FCB Nyasa Big Bullets has signed Babatunde Adepoju on a one-year loan deal from Venda Football Academy.
Before his departure, the Nigerian, who , made 46 appearances for Kalisto Pasuwa’s side, scoring 34 goals and providing ten assists.
During his stay at Bullets, Babatunde won one Charity Shield, two TNM Super League titles, one Airtel Top 8 Cup and the FDH Bank Cup.
After netting eight goals, he won the 2021 Airtel Top 8 Golden Boot Award and was named Player of the Tournament.
In the 2022 campaign, the forward scored 18 TNM Super League goals to win the Golden Boot Award and he inspired the Malawi champions to a fourth straight league title.
During his previous spell with Bullets, Baba also scored five goals in the 2022 FDH Bank Cup to be named Player of the Tournament.
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets made a dream start to the new year by becoming the 2023 Airtel Top 8 winners following a 2-1 triumph over Mafco FC at the Kamuzu Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Lanjesi Nkhoma scored in both halves to settle what was both a physical and captivating cup final which marked the very end of Malawi’s top-flight football season.
What happened
Looking nothing sort of fresh, the two finalists, off the back of a long absorbing season, started the biggest showdown struggling to be on the ball.
Sooner the fouls and the misplaced passes vanished with Bullets beginning to discover their quality on the ball and invading the military outfit’s back-line through all channels.
Nkhoma found himself behind Paul Njobvu and Aubrey Chafewa but could not win the footrace over the two towering centre-backs.
The breakthrough would follow quickly after our first asking as, on the second attempt on target, Kalisto Pasuwa’s men found themselves in front.
Our top goal scorer this season in all competitions, Nkhoma, perfected his run to be at the right place to meet a well-weighted low cross from Antony Mfune for a clever tap-in and the scoreline was 1-0 after 22 minutes of football.
Communities surrounding Gogode Dispensary in Sub Traditional Authority Suza in Kasungu district expect the newly constructed Gogode Maternity Wing to encourage hospital deliveries thereby promoting maternal health in the area.
Kasungu District Council has constructed the K50 million structure through the District Development Fund (DDF).
In an interview on Monday during a media tour to appreciate the progress of the project, Chairperson for Health Management Committee, Alex Milamba, said the maternity wing is a dream come true for the community which has been travelling 26 kilometres to access maternal services at Kasungu District Hospital.
“We have, all along, longed to have a maternity nearby, because travelling to Kasungu boma is not only expensive but also difficult especially during rainy season when roads become muddy. It is good news to us and we are anxious as to when it will open.
“This project started in November 2021 and is now almost complete as it is awaiting furniture. As a committee, we are satisfied with the work that has been done,” said Milamba.
Martha Dumu, a woman in the area concurred with Milamba saying the community has waited for a long time to get a maternity wing.
She said: “Now we don’t have an excuse of delivering in the homes. It was ironical that authorities were encouraging hospital deliveries when we had no such services nearby,” she said.
Christopher Mtopi, a medical assistant at the dispensary said the maternity project will reduce home deliveries and save mothers from maternal complications.
“Currently, we only offer out-patient services. Now that the maternity project is almost done, we expect a significant reduction in home deliveries. And again we expect that this project will help reduce congestion at Kasungu District Hospital,” he said.
Kasungu District Council Director of Public Works, Davie Chigwenembe said it is relieving that the long cry of the communities has been addressed.
He said the council would now focus on constructing staff houses and work on improving the dispensary as it is in dilapidated state.
“We are also thankful to Water Mission who have helped us with solar-powered water system supplying the dispensary and the surrounding communities,” he said.
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets has confirmed the signing of midfielder Lloyd Banega Aaron from Civil Service United.
The midfielder has signed a three-year deal with the Malawi champions.
Aaron, who turns 23 next week, made 29 appearances for the Lilongwe-based side in the 2023 season in which he also made a breakthrough with the Malawi National Football Team, making nine appearances.
