President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Pope Francis, the 266th Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, hailing him as a global symbol of faith, compassion, and justice.
In a statement from the State House, President Chakwera, alongside the First Lady, praised Pope Francis for his enduring commitment to unity and peace, noting that he had the privilege of meeting the late pontiff during a visit to the Vatican nine months ago.
“We join all who were inspired by him in mourning his passing, as he leaves behind a legacy of faith, compassion, love and service, promoting peace, justice and unity,” reads part of the statement.
President Chakwera lauded Pope Francis for his bold leadership in reforming the Catholic Church and advocating for global governance reforms, specifically citing the Pope’s progressive teachings, including the influential environmental encyclical Laudato si’, which called for urgent action to care for the planet and address social inequalities.
President with Pope Francis when he visited Rome
“We will always remember him for his courage in advocating for reform in governance worldwide, which he himself led by example through the radical reforms he advanced in the Catholic Church,” the statement continued.
Offering condolences to the Pope’s family, the global Catholic community, and Malawian Catholics, the President prayed for Pope Francis’ eternal peace and celebrated his impactful life.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, served as Pope since 2013 and was known for his humility, progressive stance on social issues, and efforts to bridge divides both within and beyond the Church.
The global Christian community is mourning the loss of a spiritual leader whose message of love, inclusion, and stewardship touched millions across the world.
Pope Francis, 86, died on Easter Monday morning after suffering from pneumonia for a long time.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested Mzimba North Member of Parliament Yeremiah Chihana on allegations of corruption, failure to declare interest, and money laundering.
According to a warrant of arrest issued by the Resident Magistrate Court sitting in Mzuzu, Chihana is “reasonably suspected” of having committed the offence of misuse of public office, contrary to Section 25B (1) of the Corrupt Practices Act.
Chiana is also accused of failure to declare interest under Section 25D (2) of the same Act and money laundering, contrary to Section 42(2)(c) of the Financial Crimes Act.
In a statement, ACB says the charges stem from Chihana’s alleged role in authorizing payments totaling K29 million to Northworks Company Ltd, despite being in a contractual agreement with the company.
Chihana – Arrested Tuesday morning
ACB Principal Public Relations Officer Egrita Ndala confirmed the arrest, stating that Chihana will be formally charged with two counts of abuse of office and one count of failure to declare interest.
“The ACB investigations found that Honourable Yeremiah Chihana requested Mzimba District Council to make payments of K14,000,000.00 and K15,000,000.00 to Northworks Company Ltd… with full knowledge that the road rehabilitation works will not be done by the Northworks Ltd,” reads the statement.
Chihana, a known critic of President Lazarus Chakwera’s administration, is expected to be transferred from Blantyre, where he was arrested, to Mzuzu for court proceedings on Wednesday 16th April, 2025.
Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Dr. George Chaponda, visited Chihana at the ACB offices in Blantyre, expressing concern over the detention.
Chaponda captured when he visited Chihana
“I’m delighted to see he’s in good spirits. We’ve assured him of our support during this challenging time,” said Chaponda. “As a vocal advocate for various causes, Honourable Chihana’s voice will continue to be heard, and his detention won’t silence him.”
Some opposition voices allege the arrest is politically motivated because Chihana recently expressed support for former President Peter Mutharika’s possible return to power, prompting speculation about the timing of his arrest.
Political analyst George Chaima also criticized the move, saying, “The MCP-led government is targeting dissenters while Malawians are suffering from hunger and economic hardship.”
In 2022, Chihana accused the government of mishandling K30 billion under the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP), claiming to have evidence of widespread corruption.
He also called for an independent commission to investigate the suspicious death of Vice President Saulos Chilima.
Chihana will spend the night in police custody and appear in court in Mzuzu tomorrow to face the charges.
Nine ambulances at Mangochi District Hospital remain out of service, with four lacking any clear repair plan, following meetings between musician Patience Namadingo and district authorities.
Namadingo, who traveled to Mangochi to understand the situation and offer assistance, revealed that accessing accurate information and cooperation from officials was initially difficult.
“I didn’t go there to collect the ambulances. I went to understand the procedure and find out how I could help. What I did not anticipate was how difficult it would be to even get a conversation started,” said Namadingo.
After an unsuccessful first day, Namadingo was granted an audience with the full district leadership, including the District Commissioner (DC), Director of Health Services (DHS), and Chairpersons of relevant committees.
