Minister of Water and Sanitation, Abida Mia, has reiterated the critical role of clean and safe water in safeguarding public health, especially as the rainy season begins in parts of Malawi.
Speaking in her constituency, Chikwawa Nkombedzi, Mia made the remarks during the distribution of assorted borehole accessories to local leaders. She emphasized the importance of maintaining boreholes to ensure consistent access to safe water and prevent reliance on contaminated sources.
Abida Mia in Chikwawa
“Proper maintenance of boreholes is essential for sustaining access to clean water and avoiding waterborne diseases, especially during the rainy season,” she said.
Mia, who also serves as the Second Vice President of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), took the opportunity to encourage residents to register for the upcoming elections, underscoring the importance of active participation in next year’s polls.
Kaswada Saopa, speaking on behalf of Group Village Headman Losi, commended Mia’s efforts, noting that the distribution of borehole accessories would significantly improve access to safe water in the area.
“This support will go a long way in ensuring that our communities have reliable access to clean water,” Saopa said.
Mia’s dual focus on addressing water challenges and promoting voter registration highlights her commitment to improving both public health and civic engagement in her constituency.
The UTM Party successfully held a political rally at Chinthembwe in Ntchisi District under the jurisdiction of Senior Chief Vusojere. The event, which attracted a large crowd, was graced by UTM’s Deputy Leader, Alex Bulilani, as the guest of honor.
Supporters and residents of Chinthembwe came in droves, demonstrating their enthusiasm and interest in the party’s agenda. The rally proved to be a significant moment for the UTM Party, as it sought to solidify its presence in the region and engage with local communities on pressing issues.
Alex Bulilani, in his address, thanked the people of Ntchisi for their unwavering support and underscored the party’s vision for an inclusive Malawi. He highlighted the UTM’s commitment to bringing meaningful development to all corners of the country, emphasizing the importance of grassroots participation in governance and decision-making processes.
Key topics discussed during the rally included the need for improved infrastructure, better education facilities, and enhanced agricultural support for the rural population. Bulilani assured the crowd that the UTM Party would prioritize these issues if given the mandate to lead the nation.
Senior Chief Vusojere also addressed the gathering, commending the UTM for engaging with communities at the local level. He encouraged political leaders to remain accessible and responsive to the needs of the people.
The rally was marked by colorful displays of UTM flags, chants, and songs, as supporters expressed their solidarity with the party’s ideals. Various local leaders and party representatives also took turns to speak, urging the people of Ntchisi to rally behind the UTM for a better future.
By the end of the event, it was clear that the UTM Party had made a strong impression on the residents of Chinthembwe. The atmosphere was charged with optimism, as attendees left with renewed hope for development and inclusive leadership in Malawi.
At Bangula, former President His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika reiterated his commitment to transforming the Lower Shire into an economic powerhouse, emphasizing that his dream has always been to unlock the potential of Nsanje and Chikwawa districts.
Speaking to a crowd of supporters and community members, President Mutharika acknowledged the difficulties that Malawians, particularly those in Nsanje, are currently facing. He expressed his awareness of the numerous programs aimed at building local resilience in the Lower Shire that have been halted under the current administration.
Mutharika
Mutharika criticized President Lazarus Chakwera’s government, stating that it has exposed the people of the Lower Shire to extreme poverty, a situation that is now undeniable to all. He blamed the current leadership for neglecting development initiatives that were set in motion during his presidency.
“I am deeply concerned about the suffering that the people of Nsanje and the Lower Shire are going through today. Under my leadership, we initiated projects aimed at improving the lives of the people in this region, but many of them have been abandoned,” Mutharika said. “This is not just a political issue, it is a humanitarian crisis that requires urgent attention.”
In his address, Mutharika reaffirmed his vision for the establishment of Bangula University, which he described as a critical step toward improving educational opportunities in the Lower Shire. The proposed university would be the first higher learning institution in the area and is seen as a key component of the region’s development strategy.
“Education is the backbone of any society. If we want to truly transform the Lower Shire, we need to invest in education. The establishment of Bangula University will create opportunities for the youth, empower communities, and contribute to long-term economic growth,” Mutharika explained.
The former president expressed dissatisfaction with the current administration’s handling of progress in the Lower Shire, pointing out that several initiatives he had started had either been delayed or scrapped entirely. He urged those who had left the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for other political parties, including the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and UTM, to return to their political home, saying the DPP was the party best suited to bring about meaningful change in the region.
“It’s time to rebuild the Mighty DPP. We need to unite, work together, and restore the party’s strength. We cannot afford to be divided if we want to see real change in Nsanje, Chikwawa, and the rest of Malawi,” Mutharika asserted.
