AGP Executive Report

Rare Earths & Mining Policy: Mkango Rare Earths says it will process rare earth minerals in Malawi before export, with Mining Minister Thoko Tembo touring Songwe Hill and backing licensing progress, while a separate commentary urges “forensic scrutiny” of Songwe’s value-add claims. Regulation & Investment Climate: Nico Group calls for a review of Malawi’s mining regulatory framework to unlock more domestic capital, warning that power supply remains a major constraint for investors. Energy & Infrastructure: MPs raise concerns over stalled police housing projects, while Malawi’s power interconnector with Mozambique is nearing completion with an initial 50MW phase expected. Digital Revenue & Compliance: Malawi Revenue Authority reports that digital tax stamps (Kalondola) are boosting excise collections and tightening enforcement, with MRA pointing to improved visibility of production and duty payments. Skills & STEM Pipeline: Airtel Africa Foundation, through Airtel Malawi and MUST, announces the first cohort of 25 Nzeru Tech Scholarship beneficiaries with full support including stipends, data and laptops. Clean Cooking & Jobs: Natural Resources Minister Patricia Wiskes praises PressCane’s bioethanol cooking scheme in Chikwawa as a charcoal alternative that can cut deforestation, improve health and create jobs. Food Security: Government allocates K100 billion to NFRA to strengthen strategic maize reserves amid public concern over ADMARC funding and hunger risks. Creative & Media: Malawi film “16 Barz: King of Bawo” is selected for screening at an inaugural African film festival in the USA, while Maso Awards rejects AI music nominations, sparking mixed reactions from artists and fans.

Banking & Trade Links: Standard Bank Malawi connected three Malawian entrepreneurs (engineering, hospitality and transport) to new growth opportunities at Cape Town’s Africa Unlocked 2026 conference, aiming to expand intra-Africa markets and partnerships. Food Security & Procurement: Government released K100 billion to NFRA to boost strategic maize reserves, while an exposed report questions an Indian firm’s US$20.2m maize supply contract awarded amid Malawi’s forex strain. Clean Energy & Jobs: Natural Resources Minister Patricia Wiskes backed PressCane’s bioethanol cooking push in Chikwawa as a charcoal alternative that can cut deforestation and create youth jobs. Industry & Investment: Mining Minister Thoko Tembo toured Portland Cement Malawi’s K200bn Balaka expansion, citing tax, royalties and export earnings; meanwhile Lindian Resources says Kangankunde rare earth blasting keeps it on track for first production in Q4. Infrastructure Finance: FDH Bank and National Bank of Malawi set aside K100bn each to finance the Golomoti–Monkey Bay Road, supporting faster delivery of a key transport corridor. Policy & Oversight: MCP’s new shadow cabinet signals a shift toward parliamentary scrutiny and accountability. Energy Reliability: ESCOM will commission a K33bn battery storage system to stabilise the grid and improve renewable integration. Agriculture Costs: Fertiliser prices have jumped ahead of the 2026/27 season, raising fresh fears for yields and food security.

SADC Leather Push: Malawi is among six SADC members aligning national leather plans with a regional value-chain framework, ahead of the SADC Regional Leather Forum in Durban on July 23–24. Investment Diplomacy: President Peter Mutharika met former UK PM Tony Blair at Kamuzu Palace, pitching Malawi’s “Four Fs” and urging mining and energy investors via the Tony Blair Institute. Food Security Procurement: Malawi’s NFRA awarded a US$20.2m maize supply contract to India’s Global Agri Services amid forex strain, at US$505 per tonne. Industrial Jobs & Exports: Mining minister Thoko Tembo toured Portland Cement Malawi’s Balaka plant, citing K200bn investment, K35bn annual tax and K1bn mining royalties, plus US$15m foreign exchange from exports. Rare Earth Momentum: Lindian Resources says Kangankunde rare earth project blasting is complete and first production is on track for Q4. Regulator Court Ruling: MACRA lost a case at the Industrial Relations Court after a former deputy finance director was ruled unfairly dismissed over procurement letters. Health Funding Shock: A study says US-backed paediatric HIV treatment fell by about 14% year-on-year after aid cuts. Fertiliser Pressure: Fertiliser prices are surging ahead of the 2026/27 season, while stakeholders warn budget cuts could derail FISP. Youth & Women Loans: MEDF received K1.2bn from Government for CDF-linked youth and women enterprise loans. Power Grid Upgrade: ESCOM will commission a K33bn battery energy storage system to boost grid stability. Building Safety Alarm: MPs renewed calls for building safety reforms after a Blantyre wall collapse killed three people, with court delays blamed. Road Finance Deal: FDH Bank and National Bank set aside K100bn each to finance Golomoti–Monkey Bay Road works.

