Thursday, January 16, 2025
الرئيسية بلوق الصفحة 12

NBM plc partners Sky Energy, 265 Energy for products financing

Malawi Observer
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NBM plc partners Sky Energy, 265 Energy for products financing

National Bank of Malawi (NBM) plc has partnered with Sky Energy Africa and 265 Energy to offer financing for electric cars and other energy solutions that are easy, flexible and affordable.

Through the partnership, NBM plc customers will be able to access financing for electric vehicles at Sky Energy Africa, and solar and gas solutions at 265 Energy.

Speaking after signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the two companies on Tuesday, NBM plc Head Retail Banking Division Oswin Kasunda said that the partnership will help ease customers’ access to the products.

“These are young and upcoming companies that are offering energy solutions in Malawi that is why we have seen it necessary to partner with them. As a country is driving clean energy solutions, we thought that we must be part and parcel of supporting this initiative to make sure that customers have access to these products so that we can also manage environmental related problems,” said Kasunda.

On the loan payment period for the two products, Kasunda said the Bank is flexible depending on the customer’s affordability.

“For a car, one can go up to five years, but that is just the maximum payment period. If one thinks they can manage to pay in 12 months there is no problem.”

“Borrowing is all about affordability, a customer can come whether they want a small amount for a small product or a customer want to buy an electric vehicle since we do not have borrowing limits,” explained Kasunda.

Founder and Managing Director of Sky Energy Africa, Schizzo Thomson commended NBM plc for the partnership saying it gives a chance to people and organisations to acquire the electric vehicles which promotes the adoption of sustainable energy technologies.

“There has always been a challenge in-terms of initial investment for one to be able to acquire energy products even the electric vehicles, this partnership closes this gap as clients will be able to access these vehicles and other products through loans.”

“When the electric vehicles were launched, there were thousands of enquiries, people trying to understand the solutions but the limiting factor for escalation to the adoption has been the cost of the vehicles which the NBM Plc is now trying to solve,” explained Thomson.

In his remarks 265 Energy Chief Executive Officer, Mfundo Mbvundula also said the partnership ensures that access to solar and gas solutions has been simplified.

“Through this initiative the Bank takes the upfront cost and the customer can repay the bank over months or a year based on the price and what they discuss with the Bank. This will make it more affordable for the customer to get good quality solutions from us,” explained Mbvundula.

Standard Bank gives K9M in Tourism Month Awards

Malawi Observer
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Standard Bank gives K9M in Tourism Month Awards

Standard Bank Plc has presented a total of K9 million to outstanding photographers and poets who contested during the commemoration of the just- ended Tourism Month in September.

Speaking during the awards ceremony on World Tourism Day September 27, hosted by the Minister of Tourism Vera Kamtukule in Lilongwe, Standard Bank’s Head of Compliance Chikondi Kapyepye said the sponsorship highlights the bank’s commitment in promoting Malawi’s tourism potential.

“As Standard Bank, we sponsored the photography and poetry competitions because we believe that just like music or painting, these two art forms have a unique ability to showcase the beauty of Malawi and promote our nation as a premier tourism destination,” Kapyepye said.

She said that the competition exposed Malawi’s potential as displayed in images and the spoken word.

“These competitions provided an excellent platform for our talented photographers and poets to display Malawi’s unique beauty and culture while fostering economic development. Through our Joy of the Arts initiatives, we want to create a platform where our youths are encouraged and empowered to pursue their talents and passion. We believe that the creative industries are an avenue for young people to build on their talent, create revenue and contribute to the development agenda of the country.” she said.

Kapyepye also thanked government for heeding calls to waive Visa restrictions, a lobby that Standard Bank facilitated through its dialogue platform series, the “Growth Conversations.”

“Waiving visa restrictions with several countries will unlock tourism arrivals into Malawi and help increase foreign currency inflows,” she said.

The top three winners in the photography category were Chimwemwe Kamangira, David Kausiwa and Edwin Mauluka. They walked away with prizes in the form of photography equipment vouchers worth K2 million, K1.5 million, and K1 million.

In the poetry category which was conducted in conjunction with the Association of Teaching English in Malawi (ATEM), six exceptional student poets across Malawi each won MK750,000 worth of school fees and stationery.

Minister of Tourism Vera Kamtukule praised Standard Bank for the partnership saying it motivated the artists to assert themselves in promoting Malawi as a tourism destination.

“Corporate sponsorship as demonstrated by Standard Bank is a vital component of tourism product development and we are grateful for the bank for their initiative,” she said.

Iran preparing imminent missile attack against Israel: Senior U.S. official

Bossman
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Iran preparing imminent missile attack against Israel: Senior U.S. official

The U.S. has indications that Iran is preparing to imminently launch a ballistic missile attack against Israel, a senior White House official tells says.

