Malawi’s film industry has taken a significant step forward with the premiere of “Gunless Soldier”, a movie that delves into the complexities of justice, accountability, and the consequences of taking the law into one’s own hands.
The premiere, held at the Golden Peacock Hotel in Lilongwe on Friday night March 28,2025.
Directed by the talented Joyce Chavula, the film tells the story of Onani, a young girl driven by vengeance after her mother’s brutal murder.
As Onani navigates her journey, she encounters a self-proclaimed community commander, only to face further loss and hardship.
Despite the challenges, Onani emerges as a heroine and a beacon of hope in her community.
The film’s cast, including Ashukile Mwakisulu, Mphatso Chikuni, Kelvin Ngoma, Edwin Chonde, and Lilian Sangano, bring to life the complexities of the human experience.
According to Director Chavula, “The Gunless Soldier” is inspired by real-life events and aims to spark critical conversations about the importance of upholding the rule of law and the dangers of vigilantism.
As “Gunless Soldier” hits the screens, it is expected to resonate with audiences, inspiring reflection and dialogue about the complexities of justice and accountability.
Parliament has approved a new law removing the 16.5% Value Added Tax (VAT) on bread in an effort to make it more affordable for Malawians.
The decision comes as a relief to many consumers who have been struggling with the high cost of essential goods.
Minister of Finance Simplex Chithyola Banda, who presented the proposal, emphasized that the tax removal aims to ease the financial burden on consumers by lowering bread prices in the market.
He explained that bread is a staple food for many Malawians, and the government recognizes the need to ensure its affordability.
The move comes at a time when Malawians are still complaining about the rising cost of living.
With inflation affecting the prices of basic commodities, many households have been finding it difficult to afford daily necessities.
By removing VAT on bread, the government hopes to provide some relief to struggling families.
Bread prices are expected to decrease following the implementation of the tax exemption.
Retailers and bakeries are anticipated to adjust their pricing to reflect the tax removal, making bread more accessible to consumers.
However, some economic analysts have warned that market forces, such as rising production costs and supply chain challenges, may still impact final retail prices.
Despite these concerns, the government is confident that this move will have a positive impact on household expenditures.
Many Malawians have welcomed the decision, viewing it as a step in the right direction to alleviate economic hardships.
Consumer rights groups have also praised the policy, urging the government to consider similar measures for other essential food items.
The approval of this law marks an important policy shift aimed at addressing the economic struggles of ordinary Malawians.
Going forward, stakeholders will be monitoring the market to ensure that the benefits of the tax removal reach consumers as intended.
The government has assured the public that it remains committed to implementing policies that improve the cost of living for all Malawians.
With the VAT removal now in place, the focus will be on ensuring effective enforcement and transparency in the pricing of bread across the country.
Dowa District Council’s Water Development Officer Fanny Muula, has appreciated the WASH interventions Orant Charities Africa (OCA) is implementing in Chakhaza B as supporting the council towards serving the communities of the district with reliable, safe and portable water in the district.
Muula said for Orant Charities Africa to come up with a solar powered water system is a plus to the council and this is adding up to the District Sanitation Implementation Plan (DSIP) the council is doing to make sure that people in the rural areas are accessing safe water.
Fanny Muula-OCA is doing a commendable job in the district.
Speaking during OCA presentation of WASH program progress report 2024-2025 to the District Coordinating Team (DCT), Muula said Orant Charities Africa WASH interventions have come at an opportune time when the council is moving away from boreholes to piped water system in the rural areas.
Muula encouraged Orant Charities Africa and other partners implementing similar WASH interventions in the district to incorporate their work with all necessary stakeholders when they are doing their work so that all the rural communities are served equally with portable and safe water.
“As a council, we are appreciating OCA WASH interventions in Chakhaza B and we encourage them to work with the necessary stakeholders for the project to benefit all the communities in the district,” she said.
Orant Charities Africa’s WASH Programs Manager Mayamiko Mwenda, said the WASH program started in 2016 and is currently being implemented in the area of Traditional Authority Chkhazaza B around Kasese Health Centre catchment in the district.
Mwenda said the program is being implemented with a goal of reducing morbidity and mortality of rural and vulnerable communities through improved access to water supply, sanitation facilities and good hygiene practices.
