Wednesday, June 25, 2025
No menu items!
spot_img
Home Blog Page 3

Chakwera in Nigeria for landmark AFREXIM Bank annual meetings

0

By Burnett Munthali

President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has arrived in Abuja, Nigeria, to participate in the 32nd African Export-Import Bank (AFREXIM Bank) Annual Meetings, scheduled to take place from 25th to 27th June.

He joins fellow African and Caribbean Heads of State and Government, development partners, and global financial thought leaders at one of the continent’s most highly anticipated gatherings.

Chakwera in Nigeria



The AFREXIM Bank Annual Meetings serve as a major platform for high-level policy discussions on matters crucial to the social and economic advancement of Africa.

Upon his arrival at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, President Chakwera was warmly received by Nigerian Chief of Protocol Ibrahim Agumbi.

He was accompanied by First Lady Madam Monica Chakwera and Malawi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Nancy Tembo, alongside other senior government officials.

During the summit, President Chakwera is expected to engage in bilateral talks with global leaders to strengthen partnerships aligned with Malawi’s development priorities.

These talks will focus particularly on key sectors such as Agriculture, Tourism, and Mining, as well as other supporting areas vital to Malawi’s economic transformation.

Among the scheduled engagements, President Chakwera will hold talks with His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He will also meet with Professor Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of AFREXIM Bank, to discuss collaboration on Malawi’s economic initiatives.

Further engagements with other prominent African leaders will center on promoting investment opportunities in Malawi and deepening continental cooperation.

The theme for this year’s summit, “Building the Future on Decades of Resilience”, underscores Africa’s achievements over the past thirty years.

It also emphasizes the critical steps the continent must take to navigate an increasingly complex and evolving global landscape.

Afreximbank, a Pan-African multilateral financial institution, is tasked with financing, facilitating, and promoting both intra- and extra-African trade.

For more than three decades, the bank has developed innovative financial instruments to support structural transformation in Africa’s trade landscape.

Its mission includes accelerating industrialization and boosting intra-regional trade across the continent.

In Malawi, AFREXIM Bank has played a key role in supporting economic growth and industrial development.

Among its significant contributions is a landmark US$100 million Trade Finance Facilitation Facility agreement signed with the National Bank of Malawi (NBM).

This facility is designed to support trade transactions in crucial sectors such as manufacturing, energy, and agriculture, reinforcing Malawi’s efforts to build a robust and diversified economy.

Chakwera in Nigeria for landmark AFREXIM Bank annual meetings

0

By Burnett Munthali

President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has arrived in Abuja, Nigeria, to participate in the 32nd African Export-Import Bank (AFREXIM Bank) Annual Meetings, scheduled to take place from 25th to 27th June.

He joins fellow African and Caribbean Heads of State and Government, development partners, and global financial thought leaders at one of the continent’s most highly anticipated gatherings.

Chakwera in Nigeria



The AFREXIM Bank Annual Meetings serve as a major platform for high-level policy discussions on matters crucial to the social and economic advancement of Africa.

Upon his arrival at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, President Chakwera was warmly received by Nigerian Chief of Protocol Ibrahim Agumbi.

He was accompanied by First Lady Madam Monica Chakwera and Malawi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Nancy Tembo, alongside other senior government officials.

During the summit, President Chakwera is expected to engage in bilateral talks with global leaders to strengthen partnerships aligned with Malawi’s development priorities.

These talks will focus particularly on key sectors such as Agriculture, Tourism, and Mining, as well as other supporting areas vital to Malawi’s economic transformation.

Among the scheduled engagements, President Chakwera will hold talks with His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He will also meet with Professor Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of AFREXIM Bank, to discuss collaboration on Malawi’s economic initiatives.

Further engagements with other prominent African leaders will center on promoting investment opportunities in Malawi and deepening continental cooperation.

The theme for this year’s summit, “Building the Future on Decades of Resilience”, underscores Africa’s achievements over the past thirty years.

It also emphasizes the critical steps the continent must take to navigate an increasingly complex and evolving global landscape.

Afreximbank, a Pan-African multilateral financial institution, is tasked with financing, facilitating, and promoting both intra- and extra-African trade.

For more than three decades, the bank has developed innovative financial instruments to support structural transformation in Africa’s trade landscape.

Its mission includes accelerating industrialization and boosting intra-regional trade across the continent.

In Malawi, AFREXIM Bank has played a key role in supporting economic growth and industrial development.

Among its significant contributions is a landmark US$100 million Trade Finance Facilitation Facility agreement signed with the National Bank of Malawi (NBM).

This facility is designed to support trade transactions in crucial sectors such as manufacturing, energy, and agriculture, reinforcing Malawi’s efforts to build a robust and diversified economy.

Chilungo promises practical solutions to Malawi’s challenges

0

By Chisomo Phiri

An independent presidential candidate in the upcoming September 16 general elections, Adil James Chilungo, has outlined his development agenda for Malawi, focusing on key issues such as hunger, productivity, and economic empowerment.

