President Mutharika Appoints Hon. Maria Mainja as Presidential Advisor on Safe Motherhood

His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika’s appointment of Hon. Maria Mainja as Presidential Advisor on Safe Motherhood has been widely welcomed as a fitting recognition of her long-standing dedication to community service and maternal welfare.

As Director of Women South for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Hon. Mainja has built a reputation for selfless leadership rooted in compassion and results. Over the years, she has led and supported numerous charitable initiatives aimed at uplifting vulnerable women, including the provision of essential supplies, food assistance, and direct support to struggling mothers.

These efforts have gone beyond addressing immediate needs, restoring dignity, hope, and confidence among women in underserved communities.Hon. Mainja’s leadership is distinguished by her strong grassroots presence.

She remains actively engaged in communities, women’s forums, and empowerment conferences, ensuring that her advocacy is informed by lived realities rather than desk-based reports. This close interaction has given her deep insight into the challenges surrounding maternal health, reinforcing the belief that those closest to the problem are best placed to shape meaningful solutions.

Her approach reflects a practical understanding of safe motherhood—grounded in listening, learning, and acting alongside the people she serves. This combination of empathy, experience, and action-oriented leadership places her in a strong position to advise on policies and programs that genuinely respond to the needs of expectant mothers and caregivers.

Hon. Mainja’s appointment signals a renewed commitment to improving maternal health outcomes and safeguarding the welfare of mothers and children across the country. With her integrity, strategic vision, and people-centered leadership, she is expected to play a key role in advancing the national safe motherhood agenda.

Khulubvi Post congratulates Hon. Maria Mainja on this well-deserved appointment and wishes her success in her new role.

Share With:

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Comments

Related News

Application for Stay of Execution Dismissed in Chimwendo Banda Case

The Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal has dismissed an application by Hon. Richard Chimwendo Banda seeking a stay or suspension of execution of a remand warrant issued against him. The ruling was delivered on 9 January 2026 by Justice of Appeal Dorothy NyaKaunda Kamanga, SC, in MSCA Miscellaneous Criminal Application No. 1 of 2026, in the matter of Hon. Richard Chimwendo Banda v The Republic. Hon. Chimwendo Banda was arrested in December 2025 and subsequently applied for a stay of execution of his remand warrant while pursuing an appeal. He argued that his continued detention was unlawful on the grounds that he had not been formally charged. In response, the State raised a preliminary objection, contending that the Supreme Court of Appeal had no jurisdiction to hear the matter. The prosecution further argued that the application amounted to an abuse of court process, as the High Court of Malawi had not yet made a final determination on the applicant’s bail application. The central question before the Court was whether the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal had the jurisdiction to grant a stay or suspension of execution of a remand warrant. In its determination, the Court upheld the State’s objection and made several key findings: The Supreme Court of Appeal lacked jurisdiction to entertain the application because there was no competent appeal before it. The Court emphasized that jurisdiction is a fundamental legal requirement and not a mere technicality that can be overlooked. It noted that its criminal appellate jurisdiction is limited to final decisions of the High Court. A remand warrant, the Court held, is a provisional or interlocutory order that does not finally determine the rights of the parties. The concept of a stay or suspension of execution applies to final judgments or sentences, such as warrants of commitment following conviction, and does not extend to remand warrants. The applicant failed to comply with Order I, Rule 18 of the Supreme Court of Appeal Rules, which requires an applicant to first seek a stay from the High Court before approaching the Supreme Court of Appeal. As there was no final decision from the High Court, the application was deemed premature and an abuse of the court process. The Court clarified that the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal has no jurisdiction to grant a stay or suspension of execution in respect of a remand warrant, as such a warrant is an interlocutory order and not a final decision. The Court upheld the preliminary objection raised by the State and dismissed Hon. Chimwendo Banda’s summons for a stay or suspension of execution of the remand warrant. The ruling reinforces the limits of the Supreme Court of Appeal’s criminal jurisdiction and underscores the requirement that litigants must exhaust proceedings in the High Court before seeking relief at the appellate level.

