AGP Executive Report

Livestock Diversification: Malawi’s agriculture ministry is pushing households to rear rabbits, guinea fowls, ducks and pigeons to boost nutrition and income, targeting millions of birds under the 2021–2026 livestock policy and 2024 agriculture plan. Drylands & Climate Cooperation: Dryland Congress 2026 in New Delhi ended with the Delhi Declaration on Drylands (3D), urging stronger South-South and triangular cooperation, knowledge exchange and “living laboratories” to connect research to farmers. Digital Identity Push: Malawi says the Nzika Digital ID wallet will launch next week, letting citizens store a verified identity on smartphones via the National Registration Bureau, as part of a wider move to modernise identity services. Clean Energy Roadmap: Energy Minister Jean Mathanga outlines plans to cut biomass dependence by shifting 75% of households to clean cooking by 2030, alongside restoring hydro units and importing 50MW from Mozambique. Water & Power Accountability: Malawi’s High Court has stayed enforcement of a K2.5bn claim against Blantyre Water Board, as the utility seeks appeal relief while the sector grapples with energy costs. Agriculture Research for El Niño: Researchers at Luanar are highlighted for work aimed at cushioning farmers from El Niño impacts, including fertiliser and drought risk responses. Responsible Gambling: MAGLA warns students to treat betting as entertainment, not a job, and to seek help when gambling becomes a problem. Climate Solutions Media: Zodiak Broadcasting Station (Malawi) is among six African newsrooms selected for a climate solutions journalism programme running to March 2027. Mining & Rare Earths Watch: A report on Songwe Hill rare earths raises community concerns about “big money” not yet translating into local benefits, while experts stress the need for stronger institutions and local processing.

Regional Trade Push: Zimbabwe’s exports to COMESA rose to US$222m last year (+10.4%), as Harare prepares to host the 25th COMESA summit and a business forum aimed at expanding regional value chains. Mining & Rare Earths: Malawi’s Songwe Hill rare earths project is drawing big expectations, but locals say they still lack clarity on jobs, benefits and how mining will reach communities. Clean Energy Plan: Energy Minister Jean Mathanga outlines a shift away from biomass, targeting 75% of households using clean cooking by 2030 and restoring hydro units, with Mozambique power imports planned. Workplace Safety: Reports from Haroon Steel highlight unsafe conditions and weak enforcement of labour protections, with workers afraid to complain. Climate-Smart Farming: Luanar-linked research is being positioned to help farmers cushion El Niño impacts, as drought risk and pest threats loom. Food Prices Hit: Maize prices jumped 20% in a month, pushing costs above the government cap and squeezing households. Digital Identity: Malawi confirms the Nzika Digital ID wallet launch next week, moving identity services onto smartphones. Water Utility Court Move: Malawi’s High Court stayed enforcement of a K2.5bn BWB payment order pending appeal, amid ongoing financial fragility. Climate Journalism Boost: Zodiak Broadcasting Station (Malawi) is among six African newsrooms selected for a climate solutions reporting programme.

Digital Identity Push: Malawi’s Nzika Digital ID wallet is set for a nationwide launch next week, letting citizens carry verified identity on smartphones and reducing reliance on physical cards. Energy Transition: Energy Minister Jean Mathanga says Malawi plans to cut biomass dependence and move 75% of households to clean cooking by 2030, alongside restoring hydro units and importing 50MW from Mozambique. Water & Power Finance: Blantyre Water Board got court relief on a K2.5bn claim, while separate reporting shows a K24bn behind-the-scenes rescue helped slash losses and improve liquidity. Mining & Rare Earths Transparency: Communities around Songwe Hill rare earths say they hear “big money” but lack clear details on how benefits will reach them. Agriculture & Food Prices: Maize prices jumped 20% in a month, pushing costs above government caps and deepening the cost-of-living squeeze. Banana Recovery Plan: A study recommends seed systems, disease control, irrigation and market links to revive Malawi’s banana value chain after BBTV. Climate Media Capacity: Malawi’s Zodiak Broadcasting Station is among six African newsrooms selected for a climate solutions journalism programme. Workplace Safety: Reports from Haroon Company highlight unsafe conditions and weak enforcement of labour protections. Governance & Elections: CMD warns electoral reform lessons and grievances are moving too slowly, risking another flawed election cycle.

