Malawi News Agency, Ministry of Information, Private Bag 310, Capital City, Lilongwe (2026)

Q: What is the address?

Ministry Of Information, Private Bag 310, Capital City

11/09/2026

President orders Nantipwiri land allocation to farmers

President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has directed the Ministry of Lands and Thyolo District Council to allocate part of government land at Nantipwiri to farmers to address their long-standing demand for land for agricultural production.

Minister of Lands, who was delegated by President Mutharika to engage the communities, said the directive would also help formalise the status of legitimate settlers by providing them with documentation for the plots to be allocated.

“My coming today was to formalise the disputes that have been there and also to ensure that each petitioner, each settler, has rightful documents on the plots that will be given accordingly,” he said.

The Minister said chiefs and settlers would submit a list of legitimate settlers to the Council on Monday for verification before a meeting between the Nantipwiri team and the Council on Wednesday, with the Minister expected to return on Friday to finalise the ownership process and issue offers.

He said the land would strictly be used for agriculture because “they petitioned that they don’t have land to farm,” adding that the condition would be clearly stated in the offers.

Thyolo District Commissioner Noel Dakamau said the directive would end the long-standing deadlock over the land and improve livelihoods in the district where farming land is increasingly scarce.

“Land in Thyolo is scarce. If 100 percent of the land is taken for commercial purposes, then people will have challenges in accessing farming land. So this is a good direction and a good gesture from the President,” he said.

Group Village Headman William said the decision, was a major relief after years of disputes over the land.

Yamikani Yapuwa

11/09/2026

Karonga, September 11,Mana;Karonga District Commissioner Willard Mwambo has urged Constituency Development Fund (CDF) officers to start planning for their retirement by joining pension schemes and making regular contributions.

Mwambo made the call on Friday in Karonga during a pension briefing organised by NICO Pension for CDF officers under Karonga District Council. He said saving for retirement was important for ensuring financial security after employment.

The District Commissioner also reminded the officers that despite being employed on three-year contracts, they are government’s primary change agents at constituency level and have a responsibility to support the government’s development agenda through proper planning, implementation and accountability of development projects.

NICO Pension Relationship Manager Joseph Chokhotho encouraged the officers to start saving early, saying consistent pension contributions over a long period could help build adequate financial security. He said NICO Pension has been in business for more than 50 years and processes pension claims within five working days after submission of proper documentation.

Assistant Accountant for Karonga Songwe Constituency Bright Shola said the orientation had equipped officers with valuable knowledge on pension planning and preparing for life after employment. He said the knowledge would help them make informed financial decisions as they discharge their duties.

By George Mponda

11/09/2026

Stakeholders call for inclusive education reforms to improve SNE performance

Blantyre, September 11, MANA: Organisations representing people with disabilities have called for stronger collaboration among schools, families, and specialist support services to improve teacher training, assistive technologies and learning materials for learners with special educational needs.

The call follows an improvement in the Special Needs Education (SNE) pass rate from 57.08 percent in 2025 to 61.89 percent in the 2026 Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations.

According to the 2026 examination results, 562 out of 908 SNE candidates passed representing 61.89 percent.

Malawi Council for Disability Affairs (MACODA) Public Relations Officer, Harriet Kachimanga, has welcomed the pass rate, but noted that continued efforts are needed to ensure learners with disabilities reach their full academic potential.

“The improvement is encouraging; it reminds us of the need for continued efforts to ensure that all learners with disabilities can reach their full potential,” she said.

Kachimanga identified limited access to inclusive learning materials such as Braille books, inadequate teacher training in inclusive education, and limited support systems in schools and communities as some of the challenges affecting learners’ performance.

She called for enhanced teacher training, increased provision of assistive technologies and curriculum adjustments to cater for diverse learning needs.

Malawi National Association of the Deaf (MANAD) Executive Director, Byson Chimenya, stipulated that MANEB must categorize SNE students, noting that specific data on deaf learners is needed to assess their performance compared to the previous year.

Chimenya said shortage of teachers skilled in sign language, limited access to accessible learning materials, communication barriers in classrooms and inadequate sign language support during examinations continue to affect deaf learners.

“MANAD believes that improving access to sign language, qualified teachers, accessible learning materials and appropriate examination support is essential to improving the academic performance of deaf learners,” he said.

He called on government and other stakeholders to train and deploy more teachers skilled in Malawian Sign Language, provide accessible learning materials and strengthen sign language support during examinations.

Education Policy Expert, Dr Zizwa Msukuma, described the improvement as a significant milestone in Malawi’s pursuit of inclusive education, attributing it to increased awareness, differentiated teaching methods, assistive technologies and efforts to make assessment processes fairer and more accessible.

