Mighty Mukuru Wanderers President and Board Chairperson Dr. Thomson Mpinganjira has expressed his concerns about the state of football in the country, citing a lack of depth in coaches and players.
The concerns follow Wanderers’ 1-0 loss to Silver Strikers on Saturday at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, who secured the 2024 TNM Super League title.
Said Mpinganjira:”I have come to realize that Malawi faces a significant challenge in terms of coach and player development.
“This lack of depth is a major hindrance to the growth of our football.As long as we fail to address this issue, our football will continue to stagnate and fail to compete at the continental level.”
Mpinganjira
He emphasized that the current state of football in the country is unacceptable.
“I do not see any players or coaches who can make a meaningful impact. Our teams may win against each other locally, but when it comes to competing against other African teams, we fall short.This is also true for our national team,” he said.
The Nomads, who have won 16, drawn six and lost six, scoring 54 goals and conceded 17 to register a goal difference of 37, will now concentrate on the second position.
They are remaining with fixtures against Creck Sporting Club on December 4 before wrapping up the season against Moyale Barracks on December 7.
Malawi Leader President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, on Sunday hosted a high level Chinese delegation.
The high profile meeting took place at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe during an audience, with a delegation from the Communist Party of China (CPC) of Hunan Province, led by Secretary of the Hunan Provincial Committee, Hon. Shen Xiaoming, at Kamuzu Palace.
During the meeting with the delegation, President Chakwera commended the Chinese Government for various assistance being rendered to the Malawi government.
During the meeting the Chinese Government took the opportunity to present the Malawi government with 500 Sanyi “Light Up Africa” integrated, solar panel machines worth USD200 000 each, handed over by Mr. Xiang Wenbo, Chairman of the Board of Sanyi Group.
In June 2023 the group also donated a forklift worth USD150 000 to the Malawi government, when president Chakwera visited the City of Changsha, China.
During the symbolic donation of one of these solar panels, President Chakwera thanked the Chinese government through his counterpart, President Xi Xinping for demonstrating such commitment to Malawi and cordial relations between the two countries.
During the meeting , Chakwera called on the Chinese government to invest in the country’s Agriculture, Tourism and Mining (ATM), sectors citing the energy sector as an enabler of the country’s ATM industrialization agenda.
The discussions focused on charting a course that will strengthen the already fruitful diplomatic ties between China and Malawi, and further pave way for trade through “standardization cooperation” and implementing results of the “Beijing Summit”.
President Chakwera asserted that the visit is a continuation of dialogue between the Chinese government and Malawi government, following bilateral talks with President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in South Africa; discussions on China during the Forum on Africa- China Cooperation (FOCAC), in September this year; as well as his visit to China during the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in June 2023 – testament to the power of diplomatic relations.
Hon Xiaoming equally hailed the cooperation between the two countries thus far and commended Malawi for being “diligent, kind and warm…”, adding that the purpose of the committee’s visit to Malawi was therefore not just to leverage bilateral relations, but also to implement ten partnership actions drawn from the Beijing Summit, that will facilitate investment in Malawi’s key sectors, including mining.
Hon Xiaoming further added that his delegation includes business entities that are poised to sign standardization cooperation agreements with the Malawi Government over the course of their visit to the country.
The standardization cooperation aims to harmonize quality in the production of both Chinese and Malawian products, to ensure they meet the standards for both countries, to enable smooth trade.
In this respect the CPC – Hunan Committee, will also be engaging the Malawi Bureau of Standards during their visit to Malawi.
The move is expected to significantly improve trade flows between China and Malawi, that are sometimes hampered by quality of goods from both parties.
He stressed that the trade that Malawi hopes for, can only be achieved through industrialization, however it requires an effective energy sector, and as such the donation is a welcome development, that will aid the country’s efforts to achieve its 2063 goals.
President Chakwera has further committed to ensuring that the standardization cooperation agreements are implemented.
Also present during the discussions was Mr. Wang Hao, Charge D’affaires of the Chinese Embassy; Mr. Xu Zhengxian, Director of the Office of Foreign Affairs Commission of CPC Hunan Provincial Committee among others.
The Malawi government was represented by Min of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Nancy Tembo; Min of Energy, Hon. Ibrahim Matola; Min of Trade, Hon. Sosten Gwengwe; Min of Local Government, Hon Richard Chimwendo Banda and Malawi’s Ambassador to China, Mr Allan Chintedza among other government officials.
