February 5, 2021 Nyasa Times Reporter 4 Comments
Journalists in the country are in a state of shock following the sudden death of veteran journalist, Felix Mponda who has practised journalism for 42 years.
Mponda has died
Until recently, Mponda was an Online Editor for Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC).
Mponda practiced journalism for about 42 years, having started his career at Malawi News Agency (MANA) in 1979.
He was arrested and jailed in January 1993 for co-founding an independent newspaper,
The New Express which was pro-democracy against dictatorship of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) rule.
Mponda also worked for various local news organisations including Blantyre Newspapers Limited (BNL) now Times Group where he was Deputy Editor for
February 1, 2021 Wanangwa Mtawali-Nyasa Times 36 Comments
President Lazarus Chakwera on Sunday evening announced that Malawi– has finally secured doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine which government will give to “as many citizens as possible” for immunity against the Coronavirus (Covid-19).
Chakwera : Malawi’s scientists in local labs will verify the safety of AstraZeneca’s Covid jab
Chakwera disclosed this on Sunday evening when he addressed the nation on the ongoing war against the Covid-19 pandemic, describing the acquisition of the vaccine as a breakthrough in the raging fight.
“The first consignment of the vaccine will arrive at the end of February in readiness for roll out in March, starting with 20 percent of the population, which will prioritize frontline workers, the elderly and those with underlying conditions,” said Chakwera.
January 30, 2021 Nyasa Times Reporter 28 Comments
Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) is set to undergo a massive shake-up, with new boss set to be hired with interviews set to be carried by the corporation’s board next week following the sacking of MBC director general Aubrey Sumbuleta.
Aubrey Sumbuleta fired as MBC director general
MBC board chairperson the Reverend Vasco Kachipapa said Sumbuleta has been relieved of his duties following a disciplinary hearing that was convened on Thursday.
He said Sunbuleta was found guilty on four grounds of abuse of office and maladministration.
Kachipapa said following the firing of Sumbuleta, Director of Engineering Aideni Gumeni is the acting boss at the national broadcaster.
January 19, 2021 Wongani Chiuta - Nyasa Times 7 Comments
The Society of Medical Doctors (SMD) has called for volunteer health workers to support the frontline health care staff during this unprecedented coronavirus pandemic.
Doctors president Mithi: Call for volunteer scheme
The doctors made the call in a statement barely a day after President Lazarus Chakwera admitted that the country’s health system had been “overwhelmed” by the surge.
“The situation is quite desperate,” he said, laying out plans to recruit about 1380 personnel and open field hospitals in an effort to manage the virus pandemic.
Chakwera said in the televised speech monitored on taxpayer-funded Malawi Broadcasting Corporation on Sunday that the health system is no fit-for-purpose partly blamed on decades of neglect and plunder.
State sponsored Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has started a probe into the killing of First Year Polytechnic student Blessings Nyondo as the police and minister of Homeland Security say he was killed by a security officer from Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) in self-defence.
Osman, Executive Secretary for MHRC : Probe
Late Nyondo was a student at The Polytechnic, a constituent college of the University of Malawi, who was staying in Chitawira Township from where he was attending weekend classes.
He was shot dead in Blantyre on the night of December 31 2020 when he was on his way to overnight prayers at Robin’s Park.