President Arthur Peter Mutharika hosted a high-level meeting with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Panel of Elders at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe on Friday, highlighting Malawi's commitment to regional peace and security, according to Pan African Visions. During the talks, Mutharika stressed that economic progress relies on political stability across Southern Africa and commended the ongoing mediation efforts led by the panel, which includes former Malawian President Joyce Banda as Vice Chairperson.
In disaster relief developments, Zimbabwe delivered its third consignment of humanitarian maize to Malawi on Thursday to assist communities affected by recent severe floods, APAnews reports. Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister George Chaponda received the 330-metric-tonne shipment in Lilongwe, bringing Zimbabwe's total maize donation to 1,000 tonnes. The Department of Disaster Management Affairs will coordinate the distribution of the food relief to vulnerable households facing food insecurity.
On the regional energy front, Malawi is set to interconnect its power grid with Mozambique by the second quarter of the year, bringing an additional 50 megawatts to the country, Nyasa Times reports. Chief Secretary to the Government Dr. Justin Saidi announced the development during the 60th Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP) Executive Committee meeting in Lilongwe, stating that the project will officially link Malawi to the broader regional energy network.
In the education sector, York University has secured a $500,000 grant from the Spencer Foundation to study the impact of international aid reductions on Malawi, according to YFile. The three-year study, led by associate professor Rachel Silver, will examine how local schools and non-governmental organisations are adjusting their programmes following global financing cuts to bilateral education assistance.