One of the country’s leading telecommunications companies, Telecom Networks Malawi (TNM) Plc on Monday evening recognized its top-performing employees for 2024 with a prestigious awards ceremony held at Sunbird Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre.
During the awards ceremony,three company’s exceptional employees were rewarded with an all-expenses-paid trip to Cape Town, South Africa, while several others received monetary awards of up to K1.5 million for their outstanding performance in their respective divisions.
In an interview with journalists ,one of the awardees, Linda Moyo, expressed her gratitude, stating that the recognition serves as a motivation to continue delivering exceptional results.
On her part, TNM Plc Acting Chief Human Resource Manager, Chisomo Governor emphasized that the awards are a testament to the company’s appreciation for its employees’ unwavering commitment to driving success.
“We value our employees’ contributions and are committed to recognizing and rewarding their excellence,” said Governor.
Deputy Publicity Secretary of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Ken Msonda has praised President Lazarus Chakwera’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) as a resounding success.
His endorsement comes after Chakwera’s address to parliament on Friday, where he showcased the MCP administration’s numerous development and economic projects across the country.
Msonda emphasized that Chakwera’s SONA provided a much-needed reality check for Malawians, countering the opposition’s claims that the MCP administration has achieved nothing since taking office.
“This is what Malawians want to know.The opposition, led by the DPP, has deliberately misled people, but now Malawians have seen and heard for themselves what the president has accomplished,” he said .
Msonda also highlighted the MCP’s commitment to delivering development projects, citing the benefits of economic empowerment and development that Chakwera outlined in his SONA.
Despite criticism from the opposition, Msonda believes that the SONA has opened Malawians’ eyes to the progress made and the road to success.
Looking ahead, Msonda stressed that the MCP has set the standards and foundations for future development, urging Malawians to support President Chakwera’s bid for a second term to continue his development agenda.
Chakwera has already announced his intention to seek re-election.Msonda said:” this is what Malawians want to know, because it is very unfortunate that the opposition led by the DPP have deliberately mislead people.
He further said that the opposition have been criticising that president Chakwera and MCP administration has done nothing since vantured into power.
Msonda said:”Now Malawians have actually see and heard for themselves what the president has done since he became the heard of the state of this country.”
He revealed that MCP administration is looking forward to deliver because Malawians are the beneficiaries of development and economic empowerment which Chakwera has highlited in the SONA.
He described that although the DPP is politicizing everything, but the SONA has opened eyes of Malawians in which there is a road to success.
Msonda also highlited that the MCP have set the standards and foundations saying they need to move forward with the development which President Chakwera and the MCP has put in place.
Msonda added that if Malawians want more development in this country beyond their thoughts and imagination they need to give President Chakwera a second term.
In his SONA President Chakwera highlighted the development projects which has been done district by district which include economic, human capital, infrastructure, health, agriculture, technology and food distribution development.
A heated debate in Parliament turned chaotic on Tuesday afternoon, prompting a 30-minute suspension of proceedings.
The commotion erupted when Member of Parliament (MP ) for Salima South, Christopher Manja,defied Second Deputy Speaker Aisha Adams’ order to vacate the chamber.
The tension began to escalate when Leader of the House Richard Chimwendo Banda took issue with Sameer Suleman’s statement that President Lazarus Chakwera’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) contained inaccurate information.
Banda threatened to ‘cross a red line’if Suleman did not retract his statement, prompting MPs from both sides to rush to the center, daring each other to take action.
In the midst of the chaos, Manja removed his jacket, appearing to prepare for a physical confrontation.
This gesture angered Adams, who invoked Standing Order 105 to expel Manja from the House.
In a bold move to enforce labor laws and protect workers’ rights, Minister of Labour Vitumbiko Mumba has ordered the immediate suspension of operations at Plastimax Company and Hongsheng Packaging Limited in Njewa, Lilongwe.
The decision follows a shocking inspection that uncovered serious violations of labor laws, including unsafe working conditions, exploitative wages, and unfair employment practices.
Mumba
During the inspection, Mumba found that both companies had failed to provide protective gear to workers despite the hazardous nature of their jobs.
Employees were operating dangerous machinery, working in dusty environments, and handling chemicals and waste materials without any protective clothing, exposing them to significant health and safety risks.
The lack of basic protective equipment is not only a violation of labor laws but also a clear disregard for workers’ well-being.
Beyond safety concerns, the minister also discovered that workers at the two companies were being exploited through low wages and temporary employment contracts.
Some employees were earning as little as K2,000 per day, which is far below Malawi’s minimum wage standards.
To make matters worse, many of them were forced to work for over 10 hours a day without receiving overtime pay—a blatant violation of fair labor practices.
Expressing his disappointment, Mumba ordered the two companies to immediately address these violations within seven days.
He emphasized that failure to comply with the directives would result in an indefinite suspension of operations.
His stance underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring that all companies adhere to labor laws and treat their workers fairly.
The suspension of Plastimax and Hongsheng Packaging Limited serves as a strong warning to other employers who disregard Malawi’s labor regulations.
It signals a shift towards greater accountability and stricter enforcement of workers’ rights, ensuring that employees are not subjected to unsafe conditions or unfair wages.
As the deadline for compliance approaches, all eyes will be on Plastimax and Hongsheng to see whether they will implement the necessary changes.
Meanwhile, the government’s intervention is a reminder that economic growth should not come at the expense of workers’ dignity, safety, and fair wages.
This crackdown is expected to set a precedent for other companies operating under similar conditions, pushing for better labor standards across the country.
As Malawi gears up for the September 16, 2025 General Elections, 17 women in Rumphi have publicly expressed their interest in contesting for parliamentary and councillorship positions.
This development marks a significant shift in the district’s political landscape, where female representation has historically been low due to cultural, economic, and political barriers.
Over the years, women in Malawian politics have faced numerous challenges, including limited financial resources, societal stereotypes, and a lack of support from political parties.
However, the emergence of these 17 female aspirants in Rumphi signals a growing recognition of the importance of women’s participation in decision-making and governance.
Political analysts believe that the increasing number of female aspirants in Rumphi is a result of ongoing advocacy efforts by civil society organizations, government agencies, and international partners promoting gender equality in politics.
Several empowerment programs have been implemented in the district to train and equip women with the necessary leadership skills, campaign strategies, and political knowledge.
According to local observers, the participation of women in the upcoming elections could bring positive change to the district, particularly in areas such as education, healthcare, economic development, and gender-responsive policies.
Many believe that women leaders tend to prioritize social issues, which could lead to improved services for vulnerable communities, especially women and children.
The growing confidence among women to join the political race also reflects a wider national trend, where more women are stepping up to challenge the traditionally male-dominated political environment.
Political parties have been urged to support female candidates by providing them with equal opportunities to compete fairly, including financial and logistical backing.
As the election date draws closer, it remains to be seen how these 17 women will fare in securing party endorsements and public support.
However, their decision to contest is already a major milestone in the fight for gender equality and increased women’s representation in governance.
Political stakeholders, gender activists, and the people of Rumphi will be closely watching as these women embark on their campaigns, aiming to bring a fresh perspective to leadership in the district.
Whether they emerge victorious or not, their boldness and determination have already set an inspiring precedent for future generations of women in Malawian politics.
