Thyolo District Commissioner(DC) Hudson Kuphanga has raised concerns about food shortages affecting over 70,000 households in the district.
Kuphanga said this on Sunday during the pre-maize distribution exercise at Luchenza Primary School where he lamented that some people were reportedly selling the maize to vendors at the center.
Hudson Kuphanga
He said the situation requires urgent humanitarian assistance.
While urging the police to deal with the vendors, Kuphanga said the Department of Disaster and Management Affairs (DoDMA) will shortly roll out a four-month Lean Season exercise targeting over 50,000 households in the district.
On his part,deputy commissioner for the south east police region Stain Chaima warned that the law will catch up with the vendors.
One of the beneficiaries, Jinny George from Traditional Authority (TA) Nanseta in Thyolo,called on the government to sustain the exercise saying hunger stricken communities are surviving on mangoes.
South African-based multimedia production company, Serato Media, has amicably parted ways with Amapiano sensation Zeze Kingston and his new label, ‘Money Making Music’, after a successful four-year partnership.
The collaboration helped Zeze to produce innovative music, unforgettable performances, and chart-topping hits.
Zeze Kingston
In a statement,Serato Media has expressed appreciation for the shared journey, acknowledging the numerous hits and sold-out shows they produced together with the amapiano star.
“We cherish the memories and experiences we shared with Zeze Kingston and wish him continued success in his future endeavors,” reads the statement in part.
Member of Parliament for Lilongwe City Centre Constituency Alfred Jiya, has rebuked people of Mgona for destroying Government properties.
Jiya while commending President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera for the development projects taking place in his constituency such as roads, bridges, and schools said people of Mgona are not appreciative.
He said the President is busy to develop this country while the people of Mgona are busy destroying under the sponsorship of the opposition political parties.
Alfred Jiya
He said just recently, the people of Mgona have destroyed some bridge pannels to harvest the still for sale.
“Are you sure , a normal person destroying a bridge, this is literally uncalled for,” He said.
During the rally , Malawi Congress Party Secretary General Richard Chimwendo Banda assured Malawians that President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera will win the elections come 2025 so that he is able to continue with equal distribution of development projects regardless of regional, political and tribe lineage.
Chimwendo said Chakwera has demonstrated to be the only leader who has managed to distribute National developmental package equally.
The SG gave an example of projects like railway line being built in Lowershire connecting Blantryre.
Chimwendo also gave examples of beautiful roads under construction in Zomba , Blanytre , Mzuzu and other districts.
The office of His Royal Highness Sheikh Ahmed Al-Qassimi says he is in a working partnership with the Malawi Government.
In a press statement which his office released on Sunday, the working agreement remains intact.
According to a statement that was dully signed by the President of the Board Dr. Marcin Lapa, His Royal Highness Sheikh Ahmed Al-Qassimi identified sustainable solutions and drive towards long-term growth.
He said his office is aware that Malawi is currently facing several critical challenges that impact its development trajectory.
According to the statement, these include limited access to essential resources like fuel, fertilizer, and food, alongside significant issues in the energy sector and a scarcity of hard currency (US dollars).
This lack of foreign reserves hampers Malawi’s ability to secure vital commodities, putting pressure on both its economy and the wellbeing of its people.
“In our efforts to support Malawi, we have formed a strategic partnership with the government, leading to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize collaboration,” He says.
According to Sheikh , the partnership was established after thorough discussions to identify the most critical challenges the country faces.
“Our close collaboration with the President’s Office, various ministries, and key stakeholders has allowed us to formulate a comprehensive strategy aimed at addressing the country’s most pressing needs,” reads part of the statement.
The Office of Sheikh Ahmed Al-Qassimi, a distinguished member of the ruling family of Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, operates with a singular mission, which is to foster economic development and social progress through innovative and impactful investments while focusing on sectors critical to the advancement of developing nations, such as energy, natural resources, agriculture, and infrastructure.
The Office of Sheikh Ahmed Al-Qassimi, believe in long-term solutions aimed at addressing not only immediate needs but also the underlying structural challenges that countries face.
The project is designed to create lasting economic opportunities, improve food security, promote technological advancement, and ensure the efficient use of resources in the countries where we operate.
