Adolescents across Europe, Central Asia and Canada say they face rising school pressure and diminishing support from families and friends, according to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey. 
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Mutharika’s Busy Week Ahead: DPP Events and Fundraising in Blantyre
By Twink Jones Gadama
Former President of Malawi and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leader, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, along with former First Lady Gertrude Mutharika, are set to attend several key events in Blantyre this week.
According to Presidential Spokesperson and DPP National Publicity Secretary, Shadrick Namalomba, the couple’s schedule reflects their commitment to the party and its development.
On Friday, November 15th, Professor Mutharika will lead the DPP NGC members orientation workshop at Lotus Hotel, commencing at 9:00 a.m.
This workshop aims to equip party members with the necessary knowledge and skills to drive the party’s agenda forward.
As the main opposition party in Malawi, the DPP continues to play a vital role in shaping the country’s political landscape.
The following evening, Saturday, November 16th, the Golden Peacock Hotel will host the DPP fundraising dinner.
This event is crucial in mobilizing resources to support the party’s activities and initiatives.
As the DPP seeks to regain power, such fundraising efforts are essential in ensuring the party’s financial stability.
Professor Mutharika’s presence at these events underscores his dedication to the DPP’s growth and success.
As the party’s president, he has been instrumental in shaping its vision and direction.
His leadership has been marked by efforts to promote economic empowerment, particularly among women, as seen in initiatives such as the National Women’s Lobby and Rights Group (NAWOLG).
The upcoming events in Blantyre demonstrate the DPP’s commitment to grassroots engagement and community development.
As the party prepares for future elections, these gatherings serve as opportunities for members to reconnect and reaffirm their support.
This week’s events in Blantyre mark a significant moment for the DPP and its leadership.
With Professor Mutharika and Gertrude Mutharika at the forefront, the party is poised to continue its mission of promoting democratic values and progressive policies in Malawi.
Lilongwe District Council cancels opposition protest, citing Police engagements
By Burnett Munthali
In a move that has caught many by surprise, the Lilongwe District Council has announced the cancellation of a planned opposition protest scheduled for tomorrow. The council explained that police officers—key to maintaining order at public gatherings—are occupied with other “equally important assignments” and thus cannot provide the security needed for the demonstration.
The decision has sparked frustration among opposition leaders and their supporters, who argue that this action limits their democratic right to protest. The demonstration was seen as an essential platform for voicing public grievances and demanding government accountability on critical issues.
While the council insists the decision is purely logistical, opposition leaders are unconvinced. “This is yet another attempt to silence Malawians who want to speak out about the state of our country,” said an opposition spokesperson. “We understand the need for security, but the council should also respect our right to assemble and express our concerns peacefully.”
Civil society organizations are monitoring the situation closely, urging the government to uphold freedom of assembly. Many have called for an alternative date, if indeed police resources are temporarily stretched.
As the opposition considers its next steps, both the council and police are under scrutiny to demonstrate their commitment to balancing public security with the fundamental right to protest. How authorities respond in the coming days may shape public perceptions of their stance on democratic freedoms in Malawi.
Chakwera urged Malawians voter registration importance
By Happy Milanzie
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-President Lazarus Chakwera has urged the people of Waliranji in Mchinji District to go in large numbers to register with Malawi Electrical Commission (MEC) in preparation for 2025 tripartite elections.
Chakwera is conducting a whistle-stop tour to inspect development projects in Mchinji, starting from Waliranji and continuing to seven other locations in the district.
Chakwera made the remarks at Waliranji Trading Centre that people must go and register with Malawi Electrical Commission and not wait for the closing day that was indicated by MEC.
“2025 tripartite elections are just around the corner so you should not wait for others to make the decisions on behalf of your partial decision, therefore you need to rush for the registration,” he said.
Chakwera further stated that for development to progress in the country, registration serves as the foundation, as it is essential for the voting process in the upcoming 2025 tripartite elections.
“Your vote played pivot role for the development that the government has already portrayed to the country so this is the right time for the people of Waliranji to make a decision through the vote,” he added.