Banana Recovery Plan: A new Mwapata Institute policy brief says Malawi can revive its banana value chain after BBTV by investing in seed systems, disease control, irrigation and market linkages—while noting Malawi still imports about 15% of its banana consumption. Export Diversification Push: Analysts warn that declining tobacco, tea, coffee and cotton earnings and output could worsen foreign exchange shortages, urging faster diversification into other export opportunities. Climate Journalism Boost: Zodiak Broadcasting Station (Malawi) is among six African newsrooms selected for MESHA’s Africa Climate Beacons Newsroom Initiative to strengthen climate solutions reporting. Digital ID Rollout: Government confirms the Nzika Digital ID wallet launch next week, aiming to let citizens carry verified identity on smartphones via the NRB with UNDP support. Court Delay for Activist: Human rights lawyer Alexious Kamangila says he’s still waiting for a High Court hearing date in a defamation case. Food Prices Alarm: Maize prices jumped 20% in a month, with some regions above the government’s K900/kg cap, deepening cost-of-living pressure. Rural Connectivity Tech: Huawei briefs MACRA on rural connectivity solutions, including compact solar-powered telecom sites. Water Board Legal Relief: Malawi’s High Court stayed enforcement of a K2.5bn Blantyre Water Board judgment debt pending appeal.

Digital Identity: Malawi’s Nzika Digital ID wallet is set for a nationwide launch next week, letting citizens store a verified identity on smartphones and reducing reliance on physical cards, with the NRB leading the rollout supported by partners including UNDP. Water & Courts: Malawi’s High Court Commercial Division has stayed enforcement of a May 20 judgment ordering Blantyre Water Board to pay K2.5bn, after BWB sought a pause pending appeal. Health Tech: Anadkat family donates a K1.26bn CT scanner to Blantyre Adventist Hospital, boosting diagnostic capacity where advanced equipment is often scarce. Rural Connectivity: Huawei pitches Macra on solutions to expand rural access, including compact solar-powered telecom sites for underserved areas. Food Security: Maize prices jumped 20% in a month to K960/kg, with the Southern Region worst-hit and prices above the government cap, raising fresh affordability fears. Climate & Agriculture: Tobacco industry players coordinate El Niño preparedness, using extension services and mass media to guide farmers on recommended practices. Research & Industry: AfDB backs Malawi’s national census and economic surveys to support GDP rebasing, with funding discussions underway in Seoul. Education & AI: Injini launches a $125,000 AI EdTech venture builder for Southern Africa, selecting teams from Malawi and others to move ideas toward market-ready startups. Energy & Hydrogen: Loughborough opens an outdoor hydrogen demonstration centre for industry and training, including a battery-electrolyser unit already commissioned in Malawi for renewable power and cooking hydrogen. Governance & Politics: MCP’s NEC meeting in Lilongwe avoided the succession question, while a new internal pressure group (“Mbembembe”) claims it will block any move to change party rules for Chakwera’s return. Science & Health Risk: A major study links very hot tea/coffee drinking to higher oesophageal cancer risk, reinforcing the need to let drinks cool.

