Nyasa Big Bullets on Saturday night held their first Annual Awards Ceremony at Comesa Hall in Blantyre where among other things they recognized outstanding players in the just ended season with each player winning going home with K750,000.
Right back Gomezgani Chirwa was the biggest winner winning the player of the season award. Despite being a defender, Chirwa who recently won goal of the season award, scored a number of goals for his team this season and created several scoring opportunities.
Bullets’ Nigerian striker Babatude Adepoju scooped the Best striker award. Adepoju scored 24 goals in all competitions this season winning the Golden boot in the TNM super league and FDH Cup with 18 and 5 goals respectively.
Clever Mkungula won the Best goalkeeper award beating Richard Chimbamba and Rabson Chienda
Discovery of the year award went to Patrick Mwaungulu who created 21 assists and scored ten goals in the just ended season.
Other players who received awards are Precious Sambani who won the Best defender award, Ernest Petro for the Best midfielder award and Chikumbutso Salima who won the Player of the year award for the Reserve side.
Bullets’ main team coach Calisto Pasuwa and Bullets Reserve coach Enos Chatama were also honored for their outstanding performance this season.
The team also took time to recognize some of its legends like Kinnah Phiri, Lawrence Waya and Kanjedza Kamwendo.
The People’s team had a successful season this year retaining the TNM Super League, winning the FDH Cup and Charity Shield as well as reaching the finals of the Airtel Top 8 Cup.
Meanwhile, Minister of Sports Richard Chimwendo Banda who was Guest honour at the event has assured the team that government will complete construction of Nyasa Big Bullets Stadium which was delayed in the last financial calendar.
Landscape degradation and deforestation has worried President Chakwera, saying it is detrimental to the livelihood and environment.
He was speaking on Friday, December 23,2022 during the official launch of 2022-2023 National Forestry Season at Mangochi Palm Forest Reserve which is estimating Malawi to plant at least 50 million trees from December this year to April 2023.
Launching the season, President Chakwera said as a nation, Malawi has to accept responsibility for the degradation of landscapes that provide the citizenry with various daily needs.
“As a nation, we must accept responsibility for the degradation of the landscapes that gave us food, oxygen, good weather, and environmental protection. We must acknowledge that the way we have been treating the landscapes has been detrimental to ourselves and to our environment for decades, and most importantly we must take multiple a d sustained actions to reverse the destructive course we have been on, and over collective pursuit of the aspirations of the Malawi 2063 vision, the Malawi national Forest landscape strategy, the charcoal strategy, the UN strategy, and other policies.” Said President Chakwera.
He added that restoration of the degraded landscapes is non negotiable, hence committed to the restoration of 4.5 million hectares of degraded landscapes by 2030 in all degraded forest areas across the country.
President Chakwera has since commended partners in the restoration of the forest including National Bank of Malawi, FDH Bank, Politicians, politicians, and other stakeholders for their commitment towards restoration of the landscapes.
During his speech, President Chakwera also led Malawians in observing a minute of silence in honor of a Malawian artist, Walycris Wanyengo who has died on the road accident in Zimbabwe on his way back to Malawi from the Republic of South Africa where he went for performance.
In his speech, Minister of Natural Resources and Forest, Eisenhower Mkaka commended President Chakwera for his commitment and interest in the restoration drive of degraded forest areas and landscapes in the country.
Mkaka added that Malawi is blessed with abundant and unique forest resources which if properly managed can drive socio-economic development of the country.
“However the country has witnessed a lot of deforestation. Your Excellency, you might wish to be informed that the country’s forest cover is currently at 24% down from 28% some two decades ago, this is a worrisome statistics as it shows that we are not properly protecting, and managing our trees and forest resources.” Said Mkaka while assuring the nation that under Chakwera leadership, his ministry and other stakeholders are undertaking various landscape restoration initiatives to reserve forest degradation, citing 54 million trees the country planted last year in the similar season.
