Thursday, August 7, 2025
No menu items!
spot_img
Home Blog Page 280

Malawi’s U17 Girls National Team ready to shine in COSAFA Championship

0

By Shaffie A Mtambo

The Malawi U17 Girls National Team has been drawn into Group A for the 2025 COSAFA U17 Girls’ Championship, alongside hosts Namibia and Comoros.

The tournament is set to take place from May 10 to 17,2025 in Windhoek, Namibia.

Head Coach Linda Kasenda is confident that her team can advance beyond the group stages.

“It’s a fair draw looking at the teams we have been drawn against .Last year, we failed to progress from the group stage, but this time around we target to finish top of our group so that we progress to the semi-finals.”she explained.



Malawi made their debut in the 2022 edition of the championship, finishing third in their group.

However, Kasenda believes that this year’s team has the potential to go further in the tournament.

With a strong squad and a clear strategy, Malawi’s U17 girls are ready to shine in the COSAFA championship.

The tournament will feature some of the top teams in the region, and Malawi will need to be at their best to advance to the next stage.

Maseko Ngoni Heritage Trust joins calls to block Bushiri extradition

0

By Jones Gadama

The Maseko Ngoni Heritage Trust has thrown its weight behind the growing chorus of voices opposing the extradition of Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife, Mary, to South Africa.

In a letter addressed to the Attorney General and the Office of the President and Cabinet, the trust’s Secretary General, Impi Kandi Padambo Ndau, expressed concerns about the potential treatment of the couple in South Africa.

Bushiri



The trust believes Bushiri is a responsible citizen who has made significant contributions to Malawi, warranting the government’s protection.

They also praised the Maseko Ngoni nation king, His Majesty iNkosi Ya Makhosi Gomani V, for his unflinching leadership.

The Maseko Ngoni Heritage Trust questioned the fairness of extraditing Bushiri and his wife, citing concerns about their potential treatment in South Africa.

They emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law and respecting international agreements while ensuring citizens are treated with dignity and fairness.

“We believe in the rule of law and utmost respect for international agreements that our government is committed to,” the letter reads. “But these must be exercised in normal circumstances where it is guaranteed that citizens of this country will be treated fairly with dignity and fairness.”

The trust’s appeal highlights the complexities surrounding extradition cases, particularly when they involve high-profile individuals like Bushiri.

The government’s decision will likely be scrutinized by various stakeholders, including human rights groups and the Malawian public.

In recent years, Malawi has faced challenges in balancing its international obligations with domestic concerns. For instance, President Lazarus Chakwera assented to six land-related bills in May 2022, aiming to address land management challenges

This move demonstrates the government’s efforts to address pressing issues while upholding the law.

The extradition of Bushiri and his wife may have far-reaching implications for Malawi’s relationships with other countries, particularly South Africa.

The government’s decision will be closely watched by the international community, as it may set a precedent for future extradition cases.

As the situation unfolds, stakeholders will be eager to see how the government navigates these complex issues while upholding the principles of justice and fairness.

The Maseko Ngoni Heritage Trust’s stance underscores the need for careful consideration and consultation with relevant parties to ensure a fair outcome.

FAWEMA and NCHE partner to regulate tertiary education bridging programmes

0



By Jones Gadama

The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWEMA) has partnered with the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) to develop and disseminate policies regulating tertiary education bridging programmes in Malawi.

This partnership aims to increase access to quality tertiary education by establishing clear guidelines for both private and public universities offering bridging programmes.

The partnership between FAWEMA and NCHE is a significant step towards improving the quality of tertiary education in Malawi.

The guidelines will help establish clear standards for bridging programmes, ensuring consistency and quality across institutions.

This development is expected to have a positive impact on the country’s higher education sector, enabling more students to access quality education and training.

Maggie Madimbo

FAWEMA’s Board Chairperson, Maggie Madimbo, emphasized that the partnership’s primary goal is to empower students who were hindered by various challenges, providing them with access to higher education.

Madimbo noted that the guidelines will help ensure that bridging programmes are designed to meet the needs of students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“The goal is to empower students who were hindered by various challenges and provide them with access to higher education,” Madimbo said. “We believe that education is a fundamental right, and every student deserves access to quality education,”She added.

The lack of guidelines to regulate bridging programmes has posed significant risks to the country’s higher education goals and quality, according to Deputy Director of Higher Education Valentino Zimpita.

Zimpita added that the guidelines will help establish clear standards for the programmes while ensuring consistency and quality.

“The lack of guidelines to regulate bridging programmes has posed significant risks to the country’s higher education goals and quality,” Zimpita said.