AI & Trade in Marketing: The African Marketing Confederation (AMC) will hold its 2026 conference in Livingstone, Zambia (23–25 Sept), with sessions on how AI and AfCFTA can boost brand power, data use, and Africa’s creative and digital industries. Rural Connectivity: Huawei briefed Malawi’s MACRA on solutions for underserved areas, including a solar-powered pole-mounted telecom setup to expand digital access. Critical Minerals & Rare Earths: The US Development Finance Corporation says it is backing Malawi-linked rare-earth projects, while a Kazakhstan plan for rare-earth oxide separation ties back to Malawi’s downstream ambitions. Education Tech Push: Injini launched an $125,000 AI venture builder for early-stage EdTech teams across Southern Africa, including Malawi, targeting classroom learning, inclusion, and teacher support. Healthcare Upgrade: Anadkat donated a K1.26bn CT scanner to Blantyre Adventist Hospital to improve diagnostics. Food Prices Hit: Maize prices jumped 20% in a month, with August averages rising to K960/kg and Southern Malawi exceeding the government cap. Water & Courts: Malawi’s High Court stayed enforcement of a K2.5bn Blantyre Water Board judgment debt, while the board also faces a K1.6bn electricity payment deadline. Climate Adaptation: Rainwater harvesting advocates say Malawi can harvest over 90 billion cubic metres, urging investment as El Niño fears grow. El Niño & Farming: Tobacco stakeholders agreed on using extension and mass media to share El Niño farming guidance for the 2026–27 season. Governance & Oversight: Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee report on the Amaryllis Hotel deal is ready for tabling, despite a key witness not testifying.

Rural Connectivity Push: Huawei briefed Malawi’s Macra with plans to expand access in underserved areas, including a compact pole-mounted telecom site combining solar power, radio gear, microwave links and baseband components. Critical Minerals & Rare Earths: The US Development Finance Corporation is backing Malawi-linked rare-earth projects, while Kazakhstan plans a rare-earth oxide separation facility tied to Malawi’s Kangankunde project. Education Tech Funding: Injini launched an $125,000 AI for Education venture builder for teams across Southern Africa, with Malawi among the selected countries. Healthcare Upgrade: Anadkat donated a K1.26bn CT scanner to Blantyre Adventist Hospital, spotlighting gaps in diagnostic equipment. El Niño Response: Tobacco industry and government are coordinating extension and mass media guidance to help growers prepare for El Niño impacts. Tourism Performance vs Bottlenecks: Malawi’s tourism sector grew to K1.6tn GDP contribution and 726,700 jobs, but costly bottlenecks still frustrate real gains. Water & Power Pressure: Blantyre Water Board faces a K1.6bn electricity bill deadline amid a larger court liability. Fuel Storage Debate: Nocma is moving to double fuel storage capacity even as critics question building “bigger jars” while foreign currency shortages persist. Exams Update: MANEB released 2026 MSCE results early: 59.26% pass rate. Youth Skills Investment: Standard Bank unveiled a K500m youth empowerment initiative, including school and skills support.

Amaryllis Hotel Probe: Malawi’s Public Accounts Committee report on the controversial Amaryllis Hotel purchase is now signed off and set to be tabled in November, after months of wrangling over a key witness who never testified—raising fresh questions about what the findings will show. Medical Tech Boost: Anadkat has donated a K1.26bn CT scanner to Blantyre Adventist Hospital, spotlighting how advanced diagnostics remain scarce and often depend on private philanthropy. AI for Education: Injini is launching an $125,000 AI EdTech venture builder across nine Southern African countries, selecting 12 teams to turn classroom-focused ideas into market-ready AI learning tools. Digital Identity Learning: Malawi joined UNDP’s Africa Accelerator mission to India to study digital public infrastructure, including digital identity and payments systems. Finance Talks in Seoul: Malawi’s finance minister met AfDB and South Korea officials seeking more grants and concessional funding to ease FX shortages without worsening debt. Climate & Water: RHAM says Malawi can harvest over 90 billion cubic metres of rainwater, as El-Niño fears push renewed water harvesting campaigns. Education Results: MANEB released 2026 MSCE results early: 59.26% pass rate, with a clear male-female gap. Fuel Storage Debate: NOCMA is moving to double strategic fuel storage capacity even as shortages persist, with critics questioning the timing. Lake Malawi Shipping Upgrade: Malawi signed a $20m deal with Hongtai Investment Group to deliver two vessels and modernise Monkey Bay shipyard. Clean Air Alert: A new Africa Air Quality Brief says more than 20 African countries missed WHO air pollution guidelines in 2025.