Speaking at a press briefing he organized on Tuesday at Grace Bandawe Conference Centre in Blantyre,Chilungo emphasized the need for practical solutions to address the country’s challenges.

He said his experience as a private person has given him a unique perspective on development issues.

Adil James Chilungo,



Chilungo said currently,he has introduced initiatives such as a fertilizer that is affordable and effective for crops, which has been approved by the government and has shown promising results.

The independent presidential hopeful also highlighted the need for a financial system that serves the people, rather than just enriching the rich.

He cited examples of countries that have implemented successful financial systems that prioritize the needs of the poor.

Chilungo also emphasized that hunger is a major priority for Malawi, and that addressing it requires a focus on productivity and enabling people to produce effectively and efficiently.

He stressed the importance of identifying and understanding the needs of society, and prioritizing national development accordingly.

Chilungo expressed hope that his approach, which combines practical experience with a deep understanding of the country’s needs, sets him apart from other candidates.

Chilungo collected his nomination papers for the upcoming polls after paying the required K10 million to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).

In previous elections, independent presidential candidates have been performing badly as none has received even a quarter of the cast votes.

As of Tuesday June 24,2025, 14 candidates had collected presidential nomination papers for the upcoming elections, among them four being independent candidates.

The candidates are Chilungo, Milward Tobias (Independent), President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera (Malawi Congress Party), Kondwani Nankhumwa (People’s Development Party), Akwame Bandawe (Anyamata, Atsikana, Azimayi), former president Joyce Banda (People’s Party) and Atupele Muluzi  (United Democratic Front).

Others are Reverend Hardwick Kaliya (Independent), former president Peter Mutharika (Democratic Progressive Party), Frank Mwenifumbo (National Development Party), Dalitso Kabambe (UTM Party), Kamuzu Chibambo (People’s Transformation Party), Smart Swira (Independent) and David Mbewe (Liberation for Economic Freedom).

We Just want to work”: The struggle of informal traders in Malawi

0



By Thabo Buthelezi

In the bustling streets of Blantyre, Malawi’s commercial hub, informal traders form the backbone of the local economy. Selling everything from fruits to second-hand clothes, these traders, many of them women, are not just vendors. They are breadwinners, caregivers and entrepreneurs. Yet despite their vital role, they face daily harassment, abuse and economic hardship at the hands of those meant to protect them.

Informal trading is deeply rooted in the Malawian economy, with over 80% of the population relying on the sector. Colonial-era vagrancy laws continue to influence the policing of informal traders and the legal framework that often criminalises poverty.



Local by-laws prohibit street vending and restrict informal trading to designated marketplaces, which are usually overcrowded, lack proper infrastructure and are unaffordable for the average informal trader. Those who cannot afford to be at designated marketplaces risk being arrested, paying fines and having their goods confiscated, with no hope of getting their items back.

Many traders buy the goods they sell on credit. When these are confiscated by the police or the city council rangers, it is not just a business loss. It’s a family crisis. Children are pulled out of school, meals are skipped, and debts pile up. The economic impact is devastating. The fines these street vendors pay often exceed what they earn weekly.

Female informal traders frequently face sexual assault, violence, and rape at the hands of law enforcement. Many are too afraid to report these abuses to the very institutions responsible for them, leaving them with no legal recourse.

Additionally, some female traders are approached for sexual favours to avoid arrest, to gain release from detention, or to prevent their goods from being confiscated.

Many informal traders face barriers to accessing justice. Many are unaware of their rights and the laws that protect them, and even those who are informed struggle to access justice due to the abuse and arbitrary arrests they face from law enforcement.

Even when they attempt to report abuse or other crimes, they are often dismissed or further victimised. The psychological effects on many of these traders often include fear, hopelessness and the loss of dignity.

Despite the challenges, informal traders are not without hope. They call for designated vending streets, affordable market spaces and collective organisation. They want to be educated on their rights, but more importantly, to have those rights respected.

The path forward must be holistic, combining legal education, economic support, infrastructure development, and systemic reform. Only then can Malawi’s informal traders move from surviving to thriving.

Thabo Buthelezi is a Social Justice Researcher at the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC)

Vice President Dr. Michael Usi Travels to Mozambique for Independence Celebrations

0

By Wadza Botomani

Vice President Dr. Michael Usi has left for Mozambique to attend the 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations of the Republic of Mozambique. The event will take place in Maputo on Wednesday, 25th June 2025. 

The Vice President’s participation underscores the strong bilateral relations between Malawi and Mozambique, highlighting the two nations’ longstanding friendship and cooperation. His presence at the celebrations reflects Malawi’s commitment to fostering regional solidarity.

Usi

 

Dr. Usi is scheduled to return to Malawi on Thursday, 26th June 2025, arriving at Kamuzu International Airport at 15:00 hours. His delegation includes senior government officials, further emphasizing the importance of the event. 

The anniversary marks a significant milestone for Mozambique, commemorating five decades of sovereignty since gaining independence from Portugal in 1975. Malawi’s representation at the event reinforces the shared history and mutual support between the neighboring countries.