Five arrested for possessing chamba in Salima

Police in Salima are keeping in custody five suspects after being found with chamba.

The five are Chiku Matambo Alfred 38, from Chikanje village Traditional Authority Kanyenda in Nkhotakota, Geofrey Nyirongo 24, from Jalali village Traditional Authority Kaomba in Kasungu, Jawadi Sanudi 35, from Palani village Traditional Authority Kapeni in Brantyre, Jailosi Kachingwe 35, from Maganga village, Traditional Authority Maganga in Salima and Moses Liwonde 18, from Pendwe village, Traditional Authority Kanyenda in Nkhotakota.

On the morning of May 24 police received a tip from well wishers that some people are carrying out the syndicate. Working on the tip, the law enforcers led by the drug section from national police headquarters mounted a snap roadblock at Chikwawa Trading Centre along Nkhotakota – Salima Road.

While on duty, the first three suspects approached using a Honda Freed Saloon vehicle registration number BV 4332 carrying vehicle seats but we believe it was used for observation.

Within minutes, another vehicle, Voxy registration number NN 8512 also came but immediately after being stopped, the driver escaped. A search in the vehicle found 247 plastic bags containing Chamba strongly believed to belong to the three who were using the Saloon.

Later the officers arrested Kachingwe while carrying 78 90kg bags and 8 20kg bags in a five tonner vehicle with registration number BQ3411 before arresting Liwonde who was found with five bricks of loose Chamba in a City Tours bus.

All the five suspects will appear before court soon to answer the charge of being found in possession of Indian hemp which contravenes regulation 4(a) as read with section 19 of the Dangerous Drug Act.

Meanwhile, police are hunting for the driver of the Voxy who escaped. Police also wish to thank the public for the tips they usually give us regarding crime.

JB accuses Malawi Government of bloating Covid-19 figures

Former president Dr Joyce Banda has accused government of bloating Covid-19 figures and abusing resources meant for the fight against the pandemic in the country.

Speaking at a Tonse Alliance mega rally in Blantyre on Monday, Banda claimed that the government is deliberately increasing Covid-19 cases in order to receive donor funding.

“They have imported a dead body from South Africa to increase the number of Covid-19 deaths in the country, so that people will be scared ahead of the fresh presidential elections,” alleged Banda.

While acknowledging the presence of the disease in the country, Banda said: “Covid-19 is real but the way this country is handling corona virus resources leaves a lot to be desired.”

“The way government is abusing Covid-19 funds from the donor community is disheartening as much is being spent on allowances than for the intended purposes”.

Driver arrested for causing death

Police in Mponela are keeping in custody a 39 year old driver for allegedly causing death of a 42 year old pedal cyclist by reckless driving in Dowa district.

Police said the driver, Saukani Kadzakumanja, 39 comes from Chimungu Village in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Dzoole in the District.

The deceased has been identified as Kingsley Katunga, 42 of Kamphata village in the area of TA Mponela in Dowa.

According to Mponela Police Public Relations Officer, Sergeant Macpatson Msadala, on May 20, 2020, Kadzakumanja was driving a motor vehicle registration number BU 4807 Mercedes Benz lorry, from Medi filling station heading Mponela Trading Centre a long Kasungu-Lilongwe M1 road.

"As he approached NBS bank, he hit pedal cyclist, Katunga who was peddling from the opposite direction," he explained.

Msadala said that due to the impact, the pedal cyclist sustained serious injuries and was taken to Mponela Rural Hospital before being referred to Kamuzu Central Hospital where he died upon arrival.

Kadzakumanja has been charged with causing death by reckless driving and would appear before court soon.

Police are appealing to all drivers to observe speed limit and adhere to road safety measures to avoid accidents of this nature.

CAtholic Bishops say Malawians have an opportunity to choose another leader to save the country from collapsing

Catholic Bishops issued their 26th pastoral letter in which they stressed that the need for “ a new era in Malawi” has reached a critical stage where the country can either degenerate into a failed state or rise to a unified, orderly and prosperous nation.

In the seven-page pastoral letter read out in all Catholic Parishes, the bishops writing under the Episcopal Conference of Malawi said that the forthcoming presidential election, therefore, provides Malawians an opportunity to choose a leader who can save the country from collapsing.

“More than ever before, the need for ushering in a new era in Malawi has reached a critical stage where we can either degenerate into a failed state or rise to a unified, orderly and prosperous nation,” they say citing Deuteronomy 30:19 “I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live”.

The bishops have thus described the qualities of the leader who, they prophesy, would best lead the country and the qualities include servant leadership, decisiveness, accountable and God-fearing.

