Rex Richard Chikoko

MEC defies AG order

2009-09-07T06:36:00.001-07:00

Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) has defied order from Auditor General (AG) order not to engage PricewaterHouse Cooper, an audit firm without seeking permission from the AG office. Malawi News can reveal that Mec has arbitrary reengaged PricewaterHouse Cooper without following the procedures.

At the meantime two auditing groups, one from government’s national audit office and the others from private audit firm are currently auditing Mec despite the reservations from government in engaging the private firm.

Mec spokesperson Fegus Lipenga confirmed that Pricewater House Cooper was auditing the Commission along side government auditors from the Office of the attorney general in Blantyre, however National Audit office spokesperson Luka Tchoka said Mec did not follow the procedures when engaging Pricewater House Cooper firm.

In a letter dated 24 April 2004, duly signed by the deputy Auditor General L. S. Gomani chided Malawi Electoral Commission for engaging Pricewater House Cooper, an audit firm, without following the procedures.

The letter, reference number MEC/16/2 admonished the Mec for failing to comply with Section 16 of the Electoral Act which requires that engagement of a private sector auditors to audit the commission’s books of Accounts should be approved by the Auditor General.

“In the light of the above observations, your request to engage Pricewater House Cooper to audit Commissions financial transactions for the period of October 2008 to September 2009, have not been approved.

“You may wish to know that the auditors did not carry their first assignment properly, resulting in issuance of incomplete report on alleged misappropriation of public funds. : “The auditors should not have published their report before gathering adequate evidence to support the unprecedented loss of public funds at the Commission,” reads part of the letter.

The letter also accused the Commission of failing to seek the approval of the Director of Public Procurement to use a single source procurement method when procuring the audit services contrary to sections 30 and 36 of the Public Procurement Act.

“The Commission is therefore, advised to start again the procurement process to comply with the provision of the Public Procurement Act and the Public Audit Act… Since the audit services are urgently required, you may wish to seek approval from the Director of Public Procurement to use the request for proposal method as stipulated in Section 34 of the Public Procurement Act. You are also advised to submit the terms of reference for the audit to this office for review and approval before soliciting proposals from private sector audits,” the letter said.

Deputy Auditor general responsible for the Southern Region …Chiluzi said while they were auditing Mec they were surprised to see another team of auditors from the private firm started auditing the same institution.

National Audit office also refused to honour Mec request to provide an official to witness private firm’s auditing saying they do not know the terms of reference for the private firm auditors.

“We were told that the auditors from the private firm were sent by DFiD. It was a donor requirement. The request to provide a witness was refused because it could have been confusing to witness something whose terms of reference wee do not know,” he said.

Chiluzi said Mec did not follow the procedures in procuring the service of the private firm as stipulated in the Public Tendering Act.

Mec spokesperson Fegus Lipenga said PriceWater House Cooper was engaged by the donor community who were supporting the 2009 elections. He said the donors wanted to be sure that their monies were being used for the intended purpose saying the donors identified the firm to conduct the auditing using their own procurement procedures.

On the consultations with the office of Auditor General, Lipenga said the AG was therefore to be consulted not approve the audit adding that: “The Commission recognizes that its books are to be audited by the AG and that is the reason why auditors from the National Audit office are also auditing MEC books. MEC agreed with the Auditor General that the firm should start auditing and the AG will be involved in final stage of the auditing.”

However DFID Malawi Strategic Communications Officer Andrew Massa said has no comment on this issue. We believe this is an issue for Electoral Commission.

“So we kindly ask you to direct the questions to Mr. Fergus Lipenga, Electoral Commission's spokesperson,” she said.

BP Malawi, ex-employees differs over pension scheme

2009-09-07T06:34:00.000-07:00

Leading petroleum company, British Petroleum (BP) has threatened to forcefully grant pension benefits to about 20 ex-employees who are not willing to withdraw their pension benefits because of calculation differences.

Disagreements have ensued between the company and its former employees over the system of calculating pension benefits as employees opts for Defined Contribution (DC) scheme while the company insists to calculate the terminal benefits using the Defined Benefits scheme.

The disagreements have been going on since those who were retrenched last year putting the number of those on the waiting list to benefit from the new scheme to 20.

However, in a letter dated August 18, 2009 and duly signed by the company’s Acting General Manager Dasford Kamkwamba, the company told the ex-employees to withdraw their pension with the Defined Benefits scheme as the company’s trustees have not yet make a decision on which scheme to calculate their pension.

Some of the employees speaking on condition of anonymity observed that the company’s insistence to use the Defined Benefits scheme deny them the lump some amount of their benefits and leavening the those managing the trust fund with surplus.

“What would the company going to do with the surplus as the belongs to the employees. The irony that all BP associates in Africa moved from Defined Benefits to Defined Contribution why should BP Malawi find it difficult to do the same.

“Pension fund schemes are supposed to be managed and controlled by elected trustees within a company for BP Malawi they want it to be controlled in London,”

But the said letter management told the ex employees that: “You have up to 8th September if you wish to make use of the options provided. If we do not hear after the said date, we will witdraw your benefits on option 4 (lump sum cash benefit). In recognition that your exist from the organization was not voluntary, the company and trustees have resolved to pay a once off exgratia payment. This is over and above the withdrawal benefits under the DB scheme.”

Kamkwamba said there was nothing they could do to satisfy the ex-employees wishes as the company has not received a go-ahead from their office in London to implement the Defined Contribution scheme.

“The date they left company the scheme was Defined Benefits so we can not calculate different from where they left,” he said.

Kamkwamba said he could not discuss the surplus money to be realized from the change to Defined Contribution because the company have not reached that level: “Lets reach the bridge first.”

Part of the letter reads: “In 2007 BP management communicated the trustees’ proposal for the conversion of BP Pension Fund from the current Defined Benefit (DB) scheme to a Defined Contribution (DC). In view of your preference, management, in line with BP Global Reward’s (BP London) requirement that any proposed change to employee benefits be approved by BP London, notified BP London of the proposed conversion.”

Court set May 4 for Madonna adoption hearing

2009-04-21T07:40:00.000-07:00

Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal in the capital city Lilongwe will sit on May 4, 2009 to hear the appeal case which Madonna’s lawyers launched following Judge Esme Chombo’s ruling rejecting Madonna’s adoption bid.

Madonna, on April 3 got the shock of her life when Chombo denied her to adopt a three year old Mercy Chifundo James after she had already stayed with the girl for four days. Madonna left the country after failing to get Mercy but said instructed her lawyer Allan Chinula to appeal the judgement.

High court registrar Joseph Chigona confirmed the new dates.

But Chigona refused to disclose Chinula’s grounds for appeal saying that it could be pre-empting the case itself.

In her ruling Chombo said Madonna could not adopt Mercy because [Madonna] did not fulfil the requirement in the Adoptions of Children Act of 18 months residence and foster care.

Having said all this then, at the end of the day I must decline to grant the application for the adoption of the infant CJ,” read part of Chombo’s judgement made in chambers this 3rd day of April 2009

NGO’s in Malawi have been fighting the adoption bid and hailed Chombo’s judgement.

Mess in voter registration threatens election in Malawi

2009-04-21T07:36:00.000-07:00

With only 27 days to go to elections, most Malawians are yet to know whether they are going to cast their votes as their particulars, in the voters’ registration book, are mixed up.

Electoral Commission (EC) suspended the voter verification exercise when it was discovered that most names and photographs of the would-be-voters in the computer could not match with those on the voting cards.

This is the first time Malawi has compiled names of the voters in a computer.

In a country that have no national identity cards and with only less than 500,000 owning passports it would be difficult to identify or verify the identity of the would-be voters. Malawi has got a population of over 3 million.

But EC assured Malawians that the mess in the registration will be sorted out and people will be able to vote in the May 19 elections and have since employed 500 teachers to verify the names before taking them to the public again.

All political parties urged EC to suspend the voter verification exercise and sort out the mess in the registration book because it could disfranchise some people.

EC is yet to announce a new date for voter verification exercise. About 5.9 million Malawians are expected to cast their votes in the forth coming election.

Over 1000 people from political parties and independent are aspiring for 193 seats in parliament and seven people are contesting for the presidency.

Millions of people are likely to fail to cast their votes if the mess could not be sorted out in time.

Malawi divided over Madonna adoption failure

2009-04-15T08:18:00.000-07:00

Madonna adoption failure has divided the country with common people accusing the courts and Non Governmental Organisations of sabotaging chances of good living for three year old Mercy Chifundo James, however the NGOs have put their foot down that they could not allow Madonna to bend the laws of the country.

Madonna left the country a day after Judge Esme Chombo threw out her application to adopt Mercy Chifundo James, she however instructed her lawyer Allan Chinula to appeal against the ruling. The court is yet to set the new date for the fresh hearing.

However ordinary Malawians believed that the courts could have used the ruling in 2006 that allowed Madonna to adopt another Malawian boy David Banda to facilitate the adoption of Mercy Chifundo James.

In 2006 Madonna controversially succeeded in adopting David Banda amid court fights and objects from NGOs over the adoption laws.

“Malawians would take advantage of Madonna’s generosity to allow her to adopt more orphans who would lead a good life elsewhere. We can not afford to take care of all these orphans,” said James Taulo, a concerned citizen.

In Malawi a foreigner is allowed to adopt a Malawian child after staying in the country for 18 months. However the laws were bent when the high court allowed Madonna to adopt David Banda before staying 18 months in the country.

Government then appointed personnel from Ministry of Gender, women and Children development to be monitoring Madonna for 18 months before the court made an adoption ruling which formally recognised Madonna as the mother to little David.

But Madonna second attempt to adopt another child in Malawi met resistance as NGOs accused Madonna of taking advantage of the laws of Malawi to whisk children out of the country. The NGOs called for orphans to be raised in their own communities.

Human Rights Conservative Committee (HRCC) described Madonna’s second attempt to adopt another child in the country as ‘kidnapping’.

Chairperson of HRCC Mabvuto Bamusi said adopting two children would not solve the orphan problems in the country.

“Children have to grow in the family set up. The country has over 2 million orphans. Will all of them going to be adopted? Let us be serious,” he said.

Plan International, a child development organisation, welcomed Judge Chombo for the landmark of declining Madonna’s adoption of a second African child saying the organisation endorses the keeping of children within their community.

A Plan spokesman said: “While Madonna’s intentions were no doubt well-meant and while we feel for her in this case, whisking a single child off to a ‘fairytale’ lifestyle in Hollywood is not something we condone. We endorse keeping children within their community wherever possible, where there is often extended family nearby.

“We believe a better way for her to help would be to act as a champion of change and use her celebrity status and profile to influence government and businesses to ensure a better life for the country’s children. That way all Malawi’s children would benefit and not just one or two.”

But government, through its spokesperson Patricia Kaliati, expressed sadness on the turn of events saying it was supporting Madonna’s efforts to adopt a second Malawi child.

Kunkuyu ‘staged’ abduction

2009-03-19T06:17:00.000-07:00

The abduction of one the then Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) aspirants Moses Kunkuyu, which surprised the nation in December during the party’s primary elections, was staged. The police have concluded.

A source at police southern regional office in Blantyre said investigations on the issue indicated that the abduction was pretentious and that the report was sent to Lilongwe for direction on the matter, however Kunkuyu rubbishes off the police findings.

The nation wake up on Friday December 12, 2008, with stories of disappearance of one of the then DPP aspirants for Blantyre South Constituency, Kunkuyu, causing panic in Blantyre city and subsequently leading to the postponement of the primary elections.
The 29 year old Kunkuyu was found tied up, ‘in good health but traumatised’, at a bush near Bvumbwe produce market in Thyolo district 24 hours after he was reported missing.

However the source told Malawi News that the investigations which police carried revealed that Kunkuyu was in Limbe at Kadjedza Lodge, in room 120, ostensibly with a woman at the time he was reported missing.

“He made a telephone call around the time when he was supposed to be in captive, making a reservation at a Lodge in Limbe, the receptionist confirmed. We also get hold of the lady in question and she also confirmed that she was with him,” said the source.

The source said it is believed that Kunkuyu had an accomplice, the person who took him around from Mandala—the place he feigned the abduction to Kanjedza Lodge and then from Kanjedza to Bvumbwe where he was found tied up.

“We believe that it was the same person who reported to have seen a man tied up along the road who was the accomplice, the place where the drop was made was so systematic that he should not stay long before police found him.

“Another thing which raised a lot of eyebrows was the fact that at the place where he claimed was dropped, there was a lot of mud due to rains that fell that day but his clothes were not as dirty. If he had been dropped, say from a speeding car, he could have been muddy all over, but that was not the case,” said the source.

The police officer also said it seems like the person who came, claimed to be a relative, to pick him up after the discovery only took a short time to arrive at Bvumbwe police station considering that, his relatives were in Blantyre it could have taken a lot of time to come to Bvumbwe.

“The so called relative gave police force identification particulars and cannot be traced and the number the presented to the police could not be reached,” he said.
He said the investigations were concluded sometime back and the file was sent to Police Headquarters in Lilongwe to recommend the action the police could take on the matter.

“We are waiting for direction. We are ready to arrest Kunkuyu for giving police false information,” he said.

Kanjedza Longe Manager Wyson Phiri confirmed police questioning the receptionist on duty on that particular day about the possibility of Kunkuyu conniving with him to effect his disappearance.

In the interview with the receptionist, Elton Nkhata said he told the police that on that day, December 12, 2008, three men come at around 1 pm inquiring if they could have a room at night.

He said the said people then insisted of taking his mobile number which they were calling throughout the night up until 3 am when a person arrived at the lodge and occupy room 120 at the lodge.

“I booked him in as Shawa only he told me that he wanted to rest a little bit he was on his way to Zomba, he whoever asked me if he could stay up to the evening of that day. My bosses started asking when they noticed that at 4pm keys for room 120 were missing when the room itself was looking like was not occupied.

“I went in and knock at the door just to check and I found that the man was still there despite the fact that curtains were drawned,” he said.

Nkhata said after a week police summoned him to answer why his number of found on call print out shit of Kunkuyu’s number, 09897773.

“That was when I told them the whole story, at first they thought I was an accomplice but later they understood my position,” he said.

Southern region spokesperson Davie Chingwalu said confirmed the conclusion of the investigation but refused to disclose that contains in the report.
“We have concluded investigations on the matter,” he said.

Kunkuyu described the police findings as mere fabrications aiming at destroying him politically and challenged the police to come out in the open with the findings if they have evidence pertaining to that.

“The police have got all the machinery to cook up the story. It is all political. I have suffered and I am still suffering because of that issue. There is not truth in what the police are saying,” he said.

Kumkuyu’s disappearance caused a steer in Blantyre as some people started pointing accusing figures on his political rivals of carrying out the abduction.

Kunkuyu is said to have received a phone call, on that fateful night, to pick up a sick person in his ambulance which was made available to the people free of charge.
It was said that instead of Kunkuyu going to the hospital with his driver, as has been the case, he travelled alone with the purported sick people, who turned up to be his assailants.

Kunkuyu will be contesting as an independent MP.

Journalist assaulted

2008-10-23T05:30:00.000-07:00

Malawi Police, on October 22, 2008 assaulted a Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) journalist Emmanuel Chibwana. Chibwana, in the company of a colleague, met his fate after Police overheard him saying why they were busy arresting and assaulting people found wearing camouflage gear and doing nothing on shop owners who publicly sell the outfits.

The comment irked the police who accused his of obstructive police officer on duty and detained a Chilomoni resident. However the matter was changed and Chibwana was later charged of putting on military apparel.

UNDP withholds MEC’s K10m

2008-10-01T03:40:00.000-07:00

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is yet to release about K10 million to Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) which the commission borrowed from government to purchase registration materials, Malawi News has established.

The UN agency is said to be asking for receipts for purchases made during the procurement of the registration materials and also mode of selecting the suppliers, a thing--according to sources within MEC and UNDP, has said the Commission is failing to provide the needed information.

UNDP set aside about K5 billion (US$ 28.9 million) under Democratic Governance Support for Electoral Reforms and Elections in Malawi which among other things included the provision of funding to the MEC for the procurement of electoral materials and implementation of activities.

A source at UNDP said MEC went ahead to source money from government to purchase the registration when the Commission thought UNDP was taking time to effect the identification of the suppliers.

“There was an understanding that UNDP will pay back the money which MEC got from government. We are committed to pay back the money to Malawi government through MEC and what we are asking them are receipts and procedures followed for us to effect payment,” said the source.

In October 2007 UNDP advertised for interested companies to supply materials for the registration exercise but the advert did not attract the intended response and due to the time limit MEC went ahead to identify suppliers and procure materials using government money.

In April 2008 Malawi Electoral Commission, through Malawi government, made a payment of about K10 million to an Australian company which won the supply tender on understanding that UNDP would reimburse the money to Malawi Government.

