Professor Imran Sherif, a well-known commentator on national issues and former AFORD party official, has officially joined the Malawi Congress Party (MCP).
He was welcomed at a rally in Mangochi, where President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera was campaigning to attract new members and promote the MCP’s manifesto in the Eastern Region.
Sherif with Mtambo and Enock Chihana
In his remarks, Sherif described it as an honor to serve under a party that represents national unity. He stated that the MCP’s inclusive approach to development inspired his decision to join. Professor Sherif emphasized that the party’s commitment to equitable progress strengthened his resolve to align with its vision.
Cosmas Felix Chipojola, an independent presidential hopeful, has formally submitted his nomination papers to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) in preparation for the September 16 general elections. The submission marks a key step in his bid for the presidency as he joins the race alongside other contenders.
In a commitment to fair and peaceful elections, Chipojola signed the MEC’s code of conduct, pledging to abide by electoral rules and promote a violence-free campaign. The move underscores his campaign’s emphasis on integrity and adherence to democratic principles.
Chipojola submitting his nomination
Accompanying his nomination, Chipojola unveiled Memory Naveko as his running mate. Naveko, a professional teacher, brings an educational background to the ticket, which the candidate hopes will resonate with voters. The selection highlights Chipojola’s focus on inclusive leadership as he seeks to garner support ahead of the polls.
With the electoral process underway, Chipojola’s campaign now shifts to mobilizing voters and outlining his policy agenda in the coming weeks. The September elections will determine Malawi’s next leader amid growing public interest in the race.
Presidential hopeful and People’s Development Party (PDP) candidate, Kondwani Nankhumwa, has expressed strong confidence in his campaign, declaring his readiness to lead the country and contest the September 16 general elections with determination.
He was speaking on Saturday morning when he was presenting his nomination papers to Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC ) at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC ), expressing his acceptance for the much-anticipated polls.
Nankhumwa
“I am fully prepared to lead this country. We are not just participating.We are in this race to win,” said Nankhumwa.
The PDP leader also emphasized the MEC’s critical role, urging the electoral body to remain professional and uphold public trust throughout the election period.
“MEC must remain focused and dedicated. Malawians are paying attention, and they deserve nothing less than a free, fair, and credible election,” he said.
Touching on the challenge of misinformation, Nankhumwa acknowledged that fake news continues to undermine the commission’s work and called on MEC to take a proactive role in countering it.
“Let us be honest.Some of this misinformation stems from leaders of political parties themselves.
“MEC must act quickly when false narratives surface, especially since most parties have representatives within the Commission who can help clarify the facts.”
Addressing concerns around political violence, Nankhumwa made it clear that the PDP promotes peace and disavows any form of aggression.
“Our party stands for peace. Anyone involved in violence does not represent us, and we distance ourselves from such conduct,” he said.
Nankhumwa who has been in the country top positions in the previous administration is going into the presidential election race with former Balaka-West Constituency legislator Bertha Ndebele as his running mate.
The Hockey Association of Malawi (HAM) has praised First Capital Bank (FCB) for increasing its sponsorship of this year’s national hockey tournament to K10 million from K5 million last year.
Speaking during the ongoing national hockey tournament dubbed ‘FCB Hockey Super 8 Tournament’ at National Hockey Stadium in Blantyre on Saturday, HAM Treasurer Chisomo Mkanda expressed gratitude to the bank for its continued support of the hockey sport in the country.
Mkanda acknowledged that the K10 million sponsorship came as a pleasant surprise to the association.
“We are so happy and grateful to FCB. Their increased support is not only encouraging but also shows their genuine commitment to the development of hockey in Malawi,” she said.
Mkanda said the tournament features both men’s and women’s categories, with equal prize money for top performers in each division.
She said the winners in both categories will receive K1 million, while the runners-up will earn K700,000 and teams finishing in third place will take home K500,000.
“This tournament is all about bringing teams from different regions together to compete, have fun, and play for attractive cash prizes.
“So far, the tournament is going very well. We kicked off yesterday afternoon, and we have already seen great skill and competitive spirit from teams across the Central and Eastern regions,” said Mkanda.
She went on to invite members of the public and potential sponsors to support and experience the excitement of hockey firsthand.
“Hockey is a great sport.We invite everyone to come and watch the games, see the talent, the passion, and the potential our players have.
“We hope more sponsors will follow in FCB’s footsteps,” she said.
On his part, FCB Marketing Manager Stanley Chiyora reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to continue supporting hockey sport in the country.
He emphasized that FCB has been supporting hockey in Malawi since 2013 and remains committed to helping the sport grow.
He acknowledged that hockey is one of the more neglected sports in the country, receiving minimal attention and investment compared to other disciplines.
“As a bank, we want to see the sport grow because hockey is one of the neglected sports in the country. There is little patronage and little investment in the sport.That is why we keep investing and supporting the HAM. We want to encourage potential sponsors to also take the same action,” said Chiyora.
He revealed that beyond hockey, FCB is a well-known supporter of several other sports initiatives in the country such as being main sponsor of FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Football Club, the National Under-20 Football League, and Cricket sporting activities.
“As a corporate citizen, we believe it is our responsibility to develop sports in the country.Supporting sporting activities is not only beneficial to us as corporate entities through brand visibility and community engagement, but also to the players who gain opportunities for growth and development,” said Chiyora.
He echoed Mkanda’s remarks by calling on other companies in the private sector to step up and support hockey sport in the country, stressing that collaborative efforts can elevate Malawi’s hockey sporting standards and provide meaningful opportunities for the youth.
FCB’s continued support comes at a time when many sports in the country are struggling with funding and visibility.
Silver Strikers Football Club has been dealt a significant blow following a disciplinary ruling by the Super League of Malawi (SULOM), which found the club guilty on all three charges it was answering to.
As a result, the Bankers have been fined MK1,750,000 and face a suspension from using Silver Stadium for the remainder of the season a ban that is currently suspended for three months.
This means any further misconduct within this period will trigger an automatic enforcement of the stadium ban.
The ruling follows a series of incidents that allegedly involved fan misconduct, failure by the club to control its supporters, and unruly behavior during a recent fixture. While SULOM has not officially detailed the nature of the charges, multiple sources close to the matter suggest that the disciplinary case was triggered by chaotic scenes that marred a recent home match.
Eyewitness accounts pointed to confrontations involving fans and match officials, prompting immediate disciplinary review.
SULOM has ordered that all fines must be settled before the club’s next official match. Failure to comply will result in the deduction of league points, a penalty that could heavily impact the club’s standing in this season’s title race.
This decision serves as a wake-up call to all top-tier clubs, as SULOM reiterates its commitment to upholding discipline and professionalism in Malawi’s elite football league. In its statement, the league’s governing body urged clubs to proactively educate players, staff, and supporters on the importance of order and respect for the rules.
Silver Strikers are yet to issue a public response, although insiders indicate that the club may consider appealing some elements of the decision, particularly the stadium ban. Regardless of the next steps, the message is clear: SULOM intends to restore discipline and protect the integrity of the game.
