Category: National

By Staff Writer:

Rephaiah, a research focused pharmaceutical company registered in Iceland has partnered Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), a leading science and medical institution in Malawi to manufacture vaccines, fluids, antibiotics and painkillers in a deal worth US$33 million (about K33 billion).

Kuhes has an ambitious strategic plan of establishing a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility with over 7000 square meters  and construction is projected to start in the first quarter of  2023.

Dean of School of Life Sciences and Allied Health Professionals, at KUHES, Associate Prof Arox Kamng’ona said  when COVID-19 hit, people were asking where College of Medicine is (as it was known then) saying they were justified to ask such questions.

“As the leading institution housing advanced medicine research experts in this country, we had no locally developed product to help in the fight against coronavirus disease. All we offered was our expert training in patient care. We were urged by the Minister of Health and by The President to rise to the challenge.”

“The university has placed research and manufacturing of medicine at the top of our deliverables and we intend to meet this target within the next five years,” said Kamng’ona.

He said when completed, the pharmaceutical manufacturing plant will be able to manufacture vaccines, fluids, antibiotics and painkillers.

“As a university we realize we need partners with complementary skill sets and expertise. We have found in Rephaiah a perfect partner,” said Kamng’ona.

Rephaiah’s mission in Malawi is to establish a not-for-profit pharmaceutical manufacturing entity and its core business is pediatric medicines because very few medicines are developed with the special needs of children in mind.

In Malawi Rephaiah has established a Not-for-Profit pharmaceutical manufacturing entity with Hellen Chabunya as one of its directors.

“Our commitment is to propel Malawi as a center of excellence and preferred supplier for medicines in Africa, Rephaiah was registered in Malawi because our plan is that Rephaiah will be fully owned and operated by indigenous Malawians once we have fully leverage on the global expertise we have with our partners and have trained the necessary people for the sustainable continuity of this business in keeping with our mission and service to Malawi,” said Chabunya.

Founder of Rephaiah Prof Sveinbjorn Gizurarson said Rephaiah couldn’t find a more perfect partner than KUHeS.

This is an institution already in the business of providing the best care for patients, Rephaiah and KUHeS  have shared common values and together we have the expertise to set our goal on Malawians manufacturing medicines for both a national and an international market.”

“There is already a strong demand for certain drugs in the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa and we see therefore no need to wait any longer for manufacturing to start”, said Prof Sveinbjorn.

The two institutions plan to start small scale manufacturing at the current Kamuzu University site in Blantyre as they wait for the construction of the much bigger facility near Chileka airport.

The team toured some facilities that can be renovated to meet WHO standards for manufacturing of medicines.

The two organisations committed to clearing the legal and agreement terms before the end of this year with possible manufacturing commencement in 2023

By Eric Chiputula:

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Eastern Region Vice President Bright Msaka has finally come out in the open declaring his interest to lead the troubled party in the 2025 presidential race, challenging current leader Peter Mutharika.

Soon after news of Msaka throwing his hat into the DPP leadership race broke, DPP issued a statement that all the aspirants to the position should not declare themselves now but wait for the 2023 party convention.

Msaka’s coming out in the open during a press briefing in Lilongwe on Friday comes just hours after former Mutharika refuted allegations that his wife Getrude has endorsed him and is also seen as a direct defiance to the position of the DPP as a party.

During the press briefing, Msaka said he is the rightful candidate to govern the party having led a strong foundation for the party in the Eastern Region where he is the Vice President.

“My fellow Malawians I bring to you experience in both government administration as well as party administration having served as Secretary to President and Cabinet before as well as a cabinet minister and party vice president for the Eastern Region for over three years,” said Msaka.

Lately, the former ruling party has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons as senior party members have been jostling and wrestling with the party’s secretariat over their intentions to stand for the party presidency arguing Mutharika is no longer fit to govern again.

Some quarters have, however, been gunning for a Mutharika come back although the former state president will be hitting 85 in 2025.

It is clear that Msaka’s declaration will spark a new wave of divisions within the former ruling party as already the party is divided with one faction loyal to Leader of Opposition Kondwani Nankhumwa who is party Vice President for the South while the other faction is loyal to Mutharika.

Already some of Msaka’s committee members in the Eastern Region did not attend the press conference for fear of being seen as endorsing him.

