This Sunday, 13th October, Stakeout will host an exclusive watch party for the highly-anticipated music video “Controller Remix” by Malawi’s Onesimus and Nigeria’s Joeboy.
African Butter, Onesimus, is set to unveil the official music video on October 14th, but a select few will get to experience it first at Stakeout.
The event promises an electrifying atmosphere, with fans getting to enjoy the new video before its official release.
It’s also an opportunity to mingle with fellow music enthusiasts and the African Butter team.
Limited space is available, so booking in advance is recommended.
The “Controller Remix” watch party kicks off on Sunday at Stakeout.
Nchalo Golf Club Ladies Golf Team of Mercy Kamanga, Jamia M’manga, and Faith Samati emerged victorious at this year’s Ethanol Company Limited (EthCo)-sponsored Inter-Club Ladies Golf Tournament, held over the weekend at the Lilongwe Golf Club.
The victory ended Blantyre Golf Club team’s five-year dominance since the competition was introduced.
The two-day tournament, featured multiple divisions, with participants from Blantyre, Lilongwe, Limbe and Nchalo golf clubs competing for top honours and attractive prizes, including trophies, hampers, and shopping vouchers from Chipiku Stores.
In A Division, Ireen Matias clinched the top spot with a gross score of 186, followed closely by Regina Mwanza who scored a gross of 190, and Joshbed Mpanga, who also posted a gross of 190 with a handicap of 23.
The Champ division championship went to Roza Mbilizi with the best gross score of 170, followed by Stella Ng’oma and Jean Kasenda.
In the Junior category, Matilda Mandala emerged winner with a gross score of 200, while Beauty Kapiseni took second place with 208 score.
The senior category saw Sheilla Chinkhandwe top the leaderboard with a handicap of 24 and a gross score of 194, while Maria Lee Cho took second place with a gross score of 200.
Division B was dominated by Nchalo captain Mercy Kamanga, who posted a gross score of 196, while Bridget Banda and Elizabeth Mvula followed in second and third positions, respectively.
Kamanga expressed excitement for winning this crocodile trophy for the first time in five years.
“We didn’t expect that we were going to win, to be honest, but it’s a very big surprise for us. We thought that the hosts, Lilongwe Golf Club ladies, would take the title. It’s been a remarkable achievement for us as a team,” said Kamanga.
Speaking during the prize presentation, EthCo Chief Executive Officer Lusubilo Chakaniza, highlighted that it was one of the most successful events as it was the first time to have that many golfers.
“We have seen the ladies enjoy this tournament, and we have had the biggest crowd ever since we started sponsoring the tournament. It’s been quite interesting to see Nchalo win, but we are happy at EthCo because the trophy has been moving around the clubs and that is what we needed.”
“As EthCo, through this Inter-Club Golf Tournament, we are trying to promote our private brands. We have a private brand concept whereby we are adding value to products,” explained Chakaniza.
Outgoing Ladies Golf Union of Malawi president, Ulemu Luhanga appreciated EthCo for supporting the sport for over five years which has also motivated ladies to take part in the competitions.
“This tournament has been remarkable, and wonderful. The turn-up has been very great. We had about 62 lady golfers from across all the golf clubs. The sponsorship that we got from EthCo of K13 million, which was the biggest that we have gotten so far, has assisted us a lot. We had quality trophies, and even the prizes themselves were top-notch. And the ladies appreciate the half-time snacks and food,” said Luhanga.
The Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal Judge Justice Dorothy Nyakaunda Kamanga has found private practice lawyer Alexious Kamangila guilty of perjury for fabricating facts and lying under oath in a criminal case where the lawyer was defending a murder convict.
In her ruling, sitting as a High Court Judge, dated 16 September 2024, Justice Kamanga bashed Kamangila for being dishonest and lying under oath in his affidavit to release his client from custody.
Kamangila was defending Wyson Big Bannet who, together with Myson Viera Chizizira were convicted of murder way back in 2013 in a homicide case which was tried by the late High Court Judge Justice Joseph Manyungwa.
Justice Kamanga said is her ruling that at the time of the demise of Justice Manyungwa in 2013, the judgement against the second defendant (Bannet) remained pending, thereby necessitating the formulation of a case management protocol to assign another judicial officer to prepare and render the judgement.
“After delivering the judgement on 19 April 2018, both the prosecution and the defence were instructed to prepare and file submission as a plea to mitigate the sentence. For reasons presumably known solely to the involved parties and their legal practitioners, this directive has not been complied with, despite numerous reminders disseminated through the office of the Registrar,” said Justice Kamanga.
