News In Central Region

News In Central Region (1282)

MW & TZ Sign MoUs on Multi-million Dollar Power Projects

The governments of Malawi and Tanzania have high hopes that the Songwe Hydro Power Plant they intend to jointly establish at the Lower Songwe River will boost their economic activities.

The neighbouring countries signed two Memorandums of Understanding to improve their energy sectors during a recent meeting of high-profile officials who met in the Tanzanian commercial city Dar es Salaam.

First, the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) and Tanzania's electricity company TANESCO signed an inter utility agreement for power trade.

This agreement, which was signed by ESCOM’s Chief Executive Officer Kamkwamba Kumwenda and his TANESCO counterpart Maharage Chande, will see the construction of transmission lines from Nkhoma in Lilongwe to Songwe for a power interconnection between the two countries.

The other agreement, signed between Malawi's minister of energy Ibrahim Matola and his Tanzanian counterpart January Makamba, worth $761 million is on an intergovernmental pact for collaboration of the two countries on the Songwe Hydropower and Malawi Tanzania Interconnector Project.

Matola said the projects, once completed, will help attract investors since they will be assured of stable power supply, thereby creating job opportunities for the citizens of Malawi.

“More investors will be interested to open their businesses in the northern part of Malawi, this will also create jobs for our people,” said Matola.

The Malawi energy minister said signing of the deals is a follow-up to engagements by heads of state from the two nations who recently had exchange visits.

“One of the key topics at the forefront of these discussions was the construction of the momentous Songwe Dam, a multi-purpose project that holds immense potential for both nations,” added Matola.

He also said the benefits of this energy cooperation extend beyond the boundaries of the two nations and that the impact will be felt throughout the region as it will contribute to the overall stability and progress of East Africa and South Africa through the Eastern African Power and Southern African Power Pool.

Makamba said that the MoUs gives direction and clear roadmap for the projects.

“The MoUs spell out the next steps... one is the formation of joint technical teams. Within one month, each country should appoint a team to start to work on implementation,” he said.

Other than the deals in the pipeline with Tanzania, Malawi also has an agreement to tap power from Mozambique.

That deal was launched by President Lazarus Chakwera and his Mozambican counterpart Filipe Nyusi in April 2022.

Over 100 LUANAR Students in Desperate Need for Fees

By Franklin Mtambalika

The Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resource (LUANAR) students’ union -Natural Resources Campus, says it 0is overwhelmed with requests from students who are in dire need of financial bail-out to pay tuition fees and accommodation among other expenses.

The union’s president Vitumbiko Chirwa told Zodiak Thursday that over 100 students from the university are in need of about K30 Million, to carter for their school fees and accommodation, urging well-wishers to come to their aid.

Close to half of the students according to Chirwa were affected by Cyclone Freddy.

“Currently 49 students have approached us that they are victims of Cyclone Freddy and need financial assistance, and over 50 have also registered with us as needy students and that they require financial bail-out to pay for tuition fees,” said Chirwa.

Chirwa added that, the union has organized a big-walk and a clean-up campaign in Lilongwe today Saturday, August 19, 2023, and they will later be hosting a cultural event next weekend at the campus as part of the activities lined up to raise the funds.

Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) Executive Director Benedicto Kondowe says lack of tuition fees remains a big challenge among students in the public universities. He has urged authorities to find sustainable ways of dealing with the situation.

Kondowe said; “The initiative speaks volumes of the country’s failure to have sustainable access to financial support to carter for their education, to the extent that the students are taking up the responsibility to look for alternative sources of such support”.

“It is high time universities instituted special departments to handle scholarships, loans and grants to help address such challenges, as is the case with South Africa and European countries”.  

Recently University of Malawi (UNIMA) and LUANAR increased fees from K420,000 to K600,000 per year for generic students, a development which has sparked debate in the country.

Surge in Attacks by Street Connected Children Worries Communities

Some Malawians are complaining of an increase in attacks orchestrated by street connected children, especially in Blantyre city where they are causing panic among residents.

UNCTAD Tips African Countries on Investments

A report by the United Nations Development Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has called on African leaders to champion the diversification of supply chains.

Titled “The Potential of Africa to Capture Technology-Intensive Global Supply Chains” UNCTAD in the report notes that Africa has potential to build resilience of supply chains due to a number of factors that include, presence of natural resources.

It however cites that, despite boasting an abundant supply of raw materials, most African nations are failing to utilize existing resources.

UNCTAD has made several suggestions on how African nations could leverage their strengths.

Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) economist, Dr Betchani Tcheleni agrees with the findings of the report.

“We are not getting action, action-oriented leadership is missing especially  here in Malawi. It is so sad to the extent that, we are exporting raw minerals like coal,” said Tcheleni.

