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

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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

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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.

Board Inquiry Undermined by False Testimonies as Racism Allegations Deepen at LPS

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By Staff Reporter

Some teachers at Lilongwe Private School are being accused of dishonesty during a recent board investigation into allegations of racism within the institution.

When board members visited the school to establish the truth about reported discriminatory practices, certain coordinators chose to deny the allegations, thereby failing to protect indigenous Malawian children affected by the situation.

One of the teachers, identified as Comfortable Mailosi, boldly defended the administration and dismissed the racism claims as false.



However, evidence from staff members contradicts his testimony and points directly to the primary head teacher, Ms. Maria Asghar, as the architect of discriminatory classroom practices.

Sources reveal that Ms. Asghar personally created a racist sitting plan arrangement in one of the Standard 4 classes during Mailosi’s science lesson when she instructed him to place children of Asian origin at the front and push all indigenous Malawian pupils to the back.

Another coordinator who chose to lie is Mr. Samuel Kameza, who shamelessly defended Ms. Asghar despite knowing that she had implemented a similar racist sitting arrangement in his Standard 6 class while he was there.

Teachers have confirmed that this segregated sitting arrangement has been implemented in other classes as well, making it a recurring pattern rather than an isolated incident.

It is alleged that Mailosi and Kameza deliberately misled the board after being coached by Ms. Asghar on what to say in exchange for money.

All coordinators who spoke during the interface meeting reportedly had secret agreements with Ms. Asghar, which explains why they read from prepared notes rather than speaking freely from their own perspectives.

Concerns have also been raised that one of the Vice board chair Mr Bedha appeared supportive of the fabricated testimonies, casting doubt on the credibility of the entire inquiry.

Teachers fear that the coordinators, together with the primary head teacher, are contributing to the deterioration of the school because they prioritise gossip and personal alliances over professionalism.

Among the coordinators, Mailosi is said to be the most involved in spreading misinformation, spending significant time in the head teacher’s office discussing matters unrelated to improving academic standards.

Despite these allegations, many teachers insist that the core problem lies with the primary head teacher, whom they describe as the main source of division, manipulation, and unethical conduct within the school.

As the school prepares to reopen, concerned teachers are urging the board to conduct a fresh investigation through scheduled one-on-one interviews with staff members in the staffroom, while excluding the Vice Chair, Mr. Bedha, from the process.

NBM plc supports 2025 African Youth Chess Championship with K12.4 million

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By Linda Kwanjana

The National Bank of Malawi (NBM) plc has handed over K12.4 million to Chess Association of Malawi (CHESSAM) to support Malawi’s participation at the 2025 African Youth Chess Championship, scheduled for December 7 to 13 in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Speaking during the symbolic cheque handover ceremony on Thursday in Blantyre, NBM plc Chief Information Officer, Bestone Kasoloka, said the Bank recognises chess as a strategic sport that sharpens intelligence and nurtures leadership potential.

“Chess is more than just a game. To be a good chess player, you must think five moves ahead. As National Bank of Malawi plc, we support logic-building and critical thinking because these are the foundations of great leadership. That is why we decided to make this investment,” said Kasoloka.

He added that the Bank has confidence in the national team and expects them to deliver an impressive performance at the championship.

“We expect medals and strong performances from our players. We believe they will represent Malawi well and bring back positive results,” he said.



In his remarks, Chess Association of Malawi (CHESSAM) General Secretary, Gift Howahowa, expressed gratitude for the support, saying it will boost the team’s morale and help them prepare effectively.

“We are very grateful for the support from the NBM plc. This contribution will go a long way in ensuring successful participation and will serve as motivation for our young players,” said Howahowa.

Sixteen players, aged under-10, 12 and 16, are set to represent Malawi.

All selected players earned their spots after emerging as champions in the national league held three months ago.