Industrial Investment: Mining minister Thoko Tembo toured Portland Cement Malawi’s K200bn Balaka plant, calling it a major boost for local manufacturing, jobs and reduced cement imports. Infrastructure Finance: FDH Bank and National Bank of Malawi set aside K100bn to fund the Golomoti–Monkey Bay Road, a 58.4km corridor expected to run in two lots over 24 months. Power & Energy Storage: ESCOM is set to commission a K33bn 20MW/40MWh battery system to stabilise the grid and improve renewable integration. Construction Safety: A Blantyre building wall collapse that killed three has pushed MPs to demand stronger building safety enforcement, faster court action and better urban planning. Agribusiness & Food Security: Malawi is considering tax and duty waivers for fish cage farming to cut input costs and grow aquaculture as wild stocks decline. Trade & Exports: The EU extended Malawi’s GSP preferences for 2026–2036, supporting exports including clothing, fish and chemicals. Debt & Fiscal Rules: Parliament’s Budget and Finance Committee wants a Debt Management Bill to curb borrowing, as public debt is put at about K24tn (around 90% of GDP). Cost Pressures: Diesel and petrol imports surged, worsening forex strain and feeding the wider cost-of-living squeeze.

Mining & Manufacturing: Malawi’s mining minister Thoko Tembo toured Portland Cement Malawi’s Balaka plant, praising its K200bn investment for boosting local cement supply, jobs and industrial growth. Roads & Transport Finance: Launch of Lot 2 of the K200bn Golomoti–Mangochi–Monkey Bay Road (K100bn Golomoti–Chantulo) is underway, with National Bank financing and Mota-Engil construction, including a flyover at the Golomoti railway crossing. Energy & Trade Costs: Malawi’s fuel import bill jumped sharply in June 2026, with diesel and petrol together taking 31.7% of total imports, raising forex pressure. Agribusiness & Food Security: Government is moving to establish local fertiliser production by 2027/28, while Morocco’s 500 metric tonnes donation supports vulnerable farmers. Critical Minerals: Songwe Hill rare earths in Phalombe edged closer as Tembo said the legal framework for mining licences is being finalised, with projections of major economic benefits. Aquaculture Policy: Malawi is considering tax and duty waivers for fish cage farming to help replace declining wild catches. Regional Labour Shock: South Africa’s anti-illegal immigration push is blamed for job losses and skilled labour shortages affecting sectors that matter to the region, including transport and agriculture. Fuel & Climate Risk: Farmers and analysts warn Super El Niño response funding is thin and may arrive too late, even as El Niño conditions loom.

