‘Malawi has much to gain from an active sovereign rating’—Don Consultancy Group

* One of the most important potential contributions of the newly-launched Africa Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA) should address the significant number of African countries that currently do not have an active sovereign credit rating from the major international rating agencies * Malawi is particularly relevant to this discussion because it does not currently have an actively maintained sovereign rating from the major global credit rating agencies By Duncan Mlanjira In welcoming the launch of the Africa Credit Rating Agency…

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Mpatamanga Hydropower Project completes 28 of the 48 resettlement houses

* The site will include access roads, boreholes, and a school, which will be completed by March 2027 * A third village at Kambalame in Neno District will be built in 2027 for people living in the future reservoir area By Clinton Kesten Mwanyopa, Malawi News Agency (MANA) The resettlement compensation arrangement of the construction of the 350 megawatts (MW) Mpatamanga hydropower storage project has completed 28 out of 48 resettlement houses at Chaswanthaka and Mpindo in Blantyre and…

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Delayed fencing in some national parks leaves surrounding communities vulnerable to wildlife incursions

A lion killed a man outside Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve last month * Thus lack of funds to complete fencing for Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve led to surrounding community member being killed by a stray lion * An incident that left people to live in fear since the stray lion was observed and reported of a week before By Frank Humphreys, Malawi News Agency (MANA) & Duncan Mlanjira, Maravi Express A lion that recently strayed beyond Vwaza Marsh Wildlife…

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‘Africa’s new Credit Rating Agency must deliver credibility, context and capital-market relevance’

* Says Chief Economist and Strategy Executive Director at Don Consultancy Group Chifi Mhango * The real test is not whether an African credit rating agency gives African countries better ratings * The real test is whether global investors eventually trust its ratings By Duncan Mlanjira The African Union (AU) has launched the Africa Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA), which been described as an important milestone in Africa’s efforts to strengthen its financial architecture, advance economic sovereignty and ensure that…

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Airtel Africa commits to delivering unmatched customer experience during Customer Service Week

*  Through continuous investment in its network, advanced technologies and strategic partnerships * To further expand its coverage and capacity to drive digital and financial inclusion in the continent By Duncan Mlanjira Airtel Africa has amplified its commitment to delivering unmatched experience to its 183.5 million subscribers by committing to deliver unmatched customer experience during its Customer Service Week. In a statement from Dubai, UAE, Airtel Africa says this commitment it through continuous investment in its network, advanced technologies…

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SMEDCO’s Phalombe Manufacturing & Value Addition Academy opens applications for January 2027 intake

*  SMEDCO shall recommend and facilitate access to business loans for successful trainees to business financing service providers * Subject to terms and conditions of the service provider, allocate mentors and continue monitoring establishment and growth of such businesses By Duncan Mlanjira Small and Medium Enterprises Development Corporation (SMEDCO) has opened applications for January 2027 intake for an intensive 3-months hands-on training on manufacturing, value addition and entrepreneurship at its Phalombe Academy. It is inviting entrepreneurs who are interested…

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‘Can Malawi build a US$1.5 billion Mpatamanga hydropower project without fixing the forex problem?’

* Mpatamanga could transform Malawi’s electricity supply — but a project can be technically brilliant, environmentally ambitious and internationally supported * And still struggle if the economics underneath it do not work—environmentalist Ian Bartlett By Duncan Mlanjira When completed Mpatamanga hydropower project would certainly transform Malawi’s electricity supply, maintains environmentalist, Ian Bartlett, who is particularly interested in the development as he is directly affected by it. His Mpatamanga Wildlife Ranch sits within the hydropower project’s footprint and he stresses…

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DoDMA unveils K488 billion national El Niño Preparedness Plan

* K163.7 billion (US$94.4 million) has been mobilised through existing projects run by government, development partners and NGOs * That leaves a gap of K324.8 billion (US$187.3 million) — the shortfall that Chief Secretary, Justin Saidi highlighted on September 10, when he urged the private sector to support By Frank Humphreys, Malawi News Agency (MANA) The Department of Disaster & Management Affairs (DoDMA) has unveiled K488 billion (US$281.7 million) national El Niño Preparedness Plan to protect millions of people…

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‘Malawians deserve more than a staged Presidential Scorecard’

* The interview may have given Malawians the President’s assessment of his first year * What it did not adequately provide was the rigorous examination of that assessment that citizens deserve * The harder questions remain, and Malawi deserves answers—economist and accountable governance advocate, Dr James Kadyampakeni By Duncan Mlanjira Canada-based Malawian economist and accountable governance advocate, Dr. James Kadyampakeni, has described President Arthur Peter Mutharika’s exclusive interview with MBC TV as a “staged Presidential Scorecard of his first…

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Critical spare part EGENCO sent to South Africa for repairs back to restore 20MW lost off the grid through Nkula B Unit 6

* Expected to be completed by end of this October when the unit is scheduled to return to service * The Unit has remained on forced outage to facilitate the replacement of worn-out thrust bearing pads and corrective maintenance on the turbine assembly By Duncan Mlanjira Electricity Generation Company (EGENCO) has finally secured the critical shaft Nkula B Hydropower Station’s Unit 6 — which it sent to the original equipment manufacturer’s workshop in South Africa for repairs in August…

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