By Staff Writer:

Five National Bank of Malawi (NBM) plc customers have won VIP tickets to the Kizz Daniel concert through the on-going ‘Transact and Win NBM Kizz Daniel promotion.

Speaking during the second draw of the promotion in Blantyre on Tuesday, NBM plc Marketing and Corporate Affairs Manager Akossa Hiwa said the Bank is impressed with the response of the customers in the promotion ahead of the concert.

“Our key objective with this partnership is to promote  use of our digital platforms and in this particular promotion;  our customers stand a chance of winning tickets to the Kizz Daniel Concert if they transact using their NBM plc card at any NBM plc POS device nationwide ,” said Hiwa.

“An analysis of the transactions reveals an increase in usage, which we will work to sustain as they come to appreciate the freedom that comes with not having to carry cash around when shopping,” added Hiwa.

NBM plc recently announced a partnership with Epic Lifestyle ahead of the Kizz Daniel Concert which will take place in Lilongwe on the 27^th of August..

During the draw on Tuesday, five people won  VIP tickets. Those who won the tickets are Khama Chibwana, Kundai Mbawala, Madalitso Nyanjagha, Mateso Kazembe and Naibiao Chen.

Last week, during the first promotion draw, another five people won standard tickets to the concert.

Hiwa added that apart from the ‘Transact and win promotion’, customers who are buying their tickets to the concert using other NBM plc digital platforms –  Mo626 ice, Mo Pay and POS will enjoy massive discounts that range between K15,000 to K5000 depending on the type of ticket purchased.

By Priscilla Phiri:

Three staff members from the Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST) have been confirmed dead and five others are on medical attention while on a learning tour at Monze in Zambia’s Southern Province.

According to a statement released Thursday by the Public Relations Officer for CMST, Herbert Chandilanga, dated August 11, 2022, the eight-member staff delegation was from the Ministry of Health and CMST.

The press release said the vehicle used on the tour had a tyre burst causing it to roll off the road.

The statement has confirmed the death of three CMST staff members which are IT Manager David Gongona Mavuto Chima, Quality Assurance Manager Alfred Edwin and the Branch Manager for Southern Region Innocent TonuIddiIssa.

Three members are currently receiving medical attention as outpatients which are CMST Trustee and Director of Technical Committee Stephen Chimtengo, Director of Finance, Washington Kaimvi and the Director of Pharmaceuticals Operations, Geoffrey Ngwira.

Meanwhile, two government officials which are the Director of Planning and Policy Development for Ministry of Health (MOH), Kate Jane Langwe and Financial Analyst at National Local Government Finance Committee, James Kelvin Namame are receiving in-patient care and awaiting transfer from Monze to Lusaka.

The study tour, sponsored by the Global Fund, focused on operational excellence in the procurement, warehousing and distribution of medicines and medical supplies.

It was hosted by the Zambian Ministry of Health and the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) which was to run from August 7 to 13 according to the statement.

By Staff Writer:

Following a confession by ESCOM that unless something is done, the utility provider is destined for collapse, Parliament on Wednesday passed a motion to allow for the formulation of a joint independent committee to look into comprehensive issues affecting the utility power provider.

At a media briefing in Blantyre on Tuesday, ESCOM Chief Executive Officer Kamkwamba Kumwenda conceded that the company is sailing through financial challenges and the only remedy would be a financial bailout or an increase in electricity traffics.

Following the confession, on Wednesday leader of the House in parliament Richard Chimwendo Banda moved a motion in parliament to allow for the formulation of a joint parliamentary committee to look into issues that are affecting ESCOM.

The motion which was duly adopted has seen the formulation of a joint committee comprising members from committees of Trade, Natural Resources, Public Accounts as well as Legal Affairs.

Speaking to journalists later, Chimwndo Banda said the joint committee will be tasked with the responsibility of coming up with a comprehensive report into issues that have been chalking operations of ESCOM.

“Malawians want to know what is happening with ESCOM right now, we can’t be talking about the ESCOM of 2014 today so this committee will go out there engage relevant stakeholders and present a report in parliament for Malawians to really appreciate what are the real issues that are affecting ESCOM,” said Chimwendo Banda.

Since ESCOM was unbundled in 2018 to form three companies, the utility power provider has been struggling financially arguing it has been making losses from electricity sales which currently is being purchased from the Power Market Limited, one of the companies that was formed through the unbundling process.

