The Institute of Marketing in Malawi has honored Malawi Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Anabell Mtalimanja with a Life Achiever Award for her leadership in successfully handling the 2025 General Elections. IMM President George Damson stated that this year’s elections were among the most tense, but noted that Justice Mtalimanja managed to maintain calm and control tempers with professionalism and integrity.
Other award recipients included Simply Black as Advertising Agency of the Year, NBS Bank for Internal Engagement Initiative of the Year and Customer Service Organisation of the Year, and the National Bank of Malawi which won multiple honors for Marketing Team of the Year, Brand Malawi Initiative of the Year, and CSR Initiative of the Year. Airtel Malawi was recognized for Outdoor Commercial of the Year, while BetWay was named People’s Brand of the Year.
Mtalimanja
Individual award winners included Eugene Chinkhandwe of FDH Bank as Best Sales Personality of the Year, Gyn Pasten of Simply Black as Creative Artist of the Year, and Sibusiso Nyasulu of NBS Bank as Customer Service Personality of the Year. Ibrahim Chapeyama of National Bank of Malawi was named Emerging Marketer of the Year, Akossa Hiwa of National Bank of Malawi was PR Personality of the Year, and Norah Chavula-Chirwa was Marketer of the Year.
Presidential Awards were also presented to Dumisani Ngulube, Isabel Kachinjika, Ramy Waheed, and Justice Anabell Mtalimanja.
A group of approximately 37 MPs from the Northern Region has voiced its surprise following the Democratic Progressive Party’s decision to nominate a candidate for First Deputy Speaker other than their endorsed choice, Mzimba North MP Catherine Mzumara. The DPP has instead put forward Victor Musowa, the MP for Mulanje Bale, for the position.
Speaking for the bloc, Karonga Central MP Frank Mwenifumbo stated that the DPP had previously committed to supporting a candidate from the North for the First Deputy Speaker role. Despite this unexpected development, Mwenifumbo confirmed the bloc’s continued support for Sameer Suleman for the powerful role of Speaker of the National Assembly.
Catherine Mzumara
Catherine Mzumara, who is also the UTM Party’s Vice President for the North, responded to the decision by declaring, “I will fight to the end.”
DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba confirmed the party’s official list of candidates, naming Sameer Suleman for Speaker, Victor Musowa for First Deputy Speaker, and Esther Jolobala for Second Deputy Speaker. Namalomba declined to comment on the concerns of the Northern Region bloc, stating he would only speak on the official party decision.
The election for the speakership positions is set for October 29, 2025.
Thousands of residents in Mzuzu warmly welcomed Second Vice President Enock Chihana on Saturday. During his first official visit to the city since his appointment, Chihana pledged that the government is placing the highest priority on the needs of Malawians, specifically food and fertiliser, as part of its efforts to stabilise the national economy.
Chihana, who is also President of the Alliance for Democracy, stated that the administration under President Arthur Peter Mutharika and its Blue Alliance partners is committed to resolving the economic challenges inherited from the previous government. He emphasised that ensuring immediate food security is the critical first step, announcing that maize sourced from Zambia is expected to arrive within two weeks to alleviate the current shortage.
Chihana
The Second Vice-President further assured the public that fertiliser shipments are already en route under President Mutharika’s guidance, underscoring that restoring agricultural productivity is fundamental to reviving the economy. He added that once the food and fertiliser situation is secured, the government will turn its full attention to stabilising the national fuel supply.
Trywell Kasawala, the Deputy National Campaign Director for the Blue Alliance, echoed these sentiments, urging Malawians to remain hopeful as the administration executes a coordinated plan to stabilise the supply of essential commodities.
Blue Eagles produced a composed and disciplined performance to overturn an early deficit and claim a 2-1 victory over Ekhaya FC in TNM Super League encounter played on Saturday afternoon at Kamuzu stadium in Blantyre.
Ekhaya FC made a promising start, taking control of the game in the opening minutes. Emmanuel Saviel appeared to have opened the scoring but his effort was ruled out for offside. Moments later, the hosts found their breakthrough when James Lumbe capitalized on a defensive lapse from Bannet Konyo, slotting home from close range to put Ekhaya ahead in the fifth minute.
The early goal appeared to inspire Ekhaya, who displayed confident and fluid passing in midfield through Stanley Billiat and Moses Banda.
However, despite their dominance, they failed to capitalize on several opportunities to extend their lead. Blue Eagles gradually grew into the game and began to threaten the hosts’ backline with persistent attacking moves.
Their pressure was finally rewarded in the 39th minute when Tonic Viyuyi rose above the Ekhaya defense to head home a well-delivered cross from Laurent Banda, restoring parity before the break.
The equalizer shifted momentum in favor of the visitors and Ekhaya’s afternoon took a further blow when goal scorer Lumbe was forced off with an injury just before halftime.
