming their own lives but also the future of Malawi as a whole. In a country where education is the key to unlocking endless possibilities, the importance of initiatives like the Malawi National Spelling Bee cannot be understated.
So let us come together, hand in hand, to support these children in their journey towards a brighter future. Let us show them that their hard work, dedication, and passion for learning do not go unnoticed. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that every child in Malawi has the opportunity to thrive and succeed.
In a world where education is a privilege, let us strive to make it a right for all. The 2024 Malawi National Spelling Bee is not just a competition – it is a symbol of hope, determination, and the power of education to transform lives.