She also noted that Bannet committed the crime in 2007 but the trial was heard in 2013 and the judgement passed in 2018 and said ‘the main delay that this court deems justifiable pertains to the interval between the demise of the trial judge and the delivery of the judgment’.
She bashed the defence lawyers for the delays occurring between when the judgement was passed and sentencing describing their conduct ‘delay tactics and professional negligence’.
Justice Kamanga therefore sentenced Bannet to 36 years imprisonment starting from the day of his arrest.
But she had no kind words for lawyer Kamangila.
“In the current case, it was procedurally inappropriate for the defendant and his legal practitioner to exploit the passing on of the trial judge and the ensuing delays in reassigning the case to seek applications before courts for unconditional release and discharge,” said Justice Kamanga.
“It is quite perplexing that the defendant and his legal counsel, who has thus far neglected to furnish the necessary documentation relevant to sentencing, are disseminating erroneous information about the legal status of the defendant and the progress of the proceedings in this homicide case, seemingly aimed at undermining the judiciary as a foundational institution and its judicial officers.”
“The judgement that determined the second defendant’s guilt and resulted in his conviction was delivered in his presence, along with that of his legal practitioner at that time on 19 April 2018, thus the current efforts by his counsel to indirectly challenge the conviction by portraying and staging the convict in a motion and in the media as a long-term remand prisoner is to ‘act without diligence’ and is deemed unprofessional and unethical conduct on the part of the lawyer, which the court will not condone,” said Justice Kamanga.
“The defendant and his legal counsel demonstrated a reluctance to conform to the established practices and procedures relevant to the management of criminal cases. It appears that their primary motivation is a desperate endeavour to evade the sentencing process by filing motions before various judges and engaging in litigation within the media sphere, possibly in an attempt to harass and influence the sentencing court to discharge the offender without adhering to the requisite due process.”
“It is regrettable and lamentable that recently some members and leaders of the Malawi Law Society seem to have become enmeshed in a form of publicity contest, wherein they exploit the circumstances of litigants to draw attention to themselves and the noble legal profession, thereby diverting focus from the essential professional responsibilities of legal practitioners and the ultimate objective of improving access to justice for all,” said Justice Kamanga.
“How the defence has managed this case, indicates a significant level of incompetence on the part of the legal practitioners who claim to assist the second defendant. It is also observed that Counsel Alexious Kamangila engaged in perjury in paragraphs 9 to 13 of the sworn statement in support of the application for release, discharge and effective remedy that was filed on 12 July 2022, wherein he swore that the defendant is innocent and is awaiting judgment despite the defendant being fully aware that he appeared in court on 19 April 2018 for the delivery of the judgement.”
“There is always a risk of perjury when parties make statements under oath or counsel swear affidavits on behalf of their clients. Furthermore, it is imperative that when legal practitioners seek to represent a party in a specific matter, they must file and serve a notice of change or appointment of a legal practitioner before undertaking the handling f that matter in compliance with the law.”
“Had the aforementioned legal practitioner adhered to the proper procedure of engaging lawyers, he might have respected the actions of the other lawyers regarding the case and been more informed about the previous proceedings, thereby avoiding the pitfall of fabricating facts, lying and perjury,” said Justice Kamanga.
She said the Bannet retains the right to apply for an appeal against both the conviction and the sentence imposed.
According to Section 102 of the Penal Code, perjury in a written statement is punishable by 7 years imprisonment while Section 105 of the Penal Code, fabricating evidence is punishable by 7 years imprisonment. Section 106 of the Penal Code provides that false swearing before a commissioner for oaths is punishable by 2 years imprisonment.
Petroleum Importers Limited (PIL), a consortium of four marketing companies in the country, has donated a solar water pump worth K7.8 million to Lulwe Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in Nsanje to help solve water challenges.
PIL’s gesture is a direct response to the story that The Nation on Sunday published about the students fetching water from distant sources for use at the school.
Speaking after handing over the pump on Wednesday, PIL General Manager, Martin Msimuko said the company felt concerned with the situation considering that the students were wasting time for classes to fetch water.
“Water is life, and access to clean, safe water is fundamental for the well-being of every community. We heard through the news report that learners used to fetch water from far away. This solar water pump is more than just a machine – it is a symbol of progress, sustainability, and hope. With this solar water pump, the school will have a reliable source of clean water, ensuring better hygiene, access to safe drinking water, and the ability to maintain sanitary conditions.”
“With access to clean water, students will be able to focus on their studies without worrying about basic needs. This is an investment in their future, allowing them to pursue their education with dignity and hope. By utilizing solar power, we are tapping into a clean, renewable source of energy. In doing so, we not only address the water needs of this school but also demonstrate a commitment to protecting our environment,” said Msimuko.
