Digital Finance Push: NBM says digital banking is at the centre of its growth strategy, citing Mo626 Digital+ awards and plans to expand loans to productive sectors like mining and commodity production. Payment Costs Debate: Industry voices warn that transaction levies could slow Malawi’s shift to cash-lite by making electronic payments too expensive. Regional Trade & Transport: Zimbabwe is modernising border posts to decongest crossings and streamline trade with Malawi and Mozambique, aiming to cut delays and costs on shared corridors. Women Farmers & Co-ops: Malawi marks the International Year of the Woman Farmer, highlighting how women do most farm work but face land and credit gaps; co-ops are also spotlighting women’s roles in agrifood value chains. Scholarships for Skills: NBM’s Mo Excellence Programme awarded 57 needy university students K1.7m each, adding laptops, mentorship and support to build Malawi’s future workforce. Industrial Jobs Concern: An AfDB index shows modest industrial gains, but manufacturing employment is still shrinking—linked to infrastructure, finance, tech and skills gaps. MSME Finance Move: Smedco plans a microfinance institution under the new MSMEs Act to boost capacity building and standards compliance for small businesses. Forex Leakages Pressure: MPs challenge RBM to act on foreign exchange leakages, with plans to prosecute exporters over export proceeds reconciliation. Fuel Price Shock Context: A wider fuel-price crisis tied to the Iran war is worsening household pressures across Africa and Asia, with Malawi among the affected. Mining Update: AuKing begins maiden drilling at Malawi’s Tundulu rare earths project, testing the scale and continuity of mineralisation across new targets.