Foreign experts to help investigate Malawi's plane crash: president

STORY: Foreign experts to help investigate Malawi's plane crash: president SHOOTING TIME: June 17, 2024 DATELINE: June 19, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:06 LOCATION: Lilongwe CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of people mourning 2. various of people mourning 3. SOUNDBITE (Chichewa): LAZARUS CHAKWERA, Malawian President 4. various of people mourning STORYLINE: Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera announced on Sunday that his government has enlisted international assistance to investigate the plane crash that took the lives of the country's Vice President Saulos Chilima and other officials on June 10. Speaking at a state funeral ceremony held at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, Chakwera revealed that local military experts had initiated a preliminary investigation. However, the president emphasized the necessity of a comprehensive investigation to address lingering questions among Malawians and himself. SOUNDBITE (Chichewa): LAZARUS CHAKWERA, Malawian President "In our tears, there

Malawian vice president buried at home village

STORY: Malawian vice president buried at home village SHOOTING TIME: June 16-17, 2024 DATELINE: June 19, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:41 LOCATION: NTCHEU, Malawi CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Chilima's funeral procession 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): PATRICIA KALIATI, Secretary general of United Transformation Movement 3. various of Chilima's burial 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): COLLEEN ZAMBA, Secretary to president and cabinet 5. various of President Chakera and others at the burial 6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chichewa): KENNETH KACHEPATSONGA, Chilima's follower 7. various of Mary Chilima, wife of the late Malawian Vice President Saulos Chilima, paying her last respect to her husband in Ntcheu STORYLINE: The body of Malawian Vice President Saulos Chilima, who died on June 10 in a plane crash, was buried at his home village Monday in Ntcheu district, about 165km south of the capital, Lilongwe. The burial ceremony was witnessed by Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera, former presidents, including Bakili Muluzi and Peter Mut

Malawian president urges traders to utilize int'l markets

STORY: Malawian president urges traders to utilize int'l markets SHOOTING DATE: May 23, 2024 DATELINE: May 25, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:23 LOCATION: Lilongwe CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the 34th Malawi International Trade Fair 2. SOUNDBITE (Chichewa): LAZARUS CHAKWERA, Malawian President 3. various of the 34th Malawi International Trade Fair STORYLINE: Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera on Thursday urged traders in the country to take advantage of the export market deals the government has signed with China and other international market avenues to increase foreign exchange inflows into the country. The president made the appeal when he officially opened the 34th Malawi International Trade Fair in the country's commercial city of Blantyre. He lamented the gap between the country's imports and exports for the past years, saying that in March 2023, the trade deficit between imports and exports was 177.7 million U.S. dollars, while in the same month, 2024, the gap increased to 194.4 million d

Survivors in grief as Cyclone Freddy wipes out entire village in Malawi

STORY: Survivors in grief as Cyclone Freddy wipes out entire village in Malawi DATELINE: April 12, 2023 LENGTH: 00:05:39 LOCATION: BLANTYRE, Malawi CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. aerial view of Ntauchira village 2. various of Margret Jailosi at the hospital 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chichewa): MARGRET JAILOSI, Cyclone Freddy survivor 4. various of doctors treating Margret Jailosi 5. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): DENNIS ZALIRA, Senior clinical officer 6. various of the village 7. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chichewa): AUSTINE MALOYA, Clan leader 8. various of a school camp 9. various of the village STORYLINE: As she lies on her hospital bed weeks after cyclone Freddy struck, 56-year-old Margret Jailosi does not recall the whereabouts of some of her relations and neighbors. In the blink of an eye, the entire village of Ntauchira was washed away. At around 4 a.m. (1700 GMT) on March 12, villagers were deep asleep. Rocks, mudslides and water came down Chilimankhwanje Hill, smashing their houses and sweeping away livestock, farms, an

Cyclone Freddy intensifies cholera risks in Malawi camps

STORY: Cyclone Freddy intensifies cholera risks in Malawi camps DATELINE: March 29, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:51 LOCATION: BLANTYRE, Malawi CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of Cyclone Freddy hit areas 2. various of disaster management officials 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): DOMINIC MWANDIRA, Nsanje District Commissioner 3. various of survivors 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chichewa): HERBERT KAIMFA, Local official STORYLINE: The devastation by Tropical Cyclone Freddy is exposing major health risks in the hardest-hit southern African countries, amid the ongoing and exacerbated cholera outbreaks across the continent. Dominic Mwandira, Nsanje District Commissioner in Malawi, said cholera has already been recorded in the district. He said his office is alert and that immediate action was needed to tackle the problem. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): DOMINIC MWANDIRA, Nsanje District Commissioner "There has been one reported case of cholera here in which case as I go back to the office, I will link with the director of health to make sur

Malawi hopes for victory against cholera

STORY: Malawi hopes for victory against cholera DATELINE: Feb. 28, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:37 LOCATION: Lilongwe CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of a healthcare worker at an isolation site 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chichewa): LAZARUS CHAKWERA, Malawian President 3. various of President Chakwera at an engagement in north Malawi 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chichewa): LAZARUS CHAKWERA, Malawian President 5. various of medical care workers preparing oral rehydration solution 6. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): MAZIKO MATEMBA, Health rights activist 7. various of a cholera mortuary at an isolation STORYLINE: Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera said in north Malawi on Saturday that the rates of new cholera infections and deaths are decreasing but the fight against the epidemic is being undermined by myths and religious beliefs. Chakwera called for concerted efforts in the fight against what has become the southern Africa country's deadliest cholera outbreak that has thus far killed 1,547 people. Cases of the outbreak, officials say, have

