The National Advocacy Platform (NAP) has condemned a violent attack on the convoy of former President Lazarus Chakwera and the manhandling of journalists in Blantyre. In a statement issued in Lilongwe, NAP condemned the attack “in the strongest possible terms”. The incidents included damage to a vehicle belonging to Moses Kunkuyu, an MP, and the […]
National Advocacy Platform (NAP) chairperson Benedicto Kondowe has dismissed the Malawi Congress Party’s call for Vice-President Jane Ansah to address the nation during President Arthur Peter Mutharika’s private trip abroad, describing it as unnecessary and potentially misleading. Kondowe said the President’s temporary absence does not create a leadership vacuum or automatically transfer presidential powers to […]
One year after President Peter Mutharika returned to State House on 4 October 2025, Malawi is more stable than it was but not yet transformed, according to the National Advocacy Platform (NAP). Releasing its assessment on Thursday under the title “Foundations for Recovery Are E merging, but Delivery Must Now Accelerate”, NAP chairperson Benedicto Kondowe […]
A leading advocacy group has backed a proposal by the Speaker of Parliament to set up independent committees to investigate 13 separate issues of national concern. The National Advocacy Platform (NAP) said the issues raised by Speaker Sameer Suleman were not new and were supported by Malawi’s legal framework. NAP chairperson Benedicto Kondowe, a lawyer, […]
A civil society watchdog has issued a scathing rebuke of Malawi government after fresh parliamentary elections in two constituencies were postponed — with campaigners blaming a bizarre bureaucratic standoff over a sealed warehouse for denying citizens their democratic rights. The Civil Society Elections Integrity Forum (CSEIF) said it was “gravely disturbed” after the Malawi Electoral […]
It seems the centre cannot hold for Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM)—supposed to be a mother grouping for teachers in the country—following its slow but steady crumbling following the formation of a new union for secondary school teachers. TUM, since its establishment in 1995, has been dealing with teachers in primary, secondary and tutors in […]
Education commentators have joined parents who have asked the Malawi National Examinations Board (MANEB) to extend the registration of candidates for 2021 PSLCE, JCE and MSCE examinations. According to a communication from MANEB, it states that registration starts on 22nd February and ends on 8th March 2021. “This is to inform all that registration of […]
Civil society organizations (CSOs) operating under the banner of National Advocacy Platform (NAP) have petitioned President Lazarus Chakwera to withdraw Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) Amendment Bill which is currently in the office of the Attorney General, fearing the provision threatens to wipe out civic space. NAP chairperson Benedicto Kondowe said they want to meet President Chakwera […]
Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) executive director, Benedicto Kondowe, has disclosed that at least 20 member organisations of the coalition are closing due lack of funds, a development he fears will retrogress efforts to develop the poor public education sector in Malawi. Kondowe has since appealed to the donor community to continue supporting Non Governmental […]
University of Malawi (Unima)—Chancellor College (Chanco) law students on Friday elected Chikhulupiliro Zidana as new president of the law society replacing fourth year law student who is also a renowned education activist in the country, Benedicto Kondowe. Zidana, a third year law student, got a landslide victory signifying the undoubted trust reposed in him by […]
An education expert has doubted government’s announcement that it intends to recruit 10, 000 primary school and secondary teachers now, saying this might be a ploy just to buy time ahead of the 2019 elections. Civil Society on Education Network executive director Benedict Kondowe said the teachers, who graduated from various colleges two years ago, […]
Renowned education activist and Executive Director of Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) Benedicto Kondowe has described the Equitable Access to Tertiary Education, also popularly known as Quota System, as one of the evils thwarting Malawi’s efforts to attain Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, saying the system segregates deserving students in Community Day Secondary Schools (CDSSs). […]
National Advocacy Platform chairperson Benedicto Kondowe has recommended the State produce trader Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) board to quickly boot out chief executive officer Foster Mulumbe, who is currently on forced leave to pave the way for the probe, following two commissions of inquiry into the purchase of maize from Zambia. The recommendations […]
Officials from an education think tank has expressed concern over the just released primary school leaving certificate examinations which has seen only 35 percent of the learners selected to secondary school. Civil Society for Education Coalition executive director Benedicto Kondowe said the 65 per cent that failed to make it to secondary school will either […]
Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) executive director, Benedicto Kondowe, has taken a swipe at government for their failure to organize Early Child Education(ECD). Kondowe says it is unfortunate to note that the ECD program is being moved from one ministry to another and without policy direction. “Currently, government has no powers to close any unregistered […]
A renowned activist on education issues has described as senseless government decision to cut public education budget by K500 million, arguing some schools are using one text book for a whole class. Benedicto Kondowe was reacting to government cut of the ministry of Education because the ministry will not need the financial resources from now […]
As Malawi educational performance is continually ranked at the foot within the Southern African region, the situation is even worse in the country’s isolated southern district of Neno. In the recent released public university selection, Neno’s public schools have performed miserably, sending only one student to the university. Poor performance of the district’ public schools […]
Executive Director of Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) Benedicto Kondowe has backed government for abolishing ‘universal’ university students’ allowances to introduce a loan scheme for deserving students. Minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe announced the change in Parliament during the presentation of the 2015/16 national budget. Kondowe said it is imperative to abolish the loan programme […]