LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-MPICO, a subsidiary of Old Mutual Malawi on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 conducted a drilling fire emergency drilling exercise at Gateway Mall in the capital in preparation for accidents incidences.
Although the exercise created a fire scare at Gateway Mall which prompted panic among patrons, turned out to be a drill exercise.
Emergency responders, including firefighters from Lilongwe City Council (LCC) and Medical Aid Society of Malawi (MASM) corroborated well during the drilling.
MPICO’s Head of Property Services Eliot Jambo said the exercise aimed to prepare stakeholders for emergency situations like fires.
He commended the effective response to a simulated fire drill conducted at Gateway Mall in Lilongwe.
Jambo therefore expressed satisfaction with how the drill was handled.
LCC fire officer Lawrence Gangile demonstrated the council’s readiness to respond to such calls.
However Gangile disclosed that the council currently has only one operational fire engine with three others grounded due to minor issues.
But he assured city dwellers of adequate resources including vehicles and expertise to respond to emergencies.
The exercise, which involved responding to a mock fire, tested the readiness and coordination of emergency services.
During the drill, the Lilongwe City Council and MASM responded promptly, showing their preparedness for real-life emergencies.
And on his part, Lawrence Gangile, Fire Officer at Lilongwe City Council has disclosed that the council has adequate resources, including vehicles, to respond to emergencies across the city.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Old Mutual through its subsidiary MPICO has invented MK37.9 million through its skills development training incentive with Sanwecka Tech Company.
Through the incentive Sanwecka has has trained 108 youth across Malawi.
Speaking in Lilongwe on Thursday, November 7, 2024 during Graduation ceremony of 35 youths from Mtandile and Tsiliza, Old Mutual Malawi’s Marketing and Corporate Affairs Executive Patience Chatsika said the company’s commitment to empower youth began in Blantyre and Mzuzu where 73 youths were trained before expanding to Lilongwe.
“As a business, we are highly concerned with the problem of unemployment, and we believe that equipping young people with skills will change their lives economically,” she said.
Sanwecka Chief Executive Officer, Rashid Kasito said the six week training has reached 35 youths which 22 are girls.
One of the graduants, Silaj Rajab said the training is timely paramount impor as it will boost his financial welfare as youth .
Old mutual sponsored Sanwecka with MK10 Million to train the youths in the capital Lilongwe.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-MPICO has dragged John Tembo grand daughter, Polesana Tembo aka, ALENGA LTD, to Lilongwe Commercial Court in their quest of stopping her from developing her place PERMANENTLY.
Tembo has contracted Chinese Company to build shops, and office park at her A12 Service Station which is expected to be completed before end of the year. The project is valued at US$1million.
Once the project is completed about 100 jobs will be created and more products and services which will benefit the surrounding community.
Court summons which we have seen , the Property development company through their lawyers Likongwe and Co is demanding cash with interest from Polesana Tembo for disturbances and transpassing which has led to loss of business Peoples, the tenant and MPICO, landlord.
They claim the value of their business and building has been diminished.
They further state in their affidavit that the on going project construction site is buzzing with men working with unbearable noise due to workmen chatter and machinery, which has rendered workers of Peoples unable to execute their duties optimally.
In the summons the claimants presented to the court her request from MPICO for right of way, through a written letter informing them of the project for which the claimant granted her through written response. Bot of which the claimant submitted as evidence on the matter.
An injunction hearing restraining Tembo by proceeding with the project permanently.
Mpico in court battle with JZU Tembo grand daughter over land development
It is exactly like the story of David and Goliath the Philistine in the Valley of Elah where in their 40 days, Goliath stretched his muscle to show how powerful he is against David but David killed Goliaths with a single sling of stone.
The Commercial court demanded MPICO to prove how the construction project is affecting business why the project should be permanently canned.
Again the court is asking Mpico why is it involved on Legal battle against Tembo and not their tenants which is PTC.
There more to come out of this case.
About Mpico
Suffice to say, MPICO is a leading provider of property solutions in Malawi with approximately MK40 billion balance sheet, has many properties across the country including the Getaway Mall and Central House Arcade in the city centre, just to mention a few.
History of MPICO in Malawi’s development
MPICO was incorporated on the 12 August, 1972 with a nominal capital of MK4m by Capital City Development Corporation, a parastatal established with the objective of attracting international and Malawian based commercial investment in the development of Malawi’s new Capital City, Lilongwe, in accordance with the Capital city Construction Act of 1968.
While CCDC concentrated on fabricating infrastructure for the new Capital City, low cost shelter, government offices and housing, MPICO concentrated on building private sector offices, housing, shops, factories, hotels, warehousing with the assistance of private sector capital.
