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Some people have died and others are missing after a boat they boarded at Likoma Island capsized in Lake Malawi.

According to District Commissioner for Likoma Abubakar Nkhoma, the victims were being transported to board a vessel known as Chilembwe

Nkhoma says 17 people have been rescued but the council has deployed a team to search bodies of the missing passengers

One of the eye witnessed who is a fisherman Davie Tazama said he heard a woman screaming and rushed to rescue the mother and her child.

Tazama expressed shock to see many people drowning which he had never seen in his life

One of the survivors Frank Manda from Nkhata Bay said the boat exceeded the passenger capacity and water started entering inside because had a crack

Manda further said the passengers told the riders that water was in the boat but they did not listen to them

Minister of Trade and Industry Vitumbiko Mumba has criticized politicians for prioritizing politics instead of people’s interest for their survival.

Speaking during his public lecture at University of Malawi UNIMA in Zomba Friday night Mumba attacked politicians who switch parties when government changes, calling such actions lack of integrity.

He said politics has delayed national development but suggested reforms in government Ministries, Department and Agencies for Malawi to realize development agenda

In his remarks, renowned South African scholar and politician, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi encouraged African states to guard their resources, including minerals, against illicit financial flows, arguing that the status quo is depriving development.

The Public Lecture was themed: People over Politics, A Bold, Righteous and Inextinguishable Idea at Great Hall.

National Registration Bureau (NRB) has warned the public against unlawful possession and unauthorized use of official NRB-branded attire.

According to a statement signed by principal secretary at NRB some of the unlawful possessions include uniforms, clothing, reflector vests, fisher jackets, and other items bearing NRB branding.

The Bureau says unauthorized possession and illegal use of NRB-branded attire by some members of the public may constitute serious criminal offenses, including impersonation of a public officer, fraud and deception, unlawful possession of government property, obstruction of public operations or violation of national security laws

In view of this development, NRB has called on all individuals illegally possessing such items to immediately surrender them to its nearest office or police station.

The public has been urged to report any suspicious possession of NRB attire and verify authenticity of any individual claiming to be an NRB officer.

Sudan has taken legal action against United Arab Emirates (UAE) at International Court of Justice (ICJ) also known as World Court for creating the “driving force” behind ongoing “genocide” in Sudan.

Since 2023, a power struggle between Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has plunged the country into civil war.

Khartourm now accuses UAE of supporting RSF in its genocide of the non-Arab Masalit people in Sudan’s Darfur region.

Opening the case before the ICJ in The Hague, Sudan’s acting justice minister told the court that Khartoum demands UAE to halt its support to RSF and make “full reparations”, including compensation to victims of the war.

UAE, for its part, denies supporting RSF saying there was no credible evidence presented to support Sudan’s claims,”

A top official at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs Reem Ketait described Sudan’s case as a “blatant misuse of a respected international institution” and “entirely without legal or factual merit.”

Government has launched Malawi Health Emergency Preparedness Response and Resilience (HEPRR).

Speaking during the launch Minister of Health, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda said the five-year programme which runs up to 2030 is funded by World Bank to a tune of 60 million Dollars.

Chiponda expressed concern over the country’s response and preparedness capacities as it still faces challenges despite strides made in building leadership and coordination of public health activities.

World Bank Regional Practice Director, Daniel Dulitzky, emphasised on the need to invest in crisis and pandemic response.

He said happy to collaborate with government of Malawi in improving health sector as they gear to respond to pandemics and crises.

Four political parties have agreed to establish a framework of the alliance.

The statement shows that Freedom Party (FP), Peoples Party (PP), Peoples Development Party (PDP) and MAFUNDE Party have intended to work together in the best interest of Malawians.

According to statement signed by the Secretary Generals of the parties, leaders for the parties held a meeting where they engaged into negotiation of forming a political alliance

In an interview with Radio Islam, PDP, Secretary General, Simeon Phiri, confirmed the development saying they have just started the negotiations.

