Following a deadlock during Monday's African Union elections, with a tie between former wife to South African president Jacob Zuma, Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and current and outgoing chairperson, Jean Ping of Gabon, the caucus agreed to meet in Malawi in June for a decider. - Attended strictly by the heads of states and government and two representatives from each nation, the elections found went for three rounds showing a slender lead by Ping to lead the continent's top most influential Commission in the 55-strong nation union. The elections were held at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Dlamini-Zuma, 63, dished out campaign leaflets pledged she …

Three people died on the spot when a restaurant collapsed in Malawi's commercial city of Blantyre. The dead include the owner of the KIPS Restaurant, Shafik Giga. The building was undergoing some renovations before it crumbled. Eye witnesses said the accident, which occurred at 10am on Tuesday, was caused by heavy weight due to extra extensions. - The structure was earmarked for demolition 15 years ago under the late Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda's era under the 'Red Star Campaign' aimed at cleaning the city and fortifying old buildings. It was constructed in the 1950s and was one of the oldest standing of the colonial era infrastructure in the city. Sixteen people, includ…

He was born in 1966 and is a fluent Ngoni speaker. His village, Chimunyama Mandhlopa, is also under his kinship, Group Village Headman Mandhlopa - which lies in the heart of Mpherembe Area in the Ngoni district of Mzimba. It is Malawi's largest district. Moffat Mandhlopa is a humble cook whose beginnings stem back as a petty tobacco farmer and herdsman. - He now heads the cooking staff at Mzimba Secondary School. He offered Africanews.com an opportunity for an interview to share his career, family, farming, and political views during the school’s alumni gathering. He says he quit his primary education in Class 7 and has never looked back. His time was spent herding cattle and …

A classroom example made by associate lecturer in political science at the University of Malawi's Chancellor College, Blessings Chinsinga, is worrying Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika's understanding of academic freedom. He told graduating students there is need to establish a high level committee which should define what he termed a 'new animal called academic freedom.' - Mutharika, last Friday challenged Police Inspector General Peter Mukhito that he would not and cannot apologise to anyone including Chancol lecturers who have demanded an apology for summoning Chinsinga over his remarks. The lecturer told a class uprisings like the one that took place in Egypt and Tu…

On the heels of a new media law that gives power to the minister of information and civic education to ban any publication deemed to be operating contrary to the "wishes" of the people, police arrested a journalist last Sunday. Award winning journalist, Kondwani Kamiyala, was picked taking photographs of the law enforcers administering police brutality during a musical show. - During the music launch album by one of Malawi’s top afro centric musicians, Skeffa Chimoto in the commercial city of Blantyre, Kamiyala took photographs of several officers pounding a suspected thief. They turned onto him and demanded that he deletes all the pictures. “The thief was spotted by…

African Union (AU) chairperson Bingu wa Mutharika has flown to Ivory Coast on Tuesday to mediate between rivals - embattled president Laurent Gbagbo and world acclaimed winner of the November 2010 presidential run-off elections Alassane Ouattara. His trip aims to find a lasting solution to the face-off. - The two rivals have formed parallel governments. Ouattara is believed to have won the polls over veteran Gbagbo – who is clinging to power despite wide spread criticism and calls for him to relinquish power. Early this year Mutharika said Gbagbo should peacefully and with dignity stand aside, make way for Ouattara to take over. The AU, alongside the European Union (EU), ECOWAS, and…

A woman in the close-knit community on the East Rand - east of Johannesburg, has been found with a huge cache of arms in her house. Tipped-off, the police raided the house in the township, discovering the cache that included five mini limpet mines, four detonators, two rocket launchers, six F1 hand grenades, one CSC rifle grenade, two AK-47 rifles, three Uzi sub-machine guns, one R1 rifle, one .303 rifle and one silencer. - Ammunition included AK-47 rounds, R1 rounds, R5 rounds, 9mm rounds, shotgun rounds and .38 revolver rounds and a number of gold bracelets were also found among the arms at the Katlehong property. National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele said: "It is a Christmas pr…