MPICO incorporated subsidiary companies to suit the needs of particular investors and development projects.
By 1979 the MPICO group comprised 18 companies, 400 residential units, 2 hotels, 11 industrial units and a number of other properties with funds utilized or available of over MK29m, involving 59 investors other than CCDC.
With CCDC’s major objectives having been achieved, the corporation was dissolved in early 1984.
Reorganization of the MPICO group took place between 1980 and 1984 and by 1983 MPICO became autonomous with independent management and operating systems and a focus on industrial and commercial property development.
Its investment and development programme was expanded to a national basis and targeted at Malawi’s 3 major urban centres Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Blantyre.
In 1987 MPICO launched a consultancy service undertaking valuation, property management and related services.
In the late ‘80s and ‘90s many of MPICO’s industrial and residential interests were sold or transferred.
The current portfolio of 28 properties is now worth over MK35bn.
About the Defendant
Ms Tembo purchased and commenced business operations in September 2016. And her company ALENGA LTD was incorporated in 2018.She owns 100% shareholding of the business.
Over the last 3 years she has transformed the business to the benefit of residents in are 12 and surrounding areas.
Currently her business is worth over MK1 billion.
The commercial court has since reserved judgement until further notice. An anecdotal survey found that the community benefits a lot from her business and wonder why such a big conglomerate company is suing her when calls of women empowerment are everywhere.
Efforts to get tangible information from the CEO Damien Kafoteka were met with a ‘No Comment’ response.
Parliamentary Women Caucus has asked the government to consider increasing budgetary allocation for Malawi national netball team the Queens for them to perform better in international competitions.
Chairperson for the Caucus, Jessie Kabwila made the appeal on Sunday during the launch of the 2018 Mpico Gateway Mall Netball Challenge at Police ground in Mponela, Dowa.
She said it was disheartening to note that despite registering a number of success stories on global scene, the Queens are still subjected to low budgetary allocations for their progression.
“We need to change our mindset and view the Queens as equally important as the Malawi National Football team, the Flames in terms of allocating disbursing financial resources to them,” the chairperson suggested.
Kabwila observed that currently the Queens are number six in the World netball ranking but still lacks adequate financial resources while the Flames are enjoying the lion’s share of budgetary allocation despite being number 123 on FIFA World ranking.
“As a caucus will make sure that we should fight for the Queens and they deserved to be allocated enough financial resources for them to continue doing a good work for the nation. The Queens have put the country on the map and we are proud of their achievements,” she stated.
Kabwila pointed out that the Queens need to be supported in their endeavours whether they are doing well or not since they have demonstrated of doing well despite lacking financial resources.
“Even when they have not done well in an international competition we need to always welcome them at the airport in large numbers. They will always need our moral even if the chips are down,” the Caucus Chairperson hinted.
She commended Mpico for considering girls and women within the region to participate in a netball challenge which brings a lot of excitement among them.
Kabwila pointed out that the intuitive need to be supported by all stakeholders and that all 193 constituencies need to have netball courts in order to encourage grass root development of the sport.
Vice Chairperson for Central Region Netball Committee (CRNC), Fernando Magola thanked Mpico for sponsoring the netball challenge for third time in a roll since 2016.
He said Mpico’s initiative has helped to identify raw netball talent from the grassroots within the central region districts.
“Central region teams managed to contribute 10 netball players to the National Netball team in the last call up through the same initiative and we take this as a positive development to enhancement of the sport in the region,” Magola explained.
The Vice chair said the intuitive started with 15 teams in 2016, the number increased to 107 in 2017 and now 168 teams have registered to take part from 10 districts of the region.
He said this give an encouragement to the organizing committee and the sponsor that the sport is getting much needed support from teams.
Mpico sale and marketing Manager, Ellen Nyasulu said Mpico is pleased to note that the intuitive has produced a player of the likes of Joyce Mvula, who is currently playing professional netball in England,
She added that the netball challenge is helping players to be resilient when approaching challenges in their lives.
“We are taking netball to rural areas in order to help the girl child to appreciate that sports is another weapon which can help people to do things together in an organized manner. We want every district within the region to be part and parcel of the development process of the sport,” Nyasulu said.
The Queens are expected to take part in the Africa Netball Championship in Lusaka Zambia in August 2018 and played in the World Netball Tournament in March 2019 in England.
The bank’s Head of Investment Banking Shakil Satar
Standard Bank says its role in the recent recapitalization of property firm MPICO through the Malawi Stock Exchange (MSE) demonstrates the bank’s position as a major player in the country’s capital markets. Continue reading Standard Bank touts Mpico share issue→
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