But Malawi News source at MEC said UNDP has expressed reluctance to pay the money to MEC in the absence of receipts and also is asking the Commission to outline the procedures followed to identify the contractors if they are in line with UNDP procurement procedures.

MEC Chairperson Anastasia Msosa admitted there were some delays of payment because of things to do with procurement but said discussions were underway and she was optimistic that the UN agency will pay the money.

“There are issues regarding procurement but I am sure they are going to be resolved and money will be paid. UNDP has already given us part of the money for other activities and this issue will be resolved,” she said.

The UNDP provides financial support to MEC for planning and implementing a focused programme across the country which among them includes implementing the civic and voter education activities with the support from accredited civil society organizations.

UNDP is also expected to provide support for actual conduct of elections.
When contacted for comment Sam Alfandika Project Coordinator for the UNDP Support to electoral reforms and elections in Malawi programme said he was at Mec in Blantyre and offered provide Malawi News with necessary information a thing he never did. Alfandika could not pick his phone as we went to press.

Msosa fate known in 2 weeks time

2008-10-01T03:15:00.001-07:00

The future of Malawi Electoral Commission chairperson Anastasia Msosa would be known in two weeks time as the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has finally made its recommendations to the president.
Secretary of the Commission George Mandiwa said there was no rush to announce the JSC recommendations since the current MEC chairperson still has days in her contract.

“We will announce in two weeks time the recommendations made to the president.
We should appreciate that the current chairperson contract is still in place,” he said.
Mandiwa was tightlipped on the recommendations saying it would affect the outcome from the appointing authority.

JSC was expected to make a recommendation as to who would replace or renew Msosa’s contract at the MEC.

Responding to the question of her future at Mec Msosa said issues of contract were personal and that she still has days in her contract refusing to speculate about her future.

“Lets discuss the issues at hand about registration,” she said.

However former president Bakili Muluzi recently said he would preferred Msosa’s contract to be renewed citing time limit as the reason for his preference to maintain Msosa at the helm of the Commission.

But one political analyst Rafik Hajat was recently quoted in the media as saying it was important that a new person should be appointed to the position saying there were other judges who can ably handle elections like Msosa.

“Msosa is a capable woman and has handled elections well, but it would be imperative if a new person is appointed to the position,” he said.

Msosa was the chairperson who oversaw the first multiparty general election in 1994 she was however reappointed 10 years later to lead the commission for the second time.

Divorcing the orphanage centre syndrome

2008-10-01T02:33:00.000-07:00

At every corner, at every junction in most districts in the country there is an orphanage centre. It is said that the country has over 1 million children orphaned at different ages mostly of them due to the HIV and Aids pandemic which has ravaged the country’s citizens the past 23 years.

As a quick response to the emerging problem of orphans orphanage centres sprouted almost everywhere in the country. It is fashionable for every church, every Jim and Jack opening an orphanage centre with a sounding number of its occupants as a sign of good will.

Good will it is, however the intervention has its own shortfalls surpassing the strength. Apart from some unscrupulous benefactors cashing on the less fortunate children’s misery, there are other disadvantages surrounding the orphanage centre system.

However, a Blantyre based Safe Hope has come up with a greenhorn way of addressing or looking at the problem of orphans and orphanages. The Safe House is a family of nine people with a mother and eight children.

The children of ages between nine and 15 are not of the same mother neither they are of the same father but nevertheless they are brothers since they now share the mother.

Located in the suburb area of CI in Blantyre eight children, the first entrant to the home, reside with a woman they call a mother and of course the motherly love they get from the woman they call mother.

The woman claims the children, all of them graduating from the streets of Blantyre mastering begging, she loves them like her own children. The woman, Lefa Mahonga said it was not easy to keep children under one roof who have spent their life living in the street.

“During the first weeks, they have been fighting among themselves, these children had harsh life in the street and two of them were practising witchcraft, but with patience and motherly love they have changed to become good children,” she said.
Mahonga said she is partially blind following the spell the two witches casted on her in their earlier days at the Safe Home when they were still practising witchcraft.

“I have forgiven them,” she said.

She said she managed to transform the children from delinquency, which they were to school going God fearing children.

One of the children, now attaining secondary education at one of the private schools in Blantyre Boniface Chitsulo, 17, described life in the street as harsh and abusive.
Chitsulo said street life is a dangerous world as children, male and female, are sexually molested, forced to participate in dangerous activities like stealing by either the watchmen guarding shops or gangs that terrorise people, all these in the name of protection.

“Young boys are being molested homosexually. I am glad that I left the street. I look at my new home as a real home with my mother and brothers,” he said.

The Safe Home system would be described as a perfect intervention on rehabilitating children who have been in the street as it gives them the needed family love, sense of belonging and values, according to the Social Welfare Officer Judith Zulu.

Zulu said most of the orphanage centres spouted, purportedly, trying to assist orphans or less fortunate children have missing vital components in their quest to rehabilitate the children.

“Orphanage Centres are more like boarding schools where children are just bundled together in one place; there are specific attentions to particular children’s needs, no family love and values. This does not help much in terms of making the children good citizens,” she said.

Most of the time, Zulu said many orphanage centres concentrate on the physical needs of the children than their spiritual, moral and emotional needs.

“The safe home is best model because children are given a home not a house for shelter.

The Safe Home was founded four years ago with the aim of giving street children and orphans a normal home and proper education.

The Founder Audrey Mwala said the Home is run by a board which source money from the well wishers and money which she realise leasing her house for wedding photo sessions.

She said she decided to establish a home not an orphanage with the aim of giving children a real family values and encourage them to be able to create relationships with other people.

“We face two challenges feeding the children as well as modelling them to become good citizens. These children, while looking innocent when begging in the street, are very angry and in dire need of behaviour change,” she said.

Mwala said so far she is satisfied with what the children are turning to be, now that all of them are at school with two doing their secondary education.

“We look forward to open a village with each home having not more than eight children, the idea is to encourage them to realise and understand brotherhood,” she said.

Shire valley getting out of flooding problem

2008-05-26T07:08:00.000-07:00

There have been philosophies, as solutions to the perennial lower Shire flooding problems; some people have said there was a need for deity intervention, some have consulted ancestors —the mbona thing—others thought the noble intervention was build dams along the problematic rivers. These are all efforts to stop rivers from overflowing and causing floods. Lower Shire has been a high risk area for floods since time in memorial.
Government has its own official position to the solution of the flooding problems: Those in high risk area ought to move to places which are of low risks or upland. To every philosophy or argument there are pros and the cons, so too are these proposed solutions.
For the affected they have their own arguments why they can not move upland, they claim, they have got their fertile gardens on those risk area, the culturists would extend the arguments to the fact that their fore parents were buried there so they can not leave the dead alone, a plausible argument to the believers, so it may sound.
However, the most obvious truth, of late, is that there has been a growing donor fatigue to the lower shire perennial flooding and its subsequent assistance requirement. Some donors entertain the feeling that people, in the lower shire valley, deliberately put themselves on the risk line or vulnerability to ensure that they get freebies in the event of ‘disaster’.
In Holland the Dutch managed to build villages, town and cities below the sea levels, those who cares would remember the dykes, and in Israel and in so many places of the world, they claimed land. This signifies that there is a solution to every problem.
It has been proved that the phenomenon lower shire floods would be reduced to a thing of the past. For the past two years at least there have no flooding at the Nsanje boma and some other places within the risk area.
It is not by cheer luck that there was no flooding at Nsanje boma, which has been a customary in the past; it was actually some people’s efforts that have made a difference. Rivers of life a developmental organisation within the Evalengical church took the initiative to arrest the problem through its disaster risk programme.
Through the programme and working hand in hand with the affected people, the church have mitigated the flooding problem by diverting, digging and building walls in the problematic rivers. And the results have been excellent.
Over 67 families that left for the high areas have come back to reclaim their land as the issue of flood is no longer a problem. The organisation redirected Mwanalundu River, dug out and plant elephant grass along Nyafisi river in TA Malemia and Tengani areas in Nsanje districts, saving at least 8000 families in 27 villages from floods.
The organisation is now in Pangeti and Kachere villages in TA Tengani’s area where the villages has undertaken an exercise of building a wall (a dyke) along Chibwibwi river which mostly affects the two villages when it busts its banks.
“We have been facing flooding problem a thing which reduced people from my village to perennial beggars because we could harvest anything. It was really dangerous because in some instances water would come while people are fast asleep,” said Pangeti.
Pangeti said when the officials from River of Life approached his village with several initiatives that would assist the villagers to avert the perennial flooding, he lobbied his villagers to take an interest in the initiatives.
“There are several intervention taking place, we will plant trees behind the ‘dykes’ that are going to be built trying to solidify the wall. We are also making sure that we should avoid wanton deforestation,” he said.
River of Life Supervisor in Nsanje district, Dyson Mtayamanja said his organisation introduced three initative in the areas as part of sustainable programme.
“We introduced the manufacturing of Mbaula that would use only 20 percent of the needed firewood in a normal circumstance, this initiative is designed to reduce the deforestation, the second intiative is the building of walls along the problematic rivers as well as introducing the irrigation farming as one way of ensuring that people in the areas are food secured,” he said.
About 20 people are trained the manufacturing of mbaula and 29 farmers are in irrigation farming.
River of Life Programme Manager Dingiswayo Jere said the new concept has helped to reduce flooding problem in the lower shire at the same time making sure that people are food secured.
Jere said his organisation efforts does not contradict government’s official stand that people in high risk areas should move to upland but said there were some areas which would be rehabilitated without necessarily moving people other areas.
“Moving people to upland would be seen, in some cases, as mere shifting of the problem. At their new place people will start cutting down trees creating a problem similar to the one they are running away from.
“In some areas, like in area of T.A. Nyachikadza, there isn’t much that can be done apart from asking people to move upland, but in other areas the story would be different,” he said.
Jere said his organisation strives at bringing to normal life of the people that are affected hence the introduction of irrigation farming,” he said.
Group village headman Kachere said the introduction of irrigation scheme has brought some dignity to the villagers because the past year the villagers did not beg for food despite that the village was hit by floods.
“We have enough food,” he s aid.
Kachere assured the organisation that his subject are prepared to take part in the building of the wall along Chibwibwi river and they have already started looking for ‘appropriate’ stones that would be used to build the wall.
“We are told it is not every stone that would be used to build the wall, we need rough stones and we have the right type of stones about 30 kilometres away, we are going to get the stones from there,” he said.
If the building of walls, digging out the problematic rivers would be a solution to the perennial flooding in the lower shire, the areas would become the country’s bread basket due to its good soil and its prospect to irrigation.

New voters' roll on card

2008-02-04T05:17:00.000-08:00

.Registration
starts in April

The Malawi Electoral Commission will compile a new voters roll for the 2009 elections, an exercise that will start in April and be completed in December, Mec has said.
MEC spokesperson Fegus Lipenga said the exercise would start early and expected to finish in December to give the Commission enough time to correct the mistakes which would be incurred during the registration exercise.
Lipenga said Mec has decided to discard the old voters roll the country has used for over a decade because it has a lot of anomalies.
"The MEC is not cleaning up the voters roll. The voters roll used during the 2004 elections will be discarded because it had so many problems," he said.
Lipenga said among other things that in the old voters' roll a lot of names were either missing or mispelt and that there was just a lot of incorrect information which would be difficult to rectify.
"We have started early to give ourselves enough time to rid the voter’s roll of the mistakes made during registration and we expect the voters' roll to be ready by the end of the year," he said.
United Democratic Front (UDF) and Alliance for Democracy (Aford) welcomed the development while Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said they would consult Mec to appreciate the need for the exercise. Aford
UDF newly-appointed spokesperson Mary Kaphwereza Banda said the issue of voters' roll has nothing to do with political parties.
"UDF is aware of the impending new voters roll but this issue is about the country as a whole, and not political parties," she said. She hoped the exercise will be done smoothly.
DPP Publicity Secretary Nicholas Dausi said although the party has not been approached on the issue, his party expects Mec to come up with convincing reasons for discarding the old voters' roll.
"We have not been consulted and we will tell them our opinion once they consult us," said Dausi.
Deputy Publicity Secretary of Aford Kingsley Jere said said the idea is good but warned MEC to expedite the exercise so that the commission is not caught up in a mix of so many other activities that MEC has line up.
But Executive Director of Malawi Watch Billy Banda expressed surprise at the development saying what MEC wants to do contradicts what the organization has proposed in the election law amendment bill.
"In the amendment bill they are asking government to reduce the number of days for registration from 14 days to seven days. If that bill is passed are they going to finish the new registration within seven days?" Banda queried.
He said MEC should be mindful that the country does not have a register for national identity adding that discarding the voters' roll would give an opportunity to some unscrupulous illegal foreigners to legitimize their stay in the country by registering as Malawians.
"At least with an old voters roll, they have a starting point but starting a new one will be brewing trouble. Do they have resources and capacity to check who is an eligible Malawian voter? At least with the old roll they would be able to check older people who are not registered and determine whether one is a Malawian. There is room for rigging here," he said.

Ex-cop questions justice at Ombudsman

2008-02-04T02:41:00.000-08:00

Former policeman Hardie Makwerero has questioned the justice delivery system at Ombudsman saying his case, number OMB/BT/C/40/99, has been at the inquiry stage for nine years despite numerous reminders to the body to expedite it.
Makwerero complained to the Ombudsman that he was unfairly dismissed in 1998 by the Malawi Police Service after serving the service for about five years. The former Constable who was stationed at Limbe Police Station said his services were terminated through a radio message.
Makwerero claims the only reason he suspects might have led to his firing was absenteeism. But he said the service has not told him about that up to now. He said he reported the matter to Malawi Carer in 1998 who referred the issue to Office of the Ombudsman.
He said on several occasions the case has been closed at the Ombudsman office without giving him any reason for the action, and also the police, eight times has failed to appear before the ombudsman despite that letters of inviting them to attend the hearing were sent in all the occasion.
"What saddens and worries me is that the Ombudsman has not made progress on the case following the Malawi Police Service failure to attend hearing after being invited for the hearing for eight times since 2002," he said.
He said the Ombudsman's office on January 9, 2008 dispatched the ninth invitation to the Malawi Police Service to attend the inquiry but he said he was worried that there has been no response so far about whether they will attend or not.
Makwerero claims his services were terminated by word of mouth and he never received a letter of termination to justify the firing.
Spokesperson of the office of the Ombudsman Trustone Sabwera said he was aware of the case, saying the file case indicates that the inquiry on the matter had not been concluded. But he said could not say what was delaying the conclusion of the case.
He however said he was surprised that the case has taken unnecessarily so long saying all cases reported to the Ombudsman in 1999 were concluded.
"The case file in question indicated that the case is at inquiry stage, it is really a cause of concern that it has delayed so long. It is a very sad development. I will know the actual position of the case when I talk to the Ombudsman himself," he said.
National Police headquarter spokesperson Willie Mwaluka said they could not trace the letters from the Office of the Ombudsman on the case involving Makwerero.

GOVT SUSPENDS ZIMBABWE MAIZE EXPORTS

2008-02-04T02:22:00.000-08:00

. Buying maize from local traders
at K1,700/50kg bag, reselling at K1,500

Government has suspended maize exports to Zimbabwe and has redirected the commodity to Admarc depots in an effort to address the maize shortage threatening some parts of the country.
Last week Government issued an order to the Grain Traders Association, through the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA), to stop sending the commodity to Zimbabwe. The order which Malawi News has seen said Admarc vehicles would instead be collecting the maize from the traders to its depots.
The Zimbabwe deal is shy of 117,000 metric tonnes to conclude the initial 400,000 metric tonnes which Malawi was expected to deliver in a period of 10 months starting April last year.
But NFRA General Manager Edward Sawerengera said his organization was not buying maize for Admarc saying Admarc has enough maize to feed the nation.
"We are still honouring the Zimbabwe deal," he said but when he was told that Malawi News had seen the documents confirming the suspension of exports, Sawerengera wondered saying: "Do you have a problem with that?"

