Walter Nyamilandu Manda who has been Football Association of Malawi (FAM) President for the past 19 years says he will contest for the position again but for the last time during the December 16 polls in Mzuzu.
Nyamilandu who currently has one nomination from the Central Region Football Association (CRFA) announced this during the on-going televised press statement monitored on Mibawa Television on Thursday.
Nyamilandu wants another term
He said he is now preaching “Bridging the Gap” away from his infamous “Raising the Bar” motto.
The so called FAM life President said with the new ‘Bridging the Gap’ slogan, he has plans to develop football in Malawi further.
“I am contesting again this time and it is my last time. I have plans to further develop the football game in the country.” he said.
Nyamilandu will face Super League of Malawi (SULOM) President, Fleetwood Haiya who is also vying for the position and has three nominations.
Some traders and companies in Lilongwe have immediately adjusted the prices of their products following the Reserve Bank of Malawi’s announcement of a 44% devaluation of the kwacha on Thursday night.
A visit to some shops in the city revealed that prices of some items and commodities had gone up as much as 100%.
The shops which have raised their prices include Game Stores, Devil Street, Tsoka Market at Gateway Mall, Crossroads, and Seven-Eleven.
“They are punishing innocent Malawians,” Gwengwe
The move has displeased Minister of Trade Sosten Gwengwe, who has branded it a “rip-off.”
“They are punishing innocent Malawians,” Gwengwe said.
“The stock they are selling now is old but these people just want to take advantage of the devaluation to make huge profits.”
However, Gwengwe declined to shed more light on the issue, claiming that he was attending a meeting and that the government would issue a press statement through the Competition and Fair Trading Commission.
Despite the price hikes by many shop owners and traders, one big chain store in the country, Sana Cash Carry, has declined to hike prices for old stock, claiming that the company shares the pain that Malawians are going through.
Managing Director for Sana Cash and Carry Rauf Chaudrey said in an interview that all prices for the old stock will remain the same until the time it is cleared.
“We value our customers a lot,” Chaudrey said.
“We cannot take advantage of this devaluation to make more profits but we will raise prices once we get new stock. By doing this we are sharing the burden of devaluation with our customers.”
The devaluation of the kwacha has been described as reckless by some stakeholders, including former Reserve Bank governor Dalitso Kabambe, but other bodies like the MCCCI claim it is good for the ailing economy.
As of yesterday, minibus fares in Lilongwe had already been adjusted by almost 100%.
Seed companies such as Seedco have also raised prices for seeds, which coupled with the increase in fertilizer prices, means that the 2023-24 farming season will be beset with huge challenges.
The Malawi Leader President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera trip to Saud Arabia is expected to unlock trade with Arab countries especially Saud Arabia which is one of the revered economic giant.
The trip is also destined to strengthen regional integration between people from the two countries. Chakwera left Malawi for Saud Arabia via Kamuzu International Airport (KIA).
$533, Million deals On Thursday 10 November, Saud Arabia announced plans to sign $533 Million (about K906 billion at current exchange rate) worth of agreements with African countries, including Malawi on the sidelines of the Saudi-Africa Summit.
Chakwera in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan revealed this today when he opened the Saudi-Arab-African Economic Conference in the kingdom’s capital, Riyadh ahead of the First Saudi-Africa Summit tomorrow.
Malawi and other African countries are set to sign different muti-billion dollar agreements with Saudi Arabia through the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD).
Discussions at the first Saudi-Africa Summit will revolve around supporting joint plans of action, enhancing political coordination, addressing regional security threats, facilitating economic transformation through research and the local development of new energy solutions, all while bolstering cross-sectoral investment.
As directed by Malawi President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, Minister of Agriculture Sam Dalitso Kawale says this year’s Agricultural Input Program is progressing well with limited challenges.
Addressing a press briefing on progress done so far on AIP, Kawale accompanied by Minister of Information and Digitalisation Moses Kunkuyu, said the programme is progressing well and issues arising are being addressed promptly by concerned personnel.
Kawale and Kunkuyu
“After a sensitization meeting at the council and ADC levels, more districts commenced redemption this week as we speak 96,390 beneficiaries had redeemed NPK fertilizer, and 103,367 beneficiaries had redeemed Urea fertilizer from 26 Agriculture districts,” he said.
The Ministers gave detailed information being done to make this year’s programme a success and make food security a reality in the country, through other programmes like agriculture commercialisation and mega farms.
On villages being committed and other names missing, the minister said all is being done to correct the annomally. He said The ministry’s I.T are working tirelessly to sort out the problems.
“As of Tuesday, 36% of fertiliser has been dispatched on the market,” he added.
Kawale commended development partner IFAD for supporting the programme with about 120,000 bags of fertiliser.
He said Ports of Beira, Nacala and Dar es salaam are handling more fertiliser for the country.
This far, $13.9 million dollars letter of credit worth of fertiliser has been disbursed with $18.3m being issued.
Kawale said $14.9m letter of credit worth of fertiliser being vetted and another $14.5m letter of credit to be vetted.
Other suppliers are being paid in local currency.
Minister Kawale asked beneficiaries of the programme not to sale their fertilisers so as to achieve food security as envisaged by the president Chakwera’s govt.
The market has enough fertiliser than already redeemed, he said.
Hard to reach areas like Makanjira in Mangochi are likely to be done within this week,so is the North, Neno and Ntchisi respectively.
“Mobile markets will soon be opened to expedite the process. NBS bank are on a daily basis collecting cash from all selling points to reduce issues of cumulative cash in these markets,” he saud.
He also revealed that Admarc and SFFRM points are now the sales points.
The Minister has since disclosed that the much awaited Toll Free number 3013 has been established,and is running to curb issues of corruption.
The long time Government critique Joshua Chisa mbele commonly known as “Mneneri”has criticised Democratic Progressive Party for politicising the 44 percent devaluation saying the devaluation is timely.
Writing on his Facebook page “Where was DPP when President Joyce Banda became the President and devalued the currency with 50%,”
Chisa mbele says Dr Kabambe has had an impressive and colourful Cv. Where was he when Joyce Banda took over?
Chakwera
Chisambere asks which administration perpetuated Cashgate? Joyce Banda might have changed Ministers but the entire civil service was Blue.
“Point: Devaluation decision is not a cheap political stunt to score political points. We have two critical issues in this country to take care of:(a) The ailing economy which is in a Comma. (b) The poorest of the poor who happen to be the majority of our population, “he says.
Mbere says the Kwacha will either fall further on its own or it will regain the losses if economy is reformed .
“In 1980s the Zambian Kwacha was less than a paper it was printed on. The Shops were empty. No Fanta. No Coca Cola. No Sobo. It takes men of courage to accept the truth and change the discourse,” he says.
He urges DPP to stop politicising the medication.
“We will struggle, yes. No question about it BUT there is no shortcut to heaven. You have to die first. Pass through the valley of dry bones,” he says.
