Nyasa Capital finance grants loans to Extreme, St Gabriel Medicals, Kawinga, Ekas Freight Wanderers

Ekas Freight Wanderers FC

By Edwin Mbewe

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Four teams form Central Region Football Association Premier Division league on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 went home smiling after Nyasa Capital Finance approved their loan applications.

The four teams including Extreme FC from Mchinji,St Gabriel Medicals FC from Namitete,Kawinga FC from area 36 and Ekas Freight Wanderers FC from area 25 in Lilongwe.

Ekas Freight Wanderers FC defeated Dedza Young Soccer FC 1-0 at Lilongwe Community ground,Mike Nkhata scored the lone goal at 18th minute in the first half.

Extreme FC humbled Nsaru United FC 2-0 at Waliranji Secondary School ground. Tonny Phiri and Maxwell Matewere were on target.

Nsaru United FC went into the game confident enough having booted out two Premier division sides, Mbabvi United FC and Airborne Rangers FC in round of 32 and 16 respectively.

They thought they would do the same to Extreme FC who reached the national top cup FDH Bank semifinals months ago,but it wasn’t to be as the Waliranji based side prepared well for the minors.

Another division one resilient side who booted the defending champions Silver Strikers Reserve FC in the round of 32 Zaithwa FC was painfully shown an exit door by in form St Gabriel Medicals FC through penalties 5-3 after regulation time ended 1-1.

The home team scored at 4th minute through Kondwani Nyirenda, but the minors didn’t surrender yet until they equalized in the 93rd minute through Chimwemwe Kachitsamba.

Wongani Chipeta,Eston Kawonga, Newo White converted their spot kicks while Chimwemwe Kachitsamba turned from hero to zero as he missed decisive spot kick for Matumba, Dedza based side.

St Gabriel Medicals FC managed to convert five penalties through, Kondwani Nyirenda, Ben Kalambalayi, Ernest Samalani, Madalitso Maloya and the goalkeeper Moffat Limunga who also saved one kick from Zaithwa FC.

Kawinga FC defeated Simbi FC 1-4 at Mchinji Community ground,Anord Sun Kuyamwa scored a hat trick in 12’|,82’| and 90’| while Lazarus Chirwa 52’| netted one for the visitors to seal their place in the semifinals.

Gerald Nkhoma scored the consolation goal for Simbi FC at 74th minute.

The four teams despite reaching the stage have complained about the poor officiation of some officials through out the tournament hence have appealed to CRFA to talk to Central Region Referees governing body to allocate them competent referees during this crucial round.

CRFA General Secretary, Bernard Harawa, has described the whole cup up to the semifinals stage as a success saying they have witnessed a stiff competition amongst Premier and division one teams.

“Competition was so stiff,we have witnessed shocking and upsetting results from round of the 32.Other Premier league sides were knocked out by division one sides.Nyasa Capital Finance Cup has helped scouts to identify hidden talents especially from division one”,

” We will sit down and have a talk with our colleagues from referees so that they allocate us competent referees during this crucial round, let me take this opportunity to appeal to the teams to maintain discipline”, Harawa said.

The four teams are anticipated to play each other in home and away format, the top team will be crowned the 2022 champion and will pocket MK1.5 million, Trophy and medals, while runners up will get MK600,000 and medals with third placed walking home with MK250,000 and fourth placed MK150,000.

“Chakwera is a churchman, can’t fix Malawi’s ailing economy”-CAMA

Chakwera in church

By Dorica Mtenje

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA) said Malawians should not expect magic from Reverend Lazarus Chakwera to fix the current economic crisis arguing that he no capacity as is confused between art of making promises in the church from those of political rallies.

In a statement signed by CAMA Executive Director, John Kapito states that Chakwera comes from the background that his entire life promising people heaven and no one held him accountable.

He said Chakwera has no economic plans but only of making false promises just to get Malawi’s leadership for selfish and personal interests.

Kapito observes that signs are clear that Chakwera Tonse Alliance government is sinking that Malawians are pondering as to where false promises he made during campaign.

He however alleged that Chakwera connived with Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Director General Martha Chizuma to implicate his deputy Saulos Chilima arguing that till now the bureau has nothing to show on him.

