I WELCOME you!

Dear Good People,

I warmly welcome you to my Blog and it is my profound hope that you will find it useful and worth the time you spend on it. On this Blog, I have posted some of the articles and pieces that I have writen just for record purposes and also for sharing. You might have read these articles in the papers but it could also be possible that you missed them.


Please be advised that these are my toughts and purely my opinions. You are free to comment on them and/or to critic them. I will appreciate any of your comments.

Thank You.

Hastings Maloya
+265 888864241 or +265 999950953

About Me

Mulanje, Southern Region, Malawi
Is an experienced journalist, writer, specialist in development communications, public relations, publications, desktop publishing, information technology, photography, environmental education and rural development. Hastings Maloya is currently working as Programme Officer responsible for Environmental Education, Awareness and Communications for the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust (MMCT) since September 1, 2002. Hastings, comes from Tradional Authority Mabuka in Mulanje District, is an Adventist Christian, and has two daughters Eva and Eve.

On Cultural Dances


Dances are the core of culture
by Hastings Maloya

A day to remember - yes, a day that will go into the history books as a turning point when local dances that were almost dead resurfaced! This was through the Mount Mulanje traditional dance competition that took place on Friday the 27th March, at the Mulanje Community Centre Ground. Being the first time such an event had ever taken place, it was sufficiently interesting and likely to be remembered.

It was a rare occasion that brought together people from all walks of life, regardless of political or religious affiliations and appreciated culture. A day filled with sounds of traditionally-made drums and lovely hand clapping with participating groups in costumes and attire befitting the dances in their originality.

The competition, which was strictly for adults, those aged from 25 and above, was organised by the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust through its environmental education and awareness programme as a way of raising awareness on natural resource and environmental management. A total of 20 dancing groups from all over Mulanje district participated in the competition with dances ranging from Soopa, Gololombe, Jiri, Likwata, Visekhere, Chomanga, Dodo, Mganda, Manganje, Masalimo to Namunasini.

Through several awareness and educational activities, MMCT would like to encourage greater participation by the local communities in managing the Mulanje Mountain forest reserve and facilitate sustainable means of increasing benefits that people derive from it. And this competition just perfectly fitted in.

“Apart from raising awareness of the importance of Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve, this competition has assisted in acknowledging and improving the rich diversity of culture in Mulanje and also the development of tourism in the district,” said the District Commissioner for Mulanje Rev. Mosses Chimphepo. Rev. Chimphepo said he was excited that such an event brought people together to share joy and laughter, which he said was good for development.

No wonder the event attracted sponsorship from Malawi Savings Bank (MSB) that provided prizes to the winning groups. The Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust provided MK5, 000 to each of the 20 participating groups while the bank provided actual prizes to winning groups through the opening of bank accounts. The bank gave prizes to a total of MK100, 000 to five winning groups.

After scrutinising the performances a group of six judges came with a verdict that saw Manyamba Troupe with their Soopa dance scooping the first position and walked away with a K30, 000 bank account seconded by Gawani Traditional Dance with their Manganje dance and got K25, 000. On position three was Nancocho Club with Namunasini dance and were proud recipients of K20, 000 while Maliyera group with Dodo dance was on position four and got K15, 000; and Msuka dancers got K10, 000 for being on position five.

And in his remarks, MSB Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Joseph Mwanamvekha, said the Bank is proud to be associated with the promotion of culture and traditional values of the people of Malawi. He thanked the Trust for organising the event and said the Bank is excited to support the groups to sustain themselves economically hence the offer to open accounts for them.

“Our bank, which has branches in all the districts of Malawi is not discriminatory. We wanted everyone to have the power of investment and groups like these are the owners of the bank. It is my hope that after opening the bank accounts, your groups will be sustained”, said Mr. Mwanamvekha.

Mr. Mwanamvekha, who is also the National Chairperson for Mulhako wa Alhomwe, a Lhomwe cultural heritage group, emphasised on the importance of traditional dances in preservation of culture. At this point he said this competition can be looked at a starting point. He observed that over the years, Malawian were starting to believe that entertainment meant bringing into the country a foreign band when we have rich and diversity of local entertainment.

People that attended the ceremony included school children, government officials, international guests, tourists, representatives of the NGO community, the civil society and the general public.

The participating groups were asked to compose songs that raise awareness on natural resource and environmental management – with focus on the Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve. A group of six judges was tasked to come up with winners putting in consideration consistence, composition of songs, originality of the dance, the message and the general entertainment. All songs were expected to talk of the importance of conservation.

And in his remarks, the guest of honour, Paramount Chief Mkhumba thanked both MMCT and MSB for recognising the local talent and facilitating the bringing out of dances that were about to be forgotten.