Lilongwe, Malawi

President Mutharika Withholds Assent to CDF Constitution – Amendment Bill of 2025

President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has withheld assent to the recently passed Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Constitution (Amendment) Bill of 2025. In a statement released on Tuesday night, Presidential Press Secretary Cathy Maulidi said the President has directed the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, in collaboration with the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, to draft comprehensive guidelines for the management of the CDF. The move, she said, is intended to ensure that development projects at constituency level continue without compromising financial integrity. According to the statement, President Mutharika reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring that the management of public funds—particularly the CDF—adheres to the highest standards of accountability, transparency, and fiscal responsibility. The decision follows sustained calls from local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which had urged the President not to assent to the Bill. The NGOs argued that the proposed amendments would conflict with existing judicial decisions that nullified the role of Members of Parliament in the distribution and management of CDF resources at both district and constituency levels. Civil society groups have consistently maintained that respecting court rulings is essential to safeguarding the rule of law and preventing the misuse of public resources. The government has not yet indicated when the proposed CDF management guidelines will be finalized and implemented.

Lilongwe, Malawi

High Court Reinstates ESCOM HR Director Banda Through Stay Order

The High Court in Blantyre has reinstated Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) Director of Human Resources and Administration Chrispin Banda through a Stay Order, following his secondment to the Malawi School of Government (MSG) as a lecturer on November 17, 2025. The ruling comes just five days after another High Court judge in Blantyre, Justice Allan Hans Muhome, issued a similar Stay Order reinstating ESCOM Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kamkwamba Kumwenda to his position on December 24, 2025. Banda and Kumwenda were among three senior ESCOM executives who had been seconded from the utility company to public universities. Banda was sent to MSG, Kumwenda to the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), while Chief Operations Officer Maxwell Mulimakwenda was seconded to Mzuzu University (MZUNI) as a lecturer. The secondments sparked legal challenges, with the affected executives arguing that the decisions were unlawful. In his application, filed through lawyer Bentry Nyondo of Ritz Attorneys at Law, Banda argued that his employment with ESCOM is governed by a contractual agreement under which he reports solely to the ESCOM Board, not external authorities. Nyondo further contended that the office of the Chief Secretary to the Government, while constitutionally established, must operate strictly within the bounds of the law. “The holder of the office of the Chief Secretary, which is a creature of the Constitution, can and must only exercise lawful authority,” Nyondo argued. Meanwhile, Attorney General Frank Mbeta has indicated that the government intends to challenge both Stay Orders, signaling that the legal battle over the secondments of ESCOM executives is far from over. The court decisions have raised broader questions about executive authority, governance of state-owned enterprises, and the limits of administrative power in personnel management. Legal analysts say the final outcome of the cases could set an important precedent regarding the autonomy of parastatal boards and the rights of senior executives under contract. The matter is expected to return to court as substantive hearings proceed.

Blantyre, Malawi

Phalombe Traditional Leaders Seek Renaming of Rev. Chilembwe Hospital

Traditional Authorities in Phalombe District, led by Traditional Authority Kaledzera, have formally petitioned the Ministry of Local Government to rename Rev. Chilembwe Hospital back to Phalombe District Hospital, citing lack of consultation during the previous name change. In a letter addressed to the ministry, the traditional leaders argue that the decision to rename the health facility during the administration of former President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera was made without engaging local leadership and communities. Speaking on behalf of the chiefs, TA Kaledzera described the move as undemocratic and imposed. “This was an imposition against our wishes. Democracy demands consultation with the owners of development,” said Kaledzera. “By raising this concern, we are not undermining the good works or historical contribution of the late freedom fighter John Chilembwe, but we believe the decision was misplaced. We are therefore asking the new government to reverse it.” Social governance expert Cheke Ziba has supported the position taken by the traditional leaders, arguing that the renaming of the hospital was politically motivated. According to Ziba, the former government’s decision was aimed at gaining political advantage rather than promoting inclusive governance. “Using national symbols and public institutions to buy votes undermines democratic principles,” Ziba said, describing the move as inappropriate and harmful to public trust. Meanwhile, following the electoral victory of President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, reports indicate that some individuals have already tampered with signage bearing the name ‘Rev. Chilembwe Hospital’ on the facility’s perimeter fence, reflecting growing tension over the issue. Authorities have not yet commented on the reported vandalism, while community leaders have urged calm as they await an official response from the Ministry of Local Government. The ministry is yet to issue a statement on whether it will consider the request to reverse the name change. Observers say the matter raises broader questions about community consultation, historical recognition, and political decision-making in public infrastructure projects. For now, traditional leaders in Phalombe say they remain hopeful that the new administration will address their concerns through dialogue and inclusive decision-making.

Phalombe Malawi