Malawi has officially withdrawn the candidacy of Tujilane Chizumila for a judicial position at the International Criminal Court. According to Nyasa Times, the Embassy of Malawi announced the withdrawal in a communication dated October 20, 2026. The Assembly of States Parties, the governing body of the ICC, recorded the decision in an official document published on the same day.
Update: The Malawian government has addressed public questions regarding President Peter Mutharika's prolonged stay in South Africa. Nyasa Times reports that Minister of Information and Communications Technology Shadric Namalomba released a statement on October 23, 2026, confirming that the president is in good health and is extending a private trip. Namalomba dismissed opposition claims of a leadership vacuum, stating that Mutharika remains fully in charge of government affairs and will return to Malawi when ready.
On the economic front, Malawi's headline inflation rate dropped for a tenth consecutive month to 19.4 percent in September 2026, down from a previous peak of 29.1 percent. Despite the decline, economist Kisu Simwaka warned that the country remains a regional outlier, according to Nyasa Times. While neighboring countries such as Tanzania and South Africa have achieved single-digit inflation rates, Malawi's non-food inflation remains high at 31.5 percent. Simwaka cautioned that projected below-normal rainfall between October 2026 and March 2027 could disrupt food production and push inflation higher early next year.
In agricultural news, Renaissance Agriculture and Food Systems has been selected for a 4.6 billion kwacha maize seed contract under the Farm Input Subsidy Programme. According to Nyasa Times, the Ministry of Agriculture published the proposed award notice in compliance with the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Act. Unsuccessful bidders have until October 31, 2026, to file any formal objections to the award.