The Malawi Bureau of standards, MBS, on Thursday morning disposed off 16.5 tones of biscuits and sweets valued at K50m that were confiscated from Agrocomm Ventures Limited after receiving a tip from the public on 1st July, 2021 that their shelf life had passed.
MBS Director General, Symon Mandala, said Agrocoom officials were tampering with date codes of the groceries to extend shelf life by a minimum of 12 months using a special date printing equipment which they procured.
On site, officials from the company have refused to comment on the development.
MBS has recently intensified their work which has seen a number of counterfeit items destroyed.
Barely few months after United Transformation Movement ( UTM)’s Publicity Secretary Chidanti Malunga resigned from his position and left the party, it is being speculated that another renowned party’s and Firebrand Jessie Kabwira is set to resign from the party and politics to concentrate on academic work.
In her WhatsApp post she said” Greetings Comrades. Just to let you know that I will be resigning from active politics with immediate effect. I am joining Malawi Institute of Management ( MIM) as Executive Dean. Will be posting my resignation letter soon. Though you should hear it from me first”.
Jessie Kabwila
Kabwira, who was pushed out of the Malawi Congress Party ( MCP) for her confused stand against the party leadership, has had her political career going side ways for some time now, after losing her Parliamentary seat on UTM ticket in Salima. Her resignation speculations from the Party have triggered different reactions with quarters of the society questioning UTM stability strategy as senior and key members keep jumping off the ship.
Kabwira was among the forefront campaign organizers who did their best for Tonse Alliance to lead in the 2020 fresh Presidential Elections.
The body of a media consultant and a writer who constantly provided brilliant analyses on Facebook, Russell Chimbayo popularly known by his analyses as Low Budget SKC was laid to rest on Wednesday at Misesa cemetery in Chilobwe, Blantyre.Chimbayo died on Tuesday barely two days after his wedding.
According to the statement from Chimbayo’s family, after the wedding reception, the deceased started complaining of a headache and body weekness. He then advised by his sister not to proceed for their honeymoon. ” Following unfounded reports making rounds on social media, and other avenues on the ultimately death of our son and brother, Russell, we the Chimbayo family feel duty to bound to share an account to his death. ” Russell wedded his long time sweetheart, Jacqueline on Saturday October 2, 2021.
The late Russell Chimbayo
After the wedding reception he complained of a headache and body weekness. His sister advised him and his wife not to proceed with their honeymoon.
Chimbayo on his wedding ,two days before his death
On Monday morning morning we took Russell to hospital where doctors did not find any health problem with him and concluded that his persistent headache was a result of fatigue and stress fatigue from the wedding.In the evening, on the same day, he told us he saw angels coming to take him and later he told Edwin Banda, who was attending to him in hospital, the heaven’s gate had been opened for him to enter. ” Russell died peacefully entering the gates of heaven. We thank God for the life of Russell . He examplary, caring, loving, peace loving, and humble. He spent his days on earth ministering the word of God. Counseling families and giving hope to the hopeless through the word of God”, reads the statement.
Chimbayo was born on April 29, 1990 and died on October 4, 2021. He was a renowned Christian for Church of Central Africa Presbyterian ( CCAP).
The Department of Disaster and Management Affairs (DoDMA) has urged farmers in Karonga District to practice diversification in farming with an aim of suiting amounts of rainfall that the District will receive.
Deputy Director for Risk Reduction at DoDMA, Fedson Chikuse made the remarks on Tuesday at Karonga Museum following revelation that dry spells are very likely to happen in January 2022 in the District as predicted by the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services.
Fedson Chikuse
In areas where there has been prediction of low rainfall and likelihood of dry spells, we advise farmers to grow variety of crops that will match the amount of rainfall, Karonga is well known for growing rice so the type of rice should be that which matches the predicted rainfall amounts. Chikuse said.
On his part, Karonga District Commissioner Paul Kalilombe said the district is ready to reduce impact of low rainfall amounts and described the dissemination about rainfall amounts as very essential to communities that rely on farming. As a district, we are ready because we have been doing preparations for a long time like providing equipment for measuring water levels, so dissemination about rainfall amounts is very necessary as this will help a lot of people who rely on rains to plan properly. He said.
