The much awaited Blantyre derby between city-rivals Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Wanderers ended in song and dance for the former, who beat Wanderers 2-1 on Saturday at the Kamuzu Stadium.
Flames midfielder Chimwemwe Idana opened the accounts for Bullets in the 16th minute before the Lali Lubani side equalised in the 78th minute through Vincent Nyangulu.
Substitute Anthony Mfune scored Bullets’ winner in the 84th minute with his first kick of the game just seconds after being introduced to give the Ndirande outfit a perfect start to the season.
Mfune’s goal sent Bullets’ fans into a delirium of song and dance all the way to the team’s club house.
In other matches played on Saturday, Karonga United lost 1-3 to Kamuzu Barracks.Deus Mkutu, Chimwemwe Chisambi and Gregory Nachipo were on target for the soldiers while Khumbo Msowoya scored the consolation for Karonga.
In Mzuzu, Ekwendeni Hammers were 2-0 winners over Kasungu based TN Stars. The two goals were scored by Bongani Zulu and Edgar Mgagana.
Malawi’s Social Media Prophet, Austin Liabunya has thanked Pastor Mlaka Maliro for his latest song titled ” Vinyo Watha”.
In his thanks giving message, Liabunya calls Mlaka, the greatest artist of all time in Malawi.
” I must admit that you are a greatest all the time in Malawi
Yesterday, after I had asked where to get it, more than 100 people, according to my PR sent it to to our WhatsApp inbox but I still preferred to buy it at the possible highest price just to support your talent which has blessed me for years,” said Liabunya.
Liabunya has since then encouraged Mlaka to continue his great works in music and forget about people’s noises and claims.
The U.S. Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has announced an additional $12.8 million in assistance for Malawi to tackle food insecurity, strengthen anti-corruption efforts and respond to Tropical Cyclone Ana.
Accordimg to a press statement from USAID- Of the funds announced today, $9.7 million will go towards protecting the most vulnerable Malawians from food insecurity by distributing cash for food, providing support to farmers, and building agricultural supply chains. An additional $2 million will support Malawi’s anti-corruption efforts. USAID, in partnership with the United Kingdom, is co-financing a program that supports Malawian law enforcement and the Ministry of Justice in investigative techniques, evidence collection, and prosecution strategy, with a particular focus on asset forfeiture and recovery.
President Chakwera and USAID Samantha Power
Finally, an additional nearly $1.1 million is being provided to support humanitarian response efforts for Tropical Cyclone Ana. Tropical Cyclone Ana made landfall in January, generating heavy rains and subsequent flooding across southern Malawi. In the days following the storm, USAID provided an initial $100,000 to meet immediate needs of displaced Malawians with shelter, water, and sanitation and hygiene (WASH) supplies. This additional funding will support shipping additional shelter materials for families temporarily living in evacuation camps.
The new funding follows USAID Administrator Samantha Power’s meeting with Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera where the two discussed mutual priorities, such as combating corruption, strengthening resilience and food security in the face of climate change, the polio outbreak, and continuing the fight to end the COVID-19 pandemic.
Their discussion also focused on continued collaboration for advancing Malawi 2063, which sets a vision of Malawi as a nation that is inclusively wealthy and self-reliant.
Power congratulated President Chakwera on becoming Chairman of the Southern African Development Community last August and applauded Malawi’s commitment to democracy and expressed her support for the government of Malawi’s efforts in combating corruption. She asked President Chakwera to consider re-engaging with global anti-corruption platforms, such as the Open Government Partnership.
The two also discussed the need for strengthening resilience due to the impacts of climate change, in the wake of successive cyclones, such as Tropical Storm Ana. Administrator Power underscored the United States support for Malawi with the announcement of an additional $12.8 million in humanitarian assistance, as well as a continued commitment to international polio eradication efforts, and accelerated COVID-19 vaccination goals.
President Dr Lazarus Chakwera who is in USA for the United Nations Least Developed countries summit took time to hold an audience with Malawians residing in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut on Thursday.
In a statement written on the President Official Facebook page, Chakwera said “As I have done with every Malawian diaspora community across the globe, I implored upon our brothers and sisters to be voluntary emissaries in cultivating strategic frontiers to court international partnerships and investments for our beautiful country”
President Chakwera
He went to say . “We agreed on the need for every Malawian, home and abroad, to take personal responsibility and contribute effectively to nation building.”
