‘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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MHC’s new housing drive rests on three pillars; urban renewal, partnerships and transparency

* At it also highlights a shift in enforcement from announcing projects to engaging communities first * Citing the Malangalanga Area 1 redevelopment project where MHC engaged property owners by offering compensation and house swaps * Instead of issuing eviction notices, resulting in broad support for the project By Duncan Mlanjira Malawi Housing Corporation (MHC) Chief Executive Officer, Bob Chimkango, maintains that the institution’s new direction rests on three pillars: urban renewal, partnerships with investors & developers, and transparency…

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Tomato farmers call for sustainable markets as SMEDCO moves to curb losses

* SMEDCO is buying surplus tomatoes amid concerns over low market prices and potential post-harvest losses * And preserving it for six months to be released back on the market when it becomes scarce while also processing tomato sauce and tomato paste By Chipangano Andisen, Malawi News Agency (MANA) Tomato farmers in Malawi have called for sustainable markets and affordable financing, saying high production costs, pest and disease challenges, and unstable prices continue to expose them to losses despite…

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Very deafening silence from Tourism Ministry’s over vandalised-to-the-ground Kuti Wildlife Reserve in Salima

* At a time when Malawi is struggling to promote tourism and earn much-needed forex, it’s heartbreaking to see Kuti Wildlife Reserve in Salima torched by the villagers * This is what it looks like when criminals don’t face consequences for their actions — they take it further and further * The sad part is that the place got burned two days after this year’s commemoration of World Tourism Day, which marked the National Tourism Month By Duncan Mlanjira…

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High cost of rampant vandalism of public infrastructure rears its ugly face as Blantyre City taps run dry for three days

The affected pipeline * Following attempted vandalism of main transmission pipeline from Walkers Ferry Pumping Station to Chileka * Whose chamber (pipe interconnection point) got burst that resulted in huge volumes of water gushing out * Vandalism and other malpractices affects water supply causing significant financial losses to Blantyre Water Board * As BWB collaborates with Malawi Police Service to sensitise the public on the repercussions of the vice By Duncan Mlanjira Blantyre Water Board (BWB) has finally repaired…

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One year of Mutharika’s Administration: Have we come full circle?

* One year into its mandate, the President owes Malawians more than political rhetoric — he owes them answers * Because when the lights go out, the fuel disappears, corruption cases disappear, parliamentary oversight becomes contested and public confidence begins to disappear with them, ordinary Malawians are left asking one simple question: * Who is actually in charge — and who will rescue us from this cycle? By Dr. James Kadyampakeni When I wrote about the Democratic Progressive Party…

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ESCOM continues to urge public to remain vigilant in reporting power infrastructure vandalism

The convicts Bize Tsabola and Yamikani Mlolo * As it welcomes 10-year prison sentence each on two individuals caught for vandalising ESCOM property * See something, say something — let’s defeat vandalism together. Report by calling ESCOM via 2020 or 3030 By Duncan Mlanjira Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) has welcomed the stiff 10-year imprisonment with hard labour slapped on two individuals, caught in possession of 100 metres of aluminium conductor wire belonging to power utility service provider….

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TNM tips consumers on common factors that increase data usage

* The tips are intended to help customers manage their data and do not dismiss concerns raised * TNM is committed to transparency and ensuring customers receive the full value of the bundles they purchase By Duncan Mlanjira Following concerns raised by customers, which Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) announced that it was investigating over rapid depletion of mobile data bundles, TNM Plc has offered some common factors that increase data usage. In a public notice, TNM highlights that…

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Four African heads of State attend groundbreaking of Aliko Dangote’s US$16 billion oil refinery in Kenya

* Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (Uganda), Romuald Wadagni (Benin), Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové (Togo), Abiy Ahmed Ali (Prime Minister Ethiopia) and former Nigeria President Olusegun Obasanjo * This is the clearest signal that the impact of this project will extend far beyond Kenya’s borders—Kenya President William Ruto * With a capacity of 700,000 barrels daily, the refinery will be the largest in East and Central Africa and among the biggest in the world * It will strengthen regional energy security,…

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