/** * Nyasa Times category archive H1 cleanup. * Removes "Category:" / "Category archives:" style headings * and replaces key category headings with SEO-friendly names. */ add_filter( 'get_the_archive_title', function( $title ) { if ( ! is_category() ) { return $title; } $term = get_queried_object(); if ( ! $term || empty( $term->slug ) ) { return $title; } $titles = array( 'news' => 'Latest Malawi News', 'national' => 'Malawi National News', 'politics' => 'Malawi Politics News', 'business' => 'Malawi Business & Economy News', 'sports' => 'Malawi Sports News', 'education' => 'Malawi Education News', 'health' => 'Malawi Health News', 'entertainment' => 'Malawi Entertainment News', 'columns' => 'Malawi Opinion & Analysis', 'religious-news' => 'Malawi Religion & Faith News', 'religion' => 'Malawi Religion & Faith News', ); if ( isset( $titles[ $term->slug ] ) ) { return $titles[ $term->slug ]; } return single_cat_title( '', false ); }, 99 ); /** * Remove WordPress archive prefixes. */ add_filter( 'get_the_archive_title_prefix', '__return_empty_string' ); /** * Nyasa Times AIOSEO category title overrides. */ add_filter( 'aioseo_title', function( $title ) { if ( ! is_category() ) { return $title; } $term = get_queried_object(); if ( ! $term || empty( $term->slug ) ) { return $title; } $seo_titles = array( 'news' => 'Latest Malawi News | Breaking Updates & Public Interest Stories | Nyasa Times', 'national' => 'Malawi National News | Latest Local & Public Affairs | Nyasa Times', 'politics' => 'Malawi Politics News | Government, Parliament & Elections | Nyasa Times', 'business' => 'Malawi Business News | Economy, Banking, Trade & Jobs | Nyasa Times', 'sports' => 'Malawi Sports News | Football, Netball & National Teams | Nyasa Times', 'education' => 'Malawi Education News | Schools, Universities & Exams | Nyasa Times', 'health' => 'Malawi Health News | Hospitals, Public Health & Medicine | Nyasa Times', 'entertainment' => 'Malawi Entertainment News | Music, Culture & Events | Nyasa Times', 'columns' => 'Malawi Opinion & Analysis | Columns & Commentary | Nyasa Times', 'religious-news' => 'Malawi Religion & Faith News | Churches & Community | Nyasa Times', 'religion' => 'Malawi Religion & Faith News | Churches & Community | Nyasa Times', ); if ( isset( $seo_titles[ $term->slug ] ) ) { return $seo_titles[ $term->slug ]; } return $title; }, 99 ); /** * Nyasa Times category meta descriptions for AIOSEO. */ add_filter( 'aioseo_description', function( $description ) { if ( ! is_category() ) { return $description; } $term = get_queried_object(); if ( ! $term || empty( $term->slug ) ) { return $description; } $descriptions = array( 'news' => 'Latest Malawi news, breaking updates, public-interest stories, community developments and national reports from Nyasa Times.', 'national' => 'Read Malawi national news, public affairs, local updates, government services and community stories from Nyasa Times.', 'politics' => 'Latest Malawi politics news, elections, Parliament, government decisions, party updates, policy debate and analysis from Nyasa Times.', 'business' => 'Read Malawi business news, economy, banking, trade, investment, energy, agriculture, jobs and market updates from Nyasa Times.', 'sports' => 'Latest Malawi sports news, football, netball, athletics, clubs, national teams and Malawian athletes at home and abroad.', 'education' => 'Malawi education news on schools, universities, exams, scholarships, teachers, students, policy updates and learning developments.', 'health' => 'Malawi health news on hospitals, public health, disease outbreaks, medicine, maternal health, children’s health and health policy.', 'entertainment' => 'Malawi entertainment news on music, culture, film, fashion, celebrities, festivals, events and creative industry updates.', 'columns' => 'Read Malawi opinion, columns, editorials and analysis on politics, governance, business, society, leadership and development.', 'religious-news' => 'Malawi religious news, church updates, faith events, Christian community stories, religious leaders and social impact coverage.', 'religion' => 'Malawi religious news, church updates, faith events, Christian community stories, religious leaders and social impact coverage.', ); if ( isset( $descriptions[ $term->slug ] ) ) { return $descriptions[ $term->slug ]; } return $description; }, 99 ); /** * Display category description before the article list * when the theme does not output it. */ add_action( 'loop_start', function( $query ) { if ( ! is_category() || ! $query->is_main_query() || is_admin() ) { return; } static $shown = false; if ( $shown ) { return; } $shown = true; $description = category_description(); if ( empty( trim( wp_strip_all_tags( $description ) ) ) ) { return; } echo '
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FIX AIOSEO CATEGORY TITLES * ------------------------------------------------------- * * Prevents titles such as: * "Malawi Latest Malawi News News..." */ add_filter( 'aioseo_title', function ( $title ) { /* * Category titles */ if ( is_category() ) { $term = get_queried_object(); if ( $term && ! empty( $term->slug ) ) { $data = nyasa_category_seo_data(); if ( isset( $data[ $term->slug ]['title'] ) ) { return $data[ $term->slug ]['title']; } } } /* * Article titles * * Converts: * Article headline - Featured News Malawi | Nyasa Times * * Into: * Article headline | Nyasa Times */ if ( is_singular( 'post' ) ) { return wp_strip_all_tags( get_the_title() ) . ' | Nyasa Times'; } return $title; }, 999 ); /** * ------------------------------------------------------- * 4. FIX AIOSEO CATEGORY META DESCRIPTIONS * ------------------------------------------------------- */ add_filter( 'aioseo_description', function ( $description ) { if ( ! is_category() ) { return $description; } $term = get_queried_object(); if ( ! $term || empty( $term->slug ) ) { return $description; } $data = nyasa_category_seo_data(); if ( isset( $data[ $term->slug ]['desc'] ) ) { return $data[ $term->slug ]['desc']; } return $description; }, 999 ); /** * ------------------------------------------------------- * 5. 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Govt, analysts fault Mkaka: MCP’s SG justifies calling Chakwera as Malawi leader

