As mental health continues to take a heavy toll on men, with men recording higher death rates from suicide in many settings, Lilongwe men will have a chance to break the silence and confront pressures they often hide.
The opportunity comes through the ‘Man in the Mirror’ men’s conference, which will be held at Golden Peacock Hotel from 6pm on 25 September 2026.
The men-only gathering follows the inaugural conference held in Blantyre in July and will focus on mental well-being and practical ways men can navigate pressures they rarely speak about openly.
High Court Judge Justice Allan Hans Muhome will lead a session on ‘The Importance of a Will and Understanding the Consequences of Divorce’.
The session will provide practical legal insights on wills, inheritance, wealth, marriage and divorce, with a focus on decisions that can affect families and future generations.
Professor of Psychology Chiwoza Bandawe will tackle men’s mental health and work-related stress in a session titled ‘Men’s Mental Health and Work-Related Stress: Facing What We Cannot Afford to Ignore’.
Bandawe will share practical approaches to managing stress, building resilience, strengthening relationships and recognising when professional help may be needed.
Men’s reproductive and sexual health will also take centre stage.
Moses Chipembo Soko, national trainer in radiological investigations and head of radiology at Zomba Central Hospital, will discuss how modern scans are helping detect and manage prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, infertility and enlarged prostate.
The session will also cover prevention, early diagnosis, treatment options and the importance of seeking medical help without fear or stigma.
Organisers, Prestige Events Malawi (PEM), said the decision to take the gathering to Lilongwe follows positive feedback from the Blantyre event and requests from men in the central region.
PEM Events Experience Director Chrispin Bondwe said the response showed that men need spaces where they can openly discuss issues affecting their lives.
“We received good and positive feedback from the first men’s conference in Blantyre and men from Lilongwe and other areas were asking for this conference and that is why we are taking it to Lilongwe,” said Bondwe.
He said there are plans to take the event to Mzuzu and other areas.
Bondwe said the initiative follows growing recognition that men in Malawi are facing significant pressures while often remaining silent about their struggles.
The inaugural Blantyre gathering also received positive feedback from participants.
One patron, James Chimwaza, said the information shared at the event was worth more than the K50,000 he paid to attend.
“I think we have got more than we paid for. The information we have received and learnt today is more than the K50,000 that we have paid for. It was a good conference and I have benefited a lot,” he said.
Another patron, Peter Kafwamba, described the event as enlightening, saying he benefited from discussions on wills, opportunities and networking.
“We have been looking for such gatherings where men can discuss these relevant topics, this is an excellent concept, when are you doing another one?” said Kafwamba.
Bondwe said PEM has invited organisations and individuals to partner with the initiative to make the conference a success and help create more spaces where men can openly address their problems.
