Iran’s police have arrested 466 individuals accused of “stirring public opinion” and conducting “online propaganda in favour of the enemy,” according to state media reports.
This move is part of a larger security sweep, with over 1,000 arrests reported this month for similar offenses.
The arrests follow intelligence and technical monitoring in recent days, with authorities alleging the individuals were connected to “enemy” networks seeking to create internal instability.
Those arrested face accusations of filming sensitive locations, sharing anti-government content online, or “cooperating with the enemy”.
This crackdown is one of the largest security sweeps since the start of the war with Israel and the United States, highlighting Iran’s intensified efforts to suppress dissent.
The government has been accused of using vague charges to restrict freedom of expression and online activities.
The international community has expressed concern over Iran’s human rights record, with reports of arbitrary arrests, torture, and enforced disappearances.
Human rights organizations have condemned the crackdown, calling for immediate action to protect citizens’ rights.
Iran’s actions have sparked fears of further repression, with many wondering what’s next for the country’s online landscape.
National Football Team head coach Lovemore Fazili has commended the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) for facilitating the team’s participation in the upcoming FIFA Series tournament set to take place in Kenya.
Fazili described the opportunity as timely and crucial, noting that exposure to high level international competition will significantly benefit the Scorchers as they continue building a competitive squad.
The tournament will feature four nations Malawi, Kenya, India and Australia bringing together teams from different continents in what promises to be a highly competitive event.
According to Fazili, facing teams from outside Africa presents a rare and valuable experience that will test the team’s tactical discipline and adaptability on the global stage.
He emphasized that such matches are essential in preparing the Scorchers for the forthcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which will be held in Morocco.
Fazili added that the FIFA Series will provide a platform for the technical panel to assess the team’s strengths and weaknesses ahead of the continental showpiece.
The coach further highlighted that the tournament will help the players gain confidence and improve their overall performance through exposure to different styles of play.
Malawi is set to kick off its campaign against Australia on April 11, a match that is expected to set the tone for their tournament journey. The winner of that fixture will advance to the final, where they will face the winner between hosts Kenya and India four days later.
Meanwhile, teams that lose their opening matches will compete in a third-place playoff, ensuring that all participating sides gain adequate match experience.
President Vitumbiko Gubuduza has urged the government to introduce tax relief measures for companies that sponsor various sports disciplines, including netball.
Gubuduza made the appeal amid growing concern over the lack of sponsorship affecting teams in the country’s top-flight netball league.
According to the NAM president, six out of the twelve teams participating in the FDH Premier Netball League currently have no sponsors, a situation he described as worrying for the growth of the sport.
He emphasized that corporate support is crucial in sustaining teams and improving competitiveness within the league.
Vitumbiko Gubuduza
Among the teams that have secured sponsorship are Blue Eagles, Kukoma Diamonds, CivoNets, Prison Queens, Mafco Soldiers and Airforce Falcons.
On the other hand, teams such as Vanessa Sisters, Tigresses, Ekwendeni Resource, Karonga Queens, Pacers and Lioness are operating without financial backing.
Gubuduza noted that offering tax incentives to sponsoring companies would encourage more businesses to invest in sports development across Malawi.
He further stressed that such a policy would not only benefit netball but also uplift other sporting disciplines facing similar financial challenges.
Responding to the proposal, the Ministry of Sports’ Principal Secretary, Jameson Ndalama, welcomed the suggestion, describing it as timely.
Ndalama revealed that the government is currently reviewing various policies aimed at improving the management and development of sports in the country.
Meanwhile, FDH Bank official Noel Mkulichi acknowledged the importance of corporate involvement, urging more companies to come forward and support teams.
FDH Bank recently entered into a K1.2 billion sponsorship agreement with NAM, a move aimed at promoting and developing netball in Malawi.
The Alliance for Decentralization Movement ( ADM) has called on all political parties, church leaders, traditional leaders, and all Malawian citizens that this is the right time for the country to adopt the federal system of government.
The ADM has noted with a grave concern that since independence 62 years down the line, Malawi under a unitary system of government has failed to spread development projects equally in all regions, and districts across the country.