Fuel & Energy Reality Check: Malawi’s fuel storage plan to double NOCMA capacity to 120 million litres is drawing fire as shortages persist and foreign exchange constraints keep tanks from staying full. Clean Cooking Pressure: LPG shortages in Blantyre are leaving consumers searching for cylinders, even as government pushes clean cooking targets and plans to distribute tens of thousands of LPG and electric cookstoves. Education Tech & Learning: Injini’s AI for Education venture builder is selecting teams across Southern Africa to test AI tools in African classrooms and fund the most promising products. Health Data for Early Life: Researchers built home-based normative growth charts for infants’ gross motor development using a smart jumpsuit, aiming to make movement assessment less subjective. MSCE Results: MANEB released 2026 MSCE results early: 188,169 sat, 111,510 passed (59.26%); male pass rate 62.80% vs female 53.77%. Lake Malawi Shipping Upgrade: Malawi signed a $20m deal with Hongtai Investment Group to deliver two vessels and modernise Monkey Bay Shipyard. Biotech & Seeds Dialogue: AfSTA webinar will share Malawi and Nigeria experiences on agricultural biotechnology commercialisation, regulation and public awareness. Governance & Accountability: Parliament opened 12 probes, including suspected NOCMA fraud and investigations into electricity, pensions, mining and major public projects. Youth Skills Push: Standard Bank committed K500m to Project Youth, backing education, media advocacy, skills development and youth participation.

Education & Gender Equity: MANEB released the 2026 MSCE results: 111,510 of 188,169 candidates passed for a 59.26% national pass rate, with males at 62.80% versus females at 53.77%, and Karonga leading distinctions (11.41%). Clean Cooking & Energy Transition: Malawi’s LPG shortage is hitting consumers in Blantyre, just as the country targets clean cooking adoption; government says it plans 117,000 LPG cookstoves and 53,000 electric cookstoves by 2030, while power reliability hopes hinge on incoming machine spares and Mozambique electricity. Youth Skills Push: Standard Bank unveiled “Project Youth,” committing over K500m (including K261m for a school block and K50m to Mubas) to boost education, skills, entrepreneurship and youth participation. Health Research & Diagnostics: A LUANAR-led consortium met to strengthen action against neglected tropical diseases using a One Health approach, stressing improved diagnostic capacity for emerging threats like leishmaniasis. Governance & Oversight: Parliament opened 12 joint probes, including suspected K700m NOCMA fraud and investigations into pensions, mining, prisons and major public projects, as Malawi’s institutions face renewed scrutiny. Lake Malawi Shipping Upgrade: Malawi signed a $20m deal with Hongtai Investment Group to deliver two vessels and modernise Monkey Bay Shipyard to improve inland transport and tourism. Climate Risk & Farming: With El Niño probability high, Malawi’s preparedness plan is estimated at K488.5bn, and experts are again urging reconsideration of GMO maize for drought resilience.

Clean Air Watch: AfriCAN’s Africa Air Quality Brief says more than 20 African countries missed even the WHO’s looser PM2.5 limits in 2025, using satellite and ground data to guide policy. Energy & Health: Malawi’s LPG shortage is hitting Blantyre hard, with long queues at Afrox Malawi and supplies running out as the country pushes clean cooking targets. Education Outcomes: MANEB released the 2026 MSCE results: 111,510 of 188,169 passed (59.26%), with male pass rates higher than female. El Niño Readiness: Government says it needs K488.5bn for 2026/27 preparedness but has only mobilised K163.7bn, leaving a K324.8bn gap across food, water, energy and early warning. Green Industry & Jobs: Malawi is pushing green industrialisation via a workshop on climate action, with priorities spanning SMEs, mining linkages, and university-private partnerships. Governance & Oversight: Parliament opened 12 probes into issues including fuel procurement, pensions, mining and major projects, while a court injunction has temporarily stalled the committee plan. Transport Modernisation: Malawi signed a $20m deal with Hongtai Investment Group to deliver two vessels and modernise Monkey Bay Shipyard on Lake Malawi. AI for Learning: Injini opened applications for an eight-month AI EdTech venture builder across nine Southern African countries, requiring teams with classroom experience.

