A fierce fight erupted in Minister’s office at the ministry of Lands over a dispute bordering on access to Land
Two supporters of DPP who met at the Minister’s office fought fiercely because they were accusing each other that some have already benefited from the minister and hindering colleagues’access to the minister.
It has been a custom that long queues are always visible at the minister’s office on a daily basis.
Ministry of Lands offices
Some people spend almost the whole day waiting for either the Minister or the Commissioner for Lands
Since DPP bounced back to power they have been long queues in these two offices
The ministry has silently Been distributing land it snatched from those who were given land during the previous regime
Those who were given land specifically on June 23 2025 they land offers were declared invalid because they exceeded their due date.
Music promoters in Mulanje have lined up Malawian Amapiano star Joe Ikon to headline a music show scheduled for April 25, 2026 at Cork & Bottle, in what they say is part of efforts to expand entertainment opportunities in the district.
The event is being spearheaded by music promoter Michael Kwapata, who said preparations are progressing well ahead of the show.
Joe Ikon
According to Kwapata, the initiative aims to give local audiences a chance to experience live performances from some of the country’s popular artists without travelling to bigger cities.
He said Joe Ikon, who is signed under Madness Entertainment, is expected to perform some of his well-known songs, including Pang’ono, Ndafika, Agulu, Oneni and Mpaka M’manda.
Kwapata expressed confidence that the artist’s energetic stage presence will keep patrons entertained throughout the night.
Meanwhile, a local party enthusiast, Tina Makawa, says such events help residents unwind and socialise.
In addition to the live music performance, the show will feature games, face painting, football viewing and refreshments at the venue located behind Mulanje Park Stadium.
The Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) has come out strongly in defence of National Bank of Malawi (NBM), arguing that the Bank acted within the law in the controversial K5 billion cash withdrawal saga linked to the sale of Amaryllis Hotel.
HRCC chairperson Robert Mkwezalamba said it is misleading to place blame on the Bank when regulatory institutions that were duly informed failed to act.
“National Bank followed procedure. They verified the transactions, confirmed with the account holder, and notified the relevant authorities. At that point, their legal obligation was fulfilled,” said Mkwezalamba.
Robert Mkwezalamba
The K5 billion cash withdrawals, now under parliamentary scrutiny, have raised serious questions about the role of oversight bodies, particularly the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA), which reportedly received prior alerts on the transactions but did not intervene.
According to information emerging from the probe, NBM officials reportedly contacted FIA ahead of the large cash withdrawals, including the K1.5 billion transactions conducted on two separate occasions in January 2026.
Mkwezalamba stressed that banks are not law enforcement agencies and cannot arbitrarily block legitimate transactions.
“A bank cannot refuse to honour a customer’s cheque without lawful justification. If anything, the law compels them to pay on demand once due diligence is satisfied. The responsibility to investigate suspicious transactions lies with enforcement agencies like FIA,” he said.
The HRCC chairperson further warned against what he described as a growing tendency to scapegoat institutions that operate within the confines of the law while ignoring failures by those mandated to act.
“We must be careful not to criminalise compliance. If the bank alerted authorities and no action was taken, then accountability must start with those who had the power to investigate and intervene,” said Mkwezalamba.
The controversy has been further inflamed by revelations that former FIA Director General Jean Piriminta was dismissed after allegedly leaking CCTV footage of the transactions, which reportedly show high-profile individuals, including State House-linked operatives, involved in the cash withdrawals.
Mkwezalamba said the focus must now shift to institutional accountability and systemic reform.
“This issue is bigger than one bank. It exposes gaps in our financial oversight systems. The question Malawians should be asking is: why were red flags ignored?”
The HRCC has since called for a transparent and impartial investigation into the matter, urging Parliament and relevant agencies to establish the full facts without political interference.
As pressure mounts, the unfolding scandal continues to test the credibility of Malawi’s financial governance systems, with NBM now finding unlikely support from civil society voices insisting the bank may have simply done its job.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is facing internal strife following the appointment of Rhoda Gadama as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Council.
