By Burnett Munthali
Lilongwe, 20 July 2025.
This press review highlights the top stories reported by 247 Malawi from Sunday, 13 July to Saturday, 19 July 2025, capturing the political, economic, and social narratives that shaped the nation during this critical pre-election period.
President Lazarus Chakwera officially launched the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) 2025 manifesto on July 19 at Bingu National Stadium, outlining a five-point agenda focusing on food security, job creation, governance reform, public service delivery, and systemic transformation.
The launch event, attended by thousands of party supporters, underscored the MCP’s commitment to continuity and development, with Chakwera pledging to build on successes such as job creation, mega farms, and initiatives to protect vulnerable groups.
Key promises included transforming the National Economic Empowerment Fund into a bank, introducing direct mayoral elections, and creating a savings scheme for unborn children aimed at breaking cycles of poverty.
As the campaign season intensifies ahead of the September 16 elections, the MCP’s manifesto is expected to become a central tool for mobilizing voters across the country.
On the economic front, Chakwera addressed the Reserve Bank of Malawi’s 60th anniversary on July 18, vowing to restore the institution’s integrity after past scandals and outlining reforms to strengthen its resilience against economic shocks.
Finance Minister Simplex Chithyola Banda and RBM Governor McDonald Mafuta Mwale emphasized stability and sustainable growth, with the central bank’s reforms seen as crucial to managing forex challenges and inflation.
Malawi’s inflation rate eased to 27.1% in June, its fourth consecutive monthly decline, offering hope of relief for households struggling with high living costs, particularly driven by falling food inflation.
FDH Bank Plc emerged as the highest-valued company on the Malawi Stock Exchange, closing the week with a market capitalization of K3.2 trillion and reporting strong profit growth, signaling investor confidence in the financial sector.
In consumer banking, Ecobank Malawi launched a digital campaign titled “A Better Way to Transact and Win Your Share of K24 Million,” awarding its first prize of K1 million to promote digital transactions.
Judicial milestones included a landmark Constitutional Court ruling on July 17 that declared criminal defamation unconstitutional, marking a victory for freedom of expression and aligning Malawi with international norms.
Political dynamics also intensified as former Vice President Everton Chimulirenji defected from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to UTM, highlighting internal rifts within the opposition.
The Malawi Electoral Commission met with civil society leaders to strategize on voter education and violence prevention, while MCP and UTM ramped up rallies and candidate certifications to demonstrate readiness for the polls.
The Malawi Congress of Trade Unions concluded a three-day leadership training workshop focused on integrating gender and anti-harassment clauses in collective bargaining agreements, underscoring progress on workers’ rights.
The creative economy gained attention when Minister Vera Kamtukule encouraged youth to develop local-language digital content, positioning cultural exports as tools for economic growth and tourism.
In sports, the Confederation of African Football excluded Malawian referees from the upcoming CHAN 2025 tournament, sparking debate on officiating standards, while the Super League of Malawi disciplined clubs and players for recent misconduct.
The week’s stories painted a picture of a nation balancing governance reforms, economic signals, and electoral mobilization as it heads towards a critical election season.