The midfielder started his career through the Civil Service United Youth ranks before earning promotion to the first team and establishing himself as one of the key members of the Capital City side where he helped them to survive relegation at the end of the 2023 TNM Super League campaign.
Speaking to Bullets media soon after putting pen to paper, Banega said he was excited to join a team that has a winning culture as witnessed by the success in the 2023 season.
“I am thrilled to start a new life with my new family that always does well and I am looking forward to achieving more with Bullets. It was an easy decision for me to come here when this club showed interest in me. So I am delighted to open a new chapter of my career with the champions,” he commented.
“I have played for Civil in the domestic scene, but I couldn’t play in the CAF Champions League, so this club has offered me the opportunity to play in the Champions League hence my decision to join them because this is where I’d get this great opportunity,” he added.
Paramount Holdings Limited (PHL) has been certified by the Japanese leading automobile manufacturer Yamaha Motors company as a sole importer, seller of Yamaha products for Malawi.
In a letter agreement between Yahama and PHL effective from November 2022 and letter was signed by Ryuji Kuwano Yamaha’s Group Manager for Africa Market Development Division and Overseas Market Development Operation Business Unit.
According to the agreement, the listed products for the Malawi market including Yamaha motorcycles, outboard motors, water pumps generators, spare parts and others.
“WHEREAS YAMAHA MOTOR CO, LTD, who are official manufacturers of Yamaha products, having factories at 2500, Shingai, Iwata, Shizuoka, 438-8501, Japan, do hereby confirm that Paramount Holdings Limited, a private corporation having its principal place of business at P.O. BOX2736, Lilongwe, Malawi, is our officially appointed importer for the Yamaha Motorcycles, Outboard motors, Water pumps Generators, and spare parts for the territory of Malawi, under the terms and conditions of the agreement made between us and them on November 1, 2022”, reads part of agreement letter signed by Kuwano.
This means PHL is an official authorized firm for Yamaha products in Malawi.
Receiving the news, one of PHL Directors expressed gratitude for the certification saying the move symbolizes significant role the company is playing in Malawi.
“This is a good news for new year 2024. We are embrace this certification with quality service provision timely. The brand Yamaha should be riding across Malawi in a year. With the reintroduction of Yamaha by Paramount Holding Limited, the aim is to provide a much-needed efficient solution for transportation issues for the people of Malawi.
“As the official authorized importer and seller of the Yamaha product in Malawi, our goal is to remain focused on expanding market for Yamaha products and most importantly the motorcycle industry”, he said.
He adds, “Yamaha motorcycles are the cost-efficient transport solution that Malawi is looking for and we aim to expand our network to reach the whole of Malawi. With the current presence in Lilongwe at City Centre, we are opening a showroom in Blantyre to cover the southern region. Further growth in Mzuzu to explore the northern region is in the scope.
“We aim to expand our distribution network wide enough to cover the remotest part of Malawi ranging from Karonga, Nkhotakota, Nkhatabay, Rumphi, Kasungu, Dedza, Mchinji, Kasainthula, and Chikhwawa districts”.
Paramount Holdings Limited was incorporated as a limited liability company in December 2009, under the Companies Act of 1984, by the registrar of companies in the Republic of Malawi.
The company has been in operation for over 11 years and has established a comprehensive representation across Malawi.
PHL is specialized in all forms of contracting and construction management of projects, trading and hiring of the diverse range of construction plants and equipment, and supply and installation of different products and services for various industries, including medical and health equipment, information technology, and agricultural Inputs and Implements.
Malawi continues to be challenged by near dysfunctional and often under resourced education facilities. The image one meets at most primary schools is one that casts doubt if the country is to ever move itself from the socio-economic misfortunes that lack of education is attached to. And education is the key to overturning Malawi’s scenario.
The United Nation’s (UN) Sustainable Development Goal No. 4 (SDG4) on Quality Education paints it well: ‘to…ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.’
That for now remains a tall order, despite the positive strides here and there, for a poor country like Malawi.
