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LILONGWE – (MaraviPost): Media practioners from print, electronic and online houses in Malawi have formulated the much awaited grouping, Journalist Network on Tobacco (JNT) aimed at advocating the rights of farmers and fight against international ban on the crop. Continue reading Malawian reporters form media network to fight for Tobacco grower’s rights and resist International ban
The Vice President Dr Saulos Chilima says there is need to adhere to professionalism in operating rules and guidelines of procurement as it constitute to over 70% of the national budget.
The Vice President made the remarks in Lilongwe at the launch of Malawi Institute of Procurement and Supply Act- MIPS.
Dr Chilima said government or companies use more of its funds in procurement of goods and services therefore any mis-procurement will have a huge impact on development process.
The new act was passed in parliament in November last year to provide for the establishment of the Malawi Institute of Procurement and Supply, the registration of procurement and supply chain management professionals and regulation of the profession in the country.
The Vice President says this is a milestone for economic development in the country saying professional procurement saves resources.
Dr Chilima however urged those entrusted with this task to follow the rules and regulations.
“It is one thing to have a piece of legislation in place but it is yet another to fully enforce its implementation in order to achieve its aims and objectives. This means that the leadership and members of the institute have a role to play to ensure smooth execution of the act,” said Chilima.
The Vice President further indicated that government has a duty also to provide all necessary support for the institute to operate without political interference.
“Political interference, we also talk about reverse political interference which is where those of you who are professionals will now try to frustrate efforts by the government because you belong to a different party, we will not tolerate that,” warned Dr. Chilima.
Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe said the ministry is working on more legislation to govern the procurement system in the country.
Gondwe said it is embarrassing for the country to be associated with corruption as was the case with cashgate. He urges all Malawians and procurement professionals to assume a mindset that public funds are not personal and avoid corruption and fraud.
Speaking earlier president of MIPS Edington Chilapondwa, said unregulated procurement systems have a direct bearing on infrastructure development saying Malawi has taken a step forward.
Chilapondwa said it’s the wish of his body to see other regulations in the procurement chain supply management discussed and passed in parliament to support this one.
World Bank and African Development Bank (ADB) have been funding activities to help in shaping laws in supply chain management in the country.
JOHANNESBURG, 27 MAY 2016 – FORBES AFRICA 30 under 30 list hits the shelves this weekend revealing the 30 mostpromising entrepreneurs from around the continent, across various sectors. These are the billionaires of tomorrow.
“This is the most important list of the year for FORBES AFRICA. If one young African reads it and is inspired enough to start a business it has done its job,” says Chris Bishop, Managing Editor of FORBES AFRICA. Continue reading FORBES AFRICA REVEALS AFRICA’S 30 UNDER 30 FOR 2016
Johannesburg, 26 May 2016: Power trading agreements between countries that possess excess power generating capacity and those battling supply shortages will be a dominant theme in the electricity markets of south-central African nations in the next three to five years, says Standard Bank.
Mozambique, which currently has the potential to produce more electricity than its economy requires at present, is likely to dominate the supply-side of this trading market with Namibia, Zambia and Botswana expected be the main purchasers in the region, after South Africa. The biggest challenge to these arrangements will be reliable and stable transmission networks to facilitate the seamless transfer of electricity between sellers and purchasers. These networks require significant co-operation between neighboring countries, so the role of the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) in ensuring cross-border planning, investment and trading between member states remains critical. Continue reading Power trading will drive electricity landscape over the next five years
With only few days to go in the count-down to the Mi Casa “Warm Heart” concert premier mobile service provider TNM has announced a K3,000 discount to customers who buy their tickets through the company’s mobile money service, Mpamba.
The discount is one of the incentives TNM is offering Malawians as the official telecoms partner of the concert.
Announcing the offer, Head of Marketing Webster Mbekeani said through Mpamba, TNM is providing an opportunity for Malawians to patronise and enjoy the concert at an affordable cost.
“The standard ticket is K20, 000 but as the official telecoms partner for the concert, we are offering a discount of 15 % which means people can buy the standard ticket at a cost of K17, 000 and as TNM we want to ensure that no one misses the opportunity to witness this great show,” he said.
Mbekeani said the discounted tickets on offer are limited and urged music lovers to hurry up and buy.
The Head of Marketing said the show, themed ‘Warm Heart’ resonates with TNM’s new message of optimism and hope for the country through its current thematic communication campaign dubbed “It’s Great”.
“It’s ‘Great’ highlights the passion that TNM has for Malawi and Malawians. As a truly Malawian brand, TNM is proud of our heritage as a home-grown telecoms business. We are confident of the long-term potential that Malawi offers to her warm-hearted people. Our role as TNM is to apply mobile telecoms in everyday life and lead in unleashing the potential that lies beneath,” said Mbekeani.
Registered Mpamba customers are required to dial *444#, select 3 for payments, select 5 for other payments, input 0885 909 610 then reference number (can be name or phone number), input amount (K17, 000), confirm transaction and enter Mpamba pin.
