Conglomerate Press Corporation plc Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ronald Mangani says PCL will continue to grow the Puma Energy Limited brand to create an impact on the domestic market and the country’s economy.
Mangani said this after opening a new Puma Sam Singh Filling Station on 2 Hannover Avenue in Blantyre CBD, where he also promised to see four more stations opened by the end of the year 2023.
“We are very excited to be associated with the PUMA brand. This means a lot to us because it means the brand is growing. It is increasing its footprints in the market and that’s the trend we see and we are very happy with. As PCL, we want to be associated with investments that are actually making a huge impact on the domestic economy, and PUMA is one of them.”
“We are actually expanding all over. This year alone, we have expanded into several places and the expansion will continue into December. We are looking at opening another four before the end of the year and another two by January. It is an expansion that is cutting across the geography of the country,” said Mangani.
Puma Energy Africa Chief Operating Officer, Ben Hassan Outtara, said in an interview, that the expansion signifies the company’s commitment to ensuring creation of investment opportunities in Malawi.
“We are on a growth trend. We want to be aggressive commercially to be able to create opportunities and jobs for Malawi. For us, it is important to show our strategy that we want to develop here in Malawi in terms of investment, job creation and sustainability. We need to be finding solutions by working with the Government and talking to the regulator,” said Outtara.
PCL has a 50 percent stake in the Puma franchise in Malawi.
On Saturday 9th December 2023, members of the Hill Climbing Club (HCC) joined other hikers in commemorating International Mountain Day (IMD), which falls on 11th December annually.
The group, led by Patron Godfrey Chindenga, was part of the big number of hiking enthusiasts who joined Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani V and his Ngoni subjects during the event.
Chindenga, joined by six other members, braved the 19 kilometres plus stretch from the Ngwenyama’s compound through Chibwana Village to the summit of Muonekera Hill, which forms part of the Kirk Range cutting through the country from Dzalanyama all the way to the Shire River and beyond.
During the event, which started on 8th December with colorful Ngoni traditional dances, camping and story telling amongst the hikers and the locals, punctuated by food, drink and excitement, the hikers planted trees on Muonekera, and took advantage to interact with the Ngewnyama and Her Majesty his wife, and the member of Parliament in the area, Chimphondo.
They all showed interest to work more with hikers in interventions around restoration of the ecosystem, such as tree planting, and at the same time build a culture of fitness and healthy living referred to as Fitness Tourism by HCC.
“As a club our calling beyond fitness and healthy living is to appreciate nature, and join the world and our leaders and everybody, including chiefs, politicians, young people and institutions of interest in redressing the degraded natural benefaction. We also promote gender equality and campaign against Gender Based Violence (GBV), apart from participating in humanitarian fundraising activities because we know that nature has a way of contributing to either our individual and collective fitness and healthy interests as a people. At the same time ensuring we live cleaner and better lives, that we are self-sufficient around food security, have better natural resources including water and indigenous fruits and therefore good nutrition, and we live lives free from oppression of any gender that impacts the ecosystem,” says Chindenga.
On his part, the Ngwenyama, Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani V, told the gathering at his headquarters, that he as a traditional leader comprehends that people need the earth and all its provides to support them, and nature correspondingly needs people to support it.
“As an ecosystem, its where we as humans and nature support each other. Without this relationship each will suffer. We have had natural disasters such as the devastating Cyclone Freddy in southern Malawi, and the floods and drought in Karonga up north.
“More recently we also experienced floods in Salima within the central region. This shows we need to start to work with nature as a life-long partner to survive. Everybody must take a part in this drive. And am glad that hikers are leading the way, joining us here with our youth to restore nature,” said Gomani V.
HCC Coordinator M’theto Lungu, who is also a graduate and member of the Faith Leaders Environment and Advocacy Training (FLEAT 2), a Southern Africa Faith Communities Environment Institute (Safcei) initiative, and green activist at the Sadc regional level through the All Churches Togther (ACT) We Have Faith (WHF) climate justice movement, said HCC recognizes mountains as their daily partner.