Headmaster at the school, Nasho Simbi conceded that the situation was dire as the school has had no water since 2022.
“So, it was compulsory that each student fetch water to be used at the school. Some had to carry water from their homes every day, but now students will be relieved of such burden and concentrate on their studies. We therefore thank PIL for the assistance,” he said.
Phyless Matchado, a form four student said the situation affected them more as girls.
Apart from the school, the water will also aid challenges faced by the nearby health centre, teachers’ houses, a primary school and the community around Lulwe CDSS who have also been connected.
Pastor Samuel Mpheluka who works at the health centre said they used to hire women to fetch about 200 litres of water to be used at the facility every day, which was too costly and a health hazard considering the unreliability of the water sources.
Lulwe CDSS has 250 students, while the hospital serves a catchment of 10,040 people, and the other side there is a primary school with 860 pupils.
PIL consists of Puma, Total Energies, Vivo Energies, and Petroda.
The K450 million National Bank of Malawi (NBM) plc’s Mo626 College Basketball Tournament wrapped up spectacularly as Malawi Assemblies of God University (MAGU) men and women teams successfully defended the championship.
Both teams walked away with K5 million and trophies each in two thrilling championship finals played at ABC Blue Gym in Lilongwe at the weekend.
After a successful semifinal encounter on Friday, the action-packed day on Saturday kicked off with a thrilling bronze medal clash in the women’s category, where MUBAS edged MZUNI 37-35 to claim third place.
In the men’s bronze match, UNILIL powered past the UNIMA Hawks with a dominant 72-48 win.
The excitement peaked in the women’s final as MAGU and UNILIL battled fiercely for the title.
MAGU’s She-Wolves emerged victorious with a tight 52-48 win.
The grand finale saw the MAGU Wolves face ABC Lions in a gripping men’s showdown and in a last-minute thriller, the Wolves triumphed 45-41.
MAGU’s Orlyn Londo and Peter Mapunde were honoured as the Most Valuable Players (MVPs) in the ladies and men’s categories respectively.
“This is beyond amazing! Being named MVP and winning the tournament feels like a dream. We gave our hearts into every game, and to come out on top is just incredible. Defending our title was our mission, and we made it happen. I am so proud to bring this victory home for MAGU,” expressed Mapunde.
NBM plc Chief Financial Officer Daniel Jere, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the tournament saying it has been a resounding success, celebrating the spirit, skill, and passion of Malawi’s young athletes.
“We are very encouraged by the response we have seen from both the colleges that have participated in this tournament, the fans at large, and all our customer base, because this tournament has delivered a lot of excitement, especially amongst the college teams that participated.”
“Two weeks ago, we were at the Malawian University of Science and Technology (MUST), and we, indeed, saw the badge that was there with the Mo626 College Basketball Tournament.”
“This tournament is getting bigger with each passing year, and we are very encouraged by what we are seeing. As a Bank, our plans for this tournament can only be to get it to grow bigger. From where we started 16 years ago to the current year, we’ve seen enormous growth, and we believe that this brand has the potential to grow further, and it is in our interest to see the tournament even grow bigger and better,” said Jere.
Basketball Association of Malawi (BASMAL), Vice President Banthari Banda, congratulated MAGU for defending the Mo626 title and saying this year the competition tough.
“There were no small teams, and all the teams were prepared. So, starting with the Ladies’ Finals, it was a mouth-watering game. The men’s as well, we saw the exciting game and at the end of the day, the best teams won. Furthermore, I would like to thank NBM plc for this partnership which has unearthed big talent from the universities and colleges in the country.”
“We are happy that the country is now getting awareness of this particular sport, which in the past was mostly known in colleges and a few secondary schools. So, as BASMAL, we are committed to working with NBM plc in the development of Basketball,” said Banda.
Apart from cash and the trophy and cash, the champions also got NBM plc branded caps.
Blantyre-based motor vehicle mechanic Atanazio Simon is in cloud nine after winning K172 million in PremierBet Malawi’s Aviator game with multiple stakes.
The 32-year-old says he is very happy with the big win as it has helped him to turn his dream of owning a big workshop into reality.
“I don’t know how to express myself in celebrating this success because it is a dream-come-true. I cannot imagine that finally i will own a workshop with the money i have won,” he says. PremierBet Malawi commercial manager Muhammad Shuman says they are excited to have produced the biggest winner of the day.
“It is our hope that he will put the money to good use. We also advise the public to engage in responsible betting by ensuring that they do not use money meant for their basic necessities,” he says.
