Ellock Maotcha Banda a former member of Parliament for Machinga Central East constituency who served under the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) from 2004 to 2009 has died.
Maotcha-Banda who at his time of demise was a UTM party member also served as deputy minister of trade during the administration of the late Bingu wa Mutharika.
The late Ellock Maotcha Banda
UTM general secretary, Patricia Kaliati has confirmed of the death this morning, saying Maotcha Banda has died in the wee hours of Thursday at Machinga district hospital.
Kaliati has discribed Maotcha Banda as a hardworking politician who was comitted to the party, adding, his death has left a vacuum.
A composite financial services Group NICO Holdings plc on Thursday announced that after tax it has made a profit of K37.57 billion for the year 2022, representing a 105 percent increase year-on-year.
Reading the annual report during the Group’s 53rd annual General meeting at Mount Soche in Blantyre, the Group’s Managing Director, Vizenge Kumwenda, said the outstanding performance stemmed from growth of customer deposits in the banking business which supported an increase in loans among other factors.
Kumwenda added that the total assets of the Group closed at K1.15 trillion up from K939 billion in 2021.
Vizenge Kumwenda
Meanwhile, several country’s economic experts have applauded NICO for such an impressive performance.
NICO was established as a short-term insurance company in 1971 and has since grown to a composite financial services Group operating in Malawi and Zambia, with presence in Mozambique and Uganda through its associate company, Sanlam.
As the biggest financial services Group in terms of diversity of products and services offered by its companies, NICO provides comprehensive financial solutions for a range of challenges for the public and private sector as well as individuals from all walks of life.
The business includes solutions in general insurance, life insurance, pension administration, banking, asset management, corporate finance, property solutions and information technology.
NICO was the first company to be listed on the Malawi Stock Exchange in 1996, and has since listed two of its subsidiaries on the stock market – NBS Bank Plc listed in 2007 and ICON Properties Plc listed in 2019.
On Monday,a youth organization called Ambassadors Charity Trust(ACT) conducted an outreach to over 60 vulnerable people living in Dambulemi Village, Traditional Authority (TA) Masumbankhunda in Lilongwe where among other things it donated basic necesities of life valued over five hundred thousand Malawi Kwacha.
The outreach was conducted under the “One Hand, One Life Project” which was launched by Organisation in April, 2021.
The items donated include clothes, beddings and school materials.
Speaking after the donation, Programs coordinator for ACT Connie Lulanga said the aim of the project is to ensure that the lives of the underprivileged in rural Malawi are uplifted so as to help reduce the Wealthy-Poor gap in societies.
Lulanga thanked all partners who have been supporting the initiative since it started in 2021.
Appreciating the gesture, GVH Dambuleni said: “ There are a lot of people in the area that are in extreme poverty and that the donation to them is a great relief.”
ACT is implementing two projects in T/A Masumbankhunda thus “One Hand, One Life” and Climate Justice for Dzalanyama Forest Reserve.
Minister of Homeland Security Kenneth Zikhale Ng’oma has ordered deportation of a Rwandese national Sylvestre Bizimana.
According to Ng’oma, Bizimana is suspected to have been operating illegal businesses in the country as evidenced by the recent seizure of his containers by police at Mgona Market in Lilongwe.
Dr Ken Zikhale Ng’oma
Ng’oma said that Bizimana is also suspected to be involved in a money laundering cartel which led to his recent arrest, saying that the person in question poses a threat to the country’s security, hence ordering for his deportation.
Ng’oma disclosed that Bizimana is expected to leave the country today, saying that the flight and all the requirements for his deportation are set.
The minister further said that Bizimana is alleged to have obtained the Malawian Citizenship in a dubious way.
“The record shows that the Rwandese in question did not stay in the country continuously for 7 years as a lawful resident and that he used citizenship reference number 69314 which belonged to a Burundi national Mr Vincent Ngedanayo Kanyoni instead of having his own file,” said Ng’oma.
Bizimana who is a Rwandese national by birth and was a Malawian national by naturalisation.
President Lazarus Chakwera who is currently in China has applauded the existing sister relationship in trade between China and Malawi, saying the trade agreements so far signed between the two countries is a testimony to strong trade ties.
Chakwera was speaking on Wednesday, 28th June, 2023 during the audience he had with the Vice President for the People’s Republic of China, Rt. Han Zheng at Jiusuo Hotel in China.
The meeting which came on the sidelines of the 3rd China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo at which President Chakwera will be a special guest, cantered on strengthening diplomatic ties, bolstering trade, and capitalizing on Foreign Direct Investment.
Presiden Chakwera and Vice President Han Zheng
In his remarks, President Chakwera applauded Chinese government for granting Zero-tariff treatment on 98 Percent on taxable products from 10 Least Developed Countries, Malawi being one of them.
“The signing of a Protocol for export of Soybeans from Malawi to China is a good example for comprehensive trade exploration between our two nations.
It is therefore imperative that Chinese government expedites my country’s application for the approval of protocols to export goods such as macadamia nuts and dry chillies to this country (China)” Said President Chakwera
He further highlighted areas like construction of Lambilambi Dam, Lilongwe Water Project, and Lower Fufu Hydro-electric Power Station as other critical areas of development that need assistance from government of China, saying the projects have great economic benefits for Malawi.
Malawi leader has since commended China for her support during Cyclone Freddy and other climate change emergencies in Malawi.
The meeting was also attended by Malawi Government officials including Finance Minister, Sosten Gwengwe, Foreign Affairs Minister, Nancy Tembo, Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale, Ambassador Allan Chintedza and other representatives of the Chinese government.