HCC member points at the other trees planted 5 years ago by the community
“We hike mountains. And we enjoy hiking mountains that are full of trees, grass, shrubs, various animals including birds, insects, and creepers. We enjoy the fresh upstream water that comes from the mountains. We enjoy the good fresh air and mostly we gain a lot physically – as we build endurance and stamina – all thanks to mountains and nature. It is therefore our deep rooted responsibility as hikers to inspire all to take care of mountains and the environment in whole.
“HCC and am sure many other institutions including food production entities, security agencies, and just everybody cannot survive without a balanced ecosystem. We as humans must therefore at all times, no matter where we live, do anything and everything to heal our world. We must also start to bring awareness to all levels of society, in very simple language especially in vernacular.
“Reach out to the grassroots and demystify the science and language that our leaders and environmental negotiators use to take advantage of the vulnerable poor majority, especially in the global south, so that they all understand the simple involvements in safeguarding and restoring the ecosystem.
“And more especially, in joining a noble movement that demands for restoration through various UNFCCC instruments such as carbon financing and others that have been promised the affected third world countries that greatly suffer the blunt of climate change at the hands of the rich and influential polluters especially those in the global north. 198 countries are expected to agree or not on the COP28 Draft Deal and its commitments.
“As COP28 in Dubai winds up this week, with no strong text, language, or assurance on the direction the world needs to take as the draft deal is mainly week and unacceptable, we in Malawi must not wait and continue to take the necessary steps in restoring our world,” Lungu, who also received an award from the Ngwenyama supported by the Ntechu District Commissioner (DC) on behalf of all hikers present at the event conclude.
Other awards were conferred to Austin Mndolo representing the Malawi Defence Force (MDF), and Joab Chakhadza on behalf of the media. The Ngwenyama was also awarded on behalf of all chiefs leading environmental restoration in their various areas, and for this unwavering support and commitment to young people in environmental redress.
HCC members that participated in the event include Bob Flloybeth, Stella Lungu. Thoko Nyirenda, Mary Kulinji, and Sarafina Banda.
IMD is commemorated each year and the theme for 2023 is Restoring Mountain Ecosystems, selected to fully include mountains in the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021 – 2030.
It is co-led by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN Environment Program (UNEP)
“The Decade is an opportunity to draw together political support, scientific research and financial resources to significantly scale-up restoration and prevent further degradation of mountain ecosystems,” says experts.
Mountains cover around 27% of the earth’s land surface and host about half of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. In Malawi, 25% of land surface is covered by mountains, making mountains key to our lives and livelihoods.
A local non-governmental religious organization Bethel ReachOut and Healing Ministries has donated various items to more than 80 elderly people at Mdoni in Sub Traditional Authority Mdunga in Kasungu as part of its Christmas cheer programme.
The donations were made possible by United States based philanthropist Emmanuel Mwandama and included wrappers, sugar, soap, salt, maize flour and the elderly were also provided with food and drinks to celebrate Christmas.
Speaking at the event, Founder of Bethel ReachOut and Healing Ministries Rex Tipoti Mbewe, who is also the father of Mwandama, acknowledged the need to keep supporting the elderly as roots for wisdom, culture, and development.
“We would also like to announce that our organization will be supporting over 10 elder persons per month with maize flour and soap until the harvest season. We want to respect these people by giving back to them since most of them are sleeping on mangoes only or staying days without eating, as they have no food and no one to help them,” said Mbewe, adding that they spent K800 000 on the course.
Mwandama said he decided to support the elderly through the organization, looking at how older people are struggling with hunger, rising cost of living, and lack of support.
“Through Bethel ReachOut and Healing Ministries we are going to support more older people including those living with disabilities in order to ease the burden they face,” said Mwandama.
Pioneer mobile network company of TNM Plc has kicked off the festive season for its customers with a festive season and Christmas promotion, dangling K50 million.
Through the promotion that will end in February, TNM will reward customers with fabulous cash and non-cash prizes.
Launching the promotion this afternoon the telco’s head office, Chief Executive Officer, Michel Hebert, said the Christmas Promotion is TNM’s way of showing appreciation to its customers loyalty on the network and enhancing their 2023 festivity celebrations.
“This Christmas Promotion is a means through which we are giving back to our customers, appreciating them for standing by us through thick and thin.
“We hope that this promotion will also provide our customers an opportunity to enjoy this festive season with their loved ones through cash prizes that they will win in this promotion,” said Hebert.
