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Scotland FC set to make big changes as Muyaba’s future hangs in the balance

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By Rahim Abdul

Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League champions Scotland FC are reportedly preparing for a major squad overhaul at the end of the current season, with Malawi international Khuda Muyaba among the players who could be shown the exit door.

According to sources close to the club, management is dissatisfied with the team’s overall attacking output despite clinching the championship. While Muyaba’s experience and professionalism have been praised, insiders say his limited goal return just one strike against Bikita United has raised questions about his long-term role in the team’s plans.

Muyaba



The former Silver Strikers and Moyale Barracks forward joined Scotland FC earlier this year from Venda Academy in South Africa on a two-year deal.

However, he has spent most of the season coming off the bench, a situation that reportedly frustrated both the player and supporters who expected more firepower from the Malawian hitman.

Sources within the club have hinted that the technical panel, led by coach Tinashe Mhere, is planning to release at least 11 players as part of efforts to rebuild a more competitive and youthful squad ahead of next season’s CAF Champions League campaign. Muyaba’s name is said to be on that list.

While there has been no official communication from the club, those familiar with the situation say Scotland FC is eyeing new attacking options from within Zimbabwe and abroad to strengthen their frontline.

Meanwhile, football analysts Ibrahim Phiri said in Malawi believe Muyaba’s potential exit could open doors for him to explore other opportunities across the region with a possible return to the TNM Super League or another move within Southern Africa.

Khuda Muyaba, 31, remains one of Malawi’s most recognized forwards, having previously finished as TNM Super League top scorer and represented the Flames in various international competitions.

Scotland FC set to make big changes as Muyaba’s future hangs in the balance

0



By Rahim Abdul

Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League champions Scotland FC are reportedly preparing for a major squad overhaul at the end of the current season, with Malawi international Khuda Muyaba among the players who could be shown the exit door.

According to sources close to the club, management is dissatisfied with the team’s overall attacking output despite clinching the championship. While Muyaba’s experience and professionalism have been praised, insiders say his limited goal return just one strike against Bikita United has raised questions about his long-term role in the team’s plans.

Muyaba



The former Silver Strikers and Moyale Barracks forward joined Scotland FC earlier this year from Venda Academy in South Africa on a two-year deal.

However, he has spent most of the season coming off the bench, a situation that reportedly frustrated both the player and supporters who expected more firepower from the Malawian hitman.

Sources within the club have hinted that the technical panel, led by coach Tinashe Mhere, is planning to release at least 11 players as part of efforts to rebuild a more competitive and youthful squad ahead of next season’s CAF Champions League campaign. Muyaba’s name is said to be on that list.

While there has been no official communication from the club, those familiar with the situation say Scotland FC is eyeing new attacking options from within Zimbabwe and abroad to strengthen their frontline.

Meanwhile, football analysts Ibrahim Phiri said in Malawi believe Muyaba’s potential exit could open doors for him to explore other opportunities across the region with a possible return to the TNM Super League or another move within Southern Africa.

Khuda Muyaba, 31, remains one of Malawi’s most recognized forwards, having previously finished as TNM Super League top scorer and represented the Flames in various international competitions.

World Bank approves $150 million GESD 2.0 project for all urban city councils in Malawi

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By Burnett Munthali

The World Bank has approved a proposal by the Malawi Government to include all urban city councils among the beneficiaries of the Bank-funded Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) 2.0 project, valued at $150 million, equivalent to approximately K260 billion.

Minister of Local Government, Ben Phiri, confirmed the development in an interview with Zodiak Online, describing it as a major step forward in improving urban governance and development.

Ben Phiri



He explained that the approval follows a series of engagements and a high-level meeting he held with World Bank officials on Tuesday, where Malawi’s proposal received positive consideration.

The GESD 2.0 project is designed as a performance-based initiative, rewarding councils that demonstrate excellence in governance, service delivery, and financial management.

According to Phiri, the inclusion of all eight urban city councils means that cities such as Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mzuzu, and Zomba, among others, are now eligible to receive funding based on their performance outcomes.

He emphasized that this development marks a significant expansion of the project, which previously focused mainly on rural councils under GESD 1.0.

Phiri added that the grants will help city councils strengthen their administrative capacity, enhance accountability, and accelerate the delivery of key public services to urban residents.

He further noted that the government remains committed to ensuring that local councils operate efficiently and transparently to justify continued World Bank support.

Executive Director for the Malawi Local Government Association (MALGA), Hadrod Mkandawire, welcomed the inclusion of urban councils but urged them to address operational inefficiencies before accessing the funds.