World Cup & consumer promotions: Coca-Cola Beverages Malawi drew football fans to a Lilongwe watch party at Casa Milano and says its Sangalala Ndi Coca-Cola campaign has already paid out 5,000 prizes, with more still to be won before 31 August. Court & entertainment: Actor Tumpe Mtaya (Phwedo) returns to court on 23 August after a witness admitted she initially hid key details from police in a case involving sexual intercourse with a minor and child abduction. Climate & farming: As Super El Niño fears grow, Malawi’s farmers and irrigation-dependent communities brace for below-normal rains and possible dry spells that could hit yields and water supplies. Cost of living & fuel: Reports say high prices for maize, fertilizer and fuel are still squeezing households, while transport fares rise and tobacco market pressure continues. Trade & industry links: MITC says 44 Malawian firms will join a Malawi–Tanzania Investment and Trade Forum in Dar es Salaam to explore new markets, including agro and manufacturing opportunities. Mining & revenue hopes: Malawi’s Songwe Hill rare earths project is pitched as a potential major economic boost, with projections tied to government’s 10% stake—though final investment decisions remain pending. Agribusiness compliance: Malawi’s Pesticides Control Board warns against importing unregistered pesticides and intensifies training for key stakeholders. Infrastructure for growth: Government reaffirmed plans to resume the Embangweni–Edingeni–Engalaweni Road in Mzimba, aiming to cut transport costs and improve access to markets and services. Regional migration pressure: Developments around South Africa’s anti-migrant campaign continue to ripple into labour and business operations, while Malawi’s migration committee reiterates rejection of xenophobia and unlawful enforcement.

Telecom Regulation: MACRA ordered Airtel Malawi and TNM to compensate customers after tariff increases without the required seven-day public notice, with implementation supervised until 31 July. Critical Minerals & Mining: Malawi’s mining minister Thoko Tembo received projections that the Songwe Hill rare earths project could deliver about $1.91bn in total economic benefits, including $1.23bn to government tied to its 10% stake—though final investment decisions are still pending. Trade & Industry Linkages: MITC says 43+ Malawian firms will join the Malawi–Tanzania Investment and Trade Forum in Dar es Salaam (29–31 July), targeting deals across manufacturing, agro-dealers, cooperatives and tourism. Food Security & Agriculture Inputs: Morocco donated 500 metric tonnes of fertilizer for vulnerable smallholder farmers, with distribution guided by DoDMA vulnerability assessments and priority for winter irrigation farmers. Infrastructure & Transport: Government reaffirmed commitment to complete the Embangweni–Edingeni–Engalaweni Road in Mzimba after securing renewed finance support, aiming to cut transport costs and improve access to markets and services. Property Market Oversight: Malawi’s Real Estate Management Act regulator remains largely non-operational, leaving house hunters exposed to “dobadobas,” cloned listings and non-refundable viewing fees. Sports Infrastructure: An engineering assessment says Kamuzu Stadium is beyond economic repair and recommends demolition, reigniting debate on the venue’s future. Energy/Logistics: Malawi is pursuing replacement vessels for ageing MV Ilala to modernise Lake Malawi transport and reduce logistics costs.

Roads & Regional Trade: Mangochi’s Golomoti–Chantulo–Monkey Bay road push gets a boost as Lot 2 of the K200bn project is launched, with the Golomoti–Chantulo section (K100bn) financed via Government–National Bank partnership and built by Mota-Engil, promising faster movement for tourism, farmers and industry. Telecom Regulation: MACRA orders TNM and Airtel Malawi to compensate customers after tariff increases were implemented without the required seven-day public notice, with operators given until 31 July 2026 to comply. Digital Access & Competition: Malawi seeks more mobile operators to cut internet costs after tariff backlash, with Government pointing to spectrum fee reductions and the US$150m Digital Malawi Acceleration Project. Agribusiness Compliance: MEPA warns Dowa’s Mulalo granular fertiliser plant to strictly follow its ESIA/ESMP/monitoring commitments, while PCB steps up orientation on importing only registered pesticides. Mining & Industry Outlook: The IEA flags a looming $6.5tn risk from critical minerals supply-chain concentration, underscoring the need for investment beyond extraction. Infrastructure & Logistics: Government moves to replace the ageing MV Ilala on Lake Malawi with new vessels to lower transport costs and modernise water logistics. Housing Market: Malawi’s Real Estate Management Act regulator remains stalled, leaving house hunters exposed to “dobadobas” and scams. Public Health & Skills: Youth are urged to prioritise mental wellbeing for entrepreneurship; vocational graduates are challenged to create jobs; and a Mulanje woman’s fight against child malnutrition highlights community-led action.

