All articles tagged with #malawi
Scientists discovered the earliest known cremation in Africa, dating back 9,500 years in Malawi, involving a large-scale pyre ritual for a likely middle-aged woman, challenging previous notions about hunter-gatherer mortuary practices and indicating complex social behaviors.
Malawi's Vice President Jane Ansah faces criticism over a costly private trip to the UK, with allegations of a large delegation and significant expenses, contradicting government austerity promises and sparking public outrage and calls for transparency.
Peter Mutharika, Malawi's former president, won the recent election with 57% of the vote, marking a significant political comeback at age 85 amid a deep economic crisis. Lazarus Chakwera conceded defeat, acknowledging irregularities but accepting the result. Mutharika's victory is seen as a rejection of Chakwera's leadership, which faced criticism over corruption and economic issues. Mutharika now faces the challenge of addressing inflation and economic instability.
Peter Mutharika, Malawi's former president, has made a surprising comeback to power after winning the recent election, despite a controversial and tumultuous political history marked by allegations of corruption, court battles, and economic challenges. His return raises questions about Malawi's political stability and future direction.
Malawi's former President Peter Mutharika leads in the presidential race with around 66% of votes reported, while incumbent Lazarus Chakwera trails at 24%. Results are still being verified, and Chakwera's camp is optimistic about increasing their tally, but the electoral commission emphasizes transparency and accuracy amid concerns over irregularities and recent arrests related to election manipulation.
Malawi police have arrested eight individuals for alleged electoral fraud during the country's recent general elections, as officials await final results amid concerns over irregularities and past election controversies, with the presidential race still undecided.
Malawi's electoral commission has warned political parties not to declare victory prematurely after the main candidates claimed victory, emphasizing that only the commission can release official results to ensure accuracy and legitimacy amid a tense electoral process.
Malawi is counting votes in a closely contested presidential election amid economic hardship, with a potential runoff between incumbent Lazarus Chakwera and former President Peter Mutharika, as the country faces high inflation, fuel shortages, and recent natural disasters.
The US has announced a new visa bond requirement of up to $15,000 for tourists and business travelers from Zambia and Malawi, aiming to curb visa overstays. This move, part of broader immigration tightening measures, has been criticized as unfair and burdensome, especially for genuine travelers from these poorer nations, and raises concerns about potential expansion of travel restrictions across Africa.
The US Department of State has introduced a policy requiring tourists from Malawi and Zambia to pay up to $15,000 in visa bonds as a measure to curb visa overstays, with the scheme set to expand to more countries. The bonds are refundable if tourists leave on time or their visas are canceled, but are forfeited if they overstay or seek asylum. Critics argue the policy is discriminatory and burdensome for travelers from poorer nations.
The abrupt U.S. aid cuts under the Trump administration have led to increased violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking in Malawi's refugee camps, with similar issues reported in Kenya and other regions, exacerbating humanitarian crises and risking regional stability and U.S. security interests.
Malawi reports 11 cases of mpox amid regional surge, compounded by vaccine shortages, limited testing, and healthcare funding cuts, especially affecting HIV treatment, which worsens mpox severity. The country faces challenges in disease awareness and healthcare capacity, with fears of an outbreak amid low public knowledge and strained health services.
Amal Clooney, Michelle Obama, and Melinda Gates have joined forces in Malawi to reaffirm their commitment to ending child marriage. Through the Clooney Foundation For Justice, they are funding the Women Lawyers Association of Malawi to provide free legal advice and aid clinics in remote areas. Despite progress, the UN warns that child marriage will persist for another 300 years. Amal also met with the president of Malawi, Lazarus Chakwera, who pledged to end child marriage in the country by 2030. The CFJ's work extends to other countries, investigating war crimes and supporting relief efforts during the pandemic.
Malawi's President Lazarus Chakwera has suspended all foreign trips by government officials, including himself, as part of austerity measures to heal the country's struggling economy. The suspension will be in place until March next year, with any necessary travel requiring personal authorization from the president. Chakwera also announced a 50% cut in fuel entitlements for cabinet ministers and senior government officials, as well as measures to address wage increases for civil servants and lower income tax for individuals. Malawi is facing an economic crisis marked by fuel shortages, inflated food prices, and a shortage of foreign exchange.
Cholera cases are on the rise globally due to the exacerbating effects of climate change, with storms and floods playing a significant role. In Malawi, the country's worst cholera outbreak occurred in 2022, claiming over 1,600 lives. The storms Ana and Gombe destroyed water and sanitation infrastructure, leading to contaminated water sources and the spread of the disease. Climate change also contributes to cholera through droughts and hotter temperatures. The destruction of water and sanitation infrastructure is a key factor in increasing cholera risk. Investment in infrastructure and development is crucial to combat the disease. However, the reporting of cholera cases in Malawi may be underreported due to changes in reporting protocols, raising concerns about the potential for another outbreak.