The seven bishop-members of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi have highlighted eight issues as the current concerns and challenges that need urgent attention in the country at the moment.

These include rising tribalism, increasing political violence, rising levels of impunity, corruption and fraud, a dysfunctional public service system, the corona virus pandemic, environmental degradation and challenges relating to the holding of a credible presidential election.

“We are also concerned with the general abuse of freedom expression by political party zealots on social media by among others, fabricating all forms of falsehood, lies and rumor mongering. This calls upon all Malawians to exercise extra vigilance to ensure that the electoral process is transparent…

“Above all, it calls for a leadership that can provide appropriate direction and supervision. Our country is at crossroads. We can either choose to save our nation or destroy it. The most urgent before us is to choose a leader who can rescue it from further deterioration,” reads the letter.

The bishops say that Malawi is at crossroads and have urged Malawians to go and vote wisely to choose a leader who can rescue the country from further deterioration lest it gets destroyed.

In the pastoral letter, on challenges related to holding a credible election, the bishops raise concern with loss of public trust and confidence in the current commissioners at the Malawi Electoral Commission, inconsistency in the determination of the electoral calendar, vandalism of MEC equipment, lack of security in centres where MEC is working and defamatory reporting by the state broadcaster.

“We are deeply concerned with rising levels of impunity in some sections of our society. As we have said many times before, the killing of people with albinism, the so-called mob justice and the killing of elderly persons suspected of being witches is utterly repulsive.

“We call for speedy conclusion of these cases and a complete stop to these barbaric acts…there should be no non-selective justice when handling these cases,” reads part of the pastoral letter.

The Episcopal Conference of Malawi has also warned that Malawi risks desertification which could create food insecurity and an increased gap between the rich and the poor due to environmental degradation citing the continued plunder of the Chikangawa forest in the Northern region.

On the Corona virus pandemic, the Catholic bishops, expressed concern that some quarters who deny the existence of the disease and also the lack of consistency in observing precautionary measures and call on the government to provide social support for the poor in the event of imposition of restriction on mobility.

Zimbabwe’s Covid-19 lockdown fuels bush sex as as lodges remain closed

The closure of lodges and guesthouses due to the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown has seen an increase in sexual rendezvous inside cars and in bushes by daring lovers in Zimbabwe.

Cars, cemeteries and bushes have quickly becomes lovers’ nests.

The daring lovers are taking advantage of the peaceful atmosphere, free of charge space and tall grasses and shrubs covering the their hookup spots.

Other couples who want to get down and dirty are parking in unpopulated car parks to do the nasty.

With less people loitering around during the lockdown, chances of being disturbed are very slim.

Bmetro understands that final resting places for the dead have turned into hookup spots by some lovers who are driving over to do the deed and turn the place into a bedroom.

Most cemeteries are littered with used condoms, empty packs of sex enhancing pills among other paraphernalia.

According to an eyewitness who identified himself as Dube, cars are constantly spotted driving around the cemetery several times, day and night.

“Everyday motorists come here and the other day we gathered courage and approached a car which was parked in the cemetery after suspecting that the driver might have been tampering with graves. When we approached it, it was bouncing up and down and shockingly when we peeped through, we were shocked to our core when we saw two lovebirds having fun at the back seat.

He bemoaned a lack of respect for the dead.

A Bulawayo City Council municipal officer who preferred anonymity, also confirmed that graveyards have become a hotspot for couples looking to hook up in cars.

He said those with no cars do it on the grass or bush.

Chakwera commends Ansah's decision to resign

Malawi Congress Party President, Dr Lazarus Chakwera, has commended Malawi Electoral Commission chairperson Dr. Jane Ansah for resigning.

Dr Chakwera made the remarks after a rally at Lobi in Dedza today that it was sad that Ansah has had to resign after a year and after a lot of resources had been wasted due to her procastination in the calls.

According to Dr. Chakwera, Malawians are expecting the coming commissioners to be professional and not to priotise their interests.

HRDC welcomes Ansah's resignation decision, vows to continue May 28 protest for resignation of other commissioners

The Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has welcomed the resignation of MEC Chairperson Jane Ansah, but vows to proceed with their May 28 protest to demand the resignation of the commissioners.

Initially, the demonstrations were meant to continue mounting pressure on Ansah to resign including all the commissioners.


But Ansah has tendered her resignation to President Peter Mutharika and awaits his response.


HRDC senior member Billy Mayaya insists that Commissioners should also resign and not wait for the expiry of their mandate.


HRDC has been organising mass demonstration across the country demanding resignation of MEC commissioners.