In Blantyre the latest delivery of maize amounting to over 100 metric tonnes to Admarc depot at Charterland in Limbe was made on Monday. The maize was from Chenyumbu Trading in Chileka, belonging to grain trader Geoffrey Sadyaluanda, according to a delivery note with an NFRA letterhead.
At a meeting held in Lilongwe in December last year and attended by officials from Ministries of Finance and Agriculture, NFRA and Admarc, it was agreed that government should release between K400 million to K800 million to Admarc through NFRA.
"Government would not have funded Admarc directly that is why NFRA was involved. Government knew in December that the country was running out of maize," he said.
Apart from redirecting the commodity from Chenyumbu, NFRA has also redirected maize from Mlambe Traders and Central African Produce, according to a source at the NFRA office in Blantyre.
The source said the directive was made following a recommendation from the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture which recently assessed the country's levels of the staple during a tour.
Chairman of the Agriculture Parliamentary Committee Vitus Dzoole Mwale said following their tour across the country, the committee discovered that hunger was looming in the country and advised government to move maize from Admarc and NFRA warehouses to the districts where people are facing hunger.
"We visited almost all the districts in the country and according to what people were telling us we realized that hunger is looming," said Dzoole Mwale.
In an interview on Thursday Sadyalunda, who is also a member of the Board of Trustees for the Grain Traders Association, confirmed the suspension of the sale to Zimbabwe saying Admarc vehicles wee now ferrying the grain meant for Zimbabwe, to the organisation's warehouses.
Sadyalunda said the new arrangement would not affect their sales as government, through NFRA, still buys the grain at the same price of K34 per kilogramme.
Admarc is selling the same maize at K30 per kilogramme meaning that Government is making a loss of more than K4 per kilogramme or K200 per 50kg bag, when transportation and storage costs are factored in.
Admarc has of late been rationing maize in its depots in Blantyre and some other parts of the country due to shortage of the commodity, but the organization says there is no shortage of maize in thee country. It says rationing is aimed to stop unscrupulous business people from buying in bulk.
People in Blantyre are not allowed to buy more than 50 kilogrammes from the Admarc depots. On the parallel market maize is selling up to K2,000 per bag of 50 kilogrammes.
Sadyalunda said the rationing of maize, and Admarc’s purchase of the commodity from the private traders, was a sign that the levels of the grain in the country have gone down and that it is difficult to source maize from the farmers.
Ministry of Agriculture Principal Secretary Patrick Kabambe said he has called for a meeting with NFRA officials to explain what was happening.
Admarc did not respond to our questionnaire sent to them on Wednesday, but the organisations' Chief Executive Officer Charles Matabwa told MBC yesterday that there is enough maize in the country to last up to the next harvest.

Mpasu about UDF

2008-01-14T06:13:00.000-08:00

UDF publicity secretary Sam Mpasu has been at loggerheads with his party as he has been accused of airing his views, most of the time, not necessarily of the party, Malawi News reporter Rex Chikoko met Mpasu sought his views on his party’s stand against him: Excerpt:

You have saying that there in no democracy in UDF would you elaborate on that statement?
I have not actually put it in so many words but the people who have published a notice, an advertisement in the Daily Times calling themselves members of the UDF taskforce have raised that issue especially in relations to the forth coming convention and I have looked at it not on the basis of the messenger but on the basis of the message. I think the earlier we realize as members of the UDF that Malawians has very expectations from the UDF than from any other party, the better. Say this because they UDF boosts about and take credit for having brought democracy in the country and that it is a party of democracy. Democracy has got two attributes; the availability of choice and the availability of voice. People are used to be given a choice; people are used to be given a voice, so people expect the UDF of the 1992-93s to continue being a part of the people, where people were free to choose freely. So when these Task Force people made that arrangement, I was stunned when some of my colleagues said they were not members of the UDF, said no that is a mistake, we should look at the message not the messenger, even the statement had come from nonmembers we have taken them into account.

Your sentiments have put you in a collision course and you are not also contradicting your party’s National Chairman Bakili Muluzi position on this issue, what would you say now?
This is exactly what I am saying that it is a mistake for us to look at the messenger not at the message, that statement I made, made some of them into believing that actually I am a sympathizer or a secret supporter of the task force and I beg to differ I salute my principle. It is a disastrous mistake for UDF into believing that it should be taking criticisms from its only elected officials, only from its members because when the elections come, we should realize that not only our members would put us into government, it is members of the electorate who were not necessary UDF who can put us into government by voting for us.

What was the agenda of the UDF meeting which the issue of your possible suspension was discussed?
Basically there was nothing concerning me on the agenda, but I was very surprised that the chairman of the media committee, Mr Joseph Kubwalo, said he was to give a report on media committee and suddenly the report he gave was that his was failing to do its work because every time they want to discuss something they find that it was already in the media so he asked the committee to help him to find a solution and then I found myself to be at the centre of discussion. I thought it was ridiculous, that statement was based on ignorance because the work of the spokesperson is different to the work of the media committee. A spokesperson does not raise his own questions, he answer the questions on the spot, he must be quick in his head and on his feet, where as a media committee person is the one who sets the agenda, they would say look; lets go and shoot holes into the economic policies, shoot holes into Bingu political policies, shoot holes into the food security policies, so you prepare press statements or press conference, there you got plenty of time to consult. I do not think it is possible that I get a call from a reporter and all please can you phone me in two weeks time I want to consult my colleagues. This is total ignorance.
It was said that your fate will be known once the National Chairman is back from United Kingdom, have you been communicated to now that the National Chairman is back?
They did not say that. They said they would make a recommendation to the National Executive Committee, so my fate would known when the National Executive Committee meet.
Bakili Muluzi alluded to the effect that the Task Force is the work of government, what would be your take on this statement?
The statement, unfortunately is focusing on the messenger not the message, I do not thing it should really matter who is saying what, what it should matter is what is being said and in this respect I am glad that the party responded to the message by saying ‘sorry the fielding of presidential candidate is limited to the national chairman anyone else wants to compete should be free to do so’ this is the message they would have said long time ago, we seem to waste time in looking at who is saying what, what we should look at is; is that relevant to our situation.

There were about four members Friday Jumbe, Brown Mpinganjira Cassim Chilumpha and yourself who shown interest to contest as presidential candidates, with the above statement are not contesting?
First of all I must remind you that UDF party in this country that it establish its credentials as a party of democracy and millions of Malawians in the rural areas believes that they are not free to move about, free to worship, free to write what they want, free to do any business because of the UDF, so the principle of democracy is a pillar of the UDF, that any time Malawians should expect UDF to remain a pillar of democracy, they don’t expect that from other parties, they expect democracy from UDF. So the public has been making a serous mistake into believing that there were only four people who were aspiring to be presidential candidates to the UDF, there are many more who would like to try, it is their rights, if for Dr Muluzi express interest to contest again, where were over 10 I could count on my figure tips, we had honorable [Moses] Dossi, Dr [George Nga] Ntafu and many others, so it is a mistake to believe there were just four who would like to try to exercise their rights. The point is, it is not just the right but will they have democratic environment within the UDF, are they going to be able to chat up the district governors, the regional governors because if you are to contest on that position you need to campaign.

Are you contesting?
Not necessary, I have said the issue of presidential candidature is a matter an individual ought to make his own mind.

The meeting took place when Muluzi was not around and in most cases Chilumpha become the acting national Chairman, was he consulted when the meeting was taking place?
Dr Chilumpha is not the vice chairman of UDF and was not consulted on the fate of my position as the publicity secretary and he did not attend the meeting that was discussing me. If you remember, for over three years not UDF has been handcapped in the sense that the position of the vice national chairman, who should come from the central region, has been vacant, the second vice national chairman, who should come from the north has been vacant, so here is a situation where only Dr Muluzi is at the top of the party and is not been helped by the two key people, and we are going into a convention, the convention is raising many other issues which threatens to make the convention not a smooth one but a bumpy one and we can not afford that with only 14 months to go to elections. On 20 March 2009 parliament will be dissolved automatically there after every party will be on its own, we can not afford to be divided now.

Talking of division, is UDF divided are there two camps in the party?
I would not say it is the question of two camps or three or whether the party is divided or not but what we are saying is that we in UDF we have got certain values we hold, a kind of a party we want to see, a kind of a political party we want to develop and win the confidence of Malawians, if we get a situation where someone says you belong Chilumpha’s camp, or you belong to Muluzi camp, or to Mpasu, Mpinganijra or Jumbe’s camp that is a disaster, there should not be any camps. If any one is interested, let them be interested but don’t divide the party into camps, our members see themselves as UDF first not belonging to this camp or that camp.

When is the party holding its convention?
A decision has not been made, we were waiting for the national executive committee to meet and decision would be made now that the national chairman has come back from Britain.

Government ponders on tripartite elections

2008-01-14T06:06:00.000-08:00

Government says it is discussing the possibility of pushing for a bill in parliament to accommodate tripartite elections, minister Justice and Constitution Affairs Henry Phoya said.

Malawi is yet to hold the Local Government Elections which were due two years ago and in 14 months time the country is expected to hold presidential and Parliamentary elections.

Political establishments have been calling for the tripartite elections to ease the pressure of holding two elections within two years.

Phoya said government was discussing the issue but said it has not come up with a position yet.

“The discussions have not been crystallize yet, but it is government’s responsibility to formulate such kind of bills,” he said.

Phoya said in so far as it is becoming increasingly clear that Local Government elections cannot possibly be held before May 2009, Government would seem to share the view that tripartite elections represent the most practical solution to the current situation.

“If we can have a duly constituted Electoral Commission before the end of the first quarter of this year, at the latest, I do not see why we cannot hold orderly and internationally accepted elections, be they
tripartite or otherwise, in 2009,” he said.

Phoya said the major advantage of having tripartite elections is, obviously, the potential to make a huge saving in terms of expenses on the part of Government and those who normally assist us with such expenses.

“On the minus side, some commentators have cited the difficulties that some of our less than literate voting populace would have in distinguishing and identifying all three candidates of their choice at a given polling
station.

“In my view, this argument appears to grossly underestimate the natural intelligence of some of our people, even in the rural areas, and I do not fully subscribe to it,” he said.

However Institute of Policy Interaction (IPI) Executive Director Rafik Hajat said while he would go for the tripartite elections there were a number of issues that has to be considered before parliament would endorse the idea.

Hajat warned government to tread carefully because tripartite elections would be a pre-requisite for a huge mess, if the situation leading to the country’s general elections in 2009 would not change.

“We have to look at the capacity of electoral commission, the independence of the commission. We need to put very strong registrations on use of public resources,” he said.

IPI is one of the institutions that have been propagating for the tripartite elections. According to Hajat parliament has not reacted to the draft bill that were presented to the legal committee of the house that high light important issues to considered before switching to tripartite elections.

“There is no enough time for the civic education, for the new voter roll and campaigning for the president, member of parliaments and counselor would be too much and theme would be fanatic,” he said.

Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) spokesperson Fegus Lipenga, was quoted in the press that Mec would be able to handle tripartite elections if parliament would pass the bill.

Mec is rocked in political turmoil where opposition political parties drugged president to court over the appointment of Commissioners for the commission.

President Bingu wa Mutharika appointed, eight commissioners to replace those, whose term had expired but opposition UDF and MCP took the issue to court saying they were not consulted.

Libya cut government out of hospital project

2008-01-07T04:51:00.000-08:00

Malawi government has no idea on the progress of Al-Ghaddaf hospital, a district hospital, being built at Kameza in Blantyre as the Libyan government, the financer of the project, has put government officials out of the picture.

Libyan government stopped working hand in hand with government officials when disagreements ensued over the size of the hospital as Malawi government insisted that the hospital should follow the standards of districts hospitals in the country while the Libyan government wanted something smaller, a 100 bed block.

Principal Secretaries in the Ministry of Health and Foreign Affairs said the Libyan government started controlling the operation of the construction of the hospital from their base in Tripoli and Malawi government has no idea as to what was happening at the moment.

Ministry of Health PS Chris Kang’ombe said last time his ministry had discussions, on the hospital issue, with the Libyan envoy was when they were disputing the size of the hospital at Kameza, as the Libyan government wanted to build something smaller than the accepted standards of a district hospitals in Malawi.

“We agreed that they are going to visit Chiradzulo hospital to ascertain the standards of district hospitals in Malawi. Since then there have never come back to us and we know nothing as to what is happening at the site,” he said.

Kang’ombe said the Libyan government was implementing the project on their own at their base in Tripoli and Malawi government has not been involved.

“They have their man who oversees the project,” he said.

Malawi News visit to the site discovered that workers of the construction company City Builders, subcontracted to build the hospital, were sent packing on December 14, 2007 with no word as to when they were expected to return to the site of construction.

The site of the hospital has been abandoned with buildings that are supposed to be hospital wards at knee high level, an assimilatory block at a window high level and a brick fence surrounding the areas.

“The activity that has been taking place in the past months was the rehabilitating of the fence that fell at the on set of the rain season, nothing really on the actual building was happening,” said one of the people on the ground.

An official from the City Building a Mr. J Ngoma refused to comment on the progress of the project and also as to when they were expected to return to the site referring Malawi News to a Libyan who is supposed to be the overseer of the project.

Recently reports indicated that Malawi government asked the Libyan government to close its mission in Lilongwe as it was believed that it was no longer necessary.

PS in the ministry of Foreign Affairs Ben Mbewe said Libyan government has been difficult to deal with as they normally do things at their own time and pace.

“In a normal circumstance a project like building a hospital could be given three years to complete but it is now five year, we know very little as to what they were doing.

“People from Libya keep on coming in and out of the country but nothing is showing on the ground, we keep on giving visas for these people,” Mbewe said.

Mbewe said the current position of the relationship between Malawi and Libya would not be a stumbling block for the implementation of the hospital saying the project would have been through by now in a normal diplomatic aid saying: “We have been suffering a diplomatic norm with Libya government.”

A Malawian interpreter for the Libyan project overseer, Daudi Kaluma said he was not sure whether the Libyan representative was still in the country as he has not be in touch with him for some time.

Kaluma also refused to discuss the position of the Libyan government on the issue saying he would not do that without permission from the Libyan representative.

One of political commentators Billy Banda observed that the relationship between Malawi and Libyan governments started at a wrong footing during its inception as it was more of political relationship that administrative.

“Somebody has to answer as to what is happening now because diplomatic decisions are made on behalf of Malawians. There is more to the diplomatic relationship between Malawi and Libyan. It is all political,” he said.
Malawi set up diplomatic ties with Libya government in 2001 during the reign of former President Bakili Muluzi, who often said Malawi would benefit from co-operation with Libya.
Libyan leader Colonel Muarmar Ghaddafi, in 2002 when he visited the country, pledged to build a multi-million hospital for the Blantyre district among other things, however, five years down the line unnoticeable activities are taking place at the site.

Ghaddafi also pledged to donate fertilizer and 100 truckers to Malawi government; however the said fertilizer never arrived in the country and the unknown number of tractors arrived in the country only last year according to the foreign affairs PS Mbewe.

WFP Malawi programmes suffer a financial setback

2007-12-21T00:12:00.000-08:00

A Three year Social Protection of Food Insecurity and HIV/Aids Programme that was expected to be implemented by World Food Programme (WFP) from January 1, 2008 has stalled because lack of funds.

WFP come up with a programme that was to tackle widespread poverty and hunger across Malawi with the spectrum of interventions that provide emergency food support, disaster risk reduction as well as encouraging development through nutritional, educational and health related projects, according to information sourced on WFP report produced in November 2007.

The programme is expected to benefit 1.2 million Malawians, every year for three years, who are living in widespread poverty and hunger across the country.

WFP spokesperson Matthews Kumwenda said the programme has stall because donors have not yet fulfilled their pledges and that WFP does not have enough resources to proceed with the programme.

The project was a carry over of caseloads of projects that were benefiting HIV/Aids affected people, malnourished children and pregnant/lactating mothers which are scheduled to end, in the country, on December 31, 2007.

Kumwenda said WFP is remaining with money that would see the programme up to February next year and if the donors, who made the pledged to finance the programme will not come forth about 1.2 million Malawians would be affected.

“We have got maize that can be distributed up to February only and if no donor is going to come forward to assist that means we are going to cut down the number of beneficiaries and reduce the rations,” he said.

He also WFP would not be able to assist in the likehood that the country experiences heavy flood as the organization has no money to carry on such kind of projects.

Recent Metrological Department reports predicted that the Malawi would experience above normal rainfall and there is high likehood of floods.

In the report WFP said: “With no adequate resources to commence the project activities in January, there is a high risk that WFP Malawi may not be able to respond to floods when called upon to support victims. As early as November 16, 2007, there have been floods and hailstorms reported in seven districts with almost 2000 households affected.

“The Government of Malawi is constrained in terms of resources to handle a large scale flood disaster, and may not be able to cope with any farther floods as we move towards the peak of the rainy season where floods have been predicted,” read part of the report.

Commissioner for department of Relief and Disaster Preparedness Lilian Ng’oma said she was aware of the situation which WFP was in and that Malawi government has set aside money that would be used to respond in any eventuality.

“We would also rely on other NGO and faith groups, many others would come in,” she said.

She said Malawi has already started experiencing heavy storms in some places and that it will need the input of the donors.

WFP said the project focuses on disaster risk reduction and protecting the livelihoods of food-insecure and vulnerable people.

