- By Chipiliro Kansilanga It has become fashionable for the world to be exposed to statistics and pictures of poverty making some people believe that it is an irreversible state of affairs. But things are actually changing for the better. Technological advances are creating new opportunities to improve economies and reduce hunger. Governments are developing social protection policies to protect, promote and transform the livelihoods and welfare of the poorest households. Malawi government, for example, partnered with Unicef and the National Aids Commission (Nac) and piloted a programme called Social Cash Transfer as a means to tackle poverty. The system involves regular payments…

Fighting HIV/Aids has become a part of our daily lives. A church meeting, a political party rally or even an entertainment gathering no longer goes without a mention of the deadly pandemic, and the cost it continues to bring on our nations. - The economic repercussion of the pandemic at the macro-level has already been felt in the public and private sectors. It is costing individuals, families, businesses and the state millions. But while countless prevention measures continue to be instituted, it seems others are pulling strings to the other side, spreading the pandemic further, whether knowingly or unknowingly, through among many factors, unprotected sex with multiple partners and, simply …

- BY CHIPILIRO KANSILANGA Fighting HIV/Aids has become a part of our lives. A church ceremony, a political party meeting or even an entertainment gathering no longer goes without a mention of the deadly pandemic, and the cost it continues to make us pay a nation. The economic repercussion of the pandemic at the macro-level has already been felt in the public and private sectors. It is costing individuals, families, businesses and the state millions. But while countless prevention measures continue to be instituted, it seems others are pulling strings to the other side, spreading the pandemic further, whether knowingly or unknowingly, through among many factors, unprotected sex w…

- An estimated 25,000 participants including twenty from Malawi will next week gather in Mexico City, for the 17th International Aids Conference under the theme “Universal Action Now”. This is no ordinary conference as it brings together the movement of people responding to the epidemic to share lessons and together stake out the road ahead. The 2008 theme emphasizes the need for continued urgency in the worldwide response to HIV and AIDS and for action on the part of all stakeholders. It also serves as a rallying call, reminding us that it is only through individual and collective action that we will reach the goals of ensuring universal access to HIV prevention, tr…

- You probably never thought your ability to cycle to and from places could help you to raise funds for the needy. Well, two men from Ntcheu are doing just that. 75 year old William John Kambalame and his 28 year old counterpart Manuel Steven Gushe, will from 15th April this year, cycle from Nsanje to Chitipa and later from Blantyre all the way to Cape Town in South Africa, to raise funds for the establishment and construction of Mwalawoyela Community Based Organization (MWACBO) Vocational Training Centre in Ntcheu. Kambalame, the leader of the trip and founder of MWACBO told bestmalawian in an interview on Thursday, that he aims to raise a total of MK5million from the mammoth ride. …

- BY CHIPILIRO KANSILANGA Women aspirants in next year’s general elections will now be confident to face the electorates, following an initiative to drill them on how to campaign effectively in order to win the elections. Gender Support Programme National Director Cecilia Mussa said Sunday her organisation was busy sourcing funds for a special programme to coach women on skills that would enable them campaign effectively and win the elections. “We will coach them on public speaking, lobbying and campaign skills so that they should ably express their ideas and strategies to the electorates,” she said. Mussa said the special coaching programme, funded by Norad, w…