In 2009, the African union put forward the Africa Mining Vision to ensure that Africa utilizes its mineral resources, a sector the report notes is slowly being implemented.
 
In the MW2063 development blueprint, private sector dynamism and industrialization are among key enablers.

National Planning Commission’s Communications Manager Thom Khanje said realizing the vision demands Malawi to produce more.

Khanje said; “The pillars focus on the importance of production and business to the growth of the economy and realization of the Malawi 2063 vision, findings of the report resonate with this vision.”

Minister of Trade and Industry, Simplex Chitchyola Banda is optimistic that strategies initiated by Government on value addition will spur growth of the economy.

“We are promoting special economic zones where we are developing industrial parks to do value additions,” he said.

Malawi is a net importer but a meagre percentage of her exports are concentrated in the green gold (tobacco) which is mostly exported raw.

Rehabilitation of M5 Road Takes Off

First phase of rehabilitation works on a 60-kilometer stretch of the M5 road from Kaphatenga in Salima to Benga in Nkhotakota have taken off, with the contractor expressing hope the project will be completed within the set two years period.
 
The contractor, China Railway 20, they are focusing much of its efforts now on erecting bridges as they race against time to beat the rainy season, before embarking on the actual road.
 
“We want to first put up the bridges before the rains come. We hope to finish this in the coming few months before taking on the road itself.”
 
During a media tour organized the ministry of information to appreciate road construction projects in the central region, we found works on two bridges; Lipyozi and Navikoko on track, with diversions created.
 
There is also a major construction of a box culvert at Kamzanga stream, which is mostly cut off during rainy season.

The government of Malawi will spend K37 billion on the 60-kilometer stretch.  
 
DC for Salima James Mwenda who represented Nkhotakota and Salima district councils said that when completed the road section will address many challenges motorists face.
 
Other than this, he said communities in the two districts are also benefiting from the project.
 
“The works that you are seeing are largely done by the locals, Our people are being employed to work for the contractor,” said Mwenda.
 
The M5 road popularly known as the lake shore road, from Salima turn-off in Ntcheu to Nkhata-Bay, is in bad shape and has turned into a death trap for motorists.

The government plans to rehabilitate it in four phases, beginning with the Kaphatenga – Benga stretch, then from Benga to Dwangwa in Nkhotakota. The third phase will be from Dwangwa to Mkwiya in Nkhata-Bay and lastly from Kamuzu road in Salima to Ntcheu.
 
The government is currently looking for financiers for the remaining three phases.
 
Another road construction project we visited during the media tour is the Dzaleka-Ntchisi-Malomo road. Here one woman, Mary Ganizani, told us they face many challenges on this stretch.
 
Said Ganizani; “Our road is in bad shape, we struggle a lot to get to the hospital and we believe this project will help us a lot.”    
 
However, it was evident during the tour that, the fuel crisis the country is facing has taken a toll on the project.

The contractors for the two projects admitted that the fuel scarcity has slowed down progress. They, however said, government has assured them that they would be allowed to start importing fuel and cement.

For past two weeks, the Malawi has also been struggling with Cement shortages a thing attributed to forex challenges. This forced traders to hike prices of the commodity, from 11 000 Kwacha to around 20 000 Kwacha.

EU Pumps in K3.5 bn for 2025 Elections Preps

The European Union (EU) says it will provide 3 million euros (approximately K3.5 billion) towards the 2025 elections basket fund through its flagship Malawi Democratic Governance Programme.
 
EU ambassador to Malawi Rune Skinnebach told journalists in Lilongwe Thursday that the funds will be used to strengthen the capacity of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), Malawi Police Service and civil society organizations to ably engage with stakeholders and the electorate in the electoral process.
 
Skinnebach says this is in a bid that Malawi should have a well-managed, inclusive and transparent electoral process.
 
“The EU wishes to support peaceful elections, reduce tensions and potential disputes regarding the electoral process by strengthening existing mechanisms contributing to conflict prevention and mitigation,” said Skinnebach.
 
He added that the EU will also support the participation of women, youths and persons with disabilities in the electoral process.
 
According to Skinnebach, the donor funds are only complementing the huge budget that the Malawi government will set aside for elections. He therefore called on the government to give MEC enough resources in preparations towards the forthcoming election.
 
“For the successful conduct of the 2025 tripartite elections, it is imperative that the government allocates sufficient financial resources to MEC in a timely manner, so that it can proceed with electoral preparations as needed."
 
The EU ambassador also disclosed that they will also continue to support other broader democratic governance initiatives including the National Registration Bureau (NRB) and Ministry of Local Government under its “Boma lathu programme”.
 