He called for a shift from piecemeal interventions to systematic reforms and strategic investment in teacher training and assistive technologies, in line with Malawi’s National Education Sector Plan (2020–2030) and the broader aspirations of Malawi 2063 on inclusivity and human capital development.

By Hendrina Fourbags

11/09/2026

Lunzu CCAP Mvano donates to Thyolo Female Prison

Thyolo, September 11, MANA: Lunzu CCAP Mvano has donated assorted items worth K1.2 million to Thyolo Female Prison as part of its initiative to provide spiritual and material support to women serving custodial sentences.

The donation includes maize flour, cooking oil, sugar, sanitary pads, washing and bathing soap, salt, tomatoes, cabbage, and clothes.

In an interview after the donation on Thursday, Lunzu CCAP Mvano Chairlady, Dzukirani Banda, said the group deliberately chose to reach out to women in prison this year.

“We planned that this year we will reach out to fellow women in prison to share with them both spiritual and physical support with the little we have,” she said.

Banda commended Thyolo Female Prison authorities for welcoming them and facilitating its engagement with the inmates.

Officer-in-Charge for Thyolo Female Prison, Superintendent Emily Banda, commended the group for the support and called on other stakeholders to complement government’s efforts to the facility.

“We are calling on other stakeholders to help us fill the gap in what government provides. We cannot rely on government alone,” she said.

She said the donation will help meet inmates’ basic daily needs while making them feel remembered and supported by the society.

By Maxwell Kalembera & Limbikani Charles

11/09/2026

CEC commends Catholic schools' outstanding 2026 MSCE performance

Blantyre, September 11, MANA: Catholic Education Commission (CEC) of the Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB) has commended managers of Catholic schools for their dedication to maintaining high educational standards following the schools’ strong performance in the 2026 Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations.

Catholic schools have featured prominently among the country’s top 10 performing schools with St. Kizito Seminary, Likulezi Catholic Boys, Karonga St. Mary’s Girls, St. John Bosco, St. Patrick’s Seminary, and Chaminade, among those recording strong results.

CEC National Education Coordinator, Rev. Bro. Pascal Mtuwana, told Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Thursday that while administrative effort is key, the success should not come as a surprise because government routinely selects top-performing primary school students for admission into Catholic secondary schools.

“We thank and praise the Lord our God that our schools always make a lot of effort to maintaining standards,” he said.

Mtuwana described the rural location of most Catholic secondary schools as crucial, noting that these areas provide an environment conducive to nurturing the educational process.

He also attributed the success of the schools to strong leadership, committed teachers, adequate resources, strict discipline, active parental involvement, and a nurturing environment, saying they have a long-standing tradition of providing holistic, quality education.

“Discipline is non-negotiable in Catholic schools and Christ is the foundation of the whole educational endeavor in a Catholic school,” he said.

He stressed that functional Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) play a crucial role in motivating teachers and students to strive for excellence.
Education Policy Reform Expert, Dr. Zizwa Msukuma, said the continued strong performance of Catholic schools is not accidental but results from a well-established culture of excellence rooted in governance, accountability, and holistic learner support.

Msukuma said Catholic schools benefit from a dual governance model combining government oversight with faith-based accountability, which promotes stronger performance monitoring and discipline.

“Catholic schools provide moral guidance, mentorship, and structured extracurricular activities while involving parents and communities in education delivery,” he said.

He added that teacher commitment, resource mobilization through church networks, alumni associations, and development partners, as well as investment in libraries, laboratories, ICT equipment, and extracurricular programs have contributed to the success.

He, therefore, urged other schools to strengthen governance and accountability, mobilize resources beyond government allocations, invest in teacher development and motivation, particularly in Mathematics, Sciences, and English, and establish holistic learner support systems.

By Tarcizio Mondwe

11/09/2026

Community looks forward to construction of Nkhate CDSS

Chikwawa, September 11, MANA: Communities in Traditional Authority (TA) Chiputula in Chikwawa are looking forward to the construction of Nkhate Community Day Secondary School (CDSS), a project which will be implemented by Chikwawa District Council through the reformed Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

The project is expected to ease challenges faced by learners in the area due to limited access to secondary education.

Nkhate Parish Secondary School Headteacher, Cloudious George Nthani, expressed happiness with the project saying it will benefit many learners from Nkhate community and surrounding villages.

“We rely on the parish secondary school infrastructure and we have 260 learners. However, the classroom blocks are small and we do not have enough resources. This forces some learners to sit on the floor which ia not ideal for students,” he said.

He added that the situation becomes more challenging during the hot season as overcrowding in classrooms contributes to absenteeism among learners.

Group Village Head Chagalan’ganda thanked the district council for the initiative saying the project will benefit the community.

She urged community members to take an active role in monitoring the construction works and safeguarding building materials.

Form Three student at Nkhate Parish Secondary School, Chisomo Phiri, expressed excitement over the impending construction of the CDSS.

