Kondwani Nyondo

MINING PAYOUT SCANDAL ROCK BALAKA ·         Villagers decry unfair treatment, ghost beneficiaries ·         As ACB launches BY KONDWANI NYONDO  When bulldozers rolled into Ng’onga Hill in Balaka, the villagers thought it was the sound of progress. Months later, the only sound that remains is that of blasting rocks and wailing families who say the development has stolen their land, homes, and dignity. What was supposed to be fair compensation from Portland Cement Malawi Limited has turned into a scandal. While those who genuinely deserved compensation got peanuts, others, even without land, including public officers are alleged to have received hefty sums.   Interviews, petitions, and documents reviewed during a months-long investigation in the mining projects in Balaka reveal a compensation process riddled with corruption, ghost beneficiaries, and broken promises. The Anti-Corruption Bureau has since opened ...

  Explosives retrieved in Lilongwe as police probe cross-border origins By Kondwani Nyondo Police in Lilongwe have retrieved 19 explosive devices within Area 23 Township following reports from community members who discovered the deadly objects in different locations, including a graveyard and scrap metal collection points. The explosives — a mix of exploded and unexploded mortars — were voluntarily surrendered to Kawale Police Station by residents over the past seven days. Authorities have since launched investigations to establish how the items found their way into the densely populated area. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Davie Chilalire, the discoveries were made possible through the vigilance of community members who promptly alerted the police. “We commend the people of Area 23 for their cooperation,” said Chilalire. “These are not ordinary metals — they are dangerous explosives that could have caused loss of life if mishandled.” Police have since orga...

 Lilongwe’s sanitation crisis in primary schools By Kondwani Nyondo  each morning, pupils at Ngwenya, Kaufulu, Biwi and Kaliyeka primary schools arrive in neat uniforms and bright smiles. But behind the walls, a silent crisis brews: broken latrines, no water, and foul-smelling pits that threaten children’s health and dignity. National data show that only 4,412 of Malawi’s 7,117 primary schools have change rooms for girls  leaving nearly a third without private spaces for menstrual management. Across the country, less than half of the population uses safely managed sanitation, and schools mirror that failure. In Lilongwe, many toilets are full or roofless, taps are dry, and soap is scarce. Pupils cope by waiting until they get home or relieving themselves in the open. These conditions fuel absenteeism and expose children to diarrhoeal and cholera outbreaks. Girls suffer most. Without private, clean, and lockable toilets, many skip class during menstruation. Teachers r...

Illegal sand mining persists at Senga Bay By Kondwani Nyondo  Illegal sand mining continues to ravage Senga Bay, threatening the once-pristine golden beaches of Lake Malawi that the country proudly markets to international tourists. Despite being designated a protected zone under Malawi’s land laws, sand extraction continues openly, degrading the shoreline and undermining livelihoods that depend on the lake. According to the National Land Policy , any land within 50 metres of the lake is classified as public land and a protected zone. The Mines and Minerals Act further stipulates that all minerals  including sand are vested in the President on behalf of the people of Malawi. Similarly, Section 47 (1) of the Environment Management Act (2017) mandates authorities to safeguard river and lake basins from harmful human activities. Interviews with community members and local authorities suggest that much of the sand mining is allegedly sanctioned by traditional leaders. Ho...

Trading tales: dollar,maize tumble after elections By Kondwani Nyondo  Just days after Peter Mutharika was announced Malawi’s new president, black-market rates for the U.S. dollar and South African rand, as well as maize prices, have plummeted, leaving traders and consumers adjusting quickly. Our team visited most of Lilongwe’s major dollar trading centers, including Gamestore and Devil Street. Traders there confirmed that the U.S. dollar, which had been trading at K5,000 per dollar a week before the elections, is now selling at around K3,000. South African rand has also fallen from K275 to K230. We also visited maize markets at Mitundu and Zankutu in Lilongwe. In Mitundu, a 50kg bag of maize has reduced from K76,000 to K70,000, while some traders sell it at K69,000. At Zankutu, traders told us the drop reflects expectations of government intervention. “We have heard that the new administration plans to distribute maize for free,” said one Zankutu trader, requesting anonymity. ...

Lecture Notes: Ecosystems (Nature’s Neighborhood) 1. What is an Ecosystem? An ecosystem is like a neighborhood in nature. In this neighborhood: Living things (plants, animals, microbes) are the “residents.” Non-living things (air, water, soil, sunlight) are the “resources.” Everyone and everything depends on one another to survive. 2. Who Lives in Nature’s Neighborhood? 1. Plants (Producers): They are like the cooks → they make food for everyone using sunlight. 2. Animals (Consumers): Herbivores (plant-eaters) are like vegetarians. Carnivores (meat-eaters) are like hunters. Omnivores (both plants + meat) are flexible eaters. 3. Decomposers (Cleaners): Microbes like fungi and bacteria are the “garbage collectors” → they recycle waste and return nutrients to the soil. 3. Resources in the Neighborhood (Abiotic Factors) Sunlight = electricity of the neighborhood. Water = drinking supply. Soil = the supermarket shelf with nutrients. Air = the fresh atmosphere for br...