LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Standard Bank Joy of the Arts initiative has burst into life with two key sponsorships on music and theatre unveiled this week.
On Wednesday the bank rolled out a K12 million sponsorship for the Malawi Music Business Summit in Lilongwe and will proceed to unveil another K25 million package today for the Unima Theatre Festival weekend in Zomba.
Head of Brand and Marketing Tamanda N’gombe said the Joy of the Arts, now in its second is making tremendous progress in transforming Malawi’s arts and culture scene.
“We are into our second full year of the Joy of the Arts program to demonstrate that this initiative is about creating a uniting platform where Malawian artists connect, learn, and inspire the next generation while also making a living. By linking corporate responsibility with cultural vibrancy, Standard Bank is turning Joy of the Arts into a catalyst for social cohesion and economic growth,” she said.
She said the bank partnered Hills Capital, an artist management firm for the Malawi Music Business Summit to underline its commitment towards helping the country’s music industry become a force to reckon in Africa.
“We believe our music industry has great potential and elevating this sector for artists, music producers, song writers & talent managers is exactly what we need to activate our country’s productive sectors in Agriculture, Tourism, Energy and Mining to which music adds value,” said Ng’ombe.
She said overall the Joy of the Arts initiative is designed to embrace the diversity and lure of Malawi’s vibrant art forms in music, the visual arts, performing arts and drama, media, tourism, science and culture.
Hills Capital Managing Director Bob Phondo said launch of the Malawi Music Business Summit is a major step towards building a more vibrant and professional creative industry.
“The first Music Business Summit marks a turning point for Malawi’s creative sector. We’re grateful to Standard Bank for choosing to become a key partner in this journey, as their support reflects a genuine belief in the potential artists creating economic value,” Phondo added.
Inside the first Malawi Music Business Summit, which was held at BICC in Lilongwe were sessions on music publishing, distribution, financial fitness, foreign currency management, and a global market masterclass.
The event was attended by musicians, record producers from Malawi, Kenya and Nigeria.
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LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi is preparing for a major change in the way taxes are recorded and collected as the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) moves forward with the roll-out of the Electronic Invoicing System (EIS) in February 2026.
The rollout was initially scheduled for November 2025 but was postponed after taxpayers and key stakeholders requested more time to understand the system’s technical and operational requirements.
The MRA, which has long relied on Electronic Fiscal Devices (EFDs), describes the EIS as a major digital upgrade that is more efficient, user friendly, and cost effective.
According to MRA, the shift to the EIS is part of a broader effort to improve tax compliance and record keeping.
The system promises better accessibility and functionality for businesses of all sizes, aligning Malawi with a growing list of countries pursuing similar digital tax reforms.
For example, Uganda introduced its Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing System (EFRIS) earlier this year, while Poland’s KSeF and Saudi Arabia’s FATOORAH are also underway.
Tanzania’s Electronic Financial Data Management System (EFDMS), Vietnam’s e-invoicing platform, and Mauritius’ EBS reflect the same continental and global trend.
Across these nations, governments have recognised the severe losses caused by tax non-compliance in revenue collection.
In Malawi, the issue is especially pressing as we face a fiscal deficit of MK2.4 trillion, twice the budget for education (MK1.3 trillion) and nearly four times the allocation for health (MK714 billion).
The World Bank estimates that tax evasion alone costs Malawi about 12 percent of its GDP, a figure higher than Namibia’s by roughly three percentage points.
Combined with persistent corruption, these losses have significantly constrained public investment and service delivery.
Despite previous reform efforts, Malawi’s fiscal challenges have persisted for decades. But digital interventions like the EIS and the recently introduced Digital Excise Tax Stamps (Kalondola) offer a potential turning point for revenue management and transparency.
In 2024, the MRA signed a ten-year agreement with SICPA Malawi, a subsidiary of the Swiss-based SICPA SA, globally known for secure traceability and authentication technology.
The partnership introduced the Kalondola system to modernise excise tax collection and reinforce accountability in Malawi.
