The Malawi Prison Service has disclosed that the country’s prisons are currently housing 20 children, ranging in age from one month to three years.
Prison spokesperson, Steve Charles Meke, said the children are living in prison alongside their mothers, who are serving sentences for various offences.
Steve Charles Meke
However, Meke emphasized that the service is making efforts to provide proper care for both the children and their mothers to ensure the children grow up in good health.
He has since assured the public that the service will continue to take good care of the children in these facilities.
The development comes amid rumours circulating on social media alleging that a child staying with their mother at Thyolo Prison is suffering from malnutrition due to inadequate food at the facility.
Meanwhile, child rights activist Memory Chisenga has expressed concern, stating that prison facilities are not a conducive environment.
Malawi is being called upon to act decisively as the recent surge in fuel prices threatens to strain households and businesses. Shadrick Namalomba, a government spokesperson, has urged authorities to intervene before the situation worsens.
Namalomba stressed that unchecked fuel price hikes could push motorists and traders toward illegal markets, where fuel is often sold at inflated rates.
“We must prevent scenarios where ordinary Malawians are forced to pay exorbitant prices for essential fuel,” he said.
Speaking at a press briefing alongside officials from the Ministries of Energy, Mines and Finance, Namalomba emphasized the government’s commitment to protecting citizens from economic shocks.
The announcement comes shortly after the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) revealed adjustments to the prices of automotive fuel, a move that has sparked concern among the public.
Namalomba explained that government monitoring and timely interventions are crucial to ensure that fuel remains accessible and affordable across the country.
He further highlighted ongoing coordination between ministries to tackle not only fuel pricing but also other economic pressures affecting Malawians.
According to Namalomba, the government continues to explore solutions that balance market realities with public welfare, including potential subsidies or regulatory measures.
The official also encouraged citizens to report incidents of fuel hoarding or illegal resale, warning that authorities would take strict action against offenders.
Despite the challenges, Namalomba reassured the nation that the government remains vigilant and determined to stabilize the energy sector in the coming months.
The briefing concluded with a call for unity, urging all stakeholders from private fuel distributors to ordinary citizens to support measures aimed at maintaining fairness and affordability in Malawi’s fuel market.
Residents of Kasasile in Nkhata Bay have expressed heartfelt gratitude to the country’s leadership for the support provided following their forced displacement by the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) in 2024. The displacement arose from disputes over local borders, which disrupted daily life for hundreds of families.
Chief Herbert Harawa confirmed that the national leader promptly responded by sending the Minister of Local Government and Transport, Jappie Mhango, to deliver essential relief items.
Aid included food, blankets and other basic necessities aimed at stabilizing the affected households.
Residents report that before the relief, they faced severe challenges including hunger, limited access to farming tools and seeds, unsafe water and disrupted education for children. The intervention has, they say, eased some of these pressures and restored hope in the community.
Chief Kavwalamtepo Munthali described the displacement as deeply traumatic, noting that families lost access to vital resources such as livestock, homes, fruit trees and farmland, all of which are central to their livelihoods.
Local senior relief officer Joshua Ngugi Msiska added that the abrupt relocation particularly affected young girls, many of whom were at risk of early marriages, cutting short their education and limiting future opportunities.
The residents praised the government’s efforts, emphasizing that timely support reduced their immediate suffering and helped them regain a sense of security after months of uncertainty.
Despite the relief, families are still appealing to authorities for assistance in returning to their original homes. They believe this step is essential to restore normalcy and allow them to rebuild their lives fully.
The displacement incident occurred on 6 December 2024, when families were forcefully removed by military personnel over disagreements about village boundaries with neighboring settlements.
Locals have expressed hope that continued government attention will not only address immediate needs but also provide long term solutions for infrastructure, farming support and education access to prevent future crises.
Community leaders have thanked the national leadership publicly, noting that while the trauma of displacement cannot be erased, the support demonstrates a commitment to protecting citizens’ welfare and reinforcing national unity.
The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has sounded the alarm over a disputed Electricity Generation Company (EGENCO) spare parts deal, calling for urgent action to address the alleged irregularities.
The deal, signed in May 2022, involved Dubai-based Savari Energen Commodity DMCC supplying Mitsubishi genset parts for Kanengo and Mapanga, but CDEDI Executive Director Silvester Namiwa alleges that most of the items were faulty, yet EGENCO paid over $770,000, and the parts remain unused.
This has raised concerns that the costs may have been passed on to electricity consumers, further exacerbating the already challenging economic situation in Malawi.
Namiwa is urging the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to reactivate investigations to ensure accountability and restore public trust.
The ACB is being asked to take urgent action, as the alleged irregularities in the deal are seen as a breach of public procurement procedures and a possible case of corruption.
The controversy surrounding EGENCO is not new, with previous allegations of financial mismanagement and procurement irregularities.
A forensic audit report revealed a K6.7 billion procurement scandal at EGENCO, involving unissued stock, unauthorized requisitions, and single sourcing of materials and services.
The demand for investigation and accountability highlights the need for transparency and good governance in Malawi’s public institutions.
The outcome of the investigation will be closely watched, as it may have implications for the country’s fight against corruption and the management of public resources.
The people of Malawi are looking to the ACB to take decisive action and hold those responsible for the alleged irregularities accountable.
The EGENCO scandal is a stark reminder of the need for robust anti-corruption measures and effective oversight mechanisms to prevent the misuse of public funds.
As the investigation unfolds, it is crucial that all stakeholders, including the government, civil society, and the public, work together to ensure that justice is served and public trust is restored.
The United Democratic Front ( UDF) has questioned government on why Malawians are being asked to pay more than two and a – half times the global average pump price which is approximately $1.44 per Litre ( around MK2,500).
The UDF said Malawians are not paying more because fuel is scarce globally, but because the country’s currency has been allowed to weaken to unsustainable levels.
The party said while global tensions including the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran have undoubtedly exerted pressure on international fuel markets, the figures of fuel adjustment from K4,965 to K6,600 per Litre do not add up.
Muluzi
Writing in a statement dated 1st April, 2026 UDF President Atupele Muluzi, said a government that cannot safeguard the value of its currency cannot protect its citizens from deepening poverty describing the fuel adjustment as a clear signal of policy failure.
Muluzi said the decision to hike fuel pump price from K4,965 to K6,600 is reflecting an administration that is either profoundly disconnected from the day to day struggles of ordinary Malawians.
He said the fuel pump price adjustment has come at a time when citizens are living on hand to mouth describing such a drastic increase as both insensitive and unjustifiable.
” Malawians deserve leadership that responds with solutions, not excuses, the burden of economic mismanagement cannot continue to be shifted onto the struggling citizens,” reads Muluzi’s statement in part.
He has urged government to announce immediate measures to stabilize the Kwacha, a transparent, efficient and accountable fuel procurement process and a strategic transition to rail – based fuel transportation via the Nacala corridor.
Meanwhile, Counsel Silvester Ayuba James writing on his face book said from MK2,500 per Litre to K6,800 within a space of four months happening for the first record time in the history of the citizens extended village mistakenly for a country – Malawi.
” History safufuta, nayenso ovota saiwala, inu ndi madolo, osanamizira Iran war,” reads his writings on the wall.
Counsel Ayuba James has expressed optimistic that President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has connections with all fuel producers saying it is just a matter of few phone calls.
