Today, the Council in partnership with the VSO is orientating the newly elected Mzuzu Youth Network leadership at Mphatso Motel. The orientation is meant to capacitate them as they discharge their duties. Speaking during the opening session, Assistant Director of Youth, Leisure and Environment for Mzuzu City Council, Gerald Mchacha challenged youths to unite young voices and become meaningful advocates for development. Mchacha said the Council expects the leaders to mentor fellow youths and devise tangible interventions rooted in innovation, meaningful connections and transformation. In his remarks, Chairperson of Mzuzu City Youth Network Frank Banda said the orientation will assist them serve better.

Save the Children has emphasized the need for concerted efforts in addressing climate change issues. Country Director Bhekimpilo Khanye said this today in Lilongwe during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR). LUANAR Vice Chancellor Professor Emmanuel Kaunda said the MoU marks the beginning of a journey to drive change through innovation, evidence-based programs, and inclusive youth and child participation. He added that children and youths need to understand why Malawi faces climatic shocks in order to find necessary solutions. The MoU aims to advance education, climate resilience, and livelihood opportunities for children by combining both institutions’ strengths in research, outreach, and programming.

Local Government Minister Richard Chimwendo Banda has asked traditional leaders in the country to continue championing the welfare of the less fortunate and the poor in the society. Chimwendo Banda made the appeal during the installation ceremony of Senior Chief Mwambo and Traditional Authority Idana in Zomba, who were elevated from Traditional Authority and Sub-Traditional Authority respectively. The minister said there are widows, child-headed families, the poor and others who need protection and chiefs should be on the forefront to defend their rights. Senior Chief Mwambo expressed gratitude for the new role and pledged to serve his people responsibly.

President Dr Lazarus Chakwera on Thursday received in audience the leadership of the Anglican Council of Malawi (ACM), who made a courtesy call at Sanjika Palace, to formally introduce Rt. Rev. Daniel Kalonga, as the Fourth Diocesan Bishop Designate of the Anglican Diocese of Lake Malawi. Bishop Designate Kalonga is due to be consecrated on Sunday 13th July, at Silver Stadium, Lilongwe where President Chakwera will be in attendance. In his remarks leader of the delegation His Lordship, Rt Reverend Bishop William Mchombo expressed gratitude that President Chakwera has consistently made it a point to engage in religious activities, including accepting an invitation to witness the consecration on Sunday. Rt Rev Mchombo attributed President Chakwera’s commitment to the church as testament to exemplary leadership and a desire to resonate with “the people”. He further commended the President’s condemnation of all forms of political violence irrespective of party affiliation arguing that politics should be a means to “serve the people”. Mchombo also highlighted President Chakwera’s commitment to meaningful development through the establishment of infrastructure like road networks among other initiatives. He also applauded the President for investing in initiatives that aim to empower the youth and women. Chakwera echoed the Bishop’s remarks, stating that the youth are a majority and must therefore be equipped with the tools and resources to add value to the country. He added that infrastructure development must indeed be strategic and targeted citing that rushed development is counter productive and more costly. Bishop Designate Rt Rev Kalonga has studied Higher Management and has worked as a Parish Priest as well as a Vicar General among other roles.

President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera will preside over the commissioning of the Bakhlesa Solvent Extraction Plant and Cooking Oil Refinery at Bakhlesa Malawi Limited in Limbe, Blantyre, today. According to a Presidential Public Programme released by Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Colleen Zamba, President Chakwera is scheduled to arrive at the venue at 9:00 AM. This event is part of President Chakwera’s southern region tour, where he will undertake key government duties in preparation for the September polls.

State Vice President Dr. Michael Usi has returned to Malawi after leading the country’s delegation at the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Seville, Spain. Upon his arrival at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe, Dr. Usi was warmly welcomed by government officials. During his visit in Spain, Dr. Usi engaged in several key meetings, including bilateral talks with Iceland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Katrin Gunnarsdottir, and a meeting with the Commonwealth Secretariat. He also participated in a side event hosted by the Gates Foundation and DEVEX, focusing on the future of development cooperation. Representing President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, Dr. Usi effectively showcased Malawi’s commitment to global development initiatives.

The Malawi Chapter of the Media Institute of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA Malawi) and the Media Council of Malawi (MCM) on Thursday, July 3, 2025 met with the leadership of the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation ( MBC) aimed at ensuring the public broadcaster plays a critical and constructive role in the current election cycle. According to the press statement jointly released by the two media referees, the meeting was designed to make sure that MBC remains a non- partisan organization as a watchdog not as a propaganda machinery for the ruling party ahead of elections. “Under the Communication Act of 2016, MBC has a crucial obligation to inform the public on electoral matters in a fair, equitable and transparent manner. MISA Malawi and MCM implored the public broadcaster to ensure balance and fairness in its news and programming,” the statement reads which has been co- signed by the chairpersons of the two organisations, Golden Matonga and Dr Jolly Ntaba. The two media bodies have since urged MBC to ensure a level playing field in its coverage of political content and strive to attain public trust and confidence in its commitment to impartiality in particular to making sure that the opinion and commentary programmes reflects diverse political views and the leadership of MBC adheres to the Communication Act of 2016 that mandates the outlet to be balanced and objective in its coverage of news, including political discourse. The two bodies have also urged the Director General, George Kasakula to reconsider the position of commentary and opinion – based programming as a measure of safeguarding the neutrality of the broadcaster on the most contentious matters of the day, including elections. On its part, MBC leadership expressed its commitment to fair coverage of the elections as it seeks to launch new programmes so that all political parties get fair and equitable time to articulate their agendas. However, MBC decried the recent politically motivated attacks on its employees and urged the media bodies to step up efforts to defend MBC journalists. Recently, George Kasakula has been involved in bashing the former President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika of the DPP calling him all sorts of names in order to tarnish his name. Kasakula is a staunch MCP supporter. He comes from the Central Region of Malawi where MCP is its stronghold. He once attempted to stand as Member of Parliament in his home district of Kasungu but miserably lost in the primary elections.

