Sunday, December 14, 2025
No menu items!
spot_img
Home Blog Page 6

Government reconstitutes boards of 66 state-owned enterprises to strengthen oversight and service delivery

0



By Burnett Munthali

Government has announced a sweeping reconstitution of Boards of Directors for 66 State-Owned Enterprises and Statutory Corporations across vital sectors of the national economy.

The appointments, which became effective on 9th December 2025, cover institutions operating under the Ministries of Education, Youth and Sports, Information, Lands, Labour, Finance, Agriculture, Transport, Natural Resources, Industry, and Gender.

According to a press release signed by the Chief Secretary, Dr Justin Adack K. Saidi, the newly appointed boards are expected to provide “sound strategic guidance and robust oversight.”



The statement emphasised that the restructuring is intended to enhance the performance of public institutions and strengthen accountability in the management of public resources.

Government said the new boards will be central in improving the delivery of essential public services to Malawians, particularly in sectors that directly impact national development.

Key appointments include new boards for the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM), and the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA).

Other major institutions such as the Roads Authority, the Malawi Housing Corporation, and all public universities are also part of the extensive reconstitution.

The government stressed that board members were selected based on merit, expertise, and the need to ensure balanced representation across sectors.

It further stated that the revamp reflects an ongoing commitment to reforming public institutions to improve efficiency and service delivery.

The restructuring marks one of the largest governance overhauls in recent years, signalling government’s determination to strengthen state corporations and accelerate national development.

Namalomba urges councils to leverage local media for greater transparency and citizen engagement

0



By Burnett Munthali

Minister of Information and Communications Technology Shadric Namalomba has urged district councils to make full use of locally available media houses to enhance the visibility of government projects and improve citizen engagement.

He made the call in Kasungu during the official opening of Linga Radio, a new broadcasting station owned by former Kasungu West legislator Alex Major.

Namalomba said the media sector remains a strategic governance tool that promotes transparency, reinforces accountability, and helps ensure that public resources are managed responsibly in line with national expectations.

Namalomba



He emphasised that effective communication between government institutions and the public relies heavily on strong, independent, and accessible local media platforms.

The minister further encouraged journalists to uphold professionalism, resist bribery, and maintain high ethical standards, noting that credibility and integrity are central to the media’s role in national development.

Namalomba warned that unethical conduct undermines public trust and weakens the media’s ability to inform, educate, and hold power to account.

He applauded the establishment of Linga Radio, describing it as a vital addition to Kasungu’s information landscape and a platform that can promote local voices and perspectives.

The minister said the new station is expected to support community participation in governance by facilitating timely dissemination of information on public services and projects.

The launch ceremony featured traditional dances, speeches, and solidarity messages from local leaders, highlighting the community’s excitement and sense of ownership.

The event reflected Kasungu’s optimism that Linga Radio will enhance information flow, strengthen civic engagement, and contribute meaningfully to the district’s development.

Chihana hails Kathewera-Banda, Namiwa for outstanding human rights contribution

0

By Chisomo Phiri

Second Vice President Enock Kanzingeni-Chihana has applauded two prominent human rights advocates Maggie Kathewera-Banda and Sylvester Namiwa for their outstanding contribution to the protection of civil liberties in the country.

During an awards ceremony held last night in Mzuzu, Kathewera-Banda was named Human Rights Defender of the Year, while Namiwa emerged as the runner-up.

In his speech,Chihana described the two as exceptional citizens who have stood firm in defending the rights and freedoms of Malawians, commending their bravery, commitment and consistency.

Chihana



Said the second VP:“I cannot agree more with the awards committee.Their dedication to demanding respect for human rights has been remarkable, and they truly deserve the honour bestowed upon them tonight.”

Chihana said the awards serve as a reminder of the inherent dignity and worth of every Malawian and demonstrate that government and civil society can collaborate in a spirit of mutual respect.

He reaffirmed government’s commitment to safeguarding civic space, strengthening human rights institutions, and ensuring that defenders can carry out their work free from interference, intimidation or undue influence.

“Together, let us continue building a nation anchored on justice, accountability and respect for human dignity,” said Chihana.

He concluded by congratulating both Kathewera-Banda and Namiwa for their achievements and ongoing contribution to Malawi’s human rights landscape.

On his part,Chairperson of the Independent Awards Panel Justice Redson Kapindu challenged human rights defenders in the country not to relax or give up in the fight for human rights.

Kapindu said human rights defenders must remain steadfast to ensure Malawi is never dragged back into the days of dictatorship.

He said:“The awardee tonight is a person who has demonstrated undoubted courage under a hostile environment in the past year in the fight for human rights.”

Human Rights Defenders Day is observed every 9 December to honour individuals and groups who work tirelessly to promote and protect human rights around the world.

The day was established in connection with the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 9 December 1998.

The declaration recognises the vital role played by human rights defenders,activists, journalists, community leaders, legal practitioners, and ordinary citizens who speak out against injustice, corruption, discrimination and abuse of power, often at great personal risk.

Ben Phiri assures Malawians: ‘CDF is safe and protected from political abuse

0



By Burnett Munthali

The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Dr. Ben Phiri, has moved to reassure Malawians that the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) remains secure and inaccessible to politicians.

Speaking during an exclusive interview on MBC on Sunday, Phiri stressed that the Public Finance Management Act mandates only district councils—under the leadership of District Commissioners (DCs)—to manage the CDF and all other local development finances.

Ben Phiri



“Let me assure Malawians that their funds are safe, and my ministry is committed to transparency and accountability in the utilisation of these public resources,” Phiri emphasized.

The Minister condemned widespread misinformation that has misled some members of the public into believing that ward councillors now control CDF allocations, insisting that the councils remain the legitimate custodians of the fund.

“The funding isn’t being given to the councillors. The court said the funds go to councils, but with a supporting vehicle to help implement projects,” Phiri clarified.

He further highlighted that the Ministry will apply the same governance systems and accountability standards used under the World Bank–funded Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) programme—a model he said has achieved a 90 percent success rate across councils.

Phiri, however, acknowledged the need to strengthen capacity within councils to ensure they manage the expanded CDF responsibly and effectively.

He noted that government has already redeployed some DCs and posted qualified engineers to districts to oversee construction projects and ensure technical competence in handling public resources.

The Minister warned that under the new reforms, incompetence will no longer be tolerated or transferred from district to district in an attempt to solve performance failures.

“If the officer is incompetent in Thyolo, it simply means he will be incompetent in Mzimba. We’re now shifting toward performance-based accountability,” he said.

The future of the CDF has been a major topic in the 52nd Parliament session, following lawmakers’ approval of the Constitution Amendment Bill that raised the fund from K220 million to K5 billion per constituency.

Nigeria confirms its troops helped foil coup attempt in Benin



By Burnett Munthali

The Nigerian Presidency has confirmed that its troops played a direct role in helping to thwart a coup attempt in neighbouring Benin.

According to President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Nigerian forces assisted Benin’s government after a request for urgent military support from President Patrice Talon.

Tinubu


Onanuga said the intervention was swift, explaining that Nigerian troops helped to dislodge Beninese soldiers who had seized the national television station and attempted to take control of key military camps.

He further stated that Nigeria also secured Benin’s airspace during the operation to ensure that the coup attempt was fully neutralised without escalation.

The Nigerian government described its involvement as part of a broader commitment to defending constitutional order within the West African region.

More updates are expected as Benin’s authorities continue stabilising the security situation and carrying out arrests linked to the attempted takeover.