The SICPA technology behind Kalondola uses secure tax stamps combining material and digital security features.
It allows both authorities and consumers to verify product authenticity while helping detect illicit trade activities such as counterfeiting or smuggling.
The system improves oversight across the supply chain, particularly for excisable goods such as cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, bottled water, carbonated soft drinks, lotions & glycerines.
These categories have historically been vulnerable to under-declaration and illicit trade.
Castel Malawi, one of the country’s largest beverage producers, publicly supported the initiative, saying the digital excise tax stamps enable accurate revenue capture that can be reinvested in essential services and economic growth.
In a press statement, Castel Malawi Managing Director Thomas Reynaud emphasized the importance of consumer vigilance in the fight against counterfeit products, which he said pose serious health risks and undermine legal trade.
“Castel Malawi Limited urges all customers to remain alert and ensure that all spirits purchased are genuine and compliant with legal standards,” said Reynaud. “Authentic Castel products carry digital tax stamps, date stamps, and batch numbers, which are clear indicators of their legitimacy and regulatory compliance.”
In supporting digital tax reforms, economic and policy expert Dumbani Mzale notes the substantial economic and governance benefits that digital tax stamps can bring to public finance management, including increased revenue collection and the reduction of illicit trade.
Mzale said, “Digital tax stamps (Kalondola), particularly for excisable goods like alcohol and tobacco, help governments all over the world to effectively control and collect taxes.
By minimizing opportunities for fraud and tax evasion, the state can significantly boost its revenue streams, and Malawi could be no exception if this agenda could be implemented to the letter.”
He added, “For too long, Malawi has been a victim of counterfeit products, especially beer and other key consumables.
This has resulted in the country losing billions of Kwachas in potential tax revenue, money that could have helped reduce the gap between total government expenditure and total domestic revenue, which includes tax and non-tax revenue.”
By deploying both the EIS and Kalondola, the Government of Malawi is signalling a shift toward stronger controls, cleaner tax administration, and better protection of public resources and of consumers.
Moreover, this state-of-the art technology enables leveling the playing field for legitimate actors whose contribution to growth and development of the country is paramount, contrary to illicit traders.
If implemented effectively, these reforms could help move the country toward a more stable, predictable, and equitable public finance framework.
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BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-On November 7, 2025, Old Mutual Pension Services Company hosted its inaugural Pension Trustees Conference at Sunbird Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi.
The event brought together a diverse range of stakeholders from across Malawi’s pension industry.
Held under the theme “Shaping the Future of Pensions: Resilience, Sustainability, and Innovation,” the conference provided a platform for knowledge exchange and strategic dialogue on the evolving pension landscape.
The conference attracted key industry figures, including Emily Makuta, a respected legal practitioner and governance professional, Kaluso Chihana, Director of Pension and Insurance Supervision at the Reserve Bank of Malawi; Dr. Wisely Phiri, Founder and CEO of Sparc Systems Limited; Pempho Likongwe, Managing Partner at Likongwe and Company; Mphatso Kasalika, Managing Director of Old Mutual Investment Group; Busani Ngwenya, a seasoned insurance executive and John C. Maxwell Certified Coach.
Setting the tone was Emily Makuta who zeroed in on the importance of pension being the backbone of financial security.
According to Makuta Pension must withstand shocks and remain reliable.
She said, “There is a need for Pension administrators to diversify investments, strengthening governance and risk management strategies”.
In his presentation, “Landscaping for Future Reforms,” Kaluso Chihana emphasised the need for proactive regulatory alignment to strengthen fund performance and sustainability.
He traced the sector’s journey from the 2010 reforms focused on operationalisation and supervision to the current stage of enhancing functionality, voluntary schemes, and economic impact.
Chihana highlighted five reform pillars: efficiency, sustainability, coverage, security, and adequacy.
Drawing on National Statistical Office data, he noted that of Malawi’s 950,000 elderly citizens, only 60,000 are pensioners, and of 960,000 salaried employees, just 645,000 belong to pension schemes against an active population of 6.6 million.