State Vice President Dr Michael Usi has arrived in Seville, Spain where is leading the Malawi delegation on behalf of the State President Dr Lazarus Chakwera at the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development ( FfD4) to be held from 30th June to July 3rd, 2025. Usi was welcomed by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Patricia Nangozo – Kainga and the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Thomas Bisika. He is expected to deliver a National Statement outlining Malawi’s policy positions on financing for development and challenges and commitments towards advancing sustainable economic reforms in line with the FfD4 aspirations. Dr Usi will hold a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iceland, Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir to discuss extending the country’s support to Malawi and areas of further cooperation. Later, the Vice President will attend a side event at the invitation of the Gates Foundation and DEVEX on the future of development cooperation.

Vice President Dr. Michael Usi has arrived in Seville, Spain where he is leading the Malawi delegation at the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), to be held from 30th June to 3rd July, 2025. He was welcomed by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Patricia Nangozo-Kainga and the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Thomas Bisika. The Vice President will deliver a National Statement outlining Malawi’s policy positions on financing for development, challenges, and commitments towards advancing sustainable development financing, debt sustainability, and equitable economic reforms in line with the FfD4 objectives. Dr Usi will hold a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iceland, Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir to discuss extending the country’s support to Malawi and areas of further cooperation. Later, the Vice President will attend a side event at the invitation of the Gates Foundation and DEVEX on the future of development cooperation.  

Vice President Dr. Michael Biswick Usi has departed for Seville, Spain, where he is scheduled to represent President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera and Malawi as a whole during the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), from 30th June to 3rd July 2025. The Vice President was seen off at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) on Saturday, 28th June. According to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this year’s conference will be convened under the theme “Financing Our Future.” Among other things, the conference is expected to address newly emerging issues and the urgent need to fully implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), support reforms of the international financial architecture, and further assess progress made in the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus, the Doha Declaration, and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda.

The main opposition party, the Democratic Progressive Party-DPP has filed a complaint to several bilateral donors including the United Nations, African Union alleging that the ruling Malawi Congress Party-MCP is using intimidation, violence and harassment through Police and Army to suppress dissent and manipulate elections. According to the letter signed by the Secretary General of the DPP, Peter Mukhito, the party is reporting to the donor community on heinous alleged crimes that the ruling MCP is using to interfere, restrict access to freedom of assembly and demonstrations and yet the state security agencies stand by watching people being hacked. “On the occasion of a peaceful demonstration organized by citizens exercising their democratic right to free expression, individuals believed to be state – sponsored assailants launched a brutal attack using dangerous weapons, including panga knives. One of the organizers of the demonstrations, Mr Silvester Namiwa, sustained grievous harm in the attack.” Mukhito lamented. Alarmingly, this act of violence unfolded in full view of personnel from both the Malawi Defence Force and Malawi Police Service, who failed to intervene despite their mandate to protect civilians and uphold public order. “The event, occurring merely two months before Malawi’s scheduled tripartite elections on September 16th, gravely undermines public confidence in the safety, transparency and fairness of the electoral process. The use of intimidation and violence against peaceful protesters is a blatant violation of democratic principles and poses a direct threat to national peace and stability,” indicates Mukhito who is also a former Inspector General of Police. Mukhito has since appealed to the international community for urgent intervention by deploying security observers or peacekeeping personnel to Malawi ahead of September polls with an aim of safeguarding peace and stability and electoral process. The letter has been reported to the following agencies and embassies, the British High Commission, Human Rights Watch, European External Action Service, Germany Embassy, African Union, US Embassy in Malawi, Amnesty International, EU offices in Malawi, Norwegian Embassy, SADC Headquarters, UN office on Human Rights in Switzerland and UN Resident Coordinator in Malawi. Two days ago, the Malawians went to the street across the country to protest against the MEC operations by demanding an independent audit on election data, a thing MEC has denied. Several independent watchdogs have accused the government of creating an environment of fear and intimidation, making it difficult for voters to express their will.

Vice President Dr. Michael Usi has departed Maputo, Mozambique, where he represented President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera during that country’s 50th independence anniversary celebrations. At Maputo International Airport, Dr. Usi was seen off by Mozambique’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maria Manuela dos Santos Lucas, Malawi’s High Commissioner to Mozambique, Wezi Moyo and other senior government officials.