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Nankhumwa enters presidential race with confidence

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By Chisomo Phiri

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.

HAM applauds FCB for doubling 2025 national hockey tournament sponsorship

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By Chisomo Phiri

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 sanctioned: SULOM fines club MK1.75 million, suspends stadium use

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By Rahim Abdul

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.

Lawi Teams Up with Vwaza Multimedia for Exclusive Album Release

By  Durell Namasani

Renowned Malawian musician Lawi has entered an exclusive partnership with homegrown music platform Vwaza Multimedia for the distribution of his upcoming album My Father’s Land, scheduled for release on September 27, 2025. The announcement was made during a private event at Lilongwe’s Havilah Park on Wednesday, attended by media and artists under the Vwaza brand. 

Lawi emphasized the importance of supporting local platforms, comparing the initiative to Malawi’s adoption of electric vehicles. “Just because something is new doesn’t make it irrelevant,” he said. “It took belief to bring those cars here, and I’m taking that same risk for our music industry through Vwaza.” He added that the deal represents a shift toward greater artist ownership in music distribution and revenue generation. 

Lawi ready to drop my father’s land



Pokani Kaunda, Vwaza’s Artist Relationship Manager, stated that the partnership highlights the platform’s mission to empower local artists. “We exist to turn craftsmanship into sustainable careers,” Kaunda said. “This collaboration proves that Malawian talent can thrive on homegrown platforms.” 

Vwaza Multimedia CEO Joel Ngozo called the deal a milestone for Malawi’s music industry. “Having an artist of Lawi’s caliber choose a local distributor is rare but inspiring,” he said. “We aim to make Vwaza a launchpad for Malawian music across Africa and beyond.” 

The partnership arrives as Malawi strengthens its digital infrastructure and creative economy, positioning local artists for global reach. *My Father’s Land* will be available exclusively on Vwaza Multimedia upon release.

Musician Gwamba fulfills pledge, donates K1 million to Mapange

By Rahim Abdul

Celebrated Malawian hip-hop artist and philanthropist Gwamba, real name Duncan Zgambo, has once again demonstrated his passion for giving back to the community by donating K1 million to James Mapange, a young man living with a disability, to help him kick-start his business idea.

This donation stems from a public initiative Gwamba launched on his Facebook page, where he promised to support the follower who submitted the most compelling and practical business proposal.

Gwamba



The initiative drew dozens of entries from across the country, each sharing their dreams and struggles in pursuit of economic empowerment.

After a careful review, James Mapange emerged the winner. His story moved Gwamba and his team deeply.

In 2019, Mapange was involved in a tragic road accident that left him with a spinal cord injury, confining him to a wheelchair.

Despite his physical limitations, Mapange submitted a clear and passionate proposal aimed at starting a small-scale poultry business, which he said would help him become financially independent and support his family.

“James Mapange’s story stood out. He has been through a lot since his accident in 2019, yet his courage and focus remain unwavering. We are honored to support his dream with this K1 million donation,” wrote Gwamba on Facebook.

The funds were drawn from the royalties Gwamba recently received from the Copyright Society of Malawi (COSOMA)—a portion of which he had already earmarked for philanthropic work.

Mapange expressed gratitude in an emotional message shared via his personal Facebook page, thanking Gwamba and his fans for believing in him.

“This is not just money it is a new beginning. I have been trying to get back on my feet for years, and now I have a real chance. Thank you, Gwamba, for this life-changing support,”he explained.

Over the years, Gwamba has grown beyond music into a symbol of hope, especially among Malawi’s youth. He has been involved in various charitable causes, including support for orphanages, churches, schools, and youth groups.

His collaboration with faith-based and non-profit organizations has helped raise awareness on issues such as education, poverty, and disability inclusion.