During the meeting, officials confirmed that out of nine non-functional ambulances, five had been marked for repair, and three had already been transferred to the Plant and Vehicle Hire Organisation (PVHO) for maintenance.
However, a lack of communication raised concerns among leaders.
“I was surprised to learn that three ambulances were already moved for maintenance, yet no one had informed us. Even hospital officials present last week didn’t mention this,” said Ivy Sande, Chairperson of the Health and Environment Service Committee.
The District Commissioner responded by suggesting it “might have slipped the minds” of hospital administrators, a remark that sparked a lengthy debate over transparency and accountability.
Namadingo with Mangochi District Council Officials after a successful meeting
Council Chairperson Yusuf Abdalla, who also serves as the councillor for Makanjira Ward, strongly urged expedited action on the grounded vehicles.
“We can’t continue losing time while ambulances gather dust. There has to be a quicker way to fix these vehicles,” Abdalla pleaded during the meeting.
Namadingo is now preparing to submit a formal proposal on how he can support the district in repairing the remaining ambulances which will undergo a legal review before a decision is made.
“This is not about me. It’s not about celebrity or politics,” Namadingo said. “It’s about a mother in labor at night with no transport. It’s about children who can’t reach a clinic in time. If my voice can help put even one ambulance back on the road, then it’s worth it.”
Health service delivery in Malawi continues to face challenges, particularly in rural districts.
Similar ambulance shortages have been reported elsewhere, often due to inadequate maintenance funding and delayed procurement systems.
President Lazarus Chakwera and human rights advocates have strongly condemned the violent attacks on civil servants who attempted to deliver a petition at Parliament in Lilongwe on Wednesday.
The demonstrators, protesting the government’s 20% salary increment, were assaulted by unidentified thugs wielding panga knives, wooden clubs, and other weapons.
In a statement, Presidential Press Secretary Anthony Kasunda said President Chakwera has directed the Malawi Police Service to investigate the incident and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
“The President condemns such acts in the strongest terms and has instructed law enforcement agencies to take swift action. Violence has no place in this country, and my administration will not tolerate any form of intimidation or lawlessness,” the statement read.
Undule Mwakasungula has described the act as uncalled for.
Mwakasungula also expressed deep concern over the attacks, stating that they undermine Malawi’s democratic principles and the right to peaceful protest.
“Violence has no space in our democracy, and no one should be allowed to intimidate citizens who are exercising their constitutional rights. The right to peaceful assembly and demonstration is fundamental, and it is unacceptable that some people resorted to violence to suppress it,” he said.
He further stressed that such incidents erode public confidence in the country’s justice system and called on authorities to act swiftly in identifying and prosecuting the perpetrators.
Concerned Citizens of Malawi Chairperson Edward Kambanje echoed these sentiments, urging law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of peaceful demonstrators.
Chaos at Memorial Tower, Area 18, Lilongwe, as panga-wielding youths chase protesting civil servants over a 20% salary increment. Picture Curtsey of Nation Online
“We demand that authorities arrest and prosecute those responsible for attacking peaceful demonstrators. The Malawi Police Service must fulfill its duty of protecting all citizens under any circumstances,” Kambanje stated.
Meanwhile, Leader of the House Richard Chimwendo Banda acknowledged in Parliament that both the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) must take responsibility for rising political violence.
“This violence is mainly from DPP and MCP. Both parties must resolve the violence in this country. Unfortunately, some members of Parliament are propagating it,” he lamented.
As Malawi approaches the 2025 elections, Mwakasungula and other advocates have urged political leaders to promote peace and unity. They warned that if political violence continues, it could jeopardize the country’s democratic progress and stability.
“We must choose dialogue over confrontation, unity over division, and peace over violence. Let us reject violence and work together for the betterment of our country,” Mwakasungula appealed.
The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education, has today released the names of students selected to pursue their studies in public universities across the country.
The results include students admitted to Mzuzu University, the University of Malawi, the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences, the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, and the Malawi University of Science and Technology.
President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has expressed satisfaction in his four years of administrative achievements towards moving Malawi forward to self-reliance at the opening of the 51st Session of Parliament and 2025-2026 Budget which took place at the August House in Lilongwe on Friday.
He outlined several developments that his administration has delivered in four years of his leadership including education, health, water and sanitation, and energy among others.
In terms of agriculture, President Chakwera mentioned that in four years, his administration has managed to provide food security to Malawian households even in the toughest weather conditions across the country through initiatives such as El Nino Lean Season Support among others.