WFP assistance will address the food needs of households enduring successive shocks to health, food production and income that are at risk of hunger and poverty. Life-saving support will be given to people made food insecure by HIV/AIDS and to households with transitory food needs as a result of shock.

The beauty that is Malawi

2007-12-14T05:14:00.000-08:00

Malawi is endowed with natural beauty. On December 13, I and several colleagues left Blantyre for Mulanje with escorting Pierre Cherruau a journalist from France who visited the country recently.

In the picture Cherruau and the rest of the team enjoying themselves at Dziwe la Nkhalamba in Mulanje

Reducing Southern Africa to a mere village

2007-12-14T04:22:00.000-08:00

Quest for knowledge is a vital ingredient in all human endeavors. Greed for knowledge has forced a human being to undertake dangerous, hazardous and even fatal escapades.

The drive for a human being, in all aspects is to know, understand and utilize anything that would make him or her assume recognition in any endeavor he or she had undertaken.

The quest for knowledge has forced man, since time immemorial, to jump into a space ship and zoom to the uncharted spaces. It has forced man to hit the bottom rock of the deepest sea; it has also forced man to climb the tallest mountain.

The same quest for knowledge forced me, a reporter from Malawi to apply for an exchange programme, which NSJ was coordinating and I was attached to Public Eye, the leading newspaper in Lesotho.

Taking into account that Lesotho is within the Southern African region, and also after making several trips to South Africa, I had sketchy a picture of Lesotho politically, socially, economically and culturally.

With the fusion of cultural elements of the Bantu people and economic elements of the Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) which both Malawi and Lesotho belong, I had a picture of Lesotho which was more like South Africa economic wise and more like Malawi culturally. I was slightly wrong.

Armed with my knowledge of journalism, on April 31, 2007 I stepped into the Basotho land through the Maseru Boarder with South Africa for the first time, virtually with nothing to worry as I thought after working for a weekly newspaper in Malawi, a weekly in Lesotho would be a continuation of what I do in Malawi.

The first element to hit on my face was the fact that if I had to do my job well and enjoy my two months stay in Lesotho I had to learn Sesotho, the country's national language and I had to do it quickly. Lesotho is a country whose people enjoy speaking its language and nothing more.

My first days at Public Eye newspapers were basically spent on acclimatising; I was trying to understand the daily operations of the newspaper. Everything was a little bit different in the way the day to day operations were being conducted and I had to be fast in everything, to adapt.

Public Eye is a weekly newspaper that comes out on Friday, however, all the stories were supposed to be on the desk of the News Editor by Monday, unlike in my country at the newspaper I work, Malawi News a weekly also, stories are supposed to be ready by Thursday noon.

This departure, brought into me a sense of discipline to adhere to those new deadlines at least if I had to have my stories published.

Lesotho print media industry is comparatively small to Malawi. The country has got no daily paper; it has only one newspaper, Public Eye, in essence because the other so-called newspapers are printed on A-4 bond paper, looking more like a school magazine than a commercial newspaper.

Working in such environment would sound easier for every journalist taking into account that there is no serious competition, but in Lesotho the story is different, almost every newspaper printed in South Africa finds its way into Lesotho, in other words, Public Eye's competitors are none other the South Africa giants including the Sowetan, The Star, Mail & Guardian, The City Press and all other big papers. .

The big challenge to reporters, mainly at Public Eye, was to make the paper survive in such a juxtaposed market. Obviously the onus was on the reporters to come up with stories that would capture the interest of the Basotho people to give preference to their local newspapers when it is on the market with those big and well established newspapers.

As a reporter, in a new environment, seeking information, almost anything and everything was a way to take. Things that were basic and common to the Basotho people were strange and compound to me.

For Example, one day I asked why the Maseru City Assembly would allow people, including the Deputy Prime Minister, to keep cattle, right in the backyard of their houses in the city, a thing which is unheard of in Malawi. They shrugged their shoulders.

This other day I wondered why women in Lesotho, mostly those who have children, take their first child's name add a prefix 'Ma' and assume the name as theirs replacing their real names. I was told that was part of their tradition. Actually I was told a woman, in Lesotho, is legally recognised as a minor. I did a story, not for Public Eye, but for Malawi News. In Lesotho it was not newsworthy.

My seeking for explanation and answers for news articles and also as a survival tactic, sharpened my interviewing skills, my perception, sensitiveness and understanding of issues.

I had to understand issues before any attempt to write a story. I had to take into account all elements of social-economic, cultural and political issues so as not to offend or disappoint the people of Lesotho or not to attract scorn for myself for publishing something which I did not understand.

My stay is Lesotho would have been a nightmare or less eventful if the reporters at Public Eye had decided to abandon me and my other colleagues, Sinqobile Ndlovu from Zimbabwe and Augustine Mukoka from Zambia.

Masepoine Mokhetho, a female reporter, Thabang Loko, a sports reporter, Monke Sepamo a photographer, Thabo, a graphic designer and the News Editor Tapera Chikuvira made it possible for me and my friends to find Lesotho habitable.

The crew, at different times and in different situations, tried within their powers to make us understand what Lesotho is all about, what the aspirations of the people of Lesotho are, what is it that piss them off as well as what made the people of Lesotho different from people from other areas in the region.

It is not surprising to note that up to this date I always have an account of their lives, what they are doing and even their hopes. Networking or interaction has not been limited to the reporters in Lesotho. I have been in touch with Augustine and Sinqobile.

These people despite being friends, they have turned out to be my source of information. If I want information in their country I do not hesitate but to drop a line to them, and I am assured of their cooperation.

Such kind of cooperation has made the Sadc region as one village with journalists networking in such a manner that one would think they belong to the same publishing house and posted in different bureaus.

The cooperation has also increased confidence in journalists within the Sadc to tackle regional issues as they happen to have practical experience of the regional relationships.

To me anything to do with Lesotho generates interest because partly, after staying two months in that country, I regard the country as my home.

But would I tell Malawians my experience? The attempt to publicize the programme was through the stories I was writing for my newspaper in Malawi when I was in Lesotho.

As a reporter, anything that was a bit strange to me, though not to Basotho, I was writing a story for my Malawians audience.

In such a way I come back from Lesotho wiser and I believe so too are Malawians, since they were benefiting from the stories I was doing when I was in Lesotho.

My stay in Lesotho also assisted my critical analysis of the newspaper we produce; I have a benchmark to compare. Whether we are doing well in Malawi is for others to tell, but since then I regard myself not as a Malawian reporter but a regional reporter.

Aford ponders alliance with DPP

2007-12-14T04:21:00.000-08:00

Alliance for Democracy new administration ponders of establishing links with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Malawi News has established.

Aford Executive Committee is expected to meet in Lilongwe on Tuesday where among other things the party is going to discuss possible alliance with the ruling party.

Malawi News source within the party, however, said the suggestion is expected to cause stir among the party gurus as some people view the suggestion based on individual benefits not in the interest of the party.

“Some people believe the suggestion come in as some of the top officials of the party have just won government tenders to make some constructions in Lilongwe,” said the source.

He said there some members have agreed to oppose the proposal.

“It will be very easy to defeat the proposal because is it going to come from a district governor, those who are propagating the idea has selected one district governor to make the proposal and would be seconded a member of the executive committee.
“While it is not a bad idea, somehow people are suspicious with the canvassing that is going on,” he said.

Aford deputy Spokesperson Kingsley Jere, while confirming the meeting would be taking place on Tuesday in Lilongwe, said he was not aware of the intended proposal.

Jere said the party at the moment still stands by its resolutions at the convention when it nullified all alliances that it had.

“What the President Dindi Gowa Nyasulu said about alliances was that the party is rebuilding itself and it has to go alone. I am not aware of any alliance talks,” he said.

Jere said he does not know any connection between the companies that were awarded the contracts and the party since the companies would belong to individual not the party.

Soon after being ushered in the office, the new Aford Executive Committee terminated the alliances which the party had with UDF.

DPP spokesperson Nicholas Dausi said, while the party has not yet approached the party, the party has an open door policy and it can work with any party in the country.

“It is the wish of the State President to unify Malawians and no party in the world would refuse to work with another party,” he said.

Loveness Gondwe to form own party

2007-12-14T04:19:00.000-08:00

Once might Alliance for Democracy (Aford) would soon find itself without a party representative in parliament as the sole Member of Parliament, Loveness Gondwe, contemplates forming own party.

Gondwe, who is currently in Portugal, has been lately flying around world canvassing for possible partners.

Gondwe husband, Yeremiah Chihana, said he does not have enough details on the issue but said the party would likely to be called Labour party.

Chihana said his wife has been to South Africa, Namibia and several other countries where she has been discussing with potential partners.

“I do not have enough information, but I am sure by next week everything will be known,” he said.

Aford Deputy Publicity Secretary Kingsley Jere said he was aware of the information that Gondwe, once she is back in the country would be tendering her resignation.

“We have information that she is forming her own party and that she has been flying outside the country sourcing for funding,” he said.

He, however, said that would not affect the operations of the party since, with the new leadership, it is working on retaining its old glory.

“We will be meeting in Lilongwe soon where we are trying to strategies as well as coming up with a programme to market our new president and the executive committee,” he said.

Gondwe was the remaining MP for Aford after losing several to President Bingu wa Mutharika’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and death.

The founding member Chakufwa Chihana died two years ago. Aford was once a formidable party winning 33 seats in the first general elections in 1994.

Gondwe has been acting president when the party was sailing through turbulence times—splitting into two camps—after the demise of its founding leaders.

Gondwe boycotted the convention which marshaled Dindi Gowa Nyasulu and the new Executive Committee into office.

If Gondwe quits the party, Aford for the first time in 13 years would have no representative in Parliament.

One book for 10 people

2007-12-14T04:17:00.000-08:00

Malawians could be a bunch of idiots who have no time for books and newspapers, and if anything they are just idiotic lots who have unlimited time for nothing. That’s a typical fallacy of hasty generalisation.

Walking in the streets of Blantyre, Lilongwe and even Mzuzu during lunch or knocking off time, scores of middle-aged men and women would be seen moving up and down carrying bunches of books.

Books that are so heavy in their hands that they have to tilt when they are walking. And taking a closer look at one book, one would only understand the reason why young men and women take the trouble of carrying those kinds of books.

An even closer look could reveal the title of some of the books and lo! Banner titles as ‘Introduction to Economics level 2, or ‘Advanced Diploma in Marketing’ would greet one inquisitive eye. It is just inevitable those people have to carry those books.

Malawi National Library is no longer a place where you can find books that one can read for pleasure; National Library has been reduced to just an extension of schools as school going Malawians have turned the Library into a preparatory centre for any kind of examination.

Malawi, the country of over 14 million people, would be said to have fewer writers and by extension therefore, few people would read books for the fun of it. But this could also be just a fallacy.

In Paris, France, in metros and parks one finds people with their heads buried into their books, they talk less; they interact less and to some extent, may be they eat less as well. In short, on the outlook one would think the French read more books than Malawians.

However, the Malawian situation would also manifest in people of Lesotho, Zimbabwe and South Africa. It would be very difficult to see an African displaying the novel he is reading, let alone the biography of a certain popular personality.

Africans do not read newspapers in minibuses, a good negligible number of Africans have access to ipods to listen to music while travelling. It is all just a new phenomenon.

But surprisingly an average African is more knowledgeable than an average European. An average African would know who the current president of USA is, how the Venezuelan President failed to get his way on the recent elections.

My assumption would be that an average African would read more books and have more information than an average European; however the hazy picture we all have is that Europeans are better of than Africans in terms of reading culture.

Where do they get the information? By traditional Africa likes sharing. Africans, including Malawians would share anything ranging from food to sometimes, in certain traditions, spouses.

Through this mentality of sharing, Africans are well informed and have access to a lot of information they seem not to have. If I buy a Compact Disc of Etienne Mbappe chances are that it would find its way into over 20 homes within a short period of time. The same applies to books, newspaper and magazines.

An average African is at a very economical disadvantage that buying a Chinua Achebe book would be more of a luxury, while there is a serious quest for knowledge; financial limitations are obvious the stumbling block.

It is obvious that there is serious confusion between reading culture and buying culture, I will emphatically agree that Malawians, like most Africans, do not like to buy literature materials but that does not mean they do not read. It’s the absence of the buying culture that makes people to make a sweeping statement that Malawians do not read after all.

Of pampered failures and satisfied officials

2007-12-14T04:14:00.000-08:00

I would hate to associate myself with foul language at any time of the day, anywhere! I would hate myself if I could condone the use of foul language at anyone, anywhere! I have a religious background and it is obvious that religion frowns at the use of vulgar language.

Sometimes I do not understand why a person so angry should insult another person; however I have come to accept that in some line of duty some of the things are unavoidable.

Those people who had or still have an opportunity to work or visit a country like South Africa would attest how rough, in language and action, South Africans are. You just have to be vigilant and quick to survive in South Africa. The principle of hit before you are hit rules in South Africa.

In my life I have come into contact so many times with the use of vulgar language be it at place of work or otherwise. I understand in some cultures within Malawi it is acceptable to use vulgar language in anything including thanking a person.

Naturally bad words are just bad. However, people tend to use foul words when they are angry, unsatisfied or helpless, in short people tend to use vulgar language when they least expected that they are going to use the words, when the emotions surpass expectations.

I have heard people—who, by virtue of their position in a society, and are supposed to be exemplary—calling one another bad names and insults and other unpalatable vocabulary making thousand of people cry with laughter.

Football is a game of emotions and the world over, there are numerous examples on how people expressed or express their emotions. Winning teams have got their way of expressing happiness and losing teams have got their way of reacting to lose.

Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United, once after losing a game whizzed a football boot at their star player then David Beckham and Beckham sustained a cut above the eye.

Here we are talking of big names in football and after the incident (not soon after) Beckhan left the club and Ferguson stayed put. It was water under the bridge as some people say.

In Malawi I have heard spectators showering insults at Malawian players, so too I have read unpalatable writing relating to Malawian teams perennial underperformances.

For those of us who are privileged enough to watch games from the open terraces, it is an order of the day for Malawian supporters to heap insults at our good national team, every time our team loses, which is more often.

One Fam official is on record to have described some Malawi professional players, after losing a match in South Africa, as ‘mbuzi za ma professional.’ That official was not relieved of his office because of that.

Frustrated supporters use unpalatable words elsewhere in the world, then what is wrong with one person Steven Constantine, at the heat of frustration, say one or two f-words to our proud failures who parade in the name of national team.

Like some tribes in Malawi, the use of f#*words among Europeans is nothing but normal, they would use it in front of their wives, their children even in front of their in laws.

As a nation it would be imperative to understand other people’s back ground and willing to accommodate it.

I was actually shocked to realize that instead of Malawians chiding our pampered players who are continously embarrassing the nation with their underperformance, we are wasting our energy trying to fault Constantine.

It is shocking that instead of reacting to the poor performance of the teams, football officials in the country ganged up against Constantine on an issue far related to Constantine.

I am really shocked, and of course amazed by our Under 20 football players, how they managed to divert the country’s wrath from themselves to Constantine.

Constantine’s outbursts have been used as a mere scapegoat and it is unfortunate to realize everybody bought this cheap move, that is from the minister of sports himself to the president of Fam Walter Nyamilandu, desperate for another term to the last man in the street.

The story here in Malawi in on how Constantine insulted our good boy, how he insulted foreigners, nobody is talking about how these boys who wasted millions of Kwachas of our hard earned tax money.

Who would have been clapping has for the boys who have just been booted from the competition, who would allow some misguided boys to mess up his lucrative job. I understand Constantine bitterness, the guy pockets over K2 million a month and who would allow somebody to mess up such a deal.

We might have problems with Constantine and we might wish to find way and means of chucking him out of the country, but cornering him for some words he used in the line of duty would be overstretching our marks.

I found the minister remarks in the paper over this issue misplaced, while we appreciate that he is the minister of sports I think it is high time the minister desists from commenting on every issue related to football.

I would wish one football player, in his careers that have never experienced such kind of treatment from the coaches and officials to cast the first stone at Constantine. Otherwise we are wasting our energy negatively.

About 2.7 million Malawians living in ultra poverty: Any escape

2007-12-14T04:10:00.000-08:00

People have used the clichés like: Living below poverty line or sometimes, Living on less than one US dollar a day: so much so that the clichés meaning has been diluted. However the clichés remain as meaningful as they were 10 years ago.

From a distance these clichés would look like some rhetoric economic jargon formulated somewhere in the corridors of Bertwood compound in the suburb of the New York in the USA.

However, as foreign as they might look or sound, realism stares squarely on the face of over millions of Malawians. At least 22 percent of Malawians are living way below the poverty line.

Facts on the ground reveal that over 2.7 million people in Malawi are not really living on assumed one US dollar a day; they are actually living on some money basically I the ranges of below K44 a year.

