Category: National

National Bank of Malawi (NBM) plc has boosted the upcoming Institute of Marketing in Malawi (IMM) Annual Conference with a K5 million sponsorship.

Speaking during the cheque handover ceremony on Monday, NBM plc Marketing and Corporate Affairs Manager, Akossa Hiwa, said the Bank views the sponsorship not just as a sponsorship, but as an investment in knowledge, innovation, and the future of marketing in Malawi.

“IMM provides a space where marketers learn, share new ideas, and challenge themselves. This year’s theme, ‘Resilience in the Face of Disruption: Be Bold, Be Different, Be Remarkable’, speaks directly to what many businesses and individuals are facing now,” said Hiwa.

Hiwa further noted that the sponsorship is aimed at making the conference more impactful for participants.

“We are certain that the IMM annual conference will equip delegates with forward-thinking strategies, insights into emerging trends, and bold leadership principles to thrive in times of change. Participants will gain new tools, share experiences, and form connections across institutions and sectors. Such networks often lead to collaborations and improved practices.”

“The decision to support the conference reflects our conviction that marketing plays a vital role in shaping industries and driving sustainable growth. This sponsorship is not just about financial contribution; it is an investment in knowledge, innovation, and the future of marketing in Malawi,” said Hiwa.

On his part, IMM President, George Damson, expressed gratitude for NBM plc’s continued partnership with the institute.

“We are grateful for National Bank’s sponsorship toward our conference and the continued support over the years. The annual conference aims to equip Malawi’s marketers with strategies to help businesses survive and grow in the current challenging environment,” said Damson.

The conference is set to take place in October this year

By Lawrence Develoius Kaunda: 

The government has moved to rescue Malawi’s tobacco growers by directing the Smallholder Farmers Fertilizer Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) to start purchasing unsold tobacco after traditional buyers halted purchases, citing exhausted trade quotas.

In a press statement issued Saturday evening and seen by The Atlas, Secretary for Agriculture Dickxie Verson Kampani said sales at the auction floors had slowed in recent weeks, leaving farmers stranded with bales of tobacco.

He said government recognized the crucial role the crop plays in household incomes and the national economy, and could not allow growers to suffer due to reduced demand from international companies.

“The Government has resolved to purchase the remaining tobacco through the SFFRFM, which has already commenced this operation and is active on the auction floors,” Kampani said.

He added that government remained committed to providing “a reliable and sustainable market” for growers, reaffirming tobacco’s position as the country’s leading export commodity.

“The Government reassures the entire tobacco-growing community of its full support and affirms that it will provide all necessary resources to the SFFRFM to complete this purchasing initiative successfully,” the statement reads.

The intervention comes at a time when Malawi is battling fluctuations in global demand for leaf tobacco, a crop that contributes significantly to foreign exchange earnings but has faced increased restrictions over health concerns.

Farmers have long complained about price volatility and dependency on a few dominant buyers, raising fears of exploitation.

Last week, Atlas reported that farmers under Associated Central African Limited, Hell and Cotton, Premium Tama, and Alliance One were stranded with unsold bales at Waliranji in Mchinji due to booking bottlenecks.

Growers complained that even after the first extension of the marketing season, they failed to access the market, leaving an estimated 500 bales unsold in the district alone.

In an interview Enoch Mghogho, a farmer from Mchinji, said the step taken by government was a huge relief after weeks of uncertainty.

“Many farmers, largely in the central region, were affected by the early closures. We were beginning to lose hope, but now at least we are assured our sweat will not go to waste,” he said.

he said the latest move reflects the government’s attempt to stabilize the sector ahead of the 2025 season.

However, questions remain on whether the SFFRFM has adequate capacity and resources to absorb the remaining volumes, given its primary mandate of a fertilizer distribution.

Meanwhile, other growers have welcomed the assurance but urged government to expedite the purchases, warning that delays could erode their profits and worsen financial hardship.

The Ministry of Local government has Elevated seven Chiefs in Zomba District as part of efforts to encourage effective leadership.

Through the office of the district commissioner, the ministry has promoted three Traditional Authorities (T/As) — Nkagula, M’biza, and Kumtumanje to the position of Senior Chief.

Additionally, three Sub-Traditional Authorities Namadidi, Nkapita, and Lamusi have been elevated to Traditional Authority, while Group Village Head (GVH) Kamwendo has been promoted to Sub-Traditional Authority.

Speaking during the promotion ceremony on Friday at Gymkana ground , the Zomba District Commissioner, Reinghard Chavula, advised the chiefs to respect the law and love their people in order to work together effectively on development initiatives in their areas.

She also urged the chiefs to avoid corruption, saying that bribery hinders development progress.

She added that people expect to find initial justice from the chiefs instead of traveling long distances to seek redress from the courts.