Chakwera presenting the State of the Nation Address -Pic by Roy Nkosi
“Karonga suffered serious dry spells in 2023, which destroyed over 10,500 hectares of rice and over 8,500 hectares of maize. Leaving over 38,500 families in Karonga without food overnight. So, what we have done in four years is to ensure Karonga has a backup plan for growing food in and out of season, even when it does not rain.
“We have done this by rehabilitating four previously neglected irrigation schemes, namely Wovwe, Hara, Chonanga and Ukanga for both maize and rice production, which should benefit from the Nthola-Ilola Rice Scheme where we have installed a rice-milling plant that is fully operational,” he said.
He further mentioned that farmers across the country have benefited greatly from the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) among other initiatives which have enabled them to procure fertilizer and other farm inputs at a low price.
Chakwera also said his administration has also made remarkable progress in infrastructure development such as schools, hospitals, roads and bridges among many which are set to usher Malawians to sustainable economic growth.
Members of Parliament interact ahead of the State of the NationAddress -Pic by Roy Nkosi
“We have completed and operationalized the One-Stop- Border Post, reducing customs clearance time by 70 percent in Mwanza, set up a one-stop border post in Likangala, Phalombe to enhance security and boost revenue collection,” he stated.
Economically, Chakwera stated that his administration has improved access to business loans through National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF), Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) and Climate Smart Cash Support to boost agriculture and businesses in the country and extended to raising civil servants’ salaries to alleviate the financial burdens that came with the country’s economic challenges.
Chakwera revealed his plans to transform Likoma Island into a world-class tourism hot spot that will be utilized as a tool to generate forex through foreign investor agreements that have been made.
“As we work on developing new vessels for our lake, Madam Speaker, I am committed to ensuring that the investors from Germany and the Middle East involved in this project are fully incentivized to fulfil this promising venture. The vision includes a city teeming with tax-exempt resorts, hotels, casinos, and banks backed by our precious metals like gold, which will support a thriving crypto Stablecoin market linked to USDC and USDT cryptocurrency markets worldwide, ultimately enhancing US Dollar liquidity in Malawi,” elaborated Chakwera.
The President went further to reaffirm his vision of advancing the country’s development in years to come by saying what he has achieved in the four years of his leadership is proof of his commitment to self-reliance in Malawi.
Chikadza: We believe the budget will be inline with MIP1
In an interview, the President of Economics Association of Malawi (ECAMA), Bertha Bangala Chikadza, said she expects to hear more from the 2025-2026 upcoming budget meeting on the future of Malawi’s economy.
“We believe that the budget will be in line with the Malawi Implementation Plan (MIP1) and we expect to see more on employment and human productivity since the economy is unstable so the productive sector needs to have more investment,” she said.
Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture, Richard Chimwendo Banda has advised the newly installed Traditional Authority (T/A) Makata V to lead by example by uniting his subjects and fighting against corruption at the community level.
Chimwendo Banda made the remarks on Sunday in Blantyre during the installation ceremony of T/A Makata V, whose real name is Peter Jonamu.
The minister observed that for years, the area under T/A Makata has been shrouded with chieftaincy wrangles; hence, the need for the newly installed chief to leave aside vengeance and advocate for peace and unity among his subjects.
Chimwendo Banda: Fight corruption at all levels
“We are happy that finally, we have a designated T/A Makata in this area and the message from President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera to the newly installed Chief is that he should be an instrument of promoting hardworking spirit, unity, peace, tolerance, and justice among the people he leads and above all, promote sustainable development in the area,” he said.
Chimwendo Banda also advised all traditional leaders in the country to promote transparency and accountability in the provision of social protection programmes and the distribution of maize and fertilizers to vulnerable families.
Blantyre District Council Chairperson, Elson Dumuka congratulated T/A Makata V for attaining the chieftain position.
Senior Chief Kapeni speaks on behalf of other chiefs
“We are delighted by this development considering that Blantyre District Council works with chiefs to spearhead development that benefit communities at all levels. So, in areas where there are no chiefs, people in such places get deprived of development,” Dumuka said.
In his remarks, T/A Makata V hailed government for the ceremony and pledged to take all the advice given with seriousness and work in accordance with the laws of Malawi.
The installation of Traditional Authority Makata V follows the death of T/A Makata IV, Diston Andrea on July 24, 2021.
President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has described the 34 schools of excellence that the government intends to construct across the country as a milestone in transforming the future generation.
The President was speaking Saturday at Malembo Community Day Secondary School ground after launching the construction of the school of excellence at Nyanga-Kasiya in the area of Traditional Authority Khongoni in Lilongwe.
