DOWA-(MaraviPost)-MAFCO FC produced a spirited and disciplined performance to secure a crucial 2-0 victory over Civil Service United in a TNM Super League match played on Thursday at Champion Stadium.
Civil Service United started the match on the front foot, creating the first major threat of the afternoon through Dastan Baya, who broke through the MAFCO defence only to be denied by a decisive goal-line clearance from captain Paul Ndhlovu.
Minutes later, CIVO had another golden opportunity when Dastan Banda found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Christopher Mikuwa but his powerful effort was saved.
MAFCO eventually settled into the game and began creating chances of their own, with China Chirwa emerging as the team’s most dangerous outlet.
The forward forced CIVO goalkeeper Richard Mwaila into action several times as the home side grew in confidence.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 45th minute when Chirwa, a former CIVO United player, rose highest to head home the opener, sending the home supporters into celebration.
The goal not only gave MAFCO a valuable lead at halftime but also momentarily lifted them out of the relegation zone.
The second half saw CIVO push hard for an equalizer, earning set pieces and making attacking substitutions, including the introduction of Precious Chipungu, Muhammad Biason and Frank Chizuze.
However, MAFCO’s defensive structure remained intact, frustrating every attempt by the visitors.
MAFCO continued to threaten on the break, with Chirwa nearly doubling the lead through an ambitious bicycle kick that Mwaila comfortably saved.
The home side’s persistence paid off in the 88th minute when substitute Chifundo Mologeni finished off a well-constructed move, assisted by the outstanding Chirwa, to make it 2-0.
China Chirwa, who scored one goal and assisted the other, was voted Man of the Match for his exceptional performance.
Speaking after the game, CIVO Assistant Coach Charles Ben attributed the loss to poor decision-making in front of goal, saying his players failed to capitalize on their chances but promised to work on their shortcomings in training.
On the other side, MAFCO Head Coach Sterio Gondwe expressed relief and satisfaction with the three points, emphasizing the importance of the victory in their fight against relegation.
He pledged that his players would continue working hard in the remaining four fixtures to ensure the team remains in the top flight.
MAFCO now sit 12th with 28 points from 26 matches, while Civil Service United remain 5th with 37 points from 24 games.
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LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-It is November 28, the date many Malawians now recall as the infamous National Bridgin Foundation Day.
It is a day etched in memory not for celebration, but for the collective shock that swept across the country.
It marks the moment when a foreign organisation walked into Malawi with grand promises that many believed would change the nation’s economic fortunes.
The group claimed they were prepared to inject billions into Malawi’s development agenda, speaking confidently of investments that sounded too good to be true.
They promised loans, grants, and financial rescue packages that were said to be ready for immediate release.
They presented themselves as global saviours with access to unimaginable financial resources.
They held meetings with senior government officials, adding a sense of legitimacy to their presence.
They convinced the public and the leadership that they had the financial muscle to uplift Malawi from its prolonged economic struggles.
They generated excitement across various sectors, with many Malawians imagining a sudden improvement in livelihoods.
They pushed forward documents, proposals, and promises that painted a future filled with prosperity.
They used polished presentations and elaborate claims that made their story sound credible enough to believe.
They impressed just enough people to win high-level attention despite the red flags that later became obvious.
They spread hope that Malawi would soon be receiving unprecedented financial support.
They fed into the national desperation for economic stability, which made their promises even more attractive.
They allowed the fantasy to grow, knowing it appealed directly to Malawi’s most pressing needs.
They allowed people to dream of a country healed from poverty, corruption, and fiscal crisis.
They capitalised on the desire for a breakthrough that Malawi had long been waiting for.
They sold a vision so powerful that it overshadowed the need for caution and verification.
They manipulated the national narrative by blending confidence, persuasion, and strategic charm.
They kept pushing the idea that Malawi was on the verge of an economic miracle.
They convinced the nation that financial relief was just days away.
They allowed the story to flourish until the truth could no longer be hidden.
They left behind confusion, embarrassment, and deep disappointment when the truth finally came out.
They disappeared as quickly as they had arrived, leaving Malawi to face the reality of being misled.
They exposed the dangers of desperation and the ease with which false hope can be sold to a struggling nation.
They triggered debates across the country about accountability, transparency, and due diligence.
