Lilongwe Police is keeping in custody a 21-year-old Brian Banda, for vandalizing and stealing Lilongwe Waterboard meters and pipes at Chitedze location.
According to Public Relations Officer(PRO) for Lilongwe Police, Hastings Chigalu,the suspect, who was working as a watchman vandalized the property due to frustration following failure by his employer to pay him his monthly wages.
Banda
Chigalu says he vandalized and stole four water meter systems belonging to his employer and nearby neighbors.
The suspect, who hails from Mponda Village, Traditional Authority(T/A) Chikumbu in Mulanje District, will appear in court soon to answer Vandalism and Theft charges.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has leveled serious allegations against the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and the National Registration Bureau (NRB), accusing them of conspiring to suppress voter registration in areas where the MCP has less support. Mary Navicha, DPP’s Director of Women, claimed that the NRB is intentionally limiting voter registration in the southern and northern regions, which are traditionally non-MCP strongholds, while favoring the central region, where the MCP enjoys significant backing.
“This is a blatant attempt to rig the 2025 elections,” Navicha stated during a press briefing. She pointed out that the central region, an MCP stronghold, has been provided with many more registration centers, creating an imbalance that could impact the fairness of the upcoming elections.
DPP officials at the Press briefing
Navicha assured supporters that the DPP is taking these developments seriously and is prepared to take action. “We will not let that happen. We are closely monitoring the situation, and so are the donors,” she added, signaling the party’s intent to push back against any perceived manipulation.
These accusations come amid growing concerns over the impartiality of the NRB, which recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to cooperate on the voter registration process for the 2025 elections. Some opposition figures argue that this collaboration could be exploited to benefit the ruling party.
In a related move, The Concerned Citizens of Malawi, in collaboration with the Economic Freedom Movement, has filed a petition seeking court intervention to stop MEC from using national identity cards in the upcoming general elections. The group, led by Edward Kambanje, expressed frustration over Parliament’s delay in discussing their petition and decided to turn to the courts for a resolution.
“We have given the court 21 days to issue a determination directing MEC to halt the use of national identity cards for the elections,” Kambanje stated, adding that they felt discouraged by the lack of urgency from lawmakers. The petition was formally submitted to Lilongwe District Commissioner Dr. Lawford Palani.
As tensions rise ahead of the 2025 elections, both the MCP and NRB have yet to issue responses to these explosive allegations.
Government spokesperson Moses Kunkuyu has dismissed allegations by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) is responsible for the socio-economic challenges currently facing Malawians. Speaking to the press, Kunkuyu addressed the DPP’s claims as unfounded, stating that the roots of the country’s economic difficulties predate the MCP administration.
“Everyone in the country was there during the DPP regime,” Kunkuyu remarked. “Malawians are well aware that it was the DPP that brought the challenges we are now trying to fix.” He emphasized that the current administration is working hard to address the deep-rooted economic issues inherited from the previous government.
Kunkuyu
In addition to addressing the DPP’s accusations regarding the economy, Kunkuyu responded to claims that corruption has worsened under the MCP-led government. “It is a lie that corruption levels have increased under the MCP government,” he said. Kunkuyu further stressed that no party in Malawi has shown more interest in tackling corruption than the MCP. He pointed to the MCP’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and the pursuit of justice for those involved in corrupt practices.
Kunkuyu’s defense of the MCP administration comes at a time when the country faces a wide range of economic challenges, including rising inflation, unemployment, and public concerns over government spending. The spokesperson assured Malawians that the government remains focused on resolving these issues and delivering on its promises, while calling on the public to distinguish between fact and political rhetoric.
“The MCP is working for the people, and we will not be swayed by baseless accusations,” Kunkuyu concluded, urging Malawians to remain patient and united as the government continues its efforts to restore the country’s economic stability.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Presidential Advisor, Gladys Ganda, has launched a scathing attack on the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) government, accusing it of failing to manage the country’s affairs, leading to widespread civil servant strikes and economic mismanagement. Speaking at a DPP press briefing on Thursday, Ganda also claimed that during the DPP’s time in government, no Malawian died from hunger, a stark contrast to the current administration’s struggles.