Jiri is my favourite dance. It was almost gone but today we have revived it,” said the excited Chief Mkhumba while asking the organisers to consider making this an annual event. “We are reminded of our days. This is what our children need to be taught and encouraged to participate,” said the chief. He called on teachers and education officials to encourage children to organise and dance traditional dances than adopting foreign dances like kwasakwasa.

And the journey has just started….. the Trust wants this to be an annual event and the Bank wants it too!

On Beer Promotion

Big companies and the abuse on girls
By Hastings Maloya

The time is 11.30pm and I am having my favourite Carlsberg Stout at a place called Green Bird – of course there are no green-coloured birds there – in Liwonde (Mangochi Turn Off). This was after a long day in the forests of Machinga and lengthy discussions with chiefs and local leaders. Twenty-three minutes later, when I was on my second cold one, a green minibus pulls by. Very intoxicated young people jumps out, makes a lot of unnecessary noise – maybe to attract attention of everyone present. The misguided youths, as I saw them, do not even have the sense to seek permission from the owners of the venue before doing whatever stupid thing they have brought.

Yes, they are on a promotion. They want your views whether you love the latest Kadansana which has been branded by a new name Elephant, or the sugary-heavy-and-not-interesting Gold or the beautiful-name-for-nothing Classic. They do not mind whether you are interested to partake or not but they need your attention. Here they are, taking out their belongings from the minibus, prizes, whatever-it-is and they are all over for a talk yes.

I thought I was comfortable to enjoy my Stout after having a beautiful supper of Nsima with local chicken at one of the local restaurants. Oh no! There comes a girl with all the minutiae looking for information. I am a journalist and a development worker – I said to myself and remembered that in most cases I also seek info… why should I not give it now when someone needs it? The interview has not yet finished – only realising that the girl was so drunk! Time now is 12.43 (am!)

Wow, I learnt in the course of the discussion that the girl is less than 20 years old – actually 19. So sozzled that in the prattle of the discussion she does not know what she is talking about.

“But why are you so drunk?” I ask
“Don’t you know that I am promoting a beer? Mutu wanu ukugwira?” she asks.
“How many bottles have you taken?” I asked. Didn’t want to show her that I am annoyed
“Ndauyamba mmamawa,” she says as reaches her bottle for a sip, “where do you leave? “She asks.
“I stay in Mulanje I am only here on duty”, I politely respond.
“Ah! Mulanje?” she shouts
“Yes, Mulanje” I said with a smile.
“Ah, we were there. Mulanje boarder, Chikumbe Motel, Mulanje Motel, View Motel, Chididi, Chris Corner, Blue Gum! Hahahahah! We did not sleep when we were in MJ… iii and ndinauchapa! Pa Small Ville was the place I liked most” – I was so interested the way the girl could know and describe Mulanje better than myself.

She told me of the bottle stores that she has been to. Its been Mulanje, Phalombe, Thyolo, Blantyre, Zomba, what what what……. I was so amazed. But then she really had info to her fingertips about the 40th celebration of Carlsberg birthday.

Ok, the promotion ran, competitions held and I only won an opener (a bottle opener).

See now, the girl rushes to get into a minibus – now on their way to Mangochi! I said oh! My God.

I was left there dumbfounded. What is Carlsberg up to? There I realised that on the trip, there were also journalists – taken to report on the promotion – yes promoting the promotion and reporting on the beers and beer drinking. I wondered if my fellow journalists noted the abuse on the girls.

But then I changed the feelings:

My thoughts:
1. I thought of the girls’ parents. How could they allow this small girl to go on a beer promotion trip. What do they expect out of her at the end of the day? Is it due to poverty? Kaya.
2. I thought of women and youth organisations – are they aware of these abuses?
3. I thought of us journalists. Shall we just jump on these promotions or we can also look at the other side of the same and write features for the sake of our nation?
4. Then I thought of Carlsberg and noted that it is one of the richest companies in Malawi. As it celebrates 40 years of existence why not offer scholarships to girls that seem have nothing to do after completing Form Four? Why not sponsoring those girls on a “BACK to SCHOOL promotion”?
5. Zoona Carlsberg celebrating 40 years by giving out ma T-shirt? Zipewa ndi ma opener? Braii stand? Asa! Bwanji osapanga re-launch Carlsberg Cup?
6. Or maybe we journalists, maybe we can advocate for a different promotion that will be nation-friendly. Yes we can put up a proposal – hoping Carlsberg has a listening ear.
7. Why can’t they use the 40 years of celebration to help in tree planting? We are in the tree planting season. They could again make Malawi a little greener with Green.