Hebert also says that the company is committed to uplifting the lives of its customers and maximizing customers’ satisfaction and that the Christmas Promotion is also the company’s way of rewarding Malawians for showing resilience through hardships faced in 2023.
“As a network that has its customers’ welfare at heart, we empathize with the struggles Malawians went through in the year 2023 such as Cyclone Freddy, Cholera.
“We therefore hope that the cash prizes to be won will give new beginnings to our customers as they enter the new year ahead”, stated Herbet.
The Christmas promotion will see customers gaining an entry with each K500 recharge and winning cash prizes on weekly and monthly basis.
One lucky winner shall walk away with the grand prize of K10 million.
TNM which covers up to 88% of Malawi landscape also provides the 4G and 5G network services.
The semifinals draw of the Ibongetse Castel Challenge Cup that was conducted on Sunday at Kamuzu Stadium during the Wanderers and Moyale Barracks game, has provided a possibility of Blantyre derby involving FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers.
The Nomads who defeated Moyale 3-0 in the quarter-finals will face the winner of the Round of 8 fixture between Bullets FC and Ekwendeni Hammers which will be played on Wednesday.
Meanwhile Lilongwe giants Silver Strikers will face Blantyre outfit Bangwe All Stars to complete the semifinal matches.
Castel Malawi Limited, sponsors of the Ibongetse Challenge Cup expressed optimism of entertaining football in the semifinals.
“As sponsors we are very happy to conduct the semifinals draw of the cup. The teams that are facing each other has shown great spirit of resilience and determination, therefore, we expect to see sustenance of good football,” said Lavern Chitakata, Head of Brand and Marketing at Castel Malawi.
Acknowledging the progress of Castel Challenge Cup, Chitakata commended the collaboration of various stakeholders that has contributed towards football development in the country.
“We are glad to reach the semifinals of the Cup which means that we have accomplished our objective of developing football. I would like to commend FAM, supporters and Regional Associations for being organised and ensure that over one thousand games have been played, together we are taking the game to great heights,” she said.
She added that so far, Castel cup has managed to develop football using the bottom-up approach.
“We are delighted with the level of talent and football that have been unearthed in the districts. The competition was stiff among teams and we believe that some players will upgrade to big football platforms,” added Chitakata.
Commenting on the possibility of the Blantyre derby after the game with Moyale, Wanderers coach Mark Harrison said that the team is ready to meet any opponent that comes on the way.
“We are quite comfortable with the outcomes of the draw that’s what football is all about. Whether we meet Bullets or Ekwendeni our expectation is that it will be good game with amazing football,” said Harrison.
The coach hailed his players for controlling the game and winning comfortably to reach the samifinal stage.
“Our focus is to reach the final and win the cup that’s the reason we showed great spirit on the pitch. I’m happy that what we told players have been done during the game to help us win,” he added.
The 2023 season of Castel Challenge Cup was launched in June at Bingu National Stadium with an inaugural match between Silver Strikers and FCB Nyasa Bullets which the bankers won 3-2.
9The final game is expected to take place on 31st December 2023 at the same venue.
NBS Bank Plc has acquired a 10-year Five million US dollar loan from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to enable the Bank to provide specialized financial services and support to businesses involved in the agriculture sector.
IFAD is a specialized agency of the United Nations, dedicated to eradicating poverty and hunger in developing countries.
Speaking at the agribusiness conference organized in partnership with Netherlands-based Rabo Bank and IFAD, NBS Bank Deputy Chief Executive Officer Temwani Simwaka, said the Bank’s role is to make sure that farmers and other businesses access financing to grow crops, produce, and add value.
“Looking at tea and macadamia, these are long-term crops and for macadamia it takes farmers seven years to start producing a crop that they can sell. As a Bank, we partnered with Rabo Bank to give us technical advice because it is a big agricultural bank. After that, we spoke to our customers and understood their needs and with that understanding we partnered with IFAD to support us by giving the funding so that we can lend to our farmers.”
“As NBS Bank, it would have been difficult to use our money for those long periods of time hence the support from our partners, RaboBank and IFAD. Again, most of these farmers export their crop and most of their costs are in foreign currency so it just makes sense for us to get money in US Dollars,” said Simwaka.
