Fatsani Kalimba of Ndalama Village, Traditional Authority ( TA) Mkukula in Dowa who is allegedly died in 2018 after committing suicide is said to have resurrected from death after people met him moving around in the area on September 15, 2021.
Confirming the matter, Group Village Headman Ndama said Kalimba indeed died in 2018 and that the funeral ceremony was conducted in the area.
His brother Titani and sister alefa are in disbelief saying their sibiling died a long time ago and upon being interrogated, Fatsani said he was working in a maize mill somewhere in Dedza.
Three years have passed since the man died in 2018.
Standard Bank plc, on Wednesday launched Unayo, a services platform that connects businesses, customers and communities and provides a single hub for economic activity. It facilitates ease of transacting when paying for goods and services, money transfers and disbursements.
Chief Executive Phillip Madinga said the innovation aims at redefining the banking sector by creating new frontiers to serve Malawians better and wider but also connect the various ecosystems in the country.
“Unayo is a revolutionary services platform that enables us solve a range of problems faced by communities when handling their financial needs. By its very name Unayo is Swahili for “You Have It”, or Ulinayo in vernacular. The solution literally puts the power in Malawians’ hands to improve their financial wellbeing and embrace them in a growing and thriving economic ecosystem.”
Malawians can register on Unayo in two ways, either as merchant or customer designed for day to day banking services. Merchants and customers can transact with everyone in Malawi from any mobile network.
The platform allows customers to move money using Cash In and Cash Outs, and pay friends, family and merchants, and Electronic Money Transfers.
Chief Executive Phillip Madinga
According to Madinga, Unayo will revolutionalise the banking industry by tapping the unbanked base.
“With mobile phone operators sharing over 9 million customers, it is the Unayo platform which will help include the rest of the population into banking mainstream,” he said.
He said with Unayo, Standard Bank is reiterating that it is part of an ecosystems driver that connects different customers and market players across the spectrum.
He further pointed out that that the bank is simultaneously addressing issues of financial inclusion and job creation through this innovation.
“We are bringing as many Malawians as possible into the banking system via modern technologies. No one should be left behind when it comes to accessing banking services either as a merchant or customer or beneficiary.”
In his remarks, Reserve Bank of Malawi Deputy Governor, Grant Kabango, commended Standard Bank for being a driver of change within the economy via modern innovations and technologies.
“Unayo Platform comes as a timely intervention to a sector that is dynamic and in need of new ideas to improve delivery of modern financial services. Currently, only two million of out of the country’s total population of 19 million are bank customers meaning penetration is still very low. We are convinced that Unayo has come to help in reversing that anomaly by taking banking straight to the people and doing so through modern means,” he said.
For one to be on Unayo, all they need is a mobile gadget, mobile number and Personal ID. Registration on USSD is by dialing *247# and follow the prompts. As for the mobile App, one must download Unayo from Apple Store or Play Store and follow the registration guide.
Creative Centre for Community Mobilization (CRECCOM) has embarked on addressing existing gaps in health system with an emphasis on C4D and strengthening coordination at local government level in Karonga District.
CRECCOM disclosed this at a Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting on Wednesday in the district saying they will address the gaps through a project dubbed Creating Demand for Continuity of Essential Health Services, Uptake of Covid-19 vaccine and strengthening feedback mechanisms on COVID-19 (CDC Health Services).
In an interview, programs manager for CRECCOM, Neftali Benister said the organisation discovered that there are still myths and misconceptions around vaccine against covid-19 and stunting in the country. He said: “We have embarked on this project because in most communities in the country, issues of myths and misconceptions surrounding the vaccine against covid-19 pandemic and under nutrition are still on the rise. “So we want to enhance child nutrition and enlighten communities to demand for essential health services and communities to become resilient in the face of covid-19 pandemic.”
Neftali speaking during the meeting
Commenting on the development, Director of Planning and Development, David Kayionanga Gondwe who chaired the meeting described the development as timely in the district. He said: “CRECCOM has come at a right time, in Traditional Authority Mwakaboko and Wansambo where CRECCOM will focus, there are lower figures of people who have received their vaccine against covid-19 and issues of under nutrition and stunting exist there too. “So as a District, we have welcomed the project because it is really aligning very well to the activities that are already happening more especially on sensitizing communities to get vaccinated.”
CDC Health Services is a six month project that is expected to run from September 2021 to February 2022 with total fund of 248,411,316.60 Malawi Kwacha of which MK194,152,077.00 has been donated by UNICEF Malawi and MK54,259,239.60 by CRECCOM. The project will also be conducted in other districts like Mzimba, Nkhatabay, Lilongwe, Zomba, Mwanza, Blantyre, Chikhwawa and Nsanje.
Police in Lilongwe have arrested three senior officials from Malawi Leaf Company Limited, a subsidiary of Auction Holdings Limited (AHL) and one business man, on suspicion that they conspired and stole over 20 Billion Kwacha company money.
According to a statement from police headquarters, the money is believed to have been stolen from the company at Kanengo in Lilongwe between 2012 and 2017.
Police Spokesman James Kadadzera
The suspects are the former Chief Executive Officer Evance Matabwa aged 51, former General Manager Jimmy Kasamale aged 46, and 39-year-old former Financial Controller Francis Madona.
Police have also arrested 53-year-old businessman Arthur Madikhula of Master Freight Shipping Company, Mauzi Contractors and Global Tobacco company.
The four will appear before court soon to answer theft charges.
In its mandate to regulate the energy Sector in Malawi in a fair, transparent, efficient and cost-effective manner for the benefit of consumers and operators, the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority ( Mera) has outlined the key factors that affect the landed costs of petroleum products.
In a statement made available to this publication Mera says among others, these key factors include the prices of refined petroleum products on the international market and the exchange rate of the Malawi Kwacha against major currencies.
The energy body says since the determination of the ruling pump prices in March, 2021, the landed costs of pertrol, Diesel and Paraffin have increased by 20.44%, 12.03% and 12. 23% respectively while the the landed osts of Jet A1 ( Aviation fuel) have reduced by an average of 1. 38% as compared to the landed costs noted in July, 2021, when the Jet-A-1 prices were last reviewed. ” As of September 7, 2021, the Price Stabilisation Fund balances for Petrol, Diesel, and Paraffin averaged K1.5 billion against the recommended minimum K5 billion. ” Under the Automatic Pricing Mechanism, which was adopted in 2012, prices are adjusted when the change in the landed cost is beyond the £5% trigger band”, reads part of the statement.
However, due to this , the Mera board says will consider the changes in the landed costs and other economic factors to establish appropriate prices of petroleum products and that the outcomes of the energy prices review will be communicated in due course.