A research team at the University of Dar es Salaam says half the Tanzanian population is currently hooked to mobile phones, and that it takes just a handset to run a business in the country. Led by Prof Ophelia Mascarenhas of the university, there is no need for offices, visiting cards or huge capital investments. - He is joined by Dr. Raphael Mmasi and Dr. Hezron Makundi of the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) in his findings. The team however remind mobile phone firms to take a more serious approach to mobile banking services, where they argue there is “great potential for ‘banking the unbankable.” A Tanzania newspaper reported to-date; suc…

Charles Chuka becomes the second indigenous Malawian to take over the running of a telecommunications company in the country. He is preceded by Saulos Chilima who took over as executive director of Celtel, now Airtel, a mobile telecommunications service provider, last year. - The new fixed line service company Malawi Telecommunications Limited (MTL) CEO, replaces expatriate Bernd Flack who left last month. A statement from MTL Hilda Singo, company secretary and chief administration officer, described Chuka as highly educated. "He got the post following a "rigorous selection and interview process," she said. His "vast experience, academic credentials and leadershi…

The African Union (AU) said it has carefully accessed the situation in Ivory Coast between President Laurent Gbagbo and the ECOWAS leaders who have been discussing the embattled leader's cling to power after he lost in the November 28 2010 run-off elections. - Spokesman for Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika, who is the AU chairperson, Dr. Hetherwick Ntaba said: “Gbagbo must be descent enough to step down to avoid civil disorder and its ugly consequences.” “The AU is disappointed with Gbagbo’s continued clinging to power as was the case by 3rd January 2011 after Ivory Coast’s leadership met three leaders from ECOWAS. It still shows there is no breakthro…

Thousands of Zimbabweans in South Africa queued outside the Department of Home Affairs in a bid to end their 'illegal immigrant' status in a last-minute scramble this week. The department was adamant there would be no more extension on the deadline which ended last Friday. - However, home affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa, would not comment on when deportations would start, saying they were "focusing on mobilising people to regularise their stay in South Africa". But Zimbabweans such as Roselyn Sithole are determined to avoid the humiliation of being herded into police vans and deported. Despite being booted out of the long queue that snaked around the block at the…

A museum built to honour the legacy of Nelson Mandela is turning into a national embarrassment forcing Cameron Dugmore, former Western Cape education minister, to vow to raise his concerns about the heritage site with the premier of the Eastern Cape. - Dugmore visited the site last Sunday and was left standing alone in an open-air museum without a guide. As if that is not enough, Mandela's grandson, Mandla, this week criticised museum management of undermining the Madiba legacy. The official museum tour excludes Mandela's birthplace, Mvezo. The museum's management, however, denies any wrongdoing. They claim instead the museum is becoming increasingly popular - to the po…

Zimbabwe's Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, and other individuals could soon face treason charges over confidential talks to US diplomats leaked by the whistleblower website 'WikiLeaks'. A cable dated December 24, 2009 suggested that Tsvangirai had privately insisted sanctions "must be kept in place." - Johannes Tomana, the attorney general, was quoted by the media he would appoint a commission of five lawyers to examine whether recent disclosures in leaked US embassy cables has breached the country's constitution, reports ANI "With immediate effect, I am going to instruct a team of practising lawyers to look into the issues that arise from the WikiLea…

The Republic of South Africa (RSA) is now a full member of the Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) blog. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said the group plans to invite RSA leader, Jacob Zuma, to its meeting to be held next year in Beijing, China. - During a phone conversation with his South African counterpart, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Yang said the Chinese President Hu Jintao believed RSA’s accession would promote the development of BRIC and enhance the cooperation of emerging market economies. China holds the current chairmanship that rotates amongst BRIC members. On behalf of the South African government and President Zuma, Nkoana-Mashabane said: "I would like to expr…

Data from a file-sharing blog has said Avatar, the biggest film in history, is the most pirated film of the year. The film was downloaded from torrent websites 16.6 million times, according to TorrentFreak. - The figure represents a 33% increase in download activity from last year's top-pirated film, "Star Trek," which was downloaded just under 11 million times, reported Reuters. 20th Century Fox, which distributed the sci-fi epic, isn't exactly crying. The film grossed nearly $2.8 billion at the worldwide box office to become the highest-grossing movie ever (before accounting for inflation). Director James Cameron has frequently touted 3D filmmaking as the indus…

Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika on Wednesday warned his critics he is not Jesus Christ and will take action if they continue to be critical of his government. Many people accuse him of not exercising patience when making important decisions. - “It was Jesus, the son of God who said turn the other cheek. Do you want me to be Jesus? That was Jesus, the son of God, I am Bingu,” he said. “You slap me here, I will hit you. That is the way life is.” He added he will not give the other cheek to be slapped like Jesus. “No, not me, I am the son of man. You play with me, expect the consequences,” Mutharika, the current African Union chairman said, accusing…

Zantel Tanzania launched a scheme where its customers will get internet bundled laptops at easy payment terms lasting up to 13 months. Chief Commercial Officer Nitish Malik in Dar es Salaam the company wishes to address the issue of computer penetration in the East African country which currently remains low. - “Zantel will continue to address difficulties and bottlenecks that our customers are facing. We want to ensure they enjoy products and services that are tailor made and satisfy customer needs,” he said. Zantel, he added, was proud to champion internet growth and penetration in Tanzania by providing affordable and flexible solutions. "Zantel is geared to avail t…

The Korea conflict can lead to devastating war effects not only to the conflicting two countries, but to the African continent, the African Union said. Chairperson Bingu wa Mutharika said, AU was worried the tension between North and South Korea could escalate to a major continental war that can blow out of proportion. - "Women, children and the elderly are the most vulnerable during war. We also take this as an opportunity to ask the United Nations through General Secretary Ban Ki Moon to ensure the conflict is resolved with speed," read the statement. The two Koreas engaged in a brief encounter where the North shelled a South Korea island, killing two soldiers and two civilia…

Malawi president Bingu wa Mutharika has ordered that the electoral commission be suspended amid talks of grave fraud. Police moved in to seal MEC headquarters in the commercial city of Blantyre after a brief statement from Chief Secretary to the Malawi Government Bright Msaka. - Vehicles belonging to the commissioners have been seized. Staff of the commission were ordered to lie on the floor before body searches were conducted on them. The suspension follows an audit report detailing some US$ 9 million meant for local government elections scheduled for April next year and cannot be accounted for. "This is a grave matter," said Msaka. "His Excellency the President …

Malawi's Police Service (MPS) has expressed worry about a growing rate of human trafficking in the northern border district of Mzimba. Two overloaded South African registered buses with over 200 passengers were intercepted on their way to South Africa trying to make to the border. - Police spokesman in the district, George Kondowe said the MPS was also in contact with immigration colleagues to map a way forward, as almost all the passengers had passports with irregularities. A 32 year old woman, Emily Mwandira, and four men were arrested in connection with the human ‘contraband’. “Mzimba is not a banana district where transporters can traffic Malawians to South Afri…

Lady Gaga, Alicia Keys and Kim Kardashian are among a host of celebrities giving up Twitter and Facebook for charity in Africa and India. Expect Twitter and Facebook to be very quiet for the next few weeks as A-listers in their droves commit social network suicide - albeit temporarily - in the name of charity. - The Keep a Child Alive charity campaign, organized by Alicia Keys and Leigh Blake, will see high-profile social networkers sign off on World AIDS Day, to raise money for those in Africa and India affected by HIV/AIDS, the New York Post reported. Gaga, who has more than seven million Twitter followers and nearly 24 million Facebook fans has agreed to keep quiet, along with Kim Kard…

Malawi's National Assembly and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) have defied the government of Malawi by flying the old national flag despite warning that doing so is illegal. Government banned the use of the old flag. Mutharika presented the new flag to SADC weeks after the inauguration. - The National Assembly and SADC are flying the old flag on their websites www.parliament.gov.mw and www.sadc.int respectively. The two institutions are operating contrary to the warning that country’s government gave through the Ministry of Information and Civic Education on August this year that it is illegal to fly the old flag following the inauguration of the new flag by Pr…