Phiri said many learners face difficulties because there is no government secondary school within the community.

“We only have Nkhate Parish Secondary School which we depend on in our community. To access a government secondary school, learners have to travel a long distance to Mapelera. Some are forced to rent houses near the school, but due to poverty, many cannot afford and end up dropping out,” he said.

A parent from Kaluwanda Village in TA Chiputula, Cellia Sumati, urged learners to take advantage of the new school once completed, particularly those who dropped out because of the long distance to government secondary schools.

Sumati encouraged parents to actively participate in activities that require community involvement, saying the project will lay a foundation for the success of their children.

By Hope Mbewe

11/09/2026

Kachele evacuation centre to protect 3,700 households from disasters

Karonga, September 11, Mana: About 3,700 households in eight villages in Senior Chief Wasambo in Karonga are expected to benefit from a new Kachele Evacuation Centre constructed in Group Village Head Chambogho to provide safe shelter during disasters.

The centre, which has water, toilets, bathrooms and a kitchen, was constructed with financial support from the Scottish Government through Oxfam under the Climate Justice Bridging project, with support from Karonga Diocese.

Speaking during the handover ceremony on Thursday, Karonga District Commissioner (DC) Willard Mwambo said the facility would help protect lives and reduce disruption to learning during disasters.

Mwambo said communities in the district were frequently affected by floods, strong winds, diseases and pests, forcing disaster victims to seek refuge in schools.

He said the availability of the centre would help keep classrooms available for learning while providing affected communities with a safer place to stay.

"We have received the Kachele Evacuation Centre as a complete package whereby water is there, bathrooms, toilets and the kitchen, which is a plus," he said.

Mwambo thanked Oxfam, CADECOM and other development partners for complementing government efforts in disaster management, saying government alone could not reach every community.

He urged communities to take ownership of the facility and protect it from vandalism and environmental degradation.

Oxfam Programme Manager for the Livelihood with Disaster Programme, Steve Kuliyazi, said the project was also intended to generate evidence that could inform government policies on disaster risk management and climate change adaptation.

Kuliyazi urged the council to incorporate evacuation centres into its development plans to promote their sustainability.

"We are just demonstrating and generating evidence that can be used to improve government policy as far as managing or adapting to climate change concerns," he said.

Representing the Bishop of Karonga Diocese, Father Steven Bulambo said the centre was particularly important because the area was highly prone to flooding and lacked adequate infrastructure for accommodating large numbers of disaster victims.

"In spite of the fact that it has been financed by donors, this is now no longer a donor thing. It means it is their own. So they have to take care of it," he said.

He said the community had already provided security for the centre and planned to construct a fence around it, adding that the facility was functional although electricity installation was still pending.

The project also trained local structures in managing and maintaining the centre, while ownership was handed over to Karonga District Council, which subsequently handed it over to Senior Chief Wasambo.

Group Village Head Mwanyanja, representing Senior Chief Wasambo, assured the council, Oxfam and CADECOM that the community would take care of the facility because it would provide much-needed shelter to villagers affected by floods, strong winds and other disasters.

By Chamberlain Nyirenda

11/09/2026

FAM empowers women referees with special training course

Lilongwe, September 11, Mana: The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) is conducting a two-day Special Female Referees Course in Salima from 10 to 11 September 2026 as part of efforts to promote gender inclusivity in football refereeing.

The course is aimed at empowering more women to take up refereeing roles and strengthen their capacity to officiate matches at different levels of the game.

In a video posted on FAMs page on Thursday, Referees Sub-Committee Chairperson Patrick Kapanga said the course is important as the Association continues to invest in womens football development in line with FAM President Fleetwood Haiyas Womens Football Project.

“This course is very important because the Scorchers qualified for WAFCON, and these are the referees who handle almost 80 percent of their games at local level,” said Kapanga.

He also urged the participants to remain disciplined and protect their integrity if they are to progress to higher levels of refereeing.

One of the participants, Beckry Rajabu, from Mzuzu University, said the course will open more opportunities for female referees.

“This course is crucial because it will open more doors for us as women. The Scorchers have already opened doors for us, and we also want to reach FIFA level.

“We will gain more experience, more exposure and be able to promote fair play out there,” said Rajabu.

The course has brought together 23 participants from all regions of the country and forms part of FAMs transformation agenda aimed at promoting womens football and strengthening refereeing structures in Malawi.

By Hastings Kasonjola Malunga

11/09/2026

Mpasadzi Bridge reconstruction gains momentum

Lilongwe, September 11, Mana: Government’s efforts to strengthen Malawi’s road infrastructure are gaining momentum with the reconstruction of Mpasadzi Bridge in Kasungu North progressing towards completion.

The development is expected to restore a more reliable link along the M1, one of the country’s principal north-south transport corridors, following the damage to the bridge during heavy rains that disrupted the movement of people and goods.

