Lilongwe based super league side Civil Service FC has dismissed rumours that the team has brought back their former coach Oscar Kaunda to beef up their technical panel.
On Sunday social media was awash with rumours that Kaunda is heading back to capital hill after the Karonga United assistant coach was spotted in Civil’s training kit at Mzuzu Stadium.
But reacting to the rumours, Civil Service FC General Secretary Ronald Chiwaula says these are just mere speculations and that there is nothing wrong for Kaunda to put on the team’s colours.
” Kaunda coached Civil before, I don’t see anything wrong with him putting on our colours. I have heard rumours that Oscar Kaunda is coming back to Civil but this is not true. Currently we have no plans of hiring any new coach.” he said.
Kaunda became very popular in 2015 after steering Civil to the Standard Bank Knock- Out Trophy before taking Zolozolo FC to the 2016 Fisd Challenge Cup quarterfinals.
Other notable teams that Kaunda has coached before include Mighty Wanderers, Masters Security and Lake Valley FC.
Stocks of personal protective equipment (PPE) are to be donated to Malawi, Zambia and Rwanda to aid the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.The PPE equipment, worth £11.2 million, will be distributed by Kids Operating Room (KidsOR), a Scottish-based global health charity.
This distribution will be supported by £250,000 from the Scottish Government, which will fund the transport of 25 shipping containers of material to Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia.
KidsOR raised a further £1 million to support the transport of the PPE from the Wood Foundation, Pula Limited, Postcode Trust and Delta Philanthropies.
The supplies include masks, goggles, and visors and the shipment, made available through the NHS Scotland Global Citizenship Programme, is due to arrive in partner countries in late September.
Scottish International Development Minister Jenny Gilruth
According to Scottish International Development Minister Jenny Gilruth :“COVID-19 knows no borders. I am pleased that the Scottish Government has been able to support this assistance to Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia – particularly as they look to plan for an expected fourth wave of COVID-19 in the coming months.
“This contribution builds on our recent supply of oxygen concentrators and ventilators, and we hope it will go some way to easing the current stress on health services.
“As the global pandemic continues, we firmly believe this is precisely the moment that Governments across the world should be stepping up to help those most in need.
“This donation underlines that the Scottish Government remains fully committed to playing our part in tackling the shared global challenge that the pandemic represents. I would like to thank KidsOR for supporting us to make it possible to distribute this PPE equipment along with the recent supply of oxygen concentrators and ventilators.”
Co-Founder of KidsOR Garreth Wood said:“I would like to thank our donors for stepping up to help support the distribution of so many millions of items of PPE that will prove vital for countries in Africa battling the ongoing COVID pandemic.”
Chief Executive of NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) Mary Morgan said:
“The battle to beat COVID is truly a global effort. We are pleased that PPE secured by NSS is being donated to help those who need it most in Africa.
“We will continue to work with partners to identify further opportunities to support countries and communities who need our help.”
The donation of supplies is a commitment in the Programme for Government:The stock involved in this scheme was identified by NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) as unlikely to be used within the Health & Social Care sector in Scotland and has been made available to international partners on that basis.
Scottish Government announced a grant of £270,000 from the IDF in July to fund equipment to respond to the COVID crisis in July.
It will be a Saturday of Amapiano at the hotel as Myuziki Pusha entertainment presents Amapiano Splash Balcony Session with several local DJs performing at Amaryllis Hotel in Blantyre.
From 10 a.m. Saturday, September 18, the hotel will be packed with Amapiano fanatics ready to showcase their dancing skills.
According to the organisers, Minister of Tourism & Culture Michael Usi will be the guest of owner at the event which is going to be free of charge.
Biggie Lu, Ready to perform at the event
There will be musical performances by the self proclaimed Amapiano land owner, Biggie Lu and some of the finest DJs in the country.
The DJs will include; DJ Gene, Africa The DJ, DJ Andy, DJ Trick, DJ Nax P and, MQ The DJ
Originated in Gauteng, South Africa in 2012, Amapiano is a hybrid of deep house, jazz and lounge music characterized by synths, airy pads and wide percussive basslines.
In an effort to support glass root football in Karonga District, former Karonga United chairperson who is also a business man, Alufeyo Chipanga Banda has made a sponsorship of 400, 000 Malawi Kwacha for a tournament in Chilumba zone.