“These figures,” he said, “reveal the gap and the amount of work that still needs to be done.”
He added that the new Pensions Law was designed to be more inclusive, acknowledging that Malawi lacks a broad-based social security system.
“Currently, only about 4% of Malawians are covered by the National Pension Scheme,” he said.
Offering a technological perspective, Dr. Wisely Phiri discussed trends and innovations in pension fund governance, stressing the role of technology and data-driven systems in improving administration and oversight.
He identified five global trends shaping modern governance: going beyond compliance, integrating ESG principles, member-centric models, professionalism, and digital innovation.
“True innovation,” he noted, “is not about systems or code; it’s about people and ensuring that every kwacha contributed in faith is managed with integrity and returned with fairness.”
From an investment standpoint, Mphatso Kasalika’s presentation on “Sustainable and Impactful Investing” underlined the need to align financial returns with positive environmental and social outcomes.
He showcased Old Mutual’s responsible investment strategy, integrating ESG factors into financial analysis to achieve sustainable long-term returns through investments in housing, roads, communication infrastructure, tourism, and agriculture.
Addressing risk and resilience, Busani Ngwenya shared lessons from Zimbabwe’s hyperinflation era, urging trustees to prepare funds for shocks and volatility through risk monitoring, diversified portfolios, liquidity reserves, sound governance, and effective member communication.
Echoing the same, Counsel Pempho Likongwe underscored the importance of succession planning and governance frameworks within pension structures.
The conference therefore highlighted that strong governance, innovation, sustainable investing, and collaboration are central to securing the future of pensions in Malawi.
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BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Malawi Stock Exchange listed National Bank of Malawi (NBM) has challenged youth innovators to take the lead in driving digital transformation in the country.
The call was made by NBM plc Head of Corporate Banking Division, William Chatsala at the launch of the 2025 ICT Association of Malawi (ICTAM) Annual Conference in Mangochi on Tuesday evening.
Ahead of the launch, NBM plc invested K75.5 million to support the 2025 Innovation Jam and ICTAM Annual General Meeting (AGM), celebrating the innovation and resilience driving Malawi’s digital future.
Chatsala said the Bank’s contribution reflects its belief in ICTAM’s mission to advance digital innovation and promote emerging technologies.
He noted that the initiative aligns with the NBM plc’s strategy to deepen financial inclusion, expand digital payment solutions, and strengthen innovations that meet global standards.
“Malawi is part of that global movement, and our greatest opportunity lies in empowering local innovators to create local solutions for local challenges. ICTAM continues to nurture this ecosystem, and that is why National Bank stands firmly behind this organisation,” said Chatsala.
Chatsala added that the Bank joined the initiative to ensure promising ideas grow beyond concept stage.
“Our goal was clear: ensure promising ideas do not stop at concept stage, but move toward prototypes, commercialisation, and real impact. Today, we see that vision taking shape. Alumni are developing fintech tools, enterprise systems, e-commerce platforms, and community solutions that are already changing how Malawians live and work,” said Chatsala.
He further emphasised NBM plc’s commitment to strengthening support for the digital sector and urged Malawians to invest in empowering young innovators and building an inclusive nation.
In her speech, guest of honour at the event, the country’s Vice President Jane Ansah encouraged ICT professionals to uphold high standards of professionalism and ethics in shaping the country’s digital future.
ICTAM President Clarence Gama reiterated the association’s dedication to fostering innovation and ensuring that both rural and urban communities benefit from technological advancement.
Gama further commended companies like NBM plc for supporting innovation drives in the country.
This year’s ICTAM conference is being held under the theme ‘Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development: Advancing Malawi’s Digital Future’.
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LILONGWE-(MaraviPost-The National Advocacy Platform (NAP) has issued a powerful call for urgent accountability and decisive regulatory action as Malawi’s mobile and internet services continue to deteriorate at an alarming rate.
In a strongly worded statement released in Lilongwe on 15 November 2025 and signed by NAP Chairperson Benedicto Kondowe and National Coordinator Baxton Nkhoma,it expressed deep concern over the worsening collapse of network quality, a crisis that has persisted for nearly a year without meaningful intervention from authorities or service providers.
