The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) has announced that it has responded to 90% of disasters reported by various councils in Malawi this year.
The update was shared by DoDMA’s Principal Disaster Response Officer, Ephod Kachigwada, during a relief item distribution in Mulanje’s Muloza area, which was affected by Tropical Cyclone Jude on Friday.
The relief efforts were made possible through a K60 million donation from the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA), benefiting approximately 700 people under Traditional Authority (TA) Njema in Mulanje.
Kachigwada highlighted DoDMA’s success in reaching many families impacted by disasters, including Tropical Cyclone Jude.
The MRA’s donation was part of their corporate social responsibility initiative, aimed at supporting vulnerable communities.
Wilma Chalulu, Acting Head of Corporate Affairs at MRA, emphasized the organization’s commitment to giving back to the community.
In a shocking turn of events, seven Malawians accused of using fake letters to obtain service passports have been released from custody after top government and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) officials intervened.
The suspects, who were arrested by the Department of Immigration in Lilongwe on Thursday, allegedly used fake letters from the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Agriculture to support their passport applications.
The suspects, identified as Mr. Madalitso Kapangazina, Mrs. Maria Chimana, Ms. Sarah Nanthoka, Mr. Stain Ethics Mabere, Chinsisi Richard Phiri, Thandi Aresandra Phiri, and Zaithwa Boston Kamanga, claimed to be directors in the respective ministries. They intended to travel to the United States for work.
After spending a night in police custody, the suspects were slated to appear in court.
However, immigration officials received calls from influential government and MCP officials, leading to their release.
Sources suggest that a party loyalist may have masterminded the scandal.
This incident raises concerns about corruption and undue influence in Malawi’s immigration system.
The Department of Immigration has faced operational issues and allegations of corruption in recent months.
In 2023, the country was placed on a US watchlist over issuance of diplomatic passports to shady individuals, including a Nigerian businessman convicted of fraud.
The development has sparked questions about the integrity of Malawi’s passport system and the role of influential individuals in undermining the law.
Dalitso Kabambe, leader of the UTM party, has assured the people of Malawi that his party is the solution to the many challenges currently facing the nation.
He expressed these sentiments during whistle-stop rallies held at Nandumbo and Mbera grounds in Balaka district.
Kabambe
According to Kabambe, he and his team possess the technical expertise necessary to revive the country’s ailing economy, which he claims has been derailed by the failures of the current leadership.
He pledged to create numerous employment opportunities, especially targeting the youth, whom he said are the most affected by the ongoing economic turmoil.
Kabambe further explained that one of the key initiatives of a UTM government would be the reopening of the Kangankunde mine in the same district, a move he believes will generate a significant number of jobs.
He also highlighted plans to prioritize value addition to local raw materials by establishing factories, including a textile industry that will process cotton grown in the area into clothing and other finished products.
Kabambe stated that his administration would ensure such industrial efforts improve the quality of local goods, increase their value, and stimulate broader economic development.
The Solidarity Alliance Party (SAP) has voiced strong support for the Smartmatic electronic voting system, calling on Malawians to adopt modern electoral technologies as a way of protecting the integrity of the country’s democracy.
In a statement released on Thursday and signed by SAP President Dr. Victor Madhlopa, the party emphasized the need to move away from outdated manual voting systems that are susceptible to manipulation.
SAP President Dr. Victor Madhlopa
The party referenced the controversial 2019 elections, commonly referred to as the “Tippex elections,” as a national embarrassment and a clear indication of the dangers of relying on vulnerable, manual processes.
Dr. Madhlopa stressed that such electoral irregularities must never be allowed to repeat themselves in Malawi’s democratic journey.
“We cannot continue to rely on outdated manual systems that are vulnerable to tampering,” the statement declared. “Smartmatic offers a more transparent and tamper-proof process, helping to protect the true will of the people.”
The party expressed disappointment over the recent wave of objections against Smartmatic, describing them as both “puzzling and disappointing,” particularly given the smooth and uncontested use of the system during the voter registration exercise.
SAP argued that the criticism of the system appears politically motivated and lacks any substantial evidence of malfunction or bias.
The party urged all political stakeholders to move with the times by training and deploying technologically literate monitors who can safeguard the voting process at every stage.
According to SAP, defending democracy in the 2025 elections requires not only commitment to transparency but also investment in modern tools and digital competence.
“This is not the 19th century. Let’s not fear progress — let’s fear going back to electoral fraud,” the party concluded, calling for a collective effort to ensure free, fair, and credible elections.
The statement has added momentum to the ongoing national debate about the future of electoral systems in Malawi, especially as the country gears up for the 2025 general elections.
The Malawi Stock Exchange (MSE) listed commercial bank, NBS Bank has renewed its technical assistance partnership with Netherlands based Rabobank, extending the collaboration until June 2026.
The agreement, signed recently during Rabo Partnership’s 35th Anniversary Conference in the Netherlands, marks a significant milestone in the long-standing relationship between the two institutions, which began informally in 2016 and was formalised in 2018.
Speaking during the signing event in the Netherlands, NBS Bank Chief Executive Officer, Temwani Simwaka, disclosed that the new phase of the partnership focuses on four strategic areas namely food and agriculture finance, energy transition, data management, and credit process optimisation.
Simwaka expressed that the event highlights how international collaboration is playing a crucial role in strengthening rural finance and financial inclusion in emerging markets.
“We are proud to continue this journey with Rabo Bank, their technical expertise and strategic support have played a vital role in NBS Bank’s transformation over the past few years—from revamping our IT infrastructure and Agency Banking to launching tailored Agri-financing and SME solutions.”
“The partnership has already delivered a notable impact in Malawi. Since its inception, NBS Bank has transitioned from near insolvency to becoming one of the country’s most profitable and innovative financial institutions,” said Simwaka.
She said some of the key achievements include the development of an Agribusiness Department, the rollout of Agency Banking to reach underserved rural areas, and the piloting of digital payment solutions for tea and macadamia estate farmers to replace risky cash transactions.
She further highlighted that with the renewed agreement, NBS Bank aims to accelerate digitisation, improve data governance, and empower its leadership through executive mentorship and knowledge-sharing programs.
Rabobank Partnerships CEO David Gerbrands also highlighted that the collaboration signals the Bank’s growing confidence and commitment to investing in world-class expertise to drive its growth agenda.
“Together, we are not just improving banking systems—we are building a more inclusive and resilient financial ecosystem in Malawi.”
“As Rabo Partnerships and NBS Bank plc enter this new chapter, they remain focused on their shared mission: to build a financially inclusive Malawi, where smallholder farmers, SMEs, and communities can thrive through access to tailored, innovative, and sustainable financial solutions,” said Gerbrands.
