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MZUNI dominates NBM TESSAM Sports Festival

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MZUNI dominates NBM TESSAM Sports Festival

By Linda Kwanjana

Mzuzu University (MZUNI) emerged as the overall winner of the Tertiary Students Sports Association of Malawi (TESSAM) Weekend Sports Festival, held on Saturday and Sunday at the University of Malawi in Zomba in a competition designed to scout athletes for the 2026 CUCSA Games in Botswana.

MZUNI outperformed its rivals with victories in men’s and women’s football, netball and volleyball, securing its position as the top institution of the tournament.

Tawina Malata



Bunda College claimed both men’s and women’s basketball, the University of Malawi triumphed in chess, while Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) led in athletics.

The festival, sponsored by National Bank of Malawi (NBM) Plc through a K17 million investment, brought together universities and colleges for a high-stakes talent identification platform aimed at assembling the next national university team, TESSAM Malawi.

Zomba NBM Plc Service Centre Manager, Tawina Malata, expressed pride in the Bank’s role in supporting Malawi’s sporting youth.

“We strongly believe that the future of our country rests in the hands of the youth, and supporting this festival allows us to nurture their talents and potential. We are pleased that several outstanding players have been identified to represent Malawi. As National Bank, we are honoured to stand with institutions in promoting discipline, ambition, and national development through sports,” said Malata.

TESSAM Malawi Vice President, Geoffrey Biya, said the tournament fulfilled its primary mission of scouting athletes for the CUCSA Games and praised NBM Plc for bridging the resource gap universities often face.

“These games were specifically organized to identify players who will represent Malawi next year. National Bank’s support made it possible for all these universities to come together and compete at this scale. We are grateful for their commitment to youth development and sports excellence,” said Biya.

MZUNI Sports Director, Thomas Movetie, whose institution delivered the strongest overall performance, described the victory as a proud moment for the university.

“We are extremely proud of what our athletes have achieved. Their hard work has paid off, and it shows the strength and determination of the MZUNI community. We also appreciate National Bank Plc for stepping in to support university sports and helping create opportunities for young athletes across the country,” said Movetie.

The festival successfully met its objective, with 30 netball players, 12 chess players, 24 volleyball players, 24 men’s basketball players, 34 women’s basketball players, 28 women’s football players, and 34 athletics competitors scouted for provisional inclusion in the national university squad.

Selected athletes will begin preparations for Botswana with their first training camp in January, followed by monthly camps until the final CUCSA team is confirmed.

Other institutions that participated in the TESSAM sports festival included Kamuzu College of Health Sciences, Natural Resources College (NRC), University of Livingstonia, DMI St John the Baptist University, MUBAS, and Bunda Campus of LUANAR.

NBM plc donates K2.8 million to MBC-Health

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NBM plc donates K2.8 million to MBC-Health

By Linda Kwanjana

National Bank of Malawi (NBM) plc has donated K2.8 million to Malawi Business Coalition on Health (MBC-Health) in support of this year’s commemoration of World AIDS Day on 1st December.

Speaking during the cheque presentation on Friday, NBM plc’s Employee Benefits Manager Limbani Chakhoma said the Bank remains a responsible corporate citizen and is committed to being at the forefront of efforts to fight HIV and AIDS.

Chakhoma highlighted the Bank’s HIV policy, which prioritises the health and well-being of its employees.



“We have employees who are equally affected either directly or indirectly. We believe that helping institutions or organizations that are fighting HIV and AIDS is also of paramount importance to us. These policies also guide how we should prevent, control and even help our employees to be treated in terms of HIV and AIDS and other non-communicable diseases,” said Chakhoma.

Chakhoma further disclosed that the Bank has an in-house medical scheme, NABMAS, which enables employees to access ART drugs.

Chakhoma emphasised the Bank’s commitment to supporting people and government efforts to ensure that the right services reach people living with HIV and AIDS.

MBC-Health Chief Executive Officer, Treza Mphwatiwa, expressed gratitude for the Bank’s support.

“We are thankful to NBM plc for supporting this year’s Commemoration of World Aids Day, and making it possible for us to host it,” said Mphwatiwa.

She said that this year’s observance will focus on men, noting that data shows they are the least likely to go for HIV testing.

Mphwatiwa encouraged people to attend the commemoration in Makata, Blantyre, Lilongwe, Salima, NkhataBay and Mangochi, where free health services will be offered.

“Men are usually left behind in terms of HIV and other services. This is because when you ask the men, they say that they do not have time to actually leave their job and go to the health facility to access care,” said Mphwatiwa.

This year’s celebration is under the theme ‘Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response’.

Dowa Council says strong leadership crucial for project implementation

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Dowa Council says strong leadership crucial for project implementation


By Vincent Gunde

Dowa District Council’s Economist Takondwa Katsobola, says strong leadership, good team work and collaboration among all stakeholders has led to completion of projects the council is implementing under the Performance Based Governance (PBG) in the district.