Transport & Roads: Communities along the Embangweni-Edingeni-Engalaweni Road (S112) in Mzimba are hopeful after Transport Minister Jappie Mhango said government has secured renewed Finance backing to restart the long-delayed 39.2km project, expected to cut travel costs and help farmers reach markets. Telecom Regulation: MACRA ordered Airtel Malawi and TNM to compensate customers after both implemented tariff changes without the required seven-day public notice, with compensation due by 31 July 2026. Energy & Logistics: Malawi plans to replace the ageing MV Ilala on Lake Malawi with two new vessels, seeking financing support from the National Bank of Malawi and other investors to lower transport costs. Agribusiness & Compliance: MEPA warned the Mulalo granular fertiliser plant in Dowa to operate strictly within its approved ESIA/ESMP, while the Pesticides Control Board intensified training to stop imports of unregistered pesticides. Health & Jobs: A K50bn renal dialysis project remains stalled, affecting over 8,000 patients annually, as Malawi pushes for more dialysis centres. Sports Infrastructure: Engineers say Kamuzu Stadium is beyond economic repair and should be demolished, reigniting debate on safety versus sentiment. Trade & Regional Growth: Tanzania’s new Mbamba Bay Port nears completion (60%) and is expected to boost Lake Nyasa trade, tourism and investment across Southern Africa. Inflation Watch: Malawi’s inflation eased to 21.1% in June, helped by lower food prices.

Telecom Regulation: MACRA has ordered Airtel Malawi and TNM to compensate customers after both operators implemented tariff increases without the required seven-day public notice, with compensation due by 31 July 2026. Housing & Consumer Protection: Malawi’s real estate regulator remains largely dormant 18 months after the Real Estate Management Act, leaving house hunters vulnerable to “dobadobas,” cloned adverts and non-refundable viewing fees. Agribusiness & Compliance: PCB intensified pesticide registration and importation training for industry players, while MEPA issued a compliance warning to Dzombe’s Dowa fertiliser plant and flagged strict adherence to ESIA/ESMP conditions. Health & Jobs: A K50bn renal dialysis project is still stalled, affecting over 8,000 patients annually and prolonging Malawi’s dialysis shortage. Transport & Logistics: Government is pursuing new vessels to replace the ageing MV Ilala on Lake Malawi to cut logistics costs and modernise water transport. Economy Watch: Inflation eased to 21.1% in June as food prices slowed, but MCCCI warns subdued growth is still not creating enough jobs for new labour market entrants. Climate Risk: DCCMS warns a strong-to-very-strong El Niño is developing and may persist into 2027, with district-level advisories issued for planning. EU Funding: The EU approved a €143m package for Malawi covering agricultural value chains, electricity infrastructure, education and social protection.

Telecom Consumer Protection: MACRA ordered Airtel Malawi and TNM to compensate customers after the operators implemented approved mobile data tariff changes before the required seven-day public notice, with refunds/credits expected for affected users and a deadline set for completing payments. Inflation Watch: Malawi’s annual inflation eased to 21.1% in June (from 23.4% in May), driven mainly by softer food prices after the maize harvest, offering some relief to households even as non-food costs remain high. Climate Risk: The Department of Climate Change & Meteorological Services warned that a strong-to-very-strong El Niño is developing and could persist into 2027, with high chances of surpassing the 2015/16 event—raising planning urgency for all districts. Fertiliser Industry Push: MEPA cleared Mulalo Granular in Dowa to begin operations after environmental checks, a step expected to boost local fertiliser supply and reduce import dependence. Health & Biotech: Gates MRI and India’s Serum Institute signed an agreement to manufacture the TB vaccine candidate M72/AS01E, currently in Phase 3 trials across several countries including Malawi. EU Development Finance: The EU approved a €143m package for Malawi covering agricultural value chains, electricity infrastructure, education and social protection. Urban Development Cooperation: Malawi and Poland discussed cooperation on land and housing reforms as Malawi accelerates its urbanisation and industrialisation agenda. Migration & Humanitarian Support: Malawi’s inter-ministerial committee reiterated rejection of xenophobia and said humanitarian concerns for affected foreign nationals in South Africa will be addressed within lawful migration management.

