President Dr Lazarus Chakwera says his government is working round the clock to address challenges that are hindering the progress of the country.
He made the call Wednesday evening, during a national address where he tacked several issues.
The President said it is not a secret that Malawi has a crisis of food, fertilizer, fuel and forex, but said his government with support from partners is doing everything possible to deal with such challenges.
President Chakwera
“In the meantime, let us exercise discipline in the way we can use resources. What is most important is to use the resources wisely.
“My priority in all public spending is improving people’s welfare by procuring enough food and fertilizer to end hunger and providing supplies.
“To achieve all this, I directed the minister of finance to present a revised budget to parliament which has many austerity measures for cutting non-essential expenditure and generating revenue,” he said
President Chakwera then commended institutions like the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Africa Development Bank, United States of America, United Kingdom, Germany, and European Union among others for working with the government of Malawi to find long-term solutions for the fuel and forex crisis.
The President added that the United Arab Emirates is geared to assist Malawi, end its crisis, hence His Royal Highness Sheikh Mohamed Biz Zayed Al Nahyan is sending a delegation to Malawi to finalise deals following President Chakwera’s visit to the UAE last week.
He said the coming in of the officials will set up a government-to-government arrangement for a more sustainable supply of fuel, the legislation for which was already passed by Parliament last week.
A chilling episode of street justice unfolded in Lilongwe’s Area 24, where Nelson Kuchima, a man reportedly known for violent activities, became the target of a community’s wrath. His home was demolished, his car set ablaze, and he was physically assaulted by an enraged mob. This act of retribution didn’t end there—his associates in crime were also not spared, as shops allegedly linked to them were burned down in Ngwenya, Area 24.
The local sentiment is clear: anger and frustration had reached a boiling point. Many believe this was a case of mizimu yakwiya—a spiritual reckoning for Kuchima and his group. The community, tired of living in fear, took matters into their own hands, delivering what they deemed as justice.
This incident highlights a growing trend in Malawi where communities, fed up with the perceived inefficiency of the justice system, are resorting to vigilante actions. For Kuchima and his associates, the community’s patience ran out, marking their “La 40”—a phrase symbolizing the day of ultimate reckoning.
While the anger of the people is understandable, mob justice often comes with unintended consequences. Innocent lives or properties can be harmed in the chaos, and such acts erode the rule of law, replacing it with lawlessness. This creates a cycle of violence that can destabilize communities further.
This violent retaliation is a clear sign of the community’s frustration with the authorities. When justice is delayed or denied, people often feel compelled to take drastic measures. However, this raises a critical question: Is the failure of the justice system to blame for such occurrences?
Authorities must investigate the root causes of this unrest and address the systemic issues that leave communities feeling abandoned. Strengthening law enforcement, ensuring swift justice, and engaging with the community to restore trust are essential steps to prevent future incidents.
As the dust settles in Area 24, the scars of this reckoning remain—a stark reminder of what happens when frustration and anger turn into violence. While some celebrate what they see as justice served, the need for a lawful, structured system to address grievances has never been more urgent.
Standard Bank has been recognized as the Employer of the Year by the Employers’ Consultative Association of Malawi (ECAM) at the 2024 ECAM Awards, held under the theme “Strengthening Social Protection in a time of Global Economic Uncertainty”.
The awards ceremony, which took place in Blantyre, saw Standard Bank emerge as the top employer in the country, beating other contenders in various categories, including Employer of the Year, Best Practice in Occupational Health and Safety,Best Practice in Human Resource Management ,Best Practice in Corporate Social Responsibility,Best Practice in Diversity and Inclusion ,among the total of eleven.
In his remarks, Mr. Paul Kalilombe, Director of Administration in the Ministry of Labour, commended Standard Bank for its exceptional leadership and dedication to its employees.
“This award is a reflection of Standard Bank’s commitment to excellence and its role as a model employer in Malawi,” he said.
ECAM President, Annie Chavula, congratulated Standard Bank on its achievement, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and rewarding employers who prioritize the well-being and development of their employees.
The ceremony also saw the launch of the Model Policy Against Violence and Harassment in the Workplace, a significant milestone in promoting a safe and healthy work environment in Malawi. The policy aims to provide a framework for employers to prevent and address violence and harassment in the workplace.