Babatunde Adepoju scored a goal in each half to give FCB Nyasa Big Bullets victory over relegation threatened FOMO FC at Mulanje Park Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Nigerian put Bullets ahead in the 15th minute after receiving a cross from Yamikani Mologeni and he scored the second in the 60th minute from the penalty spot.
Bullets are third on the log table with 49 points while FOMO remain 14th with 25 points after playing 28 games.
In another TNM Super League match, Premier Bet Dedza Dynamos and Mzuzu City Hammers played out to a goalless draw in a match played at Dedza Stadium.
Hammers are on position four on the log table with 45 points from 29 games while Dedza are perched on 11th position with 36 points from the same number of games.
In Karonga, Karonga United beat Bangwe All Stars 2-nil with goals coming from Saulos Moyo and Ellie Kayombo in the 55th and 60th minute respectively.
Karonga are on position 6 on the log table with 41 points while Bangwe remain 13th with 27 points from 29 games.
In a lively whistle-stop tour at Area 23 Market in Lilongwe, President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera took time to engage with traders and community members, highlighting his commitment to addressing the needs of the people and ensuring economic progress at the grassroots level.
The visit, which saw a large turnout from market vendors and local residents, allowed the President to listen to the challenges facing the traders, including issues related to market access, taxation, and economic empowerment. During the stop, President Chakwera emphasized the government’s ongoing efforts to create a conducive environment for small businesses to thrive.
Chakwera
As he toured the market, the President interacted with vendors, offering words of encouragement and solidarity, as well as discussing ways to improve local economies through increased support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). His presence in the market was seen as an opportunity to directly hear from the people and reassure them of his administration’s commitment to improving the livelihoods of Malawians.
The whistle-stop also served as a platform for President Chakwera to reiterate his administration’s priorities, including job creation, infrastructure development, and enhancing access to essential services. The President urged the traders to stay resilient and assured them that the government is working tirelessly to address the concerns raised by the business community.
The interaction was marked by lively exchanges between the President and the local traders, with many expressing their hopes for better conditions and greater support for their businesses. President Chakwera’s visit to Area 23 Market highlighted the importance of fostering communication between the government and the people, particularly those in informal sectors that are vital to Malawi’s economy.
As the whistle-stop tour concluded, President Chakwera expressed his appreciation for the warm reception and promised to continue working towards policies that promote economic growth, fair opportunities, and empowerment for all citizens, particularly small-scale traders who are the backbone of Malawi’s economy.
Prominent lawyer Alexius Kamangila has sparked public debate with his recent Facebook post, where he questioned the intentions of Justice Minister Titus Mvalo, Attorney General Thabo Chakaka-Nyirenda, and Solicitor General Allison Mbangombe over what he perceives as efforts to undermine accountability within the judiciary.
Kamangila’s post suggests that the Ministry of Justice is attempting to “legalize non-accountability of judges” through proposed Judicial Service Commission (JSC) Bills. He urged Malawians to take a stand against this, proposing a potential demonstration next week at the Ministry of Justice.
Kamangila
> “Maybe as citizens, next week WEDNESDAY, we need to visit the Ministry of Justice – Malawi,” he wrote.
Kamangila has called on citizens to express their interest in joining the demonstration, emphasizing the critical role of the JSC Bills in fighting corruption within the judiciary.
> “This is a serious call… The feedback that comes here will determine the next steps we will take,” he stated, urging Malawians to engage in the discussion through his post’s commentary section.
He also addressed those who might struggle to understand the gravity of the situation, highlighting that the proposed JSC Bills are pivotal to ensuring accountability in Malawi’s justice system.
The post has generated a wave of reactions, with some expressing frustration over perceived inefficiencies and corruption in the judiciary, while others pledged their support for Kamangila’s proposed action.
The Ministry of Justice has yet to respond to these allegations or the growing public outcry.
Kamangila’s concerns revolve around fears that the proposed JSC Bills could weaken oversight mechanisms within the judiciary, potentially enabling corruption and eroding public trust in the justice system.
As Malawians grapple with the implications of these developments, the lawyer’s call to action signals a growing demand for transparency and accountability from the country’s institutions.
Whether or not this proposed demonstration materializes, Kamangila’s bold stance has reignited national conversations about judicial reform and the fight against corruption in Malawi.