According to the seasonal weather forecast by the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services, in January 2022, the northern and southern parts of Karonga are likely to receive rainfall amounts between 175-210mm. The department adds that areas of Traditional Authority Kyungu, Karonga Town and Nyika National Park will receive less rainfall amounts between the range of 75-140mm and likelihood of prolonged dry spells in January is very likely.
The First lady Madam Monica Chakwera has said the job of developing Malawi is not a one-person job but needs collaborative efforts of all. She made the call on Saturday afternoon when she virtually launched a new group called, Malawian Women in Diaspora Network (MWDN) also known as Sisterhood for Change. The First Lady called for more networking of various stakeholders both home and in the diaspora if solutions to most of the challenging problems Malawi face are to be found.
In her speech to mark the launch of the group ,Madam Chakwera whose charity organisation Shape the Future Foundation focuses more on improving the life of a girl child , commended the Diaspora women for coming up with such an initiative which will be paramount in finding ways to improve the life of Malawians Including that of ‘the girl child.’
Madam Chakwera said she is happy that already, women in the diaspora are influencing things in Malawi through businesses, Knowledge transfer, skills sharing and remittances. She went on to say the untapped human and social capital available in the diaspora is something that need to be effectively utilised. The First Lady felt the link between those in diaspora and back home has not been fully used and its potentiality has minimally been explored. She urged the women that geographical locations should not be a hindrance for networking more especially in modern times where technology can bring people together from various parts of the world for meetings and networking.
“Malawi is blessed with many resources; Lets utilise our uniqueness to succeed in our common goal. We need Unity of purpose and with that, we will see that our productivity levels will increase” said Madam Chakwera.
Malawian Women in Diaspora Network Launch Event .
The First Lady then went on to declare the new women’s group officially launched “I commend you women in the diaspora for the spirit of networking , deciding to work together .I am a beneficially of mentorship through people that have mentored me to be where I am and I believe with this group ,not only will you mentor each other but you will also mentor and inspire many girls and women in Malawi. I now declare Malawian Women in Diaspora Network group and its official website open “
The Saturday event was packed with many inspiration stories from various women who have overcome obstacles in their way , and are making a difference in various fields and communities and was moderated by Canga Kamwambe and Fatima Nkata. Edith Chikago Parker shared the mission and vision of the new group that include coordinating information for Malawi development, knowledge exchange and investments and philanthropic activities. The group also aims to connect Malawians women and girls in order to build networks and partnerships for empowerment and development of Malawi. The line-up of inspirational speakers includes Ruth Mbera who shared her entrepreneurial story as Chef ,Mavis Kadzanja and the growth of her personal development company ,Dr Grace Kamchulesi of National Planning Commission ,Tina Sayenda and also Joyce Obaseki, whose organisation Grant a Smile UK offers cleaning support services to families or individuals fighting a difficult life battles.
Also given a platform to inspire the women was American based Dr Dalitso Sulamoyo who currently is the Chief Executive Officer of United States National Community Action Partnerships (NCAP), an organisation that represents over 1000 various community organisations in Urbana, Illinois area. Dr Sulamoyo encouraged the women to not look back but work towards developing strategies that looks at their strengths, available opportunities, their aspirations and the meaningful outcomes that will come out of it. Similar remarks were echoed by well-known social activist Bhatupe Mhango Chipanta and Dr Fulata Moyo, whose inspirational stories injected the much-needed energy and enthusiasm to the new members of the group.
State House Special Advisor to the First Lady Pastor Macduff Phiri also took time to give a brief background of the Shaping the Future Foundation. UK based Singer Matamando provided some light entertainment.
One of the event organisers Dr Naomi Msusa , speaking to Nyasa Times said the diaspora women group felt honoured that the First Lady made herself available for the Launch of the group. Msusa said women in diaspora can register themselves to the network through the website www.malawianwomendiaspora.com