Ganda pointed out that the constant strikes by civil servants across various sectors, including health, education, and other essential services, reflect the MCP government’s inability to address the grievances of workers and meet the country’s basic needs.
Gladys Ganda
“Civil servants are on strike everywhere, and this is an undeniable sign that the MCP government has failed. They have failed to manage public resources and respond to the needs of the people,” Ganda said.
She further contrasted the current situation with the DPP’s time in power, arguing that despite economic challenges, the DPP managed to prevent hunger-related deaths.
“During the DPP era, not a single Malawian died of hunger. We had systems in place to ensure that food was available, even in the hardest times. But now, people are struggling, and the government seems unable to cope with the situation,” she added.
In addition to her critique of the MCP’s domestic policies, Ganda also took aim at President Lazarus Chakwera’s frequent international trips, which she claims are draining the country’s limited resources. She urged the president to reduce the size of his entourage on foreign visits as a cost-saving measure and suggested that he should delegate some of his responsibilities to ministers or principal secretaries for local trips.
“The president must lead by example in these tough economic times. He should minimize the number of people he travels with abroad and delegate local trips to ministers or principal secretaries. This would save much-needed resources that could be used to address the current crises,” Ganda advised.
Her comments come amid growing public frustration over government spending on international trips and the general economic hardship facing the country. The DPP has been vocal in its criticism of the MCP-led government, accusing it of mismanagement and failing to prioritize the needs of Malawians.
President Chakwera has yet to respond to these specific allegations, but his administration has repeatedly defended its international engagements as essential for fostering diplomatic ties and attracting investment.
With the 2025 elections approaching, the DPP has ramped up its attacks on the government, positioning itself as the party that can restore stability and economic growth to the country.
The Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Presidential Advisor on Elections, Jean Mathanga, has joined the chorus of party leaders voicing concerns over the use of national identity cards as the sole form of identification for next year’s tripartite elections. Speaking at the party’s press conference on Thursday, Mathanga emphasized the importance of ensuring all eligible voters have the opportunity to participate, regardless of whether they possess a national ID.
Mathanga expressed concern that many eligible voters may be disenfranchised if the government insists on using only national IDs for voter verification. She noted that not all Malawians have obtained national identity cards, and relying solely on them for the voting process could block thousands from exercising their constitutional right.
Jean Mathanga
“We must not let the national ID be the only document used for identification in the elections. It will exclude many eligible voters who, for various reasons, may not have their IDs,” Mathanga stated. “This is a violation of their democratic right to vote.”
She urged the government and the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to consider alternative forms of identification for the upcoming elections, such as voter registration cards or other official documents, to ensure no one is left out of the electoral process.
In her remarks, Mathanga also encouraged Malawians to actively participate in the upcoming voter registration exercise, which is expected to begin later this month. She stressed that registering to vote is a crucial step for citizens to have a say in next year’s elections and to shape the future of the country.
“I urge all Malawians to take the voter registration exercise seriously. Make sure you register when the time comes so that you can exercise your right to vote next year. This is your opportunity to be heard and make a difference,” she added.
The issue of voter identification has become a major talking point as the 2025 tripartite elections draw closer. Opposition parties, including the DPP, have raised concerns that limiting identification to national IDs may disproportionately affect marginalized populations, such as those in rural areas or those who have faced difficulties in obtaining an ID.
Mathanga’s comments come as part of the DPP’s broader efforts to ensure free, fair, and inclusive elections in 2025. The party has been vocal in calling for greater transparency and accountability in the electoral process, while also emphasizing the need to remove barriers to participation.
The Malawi Electoral Commission has yet to respond to these concerns but has indicated that preparations for the 2025 tripartite elections are well underway.
