Blantyre District Council

29/10/2026

Non Governmental Organisation Coalition on Child Rights (NGO CCR) has called for increased financing for social sectors that benefit children and stronger collaboration between civil society organisations (CSOs) and local councils to ensure children’s needs are prioritised in development plans and budgets.

NGO CCR National Coordinator, Henry Machemba, made the call during a Social Sector Financing Strengthening Programme meeting in Blantyre where CSOs and Blantyre District Council discussed ways of influencing planning and budgeting processes to better address children’s needs.

Machemba said the programme seeks to strengthen social sector financing, budget transparency and accountability to improve public service delivery in health, education, and other sectors.

“The programme aims to enhance capacity of CSOs to analyse, influence and monitor public expenditure using a child-rights perspective,” he said.

26/10/2026

Malawi is aiming to transform its dairy sector into a key driver of economic growth and foreign exchange.

During a visit to the Shire Highlands Milk Producers Association (SHMPA) in Naperi, Blantyre, which represents 14,200 farmers producing 112,000 litres daily, Minister of Agriculture Irrigation and Water development Roza Fatch Mbilizi urged producers to build stronger cooperative structures and focus on value addition.

She said government is recruiting extra extension workers to support this push.

The minister also encouraged the dairy farmers under SHMPA to look for alternative source of electricity for cooling centres.

She also assured the farmers that government will do everything possible to ensure that processors strictly respect the fair K1,000 per litre farm-gate price.

SHMPA chairman general Saini Kapito commended the Minister for visiting the association and also pledging to take action to ensure that farmers enjoy fair return.

23/10/2026

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23/10/2026

Stakeholders have commended Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) programme being implemented in Blantyre district for identifying vulnerable girls and linking them to essential services, including healthcare, education, and support for gender-based violence (GBV).

Speaking on Friday during the quarterly review meeting Youth Officer for Blantyre District Peter Mizedya explained that the programme uses the Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Tool (RVAT) to identify young women in need and connect them with appropriate service providers.

He said during the July to September quarter, the programme assessed 2,093 cases for health-related support, referring 2,088 individuals for assistance.

“In the education sector, 1,650 cases were assessed and 1,644 referred, while 88 cases were directed to the police. Additionally, 44 GBV cases were evaluated, with 40 referred for further support,” he said.

AGYW facilitator based in Machinjiri area Bertha Sambani, said the programme has helped some children and young women who dropped out of school return to education.

School Health and Nutrition Coordinator for Blantyre District Lucy Nkhata, said using the assessment tool to uncover hidden instances of gender-based violence has enabled stakeholders to respond more effectively.

The meeting was supported by Young Women's Christian Association

23/10/2026

More than 1,700 clients have received Lenacapavir in Blantyre, as the District Health Office (DHO) moves to strengthen treatment continuation and broaden access to diverse HIV prevention options.

Disclosing the development during a meeting on Friday, Blantyre DHO HIV Prevention Coordinator Gilbertha Chisamba revealed that the long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) cabotegravir (CAB-LA) has also reached 9,123 initiated individuals, with females accounting for roughly 65 percent of the total.

Chisamba noted that while young adults aged 20 to 24 represent the largest demographic of users, discontinuation rates remain a pressing challenge.

She urged clients to consult healthcare providers before stopping injections to ensure continuous protection.

Chief Preventive Health Officer Innocent Mvula stated that the district is executing targeted interventions alongside partner organizations to eliminate HIV as a public health threat by 2030, with a focus on vulnerable populations.

Generation Empowerment Movement (GEM) Programmes Manager Shida Gomani reported that her organization has reached approximately 10,524 people with HIV prevention interventions across Blantyre District.

"The efforts were delivered through community advocates, dialogue sessions, and health facility referrals," said Gomani

Gomani added that GEM initiative has also successfully engaged 115 healthcare workers across 13 health facilities to bolster service delivery.

23/10/2026

Member of Parliament for Blantyre West, Mavuto Mapongo Gulo, has launched community projects to be implemented under the Reformed Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

The initiatives focus on improving education, health, and transport infrastructure across the constituency.

The projects include the construction of Mafunde Primary School, Mbengwe Health Post, and Likhubula Bridge.

The construction works also cover a new school block and two staff houses at Dzunga Primary School, as well as Phase 1 of the road rehabilitation stretch from the Khombwe turn-off to Likhubula Bridge.

Meanwhile, contractors have been formally handed over their project sites to commence construction works across the constituency.

23/10/2026

22/10/2026

Blantyre District Council, through the World Bank-funded Regional Climate Resilience Project, is constructing a new classroom block at Ngongomwa Primary School in Traditional Authority Makata.

The construction works follow heavy storms earlier this year that damaged one of the school's existing classroom blocks.

Deputy Headteacher Esnart Baron said once the new block is completed, it will ensure that learners, particularly those in standard Seven and Eight, study in a conducive environment.

She added that the project also includes building a staff room to give teachers a decent workspace and administrative area.

"Right now, our staff room is too small. Whenever we have visitors, we are forced to vacate the room to accommodate them," Baron said.

21/10/2026

Chikowa Health Centre in Traditional Authority Kunthembwe Blantyre, has restored full maternity services following the rehabilitation of its maternity ward, which was damaged by storm earlier this year.

The reopening has brought relief to approximately 10,000 women of childbearing age in the catchment area, ending months of disruptions that forced expectant mothers to seek maternal health care at distant facilities.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, the facility's in-charge, Davie Chimwemwe Chithila said a fierce storm during the rainy season tore the roof of the maternity building, disrupting services.

He said the reopening of the rehabiliated materning ward has restored all services including antenatal clinic and safe delivery services.

A community member and beneficiary from Kunthembwe, Alice Banda, commended the council for rehabilitating the maternity ward.

Apart from the maternity ward, Blantyre District Council has also rehabilitated several projects including staff houses at the facility, using funds amounting to K130 million under the hospital rehabilitation fund.