The big picture: Tehran has been vowing retaliation after a series of recent Israeli assassinations. The White House believes it is about to begin, and is already warning of “severe consequences” for Iran.

  • “We are actively supporting defensive preparations to defend Israel against this attack. A direct military attack from Iran against Israel will carry severe consequences for Iran,” the White House official said.
  • A senior Israeli official tells Axios the latest intelligence is that the attack will be carried out in the next few hours. The warning from the U.S. came at around noon local time (5am ET), the official said.
  • A source with direct knowledge said the assessment in Israel and the U.S. is that the scope of the Iranian attack will be similar to Iran’s first-ever direct attack on Israeli territory last April. That drone and missile attack was largely repelled by Israel and its partners, led by the U.S.

Driving the news: The warnings of an imminent attack came just hours after Israel escalated its conflict with Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia, by launching a ground invasion of southern Lebanon.

  • Iran has been promising retaliation against Israel for two months, since the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
  • Iran has yet to respond to that attack, and also rebuffed urging from Hezbollah to launch an attack against Israel within the past two weeks, Axios reported.
  • U.S. and Israeli officials have been concerned that the Israeli ground invasion and the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah — a longtime ally of Iran’s supreme leader — would push Iran to change course and get more directly involved to save the militia it has armed and supported for decades.

What they’re saying: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened security consultations and said in a statement: “We are in the midst of a campaign against Iran’s axis of evil. We must stand together. We will stand firm together in the challenging days ahead.”

  • Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Adm. Daniel Hagari said the IDF had been informed by the U.S. of “Iranian preparations to fire missiles at Israel imminently,” but that no “air threat from Iran” had yet been detected.
  • “Our air defense systems are fully prepared and air force jets are patrolling the sky. We are at peak readiness in offense and defense together with our partners from the U.S. and are following the developments in Iran together. An Iranian attack on Israel will have consequences,” Hagari said.
  • Secretary of State Tony Blinken said at the top of his meeting with the foreign minister of Morocco that the U.S. is closely following the situation in the Middle East and is committed to Israel’s security.
  • Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei offered no hint of how Iran would respond to Friday’s attack that killed Nasrallah and a senior Iranian general beyond saying the “criminal” Israeli government would “regret its actions.”

Flashback: Iran launched a massive drone and missile attack against Israel in April in retaliation for another Israeli airstrike that killed a top Iranian general in Syria.

  • Most of the drones and missiles were intercepted by Israeli, U.S., British, French, Jordanian and Saudi forces outside of Israeli airspace, and there were several injuries in Israel but no fatalities.

World Bank Happy With Shire Valley Transformation Programm

Malawi Observer
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World Bank Happy With Shire Valley Transformation Programm

The World Bank has praised the progress of the Shire Valley Transformation Programme (SVTP) in Chikwawa, highlighting the resilience shown amid climate challenges.

During a site visit today, World Bank Country Manager Firas Raad acknowledged the adverse effects of climate change but remained optimistic.

“We know that Mother Nature hasn’t been kind to the project and the rest of the country, but a lot of restoration has happened,” Raad said.

Launched in 2020, SVTP aims to improve agricultural productivity and boost local farmers’ livelihoods through large-scale irrigation initiatives.

Thirteen farmer cooperatives are set to benefit, with Kabadwe and Mwanaalirenji cooperatives being the first in line next year.

Bouke Biji, an agriculture consultant, said the project, upon completion will help cooperatives in the lower Shire to cut down operation cost,

“We pay almost MK73 million for electricity to pump water to irrigate our sugarcane plantations. The coming in of this project will help us cut down electricity costs.”

The first phase of the multi-billion kwacha project was expected to finish this year December. However, has been pushed to May 2024. Source Times

Protest Over Tax Stamps

Bossman
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Protest Over Tax Stamps

Cross-border traders took to the streets of Lilongwe Monday, when they demonstrated over the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA)’s decision to introduce tax stamps on imported goods. In essence, a tax stamp is not a tax but a compliance tool for ensuring that imported and manufactured goods have gone through the normal channel and that taxes have been duly paid before they are granted entry into a country. A tax stamp is a physical or digital sticker on a product to indicate that excise tax has been paid. The protests by the traders came at a time MRA and their representatives signed a joint communique on August 7 this year, when both parties committed that all small-scale businesses under the simplified trade regime would be allowed to affix tax stamps until all administrative concerns had been addressed by MRA.

DPP Deputy Secretary General Arrested For proposing violence At a Rally

Malawi Observer
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DPP Deputy Secretary General Arrested For proposing violence At a Rally
Daud Chikwanje

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) deputy secretary general (SG) Hon. Daud Chikwanje has been arrested for proposing violence at a politically rally in Machinga.