Temwa Chawinga has equalled the National Women Super League (NWSL) goal scoring record in a single regular season. The Malawi women national football striker Temwa netted her 18th goal of the season when Kansas City Current beat Racing Louisville FC 2-0 Sunday.
In an interview, Chawinga said she was thrilled with her exploits. “It feels great to score more goals in a single season. I will continue working hard to achieve more this season,” She said.
This means Temwa has increased her chances of winning the Golden Boot award in her debut season as she is five goals above Zambian Barbara Banda. Di Bernardo scored the other goal for Current. The Malawian has a chance to set a new record in NWSL. “The goal marked Chawinga’s 18th of the regular season, meaning she could set the NWSL regular season record with one more goal. Chawinga’s goal also marked the second-fastest regular season goal for Current this season,” the Current website reports. The Malawian made history when she scored 64 goals for club and country last season. Temwa was named in the NWSL Best X1 of August. This was her third time to be named in the Best X1 in her debut season. She was named as the overall top goal scorer in the world after netting 63 goals for both club and country.
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has accused opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leader Peter Mutharika of mobilising youths across the country to hold nationwide demonstrations against the national identity (ID) card registration system. MCP secretary-general (SG) Richard Chimwendo Banda made these claims at Area 18 in Lilongwe on Saturday while welcoming President Lazarus Chakwera back from the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York. However, DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba dismissed Chimwendo’s accusations, labelling them an attempt to impress Chakwera. Namalomba warned that making “baseless and illogical accusations” against his party is unacceptable. Chimwendo Banda told Chakwera that some individuals are envious of the good work the President is apparently doing in developing the country. “I want to tell you this, Your Excellency: people love you. But as people love you, there will always be jealous individuals. One of these is Peter Mutharika, who is deceiving Malawians by claiming he will develop Malawi. “He already said that he would develop Malawi like Singapore, but he failed. Today, Mutharika has mobilised many youths to hold demonstrations in this country. “They say they want to address the issue of registration with the cards which they introduced in 2017. They want Malawians to start demonstrating in the country’s cities and vandalising cars,” the MCP SG said. He further charged that if there is anything wrong with the ID system, stakeholders must resolve the challenges.
“But Malawians must not lose their property or get hurt because of demonstrations organised by the DPP,” Chimwendo Banda said. He appealed to Malawians not to listen to what he described as DPP’s lies. “They know that politically, they cannot match us. Their party is a failed party. Their leader is a failed leader. “They want to incite violence in the country by lynching people, but we will not retaliate. We will be at the forefront with you, working hard,” Chimwendo Banda added. He further told Chakwera that the MCP youths will not retaliate because “they know that Chakwera is a peace-loving leader”.
In response, Namalomba said Chimwendo Banda’s claims that DPP was mobilising youth protests against the national registration process were unfounded and misleading. “Furthermore, Chimwendo Banda’s assertion that DPP will never return to power is misguided. Malawians have expressed dissatisfaction with Chakwera’s corrupt and incompetent government and are demanding change. “The people yearn for Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika’s leadership. Chimwendo Banda’s rhetoric disregards the will of the people and showcases arrogance and superiority,” Namalomba said. He urged the current administration to acknowledge what he termed the reality that their time is coming to an end.
Addressing the gathering that turned up to welcome him, Chakwera said Malawi belongs to all Malawians. He stressed that the Malawi Constitution provides for freedom of association and that people are free to choose with whom they wish to associate. “Democracy is different from how you feel in your heart. Democracy is about respecting others. Democracy is about giving others freedom. Democracy is about respecting one another,” the President said. He then urged Malawians to work hard in the fields, with the rainy season just around the corner.
The genesis of the ID saga is the requirement by electoral laws that only those with national IDs will be allowed to register to vote in the 2025 General Elections.
There have been concerns among some election stakeholders, including DPP itself, that solely relying on the ID will disenfranchise some Malawians who are struggling to obtain the document, meaning that in its absence, they will not be able to register to vote.
Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) Chairperson Justice Annabel Mtalimanja told the Defence and
Security Committee of Parliament that amending the law to accommodate the use of other forms of identification would impact the commission’s activities.
Mtalimanja appeared before the committee to explain Mec’s security preparedness for the elections, which observers foresee will be closely contested.
She indicated that amending the law might force the commission to redesign its activities, affecting
everything from budgeting to the configuration of its machines.
However, in a later interview, DPP publicity secretary Shadric Namalomba told The Daily Times that the
party will do everything possible to push for an amendment to the law.