Lake Malawi Shipping Upgrade: Malawi has signed a $20mn deal with Chinese firm Hongtai Investment Group to deliver two vessels and modernise Monkey Bay Shipyard, aiming to boost inland transport and tourism over the next 18 months. Biotech Seed Knowledge-Sharing: AfSTA will host a 8 September webinar on biotechnology commercialisation, regulation and public awareness, with Malawi and Nigeria sharing lessons on how national biotechnology committees work. MSCE Results Released: MANEB has published 2026 MSCE results: 111,510 of 188,169 candidates passed (59.26%), with online access via e-Registration and results portals and queries due by 8 October. Clean Cooking via Carbon Finance: A new push across Africa is using carbon credit financing to make cleaner cookstoves affordable, cutting indoor smoke and lowering household energy costs. Power Crisis Update: Malawi’s blackouts may ease by December as critical machine spares are expected soon and Mozambique electricity imports are set to start flowing. El Niño Funding Gap: Government says it needs K488.5bn for 2026/27 preparedness but has only mobilised K163.7bn, leaving a K324.8bn gap that could hit food, energy, health and water systems. School Meals at Risk: WFP warns 611,800 primary learners could lose school meals from September 2026 due to funding shortfalls, threatening nutrition and attendance. Communications Sector Accountability: ICT Minister Shadrick Namalomba has told communications parastatals to end “routine” and deliver measurable results, with corrective action for underperformance. Power Sector Governance Concern: Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee flags conflict-of-interest risks as top civil service leadership chairs multiple power boards, potentially weakening independence and investor confidence.

Early Childhood Education: A new review of pre-primary programmes across The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi and Mozambique finds play-based learning is common, but success depends on what’s built around enrolment—not just getting children into school. Clean Cooking Finance: Carbon credit financing is helping households switch from charcoal to cleaner cookstoves, with Africa still facing major indoor air pollution and health costs. AI for Classroom-Built EdTech: Injini opens applications for an eight-month AI EdTech venture builder, selecting teams from nine Southern African countries and pushing for products designed by people with lived classroom experience. Power Crisis Update: Malawi’s blackouts may ease by December as critical machine spares are expected soon and electricity imports from Mozambique are set to begin. Health Sector Governance: Malawi’s High Court nullifies President Mutharika’s appointment of the Nurses and Midwives Council registrar/CEO, citing qualification problems and unlawful procedure. El Niño Preparedness: Government reports a K324.8bn gap in El Niño readiness for 2026/27, with plans spanning early warning, food and water security, health, energy and logistics. School Meals at Risk: WFP warns 611,800 primary learners could lose meals from September 2026 without urgent donor funding. Rainwater Harvesting Push: Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences launches a rainwater harvesting campaign, backing youth-led behaviour change to boost water security. Mining Boom Watch: Experts say Malawi’s rare earth and critical minerals push could create jobs, but only stronger institutions and local processing will prevent a “resource export” trap. Parliament Oversight Clash: Government denies involvement in a court case challenging Parliament’s planned ad hoc investigations, while the Speaker’s committee moves face legal delays. Communications Parastatals Pressure: ICT minister Shadric Namalomba demands measurable results and warns parastatals against a “culture of routine,” amid governance concerns in the energy sector.