He added,”We believe that these guidelines will help establish clear standards for the programmes while ensuring consistency and quality.”

Registrar at the University of Lilongwe, Nelson Chamveka, believes this development will significantly enhance the quality and advancement of higher education in Malawi.

Chamveka noted that the guidelines will help ensure that bridging programmes are designed to meet the needs of students and the labor market.

“This development will significantly enhance the quality and advancement of higher education in Malawi,” Chamveka said, adding that,”We believe that the guidelines will help ensure that bridging programmes are designed to meet the needs of students and the labor market.”

The partnership between FAWEMA and NCHE is a significant step towards improving the quality of tertiary education in Malawi.

The guidelines will help establish clear standards for bridging programmes, ensuring consistency and quality across institutions.

This development is expected to have a positive impact on the country’s higher education sector, enabling more students to access quality education and training.

The partnership between FAWEMA and NCHE is a welcome development in the Malawian education sector.

The guidelines will help ensure that bridging programmes are designed to meet the needs of students and the labor market, enhancing the quality and advancement of higher education in Malawi.

US tariff pause brings relief to Malawian exporters

0

By Jones Gadama

The Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) has welcomed the 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump, describing it as a considerable relief for local exporters.

The pause, which affects 75 countries excluding China, will suspend higher tariffs that would have had a significant impact on Malawi’s agriculture and employment sectors.

Daisy Kambalame

MCCCI Chief Executive Officer, Daisy Kambalame, said the halt will provide short-term relief to local exporters who would have struggled with the 17 percent tariff on all Malawian exports to the US. “The pause will give us some breathing space, and we are hopeful that it will be extended or modified to continue supporting our exporters,” Kambalame said.

The US government’s decision to pause tariffs comes amid ongoing negotiations with trade partners, including Mexico, where a one-month pause on tariffs was agreed upon to facilitate discussions.

While the US has not disclosed whether extensions or modifications to the pause will be considered after the 90-day period, the move is seen as a positive development for Malawian exporters.

Impact on Malawi’s Economy

The 17 percent tariff on Malawian exports to the US would have had far-reaching consequences for the country’s economy, particularly in the agriculture and employment sectors.

The agriculture sector is a significant contributor to Malawi’s GDP, and any disruption to exports could have led to job losses and economic instability.

Kambalame emphasized that the MCCCI will continue to work with the government to ensure that the interests of Malawian exporters are protected and promoted.

“We will engage with our stakeholders to explore opportunities for growth and development in the export sector, and we are hopeful that the US government will consider the needs of our country in their trade policies.”

Global Trade Trends

The US government’s pause on tariffs is part of a broader trend in global trade, where countries are re-evaluating their trade policies and seeking to protect their domestic industries.

The solar power industry, for example, is facing significant challenges due to changes in US trade policies, including the expiration of a two-year pause on tariffs for imported solar panels.

The pause on tariffs has provided temporary relief to solar power developers in the US, who have seen a surge in installations in recent months.

However, with the tariffs set to resume, developers are facing uncertainty and pressure to meet the demand for clean energy.

Conclusion

The 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs announced by the US government has brought relief to Malawian exporters, who would have struggled with the 17 percent tariff on all exports to the US.

While the pause is seen as a positive development, the MCCCI will continue to work with the government to ensure that the interests of Malawian exporters are protected and promoted.

The global trade landscape is complex and dynamic, and countries must navigate these challenges to protect their domestic industries and promote economic growth.

Court disagrees with Kabambe’s immunity claim

0

By Chisomo Phiri

The High Court’s Financial Crimes Division has rejected a request by former Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) Governor Dalitso Kabambe to permanently halt his trial.

In an interview with 247 Malawi News,Kabambe, who faces charges of conspiracy, making false statements, and money laundering alongside Henry Mathanga, Cliff Kenneth Chiunda, and Joseph Mwanamvekha, argued that he was immune from prosecution for actions taken in good faith during his tenure as Governor and Chairperson of the RBM Board from 2017 to 2020.

Kabambe



Citing Section 15 of RBM Act and Paragraph 4 of the institution’s Code of Conduct, Kabambe claimed he could not be held personally liable unless proven to have acted in bad faith.

He stated that the Treasury Note transaction in question, worth USD 350 million and involving Afreximbank, was approved by the RBM Board to restructure government debt and reduce interest payments.

However, the court found Kabambe’s claimed immunity insufficient to warrant halting the proceedings at this stage.

Kabambe has had some success in court recently, with the High Court discharging him from an abuse of office charge related to misreporting government figures to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) between 2018 and 2020.