The tournament that will see Chilumba zone under 20 football players playing in Chitipa was revealed on Saturday when Banda officially signed the sponsorship deal at Karonga stadium.
Speaking in an interview, Banda described the move as a way of forming a good future of football in Malawi. He said: “Football begins from glass root, without these youths we cannot make any good team in our country that is why I have sponsored the under 20 football in Chilumba so that from those that will participate, we can fish out best players. “I hope and believe we have more talented players who will benefit from this tournament and if other zones approach me for sponsorship, we can discuss to see the way forward.”
Chipanga signing the sponsorship deal
Commenting on the development, Karonga District Youth football Committee Chairperson, Orbert Mkandawire applauded Banda for what he described as a good gesture towards football in the district. “This is a good development to Chilumba because there was no tournament in that area and we are very thankful for his giving hand.” He said. Mkandawire has since called upon all other well-wishers to borrow a leaf from Banda so that football can be well promoted
The tournament is expected to be launched this very same month and it will run up to November this year.
The Poetry Association of Malawi ( PAM) on Saturday September 11, 2021 through the virtual elections elected a multi-award winning poet Robert Chiwamba as the Association’s President replacing Chisomo Mdalla( Nyamalikiti Nthiwatiwa).
Chiwamba was ermeged the winner after defeating his three fellow candidates who showed interest to contest for the position, Hudson Chamasowa, Michael Benjala and Felix Katsoka.On the results from four centres, Chiwamba in total got 27 votes representing 45% seconded by Felix Katsoka with 24 votes representing 40%, Michael Benjala with 5 votes representing 8% .33333333 and Hudson Chamasowa came third with 4 votes representing 6. 6666667%.
In his comment after receiving the message that he has won the elections, Chiwamba said now time has come to implement all what he was promising during the campaign period for the better growth of the Association. ” I am very happy that I have been elected the PAM president. This is now a time to do and implement what I was promising during the campaign period. There are a lot of things to be done so as to make the Association grow”, he said.
Robert Chiwamba. New PAM President
He said now time for compaign is over and the poets should start working together and make the industry recognized. ” Now it is time for us to make things happen on the ground. Let us forge about campaign and start working together.This is not time for campaign. Let us join hands in making the poetry industry here in Malawi recognized internationally”, said Chiwamba.
Chiwamba called on government to set up National Arts Council so that Poetry Association of Malawi should be enjoying the subvention of it. He also said the main challenges the industry face include piracy, expensive performance venues, and expensive advertisement costs saying as President he is now going to COSOMA, owners of venues for live performances and advertising agencies as a solution to the challenges. ” The government should consider us having a National Arts Council which will help the poetry industry go another level. We need have to have our councils like in other departments.”, said Chiwamba.
In his congratulatory message, the outgoing PAM President Chisomo Mdalla( NyamaLikiti) said he is very happy that Chiwamba has taken the position. He said he has all hope that Chiwamba will take the poetry industry to another level. ” Let me congratulate Mr.Chiwamba for being elected the PAM President for the next three years. I have hope that through what he was saying in his manifesto during campaign, will surely help the industry move to another level. We have done our part and it is now to the incoming new team improve where we failed”. said Mdalla.
Robert Chiwamba is a Malawian multi-award winning poet with his most loved Poetry albums, Chanco Munthawi Yanga, Kachirombo and Kwa mayi Chiwamba. He has won six awards and performed in Europe. He has been an ambassador for European Union and UNESCO’s skills and Technical Education Program. He has also performed at all premium festivals in Malawi. Alongside Chiwamba is Zabuloni Dama ( vice president), Patwell Phiri ( Secretary General), Chikumbotso Kaliati ( Vice Secretary General), Joseph Kadzakumanja ( Treasurer) and Ross Kampaundi ( Events’ Organizer).
The team is expected to lead the Association for the next three years and among other things bring the following changes as stipulated in the manifesto: Building poetry communities around community radio stations, empower, encourage and support private poetry movements, seek help from organizations, conduct at least three physical artist creative writing and branding workshops, securing a plot for Poetry Association of Malawi within 3 years, just to mention some but a few.
