Child rights activist, Memory Chisenga, has called for a review of the Malawi Prison Act, particularly provisions that allow young children to remain in prison due to the incarceration of their mothers.
Chisenga has urged relevant legal authorities and child rights organizations to carefully reassess the law, emphasizing that keeping children in prison exposes them to significant risks, including inadequate care and support.
Chisenga
She further noted that the prison environment is not conducive to healthy child development, warning that such conditions may negatively affect children’s behavior and overall growth.
Chisenga has since appealed to all stakeholders to give the matter serious consideration.
Her remarks follow comes after the Malawi Prison Service disclosed that the country’s correctional facilities are currently housing 20 children, aged between one month and three years, who are living with their incarcerated mothers
The Ministry of Agriculture will implement Investing in Livelihood Resilience and Soil Health (ILSA) project in four districts of the country, Lilongwe, Mzimba, Dowa and Balaka.
The ILSA project was designed to co – finance the funding gap within Sustainable Agricultural Production Programme ( SAPP 11) and it is being funded by the European Union ( EU) through the International Fund for Agricultural Development ( IFAD).
The Financing Agreement of the project was signed on 27th March, 2025 between the Government of Malawi and IFAD at the total project cost of EUR 2,832 million, and it will be implemented over a period of three years.
Mirrium Njolomole. The project will address critical agricultural production and productivity challenges.
Presenting the project to the District executive committee (Dec) in Dowa, Mirrium Njolomole – Desk Officer for Dowa West Agriculture office SAPP 11 project, said the project has a goal of contributing to improving food and nutrition security of farmers through sustainable farming systems.
Njolomole said the project is seeking to address critical agricultural production and productivity challenges through an agroecology approach saying its interventions will focus on sustainable water management, bio – based disease and pest management, soil fertility management through support from local bio – fertilizer production and use, soil restoration through agroecological approaches.
She said the project will be implemented in selected SAPP 11 districts of Balaka, Mzimba North, Mzimba South, Lilongwe East, Lilongwe West, Dowa West and Dowa East respectively.
The officer said in Dowa district, the ILSA project will be implemented in two EPAs with two sections covered under each EPA.
” In Dowa West, the project will be implemented in Bowe EPA covering Chinkhwiri, and Chimbuli 1 sections while in Dowa East, implementation will take place in Chibvala EPA – Mtengowanthenga and Zidunge sections,” said Njolomole. Â
In his remarks, Dowa District Council’s Principal Nutrition Hiv and Aids Officer Noel Chikumbu, described the project as an important investment towards wealth creation, improved food and nutrition security to farmer groups in the district.
Chikumbu called for a strong team to be providing technical services to the project so that what is being implemented be a success not only to farmers but the Dowa communities.
Karonga based rights activist Lytone Mangochi, has called on Muslims and yaos in the country to use the upcoming elections in the Muslims Association of Malawi (MAM) as an opportunity to change its leadership.
Comrade Mangochi said some people in the country are spreading propagandas in the social media that in President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika’s government there are no Yaos and Muslims dismissing this as not true claiming that Mutharika has the welfare of the Yaos and Muslims at heart.
He has reminded Malawians that Professor Mutharika after he was ousted from power in June, 2020 he established himself in Mangochi at Page House and he was offering his personal support to the Yaos and Muslims.
The activist has claimed that Professor Mutharika even went to Machinga where people were eating wild bushes (chitedze) as food for their survival with a little food he had to distribute to them but at no time the Muslim leadership and President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera did the same.
He said what Malawians saw was the Muslim leadership offering solidarity with President Chakwera as they were seen going to the State House than showing solidarity with Professor Mutharika who had the welfare of the Muslims and the Yaos at heart.
Lyton Mangochi
Mangochi said madam Dr. Joyce Banda travelled to Egypt to beg some food for the starving Muslims and Yaos while President Chakwera became the world’s global trotter and at no time, he brought home food to distribute to the suffering Malawians.
” Propagandas against Professor Mutharika on the Yaos and Muslims are dead before arrival, leave Mutharika alone,” said Comrade Mangochi.
He has advised the UTM and UDF to leave the matter of the DPP and its Vice Presidents to the DPP itself saying this is outside their jurisdiction, and no one in Malawi will listen to their statements.