Katsobola said continuous and regular monitoring and supervision as well as regular site meetings are crucial to ensure that there is adherence to project standards and finding bottlenecks affecting project implementation.



He called on stakeholders in the district to intensify monitoring and supervision of projects, scheduled site meetings and encouraging contractors to increase workforce in stalled projects, and increase project duration to at least 5 months to finish the remaining works.

Updating the District executive committee (Dec) on Gesd and RCRP projects from 2021 to 2024 the council is implementing, Katsobola said the Public Based Governance (PBG) has contributed to increased Std 8 pass rate from 31 percent in 2021 to 66 percent in 2024.

Katsobola said PBG project implementation has contributed to reduced pupil classroom ratio from 1;119 in 2021 to 1;60 in 2024, improved health service delivery, improved access to security services, and improved public amenities such as markets, schools and hospitals.

He said in order to comply to complete projects under Health and Security, the council used other funding mechanism to complete Public Based Governance projects saying this has led to the construction of Chinkhwiri, Chibvala, and Maweru police senior staff houses in the district.

The Economist said the PBG project implementation has seen construction of Mtiti Bridge on Samvekato Mwancheka- Mtiti road, Chikudzo to Matekenya Bridges, completion of Chibanzi Health Post, Madzo maternity and Umoyo staff house, and Dowa turn- off market, among others.

“The PBG project implementation has rehabilitated Dowa District Hospital’s female ward, labour ward and antenatal ward, and Nalunga OPD and Under- Five Clinic,” said Katsobola.

However, Katsobola said the Public Based Governance (PBG) project implementation from 2021 to 2024 has been facing major challenges such as delays in completion of some projects, and devaluation of the Malawi Kwacha which resulted to raising cost of building materials.

Minister Wiskes urges Malawi’s youth to lead national transformation through Sport, Arts, and Culture

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Minister Wiskes urges Malawi’s youth to lead national transformation through Sport, Arts, and Culture



By Burnett Munthali

Honourable Patricia Wiskes, Minister of Sport, Youth, and Culture, has issued an inspiring call to action to young people across Malawi, urging them to harness their talents in sport, the arts, and cultural expression to shape a brighter future for the nation.

In a message shared on her official Facebook page, the Minister encouraged the youth to recognise their immense potential and to use their abilities as tools for innovation, unity, and national progress.

Wiskes


She emphasised that Malawi’s young population holds the key to unlocking the country’s next chapter of development, noting that their creativity, energy, and resilience can drive meaningful change.

The Minister’s message highlighted the transformative power of sports in promoting discipline, teamwork, and national pride, calling on the youth to take advantage of opportunities available within various sporting disciplines.

She also underscored the role of the arts—music, visual arts, theatre, and creative writing—as platforms for bold expression and as powerful vehicles for storytelling that reflect Malawi’s identity and aspirations.

In her statement, Honourable Wiskes further pointed out that Malawi’s culture is a source of strength and unity, encouraging young people to embrace and promote cultural heritage as a way of preserving national values while contributing to economic growth through tourism and creative industries.

She stressed the importance of collaboration, urging young Malawians to work together across communities and sectors to amplify their impact and foster a spirit of shared purpose and national cohesion.

The Minister concluded her message with a rallying call: “Tiyeni tigwirizane,” reminding the youth that collective effort is essential for building a prosperous and inclusive future for all Malawians.

Cabinet urged to shift from planning to performance as retreat ends in Mangochi

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Cabinet urged to shift from planning to performance as retreat ends in Mangochi



By Burnett Munthali

Vice President Dr Jane Mayemu Ansah concluded the 2025 Cabinet Retreat with a firm message that Malawi has entered a phase where delivery—rather than discussion—must define government work.

Bringing together ministers and UNDP partners, the retreat offered a forum for leaders to rethink their approaches and sharpen strategies aimed at strengthening the economy, improving governance, and expanding development partnerships.

Dr Ansah challenged the Cabinet to break away from routine bureaucratic tendencies and embrace a results-driven mindset, noting that Malawians have endured years of compounded difficulties and are now looking for visible, meaningful progress.

Ansah



She highlighted that fulfilling campaign pledges is not optional but essential to restoring public confidence, emphasising that the administration must embody service, integrity, and discipline at every level of leadership.

The Vice President observed that the technical experts and facilitators contributed significantly by grounding discussions in practical experience and global best practices aligned with the DPP Manifesto and Malawi 2063 priorities in agriculture, industrial growth, and urban development.

She commended Cabinet members for their energetic participation across the intensive sessions, pointing out that the level of engagement showed a collective appetite to address fiscal strain, foreign exchange challenges, rising debt, and food insecurity.

Dr Ansah expressed sincere appreciation to UNDP for its sustained support and capacity-building role, adding that the organisation’s involvement underscored the importance of strategic partnerships in shaping Malawi’s development agenda.

In her closing remarks, she reminded ministers of President Mutharika’s insistence on reducing time lost to prolonged meetings and shifting towards decisive action, affirming that the retreat’s value will only be realised when resolutions translate into real change for Malawians.

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