Persons with disabilities in Malawi may be tuning in to community radio, but their political voices are not adequately covered.

A recent study led by Dr Muyanga Ziba has raised questions about the role of community radio in promoting the political participation of persons with disabilities in Malawi. Using Mzimba Community Radio Station as a case study, the research found that while general programming for people with disabilities exists, there is no dedicated content focused on political engagement.

By Gofaone Motsamai and Nikelo Mehlomakulu

The Indian Ocean is the third-largest ocean, serving as a lifeline for international trade and transport. South Africa is a key player in the 23-country Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and the North-West University (NWU) is an integral part of the IORA Academic Group, which promotes collaboration among universities, governments and communities in the region.

Leaky, dilapidated water lines are being replaced at the North-West University (NWU) to reduce water losses and conserve water more effectively. One such rehabilitation project is under way at the Mahikeng Campus.

What was once a neglected water system is now central to the university’s Waterwise Project, as it forms the backbone of a new plan to treat, distribute, and monitor clean water on campus.

Waterwise is a long-term infrastructure overhaul aimed at saving, cleaning and recycling water, and making the university water resilient.

By Gofaone Motsamai and Nikelo Mehlomakulu

It was not just a gathering; it was a breaking of the silence around men’s mental health struggles. On 26 June 2025, the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus became a space where men exchanged ego for honesty, and bravado for openness.

The NWU alumni men’s mental health workshop brought together graduates, professionals and mentors for a conversation about what it means to be a man in a society that teaches boys to hold back pain.

Prof Olubukola Oluranti Babalola from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Microbiology subject group recently visited the National Potato Innovation Centre in Scotland. She delivered a seminar on her pioneering research into rhizosphere microbiomes and their role in developing sustainable agroecosystems.

By Gofaone Motsamai

Concerns over cost, access and digital readiness dominated discussions at a seminar on the feasibility of introducing electronic voting (e-voting) in South Africa hosted by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

In a partnership that aims to provide students with hands-on experience and practical exposure aligned with their academic curriculum, the School of Human Movement Science at the Mahikeng Campus of the North-West University (NWU) has embarked on a transformative collaboration with the North West Provincial Department of Art, Culture, Sports and Recreation (DACSR).

Digitising manual procurement processes in government could assist in curbing corruption and bolster a culture of accountability. This is according to PhD graduate Dr Lawrence Moetapele Mojaki of the Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA).

Dr Mojaki is a deputy director for supply chain management at the GPAA and recently completed his PhD in Economic and Management Sciences with Business Administration at the Mahikeng Campus of the North-West University (NWU).

By Gofaone Motsamai and Phenyo Mokgothu

Cannabis is much more than a plant for South Africa’s traditional healers; it is part of a spiritual practice and a tool for healing in our communities, according to five postgraduate students from the North-West University’s (NWU) Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

If Khumo Feni, an Indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) PhD candidate and IKS coordinator at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus, has her way, each of the three campuses at the NWU will soon have an Indigenous Games office.

Aimed at promoting indigenous languages, cohesive social structures, and engagement among members of campus communities, the beauty of indigenous games is that they have wide appeal among people of all ages and from all walks of life.

Working and playing together