Neno District Council has emerged as the top-performing local authority in the 2024 Local Authority Performance Assessment (LAPA) awards, scoring an impressive 93%.
Dowa and Nkhotakota district councils followed closely, tying for second place with scores of 92%.
Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture, Richard Chimwendo Banda, presented the awards in Salima, praising the councils for demonstrating significant improvements in governance and financial accountability.
“All 28 district councils have qualified for Performance-Based Grants, reflecting a positive shift in resource management,” he said.
The LAPA assessment evaluates local authorities’ performance in areas such as development planning, procurement, financial management, and health service delivery.
The awards aim to promote good governance and accountability in local councils.
The recognition is expected to motivate councils to continue enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in resource utilization, ultimately improving the lives of Malawians.
With all 28 district councils qualifying for Performance-Based Grants, the future looks promising for local governance in Malawi.
As Malawi draws closer to the highly anticipated presidential elections scheduled for 16 September 2025, the political landscape continues to shift with growing intensity.
On Monday, 1 July 2025, the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) confirmed that yet another contender has joined the presidential race.
Cassim Chilumpha, representing the Assembly for Democracy and Development (ADD), has officially collected nomination papers to contest in the upcoming polls.
Chilumpha, a seasoned politician and former Vice President of Malawi, becomes the fifteenth aspirant to take the initial step toward the presidency by collecting nomination documents.
Muluzi
This development signifies an increasingly competitive and crowded field, suggesting that voters will be presented with a diverse range of political ideologies, manifestos, and leadership styles.
As it stands, the total number of individuals who have collected nomination papers for the presidency is fifteen.
Among these are three independent candidates: Milward Tobias, Adil James Chilungo, and Reverend Hardwick Kaliya, each bringing a unique perspective outside the mainstream political party structures.
The ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) will once again be represented by incumbent President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, who seeks a second term in office amid mixed reviews of his leadership and governance record.
The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is fielding former President Arthur Peter Mutharika, who is aiming for a political comeback after losing power in the 2020 court-sanctioned elections.
Dalitso Kabambe, a former Reserve Bank Governor, has emerged as the candidate for the UTM, a party founded by the late Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima.
The United Democratic Front (UDF) will be represented by Atupele Austin Muluzi, continuing the political legacy of the Muluzi family.
Former President Joyce Banda is also in the race under the banner of the People’s Party (PP), setting the stage for a possible clash of former state leaders.
Kondwani Nankhumwa, once a high-ranking member of the DPP, has broken ranks and will contest under his newly formed People’s Development Party.
Frank Tumpale Mwenifumbo, another political veteran, will carry the flag for the National Development Party (NDP), while Kamuzu Walter Chibambo returns to the national stage with the People’s Transformation Party (Petra).
Newcomer Akwame Bandawe, running on the Anyamata, Atsikana, Azimayi (AAA) ticket, adds to the growing list of fresh faces hoping to reshape the country’s political direction.
Independent candidate Smart Swira has also thrown his hat into the ring, as has David Mbewe of the Liberation for Economic Freedom Party (LEFP), adding further diversity to the ideological spectrum.
As the nomination period progresses, political analysts and voters alike are watching closely to see who else may emerge in this high-stakes contest.
The expanding list of contenders underscores the growing appetite for change, leadership alternatives, and democratic participation across Malawi’s electorate.
With nomination papers now collected by fifteen individuals, the presidential race is shaping up to be one of the most vibrant and unpredictable in Malawi’s recent history.
The coming weeks are expected to bring more campaign activity, manifesto launches, public debates, and strategic alliances as candidates prepare to convince Malawians that they are the right choice to lead the nation beyond 2025.
The Malawi Red Cross Society recently conducted a media training session on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in Blantyre, emphasizing the importance of accurate and professional reporting on humanitarian issues.
The training brought together journalists from various media houses to enhance their understanding of IHL and its application in reporting.