His speech resonated with many residents of Bangula and surrounding areas, who have long awaited the promised improvements in infrastructure, education, and healthcare. As the 2025 elections approach, Mutharika’s call for unity and his vision for a revitalized Lower Shire are expected to play a significant role in shaping the political landscape in the region.
Mighty Mukuru Wanderers President and Board Chairperson Dr. Thomson Mpinganjira has expressed his concerns about the state of football in the country, citing a lack of depth in coaches and players.
The concerns follow Wanderers’ 1-0 loss to Silver Strikers on Saturday at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, who secured the 2024 TNM Super League title.
Said Mpinganjira:”I have come to realize that Malawi faces a significant challenge in terms of coach and player development.
“This lack of depth is a major hindrance to the growth of our football.As long as we fail to address this issue, our football will continue to stagnate and fail to compete at the continental level.”
Mpinganjira
He emphasized that the current state of football in the country is unacceptable.
“I do not see any players or coaches who can make a meaningful impact. Our teams may win against each other locally, but when it comes to competing against other African teams, we fall short.This is also true for our national team,” he said.
The Nomads, who have won 16, drawn six and lost six, scoring 54 goals and conceded 17 to register a goal difference of 37, will now concentrate on the second position.
They are remaining with fixtures against Creck Sporting Club on December 4 before wrapping up the season against Moyale Barracks on December 7.
Malawi Leader President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, on Sunday hosted a high level Chinese delegation.
The high profile meeting took place at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe during an audience, with a delegation from the Communist Party of China (CPC) of Hunan Province, led by Secretary of the Hunan Provincial Committee, Hon. Shen Xiaoming, at Kamuzu Palace.
During the meeting with the delegation, President Chakwera commended the Chinese Government for various assistance being rendered to the Malawi government.
During the meeting the Chinese Government took the opportunity to present the Malawi government with 500 Sanyi “Light Up Africa” integrated, solar panel machines worth USD200 000 each, handed over by Mr. Xiang Wenbo, Chairman of the Board of Sanyi Group.
In June 2023 the group also donated a forklift worth USD150 000 to the Malawi government, when president Chakwera visited the City of Changsha, China.
During the symbolic donation of one of these solar panels, President Chakwera thanked the Chinese government through his counterpart, President Xi Xinping for demonstrating such commitment to Malawi and cordial relations between the two countries.
During the meeting , Chakwera called on the Chinese government to invest in the country’s Agriculture, Tourism and Mining (ATM), sectors citing the energy sector as an enabler of the country’s ATM industrialization agenda.
The discussions focused on charting a course that will strengthen the already fruitful diplomatic ties between China and Malawi, and further pave way for trade through “standardization cooperation” and implementing results of the “Beijing Summit”.
President Chakwera asserted that the visit is a continuation of dialogue between the Chinese government and Malawi government, following bilateral talks with President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in South Africa; discussions on China during the Forum on Africa- China Cooperation (FOCAC), in September this year; as well as his visit to China during the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in June 2023 – testament to the power of diplomatic relations.
Hon Xiaoming equally hailed the cooperation between the two countries thus far and commended Malawi for being “diligent, kind and warm…”, adding that the purpose of the committee’s visit to Malawi was therefore not just to leverage bilateral relations, but also to implement ten partnership actions drawn from the Beijing Summit, that will facilitate investment in Malawi’s key sectors, including mining.
Hon Xiaoming further added that his delegation includes business entities that are poised to sign standardization cooperation agreements with the Malawi Government over the course of their visit to the country.
The standardization cooperation aims to harmonize quality in the production of both Chinese and Malawian products, to ensure they meet the standards for both countries, to enable smooth trade.
In this respect the CPC – Hunan Committee, will also be engaging the Malawi Bureau of Standards during their visit to Malawi.
The move is expected to significantly improve trade flows between China and Malawi, that are sometimes hampered by quality of goods from both parties.
He stressed that the trade that Malawi hopes for, can only be achieved through industrialization, however it requires an effective energy sector, and as such the donation is a welcome development, that will aid the country’s efforts to achieve its 2063 goals.
President Chakwera has further committed to ensuring that the standardization cooperation agreements are implemented.
Also present during the discussions was Mr. Wang Hao, Charge D’affaires of the Chinese Embassy; Mr. Xu Zhengxian, Director of the Office of Foreign Affairs Commission of CPC Hunan Provincial Committee among others.
The Malawi government was represented by Min of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Nancy Tembo; Min of Energy, Hon. Ibrahim Matola; Min of Trade, Hon. Sosten Gwengwe; Min of Local Government, Hon Richard Chimwendo Banda and Malawi’s Ambassador to China, Mr Allan Chintedza among other government officials.
