Matilda Phiri (Author & Poet) reciting her poem to pupils at Phaloni Primary School in Phalombe The Malawi Parliament has passed the long-awaited Arts NAHEC (National Arts, Heritage, and Cultural) Bill, a landmark decision set to revitalize the country’s creative industries. This bill is expected to enhance support for various artistic talents, including literature, music, film, and other cultural expressions, marking a significant step in promoting Malawi’s rich heritage and diverse talents. As an author, I can’t wait to see the impact this will have on writing and other talents in our country. This bill will offer much-needed support to creatives, providing platforms for their work to thrive and be appreciated both locally and globally. The bill, which aims to establish a framework for nurturing and promoting the arts, has been widely supported by the creative community. With new funding opportunities and institutional backing, many expect that the next generation of Malawian art

Guest Writer: Dr Benedicto Wokomaatani Malunga (Malawian author, Poet and Academician) He knocked on the Kanjedza house door leading into the living room of his girlfriend's elder sister. He knew her as a cheerful lady. She was also very good at cultivating rapport with all those she met. In conversation, she was deliciously engaging. Needless to say that as Pangaliindu knocked her door, an air of calmness and self- assurance prevailed around him. Before coming here, he had called at the house where the retired parents of his girlfriend resided. There, he was told that Zitha his girlfriend had gone out to visit her elder sister a couple of hours ago. Since Pangaliindu was not in a hurry to go home, he decided to follow his girlfriend where she had gone although he had not alerted her that he would meet her. After all, it was purely by chance, that he was in the same town as where his lover was. Otherwise he should have been 60 kilometers away in the town where he lived and worked.