Malawi

Discover how the Girls Shine Foundation (GSF) is empowering secondary school girls through a new mentorship initiative focused on career guidance and counseling. Learn about the benefits of setting career goals and how this program is shaping the future for young women. Source: Africazine.

The High Court Civil Division in Blantyre has dismissed a judicial review order filed by the former chief executive of Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM). This decision marks a significant development in the case, highlighting the court's stance on the matter. Source: Africazine.

On Tuesday, the High Court Civil Division in Blantyre lifted a judicial review order related to former Escom CEO Kamkwamba Kummwenda. This decision marks a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings. Source: Africazine.

Portland Cement Limited (PCL) is set to reduce cement prices at its Blantyre and Balaka factories starting January 11, 2026. To promote bulk purchases, PCL will also implement a 30-day rebate scheme. Stay informed with Africazine for the latest updates on this significant price change.

Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, conducted the 7^th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative - MFFLI Summit 2025 on 19^th and 20^th June in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, and Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative along with The First Ladies of 14 African and Asian countries, who joined as the Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers.

Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of “Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative” emphasized, “It is my great honor to welcome our esteemed Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers, The First Ladies of Africa and Asia, and Ambassadors of our ‘More Than a Mother' campaign to the 7^th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative – MFFLI Summit.

Through this important platform, we have collectively exchanged valuable experiences and engaged in meaningful discussions on the impact of our programs, which are aimed at transforming patient care and raising awareness of a wide range of critical social and health issues.”

Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees added, “At Merck Foundation, our goal is improving overall health and well-being by building healthcare capacity and by providing access to quality & equitable healthcare solutions in the Africa, Asia and beyond. I would like to sincerely thank our Ambassadors and partners. Together, with your unwavering support and collaboration, we will continue to work towards our vision of a world where everyone can lead a healthy and happy life.”

The First Ladies of 14 countries, who are also the Ambassadors of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”, joined as Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers. They are:

• H.E. Dr. ANA DIAS LOURENÇO, The First Lady of the Republic of Angola
• H.E. Dr. DÉBORA KATISA CARVALHO, The First Lady of the Republic of Cabo Verde
• H.E. Madam BRIGITTE TOUADERA, The First Lady of the Central African Republic
• H.E. Madam ZITA OLIGUI NGUEMA, The First Lady of the Gabonese Republic
• H.E. Mrs. FATOUMATTA BAH-BARROW, The First Lady of the Republic of The Gambia
• H.E. Mrs. LORDINA DRAMANI MAHAMA, The First Lady of the Republic of Ghana
• H.E. Mrs. RACHEL RUTO E.G.H., The First Lady of the Republic of Kenya
• H.E. Mrs. KARTUMU YARTA BOAKAI, The First Lady of the Republic of Liberia
• H.E. Mrs. SAJIDHA MOHAMED, The First Lady of the Republic of Maldives
• H.E. Dr. GUETA SELEMANE CHAPO, The First Lady of the Republic of Mozambique
• H.E. Senator OLUREMI TINUBU, CON, The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
• H.E. Mrs. MARIA DE FATIMA VILA NOVA, The First Lady of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe
• H.E. Madam MARIE KHONE FAYE, The First Lady of the Republic of Senegal
• H.E. Amai Dr. AUXILLIA MNANGAGWA, The First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe

Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej stated, “I am proud to share that Merck Foundation has provided more than 2500 scholarships for young doctors from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved specialties. Many of our Merck Foundation Alumni are becoming the first specialists in their countries. Together with our Ambassadors and Partners, we are making history and transforming the patient care landscape across Africa and beyond. Many of them are becoming the first specialists in their countries.”

“During our Conference, we also marked together the World Infertility Awareness Month, observed in June, through our signature campaign “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”, which aims to empower infertile and childless women by providing access to information, education, and change of mindset. I am happy to share that out of the total 2500 scholarships, more than 700 scholarships have been provided for training in Fertility, Embryology, Sexual and Reproductive Medicine, Clinical Psychiatry, Women's Health, Urology, Laparoscopic Surgical Skills, and Family Medicine, to improve access to fertility care and women's health”, she further added. 

During the 7^th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative -MFFLI Summit, two important occasions were marked; the 8^th Anniversary of Merck Foundation and 13 years of Merck Foundation's development programs that started in 2012.

On the first day, the Plenary Session of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative -MFFLI Summit took place, featuring a high-level panel discussion with the participating First Ladies of Africa and Asia. Moreover, a high-level ministerial panel discussion was held with African Ministers and top healthcare experts from across the globe.

The Day 2 of the conference will have three key parallel session will be held- Two medical and scientific sessions covering Oncology and Fertility Topics, and a community awareness session, Merck Foundation Health Media Training. This session will emphasize the critical role of the media in influencing communities and driving cultural change, with regards to a wide range of social and health issues like Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girls' Education, Stopping GBV, Ending Child Marriage & FGM, Empowering Women, Diabetes and Hypertension Awareness.

The conference is being conducted in a hybrid format, enabling over 6,000 audiences from more than 70 countries to benefit, meet and discuss strategies and solutions for the health and social challenges in their countries safely and effectively.

Countries participating in the 7^th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative:

Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central Africa Republic, Cambodia, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Guinea – Bissau, Guinea – Conakry, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, The Gambia, Togo, Tunisia, U.A.E, UK, Uganda, US, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe and more.

The 7^th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative is streamed live on the social media handles of Merck Foundation and Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation:

@ Merck Foundation: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4q2rvZt), X (https://apo-opa.co/45qH1pP), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4q47diw) and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4q3lFqM).