At least for Kabumba Primary School, under Senior Group Village Headman Kaphatika in Ntchisi District, the University of Malawi Social Sciences Class of 1999 (BSOC99) has stepped in to provide the much needed relief.
Thanks to Father Dumisani Nkhoswe who linked up with the grouping through Dr. Chikondi Maleta to forge a unity that has seen a flatteringly furnished and electrified school block raised, and a pre-school structure resourced.
The School has an interesting history, and of course, a trajectory that promises a better future, for generations to come in the area. Malawi stands to benefit even better if others emulate the gesture by the social scientists in the BSOC99 grouping.
Fr. Nkhoswe came to Kaphatika Parish within Malomo, Ntchisi, two years ago, only to be met by a site that was both deplorable as it was concerning.
The staff room, before and after
The school, despite resounding memories of some of Malawi’s great names having attained part of their primary education there, such as Chief Lukwa of Kasungu, and other notables gracing the corridors of influence in both public and private sectors, was a structure of ram shackled grass thatched structures roofed with see-through, grass and stick roofs.
“I couldn’t believe my eyes when I first saw the structures used as classrooms and staff room. There was literally no protection from both the sun and the rains.
Even the wind. Mere grass thatched suspended rafters over the head. Nothing else.
Learning and teaching was almost impossible.
Such a pathetic picture,” explains Fr. Nkhoswe, who from 1st January this year has seen and witnessed real transformation.
BSOC99, a grouping of 45 graduates from the Chancellor College, have turned the picture into one that promises an atmosphere of quality education. And a promising future for the people in the area.
Handing over the school block before the Catholic Priest, head teacher, school committee and the Parents Teacher Association (PTA) representatives, chairperson for the group, Aubrey Dothi, says this was part of giving back to the community. Part of the selfless spirit that has united the Class over the years and seen it perform with purpose.
“We started off some 20 years ago in 2003 after graduating in 1999. We have supported various initiatives within the country, including the Malingunde School for the Blind, among others. Kabumba is one of our major initiatives as at the same time we also are celebrating 20 years’ post-university, and the New Year, 2024. For us, this bears a great feeling of a complete festive season, where giving is a tradition,” he explained.
Feeling relieved, Fr. Nkhoswe also owes it to the graduates for helping to paint and resource the nursery school at the area.
“I have made it an emphasis to our pupils, parents, and community that there is strength in unity. All these people that have made this possible, are not from this area. They are Malawians who care.
They helped us raise the structure from where we stopped at window level, and have supported us throughout. Today we are proud and happy to also receive the 36 desks. They will go a long way in encouraging the community to send their children to school, and the pupils to work extra hard and succeed in their education.”
The support, to the tune of over K8 million, will also help to inspire the nine teachers at the school, as they had to dismiss classes whenever it rained.
The school only has two teachers’ houses.
Kabumba Primary School, ran by the Catholic Church, was closed years back and had to reopen only when Father Murray of the Pallottines mission first came and built a school block which still stands today.
With the block supported by BSOC99, the school now boasts of two school blocks translating into four classes, for standards one to eight. The school has since introduced school feeding from nursery to standard 8, propping up pupil numbers.
Fr. Nkhoswe had to convince chiefs and parents, who had put up a foundation but ran out of funds to complete the school block, to contribute a 5kg bag of soya for each pupil at the school.
“They were challenged by trust issues when I first sold them the idea in 2022. However, seeing the Parish was to administer the funds, they agreed. Against 400 pupils, we raised around K960,000 in sales and bought cement.
The community provided sand, bricks, and women drew water until window level. BSOC99 finalized the entire structure including provision of the desks. We have since, in the two years, seen some students progress beyond secondary education, beating school dropout rates,” says Fr. Nkhoswe.
The old structures were a problem especially during rains, that left parents and pupils with no choice but drop out and opt for early marriages, farming activities, and piece work at nearby Malomo Trading Centre, Ntchisi boma, and elsewhere in search of life’s needs.
