Alinafe Mlamba
Civil rights leaders are mourning the death of Rafik Hajat whom they describe as a patriot and passionate civil rights and governance activist, who helped grow civil society in Malawi.
First lady Monica Chakwera has launched a life story booklet and video documentary courtesy of Plan Malawi. The book aims at drawing inspiration from her life story.
The new European Union Ambassador Rune Skinnebach has commended president Lazarus Chakwera for his commitment to curb corruption in the country.
African and Caribbean countries have been tipped to stay United if the two are to achieve economic and social growth and also to deal with global calamities such as the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change.
Education and human rights experts have expressed concern with the decrease in the number of learners sitting for the Primary School Certificate of education which commenced yesterday.
On Tuesday, the Malawi National Examinations Board-MANEB announced a decrease in the number of candidates sitting for the Primary School Leaving Certificate examinations this year.
Ministry of education could not justify the cause of the decrease, saying an investigation will be instituted to establish the cause.
But education expert Benedicto Kondowe is not moved with the decline, attributing it to the Covid-19 pandemic which has left many students unprepared.
According to Kondowe, government needs to formulate policies which can safeguard the right to education during global calamities.
“We need to have strategies which can motivate and safeguard our children so that they can sit for any exams regardless of natural mishaps such as this one,” he said.
Concurring with Kondowe, Dr. Jessie Kabwila, human rights activist and education expert says the development is indicative of impacts of the covid-19 pandemic.
“This is not surprising and disheartening at the same time, the Covid-19 pandemic is really affecting us and this is just one of those indicators,” she said.
Standard 8 exams have commenced and according to MANEB, 281,329 candidates will sit for the examinations compared to last year's 302,985.
The Lilongwe District Health Office has almost exhausted the 29,000 doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, barely a month after the administration of the jab started.
The National Construction Industry Council has issued stop orders to 10 non-compliant construction projects from different contractors across the country.
At least 40 police officers have been transferred to new posts in a manner some of them feel is linked to a recent protest they put up over allowances they expected to get for services during the SADC Summit.
Zodiak has established that the controversial labour relations amendment bill is not part of the eleven bills that parliament has sent to President Lazarus Chakwera for assent.
Zodiak has established that the country is heading towards Covid-19 vaccine shortage again days after resuming administration of the vaccine.