IFAD Country Representative Bernadette Mukonyora said their portfolio in the country is currently valued at 480 million US dollars supporting various sectors and sub sectors under agriculture, and irrigation among others.
“What we are doing now is looking at the agricultural sector as a critical driver of the Malawian economy. MW2063 talks about agricultural commercialization, we want to create value in this country, we want to create prosperity, and the agricultural sector is the one that will assist the government achieve that objective.”
“Today we are launching our first non-sovereign operation with NBS Bank and under this program, we are providing a loan of 5 million US dollars. Part of this funding has come from the government of Germany, and then we as IFAD lend this money to NBS Bank which is supporting value chain development and financing to tea and macadamia farmers in this country,” said Mukonyora.
In his remarks, Tea Association of Malawi Vice Chairperson Atu Kalinga said the market has been very depressed in the past two or three years.
“Appropriate financing is a major problem, so this facility that NBS Bank is bringing in will solve the problems,” said Katunga.
NBS Bank re-established its Agribusiness unit two years ago.
National Bank of Malawi (NBM) plc will for the third consecutive year celebrate this year’s Christmas with its stakeholders by donating K70 million worth of various items to educational and health-care institutions through a corporate social investment programme dubbed ’12 days of Christmas’.
NBM plc introduced the initiative in 2021 and through it, has impacted sectors such as education and health care through donations made by the Bank across the country.
Last year, the programme benefited institutions in Chitipa, Nkhotakota, Blantyre, Mzimba, Mangochi, Dowa, Mchinji, Salima, Ntcheu, Mwanza and Liwonde.
This year, the 12 Days of Christmas will benefit Area 25 Health Centre, Balaka Full Primary School, Mpemba Reformatory Centre, Kasungu Boma CDSS, Zomba Mental Hospital, Thyolo District Hospital, Mlangeni Police Training School, Rafik Foundations, among others.
Guided by the Bank’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) policy, the initiative will run from Thursday, December 7 to Friday, December 22, 2023.
NBM plc Marketing and Corporate Affairs Manager Akossa Hiwa, said the items to be given include learning aids, medical equipment and others.
“At the centre of the Festive season are love, community and giving. As a Bank of the Nation, NBM plc has the country at heart and strives to reach out to those that require assistance. 12 Days of Christmas gives us the opportunity to do that as the Bank, through its Service Centres, actively contributes to the welfare of 12 different institutions each December. The items we are going to distribute are worth over K70 million,” said Hiwa.
She added that the Bank prioritizes Education and Health because they are an integral part of the Bank’s Corporate Social Initiative (CSI) Policy.
“Our decision of initiatives to support was highly influenced by sustainability. We would like the items presented to keep on giving long after the 2023 festive season is over when learners return to schools or medical centres continue to operate in 2024,” explained Hiwa.
She said each of the 12 donations would be made by NBM plc employees led by Service Centre Managers nationwide
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Director, Martha Chizuma has commended the giant alcoholic producer in Malawi, Castel for its strong stance against corruption at the company.
Chizuma was speaking in Blantyre on Friday during the Anti-corruption activities organized by Castel Malawi ahead of the Anti-Corruption Day on Saturday.
The ACB Director said she was proud of Castel Malawi for being leaders from the private sector to join the fight against corruption.
“I am impressed and encouraged that a private sector institution could think of coming up with a day like this. You don’t usually see the private sector getting involved. There are few that are doing this, and also, maybe to a level that Castel Malawi has done.”
“This is very important because as we celebrate the Anti-corruption day, those are the aspirations that we have as a country to achieve the Malawi2063 like industrialization, commercialization for agriculture services and others. All those things, it is the private sector that will help us achieve that. And it is not just any other private sector that can achieve that, but the ones that are corruption free,” said Chizuma.
Castel Malawi Human Resource and Corporate Affairs Director, Gloria Zimba said the goal is to raise awareness and foster a collective effort for the continued fight against corruption, a cause that aligns with the values they share under their Corporate Social Responsibility.
“We declared last year and we are continuing with that declaration that Castel Malawi is a corrupt free organization, and we will try our level best to put in as much funding as we can to fight corruption internally. This day is important to us, that is why we have involved all our employees in the integrity march.”