Fertilizer Industry: Malawi’s MEPA has cleared Napoleon Dzombe’s Mulalo Granular fertilizer plant in Dowa to begin operations, after environmental checks over heavy metals risks, emergency safety readiness, and wastewater concerns near the Kang’ona River—an approval expected to restart long-delayed local fertilizer production and cut reliance on imports. Parliament & Investment Climate: Dzombe also told lawmakers the licensing delays and environmental processing fees (reported as K10 million) have discouraged investors, while a parliamentary committee continues probing what stalled the project. Public Health & Manufacturing: Gates Medical Research Institute and Serum Institute of India signed an agreement to manufacture TB vaccine candidate M72/AS01E, with Serum expected to invest over $100m to build manufacturing readiness for potential scale-up. Regional Security: SADC ministers met in Salima to review peace and security, focusing on eastern DRC conflict, terrorism, organised crime, cybercrime and governance. Infrastructure & Transport: NBM-backed financing is moving ahead for the Golomoti–Monkey Bay road reconstruction, aimed at easing travel between Dedza and Mangochi and supporting trade. EU Development Support: The EU approved a €143m (about K271bn) Malawi package for agriculture, energy and education under the MW2063 agenda. Education Access: Maranatha Academy pledged K12bn for scholarships, launching 500 full secondary tuition awards to help talented students facing financial barriers. Mobile Money: Airtel Money’s Tola Promotion paid out three more Malawians with K5m each in the latest draw, boosting uptake of mobile financial services.

Fertiliser Industry: MEPA says it has cleared the environmental approval process for Napoleon Dzombe’s long-delayed Mulalo Granular Fertiliser Production Factory in Dowa, with an environmental certificate expected soon after Parliament probes the bureaucratic stalling. Roads & Infrastructure Finance: Transport Minister Jappie Mhango has hailed National Bank of Malawi’s K100 billion loan to reconstruct the Golomoti–Monkey Bay Road corridor, aimed at easing transport between Dedza and Mangochi and supporting trade and tourism. Agriculture & Climate Resilience: Central Malawi farmers are getting a closer look at climate-smart soil and water practices under the Water & Soil Accelerator (WASA) programme, as drought and declining soil fertility squeeze yields. Rural Livelihoods: A bamboo value chain project in Salima and Dowa is helping households earn income, buy farm inputs and improve food security through training and market access. Education Access: Maranatha Academy says it will invest K12 billion over four years and has launched 500 scholarships to widen access to quality secondary education. Health & Manufacturing: Gates Medical Research Institute and Serum Institute of India have signed an agreement to manufacture a novel TB vaccine candidate (M72/AS01E), targeting scaled supply if approved. Energy & Trade Watch: Malawi’s trade deficit with SADC has widened sharply, while El Niño risks are flagged as a threat to food, inflation and foreign exchange. Mobile Money: Airtel Money’s Tola Promotion has named three more Malawian winners of K5 million each, boosting uptake of mobile financial services.

GMO Border Controls: Malawi’s National Biosafety Authority released a list of approved GM products and ordered port agencies to clear imports only after NBA checks, tightening compliance at entry/exit points. Fertiliser Factory Delays: Parliament has launched a high-level probe into why Napoleon Dzombe’s Mulalo fertiliser plant approval dragged on, with MEPA citing environmental and public health concerns and Dzombe blaming slow processes and fees. Road & Finance Boost: National Bank of Malawi backed Golomoti–Monkey Bay Road rehabilitation with a K100 billion loan, with officials linking better transport to trade and local business growth. El Niño Risk to Industry & Food: Experts warn another El Niño could hit agriculture, raising food prices, worsening FX shortages and slowing recovery—pushing calls for irrigation and climate-smart investment. Trade Pressure in SADC: Malawi’s SADC trade deficit tripled to K1.4 trillion in 2024 as imports surged faster than exports, reinforcing concerns about weak industrial output. Digital Procurement Upgrade: CSM Technologies secured a World Bank-funded project to build an Electronic Auctioning Platform for Malawi’s public procurement, aiming to cut manual processes and improve transparency. Mining Governance: President Mutharika swore in Thoko Tembo and urged tougher negotiations to stop cartels and secure deals that benefit Malawians, while the minister stressed responsible mine rehabilitation. Energy & Power: Government discussed power investment as ESCOM urges support to end load shedding, alongside reports of tariff talks affecting electricity purchases from Mozambique.