Taking his turn, National Bank’s Chief Financial Officer, Masauko Katsala whose company has adopted three forests of Mangochi Palm Forest Reserve in Mangochi, Seven Hills Forest in Dedza, and Jembia Forest in Chitipa district.
Said Katsala; “As the bank of the nation, we feel duty bound to contribute towards the preservation and restoration of Malawi’s environment under ‘Adopt and restore a forest campaign initiative which is covering 1,510 hectares, and as we continue managing 1.7 million hectares. National Bank is the green financial institution and committed to building this nation within which it operates.”
The 2022-2023 National Forestry Season is being observed under the theme “Restore degraded landscapes for livelihood security,” And President Chakwera has since planted Coconut and Palm trees during the launch.
President Lazarus Chakwera on Friday December 23,2022 successfully launched this year’s tree planting exercise at an event that took place at Mangochi Palm Forest Reserve in Mangochi.
Speaking at the launch of the exercise which is expected to run up to April next year, Chakwera said the government is committed to restoring the degraded 4.5 million hectares of forests and landscapes in the country.
The president also praised the private sector, donor partners and everyone contributing towards the restoration of the country’s depleted forests.
Natural Resources and Climate Change Minister, Eisenhower Mkaka said the government has earmarked to plant over 50 million trees during this period.
Mkaka faulted human activities such as charcoal burning and poor agriculture practices, among others, for fueling the depletion of the forests and vegetative cover.
Chakwera inaugurated the 2021/2022 national tree planting season in February this year following delayed rains.
The country targeted to plant 40 million trees last season.
Malawi’s main opposition party,Democratic Progressive Party ( DPP) has joined musicians in the country in mourning the death of upcoming ambassadors of Malawi music and culture, Wyson Laifoh, stage name WalyChris.
The artist died in a road accident on the night of Friday December 23,2022 as he was returning back from South Africa where he had gone to perform alongside Zembani band.
In a statement posted on its official facebook page, DPP describes the death of “Achalume” hit maker as shocking and a great loss to the music industry in the country.
Tragic death: WalyChris
The party further describes the artist as one of the fastest growing artists in Malawi and that he quickly assumed the much needed role modelling role to the youth.
“Walychris was also a source of pride to the Yao community as he emphasized his Yao cultural background in his arts”
“His sudden and tragic demise therefore leaves a huge vacuum in the music industry.
” DPP therefore sincerely commiserates with his family and the entire arts industry in Malawi, reads the statement in part.
Born on September 25 1997, WalyChris had just released a new song titled Mbumu.
He captured the hearts of many with his unique Yao lyrics.
The Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services has predicted flash floods in some parts of Chikwawa, Nsanje and other lakeshore areas following heavy rains in the Southern Region that has been falling for three consecutive days now.
In a statement, the department further says strong winds and lightning are also anticipated, urging the public to be on high alert mainly in the flood prone areas.
“It is advisable to plan travels properly and avoid crossing fast flowing and flooded waters.
“The public is further advised to avoid resting and packing under trees and wet fences.
“Torrential rains can weaken some structures; therefore, the public is reminded to keep on inspecting houses and other buildings for possible damages to avoid walls collapsing on people,” reads the statement in part.
Meanwhile, disaster management department says it has set standby arrangements for the deployment of a search and rescue team comprising the Malawi Defence Force, the Malawi Police Service and the Marine Department to the lower Shire districts of Nsanje and Chikwawa.
“Councils and residents should clear all drainage systems to make sure that water is given ample drainage space and avoid flooding.
“If you can manage, provide first aid treatment to the injured and those in shock and call for medical help,” reads a statement by Dodma.
Malawi is a country which is particularly prone to adverse climate hazards that include dry spells, seasonal droughts, intense rainfall, riverine floods, and flash floods. Droughts and floods, the most severe of these hazards, have increased in frequency, intensity, and magnitude over the past twenty years, with dire consequences on food and water security, water quality, energy resources, and sustainable livelihoods of the most rural communities.
From 1979 to 2008, 2,596 people perished due to natural disasters, and nearly another 21.7 million people were adversely affected.