“If chiefs make their local courts just and fair, it will prevent people from facing economic burdens and will help them live peacefully,” said Reinghard Chavula.

In his remarks ,Director of Chiefs Affairs Charles Makanga said that the role of chiefs is to work in collaboration with the government, and that the Ministry of Local Government will continue promoting deserving chiefs.

He advised the chiefs to preserve cultural traditions, ensure that children in their areas attend school, and not to endorse early marriages for young girls.

“Many Chiefs were promoted way back but to hold this ceremony has been a problem, so as government we’re committed to promote Chiefs for their tramendous work for supporting development’s initiaves in the country” He said .

Speaking on behalf of the newly promoted chiefs, T/A Lamusi expressed happiness at being elevated to the position of Traditional Authority and thanked the country’s leader, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, for the promotion.

Old Mutual has implemented a series of personal finance management trainings to staff at the Malawi Parliament, the delegation of European Union in Malawi, Light House and the Zambezi Evangelical Church men’s ministry.

The trainings which are aimed at empowering individuals with financial skills for enhanced financial wellbeing began from 25 to 30th August 2025 reaching more than 800 people.

Speaking at the Parliament building, Old Mutual Financial Education Manager Benard Chiluzi said the training tackled critical areas of financial wellness including budgeting, savings, investment, risk management, and retirement planning.

Chiluzi said financial literacy is not a luxury but a necessity in today’s challenging economic environment.

“Many people work hard but still struggle financially because they lack practical tools to manage money. These trainings are about shifting that mindset, helping people make their salaries work for them, not against them,” he said.

“People need to be able to separate needs from wants. We normally encourage people to adopt a budget that respond to that. A practical tip is the 50-30-20 rule, where 50% of income goes to needs, 30% to wants, and 20% to savings and investments” he added.

According to Chiluzi, on savings, he encouraged people to create emergency funds where they are able to set aside at least three months’ worth of expenses saying this would protect households from unexpected shocks such as medical emergencies or job loss.

Speaking after the training, the Clerk of Parliament, Fiona Kalemba said the training was eye opening, particularly focusing on retirement.

She encouraged parliamentary staff to plan for retirement with discipline and integrity, cautioning that poor financial preparation can drive individuals into corruption.

She said “long-term security is built through small, deliberate choices made today. Every coin saved, every skill learned, and every wise decision made today is a brick for our retirement tomorrow. Let’s emulate those who successfully transitioned into business and financial independence after leaving formal employment”

The Parliament training workshop held under the theme “Planning for Retirement”, was organised by the Institution’s Integrity Committee.

Old Mutual is a premier financial service provider that also offers free financial education through it On the Money program.

The Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has released damning findings from an extensive investigation into sexual harassment allegations affecting female employees across tea estates in Mulanje and Thyolo districts.

The investigation exposes a culture of abuse that has devastated the lives of dozens of women workers, with far-reaching consequences for their families and communities.

The investigation documented 45 cases of sexual harassment across multiple tea estates, revealing a shocking pattern of systematic abuse. Ten women became pregnant as a result of coerced sexual relations, with eight receiving no financial support for their children from perpetrators. Twenty women lost their jobs either for refusing sexual advances or becoming pregnant, while three victims contracted HIV/AIDS following sexual abuse. Among the 44 women interviewed, 30 had been divorced, often facing social stigma and increased vulnerability.

The harassment was primarily perpetrated by individuals in positions of authority within the tea estates, including managers, captains, and clerks.

These power dynamics created an environment where female workers faced impossible choices between their economic survival and personal safety. The abuse of authority extended beyond individual acts to create a systematic culture where women’s bodies became commodities in exchange for job security or workplace rights.

One of the most troubling findings was the pervasive fear that prevented victims from reporting abuse. Women described a workplace culture where speaking out against harassment meant risking not only their jobs but also retaliation against their families.

This climate was compounded by inadequate awareness and training on sexual harassment prevention, leaving many workers unaware of their rights or proper reporting channels.

Devastating Consequences
The investigation highlighted the profound personal toll on victims and their families.

Beyond the immediate trauma of sexual abuse, women faced cascading consequences that destroyed their economic security and social standing.

The high rate of divorce among victims reflects the additional burden of social stigma within their communities. For those who became pregnant as a result of abuse, the situation became even more desperate, as they were left to raise children alone while dealing with trauma and job loss.

Recognizing the severity of the situation, the MHRC has issued comprehensive recommendations for change.

These include implementing regular training on sexual harassment for all employees, establishing support mechanisms for survivors and their children, and strengthening collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Police, Judiciary, and civil society organizations. The commission also recommends reviewing seasonal employment contracts through a gender-sensitive lens and enhancing anonymous grievance reporting systems.