Another company is Electricity Generation Company (EGENCO) whose sole responsibility is managing the generation of the electricity.

By Justin Phiri:

Throwback to 2019. Who would have imagined that the once mighty governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) could be embroiled in leadership battles three years later? Two years after being booted out of power, a day now hardly passes without hearing something concerning power struggle within the former governing party.

If it’s not the Party Secretary General Grezelder Jeffrey challenging her position in court after being kicked out through the backdoor, then it’s the Vice President for the Southern Region Kondwani Nankhumwa rushing to the courts seeking relief to cling on to his vice presidency and leadership position for the opposition in Parliament.

As if that is not enough, then comes the battle for the leader of opposition the only remaining relevant position the party can command in the country.

One day you will hear that the National Governing council at its emergency meeting has removed Kondwani Nankhumwa as leader of opposition then the following day Nankhumwa is in court challenging his removal and the circus continues.

In a latest episode to the ongoing struggle for power within the Blue camp, several high profile individuals have been positioning themselves for the position of party presidency though the party through its outspoken spokesperson Shadreck Namlomba has maintained that anyone harbouring such ambitious plans must shelve them until 2023.

However Namalomba’s stand, whether it represents the position of the party or in his own individual capacity, seems to be landing on deaf ears as those positioning themselves for the post of party president have proceeded to hold rallies using the name of the party where they have been outlining their vision for the party.

Latest to hold such a political rally was Kondwani Nankhumwa last week at Nyambadwe Primary School ground where he along other senior party members took turns to sell their camp to those that had gathered at the ground.

And on Thursday morning one of those that are parading themselves for the presidency, Bright Msaka who is party Vice President for the Eastern region, announced that he is going to be addressing the media in Lilongwe Friday morning.

One wonders why Msaka whose base is in the eastern region would prefer to address the media in Lilongwe instead of his base in Zomba, Mangochi, Balaka or Machinga where he is a member of parliament.

Surely Msaka’s move suggest that he believes that his message is for the nation and not the eastern region only which he represents.

It therefore came as no surprise that immediately after Msaka floated his advert, the outspoken Namalomba was at it again this time around refuting what he called social media reports that former First lady Getrude Mutharika has endorsed Msaka as the next presidential candidate for the former ruling party.

All what is coming out clear in this hullaballoo is that there is lack of leadership within the DPP and it will be difficult for the party to mount a serious challenge to get back to power in 2025.

Two years after being booted out of power the party has failed to re-organise itself. Everyone speaks for themselves willy nilly.

The courts have been the only remedy keeping some of the members within the party but technically such members were already removed within the ranks and files of the party. Unless something is done urgently but otherwise the once mighty DPP is naturally dying from inside.

The sooner they realise it the better.

By Patrick Ng’ambi:

Like most Malawian musicians, Nuka Ages, real name Fraston Shaba started singing at a tender age while in standard 7 at Loudon Primary School in Embangweni where he joined a Bible Study Club at the school.

He then developed interest in music which became part of his life with support from his family, he likedsinging at church.

As time passed, he started joining music groups where his colleagues appreciated his work thereby gaining the confidence to start recording his own music.

Being a minister of God’s Word, music has given Nuka an opportunity to spread the Word to a wider audience.

That being said, the Mzuzu based RnB Gospel singer is this coming Fridayset to release his first official song entitled “Destiny.”

In an interview on Thursday, the singer said he decided to name the song “Destiny” because of the message that the song is carrying.

He said the blessings we receive from God are what He wants us to go through and the end-destination of our lives is the blessing of God.

“The word of God reveals that He predestined us unto salvation hence you can see that God is the one who holds the end of man, God is the destination of man,” Nuka said.

He said the inspiration to do music comes from ministering of God’s word and preaching as music is his pulpit.

“Music is giving me chances to touch people of which I am not be able to personally reach out to with the word of God therefore, to maximize my audience, music is the right platform,” the Singer said.

A Mzuzu resident, Temwa Mkandawire was full of encouraging words when the news about the song’s release date was disseminated on Uzimu Vibes Facebook Page saying she cannot wait to listen to the song.

She wrote, “Awesome, keep up the good work.Destiny is my baby’s name and I hope the song will reach out to me.”

The song which has been produced by Victor will be released on Golden City Tower’s (GCT) website, Uzimu Vibes’website and other online streaming platforms on the internet.