Kapito therefore said Chakwera will continue panicking based on corruption cases in which his close friends and friends are involved.

This comes as Malawians are grappling with forex shortage, fuel, high cost of living just two years after Reverend Chakwera took reign of power.

Zimbabwe Open for Business, says President Mnangagwa

Zimbabwean President Dr Emerson Mnangagwa has called on investors to realize the massive investment opportunities in Zimbabwe and shun negative perceptions of risk.

Zimbabwe, self-sufficient in food production and a major exporter of wheat, tobacco, and corn to the 14-member Southern African Development Community, to other African countries and the wider world before 2000, saw its exports plummet.  Before 2000, farming accounted for 40% of all Zimbabwe’s exports. In 2010 though, it dropped to 2%.

President Mnangagwa spoke on Thursday at a special event on the margins of the Africa Investment Forum Market Days 2022 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The event dwelt on the broad range of investment opportunities in Zimbabwe. Several cabinet ministers accompanied the president, namely Foreign Affairs Minister Frederick Shava, Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Mcube, Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka and Industry and Commerce Minister Sekai Nzenza.

“The focus is to persuade global capital assembled in this city to realize that there are opportunities for investment in Zimbabwe,” President Mnangagwa said.

The African Development Bank and its seven partners set up the Africa Investment Forum—Africa’s premier investment platform—to attract investment and capital to Africa. The forum’s Market Days 2022 which runs from the 2nd to 4th of November, feature boardroom sessions that promote flagship sectors where Africa has a comparative advantage. Examples are women-led businesses, music, film, fashion, textiles, and sports.

President Mnangagwa said African Development Bank President Dr Adesina invited him to the forum when Adesina visited Zimbabwe earlier this year.  Adesina agreed to champion Zimbabwe’s debt clearance strategy. Zimbabwe has been hurt by sanctions imposed by the European Union and other Western countries.

“Our mission here is to explain ourselves, assure investors that Zimbabwe is a safe investment destination,” President Mnangagwa said.

Adesina said Zimbabwe could count on the African Development Bank’s strong support. He confirmed the bank’s approval of a $4 million grant to support the development of a secretariat to move the country’s debt arrears clearance issue forward.

“I know the story of Zimbabwe, the opportunities and potential of Zimbabwe,” Adesina said. “I think Zimbabwe is not as risky as you think…Private sector opportunities are limitless.”

Adesina outlined the country’s many potential areas for investment, including steel, agriculture and information technology. He said the bank was lending support in these and other sectors.

The African Development Bank also made a grant to Zimbabwe during the Covid-19 pandemic, stepping in where other institutions had not.

“Zimbabwe is strongly committed… “Zimbabwe will again be the breadbasket of Africa. I will swim right beside you,” he said.

President Mnangagwa’s ministers also spoke bullishly about Zimbabwe’s investment prospects.

Ncube said the Zimbabwe Investment and Development agency (ZIDA) was the country’s one-stop shop for potential investors. “With ZIDA, your investment is safe…we have the capacity…we are waiting for you,” the finance minister said.

Nzenza said the country was focusing especially on mining, agriculture, tourism and manufacturing, such as producing cotton, locally and lithium batteries.

“There’s no doubt that sanctions hurt, but Zimbabwe is open for business. The key words are value addition…we have been exporting raw materials we must manufacture,” Nzenza said.

Masuka said in his opinion, the biggest opportunity was the land reform program that Zimbabwe had embarked on. The government has put agriculture at the top of its agenda. “We want to develop agriculture…there are massive opportunities. Agriculture will power our way to achieving vision 2030,” Masuka said.

Private sector panelists at Thursday’s event were invited to offer advice to potential investors in Zimbabwe. They included Marjorie Mayida, managing director of Zimbabwe’s leading insurance company, Old Mutual; George Manyere, managing director of Brainworks a Zimbabwean company listed on the Johannesburg and London stock exchanges; Kalpesh Patel, managing director of SteelMakers Group of companies; and Peggy Mapondera, an investment principal at Masawara PLC, a pan-African diversified investment holding group.