Preposterous as it may sound but it is real. Human Development Index—2006 and 2005 Integrated Household Survey indicates that about 2.7 million Malawians are living in ultra poverty.

In short in Malawi there are people cannot afford a square meal a day in their lives, the basic United Nations (UN) indicator of poverty. These people are actually below the 52 percent of Malawians—about 6.4 million who are leaving below poverty line or they are earning less the minimum one US dollar a day.

Loose mathematics would lead to a conclusion that some Malawians—in ultra poverty category—would earn about K3.60 a month and a shocking K0.01 tambala a day. Now this is poverty.

For instance, take a Members of Parliament (MP) in Malawi—for argument sake—who gets over K300, 000 a month, mathematically getting about k10, 000 a day, obviously these MPs live way above poverty line and contrast with a K0.01 a day of the voter—the person who put them in the office.

However, the sad story about Malawi or Malawians is that the MP’s K10, 000 a day take home package is as good as K0.01 the poorest of the poorest get a day because, both living slightly below or slightly above the poverty line are, effectively the same. Vulnerable!

Some million of Malawians could be slightly above the poverty line, or slightly below the poverty line, some would be way below the poverty line while other would be up above poverty line, but through an umbilical code of some kind they are joined ,one fact remains that they are all exposed to poverty.

“Any slight change on the economy it would mean a change in the whole status of people in the country. lt would be easy for those living above the poverty line to fall below or those below to go up depending o the situation, people in Malawi are vulnerable,” said Dr Blessing Chisinga, a political scientist at Chancellor College University of Malawi main campus.

Chinsinga made this observations when he was presenting a paper during the workshop in Blantyre when Institute for Policy Research and Social Empowerment (IPR SE).

Chisinga presented a case in his presentation titled Understanding Poverty and Vulnerability where it was indicated that all almost all Malawians would be regarded as simply poor because most of the people living above poverty line in Malawi re merely ‘poor people of tomorrow’.

“One can be vulnerable but not necessarily poor especially for those earning their live hoods just above the poverty line—these people are sometimes referred to as tomorrow poor since their live hoods are precarious and may not be able to withstand any serious shock.

“Vulnerability does not simply refer to those people who are likely to become poor in future due to an unexpected shock but also those who will remain poor those who will fall deeper into poverty and those who may fall into poverty due to unpredictable fluctuations such as seasonality,” said Chisinga in his presentation.

“If the Kwacha could fall today say with 50 percent, most of the people who are slightly above poverty line today would fall under, that is the risk we are living in,” he said.s

Currently only 37 percent of Malawians live above poverty line and out of these about 45 percent are more vulnerable because they live slightly above the poverty line while 63 percent lives below poverty line with 22 percent living way below.

These would simply mean Malawians are technically poor. This is not new fact. Currently Malawi, under 2006 Human Development Index complied by United Nations Development Programme, is ranked 166 out of 178 of the poorest countries in the world despite the micro-economic growth that have been achieved in recent years.

Since 1995 several interventions, through formulation of well articulated juicy polices like Poverty Alleviation programme, Poverty Eradication, Targeted in Put programme, Vision 2020, Malawi Growth Development Strategy and the fertiliser subsidy programmes. Malawi was expected to move an itch out of poverty, but nay Malawians are as poor as they were several years ago.

These Safety Nets have been effective in mitigating several economic hardship but they have failed to alleviate poverty for the past 11 years.

In 1990 Malawi was ranked 138 out of the 178 countries that UNDP and in 2005 Malawi is still the poorest country with a steady decline in health care delivery, education, economic growth and general living standards.

Institute for Policy Research and Social Empowerment (IPRSE), a Non Government Organisation (NGO) specialised on policy matters, is working on a new concept. Social Cash Transfer as a social programme.

The programme is being piloted in four districts of Mchinji, Likoma, Salima and Machinga where over 3 000 house holds are receiving money, on monthly basis for their basic needs.

IPRSE Director of Programmes and Development Paul Msoma said Social Cash Transfers programme aims to provide basic social protection to sections of the population, who for some reasons, beyond their control, are unable to provide for themselves.

“The Cash transfer Programme is attached to conditions like regular attendance of schools and health services. In contrast to emergency programmes which are designed for temporary relief, cash transfer scheme are permanent programmes that transfer cash on the regular and reliable basis to House Hold or persons that meet certain criteria,” he said.

However, the pre-condition for the establishment of the Social Cash Transfer are political will, administrative capacity and financial resources.

“Political relevant groups like government, political parties, parliament, religious leaders and civil society should understand this programme is apolitical, he said.

The pilot project has proved that House Holds receiving grants use them for food, health care for family, for basic education and investment in physical capital that can provide a future source of income.

“The additional purchasing power to the House Hold has a multiplier effect and strengthens the local economy and the empirical evidence show that Social Cash Transfer kick starts virtuous cycle.

The programme is also being implemented in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Zambia and Ethiopia in Africa, in Asia the programme is being implemented in China, India, Bangladesh and Nepal while in Latin America the programme is being implemented in Brazil, Mexco, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Ministry of Health rolls out new Malaria drugs

2007-12-03T05:48:00.000-08:00

Ministry of Health on Thursday this week rolled out the new malaria drug replacing the Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (SP)—Fansida and Novida’s—which has been on the market for over a decade.

Principal Secretary in the ministry of Health Chris Kang’ombe confirmed that hospitals in the country would now start dispersing the new malaria drugs—Lumefantrine-Artimeth and Amudiquint-Artesunate.

“We have officially launched the new drug the ceremony was in Mchinji,” he said.

For the past weeks, Ministry of Health has been orienting clinicians’ throughout the country on the new drug.

A clinical officer who was conducting training at the country’s major referral hospital Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) Paul Pensulo said over the referral hospital could only start dispersing the new drug after the over 600 personnel at the hospital have all undergone the training.

“QECH would not start soon because training is still underway, we are having a three day workshop for 60 clinicians, we can only start dispersing after we have finished with the training,” he said.

QECH Administrative Director Thom Chisale said his hospital is expected to roll out the new drug in January next year.

“All the trials have been finished and the drug has been approved,” he said.

Lumefantrine-Artimeth and Amudiquint-Artesunate are combinations of four drugs would replace the SPs which are no longer effective in fighting malaria.

According to internet information sourced at http://ukpmc.ac.uk website Zambia was the first African country to adopt an artemisinin-based combination treatment as its national policy.

The website indicated that malaria treatment and control have been undermined by the emergence of resistance to commonly-used antimalarial drugs such as chloroquine (CQ) and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP).

“Unacceptably high resistance to commonly used antimalarial drugs prompted the choice of artemether-lumefantrine ( AL ) as first line treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria.. The safety of AL has been extensively reviewed and several trials, in Africa all of them in children, have demonstrated its efficacy.

“ AL exists as a fixed tablet formulation and it has been registered in a large number of countries under the names of Coartem® or Riamet®. The fixed tablet formulation helps to overcome problems of compliance associated with non-coformulated combinations,” reads part of the website.

Muluzi to appoint own running mate

2007-12-03T05:42:00.000-08:00

The sole UDF presidential aspirant Bakili Muluzi, who is also the party’s National Chairman, is going to appoint his own running mate if the party’s convention schedule for December 19, 2007 passes the amendment proposal of Article 39 (b) of the party’s constitution. Malawi News has established.

Top on the agenda during the convention is the election of the UDF presidential candidate and his running mate, the party delegates are also expected to amend Article 39 (b) of the party’s constitution that empowers the delegates to appoint the presidential candidate and his or her running mate.

The said article reads in part: “Party presidential candidate and his or her running mate for the National Presidential Elections shall be elected by the national conference preceding the National Presidential Elections.

However, the amendment Article would be empowering Muluzi, the only known presidential aspirant in the party—not the delegates, to handpick his own running mate.

UDF spokesperson Sam Mpasu confirmed that the said Article in the party’s constitution would be presented to the delegates for amendment.

Mpasu said the decision to amend the constitution was proposed by the National Executive Committee (Nec) saying the Nec decided to amend the clause to revert to the old system.

Mpasu said 1993 convention the UDF presidential candidate, then Bakili Muluzi, chose his running mate, Justin Malewezi, however the party amended the clause when at, 2003 convention, it abolished the position of the president in the party and left the leadership of the party in the hands of the national Chairman not the president.

“This means that the presidential candidate shall handpick his or her own running mate,” he said.

Article 39 (i) of the UDF constitution empowers the Returning Officer of the elections at the convention to declare winner any member who has not been challenged at any position.

In part the Article read: “Where the Returning Officer receives only one nomination for any office, the nominee shall be regarded as duly elected to that office and it shall not be necessary for the national conference to vote for that office.”

Mpasu said, so far nobody, apart from the party’s National Chairman Muluzi, has put up his or her name for nominations or consideration in the forth coming party’s conference for the position of the party’s presidential candidate.

Mpasu said he was surprised that the party’s Secretary General Kennedy Makwangwala announced that four people would be contesting with Muluzi for the position of the presidential candidate when four others withdrew their candidature in respect of the Muluzi.

“We will seek clarification from the Secretary General regarding who else is disrespectful to the national chairman when four party gurus withdrew their candidature out of respect. That is very surprising,” he said.

Mpasu said four members, himself, Friday Jumbe, Cassim Chilumpha and Brown Mpinganiira had interest in the presidential candidacy but withdrew to give respect to the Muluzi, who had then shown interest to contest in the national presidential elections.

But UDF Deputy Secretary General Hophman Makande said the party would not know other presidential aspirants before the national executive committee of the party has vetted them.

“Names of nominees are posted in a box and they would only be known when the UDF Nec vet them names and we are waiting for the Nec to announce names,” he said.

However, according to the Article 39 (f) (i) of the party’s constitution, Muluzi would be limited to choose his running mate within the UDF fold as it forbid the selection of person outside the UDF party to the position of the presidential candidate and his running mate.

One political observer, who is an Executive Director of a human right organization Malawi Watch, Billy Banda said the proposed amendment would have an effect on the loyalty of the party members as allegiance would be shifted from the party to the individuals, who have absolute power to make appointments.

Banda said amending constitutions to suit individual needs erode the democratic principals and personalize institutions.

“Despite that if anything happens to the incumbent the possibility of somebody to rise to the position without the blessing of the electorate would be high. However the positive part of it is that it would help in solving the presidential quandaries like that have been seen in president Bingu wa Mutharika and his vice Cassim Chilumpha,” He said.

At the 2003 convention UDF delegates elected Muluzi’s anointed candidate Bingu wa Mutharika and his running mate Cassim Chilumpha who proceeded to win the 2004 national presidential elections. However the two fell out when Mutharika quit UDF and form DPP, Chilumpha remained in UDF.

Teens of the 80 get set tonight

2007-11-30T02:56:00.000-08:00

Tonight is the night, teens of the 80's are turning the hand of the clock of the musical world as they stomp their night at gigantic Comesa Hall in Blantyre.

The dance which has been organized by Events & Promotions Consultancy will be the first of the series that are going to be organized throughout the country.

One of the organizers Mwiza Mtegha the event is more of memory joggling and the teens of the 80s should expect a spill of good old music.

“It is down memory lane and people should expect maximum fun, we urge the teens of the 80s to come in large numbers at this is their time,” he said.

Mtegha said there will be a number of dancing competition and winning memorable prizes.

"The prizes will be part of spicing the show, we hope people still remember their dancing antics,” he said.

Break-dance, Robot, House and all other dancing antics of the 80s will be on call tonight

Meag Interim President Lewis Chiwalo

2007-11-30T02:24:00.000-08:00

The Malawi Economic Empowerment Action Group (Meeag) and the Indigenous Business Association of Malawi (Ibam), bodies that were established to fight for the economic empowerment of indigenous Malawians could not agree on how to merge the two groups.
Allegations of hidden political agendas were blamed for the failed merging.
Malawi News Reporter Rex Chikoko, this week met Meag Interim President Lewis Chiwalo to seek his side of the story, Excerpts:

We have noticed that there is kind of disagreement between your organisation and Ibam over the supposed merge between the two organisations. What is the problem?

Well, there is not much of a problem at the moment, only that it is the issue of the merger that broke down at one moment, but there is not much problem as far as I am concerned, there was just some misunderstanding on the way forward. We are still interested in pursuing the merger issue if they are interested.

Media reports suggest that there are some political powers behind these disagreements, what is your take?

That is not really correct, there is no political power behind our organisations, in fact our organisation is non partisan and at the same time we do not see the reason why someone should come in our organisation with political agendas when Malawi is a democratic country where anyone is free to register a political party, so that I absolutely not correct.

Your organisation and Ibam agree that you have similar objectives. What is it that is making the two organisations fail to merge, is it something to do with leadership problem?

Why can I not let that question pass as of now, to answer that question would be pre-empting what is supposed to be done on the ground, the issue of merger is likely to come in again in future. That question would be well answered at the later stage.

In your press release you indicated that you were at one time members of Ibam what made you leave the organisation and form another group with similar agendas?

I did not form another group, I joined another group, let me make a correction there, when Ibam was formed I was one of the members, and in my personal view we never took off the ground up until the other organisation was formed, I thought possibly by going to the other group we would move forward and break off the ground, that was the more reason why I joined Meeg.

What was new in that new organisation?

There is no much difference between Ibam and Meeg, perhaps the only difference possibly is that the new organisation looks at a broader picture of the economy while Ibam concentrates on the business spectrum, that is the only difference, but I thought I would play a major role in Meeg than in Ibam to make sure that we meet our objectives to at least look at the broader picture of the economy and assist government on the way forward in economic advancement.

Change of name here is coming out as the only stumbling block to the two groups possibility of working together, how do you suggest the groups can work together to circumvent the problem?

Let’s make it quite clear here, we launched this organisation in January this year and we have been holding so many meetings that have been attended by people from all walks of life. In one of the meetings some members of Ibam came to attend and having realised that we share their views, they proposed that we should merge we were very flexible and accepted the idea having seen that if we form one common front we will achieve our objectives. Unfortunately because of some misunderstanding the issue stalled.

However let me indicate that there was a task force composed of members of the two groups who were mandated to come up with recommendations on the merger way forward, some the recommendation was that there should be a change of leadership, but things never worked as the other group changed their mind and asked us to join them. Having said this, what people should appreciate is that economic empowerment issues are more complex than we view them, in that case we should be able to accommodate as many minds as possible, what we are saying is that unless we open up and let others come in we are not going to achieve our objectives.

So far, how far have gone with Meeeg?

We have done so much, we are coming with a business development strategic plan that would be sold to government and engage it to changing some of its policies. It is a long way to go and we need combined forces to forge ahead. We are going to reach out to Ibam, they are our partners in development, and we are almost one. The only thing is that we had a slight misunderstanding at a certain point which to me I know that it has been cleared, we talk to each other and we have discussed the way forward. And we have not really shelved the idea of merging; possibly in future we could sit and resume the discussions.

Any last word?

I appreciate that people are now able to see what we are trying to do, we can not leave all these huge tasks [of developing the country] to government alone, we have to come in and assist in areas we feel possible we can assist. Government is a big institution that has so many activities so could have a lot of grey areas and our role is to assist in these grey areas so that at the end of the day Malawi would achieve meaningful economic development

Air Malawi pockets K33m on Bingu’s Italy trip

2007-11-27T06:42:00.000-08:00

Government is expected to cough about K33 million in payment for Boeing 737 300 airplane that President Bingu wa Mutharika chartered on his way to Rome, Italy and Kampala, Uganda to attend a high level special event on Aid for Trade and Food security and Commonwealth meeting respectively. Malawi News has established.

However, the airline is also expected to blow some millions of Kwacha in payment for the another plane, the company borrowed from a South Africa airline Inter-Air which take over the 737 300 routes.

The president left the country on Tuesday boarding the Malawi’s biggest aeroplane 737 300 Kwacha to Italy the trip which also take him to Uganda where he is expected to attend the Common Wealth meeting.

A source at Air Malawi said the airline has invoiced government to the tune of K33 million for the one week trip the plane undertook with the president.

“Air Malawi has provided everything for the trip including allowances for the pilots, ground fairs, fuel and we have invoiced government about K33 million.

“However, I would not tell how much Air Malawi is paying for the 109 capacity earoplane which it has borrowed from a South Africa to replace the 131 capacity Kwacha which is on hire,” he said.

Air Malawi public relations officer Gaffel Nkolokosa confirmed the government's chartering of the Boeing 737 300 but refused to disclose how much government paid for the earoplane or how much they were paying for the earoplane that they hired to take over kwacha's routes.

“The request was made three weeks ago and arrangements were made to replace the chartered plane.” he said.

Air Malawi Board Chairman Jimmy Koreia Mpatsa, while he could not disclose how much the airline pocketed from the transaction, said Presidential Charter is a source of pride for any airline as it demonstrates the confidence that a State President has in such an airline.

