The state president Dr Lazarus Chakwera has pardoned 49 prisoners and reduced sentences of all the prisoners by six months as part of the celebration of this year’s Easter season.
This has been contained in a statement which has been signed by the principal secretary for the ministry of homeland security Dr. Steven Kayuni.
Speaking in an interview, Minister of Homeland Security Kenneth Zikhale Ng’oma said, the pardon of the prisoners is an act of mercy in this Easter season as the christians across the world commemorates the death of jesus Christ.
President Chakwera
Ng’oma said: “This is the best time to reflect on our shortfalls a nation and reconcile with one another”.
Last year, Chakwera pardoned 200 prisoners during the same period.
Colonel Gilbert Mittawa has on Saturday March 30,2024 been elected unopposed as the new Super League of Malawi (SULOM) President during the association’s Annual General Meeting(AGM) held at Ufulu Gardens in Lilongwe.
Mittawa succeeds Fleetwood Haiya, who now serves as the President of the Football Association of Malawi(FAM) after being elected in December last year, having served less than a term as SULOM President.
Mittawa
On the other hand, Kamuzu Barracks general Secretary William Nhlane is now SULOM Executive Committee Member after defeating Charles Manyungwa with 26 votes against 22.
Nhlane’s victory came in third attempt after the two tied in two voting times.
He replaces Daudi Mtanthiko who ascended to FAM as Executive member.
Super League of Malawi, also known as the TNM Super League for sponsorship reasons, is the top football division in Malawi.
Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Malawi Regional Football Leagues.
Silver Strikers Head Coach, Peter Mponda says they gave away the game to FCB Nyasa Big Bullets in their defeat in the NBS Bank Charity Shield Cup on Saturday afternoon at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
The game ended 7-6 on the penalties after playing a goalless draw in the regulation time.
Speaking to reporters after the game,Mponda said:”We gave away the game.There were some minutes where the game was on us and even during the penalty shoot-out, we had the chances of winning it.
Peter Mponda
“However, I’m happy with the performance of the game, the boys played well.”
On his part, Bullets’ second assistant coach, Heston Munthali,expressed excitement with how the team performed and and said he is looking forward to have a wonderful season.
“It was a good game, the boys gave it all, as I said earlier on, we did not have all boys in our preparations due to National team camp and others are still injured but they worked very hard and won the game.” Said Munthali.
During the match, the People’s team started on a high note after Precious Phiri shot wide before Gift Chunga’s first shot on goal went over the bar on 20th minute then Chikooka denied Phiri with a fine save three minutes later.
The Bankers came very close after Katinji hit the post on 26th minute before denied by Nyasulu seconds later as the Bankers dominated the final minutes with Chikooka denying Chikumbutso Salima on 43rd minute.
Bullets mentor, Callisto Pasuwa introduced Ernest Petro and Matthews Masamba for Gumbo and Phodo before Silver replacing the injured Mwase with Innocent Shema then Gift Chunga’s goal was ruled out for an offside on 55th minute.
Emmanuel Muyira replaced Fodya before Bullets introducing Hassan Kajoke, Ephraim Kondowe and Precious Sambani for Babatunde, Mapemba and Salima and Phiri had a shot saved with Nickson Nyasulu replacing Singo on the last minute.
In the penalties, Sambani blasted his penalty over the bar before Kajoke, Phiri, Kondowe and Nyasulu scored while Katinji, Shema, Idana and Paipi scoring only for Duncan Nyoni to win for the Bankers but he missed.
Mpokera and Mujuru scored for the People’s team same as Lameck and Muyira for Silver then Ernest Petro gave a chance to Silver Strikers to win with his miss but Gift Chunga missed again.
Yamikani Mologeni scored for Bullets and Innocent Nyasulu saved Chikondi Kamanga’s penalty kick to give Bullets the victory.
Up next is the TNM Super League as Bullets travel to Dedza to play Dedza Dynamos whereas Silver are at home playing Chitipa United in the first week.
The country’s energy regulator, Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) has granted permission to all oil marketing companies and fuel services stations registered with it to start selling up to 20 litres of fuel in jerry cans to consumers.
In a statement, the authority’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Henry Kachaje says the decision for this is to provide increased convenience to consumers, particularly those with small-sale fuel requirements machinery, generators, and emergency fuel needs.
“It is essential to emphasize the adherence to safety standards and guidelines during the dispensing and handling of fuel in jerry cans to mitigate any potential risks or hazards.
“Should you require any further clarification or assistance regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact MERA for guidance and support,” says Kachaje in a statement.
Last year, when the country was experiencing a fuel crisis, MERA restricted the buying of fuel in jerry cans without their permission and several service stations were closed and fined for acting contrary to the directive.
MERA is a corporate body established under the Energy Regulatory Act No. 20 of 2004 as the Energy Sector Wide Regulator.
Its mandate is to regulate the energy sector in Malawi in a fair, transparent, efficient and cost effective manner for the benefit of the consumers and operators
The head of the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Blantyre, Archbishop Thomas Luke Msusa has condemned in strongest terms the acts of violence.
Msusa, himself a former Chairperson of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi made the condemnation during an Easter evening Resurrection Mass at the Archdiocese’s headquarters, Limbe Cathdral on Saturday.
In his sermon, Archbishop Msusa told the huge parked Cathedral that he is aware that many Malawians are anxious and worried as to what would be the outcome of next year’s General Elections following the recent acts of political barbarism and violence reported in some parts of the country.
Archbishop Msusa
Msusa said that the recent incidences are uncalled for in democratic Malawi and must not be given room anywhere within the borders of Malawi.
“Next year, we want political parties and candidates to be given freedom to campaign anywhere without any hindrances and boundaries,” he said.
“We don’t want people to be told you cannot campaign in the central region or in place A or B because you don’t come from there,” said the senior Catholic clerk.
“The recent incidences where people were hacked, injured and their vehicles damaged and torched is uncalled for and not acceptable in Malawi. This must stop,” emphasized Msusa.
He was apparently referring to the recent incidences in the central region district of Dowa and the capital Lilongwe where supporters for the main opposition DPP were severely beaten and their properties including vehicles damaged completely.
The partisan Malawi Police Service until now is failing to arrest the ruling MCP hooligans who unleashed these acts of terror although their names are well known.
Recently, Catholic Bishops in Malawi issued a strong Pastoral Letter that condemned the MCP administration leadership style and described the country’s development progress as a “Sad Story for Malawi”
In the letter, the Bishops further said that President Lazarus Chakwera has failed to take Malawi to the promised land, Cannan but ended up damping Malawins in a place of no hope called Bagamoyo.
The Easter Evening Mass was attended by several high profile personalities including former Minister of Finance and DPP legislator Joseph Mwanamvekha, DPP Phalombe South MP Mary Mpanga and MCP’s member of Parliament for Blantyre City East John Bande.
Also present during the Mass was Malawi Human Rights Commissioner Andrew Kavala.
The Blantyre Archdiocese comprises of Catholic parishes situated in Blantyre, Mwanza, Neno, Thyolo, Chiradzulu, Phalombe and Mulanje districts.
Malawians will go to elections in September next year where it is widely expected that they are to boot out the less popular President Lazarus Chakwera and it’s violent Malawi Congress Party.