Award-winning Mi Casa is one of the most talented urban groups to emerge on the Afro-pop scene in South Africa and their concert on June 4 at the Bingu International Conferecne Centre (BICC) promises thunder, thrill and melodious adrenaline.
Standard Bank has conducted the second draw of its ‘Mlimi Alirenj’ promotion, and pledged to uplift Malawi’s agricultural sector through support to farmers.
Speaking in Lilongwe during the draw. Head of Sales in Global Markets Division Gray Kazima said support to tobacco growers through the promotion is in keeping with the bank’s track record as a partner of the country’s agriculture sector.
“While this promotion is specific to the tobacco sector, Standard Bank has a track record of supporting Malawi’s agriculture overall. I would therefore like to urge all farmers in Malawi to take advantage of the bank’s resources in terms of financial and human talent, to benefit from our tailored solutions in this segment,” he said.
Kazima said as a partner in the development of mother Malawi, Standard Bank has taken a keen interest in the new set of four agriculture policies announced by President Peter Mutharika during his pre-budget speech in Parliament.
“Agriculture still remains important to the Malawi economy as a source of both food and income. Standard Bank is committed to partner in helping to uplift the agriculture sector, and that’s why we continue to come up with initiatives such as Mlimi Alirenji promotion. This resonates with our strategic goal to contribute towards growth of mother Malawi’s economy,” he said.
He said prizes in Mlimi Alirenji Promotion have been designed to help tobacco growers with their next season’s green leaf production.
During the second draw, 92 tobacco growers won various prizes bringing the total number of winners to 184. Top fortnightly prizes are two bailing jacks and 20 hesian sacks. The grand prize is a brand new farm tractor estimated at K16 million.
Mzimba-(Maravi Post): The much anticipated multi-million United States Dollar, Kanyika Niobium Mining project which was earmarked for extraction in the northern district of Mzimba to the life span of 20 years has flopped and communities are demanding disturbance compensation from government, The Maravi Post has established.
The development comes five years after Global Metals and Mining Company which was behind the project failed its full operation on the ground whereas as communities, chiefs and civil society organization have been tussling both government and the company over its commitment agreement on social cooperate responsibility. Continue reading Malawi’s Kanyika Niobium Mining project flops as landless communities demand compensation
(MaraviPost iReport): In an effort to completely eradicate financial illiteracy in the country, the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) is developing a National financial literacy strategy which will be brought into effect soon.
This was revealed Thursday, 19 May, during a media workshop on financial literacy at Reserve Bank headquarters in Lilongwe. Continue reading Reserve Bank says Malawians should become Financially literate for the economy to grow
Blantyre, May 13 2016—Premier mobile service provider TNM has donated K0.5 Million to Toastmasters International as contribution towards this year’s Toastmasters District Conference underway in Midrand, South Africa. Continue reading TNM contributes K500,000 to Toastmasters international
Information and Civic Education Minister Patricia Kaliati has applauded Malawi’s premier mobile network services provider TNM and Old Mutual for partnering to launch Mpamba Fesa, a mobile money investment tool, saying it will help deepen financial inclusion for Malawi’s unbanked.
Speaking in Blantyre when she officially launched the new product, Kaliati commended TNM for investing in infrastructure and technology that supports products responding to the financial needs of Malawians.
“This product has come at the time when there are calls by Malawians in rural areas for alternative investment avenue. This product offers great potential for pushing the boundaries of financial inclusion and helping to harness a culture of saving and investing amongst Malawians,” she said.
The ICT and Civic Education Minister wowed Malawians to graduate from old ways of saving into mobile money investments as Mpamba Fesa combines the power of mobile telecoms and financial services capabilities to deliver an alternative investment and savings solution to the masses.
“The future of money and finance is looking increasingly mobile, and we must promote the uptake of mobile money technologies if we hope to take off together with the economy,” she said.
For his part, TNM CEO Douglas Stevenson said Mpamba Fesa has come to make it easier for Malawians participate in financial inclusion processes and build their personal wealth.
“Now you can command your phone for Mpamba Fesa to invest your money wherever you’re in Malawi–North, South Centre and in between. It’s a great way of saving for a rainy day. With Mpamba Fesa, TNM is playing a part to help break any barriers to financial inclusion,” he said.
Old Mutual Acting CEO Edith Jiya said Mpamba Fesa, which is linked to the life assurance’s Unit Trusts, offers higher interest yields compared to other investment products available in the Malawi market.
Presenting the new product to the ICT Minister and officials from Reserve Bank of Malawi, TNM Chief Commercial Officer Dan Makata said Mpamba Fesa is easy and convenient to work with as it eliminates red tape in the quest for financial inclusion.
“Mpamba Fesa offers the most convenient way to invest on the money market. There is no tedious paper work that one goes through when investing like in the mainstream market. With onlu K1,000 one can start to build wealth,” he said.
To register for Mpamba Fesa a customer dials *444#, select 4 for Financial Services, choose Fesa and follow on-menu prompts.
Apart from receiving and sending money, TNM Mpamba also provides an opportunity for registered customers to pay utility bills, MASM and TV subscriptions among others.