In a major step towards empowering smallholder farmers in Thyolo, Malawi, Solidaridad has provided over 80,000 tea seedlings to more than 1,000 farmers across two tea growers associations (Chizunga and Msuwazi), as well as Mtendere cooperative.
Solidaridad Southern Africa is part of the global Solidaridad network, which is dedicated to promoting social justice and sustainability in supply chains. The organization works across the region to improve livelihoods, support gender equality, and promote environmentally sustainable practices.
In addition to the seedlings, Solidaridad supported these farmers with tea nursery construction and management materials such as wires, hoes, shovels, wheelbarrows, watering cans, planting pots, nails, and fertilizers. Solidaridad is also offering training on nursery management to equip them with the knowledge of good nursery management practices so they can produce good quality tea seedlings.
This is to address the challenge faced by smallholder farmers of lacking access to good quality seedlings which can help them produce more quality tea with the likelihood of being sold at a good price. Most of the tea growers still have old varieties, which result in low production and poor-quality tea leaves. By offering farmers construction materials, fertilizer, and essential training to boost productivity, it helps to bridge the gap in resource access, and create sustainable livelihoods in Malawi’s tea sector.
Bridging the Gap: Providing Vital Resources to Farmers
Tea seedlings are often expensive and difficult to source for smallholder farmers. Solidaridad’s support aims to bridge this gap by delivering over 80,000 high-quality seedlings, giving farmers the means to expand and improve their tea crops. This initiative is designed to help farmers boost their production and overcome the financial barriers that previously limited their growth.
“Many smallholder farmers simply don’t have the financial means to purchase quality seedlings. By providing these seedlings, along with construction materials and fertilizer, we are enabling farmers to increase their productivity and improve their livelihoods in a sustainable way,” says Given Phiri, Country Manager for Solidaridad (Malawi).
Sustainable Farming Through Training and Resources
Beyond the provision of seedlings, Solidaridad is investing in the long-term sustainability of the tea sector by offering specialized training and resources. Farmers are learning how to manage their crops more efficiently, using modern techniques that enhance productivity and environmental sustainability. The construction materials provided also allow farmers to build storage facilities and infrastructure, helping prevent post-harvest losses.
“Providing seedlings is just one part of the solution. Farmers also need the skills and resources to cultivate and maintain their crops effectively,” explains Misozi Magaleta, Project Manager Pathways to Prosperity (P2P) Tea. “The training and materials we provide are essential in ensuring that the farmers can realize the full potential of their tea fields and support their families,” adds Magaleta.
Promoting Gender Inclusivity in Malawi’s Tea Sector
Solidaridad’s initiative includes a strong emphasis on gender inclusivity, ensuring that women farmers are fully integrated and empowered in this process. “Empowering women in agriculture is key to driving inclusive growth in Malawi,” said Precious Greehy, Head of Gender and Youth at Solidaridad. “By ensuring that women have equal access to resources and training, we are creating opportunities for them to thrive and actively participate in the decision-making processes within their communities,” continued Greehy.
“Women play a critical role in tea farming in Malawi and often they are the ones performing the majority of labor in the fields. However, they frequently face challenges in accessing quality resources, training, and market opportunities, which limits their potential for economic empowerment. This initiative actively addresses these barriers by ensuring that women tea farmers have equitable access to seedlings, training on nursery management, and resources needed to establish and sustain successful tea enterprises,” added Nozipho Ndlovu, Regional Programme Manager of the Reclaim Sustainability Tea Program at Solidaridad.
Impacting Lives
This initiative is part of Solidaridad’s broader commitment to creating sustainable supply chains that are prosperous, inclusive, and in balance with nature. As demonstrated in Solidaridad’s theory of change, the program not only benefits farmers and workers but also strengthens supportive business ecosystems and enabling policy environments.
Through good practices, market uptake, and collaborative stakeholder engagement, Solidaridad is helping to build resilient supply chains that improve livelihoods and promote sustainability across the region. By empowering farmers, fostering inclusivity, and supporting sustainable frameworks, Solidaridad’s efforts are driving positive, systemic change within Malawi’s tea sector and across Southern Africa at large.