The award ceremony was made possible through the support of partners, including Medical Aid Society of Malawi, FDH Holdings Limited, Illovo Sugar Company and Southern Region Water Board.
Standard Bank’s Employer of the Year Award is a significant milestone in the bank’s journey to becoming a leading employer of choice in Malawi.
Second tier Chipiku Central Region Football League side Panthers FC’s are through to the semi-finals of the Castel Challenge Cup and they will meet Mighty Mukuru Wanderers in the semi-finals
Panthers beat super league side Civil Service United 4-2 on penalty shootout after the match which took place at Civo Stadium, ended 0-0 in regulation time.
Panthers goalkeeper Precious Masamba was the hero of the day after saving two penalties from Festus Duwe and Moses Banda.
To reach this stage, Panthers managed to beat other super league teams namely MAFCO FC, Chitipa United and Super League champions Silver Strikers.
In other Castel Challenge Cup matches, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers thumped Bangwe All Stars 5-0 as their neighbours FCB Nyasa Big Bullets claimed a narrow 1-nil win over northern region side Hill Top FC.
The match between Karonga United and Mzuzu City Hammers ended 3-1 on post-match penalties in favour of Hammers.
Malawi is proud to host the International Supervisory Board (ISB) of Solidaridad, marking a historic moment in Solidaridad’s 5 years of operation in Malawi. Selected among over 40 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, Malawi is recognized as a good example of our work in Southern Africa to transform supply chains into inclusive, resilient systems.
A Global Network Converges on Malawi Solidaridad operates across continents to support small-scale farmers, workers, and miners while addressing global supply chain challenges. In Africa, Asia, and Latin America, Solidaridad implements on-the-ground projects to foster sustainability, while in Europe, North America, China, and Japan, it builds corporate and donor relationships to promote sustainable product uptake. The ISB visit – which takes place from 7-11 December 2024 – reflects Malawi’s growing significance in this expansive network.
“This visit underscores Malawi’s role as a leader in sustainable agricultural practices. Through our impactful projects here, we have demonstrated that smallholder farmers are not just beneficiaries but key players in transforming global supply chains into equitable systems,” said Shungu Kanyemba, Managing Director of Solidaridad Southern Africa.
Highlighting Solidaridad’s Work in Malawi Solidaridad’s work in Malawi started with the transformative initiative called the Practice for Change (PfC) Soybean Project, which empowered over 8,500 smallholder farmers with improved farming techniques. It is continuing with the RECLAIM Sustainability! (RS!) Tea Initiative which examines policies in the sector. There is also the Pathways to Prosperity (P2P) Cotton Project, a groundbreaking initiative that integrates financial services, seed multiplication, and market access for farmers.
Key achievements include:
Training over 2,400 farmers in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) through the PfC Soybean Project.
Supporting the Cotton Sector to produce 160 tons of cotton seed which has been distributed to 40,000 farmers.
Establishing 15 demonstration plots under the P2P Cotton Project to showcase sustainable cotton farming practices.
Launching a digital payment system to reduce risks in the cotton sector, benefiting over 15,000 registered farmers.
Giving over 80,000 tea seedlings to more than 10,000 tea farmers in Malawi.
Supporting the development of occupational safety and health policies in the tea sector and policies that promote equitable gender practices.
Andre de Freitas, Executive Director of the Solidaridad Network, emphasized the strategic importance of Malawi’s contributions: “Malawi has some strong examples of agricultural practice and work on sector transformation that are innovative, resilient and have a direct and positive impact on the lives of small-scale farmers. Some of the projects here have the potential to be scaled globally. This visit allows the International Supervisory Board to witness firsthand the specific features of Solidaridad’s work in Southern Africa.”
Malawi’s Moment of Recognition The selection of Malawi as the host for this visit highlights its achievements in the Solidaridad Network, focused on:
Promoting good practices among farmers and workers.
Establishing supportive business systems to enhance productivity and income.
Creating an enabling policy environment for sustainability.
Encouraging increased market uptake of sustainable products.
“The work of Solidaridad in Malawi contains some good examples of what can be achieved through partnerships, innovation, and community-driven solutions. These projects are exemplary for our work regionally, ensuring that smallholder farmers remain at the heart of sustainable supply chains,” concludes Humphrey Nxumalo, Solidaridad Southern Africa’s Head of Programmes
