Malawi expected to produce over 1,000 megawatts of electricity by 2030 through three major energy projects in the pipeline

* The projects include Mpatamanga Hydropower in Neno, solar power in Salima and the coal-fired power plant at Kam’mwamba in Balaka * The country’s current electricity access rate, estimated at 12%, remains among the lowest globally and continues to affect economic growth By Brenda Nkosi, MANA Government is implementing three major energy projects to increase electricity generation to over 700 megawatts (MW) in order to meet the target of producing over 1,000MW by 2030 in order to improve power…

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Standard Bank invests K50 million worth of books by Malawian authors into National Library Service

* The books on academics, history, fiction and children’s is our vote of confidence in home-grown literature—Head of Global Markets Mlangadzuwa Chigaru * This is one of the most enduring assets any nation can hold—National Library Service Board chairperson, Brian Ndawa By Duncan Mlanjira In recognition that access to literature makes a difference between curiosity and closed doors for many young Malawians, Standard Bank has invested K50 million worth of books written by Malawian authors into National Library Service (NLS)….

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Reversing Malawi’s trade imbalance: A strategic case for value addition and export transformation

* Despite being endowed with significant mineral resources, the country has yet to translate this potential into sustained export growth and foreign exchange earnings * The core challenge lies not in resource availability, but in limited value addition and weak integration into global value chains By Chifipa Mhango, Chief Economist-Don Consultancy Group Malawi’s persistent negative trade balance reflects a structural imbalance between high import dependence and a narrow export base. Despite being endowed with significant mineral resources, including uranium,…

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Despite incentives encouraging communities against wanton cut down of trees, Zomba Plateau forest reserve still under threat

* Zomba Forest Lodge’s environmental conservation programme, TREEZ sponsors 17 groups, who each have designated areas and each of them is given an amount of money equivalent to the number of trees in their area * This means that the more trees there are, the more money the groups receive — but despite the incentive, the wanton cutting down of trees is continuing By Duncan Mlanjira Distressed by the high rate of wanton cutting down of trees on Zomba…

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5th edition of DCCMS Zanyengo e-Newsletter highlights how Malawi’s early warning agenda is advancing through stronger science

5th edition of DCCMS Zanyengo e-Newsletter highlights how Malawi’s early warning agenda is advancing through stronger science * Along with stronger partnerships, and a clear commitment to turning observations into action * The publication can be accessed through https://www.metmalawi.gov.mw/publications/the-zanyengo-e-newsletter-5th-edition/ By Duncan Mlanjira Malawi’s early warning agenda is advancing through stronger science, stronger partnerships, and a clear commitment to turning observations into action, reports the  Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS) in its 5th-edition-of-the-Zanyengo-e-Newsletter. Launched last year, the…

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Government releases minimum prices for farm produce with maize at K900/kg

* All agro-dealers, agro-processors and others who deal with crop commodities are requested to buy the produce at prices not less than those stipulated By Duncan Mlanjira The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation & Water Development has issued a statement declaring minimum gate prices for strategic crops that are being harvested from the 2025/26 farming season, with the staple maize at K900/kg. Rice-paddy is at K1,500/kg; shelled groundnuts at K3,500/kg; unshelled groundnuts (K2,000/kg); pure beans (K3,400/kg); white Harricot beans (K3,000/kg);…

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‘ESCOM Board appointed new CEO Eng. Kaipa to lead transformation, not to manage continuity’

Eng. Kaipa being welcomed aboard by Board chairperson Nhlema * As the Board, led by chairperson, Alfred Nhlema officially introduce him to the ESCOM Executive Management team  * Taking the helm with a clear mandate to stabilise the system, mobilise the workforce and reposition ESCOM as a resilient national utility fit for Malawi’s future By Duncan Mlanjira ​The Board of Directors for Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) Limited, led by chairperson, Alfred Nhlema, has officially introduced newly-appointed Chief…

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K1.8 billion collected from toll gates between January and March 2026 up from K920 million recorded during the same period last year

* Representing 96% increase following a 100% increase in toll tariffs effective January 2026, alongside a rise in fuel levy allocations from about K126 per litre for petrol and K123 per litre for diesel to K506 and K503 respectively, which has significantly strengthened the financing framework * As RFA plans to expand the tolling network, with four new tollgates expected in the 2026/27 financial year at Mkamanga in Mponela, Dowa; Gwayi in Nkhamenya, Kasungu; Chileka on the Lilongwe-Mchinji Road;…

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Eleanor Mitchell-Heggs interacted with Malawi NGOs during her 10 months 10,000km cycle of Southern Africa

Mitchell-Heggs reporting back to Malawi High Commissioner to the UK, Dr. Thomas Bisika in London * She flew to Kigali in Rwanda in May 2025 and cycled through to Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia and all the way to South Africa * In  Malawi, she attended NGO Day in Mzuzu where met “some amazing NGOs” like Tilitonse Foundation, Emerge Livelihoods and Plan International Malawi By Duncan Mlanjira Eleanor Mitchell-Heggs, who cycled 10,000km in nine Southern African countries…

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Insurance in Malawi: From afterthought to economic necessity

* The insurance industry in Malawi is still underdeveloped, but its importance cannot be overstated * At its core, insurance performs a simple but transformative function — it converts unpredictable, catastrophic losses into manageable financial costs * Where it is widely adopted, people recover faster, businesses endure, and economies remain stable. Where it is absent, shocks turn into long-term poverty * If Malawi is serious about building a resilient and inclusive economy, insurance must move from the margins to…

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