According to some Malawians that met the President, the meeting went well and the President was open to listening to Malawians . Also present at the meeting was the new Ambassador to the UN Dr Agnes Chimbiri-Malonde.
The discussion tackled on a number of issues such as National ID’s, Investment in Malawi, Duo Citizenship, Communication with the diaspora, Cryptocurrency and discussion on the rising cost of commodity prices.
The President leaned towards the idea of having the Malawi Embassy in DC do most of the agendas that force diasporas travel to Malawi such as passport renewal or getting National IDs.
The Ministry on National Unity has said it has finalised putting together the National Peace Policy, and, the National Unity Bill which will go before Parliament for approval . The bill is aimed to be the guiding principle of all national unity matters that arise In the country. It is the Legislation to provide for a mechanism to foster peace and unity in Malawi. Standing out in the proposed bill is the establishment of the first ever Malawi Peace and Unity Commission in the country.
According to the documents that 247Malawi Media has seen, The National Peace Policy goal is to promote sustainable peace and unity in Malawi in a well coordinated, collaborative and structured manner. It is backed by the Sustainable Development Goal No. 16 which is promotion of peace, justice and strong institutions, Section 13 (l) of the Republican Constitution which covers peaceful resolution of conflicts through negotiation, good offices, mediation, conciliation, and arbitration. The policy also incorporates National Policies, including long term and medium-term development frameworks: MW2063 & MIP-1; National Security Policy, National Gender Policy, National Youth Policy, National Disability Policy and others.
The policy offers a variety of conflict resolution mechanisms, which lack proactiveness, central coordination, inclusiveness and employ predominantly traditional approaches to conflict resolution
National Unity Minister Hon Timothy Mtambo
According to the Ministry, the National Peace Policy has identified priority areas that include Establishment of inclusive and gender sensitive structures at National and District levels, Capacity in conflict prevention, management and transformation mechanisms including peace education, Provision of conflict sensitive policy advice to government and other relevant institutions.
On the Peace and Unity bill , the Ministry has said it will focus on key areas that have been identified to be , the establishment of the Malawi Peace and Unity Commission, eSecretariat of the Commission; District Peace and Unity Committees; Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution Financial Provisions and Miscellaneous Provisions.
The Malawi Peace and Unity Commission (MPUC) will aim to Coordinate formulation and review of national policies on unity and peacebuilding. It will harmonize and coordinate efforts in conflict prevention, management and resolution for purpose of building sustainable peace. It will Provide guidance on conflict prevention, management and resolution to government and other bodies and Provide platform for peaceful national dialogue on social, economic and religious challenges.
The commission will be Independent, non-partisan and impartial, and not subject to the direction or control of any authority. It will be the Highest umbrella body and focal point for promotingunity, peacebuilding and use amicable conflict prevention, mgt and resolution mechanisms in Malawi.
The commission will help strengthen capacity for conflict prevention, management and resolution. It will promote understanding of values of diversity, trust, tolerance, confidence building, negotiation, mediation, dialogue and conciliation; and Monitor implementation of national policies on unity and peacebuilding.
11 members will make the commission, with gender responsive appointments that will be made by the President. This is composed of 3 ex-officials,2 FBO, 2 Traditional Leaders, 1 Business Community, 1 Person with Disability, 1 Youth and 1 CSO. The Principle secretary responsible for National Unity, Solicitor General and PS responsible for Homeland Security are the ex-official members
The members will be Subject to confirmation by Public Appointments Committee (PAC) of Parliament and Tenure of office is 4 years with eligibility for reappointment for another 4 years.
THE Peace and Unity Bill also proposes establishemt of District peace and Unity committees (DPUCs) that will be established in all local government areas to promote unity and peacebuilding within its area of jurisdiction. These too shall be independent, non-partisan and impartial in the performance of its functions and will aim to Provide early warning on potential threats to peace and unity to defuse tension in the local government area,Organize training and other capacity building programmes on peacebuilding, including conflict prevention, management and resolution and Conduct public education and awareness programmes on peace, unity and use of non-violent means to resolve conflicts among other things
The National Unity Ministry believes the bill will be key to peace building in Malawi by promoting dialogue on contentious issues, Inclusiveness, Collaboration and harmonization ,Use of diplomatic/ peaceful means and coming up with Win-win solutions to all concerned parties.