Chakwera is expected to visit about eight places in Mchinji to address the district on the importance of voter registration and including the actual voting.
Representative of Traditional Mavyele Chief Zanga appealed to Chakwera to not stop helping the farmers with agricultural inputs including offering good prices for all crops.
In addition, the chief said despite that government provided the affordable inputs, people around Mavyele are suffering from hunger and obtaining loans from the government.
African Court dismisses Chanthunya on girlfriend Gasa’s murder case
ARUSHA-(MaraviPost)-The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) in Arusha, Tanzania, has this morning dismissed a case filed by Misozi Chanthunya who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2020 for murdering his Zimbabwean girlfriend Linda Gasa.
A 10-member-judge panel, with its 11th member Lady Justice Tujilane Chizumila excused to leave the bench when the judgement was being delivered as she is a Malawian, found out that the Malawi Government did not violate the rights to a fair trial of Chanthunya.
Chanthunya, apart from his request to the Court to make declarations that his rights to a fair trial were violated, also wanted to be paid compensation and get released from prison, but the Court declined to make such declarations.
Lawyers Neverson Chisiza and Francis MacJessie, from the Attorney General Chambers, represented Malawi during the delivery of the judgement.
Ms. Gasa was murdered in 2010.
Source: Ministry of justice office in Malawi
My Take On It: US 2024 elections…call to global prayers for grace and peace
“1…..that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” – Luke 18:1b
1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. – 1 Timothy 2:1-4
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. – Romans 13:1
4 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. – Philippians 4:6
1 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.– Proverbs 21:1
In the historic US 2024 presidential elections between former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, the former president became the second president to make a comeback to the White House. Grover Cleveland served two non-consecutive terms as Donald Trump, becoming POTUS45 and POTUS47. On her part, Harris walked into history books with her accolades (first African American woman, first Asian woman to be presidential nominee of a major US political party), but also someone who re-entrenched the peaceful transition of power in the US political system. Harris is also the second VP to accept the ballot tallies in an election she has lost; in modern times, the last Vice President to take in the state electoral college votes was Al Gore when he lost to George W. Bush (POTUS43).
As with all competitions there are winners and losers; while the fun-fares are being intensified or tissues bunched up for a good cry, the entire world is called to pray for the US election results. Inside and outside the US, people need to summon their praying mats and attire for prayer and earnestly pray. The actions, reactions of the occupant of the WH impacts global dynamics. Praying for leaders is also a biblical directive. The divine ordinances also call for humility (the opposite of pride), unity (the opposite of divisiveness), and the love of others as you love yourself. In the heat of election campaigns, these three human natures are lacking, thrown out the window, and burns out voters.
In the first speech after her 2024 presidential election loss to former president Donald Trump, and accepting defeat in the elections to a large crowd outside her alma mater Howard University, VP Harris vowed to “keep fighting.”
“The light of the American promise will always burn bright as long as we never give up,” Harris said to a cheering crowd that was filled with cheering with many crying and visibly sad faces. In the concession speech, VP Harris also detailed her call with her Republican opponent following his victory. She underscored the importance of and declared that the US “must accept the results of this election.”
The VP pledged to help Mr. Trump and his team with their transition and “engage in a peaceful transfer of power.”
On his part, president-elect Donald Trump spent his first day receiving congratulatory phone calls from his defeated opponent, world leaders and President Joe Biden. He also began the process of turning his election victory into a government. Malawi former president Peter Mutharika extended his congratulations to president-elect Trump. Mutharika extended the warm congratulations through his Facebook page. He said he and President-elect Trump share the same interests in terms of development that benefits everyone.
On the whole, Mr. Trump was keeping a low profile, staying out of the public eye after addressing his supporters after he declared himself the winner of the elections. This was in the early hours of Wednesday morning, and counting of the results was still in progress.
Trump and Harris spoke on a call where the president-elect “acknowledged Vice President Harris on her strength, professionalism, and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of unifying the country,” according to Trump spokesman Steven Cheung.
