Blantyre Mayor Jomo Osman’s sealing offices for unpaid city rates sparks hot debate on social media

* Engagement and dialogue is the best option going forward; both City Council and MHC are providing public services and it is the public which stands to suffer * While I agree with you, I think Jomo is breaking a culture that has retrogressed us for some many years! * If ESCOM owes Water Board money, let ESCOM pay and vice-versa. As legal personalities or entities, organisations such as City Assembly have financial projections around which plans are made…

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Civil Service Pension Fund to wait 36 years to recover Amaryllis Hotel purchase costs; With profitability only expected after 40 years

Amaryllis Hotel * Our projection valued the property at K36.7 billion, significantly lower than the K48.7 billion estimated by the buyer and seller—Continental Asset Management * Inconsistencies and unacceptable practice have emerged raising questions about the transaction’s integrity—PAC chairperson Steve Malondera By Patience Longwe, MANA Continental Asset Management has revealed to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament that the Public Service Pension Trust Fund faces a daunting 36-year wait to recover the K128 billion spent on purchasing Amaryllis…

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Parliament engages FDH Bank over the controversial Amaryllis Hotel purchase deal by Public Service Pension Trust Fund

* FDH Bank recommended that the hotel should be sold at around K30 billion, based on their 2023 assessment, but the hotel was ultimately sold for K128 billion * The transaction wasn’t particularly profitable compared to the investment made—FDH Bank Managing Director Noel Mkulichi By Patience Longwe, MANA & Duncan Mlanjira, Maravi Express The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has begun investigating the proposed purchase of Amaryllis Hotel by the Public Service Pension Trust Fund and today, it…

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’Strengthening enforcement of truck loading limits to not only protect road infrastructure but also improve road safety’—DRTSS Director Kuyera

* Nationwide truck overload surveys currently underway will provide baseline data that will inform the new strategy and help authorities identify corridors where overloading is most prevalent * As the Roads Authority observes that truck overloading is contributing to the premature deterioration of roads across the country By Arthur Kaludzu MANA The Directorate of Road Traffic & Safety Services (DRTSS) and the Roads Authority (RA) — through the Southern Africa Trade and Connectivity Project (SATCP), is reviewing the country’s…

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Rationale questioned behind ACB’s launch of Surveillance Unit vehicle installed with amber lights and sirens

*  Can a car — and one car for that matter — that is lebelled ‘ACB Surveillance Unit’ fight corruption? * Careless way of surveillance, this will let the corrupt guys know when they’re coming — it’s another corruption influencer in town * How much did this launch cost? Was it necessary for people to leave their work posts and attend the launch of a single landcruiser? Was this justifiable? By Duncan Mlanjira The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), under acting…

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Access to Information Act applies to private companies undertaking Malawi Government contracts—rules the High Court

* Following the case of Portuguese construction company Mota-Engil that challenged MHRC’s decision to assess its compliance with the ATI Act * The Court found that MHRC’s decision to assess Mota-Engil was neither illegal nor unreasonable in the Wednesbury sense By Duncan Mlanjira The High Court ruled on Friday, March 6, 2026 that the Access to Information Act (ATIA) applies to private companies that are undertaking Malawi Government contracts. The judgement follows the case of Portuguese construction company, Mota-Engil,…

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Public applauds DRTSS’ plans to enforce legal seating capacity for school buses

An AI generated image by the DRTSS to protect the identity of the minors * After the traffic law enforcement agency intercepted and impounded a 16-seater minibus overloaded with 36 school learners * The DRTSS arranged an alternative transportation for the learners to proceed with their trip, which has also been commended for By Duncan Mlanjira The Directorate of Road Traffic & Safety Services (DRTSS) has alerted schools management and transport operators that the law enforcement will be stopping…

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Health stakeholders MHEN, MEHA call for provision of free public toilets across Malawi

* Following Executive Order No. 2 of 2026 by President Mutharika mandating sanitation and hygiene facilities mandatory in public spaces, workplaces and schools * It is deeply concerning that in many urban areas, public toilets have been privatised and converted into fee-paying facilities, which disadvantages low-income citizens * Commercial institutions, particularly banks, should provide free and adequate toilet facilities for the customers in line with minimum public health standards By Duncan Mlanjira Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN) and the…

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MEPA implores on the public to refuse being served with banned thin plastics

* Warns all traders, retailers and consumers to immediately stop using banned things plastics and switch to environmentally-friendly alternatives * As the regulator embarks on compliance and enforcement inspections in markets and trading areas nationwide * All plastics with no name, registration of manufacturer, or a symbol indicating that it is recyclable, remains illegal in Malawi under the Environmental Management (Plastics) Regulations, 2015 By Duncan Mlanjira Malawi Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) is encouraged members of the public to support…

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Police fees and fines now to be paid through mobile money

* As the Government is automating most fees to eliminate cash transactions across all Ministries, Departments and Agencies Maravi Express Traffic offence fines by the police will now be made through mobile money as the Government is automating most fees to eliminate cash transactions across all Ministries, Departments and Agencies. This was announced by Minister of Finance, Economic Planning & Decentralisation, Joseph Mwanamvekha in his presentation of the 2025–2026 National Budget in Parliament today. In the same vein, the…

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