May, 2013

Some fans in Lilongwe have expressed satisfaction with this year’s Big Brother Africa (BBA) representatives Natasha Tonthola and Fatima Nkata.

In a random interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Monday, people said they have been waiting for a win since BBA stated in 2006 as they had seen the country’s representatives reaching final whereby by Hazel Warren missed the grand prize by a whisker.

Mathews Banda, a business man, said the country’s representatives are good, saying they can win the ultimate grand prize this year.

“We have seen our representatives reaching finals but it doesn’t do well…

The biggest reality show in Africa is back and Africa Magic can reveal that Season 8 of Big Brother Africa has been dramatically titled The Chase. 28 housemates from 14 countries will not only be chasing after the $300 000 cash prize but the chance of becoming a household name and perhaps even finding romance.

Launching on Sunday 26 May, Big Brother The Chase will combine electrifying twists and big surprises that will require housemates to use their charm to get ahead, possibly leaving room for cupid’s arrow to connect two hearts or more.

Setting the tone and in-line…

This Friday 17-05-2013 on Al Jazeera’s new global talk show South 2 North, Redi Tlhabi interviews two remarkable African leaders: Joyce Banda, Malawi’s first female president, and Dr. Mamphela Ramphele, founder of Agang, South Africa’s new party political platform.

President Banda became only the second woman to lead an African country in April 2012, following the example of Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Time Magazine recently named Banda one of the most influential people in the world, while Forbes called her the most powerful woman in Africa in 2012.

Ramphele, a former vice-chancellor at The University of…

Malawi’s President Joyce Banda has had 12 tumultuous months since she took office in April last year.

She has attempted to right Malawi’s economy by devaluing its currency, giving herself a 30 percent pay cut and proposed to offload a fleet of Mercs for her 35 member cabinet.

But the economy has continued to sputter despite the reforms although central bank Governor Peter Chuka has remained optimistic that the economy will start to stabilize from mid 2013.

Commodity prices have gone up and pushed inflation to 36.5 percent in March; higher than the IMF forecast.

Since she took over, the cost of living in urban Malawi for a family of six now needs…

Joining a village savings and loans group called “Buyu” has made Malawian women achieve things they had never even dreamed of. Their lives have improved significantly and they are now positive about the future for themselves and their families.

Since she was a little girl Elizabeth Lughali, 32, dreamed of sleeping in a real bed with a mattress. Today her dream has come true; she has managed to save enough money to buy a bed, a mattress and some nice linen through a DanChurchAid supported village savings and loans project.

“I joined Buyu savings club last year and saved enough to buy the bed and a plot of land. In total,…

Barely hours after MV ILALA hit the waters of lake Malawi after over a 10-months absence, the vessel has once again broken down at Chipoka Harbour in Salima due to engine failure.

The new manager of Malawi Shipping Company-MSC to which ILALA belongs-Motal Engil claims to have spent millions of Kwacha to provide full maintainance of the ship.

When MBC crew visited Chipoka in Salima on Sunday the very day it got stuck with passangers on board, the ship appeared to have been refurbished  with new painting and furniture.

Asked as to…