The Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has suspended its Kasungu East District chairman, Maurice Chikafa, with immediate effect for allegedly organizing a meeting with fellow district chairmen without obtaining the necessary permission from the party’s secretary general.
The MCP’s Constitution does not explicitly require such permission.
Deputy Secretary General Kazembe
Chikafa confirmed receiving the suspension letter on Sunday, which was dated February 3, 2025, and signed by Deputy Secretary General Gerald Kazembe.
The letter states that Chikafa’s future will be decided after ongoing investigations are completed.
Meanwhile, the party has appointed Chisomo Mbembedza to assume Chikafa’s responsibilities in an acting capacity.
In a bid to revolutionize rural education, Edukans Foundation Malawi on Monday launched a project that integrates solar energy into primary schools.
The initiative aims to tackle the persistent electricity shortages that have long plagued rural schools, hindering learning and student performance.
Thomas Kanjodo
Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting in Mponela, Dowa, Edukans Foundation Malawi Team Leader Thomas Kanjodo emphasized the project’s potential to transform rural education.
“By leveraging solar energy, we can provide a reliable power source that enables students to extend their study hours and supports teachers in delivering high-quality lessons,” said Kanjodo.
He said funded by Portuguese company EDP, the innovative project will benefit over 12,000 learners across 10 primary schools in Lilongwe Rural West District.
Kanjodo said in addition to providing electricity, the project will incorporate environmental education programs for both teachers and students, promoting sustainability and eco-awareness.
On his part, Director of Open Distance Learning in the Ministry of Education,Joshua Valeta, praised Edukans for the timely initiative.
“The lack of electricity in rural schools remains a significant obstacle to academic achievement.This project offers a beacon of hope for improved learning outcomes and a brighter future for Malawi’s rural students,” said Valeta.
Business Partners International (BPI), a fund manager that provides debt equity financing, has disclosed that it has supported various business ventures in the country to the tune of K25 billion ($15 million).
BPI Country Manager, Bond Mtembezeka said this is part of its commitment to supporting entrepreneurs by providing tailored financial solutions.
Mtembezeka disclosed this during a customer interaction breakfast in Blantyre on Friday, bringing together entrepreneurs to engage with the financier on funding opportunities and business growth strategies.
Bond Mtembezeka
“We would like to recommend to entrepreneurs that as Business Partners International, we are here for them. There are plenty of opportunities in the market, and we have established ourselves as a go-to financier. If they are looking to buy equipment and invest in property, we are ready to provide that kind of funding solution,” said Mtembezeka.
He highlighted that the session was highly interactive, allowing entrepreneurs to ask pertinent questions and gain deeper insights into BPI’s investment approach.
“We have answered a lot of questions that entrepreneurs had, giving them a clear understanding of what Business Partners invests in and what we don’t. We have also explained our pricing structure and emphasized that we agree on repayment terms with our clients.”
“So far, the response has been quite positive, and our portfolio is growing rapidly. We expect to see the desired impact in the coming years,” said Mtembezeka.
One of the entrepreneurs, Lucious Dzimbili, Managing Director of Meshozi Construction Limited, expressed gratitude for the session, stating that it provided valuable insights into how businesses, like his, can benefit from BPI’s financial solutions.
“As entrepreneurs, we are very grateful to BPI for organizing this interaction, which has enlightened us on how to grow our businesses. We had the opportunity to present our needs as contractors and understand how BPI can support us.”
“In the construction industry, we require significant capital investment in equipment, and this session has helped us understand the steps we need to take to secure funding. A partnership with BPI will indeed help us grow our business,” said Dzimbili.
Acting Director General of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Hillary Chilomba, has revealed that the bureau is currently investigating several cases related to fuel and fertilizer procurement.
He announced this during an appearance on Times Exclusive Programme on Times Television on Saturday evening, but declined to provide further details on the ongoing investigations.
Hillary Chilomba
Said Chilomba:”We want to ensure that our efforts yield positive results in court, rather than simply making arrests.”
He reaffirmed the ACB’s commitment to independence and its determination to hold corrupt public officers accountable, ensuring effective public service delivery.
“I am committed to upholding the law, not serving individual interests,” said Chilomba.
He also assured the public that the Whistle Blower Act would provide protection to individuals who report corrupt officials, stressing that “fighting corruption begins with individual responsibility.”
Chilomba has been leading the ACB as acting Director General since the expiry of Martha Chizuma’s tenure on May 31, 2024.
The Malawi National Netball Team, the Queens, faced a challenging start to their campaign in the Vitality Netball Nations Cup, suffering a 62-36 defeat against England’s Roses in Nottingham, England. Despite the significant loss, co-coach Peace Chawinga remains optimistic and has identified key takeaways that could help the team improve in their upcoming fixtures.
Speaking after the match, Chawinga acknowledged the superiority of England, who dominated all four quarters, but insisted that the Queens showed moments of promise. She pointed out that:
The players showed resilience, despite struggling to contain England’s fast-paced attack.
The team’s defensive coordination improved in the second half, limiting England’s scoring opportunities.
The Queens had some good offensive transitions, but unforced errors and missed chances affected their overall performance.
Chawinga emphasized that the team would review their mistakes and make adjustments ahead of their next game against Uganda’s She Cranes.
The Queens are set to return to action today, facing Uganda in their second match of the Vitality Netball Nations Cup. Uganda, known for their physical style of play and strong defensive setups, presents a tough challenge for Malawi. The Queens will need to:
Minimize turnovers and avoid giving Uganda easy scoring opportunities.
Strengthen their defense to contain Uganda’s shooters, especially Mary Nuba Cholhok, who is a key threat.
Improve shooting accuracy, as missed opportunities cost them heavily in the England game.
Chawinga has assured fans that the Queens will give their best performance and fight for a positive result against Uganda.
The Vitality Netball Nations Cup is a crucial tournament for Malawi as they prepare for future international competitions. The Queens are aiming to test different strategies, improve squad depth, and strengthen team chemistry against some of the world’s best teams.
Despite the setback against England, Chawinga remains hopeful that the Queens can bounce back stronger and put on a better display in their next games.
Malawi netball fans will be eagerly watching to see if the Queens can recover and secure a much-needed win against Uganda.
