“Today, we mark a new chapter in our collective concealment of a better Malawi. After a careful consideration and deliberation, the National Executive Committee of Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) has resolved to form an electoral Alliance with the Democratic Progressive Party DPP and other political Parties.” Chihana wrote.  AFORD President Rt. Hon. Enoch Kamzingeni Chihana has finally sealed the electoral alliance deal with DPP at a time when some political party leaders are advancing their personal interest other than of the nation.  In a press release signed by the AFORD President and seen by Khulubvi Post, Chihana has started by highlighting reasons for unity of purpose focusing on poor Malawians who are suffering  under MCP poor leadership. He said, “We are all aware how we have suffered as a result of skyrocketing of prices, scarcity of fuel, lack of employment among the youth, deliberate creation of hunger due to exorbitant price of fertilizer, sheer arrogance, nepotism, mismanagement of resources through corruption and failure to adhere on austerity measures”. Chihana stated that additionally, our democracy is under threat and if not careful as leaders, Malawi will turn into a one party State. We have had enough of empty rhetoric and failed policies. As we approach the September 16 elections, he is compelled to express his profound disappointment at the total number of presidential candidates vying for the highest office in the land. With 20 individuals seeking the presidency, it is clear that many are driven by personal ambition rather than a genuine desire to serve the nation. In a country struggling with pressing economic challenges, this dissonance of candidacies is a luxury we can not afford. Chihana said that he has decided not to join this calamity of greed individuals who are eager to satisfy their personal interests and not that of a common man. He observed that greedy will not save Malawians from the clueless government and further said that it is imperious that political leaders prioritize unity, stability, socio- economic development and collective progress over individual interests. This bold step taken by AFORD President, Enock Chihana is driven by an obligation for the welfare of our great nation. AFORD believes that by joining forces with DPP, they can harness their collective strength to drive meaningful development, promote peace and ensure stability in our country.  Chihana says, he is confident that this Alliance will bring about a new era of prosperity and progress for all Malawians.  His special message to Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika is that Malawians are looking forward to him as a father who will guide this ship to the Promised Land. On 16th September, Mutharika is going to take-over the leadership of this country based on sustained trust given to you by your fellow Malawians. Nevertheless, Malawians are expecting a change in the way the government would be operating. He  said Malawians are asking leaders to rebuild this country that has lost its moral compass. Malawians want a country where rule of law, justice, accountability and transparency become the true values of democracy. The spirit of business as usual by party zealots shall never be condoned. Chihana however warned those who are used to violence, intimidation and impunity to stay away from this crusade because some of us will not be part of a government that shields impunity and lawlessness. He appealed to alliance leaders not let Malawians down rather to build a Malawi that is inclusive, prosperous and just for all where every citizen has access to opportunities, where every voice is heard, and where every life is valued. He further urged all our supporters and the general public to join us on this journey. Let us march forward with courage, with conviction and the commitment to our nation’s progress.  Meanwhile, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, torch bearer for the alliance is expected to submit his nomination papers on Friday, July 25, 2025 in Lilongwe. At least 20 candidates who collected nomination papers from the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to contest in the Sept. 16 presidential race are expected to present their papers to the MEC from July 24 to 30.

In a bid to get rid of  the clueless ruling Malawi Congress Party-MCP from the halls of power, the main opposition party, the Democratic Progressive Party-DPP has clinched a deal with the Northern Region Block as one of their best surrogates to promote the name of Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika for the September, 16 Elections. According to the document which is in the public domain, the parties have agreed to work together following the suffering of poor Malawians under the leadership of President Dr Lazarus Chakwera. “Cognizant of the suffering of millions of Malawians, the collapse of key state institutions, and the erosion of democratic values, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Northern Alliance Block are pleased to announce the official signing of a Political Alliance Agreement on Tuesday, 22nd July 2025,” the statement reads. The DPP says that this alliance is born out of a shared commitment to rescue Malawi from the deepening socio-economic crisis, leadership failure, and rising despair that have defined the current administration. It is a response to the loud and growing cry of Malawians for a return to proven, experienced, and visionary leadership, “reads the statement which has been co-signed by Dr George Chaponda who is the Chairperson of Negotiating team from the DPP and Dr Buchuzga Victor Madhlopa, the Lead Negotiator of the Northern Region Block It adds that the agreement represents not just a political alignment but a unified national mission. It is not just a coalition of political interests. It is a coalition of purpose the statement further reads. The two parties have also disclosed that further details of the alliance agreement will be made available to the media and the public soon.

