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.

Chikondi, a college graduate who had recently earned her degree, found herself in the throes of an unrelenting job search. The joy and anticipation that accompanied her graduation had gradually given way to frustration and despair. Each day, she scoured the newspapers and online job portals, sending out applications to countless employers, hoping for that elusive opportunity. As if her struggle to secure a job wasn't enough, she was burdened by a far more pressing concern - her ailing mother. Chikondi's mother, Mary, was a warm-hearted woman who had raised Chikondi and her younger sister, Tawonga, single-handedly. But now, Mary was bedridden, battling a severe illness that required costly medical attention. The local hospital had minimal resources and was often plagued by shortages of medicine, leaving Chikondi helpless and overwhelmed. Chikondi visited the hospital daily, watching her mother's health deteriorate while the hospital staff offered little more than apologies a

In the heart of a bustling city, where the neon lights reflected off the rain-slicked streets, there lived a young woman named Emily. With her fiery red hair and infectious laughter, she had always been the life of the party, the one everyone wanted to be around. But despite her outgoing nature, Emily harbored a secret fear that she kept hidden from the world: she had a rare condition called synesthesia. To Emily, the world was a symphony of colors, each sound and sensation accompanied by a kaleidoscope of hues that danced before her eyes. For years, Emily had struggled to find someone who could understand her unique perspective, someone who could look beyond the surface and see the world as she did. But time and time again, her condition had driven potential suitors away, leaving her feeling more alone than ever before. One rainy evening, as Emily sat alone in her favorite café, nursing a cup of steaming hot chocolate, she caught sight of a familiar face across the room. It was Daniel

    I'll never forget the sweet old college days when I pursued my medical course in Pharmacy, and my friend James used to give me eggs. I remember vividly how he used to say it, even though almost seven years have passed. "I've laid four eggs today, and what time are you coming to my room to get them?" He would say, and I would burst into tears of gratitude. I thoroughly enjoyed them and always thanked him for his kindness. The truth is, James didn't like the way the campus chefs prepared boiled eggs. He was known as an entertainment director, and he had a reputation for making people laugh with his jokes. Perhaps, this was why the chefs liked him and ended up giving him extra meals. While everyone else received only two eggs, James got twice as many, which he saved for me. If we didn't meet in the afternoon, he would keep them for me in the evening. As a result, the number of eggs multiplied day by day, setting me apart from the ordinary students who qui

 SHORT STORY BY MATILDA PHIRI MALAWI’S CHITENJE I have always doubted the power of Malawi’s Chitenje.   I never believed that in order, to impress a real Malawian lady you need to buy her a Chitenje. I and most boys of nowadays have stopped respecting our culture. We no longer care or fear breaking cultural rules and its consequences. It has been two years for me since I attended a funeral in my area. I have heard that in the past, this would not have happened because I would be tied with a string to a big tree waiting to be untied after the burial has happened. This was news to me. I laughed and shouted at the same time; “What the hell!? I would definitely sue the chief if he does that to me!’’ That was my straight word. “After all, we are in democracy. I have a right to attend any funeral or not.” But I was very wrong. I’m a University graduate of Political Science and divorced. I am working at a certain organisation as a democracy expert. I live in Blantyre City with my young

                   MAN IN TROUBLE        By Alinafe Livia Gundo (Blosh96) Guest Writer  Name: Alinafe Livia Gundo PenName: blosh96 (liviasbooklet) Genre: ShortStory/Articles/Poems/Proses Profession: Social Worker Location: Malawi  MAN IN TROUBLE   “The world usually tells us that men can’t be victims of abuse. The media tells us men are just the perpetrators of violence, but never the victims. These are just myths. Domestic violence can and does happen to men too. But many men choose to remain silent because they think there’s no point in reporting the abuse and no one will ever believe them or they will be laughed at.’’   I got married to Zanille a year and a half ago; Our wedding was colorful, perfect just as she wanted it. The attire, the deco, the catering were all on point. We spent so much money on it.   5months into our marriage which I perceived to have been a happy home, Zanille started complaining of different things. She constantly said she needed to change

THE 2020 MEGA MEN’S CONFERENCE BY MATILDA PHIRI “The long awaited men’s conference is finally here,” a loud but husky voice announced on the radio. Immediately, I dropped the mop, rushed to the radio and turned the volume up.   “All Men, young and old, let’s meet at Chichiri Stadium for the mega men’s conference,” continued the message.   As a man who was doing nothing important and with no hopes for a wife, I was curious and I quickly made up my mind that I should avail myself on this big day. My curiosity was on what will this conference bring forth on my life? What kind of men will I meet there and how will they help me with my problems? These were questions that came into my mind and I prayed that this day should really come so that we can share our problems for problems shared are half solved. The year, 2020 has been very hard in history as Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc across the face of the earth. The virus invaded the world and messages of how to prevent it, were