Bingu wa Mutharika

A Malawi High Court judge on Thursday granted bail to 12 politicians facing treason charges for allegedly plotting to oust President Joyce Banda.

A bail hearing for 11 Malawian politicians accused of plotting to hijack the nomination of President Joyce Banda will be held on Thursday, officials said, as fresh protests erupted over their arrests.

Malawi police on Monday arrested 11 people, including the former president's brother and a serving minister, for an alleged coup plot, sparking violent protests.

Malawi police on Monday arrested at least two ex-ministers for an alleged coup plot aimed at preventing President Joyce Banda coming to power last year, sparking protests met with police tear gas.

The sudden death of Malawi president Bingu wa Mutharika last year was caused by cardiac arrest, an inquiry ruled Wednesday, hoping to lay to rest speculation that he may have been killed.

Malawi is to reprint thousands of presidential portraits to add "Doctor" to Joyce Banda's name, the government said Friday, raising eyebrows amid a tough austerity drive.

For sale, presidential jet, 15 years old. Perfect flying condition. $13.3 million. Contact Malawi for details.

Heavily armed riot police were deployed on the streets of Malawi's major cities on Thursday as the government braced for protests against tough reforms designed to right the economy and win back investors.

IMF chief Christine Lagarde on Saturday praised Malawi's President Joyce Banda for "bold" economic recovery reforms, saying the measures will lead to a turn-around despite their unpopularity.

IMF chief Christine Lagarde on Saturday urged Malawi to diversify its economy, saying a reliance on agriculture left the country's economic recovery under President Joyce Banda vulnerable.

Malawi's President Joyce Banda has assured visiting IMF managing director Christine Lagarde that the impoverished southern African country will not backtrack on reforms to help the economy recover.

Christine Lagarde, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), arrived in impoverished Malawi on Friday on a three-day official visit to "support the President and government" over its economic recovery programme.

Thrown into jail for 14 years under Malawi's anti-gay laws, Tiwonge Chimbalanga has no regrets about the marriage ceremony that became a symbol of Africa's intolerance toward homosexuality.

Britain will give Malawi £20 million ($32 million, 25 million euro) in "emergency budget support" to boost social schemes in the impoverished southern African nation, Malawi authorities said Friday.

Malawi's former president Bakili Muluzi, who was detained in 2008 for plotting to topple his successor, is suing the state for false arrest, according to court documents seen by AFP on Tuesday.

The son of Malawi's ex-president Bakili Muluzi on Monday resigned as as economic planning minister after President Joyce Banda said he did not have what it takes to run for the highest office.

Malawi lawyers Thursday criticised President Joyce Banda's government for suspending sodomy laws until they are debated by parliament, calling it "unconstitutional and illegal".

Malawi has suspended its law which criminalizes gay sex as lawmakers consider repealing it altogether. Malawi has suspended its law which criminalizes gay sex as lawmakers consider repealing it altogether. President Joyce Banda, who ascended to her position in April after the death of her predecessor, President Bingu wa Mutharika, backed repeal of the law shortly after assuming her office. Justice Minister Ralph Kasambara said Malawi's indecency and unnatural acts laws would be set aside until parliament votes on a new law. Gay men face up to 14 years imprisonment if convicted under the statutes. ?If we continue arresting and prosecuting people based on the said laws and later such laws are found to be unconstitutional it would be an embarrassment to government,? Reuters quoted Kasambara as saying. ?It is better to let one criminal get away with it rather than throw a lot of innocent people in jail.? Sexual conduct between people of the same sex is banned in 37 African countries. If re

Malawian student activist Robert Chasowa, a critic of the late president Bingu wa Mutharika, was murdered and did not kill himself as police first claimed, a committee of inquiry found Tuesday.

Malawi President Joyce Banda has backed away from a pledge to decriminalize being gay in the African nation. Malawi President Joyce Banda has backed away from a pledge to decriminalize being gay in the African nation. In a interview with the AP, Banda, who ascended to her position in April after the death of her predecessor, President Bingu wa Mutharika, explained that she was respecting public sentiment on the issue. ?Anyone who has listened to the debate in Malawi realizes that Malawians are not ready to deal with that right now,? she told the AP on Wednesday after addressing the United Nations General Assembly. ?I as a leader have no right to influence how people feel.? After assuming her office, Banda backed repeal of Malawi's indecency and unnatural acts laws. In 2010, Mutharika pardoned two men who were charged with and found guilty of unnatural acts and gross indecency for participating in a symbolic engagement ceremony. However, Mutharika remained opposed to gay rights, describ