George Manyere of Brainworks Ltd said Zimbabwe’s economic performance against neighbouring countries like Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique—which do not have sanctions and enjoy support from the international lending community—was proof of the nation’s capacity to perform despite perceptions of risk, and the country’s biggest selling point.

Tshepidi Moremong, Chief Operating Officer of Africa50 noted the progress and opportunities in transport, logistics, infrastructure.  She said that following a mission to Harare last month, Africa50 would be signing a memorandum of understanding, specifically on asset recycling.

Kapesh Pattel of SteelMakers Group advised that getting out in front of investors would help to demystify negative and misleading perceptions of Zimbabwe.

For the first time since the Africa Investment Forum began in 2018, three promising business transactions from Zimbabwe made it through to boardroom discussions during the Africa Investment Forum Market Days.

African Development Bank senior officials at the special side event included Director General for the Southern Africa region Leila Mokaddem, Zimbabwe Country Manager Moono Mupotola; and Kevin Urama, Vice President and Acting Chief Economist and Vice President for Economic Governance & Knowledge Management.

The Africa Investment Forum platform is an initiative of the African Development Bank and seven other development institutions: Africa 50; the Africa Finance Corporation; the African Export-Import Bank; the Development Bank of Southern Africa; the Trade and Development Bank; the European Investment Bank; and the Islamic Development Bank.
Source African Development Bank Group

Declining consumption, challenge for retail [Business Africa]

In this episode of Business Africa: CFAO consumer retail wants to double its stock in Africa by 2024, an opportunity to discuss the state of supermarkets in this inflationary context.

in Cameroon, yam farmers in the Adamoua region are looking for modernity; in Kenya, urban agriculture is a solution to the problem of food shortages.

The inflation of world food prices is weighing on the purchasing power of African households, but this is not stopping mass retailing from making progress in Africa.

CFAO consumer retail aims to open 23 additional shops in Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Cameroon.

For Jean-Christophe Brindeau, Managing Director of CFAO consumer retail, “the idea is to be not only a distributor, but also a player in the evolution of the economic and industrial model of the countries in which we are located.

Urban agriculture offers a solution to the food crisis

In an increasingly urbanised Africa facing food shortages, urban agriculture is emerging as one of the solutions to these problems. In Kenya, some residents are opting for urban farms as a way to ensure their food security.

In Mbe, farmers want to modernise yam farming

Known as the yam production basin of Cameroon, the white gold of Adamaoua supplies the local Cameroonian and sub-regional market.

Although export figures are not yet known because the activity is still traditional, farmers have joined forces and created cooperatives in order to modernise and increase yields.

Source: Africanews

How Zimbabweans can choose the right digital money transfer service

Susan Sitemere Country Manager Zimbabwe & South Africa

HARARE, Zimbabwe, 4 November, 2022,-/African Media Agency (AMA)/- Ever wondered what digital money transfer services to choose from after receiving money from a friend or relative living abroad like in South Africa? Or you might be living and working in the diaspora and need to send money back home to Zimbabwe.

Knowing the difference between a good online money transfer service and a great one is important regardless of whether you are sending money or receiving it. 

The pandemic proved a significant growth catalyst for the digitization of remittance services in Zimbabwe where the majority of transactions in the country are carried through digital means with only 4% being cash-based. As more online money transfer services go to the market, it is important that consumers know how to choose a service that fits their needs.1

As part of our coverage on the financial and technology sector, we are focusing on WorldRemit – a leading global payments company that is headquartered in London and that has a strong and growing presence in more than 130 countries globally. 

Sending money

The service allows you to easily and quickly send from more than 50 countries to recipients in 130 countries around the world via the WorldRemit app or website, which is available on Android and iOS and as of June 2022, it was reported that WorldRemit users globally sent nearly £170M GBP (approx. $205m) in remittances back to Zimbabwe.

You can get the full list of countries HERE

How can you register on WorldRemit?

Registering for a WorldRemit account is simple and easy. Because your WorldRemit account is linked to your bank, card or mobile wallet, you can simply send money with just a few taps on your mobile device or laptop. Within minutes your transaction will be processed, with all fees clearly labeled upfront.