Ten South Sudan Ministers Test Positive For Virus

Ten ministers in South Sudan are now confirmed to have contracted coronavirus.

Information Minister, Michael Makuei, has told the Media that all former members of the high-level task force on coronavirus – apart from the health minister – have tested positive for Covid-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus.

But he has denied reports that President Salva Kiir – who was also a member of the team had also tested positive. It comes just days after first Vice-President Riek Machar announced he had tested positive alongside his wife, Defence Minister Angelina Teny.

They tested positive after coming into contact with a former member of the team, who has Covid-19. All the ministers infected are now in self-isolation and the government says they are in good health.

Dozens of bodyguards and staff of the officials also tested positive and are quarantined. South Sudan has seen a sharp rise in coronavirus cases in recent days with 481 confirmed cases and six deaths.

There are fears the virus could cause havoc in South Sudan, whose healthcare system is barely functioning following decades of conflict, while hundreds of thousands are living in camps for displaced people.

Passenger jet crashes in Pakistan

Pakistani officials said a passenger jet crashed Friday in the city of Karachi. Videos posted online showed fire and smoke on the ground and several homes had reportedly caught fire.

A spokesman from the country's flagship carrier Pakistan International Airlines told the Reuters news agency that flight PK 8303 went down carrying 99 passengers and 8 crew.

There was no official word on the number of casualties, but Pakistan's leader tweeted condolences "to the families of the deceased."

CBS News' Maria Usman said the PIA Airbus A320 from crashed down into a neighborhood called Jinnah Gardens, close to Karachi's airport. A source at the airport said the pilot had informed the control tower that one of the plane's two engines had failed.

The control tower told the pilot that two runways were clear for a landing, but air traffic control lost communication with the crew and the plane crashed shortly after.

Abdul Sattar Khokhar, spokesman for the country's aviation authority, confirmed that the flight had been flying to Karachi from Lahore.

The Associated Press quoted witnesses as saying the Airbus A320 appeared to have tried to land at least a couple times before crashing into the residential area near Karachi's Jinnah International Airport.

MyBucks donates K2 million worth of medical supplies to the Kamuzu Central Hospital

MyBucks Banking Corporation has donated K2 million worth of medical supplies to the Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe.

Presenting the donation on Friday in Lilongwe, Chief Operations Officer for the Bank Sam Kamkosi said the gesture is part of the company's way of giving back to communities that give it business.

Hospital Director for the referral facility has since commended MyBucks for the gesture, saying the supplies are an important contribution towards the hospital's fight against the COVID - 19 pandemic.

Among the donated items are oxygen concentrators and test strips.

Gotani Hara empowers girl-child education, donates materials worth K10 million to different schools in her constituency

Member of parliament for Mzimba North East Constituency who is also Speaker of the Malawi’s National Assembly, Catherine Gotani Hara, has  donated various building materials worth K10 million to different schools in her constituency for construction of girls hostels and teachers’ houses.

Morgan Tembo, who is a councillor for Ekwendeni Ward, who represented Gotani Hara, handed over 40 bags of cement to Choma Community Day Secondary School

Tembo said the Mrs Hara wants to help the girls so that they  can achieve their dreams.

“This donation will provide the girl child with proper boarding facilities there by keeping her in school. Imagine at Choma School, girls forget that they can be in a boarding school!” said Tembo.

Tembo further disclosed that the donation is part of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) that government provides to members of Parliament for development of their areas.

Trump refuses to wear mask despite state warning it will ban his future visits

Donald Trump has refused to wear a face mask once again during a tour in Michigan - despite an official warning he could be banned from visiting the state if he did so.

The president was visiting a factory belonging to the Ford Motor Company, which has shifted its focus to manufacturing ventilators and personal protective equipment.

Surrounded by executives wearing masks, he told reporters: "I had one on before. I wore one in the back area. I didn't want to give the press the pleasure of seeing it."

At one point, he took out a White House-branded mask from his pocket, and said he had worn it elsewhere on the tour while out of public view.

The 73-year-old has consistently disregarded guidance from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, urging Americans to wear masks in close company to try and curb the spread of coronavirus.

Although the company "encouraged President Trump to wear a mask when he arrived" at the plant in Ypsilanti, executive chairman Bill Ford said: "It's up to him.

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Woman tests positive for Covid-19 eight times

A Canadian woman who contracted the coronavirus in March has tested positive for the illness for the eighth time.

Tracy Schofield from Cambridge, Ontario, said she first began experiencing symptoms – including a fever, chills and difficulty breathing – on March 30. The next day she got tested for Covid-19 and was found to be positive.