“This vision started way back in 2020. Since then I have been following it up and we have been working tirelessly to find our resources to get off the ground. I am happy today that the dream is being fulfilled,” he said.
However, the Malawi leader condemned some civil servants in the government who are delaying some projects that the government is eager to implement.
Chakwera stresses A point -Pic by Roy Nkosi
“These projects would have started way back, but I know there are some civil servants who have been delaying such projects by hiding the files in their offices. I need to warn you that I am tired of this behavior and soon you will pay for it,” he said.
In her remarks, Minister of Education for Basic and Secondary Education Madalitso Kambawuwa Wilima said the launching of the construction of a school of excellence is a true reflection of the government’s commitment to provide and improve equitable access to relevant and quality education to the citizens of the country.
Wilima said the project is a stepping stone for actualizing an inclusivity and self-reliant nation through mindset change and human capital development as spelled out in Malawi 2063.
Minister of Basic Education Madalitso Wilima speaking at the event -Pic by Mana
Speaking earlier, Senior Chief Khongoni of Lilongwe, thanked the government under the leadership of President Chakwera for its plans to construct 34 schools of excellence across the country which she said will foster good quality of education.
Khongoni further thanked the president for the different projects that have been achieved in the country, such as good roads, police and security agencies’ houses among others.
The construction of a school of excellence will be done in phases, with the first phase targeting Lilongwe, Rumphi, Mangochi, Nsanje, and Chiradzulu districts.
According to Chakwera, the proposed schools will feature cutting-edge facilities such as a football academy for both boys and girls and a state-of-the-art stadium for various sports disciplines such as netball, basketball, volleyball and many more.
Environmental advocates have hailed the recent High Court ruling upholding Malawi’s ban on thin plastics, describing it as a major victory in the fight against plastic pollution.
Experts have praised the decision as a crucial step toward preserving ecosystems and mitigating the harmful effects of plastic waste.
Julius Ng’oma, National Coordinator for the Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC), welcomed the verdict as a milestone in Malawi’s environmental protection efforts.
Ng’oma: It’s a milestone to our environmental protection efforts
“It has been a long and difficult battle, but this ruling affirms the government’s commitment to protecting Malawians from the harmful effects of plastic pollution. We commend the judiciary and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change for remaining steadfast in upholding the ban,” he said.
Ng’oma stressed that this ruling is not just a victory for environmentalists but for every Malawian.
Despite the victory, Ng’oma emphasized the need for stringent enforcement, calling on regulatory authorities to take immediate action against any company that attempts to defy the ruling.
“We have seen instances in the past where enforcement was relaxed, allowing some manufacturers to continue producing thin plastics. This must not happen again. The government must move quickly to ensure full compliance with the ban,” he urged.
Environmentalist Mathews Malata displays recommended plastic papers during a press briefing in 2024
Charles Mkoka, Executive Director of the Coordination Union for the Rehabilitation of the Environment (CURE), spoke of the long-standing impact of thin plastics on Malawi’s ecosystems and public health.
Mkoka told Nthanda Times that plastic pollution has become one of Malawi’s most pressing environmental challenges, with waste accumulating in urban centers and rural areas alike.
“When plastics break down, they release toxic chemicals into the soil and water, affecting both human health and biodiversity. In aquatic ecosystems, fish and other marine life ingest microplastics, which eventually find their way into our food chain. This is a public health concern that should not be taken lightly,” he explained.
Mkoka also highlighted the need for coordinated enforcement efforts involving Malawi Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), the Malawi Police Service, the Malawi Bureau of Standards, and local government authorities to monitor and curb the importation and distribution of thin plastics.
Mkoka: We need coordinated efforts among stakeholders to enforce the ban
“MEPA must work hand in hand with the Malawi Police, Malawi Bureau of Standards, and other agencies to ensure compliance. This is not just about policy—it is about practical enforcement,” Mkoka said, adding that businesses should take the lead in transitioning to sustainable packaging.
Both experts agreed that long-term change will require a shift in public attitudes toward plastic use.
In a ruling delivered by Justice Howard Pemba, the court discharged permission for judicial review and lifted the injunction that had temporarily halted the enforcement of the 2015 Environmental Management (Plastics) Regulations (EMR2015).
The case was filed by 11 plastic manufacturing companies, including City Plastics Industry, Flexo Pack Ltd, and Jagot Plastics Limited, against the Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change and the Attorney General.
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