 Confirming the development,  National police spokesperson Peter Kalaya said the arrest followed remarks Chikwanje allegedly made at a political event where he is suspected of encouraging party members to set ablaze people found in MCP regalia. “We arrested Honourable Chikwanje and we are charging him with proposing violence, which is against Section 86 of the penal code,” Kalaya said.

 According to police Hon Chikwanje legislator would be taken to court by the end of yesterday.   Kalaya has warned politicians to refrain from making sensitive statements as the country prepares for the September 16 2025 Local Government, Parliamentary and Presidential Elections. In a video clip that went viral Monday, Chikwanje was seen telling DPP followers to burn those who will be seen wearing MCP attire in the area, alleging that MCP supporters were Satanists. According to a clip of what Chikwanje allegedly said, in the past, Nsanama used to have strong boys who could not allow people to wear MCP regalia in the area. “It could not have happened. Are you sure Nsanama has ended like this, to the point that you allow other people to start bringing trouble here. Let’s start biting,” Chikwanje said. Briefing reporters in Lilongwe yesterday, MCP secretary general Richard Chimwendo Banda slammed Chikwanje’s alleged remarks, saying they had the potential to stoke violence in Malawi.

DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba said violence could not be accepted, such that it had to be condemned. “Our party, unlike MCP, firmly believes in the principles of democracy and the idea that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. This is what sets us apart and makes us stand out as a responsible and fair political party. “It is disheartening to hear that Honourable Chimwendo Banda, during his press conference, openly admitted to having the power to dismiss anyone without the knowledge of the President or National Executive Committee.

“This is not how the DPP operates. If he truly holds such supreme powers, why has he not used them to fire his own president, Dr Chakwera, who made threats that he would shed blood if he did not win the 2019 general elections?” Namalomba said. He added that as a party, they demand justice for the brutal beating of their supporters at Mbowe Filling, adding that they urge MCP not to shield the perpetrators from arrest.

Gaba in Motor Accident

Malawi Observer
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Gaba in Motor Accident

Malawi National Football Team striker Frank Gabadinho Mhango is reportedly take been involved in a car accident on Sunday in South Africa. According to reports by goal.com was involved in a car accident in Bloemfontein which left him injured.

Both Gabadinho and his manager could not be reached to comment. However South Africa-based Malawian senior analyst Benjamin Nyirenda said Gabadinho was not seriously hurt, even though images and a video clip showed blood oozing out on his forehead.
“He is safe. We might get a statement soon about his condition,” Nyirenda said.

Unconfirmed reports in South Africa are indicating that Gabadinho was allegedly drunk driving and ended up causing an accident.

It is something that has not gone down well with Gallants and as the club’s spokesperson Sello Nduna has confirmed, it might land the player in hot water.

“Unfortunately, we saw this very late yesterday on social media. That is when some of our guys from the team tried to check on him at our official residence,” Nduna told SNL24.

“We are still gathering more information as to what could have happened and then we will obviously have to deal with it accordingly because as a team, we don’t encourage such behaviour, especially for something that is against the law.

“We are still gathering information… we need to deal with all the facts. We don’t want to react to all these social media things that we have seen.

“We don’t condone such behaviour especially if it is against the law. We will follow the team’s disciplinary measures.”

In the past, Mhango has been involved in ugly incidents brought about by what seems like a drinking problem.

In 2021, there were claims that Propaganda Club in Pretoria had detained him over a R26,000 alcohol bill but the management later denied the claims stating the footballer was a ‘respectable patron.’

At 32, Mhango is not getting any younger and this might be his last significant contract in the Premier Soccer League – depending on his effectiveness on the pitch.

Gallants hope the alleged incident is not true and that he will continue delivering for them after joining at the beginning of the season.

SPC ZAMBA, A VICTIM OF PERPETRATORS OF STATUS QUO AND WRONG DOING IN THE SYSTEM

Malawi Observer
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SPC ZAMBA, A VICTIM OF PERPETRATORS OF STATUS QUO AND WRONG DOING IN THE SYSTEM

In what comes out as a revelation of the root cause of many attacks targeted at the Secretary to the President and Cabinet, SPC, Ms Colleen Zamba, we have come across a well coordinated scheme to make SPC look like she is hell bent to contravene set rules and regulations especially in the Public Procurement sector. SPC Zamba is a natural born leader who combines action and straight talk, that has unsettled many in the Public Service.

In the coming articles we will reveal how a systematic attack against her person and Office, has been orchestrated over the years, to project her as a wrong doer, but the truth of the matter is that she has shaken the status quo in the Public Service, which has seen Government lose out on many Ventures and also delayed in provision of services to the citizens of Malawi.

