Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture - Malawi

A two- day National Sports Policy Review Consultative meeting aimed at soliciting views to be incorporated in the successor.policy has ended.

Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture Principal Secretary responsible for Administration Misheck Yakontha Munthali, at the closing ceremony on Friday in Mzuzu said the policy has to allign with modern developments in sports sector.

"Alot of things have changed in sports, it is very important to join hands and bring on the desired change," Munthali said.

The current National Sports Policy was launched in 2007 and the Ministry with other stakeholders such as Office of the President and Cabinet, Ministries responsible for education, Local government, Malawi National Council of Sports, Malawi Olympic Committee attended the meeting.

Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture through the Department of Youth on Tuesday held the 4th Quarter Youth Technical Working Group in Lilongwe aimed at strengthening sector coordination.

The meeting brought together key technical stakeholders from Government, development partners, civil society, private sector and youth representatives.

During the meeting the members also reviewed sector programming, technical responsive policies and services and agreed on concrete follow up actions to advance priorities under the Malawi 2063 first 10- Year Implement Plan (MIP-1).

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Alfred Gangata has commended the Japanese Embassy in Malawi for supporting some sports associations that are struggling to find sponsorship.

Speaking at the 9th Japanese Ambassador's Judo Championship on Tuesday at ABC Blue gym in Lilongwe, the Minister said the support is critical in the development of sports.

"This sponsorship is the nursery and source of most Judo players for our clubs and national teams," Gangata said.

The Minister encouraged the youth to actively participate in sports and showcase their skills and techniques.

Japanese Ambassador to Malawi His Excellency Yashusi Naito said the embassy acknowledges importance of sports in the country.

"We look forward to continue supporting sports as we strengthen collaboration between Malawi and Japan,"Naito said.

The Japanese Embassy is also providing assistance to karate and kendo.

The championship was used to identify athletes to take part in African Union Sports Council Region 5 games in Maputo, 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth games and Youth Olympic games in Darkar.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Alfred Gangata has challenged National Youth Council of Malawi(NYCOM) management to come up with programs that will immediately address challenges facing young people in the country.

Gangata was speaking during a courtesy call by NYCOM officials led by Board Chairperson Patience Silungwe Khembo on Tuesday in Lilongwe that youth centred programs are key in youth empowerment.

" We expect you to come up with programs that will add value in addressing challenges that young people are encountering today," he said.

The Minister observed that there is lack of adequate data on number of youths that have graduated from colleges and universities hence need to follow up.

"There is need to have enough information about young people that have successfully gone through different programs and stakeholders that are supporting such programs to measure progress," Gangata said.

In her remarks, Khembo said NYCOM continues to operate within its mandate to facilitate programs that empower the youth.

"NYCOM coordinates youth programs, promotes meaningful youth participation, and translates national policies into tangible opportunities for young people," Khembo said.

She disclosed that about 150 youth groups have benefited from government supported Youth Innovation Fund.

NYCOM Chairperson bemoaned lack of permanent offices due to delays in the implementation of Achinyamata Youth Centre Project, absence of 100 million Kwacha Youth Constituency Fund guidelines as some of the challenges facing the institution.

Some of the officials that attended the meeting were Secretary for Youth, Sports and Culture Jameson Ndalama, PS responsible for Administration Mischeck Munthali , NYCOM Executive Director Rex Chapota,
Director of Finance and Administration Enerst Mangani and Director of Programs Williot Lumbe.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Alfred Gangata has urged Football Association of Malawi (FAM) to intensify initiatives aimed at mobilizing resources to support national football teams.

Gangata was speaking on Wednesday at Capital Hill in Lilongwe during a courtesy call by FAM President Fleetwood Haiya who was accompanied by First Vice President Madalitso Kuyera that national football teams should be well supported to perform.

"We are ready to join forces with FAM to ensure that adequate resources are available for our different national teams," said Gangata.

He noted that the nation expects the teams to do well in competitions at all cost.

"When national football teams do well the nation is happy hence we need to give our best as leaders," Gangata said.

FAM President in his presentation said the association's focus is on youth football development in oder to build a strong foundation for senior teams.

"We are working with Malawi School Sports Associations and we have also invested a lot in our Luwinga academy in Mzuzu to have strong roots," said Haiya.

He disclosed that FAM owes service providers about 600 million kwacha from unpaid airtickets and accommodation.

According to Haiya the senior men's team will be taking part in four nations tournament in Botswana while the senior women's team will be playing Australia in Kenya later this year in readiness of Women Africa Cup of Nations.

Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture on Tuesday presented 2025/2026 financial year budgetary performance to Parliamentary cluster committee on Social and Community Affairs and Local Authorities and Rural Development in Lilongwe.

During a presentation led by Secretary for Youth, Sports and Culture Jameson Ndalama the Ministry highlighted major achievements in sports development, youth empowerment and culture promotion.

In this financial year the Ministry was allocated 2.8 billion kwacha under Other Recurrent Transactions (ORT) and 8.5 billion kwacha towards projects.

"Majority of projects were allocated insufficient funds and the situation led to slow progress as contractors stopped work," Ndalama said.

In an effort to address the challenges the Ministry courted development partners to support some of the programs.

In 2026/2027 fiscal year the Ministry has been allocated 3.8 billion kwacha under ORT and 7.3 billion kwacha under development.

Social and Community Affairs Committee Chairperson Saviel Kafwafwa commended the Ministry for the efforts being done.

"There is always room for improvement and as your committee we will support your initiatives while undertaking an oversight role," said Kafwafwa.

The Ministry previous had two technical departments, Youth and Sports with the inclusion of culture 3 more departments have been added which are Records and Archives Services, Arts and Museum and Monuments.

The commemoration of martyrs' day and memorial service of worship in progress at Chipopoma ground in Nkhata Bay district.

The Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Alfred Gangata says adoption of proper records and archives management is critical in any organization.

Gangata was speaking during a courtesy call by Association of Records and Archives and Management (ARMA) executive on Monday in Lilongwe that records and archives Management should be at the centre of organizations.

"We need records and archives from the community level to understand where we are coming from to institutions where we are working," he said.

The Minister called all public and private organizations to ensure that they establish records and archives offices to promote professional management.

ARMA President Alufeyo Manda said records managers, archivists and information practitioners should be supported to contribute to national development.

"Effective records and archives management is fundamental to transparency, accountability, service delivery, anti corruption efforts and evidence based decision making," said Manda.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Alfred Gangata has urged sports personalities to focus on other benefits of sports beyond winning.

Gangata said on Saturday in Salima at the Malawi Sport Awards 2025 ceremony that there is a lot in sports.

"It is also about entertainment, pride, earning a liliving, team work and how to handle victory and defeat," he said.

The Minister commended sponsors support and event organizer Malawi National Council of Sports for professionally managing the sports awards program that has run for seven years.

In his remarks, Malawi National Council of Sports Board chairperson Jim Kalua said sports has the power to transform communities.

"The future of sports depends on all of us and we need to join hands," Kalua said.

About fifteen categories were competed by athletes and officials from across the country.

FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Football Club were crowned 2025/2026 Castel Cup winners on Saturday after defeating Goshen Dedza Dynamos FC 2-1 at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Alfred Gangata, Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Justin Saidi, Secretary for Youth, Sports and Culture Jameson Ndalama, Prophet Shepherd Bushir, Football Association of Malawi President Fleetwood Haiya and senior officials from Castel Malawi were among the senior officials present.