Kondwani Nyondo

 By Kondwani Nyondo Once, their only chant was ‘A’choke! A’choke!’ (she must go! She must go!), but they now threatened “Total War” against  government and that included anyone proxy to it.  After the 2019 annulled elections, there was tension in most parts of Malawi.  From nowhere, unrest erupted. There was no known leader, no office, and no one to control it as some opposition party supporters terrorized the cities. One of the places where rioting erupted was Nsundwe, a community that sprawls 25-kilometers outside the capital city, Lilongwe,where some notorious citizens turned themselves into soldiers of fortune under the cult monickered “Msundwe Barracks,”violently demanding electoral justice. A line of blue-vans, also full of riot police that for long had been staple of violent confrontation across the country, arrived in the area. Rowdy boys started hurling stones at them. And teargas and stun bullets rattled all day,untill they pulled back. But the vans dumped ...

By Kondwani Nyondo  The Malawi government has issued a new order prohibiting the importation of various goods in a bid to protect local industries and encourage self-sufficiency.  In a letter, dated 14 March,2025, under Control of Goods (Import and Export) (Commerce) (Prohibition) Order, signed by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Vitumbiko Augeans Zasamula Mumba, government has resticted the import of 21 products. They include essential food items such as maize flour, fresh milk, rice, peanut butter, honey, and meat products.  Other prohibited goods include toothpicks, bottled water, plastic utensils, wooden furniture, and security boots.  The ban, which takes effect immediately, will remain in force until March 12, 2027. Speaking on the move, Mumba said  the restrictions aim to support local farmers and manufacturers.  "By limiting imports of products that can be produced locally, we are creating a conducive environment for Malawian businesses to thrive...

  By kondwani Nyondo Convicted wildlife trafficker and money launderer Lin Yunhua has pleaded denied   fresh corruption charges brought against him. Yunhua, who is currently serving a 14-year jail term at Maula Prison , faces two counts of corrupt practices with public officers and five counts of abuse of public office . While on remand in 2019 , Yunhua allegedly offered K30 million and promised to complete a house for Maula Prison officer-in-charge Aaron Ganyavu Kaunda in exchange for influencing the magistrate to grant him a lighter sentence . Further allegations indicate that in 2022 and 2023 , while serving his sentence, Yunhua persuaded prison officials to leave the facility to purchase farm inputs and personal items and to visit his home in Area 9, Lilongwe . Appearing before Principal Resident Magistrate Roderick Michongwe  today, Yunhua denied all seven charges . Following his plea, Anti-Corruption Bureau principal legal and prosecutions office...

By Kondwani Nyondo Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) Director General, Daud Suleman, has dismissed public concerns about the organization engaging in intrusive surveillance.  Speaking at a workshop for civil society organizations in Lilongwe he said while hacking is technically possible, it is not something Macra pursues. He further said that Macra lacks the resources and technology for such actions. He said:  “From an investment perspective, we want more people to use digital devices, which benefits everyone. If people fear surveillance, they may avoid the digital space, and we all lose.” He argued  that the law prohibits Macra from conducting intrusive surveillance, citing a Supreme Court ruling on the matter. “Intrusive surveillance is unethical and amounts to hacking,” he added. Mtheto Lungu, Programmes Manager for the Malawi Council of Churches, commended Macra for addressing the issue and stressed the importance of protecting privacy rights. “In...

By Kondwani Nyondo Illovo Sugar (Malawi) PLC has announced an increase in sugar prices across all pack sizes, effective March,12 , 2025. A one-kilogram (kg) packet of brown sugar will now retail at K3000, up from K2,600, while a kg packet of refined sugar has risen to k3400 from  K2,950. Additionally, a bale of brown sugar will  now be selling for K63,651. In a statement, Illovo attributed the price hike to inflationary pressures affecting the entire supply chain. “These costs include, but are not limited to, rising expenses for essential raw materials and services required for sugar production,” the statement reads. The sugar manufacturer also cited increasing transportation expenses as a major factor contributing to the price adjustments. “Despite our diligent efforts to constrain costs internally, we have now reached a point where adjustments to our pricing structure are necessary to sustain our commitment to delivering quality sugar to the market,” the statement adds...

  By Kondwani Nyondo The Civil Society Network on Climate Change (Cisonecc) has called for a review of Malawi’s Insurance Act to align it with the Disaster Risk Management Act and other climate-related policy documents. Cisonecc National Coordinator Julius Ng’oma made the call during a stakeholders' meeting in Mponela, where he highlighted gaps in the current legislation, particularly its failure to provide clear guidelines for smallholder farmers vulnerable to climate-related disasters. “As a country, we need to do more in financing mechanisms to support vulnerable communities that largely depend on agriculture. The main problem is that the Insurance Act lacks proper provisions for farmers. This needs to be reviewed to align with other climate change policy documents,” Ng’oma said. The call comes amid recurring disasters such as floods and droughts, which have worsened food insecurity in Malawi.  According to the 2023 Global Hunger Index, Malawi ranked 88 out of 125 coun...