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2 men arrested for killing fellow watchman over K4,000 raincoat dispute

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By Rahim Abdul

Lilongwe Police has arrested two men for allegedly stabbing to death using a broken glass bottle, a fellow watchman following a disagreement over K4,000 meant for the purchase of a raincoat.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at around 21:30 hours at Tsoka Flea Market in Lilongwe.



The suspects have been identified as Maxwell Gwedemula, 22 years old and Chikumbutso Fulailo,aged  35, while the deceased is Lloyd Tsosa, 22 years old .

The trio, who are believed to be street-connected individuals, were employed as watchmen by the same employer.

Preliminary investigations indicate that Tsosa received K4,000 from his employer to buy a raincoat.

However, when he informed his fellow watchmen about the money, they reportedly mocked him, claiming the amount was insufficient to purchase a raincoat. This led to a misunderstanding which later escalated into a violent fight.

During the altercation, Gwedemula allegedly stabbed Tsosa multiple times on the chest, head, and stomach using a broken glass bottle. Tsosa sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene.

The body has been taken to Kamuzu Central Hospital mortuary, where it is awaiting postmortem examination.

The suspects are currently in police custody and will be taken to court to answer a charge of murder.

Maxwell Gwedemula hails from Pengapenga Village, Traditional Authority  Makwangwala in  Ntcheu, while Chikumbutso Fulailo comes from Seleji Village, Tradition Authority Mwanga, Phalombe. The deceased, Lloyd Tsosa, hailed from Njema Village, Tradition Authority Njema in Lilongwe District.

Meanwhile, Lilongwe Police strongly condemns acts of violence and urges members of the community to resolve disputes amicably and report criminal behaviors to the police.

Board sets policy targets to improve ESCOM service delivery

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By Linda Kwanjana

The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) Limited Board Chairperson, Alfred Nhlema, says the Board has set clear policy targets aimed at strengthening operational efficiency, improving fault response times, and restoring public confidence in the Corporation.

In an interview on the sidelines of Board orientation at ESCOM Mpemba Training Centre in Blantyre on Monday, Nhlema acknowledged that persistent operational challenges particularly shortages of mobility and technical resources have continued to undermine service reliability and delay fault clearance across the country.


He said the Board has responded by repositioning operational performance as a top strategic and enterprise risk, subject to direct Board-level oversight.

Nhlema said this will include close monitoring of fault response times, maintenance backlogs, and overall network reliability.

“To improve service delivery, the Board has realigned institutional priorities to ensure that frontline operations are adequately supported. This includes ring-fencing resources for mobility, accelerating procurement of critical spares, and shifting the organisation towards a more preventive maintenance approach,” he said.

Nhlema added that accountability remains a cornerstone of the Board’s policy direction and as such, the Board will strengthen performance contracting arrangements by directly linking executive and management performance to service restoration times, network uptime, and customer responsiveness.

On execution, the Board Chairperson said ESCOM will focus on improving discipline across the organisation by clarifying priorities, reducing bureaucratic delays, and empowering management to act decisively within clear governance controls.

In addition to policy and resource alignment, Nhlema outlined a robust performance monitoring framework that the Board will enforce to ensure timely fault resolution and improved customer experience across all regions.

The framework includes Board-approved service standards for fault response and restoration times, network availability, and customer complaint resolution. A balanced scorecard with a strong emphasis on operational performance and customer experience will enable consistent regional performance assessment.

“Performance contracts will be cascaded from the Chief Executive Officer to regional managers, directly linking accountability to fault resolution timelines and customer service outcomes. Standardized dashboards and reporting systems will also be introduced to provide real-time visibility on faults, restoration performance, fleet availability, and customer feedback,” said Nhlema.

Nhlema added that regular Board operational reviews and consequent management mechanisms will ensure underperformance is addressed promptly, while best practices are scaled across the Corporation.

“In essence, the Board’s focus is to ensure that governance decisions translate into tangible operational improvements. Our objective is to restore service reliability and rebuild public confidence through measurable, visible outcomes that customers can feel,” said Nhlema.

Msaka lauds WFP’s role in boosting education through school feeding programme

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By Chisomo Phiri

Minister of Education, Science and Technology Bright Msaka has commended the World Food Programme (WFP) for its continued support to Malawi, particularly through the School Feeding Programme, which he describes as a key investment in the country’s future.

The minister made the remarks on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by a WFP delegation to the Ministry’s headquarters.