Unlike traditional money transfer services that require you to travel to a physical location and speak to an agent in-person to send money abroad, WorldRemit is 100% digital (cashless), thereby enhancing convenience and security. The absence of physical agents also reduces WorldRemit’s cost of remittances, allowing it to pass on the cost savings to users through affordable fees. 

Receiving money

For those receiving money in Zimbabwe, WorldRemit offers a wide range of options, including through cash pick-up partners in Zimbabwe as well as via mobile money. More options mean greater convenience. Conversely, for those who want to collect their transactions in hard currency, you are able to at a safe location. You may even want to receive money – especially if it is small amounts – as airtime; this may prove useful for people like students or those that work online and need data bundles. 

What we liked

+Safety first

  • There is comfort in knowing that all connections to WorldRemit through the website and mobile app are secured and encrypted so that information exchanged between your browser and the site is not accessible to any third party.
  • In the online money transfer space, safety, security and privacy are highly important considerations when selecting a service.

+24/7 support

  • We also liked the fact that WorldRemit’s customer care team is responsive and available 24/7. Even with the best technology, you sometimes need human intervention at times of need – this is particularly true when you are expecting money or have sent money. 

+Trusted reviews

+Simple, fast and affordable

  • The speed, simplicity and affordability of sending money via WorldRemit are certainly worth mentioning. It is also convenient to receive money, given the options available to customers – cash pickup, airtime top up, mobile money and bank deposit. 

For more details, visit: www.worldremit.com 

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of WorldRemit.

Notes to Editors

Sources:

About WorldRemit

We’re a leading global payments company and, along with Sendwave, part of Zepz, a group powering two global payments brands. 

We disrupted an industry previously dominated by offline legacy players by taking international money transfers online – making them safer, faster and lower-cost. We currently send from 50 countries to recipients in 130 countries, operate in more than 5,000 money transfer corridors worldwide and employ over 1,200 people globally.

On the sending side WorldRemit is 100% digital (cashless), increasing convenience and enhancing security. For those receiving money, the company offers a wide range of options including bank deposit, cash collection, mobile airtime top-up and mobile money.

Backed by Accel, TCV and Leapfrog – WorldRemit’s headquarters are in London, United Kingdom with regional offices around the world.

www.worldremit.com

Media Contact

WorldRemit Press Office

media@worldremit.com

Source : African Media Agency (AMA)

Dowa’s Chikondi Chinyama arrested for killing own daughter

Woman arrested

DOWA-(MaraviPost)-Malawi Police in Dowa have are keeping a 22-year-old woman, who is suspected to have killed her 2-year-old daughter.

The woman, identified as Chikondi Chinyama, is suspected to have killed her 2-year-old daughter, Yankho Alfred, between November 2 and 3, 2022 at Mikolo Village, Traditional Authority (T.A) Msakambewa in Dowa District.

According to Dowa Police Station publicist Gladson M’bumpha on Wednesday evening of November 2 at around 18:30 hours, the suspect dressed the deceased and let her go to her grandmother whose house is nearby.

“After an hour, the suspect went to the house of her grandmother to ask her if at all the child was there but she (suspect) was told that the child was not around and did not saw her. This prompted them to start checking around the village but the child could not be seen.

“In the morning of Thursday, November 3, at around 07:00 hours, the child was found lying dead in an old graveyard and with no scratches and bruises. It is believed that the child was dumped there,” said M’bumpha.

He added, “Upon being questioned, the suspect claimed that the child was sick prior to her death and seek medical treatment but it has been proved that the child never fell sick as per health passport and record at the hospital.

“A preliminary autopsy has been conducted at Dowa District Hospital but real cause of the death has not been confirmed hence the need to take the body for further postmortem at Kamuzu Central Hospital on Friday morning of November 4 2022”.

The suspect has since been charged with the offence of alleged murder.

Both the suspect and the deceased are from Mikolo Village, T.A Msakambewa in Dowa District.

TNM shines at 2022 marketers’ awards: Voted People’s Brand of the Year

In the pictures, the prominent person receiving is Limbani Nsapato, BRAND Manager

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi Stock Exchange-listed TNM Plc won big during the Institute of Marketers Malawi (IMM) awards scooping three awards, including being independently voted as the “People’s Brand” of the year 2022.