“In the present case, it is even more so considering that the aircraft will be flying the Malawi flag to destinations where we do not operate to. In this regard,this charter will go a long way in promoting our country to the world at large and I feel the State President should be commended for humbling himself to fly in an Air Malawi 737 300 all the way to Europe instead of opting for other more luxurious aircraft that are readily available on the market for charters as others have done in the past,” he said.

Mpatsa said whilst the 737-300 is on charter the company have to continue with normal scheduled flights hence the leasing of an aircraft from Inter Air.

“This is normal and all the airlines do the same.Airlines charter or lease aircraft to complement their fleet whenever need arises.As a matter of fact you may wish to know that most of the aircraft being used by various airlines are leased and not owned by them,” he said.

Maneb dumps exams printer

2007-11-27T06:35:00.000-08:00

Malawi National Examinations Board (Maneb) is said to have engaged a United Kingdom (UK) renowned examinations printing company Stephen Austin and Sons to re-print the botched 2007 Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations. Malawi News has established.

Government, in a press release signed by the Principal Secretary of Education Anthony Livuza this week ordered the re-admission of five papers of the 54 papers that 2007 candidates wrote in the just ended examinations.

Malawi News source at Maneb said, at the meeting that was held in Lilongwe, Maneb officials agreed that they should engage the British printers to print the five papers that are expected to be re-written.

“They are still working on the papers but are in constant contact with the UK based printers Stephen Austin and Sons,” he said.

Maneb this year changed examinations printers from the traditional printer Stephen Austin and Sons for the South African printing company Universal Printers, a thing which some quarters believe to have led to the massive leakages of the examinations.

Government, through the Ministry of Education admitted the leakage of examinations which Maneb Chief Executive Matthews Matemba dismissed as bogus when it was first revealed that there was a leakage.

“The decision to nullify, redevelop and re-administer the examination has been made so that those candidates who were exposed to leaked examination papers do not have an unfair advantage over their colleagues who wrote the same examination without any assistance,” said part of the press release.

Government ordered that the new papers to the re-administered over three days in mid-December, 2007 and the subjects concerned are English I, Biology I, Chichewa II, Agriculture I and History II.
It is known up to now why Maneb switched printers and efforts to contact Maneb officials proved futile as Matemba’s telephone went unanswered.

Deputy Minister of Education Olive Masanza said the ball was now in Maneb’s court to make sure that the examinations were as secured as possible.

Cancer patient dead in SA

2007-10-29T23:30:00.000-07:00

Cancer patient Mphatso Mhango, who government recently sent to South Africa for further treatment
died before undergo the operation in that country, a Family member has confirmed.

Mhango left the country for South Africa on October 21, 2007 and died two days later.

A family member Vilunjike Manda said Mhango passed when she was given blood at it was discovered
that she had no sufficient blood for the her to survive the operation.

“She died when she was waiting for the operation. Doctors said the tumor had gone dip into the
brain and she would need alot of blood if they would operate on her,” he said.

Manda said the problem was aggravated because of the delay removing the tumor.

Mhango waited for almost three months for government to locate a doctor in South Africa to operate
on her, after a Referral Committee had already recommended for her referral.

Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH), where the patient was admitted had to sent her home
because would not continue keeping her at the hospital when she was supposed to be in South
Africa.

Mhango was referred to QECH from Mzuzu hospital, three months ago where doctors at QECH also
referred her to outside the country for further treatment, however two months down the line the
patient was still in the country.

Minister of Health Marjorie Ngaunje said every Malawian has got a right to treatment and
there was not special treatment for VIPs when it come to referring people to outside the country
hospitals.

Poor preps botched MSCE exams

2007-10-29T23:17:00.000-07:00

…leakages come about due to fewer papers printed
By Rex Chikoko
The 2007 Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations fiasco was caused by Malawi National Examinations Board (Maneb) poor preparations. Malawi News has established.

This years MSCE examination, costing a whopping K218 million of the tax-payers money—was total chaotic with examination papers flying all over the country before the date for writing the papers were due, candidates writing photocopied examinations, while others being quarantined waiting for examinations papers while examinations were in progress.

Malawi News investigations revealed that Maneb made several preparatory mistakes ranging from changing examinations printing companies, ordering fewer examinations papers to late delivery of examinations to the centres.

A South African based company Universal Printers—specialised in production of point-of-sale items, signage, cartons, magazines, telephone directories, direct mail products, self-adhesive and unsupported labels—won the contract to print MSCE examinations out-favouring a UK based company Stephen Austin & Sons, specialists in production and distribution services for examination and Assessment Authorities worldwide.

Stephen Austin & Sons have been printing examinations for the Malawi in the past.

In a specified tendering, opened in January this year, four foreign companies’ submitted tenders to print the 2007 examinations. The companies included Stephen Austin & Sons, Kadimah, Universal Printers and Government Printers. Apart from Stephen Austin & Sons all the companies were South African based.

According to Malawi News’ highly placed source at Maneb, despite Stephen Austin & Sons emerging the winner of the tender, South African printing companies won the printing of MSCE and Junior Certificate Examinations.

In August 2007 high powered officials left the country for South Africa for final monitoring of examinations where it was reported that everything was going as planned.

However a hitch came about when the printers would not deliver examinations in the required seven days before the commerce of the examinations and late discovery that fewer papers were printed against the registered number of this year’s candidates.

Universal Print Group Export Business Development Manager Neville Gurriah, in an email response, said the Supply Agreement with Maneb, due to the confidential nature of the scope of work undertaken - precludes the organisation from communicating with any third parties on any matter.

“We trust that you will understand our position,” Girriah said.

MSCE examinations arrived in the country between October 6 – 8, 2007 a day before the official commencement of the examinations on the October 9, 2007 leaving Maneb with less that 24 hours to inspect, verify and distribute the examination national wide.

Surprisingly in the finance budget of the 2007 finance budget report –appendix 11 under Printing Expenses vote number 630, Maneb set aside K66, 171, 734 as printing costs which included K20, 428,424 for Air Freight, but this years examinations came into the by road.

“The packaging was poorly done because at Police Headquarters in Lilongwe where they offloaded the examinations they discovered that plastic papers they used to wrap containing examination envelops busted.

“Normally examinations are expected to come in a well sealed cartons but it was not the case with MSCE. The examinations were sealed in plastic wrappings,” said the source.

The source said it was discovered that close to 89,000 papers of the 2007 MSCE examinations were printed despite registering about 101,000 candidates for the same examinations.

The discovery of paper shortage resulted to the authorization of photocopying of the examinations and the activity was being carried out in the Manuscript Section of Maneb office.

However the problem soared when the machine in the Manuscript section broken down and the photocopying of the examinations was transferred to Malawi Institute of Education (MIE) offices in Domasi, Zomba.

An official at Domasi on condition anonymity confirmed that on Wednesday October 17, 2007 Maneb officials sought the services of the printing office but he could not elaborate.

Despite Maneb authorities discrediting the leaked eaminations papers as bogus several arrests were made however the police said they were not really involved on the arrests and they would be waiting for a report from Maneb on what transpired.

Police headquarters spokesperson Willie Mwaluka said although several arrests have been made involving the 2007 MSCE examinations, the police had no information because the police involved in the arrests were hired by Maneb.

“Those officers were officially hired by Maneb and anything to do with examinations is handled by Maneb officials. We will be waiting for official report on how many were arrested after the examinations,” Mwaluka said.

But through regional and district police public relations offices Malawi News established that three people were arrested at Soche Technical cluster centre, two people were arrested in Machinga, three people were arrested in the central region while at a Maneb official caught the whole class Natola CDSS going through examinations papers at night and two were arrested in Chitipa at least one person was arrested.

Soche Technical cluster centre Blantyre Secondary School, Chichiri Secondary School and Likangala Secondary school were some of the centres where quarantine due to shortage of papers was taking place on daily basis. In these schools photocopied examinations were being provided to cover up for the shortage.

Proroguing and Muluzi's elligibility Sam Mpasu says:

2007-10-09T06:24:00.000-07:00

The United Democratic Front (UDF), has recently been in the news over the eligibility of its National Chairman Bakili Muluzi to contest in the forth-coming general elections. The party also took a swipe at President Bingu wa Mutharika's controversial proroguing of parliament. Our Reporter Rex Chikoko met UDF spokesperson Sam Mpasu and sought the party's position on a number of issues. Excerpts:

Some concerned citizens intend to take the issue of Bakili Muluzi's eligibility to contest the 2009 presidential elections to court, as a party what is your stand on the issue?

We, in the UDF, are very surprised that matters that are internal to UDF are attracting so much attention outside the UDF. I can assure you that Mr Ben Phiri and his company have absolutely nothing to do with the UDF. We have been solving our problems and the party has been in existence for over 15 years now. Naturally the UDF is a Malawi party so whatever would happen to UDF, many of its members in the UDF would be affected, but what I can assure you is that we have a [Republican] Constitution that clearly demarcates lines of responsibility and the judiciary in this country is responsible for the interpretation of the law. I may have my own view and everybody else might have his own views. It does not matter, what matters is what the judiciary says.

In the interest of UDF followers was it not necessary for the party to come up with a final position on this issue?

This issue is coming, apparently, just because our National Chairman Dr Bakili Muluzi has got his name mentioned by some people within the party urging him to go and stand for the presidential candidature elections at the forth coming UDF convention. And we are saying, according to our constitution, anyone who wants to contest for the position of the president, is free to do so but there are procedures to be followed, first you should submit one's name to the National Executive on a proper nomination form for the National Executive to vet, in other words for them to certify that you are indeed a bonafide member of the UDF and it is the National Executive Committee that will forward that name to the convention. It is the convention that elects the presidential candidate so right now I do not understand why everyone is foaming and threatening, we have not yet gone to the convention and people are talking about courts and so forth, this is crazy.

You mentioned the convention, when is the party holding one?

We planned to have the convention in April last year, naturally nothing worked, we had our problems. The then Acting National Chairman Dr. Cassim Chilumpha was charged with treason and we had a lot of other problems, so we postponed. There is a working committee now which is still looking at the convention issue, they have made tentative recommendations that the convention should be held on 16 November [this year] but their recommendations have not been discussed by the National Executive Committee to either approve or modify.

As we are going towards the 2009 presidential and parliamentary elections, what is the UDF strategy?

I cannot tell you the strategy now, we will come up with a strategy. Much of it will be in secret and confidential. Our programme will come out in our manifesto document which will be a public document.

There is a belief that some people who were expected to contest against Muluzi in UDF are working with Concerned Citizen to take the matter of Muluzi’s eligibility to court. What is the position of the party?

Anyone who is giving out the impression that UDF is divided, that some UDF people are working with bodies outside the UDF is talking nonsense. It is a cheap trick to divide the UDF and it cannot work. We are totally capable of solving our own problems if there are problems.

It has been noticed that Muluzi is frequenting his visits to the United Kingdom, some people say he is going there to meet possible financiers of UDF, how would you explain these two issues?

Dr. Muluzi, like every Malawians, is perfectly entitled to go wherever he wants to go, to take a holiday whenever he wants and to have friends wherever he has. I do not think this is a matter for political speculations or political insinuations, he makes private trips when he wants to. I do not think anybody has got a moral right to ask why does he do this.

There is a belief that UDF as a party has got no money and it is Muluzi who has got money and it is also said Muluzi is financing MCP president John Tembo, would you please enlighten us the position of party finances and Muluzi's relationship with Tembo?

Why don’t you talk, in those terms, about 30 something political parties that we have in the country? Why should UDF always be connected to money, money money. Everyone knows that UDF, like any other party, in parliament, gets a lot of money from parliament, from the state. Is that money coming from Dr. Muluzi's pockets? Regarding financing of MCP that is utter nonsense, there is no reason Dr. Muluzi, either as an individual or a party leader, would give money to another political party. I have heard about this, not only about Dr. Muluzi but a lot others. It is wrong. There is no way the UDF would give money to others, we have got our own needs, we got district, regional, secretariat offices to run, we do not have money to spare for others. This is mere speculation, MCP gets money from parliament, it is the largest party in parliament why would they need any money from UDF?

Is there a departure in the relationship between the UDF and MCP as evident in the way the two parties have handled the issue of proroguing of parliament? UDF has taken the matter to court while MCP said would rather leave the Speaker to handle the issue.

I do not think you should read too much into this. UDF and MCP are not the only parties in opposition, there are several other parties in the opposition and we do not always work as coalition partners, we are not one party, we are different parties, so it is natural that we have different solutions to a problem, we have chosen to go to the court because we think President Mutharika abused his constitutional prerogative, he did not consult the speaker.

As a former speaker, how different would you have handled the issue of proroguing of parliament? or where do you think the president got it wrong?

The president got it wrong, he should have known the meaning of prorogue. Apparently he did not know, because if he had known , he would have known that he is ending the entire session of parliament, he should have, if he wanted, consulted the speaker, and the speaker has got legal resources and he would have been properly advised. The effect of proroguing is that the whole session has been brought to an end. And had he consulted the Minister of Finance what was at stake, Honorable Goodall Gondwe would have, certainly, advised him against proroguing on the day he did.

The president has called upon the speaker to resign following the issue surrounding Malawi-Mozambique electricity connection bill, what is the position of the UDF on the issue?

The president is trying to push the blame to the speaker and it is unfair. This is what he did with Ishmail Wadi and Gustave Kaliwo. There isn't anyway Speaker [Louis] Chimango and Clerk of Parliament [Maltida] Katopola could have prepared those presidential documents on their own, forwarded them to the president Mutharika and Mutharika signing those documents without realizing the full legal implications. What I believe has happened is that the President has realized that he has put himself in a very very embarrassing situation, he is a party to a fraud. To pretend that a law was passed is a big smudge on the government’s integrity. The World Bank is a very important lender all over the world and no government has ever- ever attempted to commit a fraud on them, and had this gone, this country would have been in terrible, unimaginable situation. And I have a feeling the President intends to set up Chimango as a scapegoat to save his face.

There is a general feeling that the political situation in the country would retard development and that sometimes the President is forced to make those decisions because of the political situation in the country, what is your take?

You do not commit a crime, you do not commit fraud because there is political bickering, it is just not on, here is a President who was duly elected and sworn in, he swore to protect the constitution. He has no excuse for violating the constitution. He has, not only moral, but constitution authority, to uphold the laws of this country. So there is excuse for him, political problems have to be solved politically and he must know how to solve them.

Thanks for the interview, is there anything you would wish to discuss?

I do appreciate that a number of Malawians and a large number of your reader are interested in what is happening in UDF, We do appreciate that, but we do have interests to protect so we do urge the press to assist as in disseminating the truth, not speculations. We have spokesperson, we have officials channels and we are ready to answer any question.

Hospital send patient home

2007-10-09T00:02:00.000-07:00

..Government still looking for a specialist in SA—Ngaunje
By Rex Chikoko
Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH), a referral hospital in Blantyre Malawi, has discharged a patient, suffering from a cancer, despite the referral committee of Ministry of Health recommended that she should sent to South Africa for further treatment.

The patient, Mphatso Mhango, was referred to QECH from Mzuzu hospital, three months ago where doctors at QECH also referred her to outside the country for further treatment, however two months down the line the patient is still in the country.

One of Mhango's relatives,Vilunjike Manda, said it was surprising that government was failing to facilitate the transportation of the patient despite the referral committee's recommendation after assessing the gravity of the situation.

“Nobody is telling us what is happening and to make matters worse the patient has been discharged without telling us the way forward,” he said.

Manda said he has been taking up the matter with the hospital authorities but they have been directing him to ministry’s head quarter.

“We were told that it was a benign tumor which if operated on quickly the patient will get work, however the case has been worsening while the patient was in hospital.

“We do not know the idea behind discharging the patient when she was supposed to be going to South Africa for treatment,” he said.

A Member of the Referral Committee Dr. Mathias Joshua, who was also the Acting Hospital director at the time the decision was made said government is trying to identify a doctor who would attend to the patient when she went to South Africa.

“We are currently looking for a doctor in South Africa who would to the operation, once the doctor has been identified she is going to be sent for operation,” he said.

However, Dr Joshua would not tell how long it would take to identify a doctor based on the urgency of the matter saying: “The process of sending her to South Africa has started and someone is looking for a doctor.”

Minister of Health Marjorie Ngaunje said much as she was not aware of that particular case she said the process of sending a person outside the country further treatment takes time.

She said there is a government agent in South Africa who search for doctor when a referral case is forwarded to him and that the patient can only leave the country when the doctor has been identified.

“It is not easy to find a specialist in South Africa, there are a lot people who are waiting to be sent for further treatment,” she said.

Ngaunje said every Malawian has got a right to treatment and there was not special treatment for VIPs when it come to referring people to outside the country hospitals.