The NRB, he said, will receive 3 million euros through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to develop and roll out the first civil registration system while the Directorate of Civic Education in the Ministry of Local Government will also get 3 million euros to support civic education and increase public participation.
 
Recently, the UK Government also unveiled a contribution of 2 million pounds (approximately K2.5 billion) towards the Malawi Electoral Support Project to assist in the preparation for the forthcoming elections to be free, fair and credible. 

Eleven People Arrested for Buying Fuel in Jerrycans

By Henderson Charles Msusa

At least eleven people have been arrested for allegedly buying fuel using jerrrycans in Dowa District.

Dowa Police Spokesperson Alice Sitima says people were arrested Saturday August 13, 2023 during a special operation which the law enforcement officers conducted at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in the district.

"During the operation we also managed to confiscate about 70 liters of fuel and 30 empty jerrycans," she said.

Sitima says the suspect, who are of ages between 20 and 47, will appear in court soon.

Recently, Kamuzu Central Hospital complained of increased cases of fire accidents, a development it said is putting a stain on limited resources.

In under two weeks, five have died while three others are nursing injuries, this according to a statement by the hospital.

Wapolisi wavulala, kulandidwa mfuti ku Kasungu

Wa polisi m'modzi wavulala pa chiphwilikiti chomwe chinabuka pa mudzi wa  Ganthu  kwa mfumu Kayesa mdera la mfumu Lukwa ku Kasungu usiku walachinayi.

Anthu a mmudziwo akuti analanda mfuti pa chipolowecho, chomwe akuti chinadza kaamba koti munthu wina akufuna kuti awasamutse pa mudzipo kuti atsekulepo munda.

Mfumu Kayesa yati anthuwa anakwiya ndi kubwera kwa apolisi pa mudzipo, pa nkhani yomwe akuona kuti akuphwanyilidwa ufulu wawo.

"Mudzi wa Ganthu udayamba mchaka cha 1932, koma m’modzi mwa akubanja la chifumu akufuna abale ake , asuweni asamuke kuti azilimapo zomwe mzolakwika," inatero mfumuyi.

Koma mneneri wa apolisi ku Kasungu a Josephy Kachikho wati nthambi ya za nkhalango inakatenga apolisiwo kuti akathandize kulanda makala ndipo ndi komwe chiphwilikiticho chinabuka.

Iwo atsimikiza za kuvalazidwa kwa wapolisiyo, ndipo anati apolisi akufufuza kuti adziwe msonga yeniyeni ya nkhaniyi.

"Ofesi ya za nkhalango inatifunsa kuti akufuna asilikali kuti akalande makala. Ngati anthuwo akuti ndi nkhani ya malo ndiye kuti tifufuza," atero a Kachikho.

Wapolisi yemwe wavulalazidwa ali mchipatala cha Kasungu ndipo mfuti yomwe anthuwo analanda yapezeka.

Quton Diversifies into Maize Seed Production

One of Malawi’s leading cotton seed suppliers, Quton Malawi Limited, a subsidiary of Mahyco International Private Limited of India, is diversifying its work by going into the production and distribution of maize seed.

MDF Commander Claims Politicians, Government Officials Bribing Soldiers

The commander of the Malawi Defence Force, General Paul Valentino Phiri, claims that some top government officials, politicians and influential business persons are influencing  and bribing MDF soldiers at check-points.

General Phiri said this at a press briefing in Lilongwe yesterday, where he addressed security issues in the country and clarification on issues surrounding the Chilumba roadblock.

The developments come following an outcry from communities surrounding Chirumba barracks in Karonga, that the MDF soldiers subject them to various forms of abuses when they are passing at the roadblock, which is manned by the soldiers.

General Phiri said these people engage in such acts in order to pass their goods at the check points.
 
He said MDF will report the perpetrators to the Anti-Corruption Bureau and other relevant authorities.

"The military is not a court, and we are not the police to arrest people.  Unfortunately, we find people who have actually contravened certain statues of the country. What we do is hand them over to the appropriate stakeholders, who will be able to deal with them, and that is what we have done," explained General Phiri.

He further says  that his institution will conduct a survey on why soldiers are being involved in such acts now.

"We are planning to conduct a survey, to establish why some soldiers are behaving like this, and intensify more on instilling discipline in our colleges. It is just a few individuals who may decide to be doing business in a very unusual way. Soldiering is about following what you have been directed and not doing your own things," he said.

Governance expert George Chaima says it is important for these influential people to let the law enforcers do their job without fear or favour.

"If that is the case, what everybody, including politicians, should know, is that we are putting our national security at stake, because security matters need to be managed professionally," said Chaima.

Go to top
JSN Time 2 is designed by JoomlaShine.com | powered by JSN Sun Framework