The second half began at a frantic pace with Ekhaya earning a penalty in the 48th minute after Ganizani James was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box.
However, Emmanuel Saviel failed to convert as Blue Eagles goalkeeper Precious Masamba guessed correctly to make a crucial save.
That miss proved costly. In the 56th minute, Micium Mhone completed the turnaround for Blue Eagles, expertly finishing from a Trouble Banda assist to make it 2-1. From that point on, the visitors managed the game well, maintaining defensive organization while continuing to pose a threat on the counterattack.
Ekhaya made several substitutions in an effort to chase the game, introducing Blessings Malinda, Joseph Saiwa, and Clever Chikwata but they struggled to break down a resilient Blue Eagles defense marshalled by captain Ganizani James.
Despite a few half-chances from Saviel and Kesten Simbi late in the match, the hosts could not find an equalizer.
Blue Eagles held firm in the closing stages to secure an important three points with Mhone who scored the decisive goal and delivered a superb all-round performance named Player of the Match.
Speaking after the game, Ekhaya coach Enos Chatama lamented his side’s lack of focus and composure.
“We lost concentration after scoring early. The players thought the match was already won and we became too casual. We also missed a crucial penalty that could have changed the momentum. Our defending was poor and communication was lacking. We must learn to manage games better and maintain discipline throughout.”
Blue Eagles coach Deckreck Sakakuona praised his players for their resilience and fighting spirit.
“The boys showed great character today. After conceding early, they didn’t panic they stuck to the game plan, kept possession and took their chances. We have been working to regain confidence after a few tough results and this win is a big step forward. We’ll continue to build from here and aim for a strong finish to the season.”
Hon. Esther Jolobala, Member of Parliament for Machinga East Constituency, has officially announced her intention to contest for the position of Second Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.
Jolobala, who represents the United Democratic Front (UDF), made the declaration ahead of the much-anticipated parliamentary leadership elections scheduled for October 30, 2025.
In her statement, she expressed strong confidence in her ability to foster unity and inclusiveness within the National Assembly, emphasizing that Parliament should serve as a platform for cooperation and development for all Malawians.
Esther Jolobala
“I believe Parliament must be a place that accommodates everyone, regardless of political affiliation,” Jolobala said. “My vision is to promote harmony and ensure that our legislative process benefits every citizen equally.”
The lawmaker, who has successfully retained her parliamentary seat in multiple elections, has built a reputation as one of Malawi’s most outspoken and principled voices in Parliament.
Since first being elected to Parliament in 2019, Jolobala has been a consistent advocate for transparency, women’s empowerment, and the protection of human rights.
She has also been recognized for her courage in holding the government accountable on issues affecting rural communities, particularly in areas of education, healthcare, and local development.
Political analysts say her decision to vie for the Second Deputy Speaker post could inject a new sense of balance and independence into the parliamentary leadership.
If elected, Jolobala would join the top tier of the National Assembly’s leadership, working alongside the Speaker and First Deputy Speaker to guide legislative business, maintain order, and ensure that debates remain fair and productive.
Her candidacy also carries symbolic importance for gender representation in Malawi’s political landscape.
Over the years, Jolobala has been a vocal supporter of increasing women’s participation in decision-making positions, both in Parliament and across public institutions.
Colleagues from both the government and opposition benches have acknowledged her integrity and commitment to national service, describing her as a “bridge-builder” who often seeks consensus on divisive issues.
The race for parliamentary leadership this year is expected to be one of the most competitive in recent memory, following the swearing-in of new Members of Parliament and the formation of President Peter Mutharika’s government.
The election of the Speaker and Deputy Speakers will be crucial in determining the tone of legislative operations in the next session, especially as the new administration embarks on ambitious reforms aimed at reviving the economy and restoring institutional trust.
Political observers have noted that the upcoming vote will not only test party alliances but also demonstrate how Parliament intends to balance oversight and cooperation with the executive branch.
For Jolobala, however, the focus remains on building a Parliament that reflects the aspirations of ordinary Malawians rather than political elites.
“I want to be part of a leadership team that ensures Parliament works efficiently, transparently, and in the best interest of the people,” she stated.
She further emphasized the need for effective communication and collaborative decision-making among legislators, noting that “true progress can only be achieved when we all pull in the same direction.”
Her campaign for the Second Deputy Speaker post has been welcomed by UDF supporters, who see her as a capable leader ready to strengthen the party’s influence in national governance while promoting a culture of accountability and fairness.
If successful, Jolobala will become one of the few women in Malawi’s parliamentary history to hold such a senior position in the legislative hierarchy.
As the countdown to October 30 continues, all eyes are now on the political maneuvers within the House, as alliances form and candidates like Jolobala position themselves for the crucial leadership vote.
Regardless of the outcome, her candidacy underscores a growing recognition that Parliament must evolve — not only as a lawmaking body but also as a platform for national dialogue, inclusion, and development.