Innocent Majiya, President of the Malawi Red Cross Society, opened the training, highlighting the significance of media training on IHL for public reporting.
“Accurate reporting on IHL is essential for both the media and the public,” Majiya said. “It benefits not only the media but also the public, who rely on accurate information to make informed decisions,he added.
Majiya expressed gratitude to the Malawi government for providing technical support for the training, underscoring the importance of collaboration in promoting IHL awareness.
He emphasized that the training would equip journalists with the knowledge and skills necessary to report accurately and professionally on humanitarian issues.
Luke Chimwaza, Chairperson of the Blantyre Press Club, also addressed the participants, urging them to take the training seriously.
“This training will help you in your reporting on IHL,” Chimwaza said, adding that,”It is crucial that you understand the principles of IHL and apply them in your reporting to ensure accuracy and professionalism.”
The training session provided journalists with an opportunity to learn about IHL and its application in various contexts.
Participants engaged in discussions and exercises designed to enhance their knowledge and skills in reporting on humanitarian issues.
The Malawi Red Cross Society’s efforts to promote IHL awareness through media training demonstrate its commitment to protecting human dignity and promoting humanitarian values.
By equipping journalists with the knowledge and skills necessary to report accurately and professionally on humanitarian issues, the organization aims to promote a better understanding of IHL among the Malawian public
The Malawi Red Cross Society’s media training on IHL is a significant step towards promoting accurate and professional reporting on humanitarian issues in Malawi.
By investing in journalist training, the organization is helping to ensure that the Malawian public has access to accurate and informative reporting on humanitarian issues.
Malawi-based socialite Chawezi Banda, popularly known as Cha Cha, has filed an application for an injunction to restrain fellow socialite Hannah Jabesi, also known as Tamia Ja, from publishing defamatory content about her.
The application has sparked a heated debate about social media responsibility and the limits of free speech.
Cha Cha, through her lawyer Chancy Gondwe, is seeking to have existing defamatory materials removed from Tamia Ja’s social media platforms, including Facebook and YouTube.
The application highlights the potential harm to Cha Cha’s reputation as a philanthropist and businesswoman.
According to the certificate of extreme urgency, Cha Cha’s reputation is being “irretrievably tarnished daily” by the defamatory content.
Chacha
The document also notes that the defamatory social media posts have gained global traction, harming Cha Cha’s standing in Malawi and abroad.
The court will need to determine whether to grant the injunction and stop further publication of the allegedly defamatory material. Cha Cha’s lawyer, Chancy Gondwe, is confident that the court will rule in their favor.
Tamia Ja, the defendant in the case, has not yet commented on the application.
Chapter 13 and page 42 of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Manifesto recognize youth as critical partners in social , economic and political Development.
In the manifesto MCP says it is aware that the youth constitute a large proportion of the Malawi population hence the party promised to engage them in all aspects of national development.
True to its word today Malawi President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi, officially opened a three-day 2025 Malawi National Youth Summit.
Held under the theme: “Harnessing Youth Innovation for Economic Empowerment and Sustainable Job Creation Towards Malawi 2063,” the summit brought together over 1,000 young people, policymakers, as well as development partners.
President Chakwera also took advantage of the summit, to launch a K2 billion Youth Innovation Fund, which is aimed at economically empowering the country’s youth to stir national development. The event has been organized by the National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM).
Speaking during the event President Chakwera said his Government launched Malawi 2063, national vision, which puts young people at the heart of economic transformation.
“Second, I developed and rolled out the National Youth Policy, providing a clear and coordinated framework for youth engagement and empowerment,” he said.
Chakwera said his Government also resuscitated the National Youth Council of Malawi, increasing its capacity, expanding its budget, and empowering it to serve with real impact.
The Malawi leader was welcomed on arrival by several top government officials. Upon his arrival, President Chakwera accompanied by First Lady Madam Monica Chakwera, toured a number of pavilions showcasing goods and services by youths from various parts of the country.