They forced Malawians to confront the reality that not all who promise help come with genuine intentions.
They reminded the nation that gullibility can be costly and humiliating at a national scale.
They demonstrated how easily public trust can be exploited when a country is desperate for solutions.
They left behind a painful but crucial lesson about the need for cautious engagement with unknown entities.
They highlighted the importance of verifying claims before embracing them as national truth.
They exposed the cracks within systems that allowed such deception to gain momentum.
They showed the world how vulnerable Malawi had become due to its economic struggles.
They turned November 28 into a symbolic reminder of the day the nation stood on fragile ground.
They turned it into a date remembered with disbelief, frustration, and painful reflection.
They left the nation wiser, more alert, and more cautious moving forward.
They turned what was once a hopeful moment into a national warning sign that endures to this day.
And today, as Malawi marks National Bridgin Foundation Day, the flashback remains a powerful reminder that not all promises are meant to be believed.
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KAMPALA-(MaraviPost)-Uganda’s opposition leader, Robert Kyagulanyi, widely known as Bobi Wine, has raised concerns about the integrity of the upcoming 2026 elections.
Wine alleges that the government is planning to rig the elections and manipulate the outcome in favor of the ruling party.
He claims that his team has “reliable information” suggesting that security agencies intend to provoke chaos and enforce a curfew ahead of voting, drawing parallels to unrest during the 2020 elections.
The opposition leader specifically criticized Electoral Commission (EC) chairperson Simon Byabakama for his perceived “silence” on the alleged illegalities.
Wine went further to urge Byabakama to resign if the EC cannot guarantee transparency and a fair electoral process.
Authorities have denied the allegations, maintaining that Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP) party has previously violated campaign rules and compromised public safety.
In prior briefings, police accused the NUP of multiple infractions, including blocking highways with unauthorized convoys, attacking officers, vandalizing police vehicles, and defying agreed-upon rally routes.
The government argues that these actions demonstrate a pattern of non-compliance by the NUP, raising concerns about their adherence to electoral regulations.
The EC has responded by reminding all candidates to strictly follow campaign guidelines and regulations.
Officials from the commission assured the public that any confirmed breaches, whether by security forces or political actors, will be addressed appropriately.
As Uganda approaches its 2026 elections, tensions between the ruling authorities and opposition parties appear to be intensifying.
The unfolding situation underscores the challenges the country faces in ensuring a free, fair, and peaceful electoral process.
Observers have called for vigilance, transparency, and strict adherence to the law to prevent any repeat of past electoral unrest.
The dialogue between the EC, security agencies, and political actors will be critical in shaping public confidence in the upcoming elections.
Wine’s warnings highlight the high stakes and political sensitivity surrounding Uganda’s next national vote.
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SALIMA-(MaraviPost)-President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to safeguarding the security and wellbeing of all Malawians.
He said the government will strengthen national security through a holistic approach that promotes collaboration among security agencies and increased engagement with communities.
Mutharika, who serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Malawi Defence Force (MDF), emphasised that the state will continue modernising the military.
He noted that this modernisation includes investing in advanced technology and equipment to enhance operational effectiveness.
The President stressed that these improvements are essential for preparing the MDF to address both current and future security threats.
Mutharika with new MDF officers
He urged the newly commissioned officer cadets to honour the Oath of Office they have taken.
Mutharika reminded them to uphold and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi.
He further advised the cadets to maintain professionalism in all circumstances.
The President warned them to refrain from engaging in politics, stating that their duty to the nation is of a higher calling.
He said integrity and discipline must guide their service throughout their military careers.
Mutharika also reiterated Malawi’s commitment to international peacekeeping missions.
He said the country remains dedicated to promoting stability across the globe through active participation in peace-support operations.
The President added that strong cooperation with neighbouring countries is vital for addressing shared security challenges.
He highlighted cross-border threats such as terrorism and human trafficking as issues that require collective regional action.
Mutharika concluded by reaffirming his government’s pledge to continue strengthening the MDF and ensuring that all Malawians live in a secure and stable environment.
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LUSAKA–(MaraviPost)-Edgar Lungu — former Zambian president — died in South Africa on June 5, 2025, prompting his daughter, Tasila Lungu, Member of Parliament for Chawama Constituency, to travel abroad for funeral and related proceedings.