It is common in Public Service that delays and chaos benefit a few dishonest individuals and this is what Madam Zamba started fighting while she was heading the Presidential Delivery Unit. She used to ask questions then on how and why projects and Procurement delays, and that is when, those who benefit from chaos, started targeting her. Once President Chakwera promoted her to SPC, that came with it unrelenting attacks to project her as in the wrong doing.

Stay tuned to the breaking news we will be publishing to expose a scheme of unscrupulous individuals in the Public Services, who want to divert attention from their schemes and of course their self preservation desires.

Please read on our next articles.

Nankhumwa Opens PDP’s NGC Indaba…… Rules Out Alliance

Malawi Observer
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Nankhumwa Opens PDP’s NGC Indaba…… Rules Out Alliance

People’s Development Party (PDP) President Kondwani Nankhumwa has officially opened the party’s National Governing Council (NGC) meeting in Salima district, reaffirming PDP’s commitment to contesting the 2025 elections independently.

“We will not form an alliance with any party,” Nankhumwa declared, addressing NGC members gathered at River Mark Lodge.

“PDP is a party for the people of Malawi, built on a bottom-up approach to empower local communities,” he added.

The two-day meeting, which concludes tomorrow, aims to solidify PDP’s strategy for the upcoming polls.

Nankhumwa emphasized unity as the party’s greatest strength, saying, “Our goal is to transform Malawi through policies that reflect the people’s aspirations.”

This gathering follows PDP’s successful elective conference in Blantyre, where Nankhumwa was re-elected unopposed as party president.

This NGC meeting aims to orient the new duty bearers on their roles ahead of the general elections.

It will also provide an opportunity for members to draw a roadmap ahead of the elections, in which President Nankhumwa will contest as the presidential candidate.

The meeting is crucial in solidifying PDP’s strategy for the upcoming polls, and Nankhumwa’s leadership will undoubtedly play a vital role in shaping the party’s trajectory.

With the 2025 elections on the horizon, the PDP is gearing up to challenge the political status quo.

Fupa Lokakamiza, Safe Abortion: A Right Reserved for the Wealthy?

Malawi Observer
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Fupa Lokakamiza, Safe Abortion: A Right Reserved for the Wealthy?

“No woman can call herself free who does not control her own body.”
— Margaret Sanger.

In Malawi, a deeply conservative and religious nation, the mere mention of the word “abortion” is met with condemnation. To speak of “safe abortion” is to invite stigma.

 People ask, “Who are you to suggest a woman should control her own body and destiny? How dare you fight for rights that another woman wasn’t born entitled to?”

This is the prevailing attitude toward safe abortion in Malawi.

But we must confront the uncomfortable truth: access to safe abortion—and the suffering caused by restrictive laws—falls hardest on those with the least. The divide between the rich and the poor is evident in every aspect of life: education, healthcare, and access to information.

In Malawi, wealthier suburbs lie next to impoverished villages, and the experiences of girls living just miles apart can be worlds away.

For many families, poverty is a harsh reality, and educating their children is a heavy financial burden. When forced to choose, parents often prioritize the education of sons over daughters, leaving young women with fewer opportunities and even less autonomy over their bodies.

Ten years ago, I found myself at a crossroads. I stared down at a pregnancy test, two blue lines staring back at me, and felt the weight of my choices.

In that moment, I knew what I had to do. At the clinic, I was presented with options, and though uncertain of what to expect, I made my choice.

Years later, I met a young woman named Lonjezo. She was looking for work, and I needed help managing my life as I transitioned into adulthood. We connected instantly, our spirits aligned. During one of our many conversations, she revealed she was pregnant.

As we spoke, she confided that she wasn’t ready for another child—she already had a four-year-old son. She knew what she needed to do but couldn’t afford it. I remembered my own situation all those years ago and asked myself, “What if I hadn’t had the money? What if I didn’t have the support?”

A few days later, Lonjezo told me with a heavy heart that she couldn’t afford a safe abortion and planned to visit a local herbalist instead. I knew what that meant.

Later that week, I gave her the money she needed to access safe care. Was I proud? I’m not sure. But I was proud that I could help another woman make her own decision.

The reality we must face is that in Malawi, discussions around safe abortion are often avoided, but access to it is undeniably linked to wealth.

Those with financial means can access this service discreetly, regardless of the law.

So, I ask you: Is it fair for some women to have control over their bodies, while others are left with no choices at all?

September 28th marks International Safe Abortion Day. It is a global moment where activists unite to demand universal access to safe and legal abortion as essential healthcare and as a human right.

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