Malawians benefit from Chinese-funded road project

STORY: Malawians benefit from Chinese-funded road project DATELINE: Feb. 20, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:47 LOCATION: Lilongwe CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the construction site 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): PENG SHIWAN, Project manager 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chichewa): PETER NDAMVAKALE, Local employee 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): JACOB HARA, Malawi Minister of Transport 5. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): ROSE CHAWINGA, Local resident STORYLINE: Although construction work on Malawi's backbone road M1 is yet to be completed, the project is already benefiting hundreds of Malawian families. The project began in December 2021. It is funded by a China Aid grant and undertaken by Chinese contractor Shandong Luqiao Group Company Limited. The project includes the reconstruction and extension of a 9.5-km stretch of the M1 Road in the capital, Lilongwe. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): PENG SHIWAN, Project manager "This section will be upgraded from two lanes to four lanes, and has independent bicycle lanes and sidewalks on both sides. We wi

Malawi to reopen schools in two major cities amid cholera spread

STORY: Malawi to reopen schools in two major cities amid cholera spread DATELINE: Jan. 14, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:11 LOCATION: Lilongwe CATEGORY: HEALTH/EDUCATION SHOTLIST: 1. various of medics at a cholera isolation site 2. various of ministers at a press briefing 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chichewa): KHUMBIZE KANDODO CHIPONDA, Malawian Minister of Health 4. various of isolation tent 5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chichewa): KHUMBIZE KANDODO CHIPONDA, Malawian Minister of Health 6. various of medics preparing chlorine 7. various of disinfection sprayers 8. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): AGNES NYALONJE, Malawian Minister of Education 9. shot a a medical staff disinfecting an ambulance STORYLINE: Malawi has announced that primary and secondary schools in the country's two major cities of Lilongwe and Blantyre will reopen on Jan. 17 despite the unabated cholera spread. Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, also co-chair of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and Cholera, announced the re-opening of schools during a televised press b

Chinese Kung Fu gains popularity in Malawi

STORY: Chinese Kung Fu gains popularity in Malawi DATELINE: Jan. 1, 2023 LENGTH: 0:02:12 LOCATION: BLANTYRE, Malawi CATEGORY: CULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. various of Kung Fu practices at Blantyre youth center 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): MEDDINGTON MSISKA, Senior member of Blantyre Youth Center Wushu Team 3. various of Kung Fu practices at Blantyre youth center 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chichewa): PROMISE SYMON, Trainee 5. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): EDGAR NTULUMBWA, Spokesperson, Malawi National Council Of Sports STORYLINE: After practicing Kung Fu for 10 years, Meddington Msiska, a member of the Wushu team at the Blantyre Sports Club, is now teaching his fellows various skills of Chinese martial arts. Msiska started learning Kung Fu in 2012 with the help of some Chinese trainers. He said he likes Kung Fu because of its beauty. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): MEDDINGTON MSISKA, Senior member of Blantyre Youth Center Wushu Team "It is a beautiful sport and it is not just physical. I think it helps one's mind as well. My mind is sharp

WPF's emergency food insecurity response benefits 3.8 mln people in Malawi

STORY: WPF's emergency food insecurity response benefits 3.8 mln people in Malawi DATELINE: Dec. 30, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:58 LOCATION: Lilongwe CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of truck with relief food 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): PAUL TURNBULL, WFP Country Director for Malawi 3. various of people in need of assistance 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chichewa): ELUBY TIMOTHY, Relief beneficiary 5. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): PAUL TURNBULL, WFP Country Director for Malawi STORYLINE: The implementation of the 2022/23 Lean Season Food Insecurity Response Programme targeting food insecure households is underway in Malawi. Up to 3.8 million people in the southern African country are in need of assistance between the months of November 2022 and March 2023, requiring over 75 million U.S. dollars. Truckloads of maize and other relief items are parked outside district council offices in Chikwawa, south Malawi. The arrival of the trucks is a relief to over 47,000 people of food insecure households in the district in need of immedia

Chinese medical team offers free medical service in Malawi

STORY: Chinese medical team offers free medical service in Malawi DATELINE: Oct. 14, 2022 LENGTH: 0:02:02 LOCATION: Lilongwe CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of locals awaiting treatment 2. various of Chinese doctors treating patients 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): DR. ZHONG HONGPING, Chinese doctor 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chichewa): GRACE BANDAM, Patient in Malawi STORYLINE: Hundreds of patients have gathered in a village in Lilongwe, Malawi's capital, waiting for a team of 17 Chinese doctors to provide a day-long free medical care. Apart from ordinary screening, patients also received medical counseling. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): DR. ZHONG HONGPING, Chinese doctor "Through these activities, we hope we can further promote the people-to-people bond between China and Malawi, and also respond to the Belt and Road Initiative, and make positive contributions to the construction of a human health community." SOUNDBITE 2 (Chichewa): GRACE BANDAM, Patient "We are so thankful for the good relations between Malawi and C

UN launches humanitarian appeal for Malawi

STORY: UN launches humanitarian appeal for Malawi DATELINE: March 6, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:41 LOCATION: CHIKWAWA, Malawi CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of a survivors camp in Chikwawa 2. various of survivors, structures in the camp 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): RUDOLF SCHWENK, UN Acting Country Representative 4. various of survivors, structures in the camp 5. various of survivors, structures in the camp 6. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chichewa): THOM, Local leader STORYLINE: The United Nations (UN) is drumming up emergency funds support for Malawi, urgently seeking 29.4 million U.S. dollars to help 542,000 people hardest hit by Tropical Storm Ana for the next three months. Over 990,000 people urgently need humanitarian assistance and protection support in the southern African country, among others. The storm passed through many districts in southern Malawi in late January this year, leaving devastation and destruction in its wake. UN Acting Country Representative Rudolf Schwenk said among others the response will prov