“We want every employee to internalize the fight. It is not a fight which management, ACB, or government can do on its own. Every individual employee is called upon to take the responsibility, to blow the whistle when they see corrupt activities, or bribery taking place,” she said.
Zimba further indicated that since the declaration last year, the company has received a lot of whistleblowing both internal and external.
The commemoration of the day started with an integrity walk around Blantyre CBD with other partners like Deloitte, Malawi Law Society and Malawi Police accompanied by the Malawi Defense Force Band.
Super League of Malawi (SULOM) President Fleetwood Haiya has described the just ended TNM Super League as a success with gat revenues increasing tremendously to around K915 million as compared to K587 million in the previous season.
He made the remarks on Wednesday in Blantyre during a press briefing.
“I am proud to report that we have lived to our word having witnessed an attractive and competitive 2023 season. It is a season that has lit a flame of hope for our beautiful game and we are in the rightful direction towards professionalizing our league.
“I would like to thank all the 16 teams that participated in the 2023 season for their commitment and competitive spirit. Congratulations to FCB Nyasa Big Bullets for winning the league. Tough luck to Blue Eagles, Red Lions and Extreme FC. There is always next time.
“As we celebrate the just ended season, it is an opportunity to take stock of the gains made, and challenges faced during the season, hence this press briefing this morning. I want to assure all football lovers that we will not sleep. We will build on the gains made this season to continue Reviving, Reforming and Rebranding our league. But this cannot be achieved by SULOM Exco alone. I am, therefore, praying for your continued support to help us develop the league into a viable professional venture,” said Haiya
Taking his turn, SULOM Vice President, Colonel Gilbert Mittawa said the new executive has made significant strides in realizing the 5 key pillars that were set under the leadership of Haiya.
“You will also agree that during the just ended season, patronage of Super League matches increased significantly compared to previous seasons. It is not surprising therefore, that gate revenue for this season increased tremendously to around K915 million as compared to K587 million in the previous season.
“As an extension, allow me to sincerely thank all fans and football lovers for the support they gave to SULOM and Super League teams this season. Their contribution to the league has been a key game changer. I should also thank the leadership of all the Super League
“Teams in working hard to curb violence and hooliganism during matches. Your efforts cannot be taken for granted. For that reason, we will continue engaging the TNM Super League Supporters Committee to devise more ways and means that can help elevate the status of the league and curb violence at football matches,” he said
Further, Mittawa said they aim to raise the subvention to a minimum of k20 Million from K10 million the previous season.
“This season, we introduced several initiatives aimed at increasing revenue for clubs. We increased annual subvention to a minimum of MK10 Million from around K1 Million the previous season. This was a great milestone which eased logistical challenges for Super League teams and therefore, contributed directly to competitiveness of the league throughout the season.
“For the coming season, we aim to raise the subvention to a minimum of K20 Million. To this end, we have put in place several initiatives and activities to raise funds for the league and the clubs, in particular,” he said
Among others other initiatives to make SULOM better, Mittawa said they have established a full-time professional secretariat housed in this building at Ginnery Corner, Blantyre. It also established regional offices in Lilongwe and Mzuzu.
“To enhance competition, we effected the one game per week policy which has been a cornerstone of a highly competitive season as teams had time to recover and prepare before playing their next match. We also ensured that referees are paid in time to ease their logistical challenges and enable them to discharge their functions in a professional manner,” he said
Principal resident magistrate Roderick Michongwe on Wednesday threw out seven preliminary objections by former president Peter Mutharika’s bodyguard Norman Chisale.
Chisale is answering charges of intimidating public officers and obstructing justice following an exclusive interview he had with Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS), through which he attacked minister of justice Titus Mvalo and former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Steve Kayuni on their roles in various cases he is answering.
Through his lawyer Gilbert Khonyongwa, Chisale applied that in some charges, there were no disclosures of actual offences while some were against freedom of expression.
He further applied for a constitutional hearing on grounds that the court has no power to hear the case.
However, Michongwe dismissed the application saying the accused would not in any way be prejudiced or embarrassed when answering the charges and that no count is bad for duplicity arguing each offence is in one count. Michongwe said the counts were well crafted.
Following the ruling, the case will continue this morning with the State parading it’s first witness