By Manasse Nyirenda and George Bulombola:

Parents and guardians of under-five children have been advised to take advantage of the third phase of Polio vaccination campaign which will run from Augut11 to 14, 2022 by ensuring that children are vaccinated against Polio.

The call was made Wednesday at Ezondweni Primary School in Mzimba North by Senior Chief Mtwalo when he presided over the launching ceremony of third Polio vaccine campaign in the district.

Mtwalo advised parents against denying their children from getting vaccinated saying doing so will be counterproductive to the campaign.

“Let me also take advantage to advise some religions which deny their congregants the right to access health services against discouraging parents from having their children vaccinated. Stakeholder should report such religions to authorities for redress there and then,” said Mtwalo.

Director for Health and Social Services (DHSS) for Mzimba North, Shadreck Ngwira was optimistic that his office through coordination and partnerships, will reach about 113,000 children as the districts target.

“We faced some challenges in the first and second phases since they were conducted in rain season and this affected mobility of disease contral; assistants in reaching out to children,” said Ngwira.

Speaking at Ngonga in Rumphi District, Western Nyirenda who the DHSS for the district, expressed hope that the campaign will be a more successful compared to the previous phases.

“We managed to register 96 percent of the targeted children in the first phase and we achieved 106 percent in the second phase,” said Nyirenda.

“The second one was even more successful as we surpassed our target covered 106 percent of the target,” he.

He said his office and in collaboration with other player will continue striving to fight against the misconceptions surrounding the vaccine to ensure that all targeted children targeted for the campaign are vaccinated.

On his part a Polio survivor, Peter Miyanga who works with Malawi Against Physical Disabilities (MAP) urged all parents to ensure that their children are vaccinated since their immune system is not strong enough to fend off Polio attack on its own.

By Chilungamo Missi:

Airtel Malawi has asked its customers to stay vigilant against fraudsters by not sharing their mobile money details to third parties in response to increase in cases of mobile money fraud cases in the country,.

In an interview Wednesday in Blantyre, Marketing Director for Airtel, Thokozani Sande said as a company they acknowledged that fraudsters with a promise however to increase security.

“We are continuously sensitizing our consumers to be very careful, by not sharing their pin codes or details of their mobile money wallets or even their bank accounts to anyone else as such details are meant to be private,” she said.

Sande added that there are some things which as a company they could do to protect the consumers but at the end of the day the consumer has the biggest responsibility to protect themselves.

Commenting on the same, Minister of Information and Digitalization, Gospel Kazako said government does not want people to think that the digital space was not safe, but that people should be able to transact in a free and safe way.

He said: “As government through Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority, we are looking into it to make sure that these fraudsters are caught. We are not happy when people make calls with intentions of defrauding people”.

Kazako said that government was investing a lot of money in a technology that would register all mobile phones using Malawian networks; an initiative which would scale up efforts to trace fraudsters.

By Eric Chiputula:

In a bid to ensure efficiency in the operations of the country’s statutory bodies, government has embarked on an ambitious drive to standardize salary structures and operations of statutory corporations.

This follows President Lazarus Chakwera order to suspend recruitment and renewal of contracts in all statutory bodies pending review of salaries.

He argued the move is aimed at reducing public expenditure in a bid to put the country’s economy back on track.

Following the order, the office of Comptroller of Statutory Corporations instituted a committee comprising of Secretary to Treasury, Principal Secretary responsible for Administration in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Solicitor General, Secretary for Justice and the Secretary for the Department of Human Resource for cause.

In an interview, Comptroller of Statutory Corporations Peter Simbani said the Committee is in the final stages of reviewing the salary structures before releasing a report on the same.

He said among other things, the committee was tasked with the responsibility of reviewing salary structures within the country’s statutory bodies after it was noted that there was a huge disparity in salary structures for parastatals under the same category.

“I can confirm that indeed we are carrying out that exercise right now. As you are aware the country’s statutory corporations are categorized into three. There are those that are fully funded by government and then we have semi-funded that make their own resources but are also supported by government and finally we have those that are fully commercial who make their own resources without relying on government. So we are looking at how we can standardize the salary structures of statutory corporations that fall within the same category under these three categories,” said Simbani

Simbani is of the view that once the exercise is complete it will bring sanity in how parastatals are managing their resources.