“Human dignity is supreme in sickness and there are no VIPs when it comes to sending people outside the country for treatment,” she said.

Concerns have been raised that government favours government dignitaries when it comes to referring people for outside treatment despite that those people are financially capable to seek treatment else where.

Referral Committee was established to be recommending patient, mostly those who would not afford to pay for their treatment, to outside hospitals.

It has been observed that government dignitaries, when they are sick, are quickly send to outside the country's hospitals even if the ailment would be treated locally.

HIV vaccine trial fails

2007-10-01T05:52:00.000-07:00

HIV vaccine trial, which was being conducted worldwide including Malawi, has been halted after Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), the body that was responsible for the monitoring the progress of the project, discovered that the vaccine was not effective. John Hopkins Project, an institution responsible for the project in Malawi confirmed.

John Hopkins Project Director Dr Newton Kumwenda said DSMB met on September 18, 2007 to review results of the interim efficacy analysis they concluded that the study will not meet its efficacy objectives and recommended that trial being stopped.

On a report posted on September 21,2007 on Merck website—A United States of America pharmaceutical company that was producing the vaccine— announced that the vaccine did not meet its objective and failed to prevent infection.
However, Dr Kumwenda said the latest findings of the vaccine efficacy failure would not affect Malawi participants as the institution did not enroll new volunteers for more than 2 years.

About eight Malawians were injected with a vaccine, HVTN 050, Merck V20-018 vaccine—that contains three HIV genes—in a Phase I, whose objective was to establish the safety and immunogenecity of the vaccine.

“The HIV Vaccine trial being conducted in Malawi is a Phase I safety and immunogenecity trial. The HIV vaccine candidates although similar, the two trials are different.

“Although the data for this finding is specifically from the STEP V520-023 trial , all study sites involved in similar Merck/HVTN vaccine program are advised to cease administering trial vaccine but to continue all other study follow-up procedures,” he said.

JHP spokesperson Fatima Zulu said the organization will continue monitoring the health of the eight Malawian participants as per agreements until the time that was agreed upon expires.
“We will continue monitoring them because we know that some of the side effects would take a long time to come out,” she said.

On Merck website, however, the company indicated that volunteers who had received at least two vaccinations and who were HIV negative for at least the first 12 weeks of the trial, 19 cases of HIV infection were observed in the 672 volunteers who received vaccine and 11 cases were observed in the 691 volunteers who received placebo.

"In addition, the vaccine did not reduce the amount of virus in the bloodstream of those who became infected; HIV RNA levels approximately 8 to 12 weeks after diagnosis of infection were similar in the vaccine and the placebo arms. The geometric means of the HIV RNA levels in the blood of infected individuals, the standard measure of ongoing HIV replication, were approximately 40,000 copies/mL in the vaccine group and approximately 37,000 copies/mL in the placebo group,” the website said.

Merck & Co., Inc. is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company dedicated to putting patients first. Established in 1891, Merck currently discovers, develops, manufactures and markets vaccines and medicines to address unmet medical needs.
The Company devotes extensive efforts to increase access to medicines through far-reaching programs that not only donate Merck medicines but help deliver them to the people who need them. Merck also publishes unbiased health information as a not-for-profit service

Malawi stand to lose World Bank loan

2007-10-01T05:51:00.000-07:00

Malawi stand to lose the World Bank loan on the Malawi-Mozambique Connector project if President Bingu wa Mutharika will not call for parliament within the 17 days , the remaining period of the 90 days of the Bank's approval on the said loan.

The Bank approved US$ 48 million for the Malawi-Mozambique Connector project on July, 17, 2007 and the 90 days period is likely to end on October 16, 2007.

The Mozambique-Malawi Transmission Interconnection Project, the second phase of the Southern African Power Market Program, will connect Malawi to the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), allowing two-way energy trade between the two countries. Information obtained on the World Bank website indicated that the project would ensure much-needed diversification in Malawi’s electricity supply and allow the export of any off-peak power surpluses saying it will also provide Mozambique’s energy sector with a new revenue source.

However, President Bingu wa Mutharika, on September 14, 2007, invoked Section 59 (1b) of the country’s constitution that empowers him, in consultation with the Speaker of the National Assembly, to prorogue parliament which was expected to deliberate and pass the bill.

Mutharika justified his action saying the opposition Members of Parliament were refusing to deliberate some important bills opting for the implementation of Section 65 of the constitution. He also accused members of parliament of spending K310 million in the four months they have been meeting.

World Bank's official Janique Racine for Africa Region responding to Malawi News questionnaire said following the prorogue of parliament the project cannot become effective and the Bank cannot release funds as yet.

Racine said as part of Government clearance process, legal agreements may have to be ratified by a country's legislature and certified that the agreements are legally binding on the state.

“The bottom line is funds cannot be released before all the conditions of effectiveness are met and country processes are completed, which is normally expected to be within 90 days of Board approval.

“The executive branch of government took it to Parliament for authorization. We have seen that Parliament has not yet approved because the Parliament session which could have done so was prorogued. This means the project cannot become effective and the Bank cannot release funds as yet.” she said.

She said once parliament authorizes the agreements and a legal opinion is received by the Bank certifying that the agreements are binding on the state, a ceremony will be organized to sign the funding agreement.

“For example in Malawi an Authorisation Bill is passed by Parliament. This country process may last up to several months.This process must be satisfactorily completed along with any other conditions of effectiveness, before the loan or credit is declared effective, and ready for disbursement.” she said.

Racine said she would not tell what would happen after the elapse of the 90 days because; "Usually it happens within the 90 days, maybe the country might ask for an extension.”

Minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe said the proroguing of parliament would delay the implementation project that would also affect the provision of electricity.

Gondwe said failure to authorise the bill affect the implementation of the project but was quick to say that there was nothing government would have done.

“We will just wait and see. It is the opposition that rejected to discuss the bills. Of course this will delay the implementation of the projects,” he said.

Gondwe said the bill would be put forward for the next sitting of parliament which he said he did not know when next seating was expected to be called.

Former Finance Minister Friday Jumbe, who is also UDF spokesperson on finance matters, said government shot itself on the foot when it prorogued parliament before money bills were authorized.

Jumbe cited electricity interconnection and improvement of water supply as some areas that would suffer because of the decision to prorogue parliament.

“The issue might not have an impact right now but they will affect the other budgets to come. Government is delaying itself in implementing these projects,” he said.

Legal Affairs Committee of parliament wrote the World Bank on September 20, 2007 asking it not to recognise bill number 8, purportedly urguing that president Mutharika signed for the bill before parliament passed it.

Racine confirmed the Bank receiving the letter from Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament but said they would not act upon it because the Country Manager Timothy Gilbo was not in the country.

An economist at Polytechnic, University of Malawi constituent college, Abel Mwanyungwa said by proroguing parliament it meant government would not be able to borrow money from international organizations and government.

“If government is to go ahead to implement the said projects that would mean government has to borrow money locally and unfortunately this will mean the increase in inflation and definitely going back where we are coming from,” he said.

At the time of proroguing 39th session of parliament eight bills were on the order paper. Other bills that has also been affected due to the prorogue of the houses included Bill 14 on security, Bill 17 on national registration, Bill 15, Penal Code amendment, Bill 16 on police Bill 4 and Bill 13 on constitution amendment and also local government election amendment bill.

Parliament was also expected to discuss the appropriation of Value Added Tax bill and Taxation amendment as well as confirmation of the Auditor General and Chief Justice

Solicitor General Anthony Kamanga said there was nothing that would be done apart from waiting for the bills to be re-presented in the next seating of parliament.

“Some of the bills are not new, they were formulated last year so they would be presented at any time,” he said.

However Malawi Watch Executive Director Billy Banda called upon government to recall parliament stating that there were a number of important bills that needed the attention of the house other that Section 65.

“Section 65 can be handled whether parliament is in session or not but there are other necessary issues that need disposed urgently,” he said.

Banda cited the impending approval of the Chief Justice and Auditor General and the appropriation of the taxation bills.

“Government business has to be finalized,” he said.

The 39th session has been characterized by adjournment including a one month mourning period of the demise First Lady Madame Ethel Mutharika and the disagreement on the priorities on what was to start between passing of the national budget and the declaration of seats vacant of members of parliament that were deemed to have crossed the floor following a June 15, 2007 Supreme Court Appeal a landmark ruling on Section 65.

I am back

2007-09-20T08:15:00.001-07:00

Activities of the past four weeks have been tiresome. For three weeks I was shattling between Blantyre and Lilongwe doing investigative training and later I went to South Africa for the same.
What would you expect?
Hmmmmmm! lets wait and see

My apology

2007-08-14T02:56:00.000-07:00

I have not been able to update my blog because I am out of office on other duties

Maize export to leave Malawi hungry

2007-07-16T03:30:00.000-07:00

. No trace of last year’s 400,000 mt

By Rex Chikoko

There is no mechanism to monitor the export of maize to neighbouring countries, a development that could leave the country without maize for local consumption during the lean period, Malawi News has found out.

The situation is compounded by the fact that government and Admarc have not yet started buying maize from farmers to keep for local consumption three months after harvest.

The delay by Government and Admarc to start buying the crop has given private traders leeway to buy off the crop from the farmers at a price lower than government’s recommended K17/kg, which they are exporting to Zimbabwe and Swaziland. In the two countries, maize is said to be selling at minimum price of K32/kg.

Malawi is said to have a surplus of 1.3 million metric tonnes of maize, on top of last year’s 400,000 metric tonnes. But Admarc has exported all its stocks to Zimbabwe while the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) has got only 90,000 metric tonnes in stock for emergency only, our source close to NFRA has said.

The source revealed that since the lift of the ban on maize export three months ago, over 100,000 metric tonnes of maize have already been exported to Zimbabwe and some stocks and that some of it has found its way to Swaziland.

The source said the exporting of maize is threatening the country’s food security as there is no mechanism to police the exporting exercise.

“[For example], one wonders: where is the 400,000 metric tonnes surplus we had last year. If anything, the country has got only 90,000 metric tonnes and this maize is strictly for emergency use,” he said.

Asked who is keeping the 400,000 metric tonnes from last year’s harvest which President Bingu wa Mutharika has been talking about, our source who is close to NFRA said no one knows where it is. The source said it is not safe to conclude the maize is with the farmers.

The source said before the lift of the ban to export maize Admarc had 25,000 metric tonnes in stock but it has since exported over 39,000 metric tonnes and is expected to export 11,000 metric tonnes more to meet its 50,000 metric tonnes tender allocation.

Malawi News investigations discovered that an average of 3,000 metric tonnes of maize leaves the country through Mwanza boarder alone on a daily basis and it is believed that the figure is bigger considering that it is not only Mwanza border which is being used as an outlet.

Agriculture Parliamentary Committee chairperson Vitus Dzoole Mwale said the country is heading for disaster, as government has not taken heed of his committee’s recommendation to reserve enough food for the country.

Dzoole Mwale said while on the ground it is believed that there is surplus of the staple food, in reality the country does not have enough reserves since Admarc has not yet started restocking.

“We asked government to declare maize a protected crop so that it can easily regulate the purchase and selling of the commodity but nothing has happened. We have seen private traders dictating the selling of the crop and unfortunately poor farmers are not benefiting from the sales,” he said.

Dzoole Mwale said government would not have any excuse for not buying maize from the farmers since the money for the exercise was already allocated.

“We are heading for a repeat of 2001,” he said.

Mwale blamed government for allowing private traders to buy straight from the farmers saying there is no regulation and monitoring of the purchase of maize which is likely to be abused by some traders.

Admarc Chief Executive Charles Matabwa refused to talk to Malawi News on Thursday.

But Agriculture Ministry Principal Secretary Patrick Kabambe said the ban on maize export was not fully really lifted and that government was regulating the private traders who are exporting maize.

“The ban was lifted temporarily and it is not every private trader who is allowed to export maize. Those allowed have to seek permission from NFRA before exporting,” he said.

He said the Immigration Department at the border posts was responsible for monitoring maize export licenses.

He also said NFRA and Admarc will soon start buying maize from the farmers.

Kabambe challenged that the country has got enough maize and that what Admarc was selling was last year’s stock, saying: “We have to sell it off because if we are not going to sell off some maize, the price on the market will crash.”

He also disputed reports that some maize was going to Swaziland, saying while the Swazi government approached Malawi to buy its maize, no agreement has been signed between the two countries.

Kabambe also said government has been encouraging farmers to keep enough maize for consumption in their homes.

But Immigration Department press officer Pudensiana Makalamba said she was not aware if her department was given the mandate to monitor the export of maize.

During 2000/01 growing season, Malawi realized a surplus of over 200,000 metric tonnes which was sold to Kenya by the UDF-led government in anticipation that the stocks would be replenished from the following year’s harvests. The development left over one million people without food and government was forced to import maize.

An interview with Dausi, Ex MCP vice President

2007-07-16T03:26:00.000-07:00

Main opposition Malawi Congress Party second vice president Nicholas Dausi resigned from the party last Sunday. Malawi News reporter Rex Chikoko sought Mr Dausi’s explanation on why he left the party which he has been loyal to for a long time and his political future in DPP. Excerpts:

Your leaving MCP has attracted different opinions some say it was long overdue while others say it is a biggest betrayal of a party which you have served with loyalty. What is your take on this?

I think, people have a right to express their opinion but my leaving MCP is purely on a matter of principle. After carefully thinking and discreet decision I arrived at a very critical and thoughtfulness. Having seen the present trends on how MCP is treading, in most cases when we have acted against the wishes of the people. For example MCP has only just lost three members of Parliament, yet the party is in the fore front refusing to pass the budget at the expense of people’s lives just because of three MPs, whose interest and whose battle were we fighting for? MCP is being used as pawns in a game of poker. MCP must know that it hinges on the ideals, philosophy and the legacy of the late Dr Kamuzu Banda, he first and foremost encouraged development, unity and hard work. These are being propagated at the moment by Dr Bingu wa Mutharika and his DPP. The other thing is the past 10 years of UDF rule, the MCP went through terrible victimization, arresting Dr Kamuzu Banda, expropriating his properties his names were erased it is unfortunate that the leadership of MCP chose to still be associated with such kinds of political friends. Dr Bingu wa Mutharika has restored all what was erased and that sanity is prevailing now. I think it was right and proper for me, a man who cherishes discipline and loyalty and the man who love Kamuzu to leave MCP and join DPP. I would follow anyone who respects Kamuzu regardless the party belongs to.

You have been fighting DPP since its inception and suddenly you have changed heart what would you expect people to make out of this sudden change?

What really broke the Camel’s back was that…well let’s talk about the present situation; you know certain revolutionist of Guinea Bissau once said ‘we must always do things within the context of our time’. Now what are the context issues of our time politically? There are two important issues, the first one is a national budget the second one is section 65, nobody is against all these issues but in life there shall always be priorities and the first priority, in my view, is that let the national budget pass because it is for the common good of the people. While section 65 has to be applied I believe you cannot forsake the national budget, I think it was political suicide and the fact that it was moved by president of MCP, who would have been the leader in propagating the virtues of Kamuzu and that were national development, hard working and self-reliance and discipline, I said I think I need to part ways.
The other thing is the bishops who wrote a statement regarding the political situation in the country saying while section 65 is there, let’s prioritize the budget. I was a publicity secretary of the party and I was told to respond to the bishops statement. I think I cannot do that because I am a staunch follower of the church’s magisterial teachings. MCP in 1992 after the lantern letter had a bad relationship with the Catholic Church, but over the years the church has been advising the political leaders. I think I would not have gone against my conscious to speak against the church, so I said I cannot take it anymore I would rather be used on other things but definitely not against the church.

You expressed happiness when the Supreme Court ruled on the validity of Section 65. Do you still hold the same opinion now that you have changed sides?

What we are saying is that there are two issues, the national budget which was already presented by the Minister of Finance, and even honourable [John] Tembo, honourable Aleke Banda, honourable [George] Nga Mtafu described it as a pro-poor budget, that means it will benefit the poor Malawians. So we are saying first and foremost let us pass the budget, the other things will follow in their order of priority. We are not saying no to section 65, it is a constitutional provision which is valid. But you cannot halt the whole development just because you want to get rid of people. By the way MCP has only three people who left party, these people have never insulted honourable Tembo and for MCP to be at the forefront of wanting to remove these people while others have lost over 30 MPs and yet they are in the background. What is it? Are we being used?

The opposition fears that once budget is passed, government will adjourn parliament indefinitely and subsequently section 65 will not be discussed. What is your take on this argument?

I do not discuss matters that are before the court.

The reasons that you have presented for your departure are political. Is there no provision in political parties that such kind of differences would have been sorted out within the party system?