A clip of "Winnie" due for release next year and starring American actress Jennifer Hudson in the lead role has been leaked. Hudson plays South African struggle veteran Mrs. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in her journey from rural childhood to Johannesburg social worker to wife of one of the world's most famous men. - The movie first made the headlines when Mandela herself threatened to sue the production and its cast unless she was allowed to see the script. Directed by South African Darrell Roodt and based on Anna Marie du Preez Bezdrob's biography "Winnie Mandela: A Life", there were fears the film would boost the negative image of the woman who once notorious…

An AfricaCom Daily News research has revealed over 500 million Africans are now subscribed to a mobile phone by the third quarter this year - at end of September. GSM penetration rate in Africa, revealed at a conference in South Africa, stood at 48.35 per cent at the end of September, and some African markets have since passed saturation point. - "But penetration in other markets is still less than five per cent, and penetration below ten per cent is typical for rural areas," AfricaCom Daily News reported. Conducted by Informa Telecoms and Media, one of the organizers of the ongoing AfricaCom conference in Cape Town, South Africa, the milestone coincided with the 25th anniversar…

Chichewa becomes one of the few African languages that have been used to localise the popular English Google version. Gmail, Google Maps and Google are now being enjoyed in Malawi's national local language. - The development, which will see a majority Chewa speaking people click their way to searched information in the country, neighbouring Zambia, Mozambique, and the language users in Zimbabwe, follows an advertisement from Google Africa. Lilongwe-based software developer, Edmond Kachale, started the translation programme as a pastime, writes Clement Nyirenda in his blog. He further went on to call for volunteers to carry out the work. "Google Africa is looking for volunteer…

Light, with a great and acute sense of smell, giant African pouched rats are being trained to sniff out landmines in fields in Tanzania. The country is campaigning to train the highly effective 'weapon' to be used in ordinance clearing. - The rats are being trained by a pioneering Dutch team, APOPO – a non-governmental organization that launched the project for the first time in Tanzania. In Mozambique, the rats have already been used to smell out the deadly ordinance in infested war zones including in Chimoio, becoming an effective biological weapon of its kind. “This work is not easy,” recounts trainer Abdullah Mchomvu. “You have to be patient. Some…

The US Agency for International Development's Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS-NET) has warned of possible flooding along some of the major rivers such as the Zambezi, which flows through seven southern African countries, and more cyclones in the Indian Ocean, which would affect Mozambique and Madagascar. - The development has seen several officials in Southern African countries gearing up for the rainy season which normally goes on until the end of March 2011. But this year, with the La Niña influence, the region is bracing for a wetter than usual season, IRIN reports. Heavy rain brought on by the lingering effect of La Niña in 2009 caused the worst floods to hit Namibia i…

Several celebrities have said they are boycotting Botswana over allegations the country is abusing Kalahari Bushmen. X-FILES star Gillian Anderson and British actress Joanna Lumley are among those that have sworn not t travel to the country or wear its diamonds. - Survival International (SI), a human rights group announced in a statement last week the two, including British actress Sophie Okonedo, British illustrator Quentin Blake and theatre actor Mark Rylance have agreed not to use diamonds mined in the country. SI accuses the government of Botswana's President Ian Khama of denying the Bushmen access to water and is calling for a boycott of Botswana's diamonds, but the world…

Main opposition contender in Tanzania's elections, Dr. Willibald Slaa, has challenged the Tanzania National Elections commission to stop announcing provincial results and start the presidential race afresh. He said he will not accept the results if incumbent president and Chama cha Mapinduzi's (CCM) party leader, Jakaya Kikwete, is pronounced winner. - “The figures at polling stations and those that are released by the electoral commission do not tally. It is obvious we are gaining and we are possible winners,” he said in a BBC Focus on Africa report monitored by Africanews. “We demand a rerun in the presidential race,” he emphasized. Claims of irregulari…

Botswana import about $116m worth of goods from China this year, close to the 2009 import value of $16bn. There is a growing presence of Chinese business in local trade. Botswana has thus far this year exported $27m worth of commodities to China, resulting in a country-to-country trade imbalance of $90m in favour of China. - Data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) indicates the value of Chinese imports for the year up to July - the latest month for which information is available - outweighs annual import values for 2005, 2006 and 2007, according to a report by the Mmedi online. While imports from China from 2008 and 2009 were above the P1 billion mark, the value of imports up to Jul…