February 10, 2020 Wanga Gwede - Nyasa Times 20 Comments

Minister of Information, Civic Education Communication and Technology, Mark Bottoman and analysts have condemned Malawi Congress Party (MCP) secretary general Eisenhower Mkaka’s remarks on Saturday at Msundwe Police ground in Lilongwe.

Chakwera and his wife Monica at Msundwe rally: According to Mkaka, they are Malawi’s first couple

Mkaka made controversial statement before MCP leader Lazarus Chakwera addressed crowds following the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) order for fresh elections in 150 days.

He said the Malawi Police Service officers will not be allowed to provide security during the forthcoming fresh presidential elections.

The MCP secretary general justified his statement, saying police have lost Malawians’ trust and that Malawi Defence Force (MDF) should provide security in the fresh elections as is more competent institution.

Mkaka also referred Chakwera as Malawi President and Monica Chakwera as the First Lady.

He also added his voice to the call by other electoral stakeholders for the resignation of MEC chairperson Jane Ansah and her commissioners.

But in a statement released on Sunday, government spokesman described the remarks by Mkaka as unfortunate.

Bottoman said the Constitutional Court nullified the May 21 2019 presidential election but upheld President Peter Mutharika as Head of State until elections are held as ordered by the court.

He said by extension, the judgment means Gertrude Mutharika remains the First Lady of the Republic of Malawi.

“Any views and utterances contrary to the court’s ruling are a departure from the rule of law and recipe for violence,” Minister of Information said in the statement.

“Malawians are aware that Msundwe, where Mr. Mkaka made the unfortunate remarks, has become a hotspot for violence. As such, the remarks at Msundwe may have been strategically made with the aim of inciting more violence. Government condemns in strongest terms the spirit of violence perpetrated by the MCP,” the statement reads

Bottoman noted that MCP president did not condemn the “unfortunate remarks” by Mkaka, “signifying that they were premeditated.”

Meanwhile, commentators have also faulted Mkaka with Zomba-based political scientist Mustapha Hussein saying the party does not have the mandate to stop the law enforcers from overseeing elections.

On loss of trust, Hussein said “a solution can be found to address the issues.”

Another political analyst Godfrey Pumbwa said “no political party can tell police what to do.”

But Mkaka has maintained that the “Police have failed together with Malawi Electoral Commission to ensure that the will of the people is upheld.”

The MCP secretary general said his suggestion is not weird.

On addressing Chakwera as president, Mkaka said officially Mutharika is the Malawi leader but according to the elections that were Tippexed, Chakwera was voted President.

In his address, Chakwera said he will cast out ‘Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) demons” if elected State President.

The rally was patronised by, among others, former first gentleman Richard Banda, Freedom Party president Khumbo Kachali, Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani-Hara and First Deputy Speaker Madalitso Kazombo and some People’s Party executive members.

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