” I am optimistic that the electoral block will carry the day in the forthcoming general elections as many political parties have shown interest to join,” Phiri says

Meanwhile, Secretary General of Malawi Congress Party MCP has said are not shaken by potential alliances which are being formed by other political parties

Chimwendo Banda has said that the coalition of MCP is the developments which it is carrying out in the country

He has asked supporters of the party to avoid violence and allow other political parties conduct their rallies peacefully

Chimwendo Banda said President Lazarus Chakwera will win this year’s general elections

He said other political parties should forget of coming back into power because will remain in the opposition for good.

Makanjira Development Foundation MDF has cautioned government against using Mangochi-Makanjira Road Project as a political tool ahead of 16^th September general elections.

This has been said after parliament approved supplementary bills to borrow funds from OPEC fund and Kuwait for construction of the road a year after announcing another funding from Saudi Development Fund.

According to MDF chairperson Osman Kennedy although government has been showing commitment of sourcing funds from various partners for the project, nothing tangible has been done on the ground.

Kennedy said until now people from the area are yet to be briefed on important aspects of the project including its budget and duration.

He has therefore demanded government to come out clear on the amount sourced so far and how it has been utilized.

Chairperson of Malawi Electoral Commission has assured Malawians that all names of registered voters are intact because no record of duly registered voters are missing, lost and deleted on the commission’s data base

has announced that 60, 761 voters participated in the voter transfer exercise

Speaking during a press conference Justice Anabel Mtalimanja says 19 eligible voters who failed to transfer their names will do so on 15^th April

Mtalimanja says the commission instituted a voter registration data quality assurance exercise before making the register available for inspection by stakeholders

According to MEC chair the commission held a meeting on 2^nd April where it authorized ICT directorate to upload the identified exported data files bearing the outstanding records onto election management system database

She says the commission is planning for inspection and verification of the voters’ register

Mtalimanja says official campaign period general elections will begin on 14^th July

The commission will also convene a NECOF meeting where it will give a broader report on state of preparedness for the elections.

She disclosed that 6,288 registration centres out of 6331 recorded zero variance meaning the manually compiled statistics matched the voter registration data

Mtalimanja reiterated that there are 7, 316, 899 registered voters eligible to cast the ballot on 16^th September

Concerned citizens have given government seven days to provide a full, transparent explanation on the current status of Mangochi-Makanjira Road project failure which will result into mass protests

This has been said few days after parliament passed a bill on loan authorization for construction of Mangochi-Makanjira Road with funding of 20 Billion Dollars approximately 35 billion kwacha from OPEC Fund

In their letter the concerned citizens under People Power Movement say Mangochi-Makanjira Road is a symbol of broken promises and government deception

According to leaders of the concerned citizens Edwards Kambanje and Oliver Nakoma contradictions and misinformation surrounding this critical infrastructure project raise serious questions about transparency, accountability and government’s true intentions

Kambanje and Nakoma say in 2023 President Lazarus Chakwera announced a 20 million kwacha agreement with Saudi Fund for Development to construct the 100 kilometer Mangochi-Makanjira road

They state that the project was meant to transform trade, improve food security and enhance access to essential services in eastern Malawi

The concerned citizens further say rural communities like Malindi, Lungwena, Namalaka and Fort Maguire were promised better connectivity to national markets and public facilities

However, the People Power Movement is concerned of the delays, inconsistencies and outright lies surrounding this project

The grouping has cited that Minister of transport recently claimed that 8 bridges along the road had been completed adding that it is a blatant falsehood because there is no construction

Therefore they demand government officials to clarify to the nation why they continue to mislead Malawians

The concerned citizens believe that the recent approval of 35 billion kwacha loan exposes a shocking level of Management raising urgent questions

They have called on Malawians especially those in affected regions to demand accountability because time for lies and broken promises is over.