At the meantime, with support of the Pallottines, the Parish is working towards fundraising for boarding facilities so that pupils can concentrate on their education and minimize parental disturbances at home. Currently, pupils are using small teacher rooms at the one end of the school block as dormitories. The two small rooms – split one for boys and the other for girls.
Despite such a gloomy picture, ironically, in May 2014 Ntchisi emerged as one of the best districts having quality education standards. Malawi News Agency (Mana) reported the district had ‘…the highest quality of classroom blocks under the Education Sector Wide Approach Programme (ESWAP) funded by the Local Development Fund (LDF) in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.’ Whilst news is good but can be contested, Kabumba Primary School remains one of the oldest schools in the district which has been ignored for a long time.
Efforts by Fr. Nkhoswe, the chiefs, and the community that have rallied behind to support him, and especially UNIMA’s BSOC99 grouping which have taken the school a bar above, need to be sustained as long term interventions everywhere, as Malawi continues to struggle alongside the international community in meeting the aspirations of the SDG 4.
The UNIMA’s BSOC 99 grouping has members working with both the private and public sector in Malawi and abroad. During the handover, BSOC99 representatives included those working for the World Bank, Banja La Mtsogolo, Press Trust, and at the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) secretariat in Botswana.
National Bank of Malawi (NBM) plc’s has set social media ablaze as customers express their excitement over the annual interest credited in their savings accounts.
On Saturday, the Bank credited interests in their customer’s accounts for the year 2023 with varying amounts, which has been described as Christmas and New Year gifts by many.
Commenting on some posts made randomly on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, the customers challenged other Banks in the country to emulate what NBM Pls has been doing.
Thoko KK Haraman commented on Mikozi Page that NBM Plc deserves recognition.
“Bank of the year award goes to National Bank of Malawi,” he said.
Ruthie Ijalasi also commented: “Nyuwere yonse pa Bill ya NBM (All new year celebration expenses on NBM)”
NBM Marketing and Corporate Affairs Manager, Akossa Hiwa said the Bank is excited to see customers celebrating after rewarding them for being loyal customers within the year.
“The Bank recognizes that it exists because of these customers. By banking with us, it proves the customers’ satisfaction with our services as we also commit to providing better banking experience to them,” she said.
The Bank recently donated various educational and health equipment to 12 institutions in the country worth K70 million as part of a Christmas celebration dubbed ‘12 Days of Christmas Initiative’.
NBM plc also recently donated a chemical analyzer machine to help detect cancer in children worth K91 million to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantyre on top of another donation of K80 million to the Malawi Blood Transfusion Service (MBTS) to help in the purchase of Blood Bank fridges.
Conglomerate Press Corporation plc (PCL) on Friday gave an early Christmas gift to the elderly in Mpemba, Blantyre by donating food packs and treating them to a Christmas luncheon.
Speaking during the event at Nthanda Ya Kum’mawa Elderly Trust at Jiya Village, PCL Chief Finance and Administrative Executive Moureen Mbeye said they decided to reach out to the elderly after being approached for help.
“It was at the peak of the Cyclone Freddy disaster when Mrs. Uko approached us to give a hand to the elderly here, but since we were also involved in helping other Cyclone Freddy survivors at the time, we could not help. But she kept checking with us and since this is Christmas time, we thought we should squeeze whatever we had in our budget to come and cheer the elderly here.”
“The festive season is a time to give. To be here and share with the elderly gives us so much joy that they will, at least, celebrate Christmas with love and care,” said Mbeye.
Executive Director of the Nthanda Ya Kummawa Elderly Trust Anna Kuloya-Uko thanked PCL for reaching out to the elderly especially during the festive time.
“We started helping the elderly in this area in 2009 with 111 elder people and vulnerable people, especially those with albinism. We have a women’s group that takes care of the elderly and also coordinates some self-sustaining activities for the group and its beneficiaries.”
“Today, we want to thank PCL for these donations and the Christmas lunch, the elderly and the vulnerable people will celebrate this Christmas in a special way because of your donations,” said Kuloya-Uko.
