Read Sharon Saylor’s (Global Business Report) interview with John Bande Malawi’s Minister of Mining, who assumed this position in December 2012.

Bande’s parliamentary seat for Blantyre City East will likely be challenged in the 2014 tripartite elections as Noel Masangwi (Democratic Progressive Party Regional Governor for southern Malawi). Msangwi, who is waiting to be formally charged by the Blantyre High Court in connection with the murder of Polytechnic student Robert Chasowa, has already started to set up structures to prepare for the campaign period, which begins 60 days before the polls open.