The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has revoked G-Mobile mobile telecommunications services licence. The company, which was expected to roll out by 20th September this year, insists it will go ahead with its plans to be Malawi's third mobile service telecommunications provider. - Public Relations Manager at MACRA, Zam'dziko Mankhambo said it was proved beyond reasonable doubt that G-Mobile would not meet its final deadline. "We licenced them on 20th March 2009 and expected them to roll out by 20th January 2010. They did not do this though we extended their deadline twice," he said. The body announced last week it was starting the revocation proces…

Malawi established more than 8,500 centres across the country to carry out measles vaccination. The country was hit by a measles outbreak that killed hundreds. Minister of Health, Professor David Mphande said this year's mass immunisation campaign aims at vaccinating children missed out at birth. The campaign is taking place a year earlier due to an early outbreak. - Mphande told journalists in the capital city Lilongwe that the ministry had also put out mobile clinics to beef up vaccination in remote areas and as a compliment to the established health facilities. "With an average of eight percent missing rate after birth, the pool gradually grows and these are people at risk,…

Troubled G-Mobile, a mobile telecommunications company that intends to become Malawi's third, has announced it is rolling out a US$25 million network before the end of the year. The company was last month ordered to pay millions after it failed to roll out on time. - Chief Executive Officer, Peter Davies, in the commercial city of Blantyre he company is expected to invest more than US$150 million in the coming three years. "We will be up and running before the end of this year. We mean to be the network of choice," he said, adding G-Mobile is earmarking a workforce of 60 in its first year, outsourcing most of its activities. Davies challenged G-Mobile will establish a hi…

Malawi consecrated moves for a new national flag. The event has been hurried up following constructive protests from the civil society and general public. The new flag, with red, black and green stripes from top to bottom, bears a white fully risen sun in the middle with rays spilling into the top and bottom stripes. - "Those who say there were no consultations on the flag change were busy drinking beer," said Mutharika on his return from a heads of state and government conference in Uganda last week. Today, he reiterated that those who are against the flag change, are myopic to change and drunk. “We need to change. As a country we have moved significantly from 1964. Our f…

Malawian president Bingu wa Mutharika has given the nod to change the national flag of the Southern African country, according to the Speaker for the National Assembly, Henry Chimunthu-Banda. The news follows wa Mutharika's assent to the Flag Change bill after a 21-day grace period. - "We wish to inform the general public that His Excellency the State President Bingu wa Mutharika assented to the Flag change Bill. This is one of the many Bills that Mutharika has signed," Chimunthu-Banda said. "We are not changing the flag. We are simply modifying it. Government consultations show that most people would like the flag to change to the proposed one," said Minister Rec…

President Bingu wa Mutharika of Malawi has dispelled rumours that he may contest for a third consecutive term of office. The current African Union boss made it clear that come 2014, he is packing up for good for the next leader. However, some members of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party hope he stays. - An independent Member of Parliament for Mangochi South, Yusuf Matumula, told fellow representatives in the house last month's sitting there was need for Mutharika to come back in 2014. "The development that he has initiated and undertaken requires that we maintain Mutharika to complete his vision. The constitution must be amended to cater for this important development,&quo…

Bharti Airtel International is to spend US$100 million on Zain Malawi in the next three years. An executive officer of Zain Manoj Kohli told the press the India telecommunication firm intends to completely rebrand Zain by September along with all other Zain operations on the African continent. - “Just overnight you will sleep with Zain and wake up the following day with a completely rebranded Airtel in the whole of Africa,” said Kohli. He signed the agreement with fellow representatives, Zain International’s chief operations officer Jayant Khosla and Ministry of Information and Civic Education minister Reckford Thotho. “There will be no job losses. We plan to incre…

