United Democratic Front (UDF ) says they will not participate in today’s joint press briefing by opposition political parties which is expected to take place in Lilongwe.
In a statement signed by UDF National Publicity Secretary, Dyson Janga, the party will just send a high-level member of the party as an observer at the joint press briefing.
“UDF emphasizes that, as a responsible political organization, we are committed to following proper procedures in making decisions that reflect the interests of the Malawian people,” the statement said.
UDF executive
Janga further said National Working Committee (NWC) will meet and thoroughly assess the current electoral issues, that is when the party will provide its official position and guidance on the way forward.
UDF is therefore urging electroal stakeholders including Malawi Electoral Commission, (MEC) and National Registration Bureau, (NRB) to take the concerns seriously and engage in constructive dialogue to restore public trust in the electoral process.
Opposition parties which include DPP, AFORD and UTM will today hold a press briefing in Lilongwe regarding the forthcoming elections.
Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) has described this year’s Zokonda Amai Macheza initiative which took place in Mzuzu as the best.
MBC board Chair Reverend Vasco Kachipapa said this in an exclusive interview after this year’s Zokonda Amai Macheza which was held at Grand Palace.
Reverend Kachipapa said the change of venue from Lilongwe , Mangochi Blantyre, has helped to have this year event successful.
He said at first they were suspicious if the event would be successful considering the venue was new.
“We must say, we have had a very successful event. I can read it to be the best ever, and this is because of the commitment that was put into there, the organization, the preparation, we are improving every year. So I’m really very thankful to have done such a colorful and successful event,” he said.
Madam Chakwera
MBC Director General George Kasakula concured with Kachipapa saying despite spending more money on the event, the company has managed to get profit.
Chairperson of the event who is also Acting director of News and current affairs Mervis Senga said the Corporation is overwhelmed by the response.
She said with the pace of growth the movement is registering , we will not have any hotel to accommodate the event.
Senga said they are looking on new ways on how the ceremony can best be organised in future.
WHAT A BOOST : MADAME MONICA CHAKWERA PRESENCE
During the function Her Excellency Madame Monica Chakwera, First Lady of the Republic of Malawi, attended this year’s Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Zokonda Amai Macheza in Mzuzu where nearly 400 women from Zokonda Amai clubs attended.
Madame Chakwera urged women to unite, work hard, and uplift their socio-economic lives. She emphasized teamwork and discouraged backbiting.
The First Lady praised the ceremony as a valuable platform for enhancing business opportunities.
One of the participants, Mareen Kamwenje Banda from Mchinji said this year’s Zokonda amai programme will remain her memory as historic.
Malawi is grappling with a severe fuel scarcity, leaving many citizens stranded and concerned.
The Transporters Association of Malawi (TAM) has shed light on the underlying issue, pointing to a crippling foreign exchange shortage that’s hindering fuel importers from paying their suppliers.
According to TAM Spokesperson Frank Banda, the country’s fuel importers, Petroleum Importers Limited (PIL) and National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA), are struggling to settle outstanding payments with their suppliers due to the unavailability of foreign exchange.
This has resulted in a logjam at ports in Beira, Mozambique, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where Malawian trucks await fuel cargo.
“Our trucks are currently at the ports, but they’re delayed because of the outstanding payment issues between fuel importers and suppliers,” Banda explained. “It’s crucial for the government, through the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA), to understand the logistical requirements for fuel importation and avoid spreading misinformation.”
MERA Public Relations Officer Fitina Khonje attributed the fuel scarcity to delays in accessing foreign currency by transporters.
However, TAM’s revelation suggests a more profound issue, underscoring the need for urgent intervention.
Malawi’s forex woes have been exacerbated by the country’s reliance on imports, a dwindling export base, and dwindling donor support.
The scarcity has far-reaching implications, affecting not only the transport sector but also businesses, industries, and households.
Economist Dr. George Lazaro warned, “The forex shortage is a ticking time bomb. If left unaddressed, it will paralyze the economy, fueling inflation, and exacerbating poverty.”
The government has been urged to expedite measures to stabilize the forex market, including diversifying export channels, promoting local production, and improving revenue collection.
The fuel scarcity has sent shockwaves across various sectors, with taxi and bus operators struggling to maintain services, farmers facing challenges in transporting produce to markets, manufacturing and production slowing due to fuel shortages, and ambulances and medical services being compromised.
Economic experts emphasize the need for a multifaceted approach to address Malawi’s forex challenges, including promoting non-traditional exports, encouraging local manufacturing, improving tax collection and revenue management, and establishing efficient forex management systems.
The government has assured citizens that measures are being taken to address the forex shortage.
MERA has initiated emergency fuel imports, while the Reserve Bank of Malawi has pledged to increase forex allocation for fuel importers.
As Malawi navigates this economic challenge, transparency, coordination, and swift action are essential.
The government must work closely with stakeholders to stabilize the forex market, ensure fuel availability, and safeguard the country’s economic future.
Addressing the forex shortage requires a concerted effort from the government, private sector, and citizens.
Only through collective action can Malawi mitigate the effects of this crisis and pave the way for sustainable economic growth.
The Malawi government, through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs,on Wednesday signed three agreements worth $46.2 billion with the African Development Bank(AfDB) to support the agriculture sector.
Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Simplex Chithyola Banda and African Development Bank country manager McMillan Anyanwu signed the agreements at the ministry’s offices at Capital Hill in Lilongwe.
In his opening remarks at the signing ceremony, Anyanwu said the reforms will support Malawi’s reforms in the agriculture sector and protect rural and vulnerable communities from climate-related shocks.
On his part, Chithyola commended the bank for supporting Malawi’s bold reforms.
“This support shows the trust the donors have in our economic reform strategy.
“It is a sign that the bold economic reforms we implemented last year under the ECF [International Monetary Fund’s Extended Credit Facility] have achieved their intended results. They have unlocked budget support,” said Chithyola.
He pledged to use the resources prudently to implement initiatives that improve Malawian’s welfare.
