The British government has reiterated its commitment to strengthening Malawi’s higher education sector through the Chevening and Commonwealth scholarship programs, which have been running since 1959.
Speaking to journalists in Lilongwe on Tuesday, Acting British High Commissioner Rabecca Fabrizi said the scholarships will equip Malawian scholars with the knowledge and skills needed to bring transformative change to the country.
“These programs are designed to build human capital by nurturing a pool of talented scholars who can drive Malawi’s developmental growth,” said Fabrizi .
Echoing the same sentiments, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Higher Education, Levison Eneya, emphasized that the Malawi 2063 Agenda can only be realized if the nation invests in building the human capacity required to implement the government’s strategies.
This year, a total of 13 Commonwealth scholars, including two pursuing PhDs, and eight Chevening scholars have been awarded scholarships.
Minister of Agriculture, Sam Kawale, has has hailed Eagle Nano Urea Fertilizer being manufactured by Paramount Holdings Limited describing it as a revolutionary innovation that will transform the country’s farming sector by reducing costs and boosting productivity.
In an interview with 247 Malawi News,Kawale said the new fertilizer is a timely solution to the challenges farmers face, particularly the high cost of traditional chemical fertilizers.
Kawale
“A 500ml bottle of Eagle Nano Urea, which costs K65,000, is as effective as a 50kg bag of chemical fertilizer that currently costs around K150,000.This is not a booster or an inoculant.It is real fertilizer,” he said.
The minister explained that the product will bring direct savings for farmers, who can save up to K85,000 per application, allowing them to reinvest in their farms and households.
He added that Eagle Nano Urea will also significantly cut transport and labor costs since one 40-foot container of the liquid fertilizer can replace up to 90 containers of traditional 50kg fertilizer bags.
“This means fewer trucks on the road, reduced fuel consumption, and less labor required for loading and unloading,” said Kawale.
The minister further stressed that Malawi will save large amounts of foreign exchange by reducing imports of bulky chemical fertilizers, a move that will strengthen the resilience of the agricultural sector.
He indicated that the fertilizer will initially be available in all Paramount Commodities shops and will soon be distributed through more outlets nationwide.
“Eagle Nano Urea is a proud step forward for Malawian agriculture, combining science, sustainability, and affordability to secure a brighter and more prosperous future for our nation,” said Kawale.
SmartCare Nutrition Consultancy founded by University of Malawi (UNIMA ) graduate Joseph Kachiya has launched the ‘Tsogolo Lowala Nutrition’ project at Brain Feeders Nursery School in Chikwawa district aimed at combating high levels of child malnutrition and promote healthier growth among children under five.
In an interview with 247 Malawi News,Kachiya said malnutrition remains a pressing challenge in Chikwawa, with children under five facing high rates of stunting, underweight conditions, and micronutrient deficiencies.
He said nurseries are an ideal entry point for instilling healthy eating habits in children while also engaging caregivers and parents.
Kachiya explained that the goal of Tsogolo Lowala Nutrition project is to improve the nutritional status and knowledge of nursery school children, which directly contributes to better health, learning ability, and long-term well-being.
He said the project seeks to assess children’s nutritional status using WHO-recommended indicators such as BMI-for-Age and Mid-Upper Arm Circumference, identify children at risk of malnutrition for timely referrals, and educate caregivers on age-appropriate feeding, dietary diversity, hygiene, and growth monitoring.
Said Kachiya:”It also aims to establish school-based gardens to provide sustainable access to vegetables and fruits while collecting baseline data to monitor and evaluate child nutrition interventions.”
He said during the launch event, 54 children, including 20 boys and 34 girls, were screened for malnutrition and anthropometric measurements, including weight, height, and MUAC, were taken to compare growth against WHO standards.
“Nutrition education sessions were also conducted, reaching 40 caregivers who were trained on child feeding practices, meal planning, food hygiene, and the importance of dietary diversity.
“For children, the lessons were interactive, using songs, games, and storytelling to teach about food groups and handwashing,” said Kachiya.
He said another highlight of the launch was the introduction of the School Garden Initiative, which demonstrated how parents and children can grow nutritious crops using climate-smart agricultural methods.
“Out of the children screened, two were identified with Severe Acute Malnutrition and two with Moderate Acute Malnutrition. They were referred for immediate intervention, while 50 children were classified as normal,” said Kachiya.
He explained that the project is expected to improve nutrition knowledge among learners, parents, and teachers, increase dietary diversity in households and school meals, reduce malnutrition rates among nursery school learners, and establish a functional school garden to supplement daily meals.
“SmartCare Nutrition Consultancy has also outlined a sustainability plan. Parents will be empowered with home-based nutrition skills, monthly growth monitoring will continue, and the school garden will be used as both a food supply and a learning hub. The initiative will also contribute to the broader efforts of the Chikwawa District Nutrition Coordination Committee in tackling child malnutrition.
“Through Tsogolo Lowala Nutrition project, we want to give children a brighter, healthier future,” said Kachiya.
Malawi leader President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has assented to the Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Elections Amendment Bill which was passed recently.
Statement from State House which Presidential Press Secretary Anthony Kasunda, has signed , the President approved the bill in accordance with powers vested in him under Section 89 of the Constitution.
Chakwera
The amendment provides for polling staff, candidate and political party representatives as well as officers from security agencies to cast their votes at the polling stations where they are deployed.
“His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi, in exercise the powers vested in him by Section 89 of the Constitution, has assented to the Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Elections (Amendment) Bill. The amnendment provides for polling staff, representatives of candidates and political parties, well as officers from security agencies, to cast their votes at the polling stations where they are deployed,” Reads the statement in part.
MCP Running Mate , who is also Minister of Trade Vitumbiko Mumba, has assured the nation that his ministry is taking direct measures to ensure the consistent and easy availability of sugar and cement across the country.
Mumba provided this assurance during a whistle-stop campaign tour in Neno district, where he also addressed the issue of maize supplies, confirming that the staple grain will be reliably delivered to the district as the government has already made the necessary provisions for its distribution.
In his address , Mumba further elaborated on recent economic interventions, noting that President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has just announced a new and revised price for fertilizer. This move is part of a broader strategy to support agricultural productivity and affordability for local farmers.
The Minister also took the opportunity to highlight the administration’s deep commitment to tackling persistent poverty. A central pillar of this effort is the significant expansion of the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF), whose loan portfolio is being increased to a substantial K1 trillion. This massive injection of capital is designed to provide more Malawians with the financial means to start businesses and achieve sustainable livelihoods, thereby fighting the root causes of poverty.
