UPROOTING WELFARE—Disasters such as storms wreak havoc on lives and property By Tsogololathu Itaye: “Those living close to the river and bridges, take caution. Tropical Cyclone Freddy will hit Malawi from this evening (10 March 2023).” In the weeks before the cyclone hit, the warnings were intensified on social media and from newsrooms. Community workers from the department of disaster management affairs went into the towns and villages of the southern districts. I was in Zomba. I had stocked up enough for a few days — cyclones like these typically don’t last more than a day. Little did I know ..read more

Press freedom goes beyond journalists and media organisations being able to publish news and information without undue interference from the government and powerful individuals. It goes beyond not having a journalist arrested by the police over a story they are pursuing or they have produced and have had it published or broadcast. Press freedom is more than journalists being allowed to ask their leaders tough questions regarding how they are conducting State affairs. It is not just a fundamental aspect of freedom of speech and expression, which allows journalists to investigate and report on i ..read more

By Ronald Mpaso & Mabvuto Kambuwe: Football Association of Malawi (Fam) has set the tone for the $500,000 (about K800 million) rehabilitation of Nsanje Stadium to start, with the signing of a contract with Blithe Construction. The development comes in the wake of resolutions made by Fam’s executive committee meeting which agreed that works should roll out this month. Fam president Fleetwood Haiya said the targeted completion date for the whole scope of works August 16. “I have indeed formally signed the contract with the contractor to roll out the project. This infrastructure project remai ..read more

The Shire Valley Transformation Programme seeks to put over 40,000 hectares under irrigation in Nsanje and Chikwawa districts. But the project is being tainted by claims of abuses of local junior workers by its Chinese contractor Junior local workers at the mega Shire Valley Transformation Programme (SVTP) are alleging assault and sexual abuses perpetrated by some managers of the project’s Chinese contractor, SinoHydro Corporation Limited. In one case, police arrested two Chinese supervisors recently for allegedly assaulting and leaving for dead one of the workers on suspicion that he had stol ..read more

By Deogratias Mmana: Details have emerged that the government risks paying $14.5 million, plus interest, to a Namibian firm, Nendongo Commercial Group, after a fertiliser deal went sour. Government, through the Smallholder Farmers Fertiliser Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM), entered into a fertiliser supply contract to the tune of $150 million (K263.5 billion) on September 7, 2022 with Nendongo Commercial Group. The firm was to deliver 200,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser comprising 100,000 metric tonnes of NPK and 100,000 metric tonnes of Urea and the agreed delivered prices of $850 per tonne ..read more

It is the Blantyre derby, and the big one at that. FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers are familiar foes in domestic football and, this afternoon, they open the first instalment of their 2024 Blantyre derbies in the TNM Super League at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre. This is the 74th Blantyre derby since the league was introduced in 1986-pitting two rivals at opposite ends of town. A hullabaloo over referees threatened to derail preparations for this crunch tie, but all that has been put to rest after Super League of Malawi maintained that Mayamiko Kanjere will be in charge despite p ..read more

Lady Zamar By Lesego Chepape: Yamikani Banda popularly known as Lady Zamar has released a new album after taking a five year musical hiatus. Titled Rainbow, the album comes after she endured several public storms that she vows to Apple Music “will never happen again”. The 12 track album is a solid sonic experience with genres ranging from house, pop to amapiano. “The journey was kind of hard, we tried the album twice before we actually got it right. I hope people receive it with openness and love and I hope people receive it with a lot of kindness. I hope people enjoy it and want to jam to it ..read more

Demolished BAT Ground Malawi National Council (MNCS) of Sports is expected to use close to K30 billion for the rehabilitation of BAT Ground in Blantyre. MNCS Executive Director Henry Kamata said the project will be done in three phases with the first having already commenced. “This will be a 17,000 capacity stadium and will take us about three years to complete. Right now, works have commenced in earnest. The first phase is demolition of the old structure, preparatory earth works and auxiliary structural systems. “The second phase will entail the construction of the football and track field wi ..read more

ADDA-DONTOH—Media are critical ally in raising awareness United Nations Coordinator Rebecca Addah-Dontoh has called for free and independent media to uphold democracy and fight climate crisis. In a statement released by her office, Addah-Dontoh says it is imperative to recognise the power of the media to shape narratives, ignite dialogue and drive positive change in society. She said the theme for this year’s World Press Freedom Day, ‘A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis,’ resonates with the Malawi media. She said through its reporting, the media in Malawi ..read more

KILLER ON THE LOOSE—Mhango (left) South Africa-based Malawi National Football Team attacker Gabadinho Mhango’s devastating form continued on Wednesday night when he inspired Moroka Swallows to a 2-1 win over Chippa United in a DStv Premiership match played at Buffalo City Municipality Stadium in East London, South Africa. Mhango equalised with a beautiful free-kick in the 71st minute from nearly 20 yards out when Swallows were 1-0 down to bring his goal tally to six. This was after the home team had scored through Kayden Francis in the 17th minute. Swallows went on to score the winning goal th ..read more