El Niño preparedness gap: Malawi says it needs K488.5bn for the 2026/27 season but has mobilised only K163.7bn, leaving a K324.8bn shortfall that could hit food, water, health and energy; the plan is built on preparedness and resilience, with early warning, pre-positioning supplies and rapid response. School meals at risk: WFP warns 611,800 primary learners could lose meals from September 2026 as funding runs out, risking worse nutrition, absenteeism and harmful coping strategies; it says K34.1bn (US$19.7m) is needed to sustain the programme. Public institution pressure: Government denies involvement in a court case challenging Parliament’s planned probes, while Speaker Suleman’s ad hoc committees face a legal injunction—raising fresh questions about oversight and constitutional powers. Hospital and accountability concerns: Malawi’s referral hospitals are reported to be struggling with infrastructure and service failures alongside controversy over a K700m NOCMA payment tied to alleged cyber-fraud. Digital health rollout: The Ministry of Health is piloting the Malawi Health Care Information System (Mahis) to replace hard-copy health passports, starting at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital and selected centres. Climate action via water harvesting: RHAM and Mubas push rainwater harvesting, with RHAM claiming Malawi can harvest over 90bn cubic metres and a new campaign using music to drive behaviour change. Communications sector push: ICT Minister Shadric Namalomba tells communications parastatals to end a “culture of routine” and deliver measurable results, efficiency and innovation.

Public Accountability Push: Malawi’s communications minister Shadrick Namalomba warned parastatals to end “routine” work and deliver efficiency, innovation, and measurable results, as governance questions also grow around overlapping board roles in the power sector. El Niño Readiness Gap: Government says it needs K488.5bn for 2026/27 El Niño preparedness but has mobilised only K163.7bn, risking weaker food, water, health, and energy resilience. School Meals at Risk: WFP warns 611,800 learners could lose school meals from September 2026 without urgent donor funding. Health Tech Rollout: Malawi’s Ministry of Health is piloting a digital health records system (MAHIS) to replace paper health passports at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital and selected facilities. Hospital Crisis & Fraud Fallout: Referral hospitals face deteriorating conditions while NOCMA’s alleged K700m cyber-fraud payment deepens institutional trust concerns. Governance Tensions in Parliament: Government denies involvement in a court challenge to Parliament’s planned probes, as Speaker Suleman’s ad hoc committee plans face legal delays. Climate Water Solutions: Rainwater harvesting drives continue, with RHAM citing Malawi’s capacity to harvest over 90 billion cubic metres and Mubas launching campaigns to spread the practice.

Regional Seed Security: Zimbabwe’s COMESA chairmanship could fast-track a regional seed information and certification push, aiming to boost access to quality improved seed and strengthen food security and climate resilience. Rainwater for Resilience: Malawi has the potential to harvest over 90 billion cubic metres of rainwater, with campaigns like Tikolole Madzi a Mvula urging households and institutions to capture and store water for farming and livelihoods. AI Governance in Malawi: A Malawi NEXUS Leadership Summit discussion argues AI should be treated as a management decision, with a “decision-quality” test to measure whether AI improves speed and accuracy without weakening accountability. Women Skills Training: Her Liberty is equipping rural women with vocational tailoring skills in Zomba, pushing beneficiaries to start businesses and earn income. Parastatal Performance Push: ICT Minister Shadric Namalomba warns communications parastatals to end “routine,” deliver measurable results, and improve efficiency and innovation. Energy Sector Accountability: Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee flags governance concerns over overlapping board roles in Egenco, Escom and Power Market Limited, warning of conflicts that could undermine investor confidence. Digital Health Records: Malawi’s Mahis digital health records system is in pilot phase at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital and selected centres to replace hard-copy health passports and improve continuity of care. Public Health Milestone: Malawi declares the end of cholera and mpox outbreaks after sustained containment, urging continued hygiene and vigilance. El Niño Preparedness: Government has set out a national El Niño preparedness plan to protect agriculture, water, health and livelihoods, based on the seasonal rainfall outlook. Kamuzu Stadium Safety: A structural assessment is recommended for Kamuzu Stadium after inspections found corrosion, cracks, drainage problems and vandalism.