Her prolonged absence from parliamentary sittings has triggered a formal challenge over whether she should retain her seat.
During a parliamentary session on July 15, 2025, an MP raised a point of order questioning whether it was proper to continue recognising her as an MP, given reports that the family might not return to Zambia.
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Nelly Mutti, reserved her ruling at the time but later stipulated that Tasila Lungu must present herself either at the parliamentary offices or the House within 14 days after her father’s burial — or within 14 days of the opening of the Fifth Session of the 13th Assembly.
As at now, no public announcement has been made by the Speaker or the official parliamentary records indicating that her seat has been declared vacant.
Because her burial has been delayed due to ongoing legal disputes in South Africa over repatriation of the body, the deadline for her return has continued to be subject to postponement — complicating the process of deciding the fate of the Chawama seat.
Despite growing demands from constituents and local governance experts calling for her replacement — arguing that Chawama has effectively been without active representation — the matter remains unresolved until the Speaker’s formal ruling.
In summary: while Tasila Lungu’s seat is under serious threat due to prolonged absence, she has not officially lost it yet. The final outcome depends on whether she returns to the House within the timeframe mandated by the Speaker or whether the Speaker rules to declare the seat vacant.
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The heat was intense. Animals were dying not because of diseases but because of lack of water for them to drink due to drought. Crops were drying in the fields not because they reached maturity stage but because of the heat. Farmers were hopeless and there was nothing they could do to save their livestock and crop from the drought.
And this was Salima, a district in the central region of Malawi where last growing season of 2024/2025 farmers saw their lives crumble.
“This is terrible,” said Sendeza Chapuleni, a Lead Farmer (LF), adding, “Our crops and livestock have been heavily affected and we do not know what we will do. Even with irrigation we will need water and with this drought, there is no irrigation.”
Standing in his maize field early March this year, Chapleni said he tried to apply organic manure in his farm so that rainwater do not all disappear when drought comes in.
“It did help a bit but the heat was unpresented,” he said. What Chapleni experienced early this year is what hundreds of other farmers across the country did experience: the climate crisis.
To mitigate farmers against the impact of climate change a number of climate smart agricultural (CSA) activities have been tried are being implemented by some farmers. They include organic fertilizers application, mulching crops, pit planting, conservation agriculture, water storage and planting of nitrogen fixing plants on the farm.
Chapuleni at his withered maize field
The adaptation of these CSA practices remain low, according to the World Bank. CSAs are also about intensive such as organic manure making.
But in 2005 a new approach in form of weather-index insurance (WII) for the farmers was piloted with funding from the World Bank and other development partners.
The aim was to cushion farmers against climate change impacts such as droughts and floods.
The project, according to Ephias Makaudze’s study, started on a high note with initial involvement of farmers who received financial support from locally based microfinance institutions.
A few years later the WII included maize and tobacco farmers who were insured for their crops. However, the WII implementation failed beyond the pilot phase and there were a number of reasons, Makaudze observed in his study.
Some of the reasons that made the project fail to achieve its results included low demand for WII, poor return on investment, premiums are too costly, lack of an effective and reliable index-based weather insurance, timely contracts and lack of high quality data weather station networks, and unavailability of an enabling legal and regulatory framework necessary for the expansion of the pilot programme.
But this is not the end of the story on insurance payouts. In 2024 Malawi experienced a drop in crop yields due to drought and floods in the northern region and southern region respectively.
As a result the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Adaptation Fund, spent MK 2.2 billion (US$1.3 million) in insurance payouts to over 36,000 farming households in Malawi, according to the UN agency.
These crop insurance payouts that were not indexed based aimed at supporting farmers whose crops suffered damage due to climate-induced shocks during the 2023/2024 growing season.
The former Minister of Agriculture, Sam Kawale, said farmers are on the frontline facing climate shocks. He said crop insurance payouts provide a risk transfer mechanism offering financial security through compensation for crop losses, thus ensuring that farmers recover and continue farming despite facing these adverse conditions.
WFP believes that the climate crisis is impacting many farmers who bear the brunt of its effects. It says the crop insurance payouts are not only critical in providing immediate relief, but they are also important steps towards building long-term climate resilience.
In July 2025 the Government of Malawi received an insurance payout from the African Risk Capacity (ARC) Group to the sum of US$3.4 million to protect itself against drought.