“We will do anything at all costs, including amending the Act to remove the requirement for national
identity cards and approaching the courts to challenge this unconstitutional requirement
“It should be noted that it is our duty as citizens of Malawi to ensure that our constitutional right to vote is protected at all costs,” Namalomba said.
In a move to scale up its lending activities for various micro, small, and medium enterprises National Bank of Malawi (NBM) Plc has entered into a five-year loan portfolio cover partnership with the African Guarantee Fund (AGF).
The cover will support start-ups, women led businesses and green funding initiatives.
AGF is a pan-African guarantee provider that promotes economic development by providing financial institutions with partial credit guarantees and capacity development programs specifically intended to support Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Africa.
The signing ceremony was held in Nairobi, Kenya on October 2, officiated by AGF Group Chief Executive Officer Jules Ngankam and NBM Plc Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Harold Jiya.
In his remarks, Jiya said the guarantee will leverage untapped emerging sectors, enabling the Bank to expand its products and service offerings to various sectors, create business synergies, increase the overall number of beneficiaries, and enhance financial inclusion.
“The Loan Portfolio Guarantee will cover 75 percent of net losses for financing grant to women and green businesses and 50 percent for others not covered under these. All loans under ‘Amai Angathe’ product including top-up loans repaid up to 50 percent will be covered under this guarantee,” said Jiya.
Commenting on the partnership, Ngankam said: “One of the challenges that many SMEs face in accessing credit, is lack of adequate collateral to qualify their borrowing. This collaboration is part of AGF’s continued efforts to empower SMEs, drive economic growth, and support sustainable development across our continent. By utilizing AGF’s Loan Portfolio Guarantee facility, NBM plc will benefit from risk-sharing arrangements, enabling the Bank to extend credit to SMEs that otherwise face significant barriers to accessing finance.”
A key highlight of the partnership is its leverage of the African Development Bank’s Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative through the AFAWA Guarantee for Growth program.
NBM plcwill therefore provide targeted financial support for women-led and women-owned businesses, thus empowering female entrepreneurs and fostering gender inclusion in Malawi’s business landscape.
Melissa Basque-Roux, AFAWA Coordinator underlined: “This loan guarantee partnership will improve access to finance for women entrepreneurs, breaking down structural barriers and empowering them to grow their businesses, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development.”
Additionally, through AGF’s Green Guarantee Facility, NBM plc will increase financing for businesses investing in sustainable, low-carbon technologies. To compliment the guarantee products, AGF is at an advanced stage in structuring a Capacity Development program that will enhance NBM plc’s technical capacity to foster financial inclusion for its SME segment.
Listed NBS Bank has donated a total of K10 million to two cultural festivals, the Gonapamuhanya Cultural Festival and the Mulhakho wa Ahlomwe which are happening this weekend in Rumphi and Mulanje respectively.
The Gonapamuhanya festival will be celebrating the chieftaincy of Chikulamayembe, the head chief of the Tumbukas.
Speaking at a symbolic cheque presentation ceremony on Wednesday in Blantyre, NBS Bank plc Marketing Manager, James Chikaonda said the Bank is committed to supporting the communities they serve through cultural festivals.
“As a ‘Caring Bank’, we are dedicated to giving back to the community in which we operate. We are thrilled to sponsor this year’s Gonapamuhanya Cultural Festival, as this contribution will significantly impact the preparation and execution of the celebrations.”
“It aligns with our strategic goal of customer engagement and community support through the preservation of culture, we are thrilled to support this noble cause,” said Chikaonda.
In his remarks after receiving the donation, the festival’s National Vice Chairperson Andrew Nkana commended NBS Bank plc for the sponsorship.
Making another donation to Mulhakho wa Ahlomwe on Thursday in Blantyre, NBS Bank plc Head Treasury Sales Dindwase Jere said the donation is part of the Bank’s commitment to giving back to the community.
“They came to us to ask for assistance and we felt compelled to sponsor them, simply because it aligns with our corporate initiatives. We already budgeted for this as we are always excited to partner with different organizations irrespective of their background in promoting cultural practices,” said Jere.
In his remarks, the festival’s organizing chairperson, Felix Tambulasi commended NBS Bank plc for the sponsorship.
“We are very grateful to the management of NBS Bank for the sponsorship of K5 million which will greatly assist in organizing the event. You know such events require a lot of planning and financial needs. This donation will therefore help to mend such gaps,” said Tambulasi.
The Pagonapamuhanya festival will be celebrated under the theme ‘Empowering women and youth for Development’ and will take place at Kadimulilo in Rumphi on October 5 while the Mulhakho wa Alhomwe festival will be celebrated under the theme ‘United for a common purpose’ and will take place at Chonde in Mulanje from October 4-6.