One of the pardoned gay partners in Malawi, Stoneck aka 'Aunt Tiwo' Tiwonge Chimbalanga is reportedly missing. His uncle, village headman Chimbalanga speaking from his village in Thyolo District confirmed the matters. He said Aunt Tiwo arrived in the village at 9pm at night after he and his colleague, Steven monjeza, received a presidential pardon. - A visit to his former working place also yielded no results. President Bingu wa Mutharika pardoned the two on 'humanitarian grounds; and said homosexuality is still against the laws of Malawi. Malawi Prisons Service top boss, Macdonald Chaona said he personally instructed his department to deliver the two at their respective…

UNAIDS and the Global Fund believe African Union (AU) chairman and Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika's voice should be upfront in the campaign for the G8 to replenish funds. Anti Aids, tuberculossis and malaria, Africa's main killers, would benefit from the development, they say. - Executive Director Michel Kazatchnike said he was in Malawi alongside his UNAIDS colleague to ask Mutharika to lead the campaign. "We asked him as leader of the country key in achieving major progress in the fight against HIV and AIDS in the coming few months to champion and advocate development. Specifically we want him to replenish the Golbal Fund to which many lives owe their survival,"…

Malawi's Flames hotspot, Chiukepo Msowoya has linked up his boots with Orlando Stars of South Africa. He was earlier destined to travel to SC Freiburg, a Bundesliga side in Germany. The Flames' top goal scorer confirmed all was set for Orlando and would join the team on July 1. - “I will be there for pre-season preparations,” he said. He is currently finalizing his contractual loan obligations with Rwandan side, APR FC. However, a lot surrounds the player that his Mozambican side, Malcumana FC has engaged Orlando Pirates officials in controversial negotiations. Rafiq Seedat of Malcumana told the press last week he failed to convince the bubbly player to stick to the …

Outbreak of measles in Malawi had taken ill over 3,000 people and killed eight in Blantyre alone. Twenty-six cases have been recorded by Monday in Mwanza and Neno districts. Health officials had last week announced it would require $4.1 million to vaccinate over six million children countrywide. - The situation has forced the government to jump the gun and implement its three year interval measles civic education and vaccination campaign to kick start immediately. Four districts in Malawi's Southern region, including Blantyre, are now on the crash programme. Last week campaigns were rolled out in Blantyre, Chiradzulu and Mzimba districts. Deputy Minister of Health Theresa Mwale sa…

Malawi's mining prospects are expected to jump from the current $100m to $500m between now to 2018, the Ministry of Labour said. A World Bank review of the country's mining sector revealed the good news. Principle Secretary Andrina Mchiela said such figures will provide employment as the industry will contribute more to the GDP. - "Currently the mining sector rolls in about 3% of the GDP. Projections are that the mining industry will contribute up to 20% by 2011," she revealed. Mchiela also listed big mining projects in the country that include Kanyika Multi Commodity Project in Mzimba, Bwanje Cement Project in Ntcheu and Tengani Heavy Mineral Sands in Nsange districts…

All United Nations (UN) staff have been banned from flying Africa's friendly airline, Air Malawi. The ban follows the career's report on operational problems, according to a Safety Advisory document from the UN to staff who attended the recent joint AU and UN for Africa (ECA) finance ministers' conference. - The report cited recent Air Malawi problems, the resignation of pilots and engineers. The incidents have raised questions about the airline’s safety and sustainability. “UN staff are therefore not authorized to travel on Air Malawi,” read the document. Malawi Head of Security Affairs, Sally Tembo, told the local press the document is an internal mat…

A grouping of seventy local and international non-governmental organizations has asked government to desist from forcing teachers and pupils to presidential and political functions. The Civil society coalition for Basic Education (CSQBE) said this is one of the main reasons education standards in Malawi are going down. - A press release from CSQBE on this said: “We have noted with regret that as a country we are sliding back to the times of the one party dictatorship when schools spent a lot of their precious time attending presidential rallies and dancing before the president.” However government spokesman, Minister of Information and Civic Education, Leckford Thotho, argues …

About thirty-five Southern African non-governmental organizations want arrested gay couple Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza released without condition. The NGOs argue the arrest and trial on suspected homosexuality compromises the fight against HIV/AIDS and mostly violates fundamental rights. - Under sections 153 and 156 of the Penal Code, homosexuality is against the laws of Malawi. “These laws must be repealed as they are discriminatory,” said the NGO’s umbrella body, Aids and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa. Last week Malawi’s lawmakers meeting in the capital Lilongwe bashed European parliamentarians of trying to work against the enshrined laws of a…