The three accolades bagged by TNM plc are People’s Brand of Year, Commercial of Year (radio) and Local Marketing Campaign of the year.

Reacting to the recognition, TNM’s Head of Brand and Marketing Madalitso Jonazi said the awards confirm that TNM plc is a strong Malawian brand continually responding to the service needs of the Malawian society and the wider customer base.

“The award for People’s Brand of Year for example is a clear testimony that Malawians feel and embrace the TNM brand warmly and wholeheartedly. Intrinsically, that speaks great volumes about the wide range of TNM’s product and service offerings being introduced to meet the aspirations of the market,” he said.

Jonazi said in 2022, TNM plc demonstrated through the Mudziwathu initiative and the Pamtsetse Unlimited Data offering that it paid special attention to respond to the need for affordable products and in a tough economic year and while championing financial inclusion in rural areas.

“Through Pamtsetse Unlimited Data, which won the radio commercial of year, we made data affordable and widely accessible to everyone. And through the Mudziwathu which was chosen as Local Marketing Campaign of Year, we continued to make financial inclusion and network service access and penetration tangible at the grassroots,” said the Head of Brand and Marketing.

Jonazi said ahead of 2023, Malawians should look forward to more world class and reliable products and services on the network.

New UN report finds two-thirds of South Sudan’s population face hunger

Almost eight million people in South Sudan, or two-thirds of the troubled country’s population, are at risk of hunger according to a report published on Thursday by the United Nations.

‘The sad part that often we are not highlighting well, is the 1.4 million children that are malnourished. These are kids that, if the situation continues, their brain development could be destroyed beyond repair,’ said the FAO South Sudan country representative, Meshack Malo.

The Food and Agriculture Organization, the United Nations children’s fund UNICEF, and the World Food Programme, blamed the situation on a combination of conflict, poor macroeconomic conditions, extreme climate events.

Situation aggravated by climate change

‘South Sudan is on the frontlines of the climate crisis and day in, day out families are losing their homes, cattle, fields and hope to extreme weather,’ said Makena Walker, acting country director for WFP in South Sudan.

The report said the spiralling costs of food and fuel, as well as a decline in funding for humanitarian programmes were also part of the problem.

‘Without humanitarian food assistance, millions more will find themselves in an increasingly dire situation and unable to provide even the most basic food for their families.”

The UN said the proportion of people facing high levels of food insecurity and malnourishment ‘is at the highest level ever’, even surpassing levels seen during the conflict in 2013 and 2016.

The world’s youngest country has grappled with deadly conflict, natural disasters, economic troubles, and relentless political infighting since it won independence from Sudan in 2011.

Source: Africanews

Airtel Top 8 Cup 5th edition maintains “Zamadolo” theme

Kamoto

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-One of the country’s top network providing companies Airtel Malawi on Thursday November 3, unveiled its 2022 Airtel Top 8 Cup.

The unveiling ceremony of the competition which is fifth in number and kicks off this weekend at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre took place at Sunbird Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre.

Speaking at the ceremony, Airtel Malawi Managing Director Charles Kamoto told members of the press that the company has maintained the ‘ Zamadolo’ theme of the competition which was also used last year.

Kamoto cleared out that the theme has been maintained because it fits well with the caliber of the competition which only features top eight teams.

He said; “This season, we are not changing the theme of our competition because it is very massive and it fits well with the type of competition which is only participated by top eight teams.

“Last season, we experienced exciting football where we saw 28 goals scored, beating the previous season’s 12 goals in the same eleven matches, so it really lived up to its billing and we expect the same this year.”

He added: “We have seen standard of play going up, we asked for goals, we saw goals coming, we saw players identified in our cup participating for the Flames at AFCON this year and the team did exceptionally well so we are happy that our competition is adding value to the beautiful game and we are optimistic that this will continue.”

Football Association of Malawi ( FAM) Vice President Jabbar Alide, who is also competition’s Chairperson, said he is expecting this year’s competition to surpass what was achieved last year.