Digital Procurement: CSM Technologies has secured a World Bank-funded contract to build Malawi’s Electronic Auctioning Platform under the Digital Malawi Acceleration Project, aiming to replace paper-based tenders with a secure, auditable online system. Roads & Transport Finance: National Bank of Malawi has launched rehabilitation for the Lot 2 Golomoti–Monkey Bay corridor (28.4km), part of the wider road push to improve connectivity and trade. Mining Governance: President Arthur Peter Mutharika swore in Thoko Tembo as Malawi’s first dedicated Minister of Mining, urging tougher negotiations and warning against mineral smugglers and cartels. Fertiliser Industry: Parliament’s joint committee has cleared Napoleon Dzombe’s fertiliser manufacturing project in Dowa after delays tied to environmental documentation with MEPA. Power & Industry Continuity: Government says Malawi’s load shedding should ease from next month with a 100MW boost via storage, solar, imports, and restored generation. Education & Inclusion: Beautify Malawi is building girls’ changing rooms and improving sanitation in public schools to cut menstrual-related absenteeism. ICT & Regulation: MACRA DG Mayamiko Nkoloma has earned a PhD, with research focused on digital health systems. Energy & Consumer Safety: A campaign warns tourists about methanol poisoning risks. Education Connectivity: Airtel Africa plans to connect 5,000 schools across Africa by 2027, with Malawi’s Airtel Nzeru Connect Airtel already linking 36 schools. Rare Earths: Lindian Resources reports independent validation of 98% NdPr extraction for its Kangankunde rare earths pathway.

Education & Connectivity: Airtel Africa says it will connect 5,000 schools across Africa including Malawi to free internet by 2027 under the UNICEF-backed “School Connection” programme, with Malawi’s Airtel Nzeru Connect Airtel already linking 36 schools and planning nine more in 2026. Rare Earths & Mining Oversight: Lindian Resources reports independent ANSTO validation of 98% NdPr extraction and a non-radioactive mixed rare earth carbonate pathway for its Kangankunde project in Malawi, reducing technical and handling risk. Power & Industry Stability: Government and ESCOM outline steps to cut blackouts, including a 10MW Nanjoka Solar commissioning on 6 August, the Malawi-Mozambique interconnector in August, and progress on Mpatamanga plus battery storage. Mining Governance: President Mutharika swore in Thoko Tembo as Malawi’s first Minister of Mining and challenged him to secure better deals, warning against illegal mineral smuggling and weak negotiation capacity. Public Scrutiny & Integrity: OPC denies social media claims that South African businessman Zunaid Moti received a diplomatic role or preferential contracts, citing a mineral licence moratorium and a cadastre compliance audit. Business Capacity Pressure: MCCCI says foreign exchange shortages are still crippling firms, with most operating below full production capacity in the first half of 2026. Healthcare Infrastructure: Malawi secures a US$27m Kuwait Fund loan for the long-delayed Blantyre District Hospital, with funding already in the 2026/27 budget. ICT Leadership: MACRA DG Mayamiko Nkoloma earns a PhD focused on digital health systems, reinforcing the regulator’s push to support Malawi’s digital economy. Consumer & Retail Culture: Blantyre trap group The Wave MW becomes brand ambassadors for Best Price Stores, highlighting the growing link between music and consumer electronics retail.