State President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika says Africa needs home-grown and evidence-based policies to directly confront and address its deep rooted challenges such as poverty, inequality as well as corruption.

The 3rd Africa Cabinet Secretaries Round Table Conference commenced on Monday in Lilongwe with President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika describing the four-day workshop as an important forum that would equip Malawian Cabinet Ministers with skills for national development.

Government, through the Malawi High Commission to the United Kingdom (UK), has warned Malawians desiring to purchase vehicles, mainly trucks from the UK and Ireland to be vigilant as most of the purported online traders could be bogus.

Police in Dedza have apprehended a vehicle registration number MC 4572 white Nissan minibus loaded with cannabis sativa.