He said the program implementation progress for 2024-2025 included borehole drilling and installation of Afridev pumps, construction of solar powered piped water systems, major water point repairs and preventive maintenances, among others.
The Manager said the program has maintained 96% borehole functionality, supplied portable water to over 3,456 people from the Kasese catchment and improved sanitation facilities to 1000 students through school latrine construction.
He said the program supported the launch of Dowa WASH District Implementation Plan (DSIP), supplied 50 Kilograms of granular chlorine to Kasese Health facility for cholera prevention and conducting a joint field visit with relevant officers and stakeholders.
“Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) assist the program in the promotion of good WASH practices in Kasese catchment with Area Mechanics (AM) assisting in repairing and maintenance of hand pumps,” said Mwenda.
However, Mwenda said the program met some challenges in the course of implementation such as the presence of salty aquifers in some areas, fuel scarcity, low adoption of preventive maintenance and high inflation rates of prices of goods and services in 2024.
Ekhaya FC has made a significant breakthrough in its efforts to establish itself as a force to be reckoned with in Malawi’s football scene.
The club has announced a lucrative sponsorship agreement with Stevensons Paint, one of Malawi’s leading paint manufacturers.
The deal, valued at K60 million, was officially unveiled at a press conference held at the club’s headquarters in Blantyre.
As part of the agreement, Stevensons Paint will become Ekhaya FC’s official sleeve sponsor for the 2025 season.
The Stevensons logo will feature prominently on the sleeves of Ekhaya FC’s home and away kits throughout their debut season in the TNM Super League of Malawi.
This partnership is a significant boost to the club, which has been working tirelessly to establish itself as a competitive force in Malawi’s top-flight football league.
According to Ekhaya FC CEO, Thando Mhango, the inspiration for the partnership began last year when the team was playing in the Southern Region Premier League.
“In her remarks, Stevensons’ Managing Director, Beatrice Msindira, said, ‘We want to grow together with Ekhaya and our customers. We believe that football has the power to bring us together.'”
Mhango expressed his gratitude to Stevensons Paint for their support and urged the team’s supporters and fans to rally behind the club throughout the year.
Minister of Labour Peter Dimba has praised President Dr.Lazarus Chakwera for promoting vocational training and skills development among the youth within a short period of his leadership.
Dimba made the remarks during the 2025 National Technical, Entrepreneurial, and Vocational Education and Training (TEVET) Conference in Lilongwe.
He emphasized that the country cannot develop without skilled labor, which is crucial for economic growth.
Dimba (R) interact with Chakwera (C) and Tembo ( L)
The minister lamented that the Malawi 2063 blueprint highlights the urgent need to train the youth in various skills to drive national development.
He explained that since Chakwera assumed office in 2020, many young people have enrolled in technical colleges to acquire skills in various trades.
He said:”In 2020, there were about 2,500 students in technical colleges, but today, the number has increased to over 7,500, reflecting the growing interest in the TEVET sector.”
Dimba disclosed that beyond the TEVET sector, the number of young people enrolling in different universities has also risen significantly.
He added:”In 2020, about 30,000 students were admitted to public universities, but today, that figure has grown to 75,000.”
The minister further mentioned that the number of students applying for university loans has increased from 13,000 in the 2019-2020 academic year to over 30,000 currently.
He commended Chakwera for achieving these milestones within three years, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in the first two years of his administration.
In his address during the conference, President Chakwera urged Malawians to work harder, emphasizing that employment is a blessing for everyone.
He also warned against laziness and corruption, stating that those siphoning public funds would be held accountable as all loopholes had been sealed.
On his part, TEVET Board Chairperson Pyoka Tembo expressed satisfaction with the growing recognition of TEVET as a game-changer in the country’s economic transformation.
Tembo emphasized that people now understand that TEVET is not just for those who underperform academically but for everyone, as it plays a vital role in national development.
In her remarks, Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) Vice-Chancellor Address Malata stressed the need for vocational training to begin at an early childhood development stage to ensure smooth progression to higher levels.
Malata pointed out that as the world transitions to a digital economy, there is a need to adapt business approaches and maintain integrity in art and design industries.
She added that it is crucial to ensure that individuals with disabilities and special needs are not left behind in vocational training opportunities.