“Our expectations this year are very high. Last year, ‘Zamadolo’ edition brought us best top 8 ever. This year, we look to raise the bar further in terms of broadcasting, fan engagement and we think we will exceed what we achieved last year,” he explained.

He disclosed that the competition this year will be much easier to access as it will be streamed live on FIFA plus portal.

“We are very happy that this year’s Airtel Top competition will now be easily accessed as it will be streamed on FIFA Plus Portal.

“It is a very big opportunity for us to livestream our matches on the Portal all as we will expose the matches all over for the people who are interested in scouting and they will also be able to see how passionate our fans are.

For Airtel, we are exposing the brand to the world and for FAM, how organized we are as an association. This is beneficial across the board.

“We always aim to improve on how we do things and we are lucky we have a sponsor who is keen to see us improve.

“We will continue to strive for more success and we always look for a room to improve to make the tournament bigger and better,” he disclosed

On his part, FAM President Walter Nyamilandu Manda thanked the competition’s fans for their cooperation throughout the last edition and urged them to behave the same this so as to safeguard the sponsorship.

“The fans have been amazing, the behavior exceptional, we have not had cases of hooliganism and we believe this behavior will continue.

“We want to end year with a bang and the best we can do is to safeguard the sponsors. We will have winners and losers, let’s accept results and promote fair play,” urged Manda.

Format of the competition

A total of 11 Matches will be played through the competition and the quarterfinals will be played in a home and away basis where goal aggregate and away goal rules shall apply while the semifinals and final matches will be played in a single fixture.

Just like the previous season, there was no any draw conducted because position one team was automatically paired against the eighth placed team, second placed team playing the seventh team, third against sixth and fourth against fifth.

The opening match will see defending champions Nyasa Big Bullets hosting Karonga United in the Quarterfinal First leg at the Kamuzu Stadium.

On Sunday, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers will host Mafco at the same venue. Next week Silver will play Kamuzu Barracks at a venue yet to be announced by FAM while Dedza Dynamos will host Blue Eagles.

The teams will meet in the return leg in two-weeks time.

The winner of the competition will receive MK17 million.

Resurgence of ethnic clashes in Sudan’s Blue Nile region triggers death and destruction

According to the UN, inter-communal clashes that have flared up several times since July have caused at least 359 fatalities, injured 469 people, displaced more than 97,000, and triggered extensive property damage.  

“The clashes between the ethnic communities are rooted in long standing issues over land ownership and ethnic representation”, Alice Wairimu Nderitu said in a statement.  

Persistent violence

The violence, which kicked off in July, was renewed in September and again last month.

It has spread from the Al Rosires locality to Ad Damazin and then to Wad Al Mahi.  

“There is a risk of further escalation as local sources reported that ethnic groups across the border were being mobilized in support of the violence in the Blue Nile,” she warned.

Hate spewed online

The Special Adviser expressed particular concern that violence and reprisal attacks have been fuelled by hate speech and incitement to hatred, exacerbated through social media and in ethnic gatherings.

Despite an agreement on a “cessation of hostilities” by the affected communities on 13 July 2022, ethnic clashes have continued.

“The repeated violence undermines efforts at mitigation and strengthening inter-communal dialogue”, said Ms. Nderitu.  

Pleas for help

The senior UN official welcomed efforts by the government of the Blue Nile region to stop the violence, restore order and establish a committee to investigate the violence in Wad al Mahi locality.

She then called on those in positions of authority to “do their utmost” to institute conflict prevention mechanisms and bring the perpetrators of violations to account “no matter how high or influential”.  

“Only through ensuring accountability will the cycle of violence be broken”, the senior UN expert said.  

The Special Adviser also called on the people of Sudan, leaders, civil society, and youth to “prioritize trust-building and increase efforts to enhance social cohesion” and on religious leaders and others to use their voices to “speak out against hate and to stand in solidarity with the affected communities in line with the Fez Plan of Action”.  

Finally, Ms. Nderitu urged tech and social media companies to utilize all available tools to “stop the spread of incitement and hatred” on their platforms, as stressed in the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech.

Sourced from United Nations Africa Pages

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