Top DPP officials held a rousing political rally at BCA Ferries ground in Bangwe, Blantyre, urging voters to support Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika in the September 16 polls. Hon. Sameer Suleman, MP for the area, lambasted the MCP government for failing to deliver on its 2019/2020 campaign promises, saying, “Malawians are fed up with MCP’s empty promises and are ready to vote them out in September.” DPP Vice President for the Southern Region, Hon. Joseph Mwanamveka MP, assured the crowd that DPP will reclaim power under Prof. Mutharika’s leadership, citing his previous tenure as a period of economic prosperity. “We will bounce back to power in September, and Prof. Mutharika will lead the country to a brighter future,” Mwanamveka declared. The rally was attended by prominent DPP officials, including MPs Hon. Noel Lipipa, Hon. Charles Mchacha (DPP Regional Governor), and Yeremiah Chihana of the Afford Party.

The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has announced a schedule for the presentation of nomination papers for presidential candidates starting Thursday, July 24 with former President Dr Joyce Banda at 9am. “The Malawi Electoral Commission wishes to inform all presidential candidates that, political parties and the general public that the presentation of nomination for the Presidential Election will take place on Thursday, July 24 to Wednesday, July 30, 2025 at the Bingu Wa Mutharika International Convention Center (BICC),” reads part of the communication. According to the press statement, Joyce Banda will be the first to present her nomination, followed by Adilu Chilungo and Dr Daniel Duwe in the afternoon. Then on Friday there will be Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika in the morning, Millward Tobias and Frank Tumpale Mwenefumbo in the afternoon. Atupele Muluzi will be presenting his nomination papers on Saturday in the morning, Kondwani Nankhumwa and Cosmas Chijopola in the afternoon. On Sunday, there will be Dr Dalitso Kabambe in the morning then Akwame Bandawe and Rev Kaliya in the afternoon. Come Monday, Davie Mbewe in the morning, while in the afternoon there will be Davie Mbewe and Kamuzu Chibambo. On Tuesday there will be Dr Michael Usi in the morning then in the afternoon there will be Jordan Sauti and Dr Cassim Chilumpha. On Wednesday morning which is the last day, there will be Smart Swira in the morning before Dr Lazarus Chakwera presents his papers in the afternoon. But will rumours of alliances come up, it is worth noting that some presidential candidates will not present the papers at MEC. The fierce battle now is between the incumbent Dr Lazarus Chakwera and Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika who is currently leading by over 40%  according to the Afrobarometer survey results mainly because of the economy which is in shambles at the moment. MEC blows the whistle: on your mark, get set, go… running mates choices may determine the results of the election.

Japanese Ambassador to Malawi, Yoichi Oya, underscored the vital role of higher education in addressing Malawi’s pressing socio-economic issues during his visit to Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) on Wednesday. The visit formed part of the Ambassador’s wider tour of Malawian universities aimed at gaining insight into their operations and exploring potential partnerships with Japanese institutions. “Since I was posted in this country, I have been visiting some leading universities to find out some spaces of engagement with the Japanese universities. I will take all the information back to my office to see how we can continue working together,” Oya stated. Dr. John Phuka, KUHeS Executive Dean, School of Global and Public Health, said KUHeS through his school can leverage Japanese knowledge and experience in managing the impacts of natural disasters and public health emergencies. “As you are aware that the country is facing significant challenges in terms of cyclones and other public health emergencies of different kinds including epidemics,” he said. Dr. Phuka also appealed to the Ambassador for resource support to address the increasing demand for healthcare human resources in Malawi. Prior to the discussions, Ambassador Oya was given a tour of the KUHeS campus, where he observed the infrastructure development and gained insight into the university’s service provision.

Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima has attributed the 8.7 percent rise in female participation in this year’s Junior Certificate Education (JCE), to national commitment to ensuring equity and access to education for all. Wirima made the remarks when she inspected the start of the 2025 JCE at Linthipe Secondary School and Nthulu Community Day Secondary School in Dedza district. The minister, said the schools that government introduced under Secondary Education Expansion for Development (SEED) project to increase access to secondary education, for young Malawians especially girls, are materialising. “We introduced 72 secondary schools under SEED project and most of them this is their maiden year to administer the exams. This is encouraging because we have noted an increase in girl’s participation in secondary education,” said the Minister. Commenting on the development, Inkosi Kamenyagwaza 5 of Dedza commended the ministry of education for the efforts in promoting education mainly for girls. A total of 166,123 candidates will sit for the JCE examinations nationwide this year, against a total of 154,504 last year.

Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has inaugurated the Bio-Energy from Electrical Energy in Schools (B-EES) Project in a significant stride towards integrating renewable energy with education. The initiative introduces solar-powered technologies, including a mini oil expeller, into the primary school setting, aiming to provide students with hands-on experience in renewable energy applications. Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima, officiated the launch at Kaungwe Primary School in Dowa on Friday. She emphasised the project’s potential to inspire students towards careers in science and engineering. “I, therefore, encourage learners to view the initiative not merely as a project but as an opportunity to gain practical skills that align with the nation’s vision for sustainable development,” she said. Belgian Ambassador to Malawi, Peter Huyghebaert, highlighted collaborative efforts between Malawi and Belgium, noting that the project aims to enhance energy accessibility and educational opportunities in rural areas . The B-EES Project is implemented by G-HiTech in collaboration with the Ministry of Basic Education, funded through a €700,000 grant from Belgium’s FINEXPO and an additional €159,321 from the Walloon region (AWEX). The initiative aligns with Malawi’s broader educational reforms, such as the Building Education Foundations through Innovation and Technology (BEFIT) programme.

Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima, has warned that private schools that fail to meet standard educational requirements will be closed, as the government is committed to improving standards for quality education in Malawi. The minister said this on Wednesday when she opened the Independent Schools Association of Malawi (ISAMA) National Conference at Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre under the theme; Advancing Quality in Schools: Embracing Inclusion, Digitalisation, and Corporate Governance for a Sustainable Future. Wirima emphasized government’s commitment to improve education quality in both public and private institutions, saying the ministry will not tolerate schools that fail to meet government-set standards. “Running a school is not just a business but a responsibility. We will not allow any school to operate without qualified teachers, learning materials, or proper infrastructure. “These are basic requirements. A school that fails to meet these requirements puts learners at risk,” said Wirima. She added that, while the government values the role of private education institutions in expanding access to learning, the ministry will continue deploying education inspectors to assess and shut down schools that fall below the required standard. “The ministry has intensified inspections across the country. Schools operating without licenses or with unqualified teaching staff will be closed,” Wirima said. ISAMA President Bishop Wycliffe Chimwendo acknowledged the minister’s concerns and said the association will operate in line with the ministry’s mission to deliver quality education to all learners in Malawi. “The conference theme resonates well with the ministry’s mission to provide education that responds to today’s challenges and equips learners with practical skills. I would like to assure you that ISAMA is committed to supporting both our schools and the ministry in the quest for educational excellence,” he added. Chimwendo therefore called for closer collaboration with the government to review policies that may hinder the operations of private schools, particularly those serving rural populations or low-income earners. The conference had presentations from education experts from South Africa and Zambia, who shared strategies for improving governance and internal management in schools. Director of Rise and Shine Private School, Vincent Kambuka, said a session on corporate governance inspired him to strengthen his school’s management structures. “A school without a board of directors or a parent-teacher association (PTA) is like a ship without direction. That stayed with me. I now plan to set up proper systems to support effective learning,” he said. The two-day event also tackled topics such as digital learning, inclusive education, and integrating learners with disabilities into mainstream classrooms. The conference will enter its second day on Thursday with a general meeting and elections to choose a new president of ISAMA. #mananews