Rwandan officials have pursued their Malawian counterparts on the whereabouts of a 1994 Rwandese genocide suspect, Vincent Nzigiyimfura who was last freely conducting business in the country. Rwandan prosecutor General Martin Ngoga said the suspect was last reported in Malawi under the name Vincent Nzigiye. - He added that the Africa Rights, a non-governmental organisation and his country officials were convinced the man had sneaked out to the United States of America. "We do not know under what circumstances he managed to sneak out of Malawi and end up in the US," he said. Malawian authorities, however, said they were investigating the matter through the Malawi Police but th…

A heavy earth tremor hit the central region of Malawi in the early hours of 0100 and 0200 CAT on Thursday. Residents in the capital Lilongwe, in Dedza and other parts of the region took to their heels as houses tremble and threatened to collapse. The magnitude was 3.8. No casualties have been reported. - “I was at work when this happened. We were all outside the buildings. It was a big tremor,” said Airport Police Sgt. Thandi Singano resident in Lumbadzi and working at the Kamuzu International Airport. Ken Mwanyongo, resident some 25 kilometers away from the airport in the heart of the city, said he was awakened by the tremors and he rushed outside with his dependents. …

What started as celebrations after Malawi beat Algeria 3-0 turned ugly when a child was hit dead by a vehicle. Another person was injured when a car tyre run over his foot. Both incidents which took place in populous townships of Mchesi and Kawale, were a result of excited Malawi national team supporters crowding the streets to cheer their team. - A police vehicle from Kawali unit also joined the frenzy as it drove about, lights on, horns blaring and passengers that included children shouted their love for the Flames. Low density area of Bwandilo Area 47 was no different. Ecstatic drivers and pedestrians flashed three fingers symbolizing the three goals and the three points of Bwandilo ti…

Minnows Malawi humiliated World Cup 2010 bound Algeria by a three goals to nil in their opening Group A match to the surprise of many football pundits. The results sparked thunderous joy in the southern African country contrary to their fear as the Algerians dominated the game. - Malawi's Flames scored their first goal through a hot shot from Russel Mwafulirwa just after the 16 minutes past the Algerian goalkeeper at the ongoing African Cup of Nations. The second came in after a beautiful shot from Elvis Kafoteka which was connected into the net making it two zero within the first half. The second half saw Malawi looking increasing confident on the ball, with players like Josephy…

One person died in the earth tremor that shook Malawi between the late hours of Sunday and early hours of Monday. Six people in the Karonga district were injured on Tuesday bringing the total number of casualties to 10 in the 5.9 Richter scale quakes. - District Commissioner Gasten Macheka said: “Houses continue to fall and people are sleeping outside their homes. This one was very violent and strong and the people require immediate water and temporary shelter as we are still undertaking an assessment report.” The Director of the Geological Survey Department Dr. Leonard Kalindekafe said the district and some parts of the Northern region experienced over 12 earthquakes from 19:…

Malawi's main opposition, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) leader, John Tembo's demand for the May 19, 2009 presidential polls recount have been thrown out by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC). Tembo has been contesting that the elections won by incumbent President Bingu wa Mutharika were rigged. - The Daily Times of Monday said the electoral body, taken to task two days by Tembo to recount the presidential votes or face legal action, was of the view that these demands were presented after the expiry of the legal validity period for such complaints. MEC spokesman Fegus Lipenga said the commission was surprised with Tembo's allegations as every political party fielded party m…

Games from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Southern Africa Chiefs Organisation (SARPCO) will start at the Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, Malawi. Participating countries include Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mauritius, Tanzania, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Swaziland. - The games, launched Sunday by President Bingu wa Mutharika, who is also Commander-in-Chief of the Malawi Police Service (MPS), asked the teams to actively participate to improve their physical health. "These games are a symbol of unity and solidarity among our countries, nationas, and police forces and services," he said, adding SARPCO was showing good efforts in encouraging police off…