The items that were presented include maize flour, rice, sugar, salt, cooking oil and other necessities.
Giant alcoholic beverages producer Castel Malawi has unveiled the Special Christmas Limited Edition of the ‘Spirits of Malawi’ with special Christmas labels and packaging for new customer experience.
Castel Malawi Product Manager Shania Kuseka said in an interview yesterday that the special Christmas editions of Malawi Gin, Malawi Vodka and Premier Brandy already hit the market.
“The Spirits of Christmas are set to make this holiday season even more special. Available from December 15 2023, these premium spirits are a delightful treat for everyone. With their unique blend and festive packaging, they are the perfect gift to share and savour during the festive season.”
“Whether enjoyed neatly, on the rocks, or in a cocktail, they are sure to bring joy to all who indulge in their rich and complex flavours. We want our customers to embrace the spirit of the season and make these limited editions a part of their holiday celebrations,” said Kuseka.
She further said the Christmas editions will have special Christmas labels and all black closure for all Gin, Vodka and Brandy for great consumer experience.
Kuseka said the iconic Malawi Gin, which has been celebrated locally and internationally since 1965 will be selling at K9,500 per 750ml bottle just like the Malawi vodka 750 ml bottle while the Premier Brandy 750 ml bottle will go at K14,000.
“The traditional labelled packaging for the spirits range will only be available after the exhaustion of the Christmas Limited Edition,” said Kuseka.
One customer Leslie Mbisa hailed Castel Malawi for the Christmas edition of the Spirits of Malawi range.
“This is a very good development and as a consumer for the Spirits of Malawi, especially Premier Brandy, I will enjoy it during the festive period and because the packaging is excellent and nice, I have already bought some for my friends and colleagues for their Christmas presents,” said Mbisa.
Listed NBS Bank and World Food Programme (WFP) have started disbursing funds through social cash transfer to over 2000 people affected by Cyclone Freddy at Nkhulambe Centre 1 and 2 in Phalombe.
The Bank’s Head of Marketing & Customer Experience Tamanda Ng’ombe said their main role is to make sure that the funds fall into the right hands.
“We work hand in hand with partners on the ground who work every day with the beneficiaries. In this case, the partner entrusted to do that is Circle for Integrated Community Development (CICOD). They are responsible for identification and then later pass the information to us to verify beforehand. The ID information is sent to us and we crosscheck what is on paper and what the beneficiary is presenting.”
“So far we have not met any challenges, WFP and CICOD have done a good job on the ground together with the District Commissioner and Department of Disaster Management (DODMA). They made sure that everything is in order, so our job has been straightforward,” said Ng’ombe.
WFP country Representative, Paul Turnbull said the lean season response is targeted at people who are food insecure.
“They are hungry because they didn’t get enough food from the last harvest. We understand that this particular district took the brunt of cyclone Freddy, so we realize that a lot of people won’t have enough food for this year. But it’s a program of limited duration,” said Turnbull.
In his remarks, Senior Group Nkhulambe said his area is one of the most affected by Cyclone Freddy as four villages namely Makambe, Nkhulambe, Nagoli and Mudeni lost 167 people while six are still missing.
“We are being given K150,000 which I have advised my subjects to use to buy food, which is our number one need. It will take time for us to start farming again as the area is full of sand. However, we are grateful for the help from international organizations through the government,” he said.
One of the beneficiaries, 70-year-old Thelma Selemani of Madukano Village said she lost her maize and cassava gardens during Cyclone Freddy.
“We were surviving on mangoes, now we are going to buy maize with this money,” said Selemani
Commissioner for DODMA, Charles Kalemba echoed that Nkhulambe area needs more support.
“Most of the land here has been encroached by rocks or sand and cannot produce anymore, so from the time Cyclone Freddy happened in March to now we are still supporting the people in terms of food security.”
“What we are seeing here is a process where people are receiving cash transfers, we had also given them maize for October, but for November, December, and January they are getting K150,000 which they are going to use for purchasing food, and then we will also come back for more money in February and March,” said Kalemba.