The Movement has claimed that at 62 years of independence, Malawians are still facing hunger, some communities still accessing poor quality water, shortages of drugs in public hospitals, poverty on the increase and rampant corruption in government.
Writing in a statement signed by activist and President of the ADM Willy Nyirenda, the ADM said corruption which every government that comes in Malawi vows to end, is just on paper, politicians are at the helm of it making the fight against it a non- starter.
Activist Willy Nyirenda-Corruption by politicians is deep rooted in Malawi
The Movement said corruption is deep rooted in Malawi and has blanketed the whole country from the president, ministers, members of parliament, chiefs, up to the common man in the village.
The ADM said development projects are based on the political party in government making other regions, districts, towns and trading centres to suffer because their leaders are in the opposition camps.
In the statement, the ADM has thanked the President of the nation Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika on his statements made during campaign trails and 2026- 2027 Budget that government funds should not remain centralized at Capital Hill, but rather be disbursed to all constituencies to foster local development.
The statement said President Professor Mutharika has already demonstrated that he wants rural areas of the country to develop through the K5 billion Constituency Development Fund ( CDF) which now will be managed at council level saying this gesture alone, is part of federal system of government.
The ADM said President Professor Mutharika is practicing federal system of government making sure that development is closer to the people and as such, the Movement would like to take advantage of this that while the President is on this driving seat, the nation can adopt this federal system of government so that when he lives power, Malawi should be continuing with the federal system of government.
The Movement has expressed hope that millions of Malawians will support the proposal for a federal system of government in the country on the claims that President Professor Mutharika has already demonstrated that he wants to bring development closer to the communities and not Capital Hill as previously was.
” We, as ADM, we are appealing to the government of Professor Mutharika to consider the adoption of federal system of government as living examples, by adopting the system, we can reduce corruption and development will equally spread to all regions of the country,” reads part of the statement.
A local Non- Governmental Organization ( NGO)- Join for Joy has partnered with Dowa DAPP Teachers Training College to pilot a 12 week course on playful learning with plans to expand to public colleges.
Join for Joy works in rural areas in Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, and Malawi, it is expanding its reach by working in more districts in these countries over the coming years.
In Malawi, Join for Joy started implementing its interventions in Mchinji in 2019, in 2026 it will be in 12 primary schools in Dowa and in 2027, it will be in Lilongwe Rural.
Presenting the program to the District executive committee ( Dec) in Dowa, the organization’s  Executive Director James Phiri, said the program trains primary school teachers to openly discuss health and social issues through sports and playful learning methodologies, in order to create engaging, safe, inclusive and joyful educational environments.
James Phiri-Primary schools are supported to work independently after 3 years.
Phiri said the program works with a vision of ensuring that every child at primary school in sub- saharan Africa, has the opportunity to experience the transformative power of playful learning.
He said the program is targeting learners in rural primary schools from Standard one to eight saying the Join for Joy teachers training program is for three years.
The Director said Join for Joy teachers undergo three years of intensive training in theory and practicals saying each school is given a game box and game manuals with 60+ interactive games aligned with different educational themes.
He said after three years, schools are supported to operate independently and sustainably saying Join for Joy coordinators remain available as a point of contact to provide guidance and technical support whenever needed.
The Director said the program operates in a district for a maximum of five years or more depending on contextual factors and program needs.
He.said Join for Joy compliment existing strategies within the primary education system by strengthening teachers’ skills through training in sports for development and playful learning methodologies, promoting menstrual health education, Physical Education and Expressive Arts through the provision of essential materials to schools.
” We provide materials in primary schools such as soccer balls, soft balls, Drums, whistles, Cones, Ribbons, Shakers, ball pump, skipping ropes, volleyball, and Mangolongondo,” said Phiri.
He said Join for Joy Malawi has trained 430 teachers, reaching out to 46,000 children, 72 schools included, and 15,00+ menstrual cups.
In his remarks, Dowa District Council’s Director of Education, Youth and Sports Christopher Kumikundi, said the Council is expecting cordial relationship with all the development partners urging them to work hand in hand with Join for Joy by providing all the necessary support so that the implementation of their program is successful in the district.
Join for Joy training programs for playful learning in primary schools is being funded by the Netherlands headquarters with support from family foundation – the Contribute Foundation, Lowenberg