@ Rasha Kelej: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/3LaSlQa), X (https://apo-opa.co/4qm5RzT), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4jsY14Q) and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4qm5Qfj).

Merck Foundation is transforming the Patient care landscape and making history together with their partners in Africa, Asia, and beyond, through:

• 2500+ Scholarships provided by Merck Foundation for doctors from 52 Countries in more than 44 critical and underserved medical specialties.  

Merck Foundation is also creating a culture shift and breaking the silence about a wide range of social and health issues in Africa and underserved communities through:

• 3700+ Media Persons from more than 35 countries trained to better raise awareness about different social and health issues
• 8 Different Awards launched annually for best media coverage, fashion designers, films, and songs
• Around 30 songs to address health and social issues, by local singers across Africa
• 9 Children's Storybooks in three languages - English, French, and Portuguese
• 6 Awareness Animation films in five languages - English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Swahili to raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes & Hypertension and supporting girl education.
• Pan African TV Program "Our Africa by Merck Foundation” addressing Social and Health Issues in Africa through “Fashion and ART with Purpose” Community
• 1040+ Scholarships provided to high performing but under-privileged African schoolgirls to empower them to complete their studies
• 15 Social Media Channels with more than 8 Million Followers.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.

Contact:
Mehak Handa
Community Awareness Program Manager 
Phone: +91 9310087613/ +91 9319606669
Email: mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com

Join the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard:
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/4q2rvZt
X: https://apo-opa.co/45qH1pP
YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/4q3lFqM
Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/4q47diw
Threads: https://apo-opa.co/3N47XFC
Flickr: https://apo-opa.co/49ApldU
Website: www.Merck-Foundation.com
Download Merck Foundation App: https://apo-opa.co/44SJjhm

About Merck Foundation:
The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality & equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare & scientific research capacity, empowering girls in education and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website.  Please visit www.Merck-Foundation.com to read more. Follow the social media of Merck Foundation: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4q2rvZt), X (https://apo-opa.co/45qH1pP), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4q47diw), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4q3lFqM), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/3N47XFC) and Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/49ApldU).

The Merck Foundation is dedicated to improving social and health outcomes for communities in need. While it collaborates with various partners, including governments to achieve its humanitarian goals, the foundation remains strictly neutral in political matters. It does not engage in or support any political activities, elections, or regimes, focusing solely on its mission to elevate humanity and enhance well-being while maintaining a strict non-political stance in all of its endeavors.

Discover the latest updates on Malawi's landmark maize import, as covered by Africazine. Stay informed about key developments in the agricultural sector and their impact on the region.

The 2026 edition of African Mining Week (AMW) – officially launched last week – will bring together global mining companies, investors, policymakers and industry stakeholders to explore emerging opportunities across Africa's minerals sector. The event will examine how Africa – the world's largest producer of key energy-transition metals including platinum group metals, cobalt, chromium and manganese – is shaping global supply chains and attracting increasing investment from markets such as the U.S., China and Europe.

AMW 2026 will take place under the theme, “Mining the Future: Critical Resources, Sustainability, and Community Development,” aiming to showcase Africa's strategic role in the global critical minerals market, highlight innovative approaches to sustainable and responsible mining and foster collaboration between governments and industry. Building on the success of the 2025 edition, the event will provide a platform to discuss sustainable market growth, environmental stewardship and socioeconomic development across the continent.

Panels and discussions will highlight Africa's role as a global hub for critical energy-transition minerals, with countries such as Zimbabwe, Mali, Namibia and Malawi advancing local value-addition mandates and strategically managing raw mineral exports to maximize domestic economic benefits. AMW 2026 will explore opportunities across the continent's critical minerals sector, from mining and exploration to processing and industrialization, providing insights into how investors and governments can collaborate to strengthen supply chains and unlock the full potential of Africa's mineral wealth.

Environmental stewardship and responsible mining practices will also be a core focus. Financiers including the Africa Finance Corporation, World Bank, IFC and Afreximbank increasingly tie funding to ESG performance, and panels will examine how renewable energy solutions – from Power Purchase Agreements and Independent Power Producer arrangements to energy wheeling and onsite generation – can reduce emissions, improve energy security and enhance project bankability. The event will also highlight innovative strategies for sustainable resource development that balance commercial returns with ecological and social responsibility.

Community engagement, local content, skills transfer and shared infrastructure remain central to Africa's mining policies. AMW 2026 will showcase projects that deliver tangible socioeconomic benefits, from job creation and supplier development to gender empowerment and improved community infrastructure. Discussions will also unpack tax regimes, community-benefit frameworks and ESG obligations that shape project implementation, emphasizing how mining can serve as a catalyst for inclusive growth across the continent.

"African Mining Week 2026 will be a showcase of Africa's potential to power the future," states Rachelle Kasongo, Events & Project Director at Energy Capital & Power. "The event will highlight how the continent's critical resources can be responsibly developed, how innovative practices are shaping a more sustainable mining sector and how investments can create meaningful benefits for local communities. It's a space for leaders to exchange ideas, forge partnerships and explore solutions that drive long-term impact for both industry and society."

African Mining Week serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2026 conference from October 12-16 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@energycapitalpower.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Discover the capabilities of a cutting-edge fertiliser manufacturing plant that can produce approximately 40 tons of high-quality fertiliser daily. Learn more about its impact on agriculture and sustainability in this insightful article from Africazine.