Comrade Mangochi has personally advised UDF President Atupele Muluzi to come out from his fence to do his politics outside claiming that millions of Malawians are complaining of his behaviors as greed reminding him that he has a lot to do for his party to win back the trust they lost in him as their leader.
He has further advised the two political parties UTM and UDF to use this time they are not in government as an opportune time to rebuild their parties ahead of the 2030 elections and not the time for spreading propagandas against the DPP and President Professor Mutharika.
He has praised Leader of Opposition Simplex Chithyola Banda and the MCP for declaring themselves out of the parliamentary committee to investigate circumstances surrounding the death of Dr. Saulosi Chilima and eight others, in the Chikangawa forest on 10th June, 2024.
Comrade Mangochi has also advised Speaker of the National Assembly Sameer Suleman to add activists and journalists in the parliamentary committee for the commission of inquiry to be credible in the eyes of millions of Malawians that have questions without answers.
Police in Lilongwe have launched a manhunt for a security guard suspected of being involved in the brutal murder of a 22-year-old third-year female student at Lake Malawi Anglican University, identified as Lizzie Nyson.
According to Lilongwe Police Spokesperson Inspector Hestings Chigalu,Nyson’s body was discovered on April 3, 2026 wrapped in a mosquito net and dumped in a nearby bush, about 20 metres from the fence of the house where she had been staying with the suspect.
Chigalu
The suspect has been identified as Shadreck Clever, age not known, from Kaongo Village, Traditional Authority Kachindamoto in Dedza District.
He was employed by Longways Construction Company in Lilongwe as a security guard.
Reports say that Nyson (deceased) was one of the needy students and had been staying in a rented hostel in Mtsiriza with other girls.
However, recently, due to challenges in paying rent, she was forced to move into a quarters apartment where the suspect was residing while providing security services at a construction site in Area 47, sector 1.
It is strongly suspected that Nyson was murdered during the night of March 22, 2026, in the house where she was staying, as signs of violence were observed at the scene.
A postmortem conducted by a medical practitioner from Kamuzu Central Hospital, revealed that death was caused by head injuries secondary to assault.
Investigations further established that the suspect (Clever), suspiciously left his workplace for an unknown destination on March 23, 2026, and has not been seen since.
Meanwhile, Lilongwe Police detectives have intensified efforts to trace and arrest the suspect so that he can face justice.
The deceased, Lizzie Nyson, hailed from Chipanga Village, T/A Machinjiri in Blantyre District.
Police would like to advise students and young women to remain alert and vigilant and to report any suspicious criminal behaviour directed at them by strangers or even people they know, in order to avoid falling prey to criminals.
Vice President Dr. Jane Ansah joined thousands of Catholics in Lilongwe for the solemn Way of the Cross procession, a poignant observance that commemorated Christ’s journey to the cross.
The event brought together people from diverse backgrounds, highlighting the unifying power of faith in Malawian society.
As the procession wound its way through the streets, Dr. Ansah and the congregation paused at each station to reflect on the significance of Christ’s sacrifice.
Ansah
The atmosphere was one of reverence and contemplation, with the faithful meditating on the profound implications of Christ’s actions.
Dr. Ansah emphasized the importance of shared reflection and prayer, noting that such moments have the power to uplift and inspire.
“The moments we share in prayer and reflection have the power to uplift and inspire us,” she said, highlighting the role of faith in fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.
The Vice President’s participation in the Way of the Cross underscores her commitment to her Christian values and her connection with the Malawian people.
Through her presence, Dr. Ansah demonstrated her dedication to engaging with citizens from diverse backgrounds and promoting unity and understanding.
As Malawi navigates its challenges, Dr. Ansah’s message serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of unity and faith.
“Let us remain steadfast in our commitment to love and serve others,” she urged, echoing the sentiments of the faithful who gathered to reaffirm their devotion to their faith and community.
The event highlighted the enduring power of faith in Malawian society, demonstrating its ability to unite people across diverse backgrounds and circumstances.
As the country moves forward, the Vice President’s words will undoubtedly resonate with many, serving as a call to action for unity and compassion.
