Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining Bintony Kutsaira says the Forestry Amendment Act passed Friday in Parliament will strengthen the Forestry Act and improve efficiency and effectiveness of the Forestry Department which had challenges and gaps in rendering its duties.

Thousands of Malawians paid their last respects to Mayi Alefa Julius Chimulirenji, mother to Hon Everton Chimulirenji, who was laid to rest on Friday in Likumbo Village, TA Njolomole in Ntcheu district.

Despite adjusting the price of maize to K310 per kilo, traders continued hoarding maize stocks with the objective of making abnormal profits at the expense of fellow Malawians, Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Minister Kondwani Nankhumwa told Parliament on Friday.

Tobacco Commission, a regulatory body,  has licensed five growers associations to operate in the 2020 tobacco growing season.