Category: National

* These acts of vandalism undermine national development efforts as they disrupt essential services, endangers lives, affects businesses, education, healthcare delivery and economic activities in affected communities * Also place an unnecessary financial burden on ESCOM since resources meant for system expansion and service improvement are diverted to repair damaged infrastructure By Duncan Mlanjira Just this month of May alone, Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) has reported three incidents of vandalism of its infrastructure, the latest being on…

‘My country’s gatekeepers; History will not only judge those who destroyed the nation, it will also remember those who watched in silence’—Kadyampakeni

May 17, 2026

* How do we fold our arms and look away while those chosen to guard our nation’s gates instead open them wide to greed, corruption, and destruction? By Duncan Mlanjira Dr. James Kadyampakeni — a prominent Canada-based Malawian economic policy analyst, researcher, and academic — contends that the citizenry should not “remain silent while watching our beloved country being slowly torn apart by the very hands we entrusted to protect it”. In an open statement posted on his Facebook…

MCCCI urges businesses to fully utilise new MBS state-of-the-art testing equipment to boost exports

May 14, 2026

* The newly installed equipment is a major breakthrough for Malawi, for exports, and for individual entrepreneurs * MBS can now conduct internationally recognised tests locally, removing the need for exporters to send samples abroad for certification By Memory Kutengule Chatonda, Malawi News Agency (MANA) President of Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry (MCCCI), Ronald Ngwira, has urged local businesses to fully utilise the newly-accredited state-of-the-art testing facilities at the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) to secure…

‘The rule of law must prevail if we are to build a just and peaceful society’—MP Walter Nyamilandu

May 13, 2026

| Law Enforcement, National, News

* On mob justice killings of innocent citizens suspected of involvement in the mysterious disappearance of body parts * I condemn such mob justice in the strongest terms. No one has the right to take the law into their own hands By Duncan Mlanjira Member of Parliament (MP) for Nsanje South West, Walter Nyamilandu Manda has commended the Malawi Police Service for taking swift action against perpetrators of mob justice killings of people alleged to have been involved, in…

MPC opens bill payment kiosks in post offices for Central Region Water Board customers

May 13, 2026

* Counter services in all post offices will be closed on Kamuzu Day public holiday on Thursday, May 14 but courier hubs for mail services will be open * From 09h00-12h00 for Blantyre, Chichiri, Zomba, Lilongwe, Mzuzu, Mzimba, Songwe Border and Chitipa By Duncan Mlanjira In order to maximise use of some of its post offices, Malawi Posts Corporation (MPC) has opened bill payment centres to be utilised by Central Region Water Board (CRWB) customers. The selected post offices…

‘A dual carriageway on Blantyre-Lilongwe M1 Road way overdue’

May 13, 2026

* President Mutharika’s remarks about his six-hour road journey between Blantyre and Lilongwe carry symbolic political significance * The message reflects not merely personal inconvenience, but acknowledgment of the everyday hardships faced by millions of Malawians—DCG Chief Economist, Chifipa Mhango By Duncan Mlanjira President Arthur Peter Mutharika has been applauded for his commitment to ensure that the Blantyre-Lilongwe M1 Road will be fully rehabilitated by December 31, 2026, while at the same his administration has been encouraged to consider…

President Mutharika sets December 31, 2026 as deadline for nationwide road rehabilitation

May 7, 2026

* After experiencing the poor condition of roads during his journey from Blantyre to Lilongwe that took nearly six hours due to potholes and damaged sections By Duncan Mlanjira After experiencing the poor condition of the M1 Road on Tuesday during his journey from Blantyre to Lilongwe that took nearly six hours due to potholes and damaged sections, President Arthur Peter Mutharika reaffirmed government’s target to rehabilitate all roads damaged across the country by December 31, 2026. This is…

MRA defended not to relent on execution of EIS despite resistance from a pocket of traders

May 7, 2026

* MRA should be supported by other authority bodies like CFTC, FIA, CAMA, ACB, Fiscal police not to relent * MRA is trying to reinforce leaking taxes while shop owners feel the system is preying on their businesses * As Northern Region Business Association calls off planned demonstrations against MRA after government invited it for dialogue in Blantyre Analysis by Duncan Mlanjira Following the resistance from a pocket of traders, who closed their shops in protest against the implementation…

‘Over 7,500 out of 9,000 VAT-registered operators already onboarded onto EIS and are seamlessly transacting on the platform’

May 5, 2026

MRA Commissioner General addressing the media accompanied by his executive management team * It is unfortunate that some traders have chosen to close their shops in protest against the implementation of EIS * It is even more concerning that some are reportedly threatening fellow traders who wish to continue operating * VAT is not paid by the shop owners; they merely collect the VAT on behalf of MRA and one would wonder why the shop owners are resisting the…

‘Serious negative economic implications expected for electricity consumers over re-instatement of Power Market Ltd’—CAMA

May 4, 2026