As the win wore in, the president-elect leader got more potential good news with word that special counsel Jack Smith was evaluating how to wind down the two federal government cases against the president-elect before he takes office in light of longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted, according to a person familiar with Smith’s plans, but who was not authorized to discuss the matter by name and spoke on condition of anonymity to the media. Last year Smith charged Trump with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and another one of illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago residence
While the latter classified documents case had already been dismissed, Mr. Trump’s election victory means that the Justice Department believes he can no longer face prosecution in accordance with decades-old department legal opinions meant to shield presidents from criminal charges while in office.
In his declaration of victory president-elect Trump repeated some of his views about the state of America, that “our country needs help in a lot of areas, our border, immigration…” promising that these were some of the issues that his government was going to be fixing. On her part, VP Harris continued to inspire hope in her base by saying “the light of the American promise will always shine bright; she thanked, expressed gratitude and love for the many volunteers and staff that worked with her in the 107-day campaign.
As onlookers from within the United States and from without, all people should pray, pray that president-elect Mr. Trump receives more grace to proceed; that he gets a divine encounter like that of Saul. People around the world are called to pray that his Jesus moment eases the woes and worries the prospects of his second term will cause on the world political map, and that it is less antagonistic than the first term. Let people pray for humility, love of unifying the country to abound on both sides of the political divide in the US.
May America shame the devil and rise above the rhetoric of hate and animosity that characterized the 2024 campaign. Let love of country (threaded in humility), unity, and love abound, the vital ingredients that have held the country called these United States of America.
Road to 2025: Chakwera dates Mchinji residents on voters registrations
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-President Lazarus Chakwera on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 urged Waliranji communities in Mchinji to go for voter registration, in readiness for 2025 General Elections.
Chakwera said people should go and register with Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) and not wait for the closing day of registration.
The Malawi leader further said for the development to continue in the country, there is need for people to register and vote as one way of exercing their rights.
Chakwera is on a whistle tour of eight more areas in Mchinji to mobilise people to go for voter registration.
Opposition DPP disowns its MEC Commissioner Kasaila on electronic voting usage support
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The embattled opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 disowned Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Commissioner Francis Kasaila.
DPP appointed Kasaila and other two commissioners to represent the party at the electoral body to the next General Elections.
The party has disowned Kasaila following his recent remarks where he backed the use of electronic transmission of the 2025 election results.
DPPs spokesperson Shadreck Namalomba disowned the Commissioner during opposition news conference where they voiced against the use of Election Management Devices (EMDs).
The opposition parties also pushing for MEC chair Anabel Mtalimanja resignation.
Namalomba hinted that the stand taken by Kasaila is not shared by the party which together with other opposition parties feels the technology will be used for rigging the 2025 elections.
“Whatever this Commissioner said about EMDs usage is not part of DPP. As a party we disown him in totality,” lambasted Outspoken Namalomba.
Opposition parties planned demonstrations in Lilongwe on Wednesday aimed at forcing MEC Chairperson and Chief Elections Officer Anabel Mtalimanja and Andrew Mpesi respectively for being accused of allegeous to Malawi Congress Party (MCP).
The opposition parties fear that current MEC leadership might favour MCP during 2025 polls.
Meanwhile, Lilongwe District Council urged opposition parties to reschedule the demonstrations arguing that the Malawi Police Service would not be available for security
Cycling for Climate Justice in on-going COP-29: With calls for funding accessibility to Malawi’s vulnerable communities
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s environmental and climate change advocates are calling for easy access to funding for smaller organizations working directly with vulnerable communities for rural voices.
The call was made during the just ended Malawi Climate Justice Caravan, a cycling event advocating for climate justice for the on-going Conference of Parties on Climate (COP-29) in Baku in Azerbaijan.
The Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) and National Youth Network on Climate Change (NYNCC) with support from Concern Worldwide and Oxfam Africa through Oxfam Malawi organized the Climate Justice Caravan from Saturday to Monday which started in Blantyre and pass through Balaka, Ntcheu, Dedza and concluded in Lilongwe.
Addressing the media at the end of Caravan, NYNCC National Coordinator Dominic Nyasulu called for fair, accessible funding for smaller organizations.
