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GVH jailed 21 years for having sexual intercourse, impregnating girl, 16

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GVH jailed 21 years for having sexual intercourse, impregnating girl, 16

By Rahim Abdul

The Senior Resident Magistrate court sitting at Lilongwe has convicted and sentenced Group Village Headman Chimalizeni, whose real name is Yohane Thokozani, 26 years old for having sexual intercourse with and impregnating a 16-year-old girl in Lilongwe.

The court heard from the Lilongwe Police based Public Prosecutor, Sub Inspector Jean Chirombo, that Thokozani (convict) committed the offence between the months of September and October of 2025.

Prosecutor Chirombo further said that the girl, who is eight months pregnant, dropped out of school last year while in Form 1.

The convict, having realised that the girl was pregnant, decided to elope with her and stay with the girl as a wife.

Chimalizeni



In court, the convict lacked remorse for all that he did. He continued to argue that the girl was his wife.

Even up to the mitigation stage, he saw nothing wrong with his behavior. However, he asked for leniency of the court, saying he is a first-time offender and that he has dependants who look up to him.

In submission, the State asked for a meaningful sentence since the offence committed was serious in nature.

Prosecutor Chirombo further submitted that, as a chief, the convict was supposed to be the one protecting the girl child and not bringing psychological trauma upon her.

Passing his sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate Bracious Kondowe, concurred with the State that the convict breached the trust the victim had in him as a chef, the offence was premeditated and planned as he had sexual intercourse with the girl multiple times.

Kondowe further said that being a Group Village Headman is a respectable position in society. He continued to say that chiefs ought to be exemplary in how they conduct and carry out themselves.

He said that a chief is expected to be a safe haven for the downtrodden like the girl herein.
But the convict chose to turn a vulnerable girl into his sexual prey, seeing no problem with relieving his unbridled sexual desires on an innocent girl he was supposed to protect.

Kondowe then said that he was convinced that the convict deserved a custodial sentence and that this case warranted the exhaustion of the Court’s sentencing threshold of 21 years imprisonment to serve as a deterrent to other would-be offenders.

Yohane Thokozani (convict) hails from Chiunjiza village, Traditional Authority Masula in Lilongwe District.

Malawi, Tanzania sign STR deal to boost trade and economic growth

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Malawi, Tanzania sign STR deal to boost trade and economic growth



By Dean Chisambo

The Government of Malawi, in collaboration with the Government of Tanzania, has signed a Simplified Trade Regime (STR) agreement in Lilongwe.

Minister of Industrialization, Business, Trade and Tourism Simeon Itaye says the agreement reflects strengthening economic status and improving livelihoods of the people between Malawi and Tanzania.

The agreement is expected to reduce transportation barriers and promote transparency on the movement of goods, Itaye adds.

Itaye emphasises that the STR will promote trade and advance value chain between the two countries, leading to job creation and poverty alleviation among the people of Malawi and Tanzania.



Tanzanian Minister of Industry and Trade Judith Kapinga says her government is looking forward to the implementation of the STR agreement, which will benefit Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and border traders between the two countries.

Kapinga describes the STR deal as a game-changer that will unlock trade barriers among border traders and facilitate legitimate trade.

The Tanzanian Trade minister highlights that many women and youth are involved in border trade, but face challenges in transporting their goods, leading them to use shortcuts.

She adds that the agreement will enhance food security, as more agricultural commodities will be easily exported and imported between the two countries.

According to officials from both countries, many women and youth are engaged in cross-border trade between Malawi and Tanzania, and the STR agreement is expected to boost their economic activities.

Frustration boils over as Lilongwe’s power wills away

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Frustration boils over as Lilongwe’s power wills away



By Burnett Munthali

Residents of Kawale and Chilinde areas in Lilongwe are fed up with the frequent electricity blackouts that have become a daily occurrence, with some areas going without power for hours on end.

The latest incident occurred on Tuesday, when Chilinde residents were plunged into darkness, sparking widespread complaints and concerns about the reliability of the power supply.

But what’s even more infuriating is that ESCOM personnel seem unresponsive to reported faults, leaving residents to wonder if the utility company is waiting for a tragedy to strike before taking action.

Take, for example, the case of an electric pole near Gogo Munkhondia ground in Chilinde 2, which has been reported to ESCOM faults weeks ago but remains a ticking time bomb, posing a danger to unsuspecting residents.

