UTM president Dalitso Kabambe has urged politicians to abandon the politics of hate and collaborate to resolve the ongoing economic challenges in Malawi, according to Nyasa Times. In a statement on Thursday, the opposition leader called on both the government and his counterparts to prioritise the nation over partisan interests during the current fuel and foreign exchange shortages. Kabambe warned that being in opposition should not mean wishing the country harm and pressed the administration to govern with a sense of responsibility.
In parliamentary proceedings, a K3 billion compensation shortfall has prevented the Ministry of Lands from allocating development plots in Lilongwe, Mzuzu, and Blantyre, AllAfrica reports. Lands Principal Secretary Bennett Nkasala told the Public Accounts Committee on Friday that the government failed to pay residents for their land in Area 54, Dunduzu, and Matindi. This failure forced the ministry to miss its revenue targets. The committee has demanded further documentation from the ministry before closing the audit query.
Efforts to decentralise civil registration have advanced following a United Nations Development Programme donation of printers, Nyasa Times reports. Homeland Security Minister Peter Mukhito received the equipment on Friday, explaining that 52 of the printers will allow the National Registration Bureau to issue birth and death certificates directly at local health facilities, while others are designated for Traditional Authority offices. The project aims to reduce the distance citizens must travel to access essential identity documents.
Update: Following earlier coverage of currency devaluation rumours, Information and Communications Technology Minister Dr Shadric Namalomba issued a formal statement on Thursday unequivocally denying reports that the government is negotiating a devaluation of the Malawi Kwacha with the International Monetary Fund, according to Nyasa Times. Namalomba clarified that devaluation is not on the agenda of the current negotiations and urged the public to rely on verified statements from monetary authorities rather than speculation.