The funds was meant to scale up social protection measures through food distribution and cash transfers to over 311 000 beneficiaries.
It was also meant to support livelihood-enhancing options by providing drought-tolerant crops for replanting and inputs for winter cropping for farmers.
Malawi’s national disaster insurance is aimed at building the country’s resilience to climate change.
The primary goal is to protect the livelihoods of vulnerable populations, particularly smallholder farmers, and safeguard the nation’s overall development, according to the African Development Bank (AfDB)’s Africa Disaster Risk Financing Programme Multi-Donor Trust Fund.
Dr. Robert Kafakoma, an expert on climate change, said the crop insurance payout covers are very important and are of help to farmers as well as financial loan providers in the country.
Success of insurance payouts: With a lot of money that government received this year in insurance payouts, Malawi should not have been grappling with hunger.
An estimated 5 million Malawians are currently starving and yet the country has been implementing these insurance payouts without any success to end the hunger crisis.
Some of the farmers are of the view that the insurance payouts are either poorly targeted or misused by those who are benefiting from them.
Geruazio Mumba, a LF in Salima whose crops were heavily affected by the drought said not all affected farmers benefits from the insurance programme.
“The problem is poor targeting. Some of the so called farmers who get financial support from government programmes do not have even a small piece of land on which to grow crops. Giving such people inputs such as seed and fertilizers is a waste because they do not have land to use and they end up selling the inputs,” said Mumba.
Wikinala Basikolo, another LF said insurances are good and they can really help the country mitigate the impacts of climate change but the problem is on programme implementation.
“When you look at the social cash transfers or those benefiting from subsidized farm inputs that are coming from insurance companies to government are the very same beneficiaries getting it year in, year out. And then you asked yourself why are the very same people benefiting? Are they the only ones impacted by climate change? Asked Basikolo.
Basikolo said food insecurity in Malawi cannot end because there is a lot of “corruption within the agriculture sector and most of those implementing these programmes are getting rich at the expense of the poor.”
Arnold Namanja, Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture admits that insurance have nit make significant gains as expected.
“While progress in terms of numbers has been modest and the overall impact of insurance remains relatively small, the initiative has demonstrated potential. With improved outreach, stronger partnerships, and integration into broader resilience and food security strategies, there is significant room to expand coverage and deepen impact,” he said.
Way forward While insurance payouts are necessary to protect farmers against climate crisis, more need to be done for it to make meaningful achievements. With the US$3.4 million insurance pay to government, this country would have averted the sufferings of millions of people currently starving.
A proper strategy is required to ensure success of the insurance payouts programmes.
“This can easily and effectively be done if weather-based crop insurance contracts are issued to farmers. The contracts need to be designed in such a way that they allow compensation of the affected farmers when rainfall during a crop growing cycle is not sufficient for farmers to grow and to optimise their yields,” said Robert.
He explained that the contracts would ensure that only the affected farmers are compensated.
“The proceeds from the insurance the government got is for everyone and it may be that the affected farmers may not necessarily be the one benefiting from the insurance,” he said.
But insurances may not be the only solutions to the problems created by droughts and floods. There are many means that can help the country mitigate the impacts of climate change, other than insurance covers.
“Most of these means are tested and are being implemented. What is required is the emphasis, promotion and political will to change the way things are done,” said Kafakoma.
He said these include community based disaster risk management initiatives; capacity building of the community in disaster risk management; food nutrition and security initiatives; sustainable catchment management and wetland management initiatives, pond aquaculture and water harvesting; and forest management related initiatives.
“As insurance is one piece of the puzzle and a financial buffer, but lasting food security requires combining it with preventive measures (CSA, irrigation, early warning), adaptive livelihoods, and policy reforms. Otherwise, payouts will remain emergency stopgaps while hunger continues to grow,” said Namanja.
The ADB’s Principal Country Economist, Albert Mafusire, said insurance payout claims provide direct financial support to smallholder farmers to help off-set losses resulting from weather-related challenges such as droughts and floods.
These initiatives are part of a broader resilience strategy aimed at building sustainable agricultural systems and supporting Malawi’s food security and if effectively implemented they could benefit smallholder farmers like Chapuleni who is still worried of another drought this growing season.
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