The MHRC has committed to monitoring compliance with these recommendations, raising civic awareness, and following up on implementation. The commission will work with the Women Lawyers Association to support litigation in unresolved cases.

The findings represent a critical moment for Malawi’s tea industry to demonstrate its commitment to human rights and worker protection. The investigation offers hope for justice and prevention of future abuse, but success will be measured by the implementation of reforms and the creation of workplaces where women can work with dignity and safety.

Mulanje District Commissioner, Limbani Mwafulirwa said the council is committed to work with responsible parties to curb the vice.

By SIVIO Institute:

As Malawi approaches its pivotal 2025 elections, a critical question to ask is whether promises made to citizens in the run-up to the last elections have been fulfilled.

The report – “New Faces, Same Challenges”, produced by pan-African Think Tank SIVIO Institute, provides an answer to this question.

The report is a five-year assessment of the performance of the Government of Malawi from June 2020 to May 2025. It offers a data-driven answer.

It tracks 204 campaign commitments across five sectors: Economy, Governance, Corruption, Social Services, and Climate Change, providing a rare, evidence-based lens on political accountability.

The findings are sobering. Of the 204 promises made, 14 promises were fully implemented, while 138 remain in progress. 10 promises were broken, and 42 show no measurable progress.

Overall, the government scored 39 percent on delivery. The strongest performance was in the Economy sector, with a 44 percent score, while Social Services lagged at 33 percent, showing persistent gaps in education, healthcare, and basic service provision.

Malawi’s economic landscape during this period was marked by turbulence. Hyperinflation soared above 30 percent, foreign exchange and fuel shortages disrupted daily life, and public debt rose to MK16.19 trillion, 85% of GDP by September 2024. Poverty remained widespread, with 71% of Malawians living below the poverty line in 2025.

Yet, amid these challenges, there were some important actions: the revival of the Junior Certificate of Education (JCE), expanded access to electricity and broadband, and the enactment of new land laws aimed at safeguarding Malawian ownership.

While new anti-corruption courts were introduced and land reform initiatives gained traction, high-level corruption scandals and unfulfilled governance promises continued to erode public trust.

Climate resilience and social sector investments did advance, but progress was often slowed by fiscal constraints, climate shocks, and implementation bottlenecks.

This five-year assessment provides Malawian citizens, civil society, and the media with an independent reference point as the country prepares to vote. It is a call for greater transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement in shaping Malawi’s future.

For access to the full Malawi Barometer report and sector-specific data, go to: https://doi.org/10.59186/SI.JN99GHGX

Zomba Forest Lodge, in partnership with First Capital Bank, has criticized the practice of deforestation on Zomba Mountain, stating that this activity contributes to climate change and the occurrence of natural disasters.

The Director of Zomba Forest Lodge, Thom Inch, made these remarks at Sunbird Ku Chawe during the “Run for Reforestation” event, which was organized to raise funds and awareness for environmental conservation and the promotion of tourism in the district.

Thom said he believes that a strong partnership among stakeholders would strengthen efforts to protect trees on Zomba Mountain and its surrounding areas.

Thom stated that it is important to raise awareness among local communities about the benefits of preserving the environment, so that they take the initiative to protect trees and help prevent problems that arise from environmental destruction.

“Educating people about the importance of environmental conservation and working together across all sectors involved in environmental protection can help us safeguard the environment on Zomba Mountain,” Thom said.

He further added that Zomba Mountain is a tourist destination, so protecting its natural resources can enhance tourism and the local economy.

Adding his voice, Senior Human Resources Business Partner for First Capital Bank, Arthur Lipande, said the bank saw it as a wise move to support the event, recognizing the importance of the environment and the need to protect trees on Zomba Mountain.

Lipande stated that climate change and sudden natural disasters are increasing in the country because people are destroying the environment by cutting down trees carelessly in protected areas.

“We appeal to everyone in this country to join hands in taking care of our environment. Let us stop the careless cutting of trees so we can prevent the problems that are arising from environmental destruction,” Lipande said.

He also advised the people living in Zomba city to avoid the habit of cutting down trees on Zomba Mountain, warning that this could negatively affect tourism and reduce the income generated from tourism-related activities.

He added that if environmental destruction continues on Zomba Mountain, the city should expect many problems, such as a shortage of water, as the mountain is a key water source for various uses.

At the event, a 25-kilometer race was held, with professional athletes from Zomba and Mulanje districts competing.

Dolis Fisha emerged as the winner in the women’s category, completing the 25-kilometer distance in one hour and forty minutes. She expressed gratitude to Zomba Forest Lodge and First Capital Bank for organizing the race, saying it helped her improve her fitness and earn money to support her family.

She received a cash prize of 300,000 kwacha for being the top-performing athlete in the race.