According to NAP, Malawians have endured erratic connectivity, dropped calls, slow and unreliable internet access and the premature expiry of data bundles often before customers fully utilise them.
Despite this prolonged decline in service delivery, data and voice tariffs have remained unchanged.
NAP describes this as “daylight robbery” and “an affront to consumer rights,” noting that calls for improvement from civil society, businesses and citizens have been repeatedly ignored.
The organisation warns that the crisis is doing severe damage to the country’s economy and digital development.
Businesses are experiencing reduced productivity, students are struggling to access online learning platforms and professionals who rely on digital communication are increasingly frustrated.
The unreliability of mobile networks is also disrupting access to essential services in health, education and finance, threatening Malawi’s progress toward a digitally driven economy.
One of the most alarming developments, NAP notes, is the chaos within digital financial transactions.
Bank-to Airtel Money transfers are frequently reversed within seconds, while other transactions fail with unexplained error messages indicating that a recipient’s account has exceeded the transfer limit even when the account has a zero balance.
In many cases, funds deducted during failed transactions are not refunded, leaving consumers stranded and without recourse.
NAP is calling on the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) to launch an urgent audit of mobile linked financial transactions and compel mobile operators to refund and compensate all affected customers.
The organisation stresses that such failures represent a serious violation of consumer trust and financial integrity.
Citing the Communications Act of 2017, NAP highlights several legal obligations placed on MACRA and mobile service providers.
These include providing affordable communication services, ensuring consumer protection, and complying with technical and performance standards.
The Act also empowers MACRA to suspend or revoke licences for failure to meet these obligations. NAP argues that the sustained breakdown in service quality constitutes a clear breach of these legal requirements and warrants immediate regulatory action.
To restore accountability and protect consumers, NAP is urging Government and MACRA to take several immediate steps.
These include reconstituting the MACRA Board to strengthen oversight, conducting an independent audit of service quality, publishing performance and compliance reports, enforcing penalties on operators that fail to meet minimum standards and ensuring refunds for unused or prematurely expired data bundles.
NAP stresses that reliable communication is not a luxury but a constitutional right grounded in Section 37 of Malawi’s Constitution, which guarantees access to information.
Persistent service failures, the organisation says, undermine this right and block citizens from meaningful participation in the country’s economic and social life.
The platform further warns that continued inaction from regulators weakens the very safeguards designed to protect the public from exploitative business practices.
It calls on MACRA to firmly defend the interests of Malawians who have “long suffered under the weight of bullying practices from network providers.”
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BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-National Bank of Malawi (NBM) plc has donated 84 desks worth MK15 million to Namitambo Primary School in Chiradzulu to improve learning conditions for pupils.
The desks will cater for the pupils who previously sat on the floor due to a shortage of furniture.
Speaking during the handover ceremony in Chiradzulu on Thursday, NBM plc Head of Corporate Banking Division, William Chatsala, said the donation was part of the Bank’s efforts to support education through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
“This donation is about restoring the dignity of learners. One of the teachers told me that it is difficult for girls to stand and answer questions because most of them sit on the floor. With these desks, they can now learn comfortably and dream of a better life,” said Chatsala.
Chiradzulu District Commissioner, Francis Matewele, commended NBM plc for what he described as a timely and impactful gesture that will help improve the quality of education in the district.
“I would like to thank National Bank, ‘The bank of the nation’, for this donation of 84 desks for our learners in the junior classes. Most learners were sitting on the floor, but the bank has stepped in with K15 million to purchase these desks,” he said.
Matewele further appealed for a mindset change among parents and guardians, urging them to send their children to school.
Namitambo Primary School Head Teacher, Charles Majawa, expressed gratitude, saying the desks will ease seating challenges during examinations.
“Namitambo Zone is the biggest centre in Chiradzulu, and during examinations, learners faced problems because they had no desks. This support has come at the right time,” said Majawa.
The school has an enrolment of 1,221 learners.
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