The pole, which is reportedly on the verge of collapse, has sparked fears of a major accident waiting to happen, with some residents accusing ESCOM of negligence and lack of concern for public safety.



One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed frustration and anger at the situation, saying “It’s like they are waiting for someone to get hurt or killed before they do something.”

ESCOM’s poor response to reported faults has become a major concern for residents, who feel that the utility company is not taking their complaints seriously.

The frequent blackouts have also had a significant impact on businesses and households, with many small enterprises reporting losses due to interrupted operations.

As the situation continues to deteriorate, residents are calling on ESCOM to take immediate action to address the power woes and ensure a reliable supply of electricity to the affected areas.

The people of Kawale and Chilinde demand answers and action from ESCOM – before it’s too late.

Malawi Muslims Begin Holy Fasting

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Malawi Muslims Begin Holy Fasting



By Rahim Abdul

The sacred month of Ramadan has officially begun in Malawi following the sighting of the crescent moon, marking the start of a spiritually significant period for Muslims across the country.

Spokesperson for the National Moon Sighting Committee, Sheikh Dinala Chabulika, announced that the new moon has been observed, confirming the beginning of 1st Ramadan.

According to Sheikh Chabulika, Muslims will commence fasting tomorrow, Thursday, 19 February, in line with the confirmed moon sighting.

He emphasized that the declaration follows careful observation and verification by the committee, in keeping with Islamic tradition which determines the start of Ramadan based on the appearance of the crescent moon.

Chabulika



Sheikh Chabulika extended heartfelt wishes to all Muslims in Malawi, encouraging them to observe the holy month with devotion, discipline, and sincerity.

He further urged believers to uphold peace and unity during Ramadan, stressing the importance of avoiding conflict and misunderstandings within communities.

“Let us remain peaceful, respect one another and use this holy month to strengthen our faith and character,” he said.

The Sheikh also called on Muslims to show compassion by sharing food and support with those who are less fortunate, especially during this sacred season of fasting and reflection.

Ramadan is observed through daily fasting from dawn to sunset, prayer and acts of charity, fostering spiritual growth and self discipline among believers.

In Malawi, Muslims traditionally fast for either 29 or 30 days, depending on the sighting of the moon that will determine the end of Ramadan and the celebration of Eid.

CDEDI pens Attorney General requesting him to step down

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CDEDI pens Attorney General requesting him to step down


By Vincent Gunde

The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has written a letter to the country’s Attorney General Frank Mbeta requesting him to step down pending a logical conclusion of his corruption case.

The CDEDI said the immediate challenge before the Attorney General in his capacity is to address rampant corruption in the country saying Malawians have taken it upon themselves to fight corruption at the Judiciary.

The organization said Lawyer and Human Rights Defender Counsel Alexious Kamangila has brought to light a matter that was almost forgotten reminding Malawians that Mbeta obtained an order stopping the Anti- Corruption Bureau (ACB) from executing a warrant of arrest obtained after it had concluded its investigations over his involvement in corruption dealings.

Namiwa



In the letter to Attorney General Frank Mbeta signed by its Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa, the CDEDI said Malawians have taken over the corruption fight by themselves observing that politicians obtain court orders stopping their arrest and investigations.

The CDEDI said more recently, the nation has been awakened by the ruling of the Malawi Supreme                                                                                                     Court of Appeal awarding trillions of Kwachas to the dead Finance Bank which voluntarily closed its businesses in Malawi in 2005.

The organization said while Malawians are joining hands to fight endemic corruption at the Judiciary, they are faced with harsh reality that the head of the bar himself is an alleged beneficiary of the very system Malawians have vowed to address, saying they are not sure how the matter involving Mbeta on his alleged corruption case was concluded.

“Now that you are no longer a private lawyer and by extension, you are the Chief Legal Advisor to the Executive arm of government including the President, the Speaker and Parliament and even the Judiciary, it is imperative that you should mind your own integrity and that of the Attorney General’s office, ‘” reads CDEDI’s letter to Mbeta in part.

The CDEDI said Malawians are expecting his immediate reaction from Counsel Kamangila’s accusations that he has levelled against him warning him that his assumed silence can be construed as an indirect admission of those allegations.

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