Roads Authority Public Relations Officer, Lawrent Kumchenga said foundation works for the bridge had been completed, with contractor Mota-Engil now working on the abutments and pier that will support the bridge deck.

He said the contractor was expected to complete the remaining works by the end of October 2026.

“The project is being implemented with due attention to engineering standards and the need to provide a stronger and more resilient crossing capable of better withstanding future flooding,” said Kumchenga.

The progress comes as the government continues to prioritise critical road infrastructure, particularly projects whose disruption has a direct bearing on the movement of people, commercial traffic and goods across the country.

For transporters, the reconstruction represents more than the restoration of a damaged bridge, as the Mpasadzi crossing forms part of a strategic corridor linking different parts of the country and supporting regional trade.

Transporters Association of Malawi public relations officer Frank Banda said the disruption following the damage to the bridge had demonstrated how a single piece of infrastructure could affect the wider national transport network.

“When the Mpasadzi crossing was damaged, movement along the M1 was severely disrupted and temporary arrangements had to be introduced to restore connectivity,” Banda said.

He said the experience showed that reconstruction of the bridge should be viewed as an investment in the resilience of a strategic national transport corridor rather than merely a local infrastructure project.

Banda said a properly designed and constructed permanent bridge would provide a more reliable crossing for heavy commercial vehicles and reduce the risk of prolonged disruption during periods of heavy rainfall and flooding.

He said this was particularly important because Malawi’s transport sector forms part of a regional supply chain, with cargo moving to and from ports such as Dar es Salaam relying on the reliability of road corridors.

“When a strategic bridge or road is closed, the effects can extend far beyond the immediate location, resulting in delays, additional fuel consumption, increased operating costs and missed delivery schedules,” Banda said.

Banda further called for road infrastructure to be designed with climate resilience in mind, arguing that increasingly heavy and unpredictable rainfall requires bridges and other critical transport infrastructure to withstand flooding and minimise disruptions.

The completion of Mpasadzi Bridge would, therefore, not only reconnect communities along the M1 but also strengthen the reliability of a corridor used by passenger and commercial traffic.

With the foundation works already completed and major structural works underway, the government's reconstruction programme is moving the bridge closer to providing a permanent and more resilient solution to a crossing whose disruption previously exposed the vulnerability of critical transport links.

By Khumbo Msambala Salanje

11/09/2026

Special need candidates improve performance in 2026 MSCE

Lilongwe September 9 (MANA): The performance of candidates under Special Needs Education (SNE) in the Malawi School Certificate Education (MSCE) has improved in the 2026 with a pass rate rising by 4.81 percent from last year.

According to the report by the Malawi National Examination Board (MANED), Statistics show that out of 908 SNE candidate who sat for MSCE in 2026 examination 562 have passed representing 61.89 percent. In 2025, out of 932 SNE candidates who sat for MSCE 532 passed representing 57.08 percent.

The 2026 results also show differences in performances between male and females candidates. 488 male SNE candidates who sat for the 284have passed, representing 58.20 percent passing rate. And on the other hand 428 female SNE candidates who sat for the exam 278 have passed, representing 61.89 percent in 2026.

The improvements in the results comes despite a reduction in the number of SNE candidates who sat for the examination, from 932 in 2025 to 908 in 2026. This suggest that a higher proportion of candidates were successful this year.

The improvement comes as Malawi continues to provide special arrangement during the national examination to ensure that candidates with different disabilities are able to write their exams properly.

Achalo Charles Banda, who works in the area of Special Needs education described the improvement as a welcome development attributing it to joint efforts by organisations the Government (MoE), faith community and the private sector to ensure that a conductive learning environment is created for Inclusive Education IE/SNE leaners.

Banda said advocacy, increased budget allocation, construction of accessible school infrastructure, increased provision of teaching and learning material, more teachers trained as well a s parental support, could have contributed to the improved performance.

However, Banda cautioned that the improvement should not lead to complacency, saying leaners with special needs still face challenges that could affect future performance.

He said limited funding for inclusive education, inadequate numbers of teachers trained in Special Needs Education and schools located far from residential areas as some challenges.
Some parents still do not understand the importance of sending children with special needs to school, funding for inclusive education is still treated as a budget for minorities and the number of teachers are low.

Banda further urged the Ministry to strengthen continuous inspection of both public and private schools to ensure that they are accessible and inclusive and special needs education programmes.

The 2026 results therefore demonstrated progress in the academic performance of learners with special education need while also highlighting to need to continue investment and advocacy to ensure that the gains are sustained and extended to more learners.

By Clara Botomani

Malawi News Agency

11/09/2026

11/09/2026

11/09/2026

11/09/2026

11/09/2026

11/09/2026

11/09/2026

11/09/2026

11/09/2026

11/09/2026

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Listing takedown request