A group of Elderly people and Chiefs in the country are demanding the introduction of the old pension scheme they were promised, saying life is very tough for them in villages.

Some Chiefs in the country have expressed worry over the continued delay by government to pay them honorarium for 19 months now.

Concerned Chiefs from Dedza and Chikwawa for example have told Zodiak Online that the delay is affecting their livelihood.

"We have not received our honorarium for 19 months, they are not telling us what is causing the delay, this has affected us, we depend on this money to get our basic needs."

"It is unfortunate that despite the money we receive being very little, government is also delaying to pay us," said the chiefs.

The Concerned Chiefs in Dedza and Chikwawa for example told Zodiak online that village headmen receive K5000 and group Village Headmen K10,000 only per month but they are yet to receive their money for months.

The Chiefs said they feel under-appreciated despite undertaking a crucial role in the country's villages.

The Chiefs have also faulted government for paying chiefs through banks saying, the little money they receive is used for transport to and from the banks.

"We are worried as chiefs, we are paid honorarium through banks, for us to travel to and from the bank, we spend a lot of money for transport," said the chiefs.

Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Halima Daudi attributed the delay to failure by some Chiefs to open bank accounts.

"Some Chiefs have not opened bank accounts that is why they are not receiving honorarium but their money is available."

"As government, we are considering to start paying chiefs through Airtel money or Mpamba," said the chiefs.

Meanwhile, the chiefs have faulted Government for introducing a system of paying their honorarium through banks before consulting them.

Malawi Girl Guides Association (MAGGA) has embarked on a MK6.2 billion kwacha project aimed at improving the sexual and reproductive health rights of teen mothers and adolescent girls in central region districts of Dedza and Mchinji.

Some Malawians have expressed interest to develop a new low-cost passenger airline and make it affordable for Malawians and serving domestic flights within the country on routes that have not been served in recent times.

The spokesperson for the group Mr. John Mkumba has confirmed the development to Zodiak online.

"The company will create jobs in all airports in Malawi, we will look at bringing back Malawian pilots and we shall also make direct flights from places like Mzuzu to other neighboring countries in the future," said Mkumba.

Mkumba said the group will obtain a license by the fourth quarter of 2021 and commence flights between Lilongwe, Blantyre, and Mzuzu.

He added that the airline will be able to provide safe, reliable, and affordable air transport to travelers and also provide an important boost to the national economy.

Anna Simoleti , a woman from Dedza who gave birth to triplets was in all smiles when the Exclusive Bragging Rights golfers team housed at the Lilongwe Golf Club donated several items to her.

Mr. Fote Masawu a man from Kapanda village, Traditional Authority Tambala in Dedza has expressed worry over the delay by managers of Thuma forest reserve to compensate him after being shot by their forest guards.

Traditional Leaders in Dedza have asked government to invest more in social protection programs and to re-introduce public works programme that was suspended.

An Organization called Refresh has pleaded with fishermen in the country to avoid using illegal fishing gears and chemicals on lake Malawi.

Concerned with high unemployment rate among graduates, Malawi Girl Guides Association (MAGGA) in collaboration with Development Aid from People to People (DAPP) has embarked on training girls with technical skills in Dedza and Salima.

750 girls have graduated in Dedza after undergoing a 6 months safe space mentorship programme that Malawi Girl Guides Association is implementing with funding from UNFPA.