To be considered recovered from the virus, the World Health Organization guidelines state that a patient must test negative twice consecutively before they can be declared “recovered.”

Patients must receive two negative results within 24 hours.

Schofield was swabbed for a ninth time, and once again she tested positive for Covid-19. She is currently preparing for her 10th test.

According to CTV News Schofield spent two weeks self-isolating at home, with only her 17-year-old son there to help.

She says her temperature rose to 40.1 C, and she could barely get out of bed and she even lost her sense of smell and taste.

After more than 50 days since testing positive, Schofield said most of her symptoms are gone.

“I still to this day have shortness of breath. Covid-19 has taken a lot out of me, and it continues every day,” she told CTV News.

Schofield now fears Covid-19 could cause her long-term problems although she never had underlying health issues before.

What killed the ‘Legendary Reggae Music Star’ Bob Marley

Bob Marley was just 36 when he lost his battle against skin cancer with his son, Ziggy, by his side in hospital in Miami.

For more than 10 years, the iconic star pushed his home country’s musical style to the forefront of popular culture and almost 40 years after his death, Marley is still influencing bands and singers around the world.

Still considered one of the greatest artists of all time, Marley and his band The Wailers burst onto the scene in 1963 and almost instantly became superstars in their home country of Jamaica.

Huge releases like Catch A Fire and Burnin’ followed and when assassins made an attempt on Marley’s life in Jamaica in 1976, he decided to make his move to London a permanent one.

However, the following year, the legendary singer would be hit with more tragedy when he was diagnosed with acral lentiginous melonoma, a very rare form of skin cancer.

It was during a game of football that Marley realised something was wrong when he suffered a foot injury that instead of healing, seemed to get progressively worse.

He was diagnosed with skin cancer and doctors advised him to have his toe amputated.

However, a committed Rastafarian, whose faith considers it a sin to have any part of the body “temple” removed, he refused.

Marley did instead have a skin graft but by 1980 the disease had spread throughout his body and nothing more could be done to treat it.

Determined to give fans one last tour to remember him by, Marley embarked on one last world tour.

But just before a concert in New York, he collapsed while out running in Central Park.

After one final show in Pittsburgh in the US in September, 1980, he made the devastating decision to cancel the rest of his tour and try a diet-based treatment in Germany.

For the next eight months he continued to battle his cancer but realising it was having no impact on his disease, he flew home to Jamaica.

It was a trip he would never complete and after falling critically ill on the flight, the plane touched down in Miami.

He was rushed to hospital, where he lost his fight for life with his son, Ziggy, at his bedside.

Marley, who is believed to have had 11 children, had one final message for his son, who is also a musician.

The reggae legend’s poignant last words were: “Money can’t buy life.”

His body was then flown home to Jamaica, where Marley was given a State funeral on May 21, 1981.

May his soul continue resting in peace.

First Lady Gertrude Mutharika Campaigns for DPP-UDF Alliance, Says APM Will Carry the Day in The Fresh Polls

First Lady Gertrude Mutharika on Thursday made a surprise visit to Zomba Naisi ground where Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and United Democratic Front (UDF) officials were holding a campaign rally.

Mrs. Mutharika who was accompanied by Angela Muluzi a wife to DPP-UDF running-mate Atupele Muluzi, said the alliance will carry the day in the fresh presidential elections.

The First Lady was coming from Balaka district where she met chiefs to discuss issues concerning the awareness of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

In her remarks, Madam Mutharika said the DPP-UDF alliance is a clear sign that come June 23, they are victors.

She also added that there is no reason for President Peter Mutharika to be panicking with campaign citing the ground work is impressive.

“There is no reason Professor Peter Mutharika should be packing with campaign, this is enough. And I am impressed,” she said.

Since the official launch of campaign period by Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Mutharika has not been seen on the ground luring people to re-elect him into power.

Ansah pains APM resignation letter

Mec Chairperson Justice Jane Ansah says following the Supreme Court of Appeal ruling in the presidential case, she has written the appointing authourity (President) asking to step aside from her position.

Speaking on state controlled broadcaster MBC, Ansah pointed out that her decision to ask the President to relieve her of her duties at Mec was solely based on the Supreme Court of Appeal ruling and not the demonstrations which have been staged by the public.

MEC shuts down verification exercise in Mchinji

Voter Verification exercise at Mzenga Centre in Mchinji North Constituency has been suspended following an attack from angry villagers who protested against Forestry officers who allegedly destroyed their crops.

It is reported that Mchinji Forestry officials on Monday destroyed crops at Mzenga Village, accusing the communities of cultivating in the forest reserve area.

