Government has asked traditional leaders in the country to lead in uniting the citizenry in order for the country to prosper.

Minister of Local Government and Unity, honorable Richard Chimwemdo Banda made the remarks on Thursday 28th December 2023 during the elevation of Traditional Authority (TA) M’bwatalika to Senior TA M’bwatalika at Mtunthumala headquarters.

Chimwendo has also cited the need for the leaders to help in making sure that there are sustainable developments in their areas.

He said that chiefs must play a vital role when it comes to, for example, checking that the AIP program benefits the targeted groups and not vendors.

“It is the expectation of all Malawians that chiefs will allow people to live happily in all areas. They have to accommodate all people irrespective of their differences in tribes and races. They have to unite all people because we are a mixed race. They have to lead in development initiatives like buying of AIP and maize in ADMARC depots,” said Banda.

In her remarks, the Member of Parliament for the area who is also a minister of Gender and Social Welfare, honorable Jean Sendeza has urged the senior chief to work hand in hand with the government in promoting development and help in ensuring that child marriages have come to an end.

“I now advise the senior chief to be hard working, humble, accommodative and really humane. I ask her to work tirelessly for the people of her area and help other chiefs to bring the development activities needed. I also ask her vehemently to assist in ending early marriages among our girls,” said Sendeza.

Senior TA Mbwatalika whose real name is Chrisy Matiya Yelemiya has been elevated on 16th December 2023 following chiefs act chapter 22 sections 3 and 4 which give powers to the president of the republic of Malawi to elevate chiefs who among others are hardworking and of good repute.

In attendance were senior traditional authorities from Kasungu, Mchinji, Dedza and Lilongwe.

By Alex Nasoni

Reserve Bank of Malawi says economic instability has for some time facilitating the trend of devaluation of the Malawi kwacha.

Addressing the press on Friday in Lilongwe, RBM governor, Dr Wilson Banda gave an example of the recent 44% devaluation of Malawian kwacha as a result of instability of currency at the Market.

Banda cited that black market has also contributed to the depreciation of the kwacha one as it cannot be controlled.

“The problem with these things is that you should take a position where you say you are not going to touch the exchange rate because you want to protect the vulnerable group. The position that eventually comes up is that the market does it for you. And this is when you see a black market developing and that becomes uncontrollable,” Banda said.

The RBM governor challenged employees not to force an adjustment of salaries from their employers as this may fuel escalation of prices.

He is of the view that higher wedges might force the producers to charge more on their goods in order to balance what they have invested.

“A wedge inflation spiral arise at a situation where workers demand higher wedges, and those higher wedges increase because of production. In order to recover the amounts that have been spent, prices have to be adjusted. That is what causes the Inflation,” he added.

Dr Banda among others has appealed with the public to refrain from adjusting prices of products which are made locally.

By Eric Norman Mkwaira

Minister of Health, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda says government is committed in eradicating Malaria in the country.

Chiponda was speaking at a press briefing today in Lilongwe, marking the commemoration of Malaria Day and SADC Malaria Week respectively.

The minister cited that government together with its partners are implementing various Malaria prevention interventions across the country.

“The state president Dr Lazarus Chakwera launched the ‘Zero Malaria Starts with Me Campaign.’ We have been distributing treatable mosquito nets to pregnant women and we do that with support from our partners like World Vision, Momentum, Global Fund, USAID and many more partners. We introduced insecticide residual spray in some districts like Nkhotakota, we give Fansidar to pregnant women and also the recent one is the Malaria vaccine,” she said.

On the other hand, the minister called for concerted efforts among stakeholders in the health sector, donor community and the communities at large if the country and the SADC region at large is to end Malaria by the year 2030.

On his part World Vision chief of party for global fund, Grant Bizwick Mwale praised the significance outcome the insecticide spray intervention has brought in areas which they are currently working.

“We spray the insecticide in the walls of their houses. We have been in the districts of Balaka, Mangochi, Nkhatabay and Nkhotakota. I think for three years now, we have seen a decrease in a number of Malaria cases and Malaria deaths which is quite very good. We are quiet very good with the results, the communities are very happy with the results,” he said.

Malawi is said to lose about five people daily especially the under 5 children and pregnant women due to Malaria.

By Lester Mhone

The Reserve Bank of Malawi has called on the general public to start investing their finance in order to make themselves and the country independent.

RBM governor, Dr Wilson Banda made the remarks on Monday 06th November 2023 during the launch of this year’s Savings Awareness Week held under the theme “Save Today – Live Better Tomorrow” in the Capital Lilongwe.

Dr Banda cited that the country is not saving much as compared to other countries in the SADC region which makes the citizenry to continue being poor especially when they meet unforeseeable events such as funerals.

“Our saving rates are very low, translating to low investments and hence the low GDP. We need to have savings for the rainy day,” highlighted Dr Banda.

Dr Banda has pleaded with the public especially those that earn less monthly to start investing the less they get saying this will help them to boost their finances.

“At any level of income, there’s room to save. The mere fact that your salary is low, should in itself be a motivational for you to save. Because once you save, you basically built your wealth. From that wealth you generate more income,” concluded Dr Banda.

In his remarks, Chief Executive Officer for Malawi Stock Exchange, John Kamanga disclosed that they are meeting with the general public through various initiatives which are aimed to address them the need for them to save whatever they have.

Kamanga cited that the country can easily develop economically if the citizenry put their attention in saving whatever they gain.

“Once you participate in these products, you are also part and parcel of the economic development of the country. What happens is that you be in apposition to create wealth of your own but at the same time you’ll be in apposition to distribute wealth to among many Malawians who will be participating in the capital markets,” said Kamanga.

The 2023 Savings Awareness Week has been organized by the Reserve Bank of Malawi in order to let the citizenry understand what savings really means.

Among activities which will be practiced during the week includes arranging meetings in schools and markets.

By Eric Norman Mkwaira

The Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, Fr. Valeriano Mtseka has assured the laity and the citizenry in the country that the church is taking some steps in order to help the demands and needs of the people in the country.

Fr. Mtseka made the remarks on Friday, 20^th October 2023 after a press briefing on Mission Sunday held at Catholic Secretariat in Lilongwe.

Fr. Mtseka says the continuing demands for many people to register their children to Catholic secondary schools shows that the country is now looking much in education.

“Many people are flocking to our schools; they want to get their children enrolled to our school. As a church we know that this is a need and so we have to find a way to respond to this need,” Fr. Mtseka said.

Fr. Mtseka says this year’s Mission Sunday will help in reminding the laity to contribute money in order to assist the church to build more infrastructures.

In his remarks, the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, the Very Reverend Father Vincent Mwakhwawa says that as the archdiocese they are planning to build more secondary schools in each deanery as it has been seen that some deaneries lack these infrastructures.

Fr. Mwakhwawa says that some deaneries especially from rural areas do not have access to education as they do not have catholic secondary schools.

“In our Archdiocese we have about 7 deaneries and maybe most of the Catholic schools are in one deanery. This means that the other 6 deaneries may need a school in each deanery,” Fr Mwakhwawa added.

Fr. Mwakhwawa has also disclosed that the Archdiocese of Lilongwe is looking forward to maximise production and adding value to other sectors which includes farming among others.

The Catholic church in the country performs a huge role in making sure that people are receiving good services through its commissions and industries which include Catholic Centres, Catholic Development Commission in Malawi, Catholic Health Commission and Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace among others.

By Eric Norman Mkwaira