Senior party leaders and ministers are reportedly furious, citing the party’s stance on candidates who fail in primary elections and then stand as independents.
According to sources, Rhoda Gadama’s appointment is seen as a betrayal of the party’s principles, as she failed in the primary elections for Mulanje Central Constituency and then stood as an independent candidate, ultimately contributing to the defeat of the DPP’s candidate, Damson Chelewani. Rhoda’s sister and brother, Mphatso Gadama and Jones Gadama, were also DPP shadow members of Parliament for Mulanje Central, but they withdrew their candidature to pave the way for Rhoda on the DPP ticket.
Gadama
Their decision was seen as a show of family unity, but Rhoda’s subsequent decision to dump the party and stand as an independent candidate has left a sour taste.
247Malawi News tried to get a comment from government spokesperson Shadrick Namalomba, but his phone went unanswered after 8 attempts.
Our publication has established that Namalomba, like his predecessor Moses Kumkuyu, is not media-friendly, and the position of government spokesperson is too heavy for him.
We recommend he be stripped of this position and replaced with someone who interacts with the media and responds to calls.
Other failed and fallen appointees who have benefited from the party’s appeasement policy include Gladys Ganda, CEO of Southern Region Water Board; Yeremiah Chihana, CEO of Blantyre Water Board; Julius Chione, Northern Region Water Board; and Edna Manda, Sunbird Tourism.
These appointments have sparked outrage among DPP loyalists, who feel that the party is rewarding those who have failed to deliver.
A senior minister warned that the DPP risks tumbling if it does not address the issue, stating, “DPP if not careful will also tumble one day.” The minister added that Gadama’s actions were a betrayal of the party’s trust.
The controversy highlights the challenges facing the DPP, with some members questioning the party’s commitment to democracy and inclusivity.
The appointment has sparked debate about the party’s direction and the role of influential figures in shaping its decisions.
The DPP’s problems are not new, but this latest scandal has brought the party’s internal divisions to the forefront.
The party’s leadership is facing calls to take action against those who have betrayed the party’s trust.
As one senior party member put it, “The DPP needs to take a hard look at itself and ask why it’s rewarding failure.”
Malawians are watching as the DPP’s internal strife unfolds.
It remains to be seen how the party will address these challenges and whether it can recover from this latest scandal.
In the meantime, Malawinews247 will continue to bring you updates on this developing story.
We will also be seeking comments from the DPP’s leadership and other stakeholders in the coming days.
FDH Bank plc said it has stepped up efforts to digitalise the government’s privatised public health services through a partnership with the Ministry of Health to roll out digital payment systems in public health facilities.
The privatisation of selected public health services in Malawi is part of broader reforms to improve service delivery, efficiency and resource mobilisation within the sector.
Under this arrangement, facilities are allowed to implement structured user fees and retain revenue, creating a need for transparent, accountable and traceable payment systems.
Chitera
Speaking during a cocktail event in Salima on Wednesday, FDH Bank plc Deputy Managing Director George Chitera said the initiative underscores the Bank’s commitment to supporting the health sector through digital solutions.
“As we continue advancing in digital banking, it is important that we extend these services to sectors such as health, ensuring that we meet the needs of Malawians efficiently. We believe good health is a key pillar in our Bank, and we aim to support the health sector,” said Chitera.
He said the Bank will leverage its digital platforms to enhance efficiency in revenue collection and management within health facilities.
“We are ready to support Malawians in any way possible and contribute meaningfully to the development of key sectors such as health,” he said.
Ministry of Health Chief of Health Services Dr Andrew Likaka described the partnership as a key step towards strengthening domestic resource mobilisation through technology-driven systems.
“Digital is the way to go. This partnership will help us explore how we can locally mobilise resources to support our health system. Currently, facilities do not have digital payment systems, which is why there have been reports of people being asked for informal payments,” said Likaka.
He added that the introduction of digital payments will help curb corruption and improve accountability in health facilities.
“There has been concern over informal payments, but the digital system will make it easier to track revenue collected by facilities. Any transactions outside the system will be illegal and easier to detect,” he said.
