NATIONAL NEWS (5287)
Change4Us Urges Thyolo Youths to Care for Environment
A Thyolo based youth organization, Change4Us has challenged young people in the country to go green in a bid to help in mitigating the effects of climate change.
Over Half of Malawians Living in Poverty Bondage
At least 58.8 percent of Malawians are yet to break multidimensional poverty chains with the rural population dominating the list, a second national Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) report has revealed.
Evidence Action Assures to do More on Provision of Clean Water
A water and sanitation organisation, Evidence Action, says it has so far spent K4 billion to promote water treatment in rural areas of seven districts in Malawi.
Stakeholders Pray for Insecurity in Thyolo
Various stakeholders in Thyolo on Thursday gathered at Nambala 1 ground in praying for the district.
US Embassy Decries Rising Crime in Lilongwe
The American Embassy in Malawi has raised security concerns with increased crime in Lilongwe city this year warning its citizens to take extra caution.
A security alert from the embassy issued on 31 August indicates that the number of
crimes reported from January to August 2023, in area 10, 12 and 43, has nearly matched the total cases reported in the whole of 2022.
Reads part of the security alert: “This increase in crime is correlated with a heightened risk to foreign visitors and to the expatriate community.”
US Embassy Public Relations Officers, Namita Biggins, confirmed the development to Zodiak Online, adding the embassy has since issued the warning and recommendations for preventive actions to their citizens.
The security alert names home invasions, theft, car-jacking and break-ins as some of the crimes that frequently occur in the city.
It further says, other crimes such as kidnappings, though not frequent,also do occur in the city and other places in the country.
However, the police have dismissed this. Deputy national police spokesperson Alfred Chimthere told us crime in the city has actually declined this year in the said areas.
“The data that we have for car-jacking and others from January to June shows a 10 percent reduction from 41 cases in 2022 to 31 in 2023.”
He however said they will engage the American embassy to consolidate the figures and also ensure they provide maximum security in the city and other parts of the country.
Meanwhile, a security expert Master Mfune has dared the police to intensify patrols as one way of addressing the problem.
“The police should intensify their security, the normal patrols that they used to have are no longer there. In the past we could meet police officers on patrol, but now they have reduced,” said Mfune.
The American citizens in the country have since been advised to beware of their surroundings, be vigilant when visiting banks, Auto-teller Machines (ATMs) and should not display wealth by wearing expensive jewelry and watches. They have also been advised against resisting any robbery attempt, take caution when driving at night and desist from walking after dark.
Farmers Advised to Switch to Commercial Agriculture
Lilongwe District Council has asked farmers to commercialise their agricultural productivity by, among other things, adding value to their produce and making it stand competitively on the international market.
Court Finishes Hearing Homosexuality Case
A panel of three judges, sitting as a constitutional court in Blantyre says it will deliver its judgement on a homosexuality case at a date to be communicated.
Standard Bank Donates Textbooks To Limbuli Education Zone In Mulanje
Standard Bank Malawi on Tuesday donated 3750 textbooks worth K10.2 million to Limbuli Education Zone in Mulanje district.
Analysts thrash DPP Chakwera Impeachment Calls
Political analysts have thrashed an idea by the Democratic Progressive Party DPP that president Lazarus Chakwera should step down or risk being impeached by parliament.
The analysts have told us that despite the Tonse led administration not delivering several of its campaign promises, the opposition Democratic Progressive Party DPP is not being realistic in its fresh demands.
One of the analysts, Wonderful Mkhutche says the approach DPP has taken will not bring the change Malawians want, as it lacks solutions to challenges facing people.
“The current government is not working according to its promises and our expectations, but for DPP to go ahead to call for the president to step down or even go for an impeachment, that’s overthinking or overstepping because even if the president was removed today, DPP is not an option for power,” he said.
He adds; “At the briefing they were not offering any alternatives. They were not presenting ideas, as to how they could have handled the issue. They were simply talking about how things were during their time.”
Another analyst Chimwemwe Tsitsi is of the view that, the party missed an opportunity by not having leader of opposition in parliament, Kondwani Nankhumwa at the presser.
“I would expect the leader of opposition in parliament, Dr Kondwani Nankhumwa to have been among the people that addressed the press conference. And to show that leadership as the leader of opposition for Malawians to see the seriousness the opposition has,” he said.
On Monday, DPP senior officials held a press briefing in Blantyre where they discussed challenges Malawians are facing.
On Monday, the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) senior officials Dr. Dalitso Kabambe, Shadric Namalomba, Mary Navicha, Bright Msaka and Leonard Chimbanga held a press briefing dubbed “Enough is Enough; Chakwera Must Fall”.
At the briefing, the party made fresh calls for president Lazarus Chakwera to step down, or risk facing an impeachment from parliament. There were also allegations that, president Lazarus Chakwera and his Tonse led government are already working on rigging the 2025 general elections.
In response, the government spokesperson Moses Kunkuyu laughed of the claims, saying that rigging is not part of their tactic.
Lions Club International in Fresh Appeal for Malawi’s Cyclone Freddy Survivors
The Lions Clubs International's multiple district 412 covering Malawi, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique has stressed the need for continued humanitarian aid to survivors of cyclone Freddy which claimed lives of about 1000 people this year in some parts of the country.
Council Chairperson of the district, Lion Victor Gondwe said this during an induction ceremony of new leaders and members of Mzuzu, Viphya, and Katoto Specialty Lions Clubs, where he noted that in most places that were hit by the cyclone, survivors still need aid.
“The Lions community is expecting a lot from the newly inducted Lions in serving the disadvantaged, just like those that are affected by cyclone Freddy,” said Lion Gondwe.
He added that being a Lion means a big thing in saving people who are in dire need of help.
Lions embrace the Lions Club International's Five Pillars of Service which include Vision, Hunger, Diabetes, Cancer, and Environment.
Guest of honor at the ceremony, business person and renowned IT governance expert, Lion Mathews Mtumbuka tipped his fellow Lions to explore other avenues of mobilizing resources that are used to provide support to those in need.
Said Lion Mtumbuka; “We know that Lions build schools, and provide different needs to the people, but there is a need for them to find other ways of generating resources than depending on their monthly salaries, assuming they are employees.”
Among others, Lions strive to improve health and well-being, strengthen communities, and support those in need through humanitarian services and grants that impact lives globally and encourage peace and international understanding.
