Malawi placed last globally on a major infrastructure transparency scorecard. The index shows serious problems with corruption and law enforcement in public construction. Governance analyst Mabvuto Bamusi said the issue is especially bad there, blaming low public oversight and poor monitoring of contracts. He spoke at the launch of the country's first Infrastructure Transparency Index report in Lilongwe.
Bamusi urged citizens and civil society groups to watch projects more closely. He argued that this absence directly leads to shoddy roads, schools, and bridges, wasting national funds. CoST Malawi chair Samuel Biton agreed, stating Malawi has good laws but fails to enforce them. He called for more transparency and public participation...
The Labour Minister voiced frustration over a stalled technical college project. Joel Chigona visited the nearly finished Nsoni Community Technical College in Chiladzulu today. Construction started back in 2019 but stopped in 2021. The building is about ninety percent complete, yet still not open.
Chigona said he hopes it will finally operate by June or July. He stressed the need for local skills training so that youth do not have to travel far. Minor issues remain at the site, but he called them easy fixes. TEVETA Board Chair Gilbert Chilinde noted the project was moving well before it halted. He said the board must ensure facilities meet proper learning standards.
Chilinde stated the government's focus should be on opening completed...
Fewer people in Malawi know about human rights now than before, according to official statistics. The National Statistical Office reported awareness dropped from ninety percent to eighty-five percent between 2018 and 2025. NSO Commissioner Shelton Kanyanda revealed this during a report launch in Lilongwe.
He said the survey shows a rising use of informal justice systems. For those who do know the formal process, engagement has actually gone up. Public knowledge of specific rights is also changing. Awareness of children's rights now ranks higher than women's or disability rights. The data will guide the Ministry of Justice in making policy.
The report also gauged public views on institutions like the Anti-Corruption Bureau and the...
The Minister of Local Government will not say who should handle the Constituency Development Fund. Ben Malunga Phiri declined to pick a side between MPs and local councilors. He stated the issue remains under review at the highest government level. President Arthur Peter Mutharika has not signed a related private member's bill from MPs. Cabinet discussions have also not formally started.
Phiri explained his position must wait for cabinet consensus and presidential direction. The proposed bill seeks to protect decentralization by locking development funds for local councils in the constitution. Phiri noted this would stop future governments from taking back devolved money. The Malawi Local Government Association has issues with the...
The Local Government Minister told councils they have no more excuses for poor performance. Ben Phiri challenged them during a MALGA general assembly meeting. He stated that significant power and resources have already been devolved to local authorities.
Phiri said people on the ground are the first contact during any crisis. He insisted councils must raise their standards and stop looking to the central government. He also pointed out a lack of expertise among some council members, hurting their ability to oversee technical staff. He demanded an end to past mistakes, corruption, and personal business interests in local governance.
MALGA Executive Director Hadrod Zeru Mkandawire presented a new strategic plan for validation. It...
Police in Blantyre took six people to the scene of Dr. Victoria Bobe's murder. They conducted a reconstruction of the crime. Among the suspects is Raphael Msalanyama Mano, a thirty-five year old former police and intelligence officer from Gaza Province, Mozambique. Dr. Bobe was shot and killed last month in the Chigumula area.
Officers made the suspects demonstrate how the killing happened. They say this step is standard for complex cases. It helps confirm timelines, movements, and witness stories. Mano faces particular focus due to his past law enforcement background. Residents watched from a distance as police documented the scene.
The procedure is meant to solidify evidence for the court. Officials stated it could last several...
An inmate at Nsanje Prison is asking officials to better educate prisoners about their legal rights. Stonald Anthony, held on remand for over two years, made the call during a law awareness session organized by the Malawi Law Commission and the Legal Aid Bureau. He pressed courts and police to follow legal procedures strictly, especially for scheduling hearings for remand detainees.
Peter Mota from the Law Commission stated that imprisonment does not remove a person's constitutional rights. He stressed the need for inmates to know their entitlements, like access to timely court dates. Tiwonge Penama of the Legal Aid Bureau explained that the session aimed to inform prisoners about available legal support, which is critical for those on...
The government says it will finish building a long-delayed trade school in Thyolo. The handicraft skills school at Thyolo Technical College has been stalled for five years. Labour Minister Joel Masina Chigona stated construction will restart soon. The goal is to complete the project next year.
Minister Chigona emphasized that the school will provide vocational training for idle youth. It aligns with wider efforts to create jobs through skills development. Thyolo District Commissioner Noel Dakamau called for collaboration between all relevant departments and organizations. He said coordination is key to overcoming past bureaucratic and logistical holdups.
Once operational, the facility will teach practical skills to boost employability...
Malawi has officially hit a major global HIV target, according to UNAIDS. The country achieved the so-called 95-95-95 goals. This means ninety-five percent of people with HIV know their status, ninety-five percent of those diagnosed are on treatment, and ninety-five percent on treatment have suppressed viral loads. UNAIDS Country Director David Chimpata announced this during a World AIDS Day event in Mangochi.
Chimpata called it a significant milestone. He noted progress beyond just treatment, citing reductions in stigma and discrimination. He warned that recent funding cuts threaten this progress, especially in vulnerable districts like Mangochi with its tourism and fishing industries. He urged local council authorities to strengthen...