“This movement fights for an equitable future where those bearing the climate crisis’s brunt are empowered and supported.
“This is the reason we want developed nation at COP-29 for provide enough funding for local organisations for various climate change adaptation programmes towards vulnerable communities”, appeals Nyasulu.
In his remarks, Oxfam Malawi Project Coordinator Kondwan Mubisa called for community voices to be at the forefront of discussions at #COP29 COP29 in Baku.
Mubisa observed that communities in developing nations including Malawi face the harshest impacts of climate change and deserve a central role in shaping the global response.
“Vulnerable Clcommunities’ experiences and challenges must guide climate action to ensure solutions truly meet their needs”, urgues Mubisa.
One of the cyclists, Mike Liwonda said a three-day journey was tough but worthy which advocated for climate justice.
“This journey highlights Malawi’s urgent climate challenges—droughts, floods, rising lake levels, and Cyclone Freddy—largely fueled by actions of wealthier, high-polluting nations.
“Malawi needs #climatejustice with financial support to recover and invest in green solutions”, he said.
Liwonda therefore called for investments in renewable energy and subsidies for clean energy sources including solar power and LPG, to reduce Malawi’s dependence on polluting fuels.
“It’s time for #COP29 leaders to support true #ClimateResilience for all”, he concluded.
During the launch of cycling caravan, CISONECC Board Member Melton Luhanga said the primary goal of the cycling event is to demand accountability from developed nations.
He called for climate finance to be offered as grants—not loans—to support countries severely affected by climate change.
Luhanga however observed that CISONECC members are united in their commitment to amplifying the voices of those most impacted.
He therefore appealed, “Time is now for developed countries to support developing nations fairly and adequately”.
Malawian youths dared on ATM Strategy adoptation
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Malawian youths have been challenged to make use of much touted Agriculture, Tourism, and Mining (ATM) strategy for the country to develop and meaningfully benefit from the initiative.
Four Cabinet Ministers made the call during the panel discussion held on Tuesday, November 11, 2024 in the on going 2024 Malawi National Youth Summit in the capital Lilongwe organised by National Youth Council of Malawi.
Taking his turn, Minister of Youth and Sports Uchizi Mkandawire affirmed government’s unwavering commitment to improving the livelihoods of young people.
Mkandawire stressed that the ATM strategy is perfectly aligned with the Malawi First Year Implementation Plan (MIP1) and urged the youth to play an active role in the nation’s development through collaboration and hard work.
In his take, Minister of Agriculture Sam Dalistso Kawale highlighted that the Ministry is dedicated to ensuring youth have meaningful opportunities in the economy through agricultural production.
Kawale disclosed that government, in partnership with Agriculture Commercialisation (AGCOM), National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) and Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), are providing essential resources and financial support to empower young entrepreneurs.
He added that through the Mega Farm Support Unit, the Ministry, is enabling youths with 20 hectares of land to engage in agriculture.
In her remarks, the Minister of Tourism Vera Kamtukule emphasised the vital role of promoting cultural activities like poetry and music, which will attract international tourists to discover Malawi.
Kamtukule therefore called on the youth to avoid unethical practices, utilise social media as an effective marketing platform, and enhance their creativity to showcase Malawi globally.
She also urged every young person to become an ambassador for tourism, exploring diverse destinations and embodying the spirit of change.
In her presentation, Minister of Mining Monica Chang’anamuno underscored the significant contributions of youth in the mining sector, commending their investments in small-scale operations involving rubies and other precious stones.
The minister pointed out the numerous opportunities available for youth in medium and large-scale mining, affirming the Ministry’s readiness to support their aspirations.
Chang’anamuno said her Ministry is also collaborating with the Ministry of Education to integrate mining into the curriculum, preparing youth for successful careers in the industry from an early age.
The three day, 2024 Malawi National Youth Summit and Annual General Assembly (AGA) which started from Monday ends Wednesday, November 13 at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in the capital Lilongwe.
Under the theme, “Renewed Commitment to Youth Development Towards Malawi 2063″, the the Summit and AGA have attracted over 500 youths accross the country and beyond.