Msaka highlighted the programme’s impact, noting that it has contributed to higher school attendance, reduced dropout rates, and improved academic performance.

“This initiative not only helps children escape poverty but also invests in the citizens of tomorrow,” he said.

The minister also praised WFP’s homegrown approach to implementation, saying it promotes sustainability and encourages ownership by schools and local communities.

He assured the delegation that the government remains committed to supporting and collaborating with WFP to ensure the programme continues.

On his part,WFP Country Director and Representative  Hyoung-Joon Lim described the School Feeding Programme as a strategic entry point for broader national development, emphasizing its role in building healthy and well-educated human capital.

Lim encouraged the government to take full ownership of the programme and work towards establishing a national school feeding system that reaches all schoolchildren by 2030, in line with national policy goals.

Since 1999, WFP has provided meals to 825,000 schoolchildren across 788 primary schools and 140 Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres in Malawi.

Yinhua’s corruption trial adjourned to March 2026

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By Chisomo Phiri

The High Court in Lilongwe on Tuesday January 13,2026 adjourned to March 10, 2026, the case in which convicted wildlife crimes and money laundering offender Lin Yinhua faces seven charges related to corruption and abuse of public office.

Making the adjustment,High Court Judge Redson Kapindu  issued directions for the conduct of the case, which is scheduled to run for three days, from March 10 to 12, 2026.

Kapindu directed that within 14 days, the defence must identify a competent interpreter to facilitate communication between the client and counsel.



He also instructed that within seven days, the Assistant Registrar of the court should ensure that Messrs Maele Law Practice files a written notice confirming that it no longer represents the accused.

The judge further ruled that the prosecution must, within 14 days, ensure the High Court file contains all required disclosures, which are to be served to the defence along with the supporting materials.

On his part,Anti-Corruption Bureau(ACB)Principal Legal and Prosecution Officer Peter Sambani said the state is ready to present its witnesses when the case resumes in March.

Yinhua is accused, among other charges, of offering K30 million to Aaron Ganyavu Kaunda, then officer in charge of Maula Prison, to influence Chief Resident Magistrate Violet Chipao, who was presiding over his wildlife and money laundering case, to give him a reduced sentence while he was on remand in 2019.

Kambanje lauds Mutharika’s first 100 days in office

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By Chisomo Phiri

Human rights activist Edward Kambanje has praised president Arthur Peter Mutharika’s performance during his first 100 days in office, citing what he describes as notable progress in food security, fuel availability, price stability of basic commodities, and merit-based public appointments.

In an interview with 247 Malawi News, Kambanje said Malawi has never lacked critics, but often struggles to separate constructive truth from what he termed as noise.

He warned that jealousy can sometimes disguise itself as advice and cautioned against allowing pessimism to overshadow national progress.

Mutharika



“Not every loud voice carries wisdom, and not every grey hair signifies weakness,” said Kambanje.

He called on Malawians to choose unity and progress over division and stagnation.

The human rights activist commended the president for sustaining food availability, which he said has helped ensure that many Malawians have access to stable food supplies.

He also noted a reduction in prices of some essential commodities, such as cooking oil, which he said has brought relief to many households.

On fuel availability, Kambanje observed that service stations remained adequately supplied, even during the festive season when demand is traditionally high.

He contrasted the situation with previous years, saying the country did not experience chaos, fighting, or prolonged struggles to access fuel.

“The difference compared to last year is clear. This time around, there was no widespread disorder at fuel stations,” said Kambanje.

He further applauded what he described as the president’s commitment to merit-based appointments in public office.

The human rights activist cited the recent appointment of Henry Mathanga as Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of Malawi(RBM), responsible for economic affairs, as an example.

According to Kambanje, Mathanga’s appointment reflects a focus on experience and competence, noting that he previously held a similar position in 2019.

He questioned why Mathanga’s qualifications were being challenged, arguing that his return to the role demonstrates continuity and confidence in his professional track record.

“He is a qualified individual with proven experience, making him suitable for the position,” said Kambanje .

The human rights activist urged Malawians and relevant authorities to support the president Mutharika in his efforts to shape the country’s future, warning that the consequences of poor advice are often borne by the poor.

Kambanje concluded by calling on citizens to embrace unity, wisdom, and courage in nation-building.

“Let us move forward as one people, focused on progress rather than noise,” he said.

Mutharika has been president of this country  since emerged victorious in the September 16  presidential election last year.