Mkandawire said improving institutional performance and service delivery systems at council level will help ensure that the World Bank’s resources are used effectively and sustainably.

He also emphasized that the funding presents an opportunity for councils to align their development strategies with the government’s decentralization and urban transformation agenda.

The GESD 2.0 project, one of Malawi’s largest local governance initiatives, is expected to drive improved infrastructure, social services, and accountability mechanisms across both rural and urban areas.

As Malawi’s urban population continues to grow, the approval is being viewed as a timely intervention to strengthen local government institutions and promote equitable service delivery nationwide.

A Nation in the Dark,Thirst — The Urgent Need for Action on Malawi’s Fuel, Power, and Water Crisis




Malawians are once again bearing the heavy burden of a country caught in the grip of multiple crises such as crippling fuel shortages, erratic electricity supply, and worsening water scarcity.

These are not merely inconveniences,they are indicators of deeper systemic failures that continue to erode public confidence and choke national productivity.

For weeks now, long queues at fuel stations have become a common sight across the country.Businesses are stalling, transport costs are soaring, and livelihoods are being disrupted. The scarcity of fuel is not only paralyzing mobility but also stifling economic activity at every level from small-scale traders to industrial operations. It is unacceptable that a nation so dependent on imports continues to rely on fragile foreign currency reserves without sustainable contingency plans for fuel procurement and storage.



Compounding the crisis is the unreliable electricity supply. Frequent power outages have rendered industries idle, frustrated students and health workers, and exposed our collective vulnerability. The failure to invest adequately in energy diversification particularly renewable sources like solar and hydro innovations has left the Malawi Electricity Supply Corporation (ESCOM) struggling to meet growing demand.

Equally alarming is the deepening water crisis. In many parts of Malawi, taps have run dry for days, forcing residents to depend on unsafe water sources. The scarcity of clean water poses serious health risks and undermines efforts toward hygiene and sanitation, especially in urban and peri-urban areas.

These three crises, fuel, electricity, and water are interconnected. They are the arteries of any modern economy, and when they fail, everything else bleeds. The government must therefore respond with urgency, transparency, and long-term planning. We need deliberate investments in energy infrastructure, sustainable water management systems, and prudent foreign exchange management to ensure stability in essential supplies.

Malawians are patient, but their patience is wearing thin. Leadership means anticipating crises before they explode and taking responsibility when they do.

It is time for policymakers to stop issuing excuses and start delivering solutions that restore normalcy, dignity, and hope to a nation too often left in the dark  and now, too often left without water.

South African Court declares Operation Dudula’s anti-foreigner actions unlawful



By Burnett Munthali

Foreign nationals living in South Africa, including thousands of Malawians, have welcomed a landmark High Court ruling declaring the actions of the anti-immigrant group Operation Dudula as unlawful and xenophobic.

The judgment brings relief to many foreign nationals who have faced harassment, intimidation, and denial of basic services such as healthcare and education from the vigilante movement.

Operation Dudula, which emerged in South Africa’s townships in recent years, has been known for targeting foreign nationals under the pretext of fighting illegal immigration and unemployment.



Members of the movement had reportedly staged demonstrations and forcibly prevented foreigners from receiving medical care in public hospitals and enrolling their children in schools.

The South African High Court, in its ruling, stated that such actions violated the constitutional rights of all persons residing within the country’s borders, regardless of nationality or immigration status.

The court emphasized that access to healthcare and education are fundamental human rights protected under South Africa’s Constitution and international human rights law.

It further noted that Operation Dudula’s conduct not only undermined the rule of law but also encouraged xenophobic violence and division among communities.

The ruling has been hailed by human rights organizations and regional observers as a crucial step toward restoring dignity and equality for foreign nationals living in South Africa.

Malawians residing in the country have expressed relief, describing the judgment as a “victory for justice and humanity.”

Several immigrant associations have also called on the South African government to ensure that the court’s ruling is enforced and that perpetrators of xenophobic attacks are held accountable.

Legal experts have described the decision as a reaffirmation of South Africa’s constitutional values, which prioritize non-discrimination, inclusivity, and human dignity for all.

The judgment also serves as a warning against self-appointed groups that take the law into their own hands in the name of patriotism or economic frustration.

Operation Dudula has faced growing criticism from both within South Africa and across the region, with many accusing it of fueling social tension and harming the country’s international reputation.

Following the ruling, civil society groups have urged South African authorities to step up efforts to combat xenophobia and promote peaceful coexistence among citizens and foreign nationals.

For many Malawians and other migrants who contribute to South Africa’s economy, the court’s decision represents not just a legal victory, but a powerful message that equality and justice must prevail over hate and discrimination.