According to Mchinji Police Station Officer in Charge, Owen Maganga, the development angered the villagers who resorted to disturb the voter verification exercise.



The Officer in Charge said at the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) centre, the said villagers also beat up a police officer and Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) officer.

Maganga said the two officers were referred to Mchinji District Hospital the same day where they were treated as out-patients.

“Yes, we received report that Forestry officials damaged crops belonging to the communities at Mzenga Village. The communities are accused of cultivating in the forest reserve.

“In revenge, the communities resorted to disturbing the ongoing voter verification exercise.

“The villagers also injured one police officer and MEC officer who were trying to protect MEC materials,” he said.

He, however, said no arrest has been made so far as investigations are still underway.

Mchinji District Elections Clerk, Blackson Banda confirmed the development, saying the voter verification exercise at the centre has been suspended due to security reasons.

Meanwhile, Mchinji District Forestry Officer, Fortune Kanyada has confirmed the forestry officers were conducting the patrols in the forest reserve and that in the process, they found people harvesting crops.

Kanyada said upon seeing the Forestry Department vehicle, the people started pelting stones in effort to chase the Forestry officers who were armed.

“The people were also pelting burning firewood and in the process, their crops got damaged by fire. They accused forestry officers of burning their crops,” she said.

Kanyada said forest reserves in the district are facing numerous challenges including encroachment.

Source: Mana

Mnangagwa Fires Deputy Information Minister for Insulting Three Opposition Officials

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday fired outspoken deputy information minister Energy Mutodi hours after he insulted three “abducted” opposition officials in a tweet.

A statement from the presidency did not give reasons for the immediate “termination of employment” of Mutodi.

A prominent opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) lawmaker and two party officials were originally arrested for protesting over food shortages experienced during the coronavirus lockdown.

The all-female trio were then abducted from the police station by unidentified men and taken out of the capital where they said they were beaten up and sexually assaulted.

They were later dumped by a roadside where they were found by party colleagues and taken to hospital.

In his tweet Mutodi claimed the three opposition officials “went out for a romantic night to Bindura (a small town) with their lovers”, a couple of miners.

He said the women were beaten up “when they demanded foreign currency for their services”.

The incident attracted condemnation from international rights groups and western diplomats.

Zambia Government Closes Chinese Owned Barbershop Over Discrimination Allegations

Authorities in Zambia have closed down a Chinese owned barbershop over discrimination allegations against black people and displaying their prices in Chinese contrary to the Food and Health Act.

According to Authorities, they received a whistle blower that Angels Barbershop which is located at Acardes Mall is discriminating black people.

According to the whistle blower, he took his son to cut hair but was later told that K300 is the price just to put him off.

When he agreed to pay, the owners of the barbershop changed their mind and told him that they are closed and asked him to leave.

Reports indicate that when the authorities went to the barbershop for a fact finding mission they found a ‘closed’ sign but noticed that there was a Chinese inside cutting his hair.

“They did not recognize us as we had a mask on. We pretended wanting to have our hair cut and they said “We Closed’.

“Upon inspecting their price board, we noticed also that nearly everything was labelled in Chinese writings and not English as prescribed by the Food & Health Act,”

Meanwhile, the license has been retrieved from the Chinese owners and closed the business ‘indefinitely’

“A formal sign closure notice from LCC has since been sent to them,” reads the statement.

Zambia authorities have however said that they will not condone any “investor that operates segregating or discriminating customers or employees based on their color of the skin or pricing in other foreign languages other than English which is the constitutionally prescribed official language for Zambia.”

Zambian citizenry has therefore been asked to blow their whistles louder to our office for any such similar illegal conduct as proved at Angels Barbershop.

Girl terminates pregnant and dies at man’s home in lockdown

A female student at the International Paramedics Institute on Masaka Road has died while terminating pregnancy at her boyfriend’s home in Kampala City in Uganda.

The 20-year-old, who had been released from medical school after its closure due to the lockdown, was rushed to a clinic in Lugooba village, Kawempe Division in Kampala in an unresponsive state yesterday evening.

The Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesman, Mr Luke Owoyesigyire, said the medical officers who examined her found that she had passed away before being admitted and informed the police.

“The man, who brought her to the clinic, was arrested. He told detectives that he was the deceased’s boyfriend. During interrogation, he told us the deceased was pregnant and was aborting when things went wrong,” Mr Owoyesigyire said yesterday.

The boyfriend is being held at Kawempe Police Station on a charge of murder as pathologists carry out an autopsy on the body.

Mr Owoyesigyire said if it is found that the boyfriend participated in the failed abortion, he will be charged with attempt to procure an abortion contrary to Section 141 of the Penal Code Act.