I leave it to Malawians to judge. Dr Peter Chiona, the first vice president left MCP, Hon Kate Kainja, the Secretary General left MCP, Hon [Bintony] Kutsaila left MCP, Ted Kalebe also left the MCP, definitely there must be something, somewhere, wrong.

What are your expectations from DPP from now till the 2009 general elections? What role do you expect to serve the government, the president, Are you looking for a position or something?

Not necessarily looking for a position. A tooth paste tube if pressed at the middle, it will come out but the best way is to start at the bottom. Dr Kamuzu Banda, in 1993 during a National Executive meeting, once said in politics there is no hurry. There so many brilliant people in DPP those that have built the party. I have just joined the party and you do not expect a new comer to say you are all not this and that and I am this no! I will support Dr Bingu wa Mutharika and DPP to my best of my ability.

There is a strong belief from other commentators that you would like to contest as MP for your area. That means you will have to compete with Hon. Davies Katsonga. Now that you belong to the same party, have the two of you compromised on who should be the candidate or how do you intend to handle the matter?

The advantage of democracy is that people are the best judges than yourself and the other thing is that Hon Davis Katsonga is a relation to me and would not want to drag a family war into the street. I think everything has its own logic and too early to start speculating. I have great respect for Hon Katsonga. Let’s respect other peoples positions.

Several times you have been quoted as denouncing political prostitution within political parties, how would you describe your move to DPP?

I have never used the word political prostitution, it does not auger well with Christian morality. I have been saying nomadic politicians, wandering politicians. I have moved and I think it is my constitutional right. I think it was right and proper to leave MCP and join somebody who subscribes to Kamuzu’s ideologies.

What are your regrets for having been in MCP ?

Certainly nothing. The only thing that holds MCP together is Kamuzu’s legacy. I am missing nothing in MCP. What people must know is that not everybody in MCP loves Kamuzu. I have so many examples of people who have Kamuzu’s badge on their lap everyday but they do not love Kamuzu I do not want to say more.

Do you think MCP is missing anything by your defection?

They have described my move as good riddance. It has been traditional that when one leaves a party trading of bad words follows I do not want to engage in that. I wish MCP all the best God should bless them.

Who are the notable names that are remaining in MCP in the Southern region now that you have left the party?

The regional treasure has left as well…mmm! All I can say is that I only remember one name, Mai Dinala I think she is the only member remaining in the southern region

2007-07-09T05:57:00.000-07:00

This is how sanitation situation in Malawi schools has reached. A school girl intering on of the toilet at one of the primary schools in Mchinji district which lies about 100 km away from Malawi capital city, Lilongwe.
It is believed that the problem of sanitation has increased the droprate of girls in school.

2007-07-09T05:54:00.000-07:00

AG to challenge
Mussa injunction
By Rex Chikoko

The office of the Attorney General (AG) has set the wheels rolling to challenge an injunction obtained against the Speaker of Parliament not to act on section 65. The AG has confirmed.

UDF Member of Parliament for Zomba Central, Yunus Mussa, who is a deputy minister in the DPP-led government, obtained an injunction restraining the Speaker of National Assembly Louis Chimango from declaring seats of MPs, deemed to have crossed the floor, vacant.

AG Justice Jane Ansah said she was preparing to challenge Mussa’s injunction as the Chief Legal Advisor to government. She is also the Speaker’s legal advisor.

“We are dealing with the matter on behalf on the Speaker. We are going to challenge the injunction, we are only waiting for the courts to set the dates,” she said.

But Ansah would not divulge her line of defence after being asked how she would advise two arms of government, the Executive and the Legislature, who are at loggerheads over the ruling on Section 65.

Members of Parliament from the opposition benches believe Mussa’s injunction was initiated by MPs on the government side.

“There is no conflict. Mussa is an individual who has obtained an injunction against government, that is, the office of the Speaker and I am challenging the injunction along those lines. I am not looking at the political side of the whole issue. I am a professional. I must do my job professionally,” she said.

A source within the AG’s office said after deliberating on the issue, the office of the AG realised that it was imperative to challenge the injunction since it was obtained in a hurry.

“There was nothing wrong with obtaining the injunction but it would have been done after the Speaker has acted on the issues so the Office of the AG will challenge along those lines,” said the source.

Leader of the House Henry Chimunthu Banda said he saw nothing wrong for the AG to challenge the injunction since Mussa obtained the injunction in his own capacity.

“It was not government that obtained the injunction. In this case, the AG has to represent the Speaker,” he said.

But MCP spokesperson in the house Ishmael Chafukira insisted it was government that initiated the injunction, insinuating that Mussa was used by government

2007-07-09T05:47:00.000-07:00

…Opposition pressurising Judiciary
By Rex Chikoko
Parliament got it all wrong to suspend budget deliberations because of its failure to discuss issues about Section 65 which are in court, Malawi Law Society (MLS) and Chancellor College Dean of Law have said.

On July 3, 2007, Parliament indefinitely suspended deliberations on the 2007/08 budget following an impasse between government and the opposition on what to prioritise between passing the budget and implementing the ruling on Section 65 which the Supreme Court validated on June 22.

Following the ruling, Speaker Louis Chimango petitioned 41 MPs whom he deemed to have been affected by the ruling, some of them Cabinet Ministers.

But Deputy Minister of Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly and MP for Zomba Central Yunus Mussa obtained an injunction restraining the Speaker from declaring their seats vacant.

DPP also petitioned the Speaker to declare vacant his own seat for joining an organization that was political in nature, as well as those of UDF MPs for moving from the government side of the House to the opposition.

MLS spokesperson Chimwemwe Kalua said it is was not unusual for Parliament to continue deliberations in the House while the Speaker is under injunction.

Kalua said by forcing the Speaker to act on an issue which was in court, the opposition MPs were indirectly putting pressure on the Judiciary.

“The Judiciary has to work independently. They should not receive pressure from any quarter. By giving the Speaker an ultimatum, they are actually interfering with matters of the Judiciary.

“The Speaker can do nothing until the order is vacated. Right now, the hands of the Speaker are tied and it is wrong to put the budget session at ransom,” he said.

He said issues of legal nature have no time frame, saying the MPs should know that the House has a duty over national affairs.

Kalua also took a swipe at Malawi Congress Party (MCP) for threatening to fire the Speaker from the party for allegedly being biased towards government in his conduct.

“In Parliament the Speaker should serve the interest of all political parties regardless of the party he belonged to. The Speaker must promote honest and proper debate. MCP is wrong to threaten the Speaker,” he said.

Agreeing with Kalua, Dean of Law at Chancellor College Charles Mhango said in a separate interview Parliament was wrong to prioritise political interests before those of the country.

Mhango said MPs, who had sufficient interest in the matter, would have joined the case as friends of the court other than pressuring the Speaker to act on an issue, which was in court.

“The right to seek an injunction is a legitimate right and every person has it. It was wrong to prioritise political interests,” he said.

But MCP insisted that it will only return to Parliament when the injunction, which was obtained against the Speaker, has been removed.

MCP spokesperson in Parliament Ishmael Chafukira said his party already stated its conditions to resume budget discussions, saying it was up to government to act on them.

“The head of National Assembly has been paralysed. How would you expect him to preside over the budget when he has an injunction on his head? If the injunction is removed MCP is ready to pass the budget even today,” he said.

He said it was not the opposition parties that sought an injunction against the Speaker adding that government holds the key for the way forward saying the opposition has already made so many concessions on the issue.

But Leader of the House Henry Chimunthu Banda said it was government’s wish to pass the budget as soon as possible and expected the opposition parties to see the merit of prioritising the budget over section 65.

Chimunthu Banda dismissing suggestions from some quarters that government should initiate dialogue on the matter, said the issue of priority was straightforward and that there was no need for dialogue.

“While I am not trivialising dialogue, but on this issue there is no need for it. This is an issue that would be resolved without engaging in dialogue. It is a question of prioritising things,” he said.

He said some of the demands of opposition MPs are fallacies since they are defying logic. He added: “There is no way they can claim that some MPs are not bona fide when no legitimate court has said so.

He also maintained that there was nothing government could do to coerce Yunus Mussa, to withdraw the injunction.

“He obtained an injunction in his personal capacity. I tried to convince him out of it but he refused, we cannot gag him. Besides he is a UDF Member of Parliament,” he said.

There is an impasse between government and the opposition members of Parliament in the House on what to prioritise between the national budget and section 65.

While government side insists that Parliament should first discuss the national budget, the opposition has put its foot down and opted for Section 65 which is expected to see MPs deemed to have violated the said section being expelled from the House.

The Speaker yesterday applied in the High Court in Lilongwe yesterday for an order to vacate the injunction.

Maneb in K3.5 m fraud

2007-07-01T23:43:00.000-07:00

Two Malawi National Examinations Board (Maneb) staffs have been implicated in K3.526, 494 fraud that has been taking place at the Board the past three years. Maneb Special Audit Report revealed.

The Special Audit Report that was released on June 5, 2007 implicated several senior officisals in the Examination Department for colluding with Boadzulu Holiday Resort staff in Mangochi to defraud the Board.

The report, which was prepared by Mphatso Mponda, head of Special Audit at Malawi Institute of Management (MIM) assisted by Internal Auditor at Maneb Bernardo Thinison, discovered that Maneb officials have been inflating, colluding to accept inflated invoice, paying inflated bills and profiteering with the Boadzulu manager who has since been fired from the Resort.

For security reasons Maneb identified Boadzulu Lodge, a branch of Alexander Hotels Limited in Mangochi, as a safe place to host its workshops that included training, item-writing, editing and teacher briefing workshop.

“The fraud happened in a form of collusion between Maneb and Boadzulu staff during various workshops at the host’s premises.

“The Board Maneb lost at least K3,526 494 from such collusive fraud system,” read part of the report.

The report said the board in 2004 lost about K866,575, in 2005 the Board lost K389,164, in 2006 the Board lost K423, 670 while in 2007 the Board lost K1,847,085.

The Audit team uncovered a modus operandi where Maneb co-ordinators have been inducing Boadzulu manager to facilitate the malpractice at an attached deal consideration rate over the swindled funds on behalf of Maneb co-ordinators.

The Co-ordinators were also said to have inducing Accounts Officers [at Maneb] to pay for the botched invoices, even without countersigning contravening the Board’s internal control and accounting system.

The report also mentioned other Maneb personnel who knowingly or unknowingly played a role in scam but the charges would not stick because of they were directly involved.

“The audit team identify [names withheld] to be respondents in the primary to the accusations of committing or facilitating the occasion of fraud that led to the loss of at least K3,526,494.

“Second level of responsibility must be directed to the Finance Management Department (FMD) staff who, with their full competence and possessing technical knowledge of irregular invoices, went further to countersign the invoices and effect payment thereon. At times the payment was effected on wholly unsigned for invoices,” concluded the report.

Alexander Hotels Managing Director Alice Makawa admitted the firing of the Boadzulu manager but said she had no details on the reason why he was fired.

Maneb Executive Director Matthews Matemba told Malawi News that the Board commissioned an auditor to audit the institution on Boadzulu allegations but said he has not seen the said audit report.

“Yes we commissioned the audit,” he said.

What Minister of Justice Henry said on Section 65

2007-06-25T03:36:00.000-07:00

Minister of Justice Henry Phoya interview with Malawi News reporter Rex Chikoko on the effect of the ruling on Section 65 of the constitution.

QN: What will be government’s agenda when Parliament reconvenes?
ANS: Government already set out its agenda at the beginning of the current Budget Sitting of Parliament before the nation suffered the great tragedy of losing our beloved First Lady. That agenda, which primarily comprises the National Budget and some important Government Bills, has not changed.

QN: Do you see the agenda being affected if the Speaker declared vacant seats of MPs deemed to have crossed the floor?

ANS: I do not see such an agenda being derailed even if the Speaker went ahead to declare vacant seats of MPs deemed to have crossed the floor, provided that the Speaker made such declarations pursuant to legally acceptable principles and based on sound, non – partisan judgment of the facts surrounding each concerned MP’s case. I say this because if the Speaker is going to approach the matter in the manner I have just described, he will discover that not a single major block in Parliament will be left untouched by the double edged sword which is Section 65 of the Constitution.

QN: With the recent court position that Section 65 is valid, what are the implications in Parliament?

ANS: In my considered personal view, the version of Section 65 which the Supreme Court validated in its judgment of Friday, 15th June, 2007, is a recipe for Parliamentary chaos and disaster. The mistake that people are making is to think that the implementation of the provision will affect only the Government side. I was quite amused, and at the same time saddened, to see some members of the opposition celebrating and singing songs against Government at the Supreme Court of Appeal after the Court had delivered its judgment last Friday.
Just to give you a hint of the possible chaos that would emanate from a strict interpretation of the now valid version of Section 65, I will tell you that some sitting MPs belong to a number of political and quasi–political bodies other than their parties outside Parliament. Should these MPs be spared? Should, for instance, members of the Women Caucus which is an “association or organisation whose objectives are political in nature” be spared?

QN: Don't you see the DPP led-government collapsing since most of the MPs who are in the party are from other parties that are also represented in Parliament?

ANS: Before you start talking about the possible collapse of the DPP led Government, remember first that what we have in Malawi is principally a Presidential system of Government. The chaos that lie ahead of us only relate to the Legislature. The Presidency continues to be in a tranquil and authoritative state. So what collapse are you talking about?

QN: If you were the Speaker of the National Assembly and considering the situation, how would you handle the issue of Section 65?

ANS: If I were the Speaker of Parliament at this very difficult phase of our Parliamentary history, I would take time out and retreat to a place of solitude and begin to seek God’s guidance by reminding myself about three main points: What the Supreme Court placed in my hands on 15th June, 2007 was not a dagger of power, but rather a very delicate bowl of glass; whether that delicate bowl of glass stays safe in my hands or falls and shatters into pieces on the floor is entirely up to me; and thirdly, that posterity will judge me either harshly or kindly, depending on the action that I take within the next few days.

QN: What procedures should the Speaker follow before declaring any seat vacant and if he has any other options apart from declaring the seats of the concerned MPs vacant what are these options?

ANS: Both the Constitution and the Parliamentary Standing Orders are very clear as to what steps the Speaker needs to take before declaring any seat vacant. I have no doubt at all in my mind that the Speaker knows and understands these steps.

QN: There is information saying Cabinet has instituted a task force to discuss the possibility of forming Government of National Unity (GNU), which political party is government considering to partner with and what are the terms or what is government conceding?

ANS: I am not aware that Cabinet has instituted the task force that you mention and I am a member of Cabinet. In the immediate aftermath of the 15th June Judgment and given the frenzy which has been whipped up in relation to Section 65, speculation and intrigue are bound to flourish.

QN: DPP is said to have also petitioned the Speaker to declare seats of some MPs vacant does that mean in other words DPP accepting that its MPs also crossed the floor?

ANS: By also petitioning the Speaker to declare seats of some MPs vacant, DPP is not impliedly admitting that its MPs also crossed the floor. DPP is merely making a strong statement that the element of fairness must emerge unscathed at the end of this rather sordid drama. And it is DPP’s sincere hope and prayer that this statement is not going to be ignored.

Teachers threats

2007-06-25T03:11:00.000-07:00

Teachers in the country have threatened to quit their union, Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM) following the body’s decision to deduct its members one percent of their salaries as monthly contribution to the organisation.

The teachers have since formed a parallel committee—Concerned Teachers—to stop the union from carrying the deductions.

Secretary for the committee, Richard Jere said the committee would be calling for massive withdrawals of membership for the teachers because they do not benefit from the union.

“We have expressed our unhappiness over TUM’s proposal to deduct 1 percent from our salaries. We have written the Union expressing our reservations, they did not consult us,” he said.

Jere accused TUM secretariat of failing to represent the interests of teachers in the country and also failing to account for money the union has been collecting from teachers.

He also said TUM has no right to order for deductions from teachers’ salaries without the mandate of the teachers.

“The idea of deducting in percentage is very segregative because some members will be paying more than others,” he said.

Tchodola Phiri, a teacher at Thunga CDSS, Blessings Mathuwa, a teacher at Mikundi primary school and Mankhwala Phiri the head teacher at Nakabwe Primary school accused TUM of trying to rip off the teachers throughout the country.

In a letter to TUM, the teachers, who are members of Thyolo Concerned Teachers, accused TUM of lacking accountability.

“If they proceed to deduct from our salaries, we are going to seek legal intervention,” Tchodola Phiri said.

Members of TUM have been contributing K30 per month as membership fee. But TUM secretary general Denis Kalekeni said because of escalating costs of operations the Union decided to start deducting one percent from each member’s salary.

Kalekeni said the decision of deducting in percentage was in conformity with the Sadc region.

Kalekeni also said the union intends to talk to all teachers in the country to join the union because, it felt, when it fights for benefits for teachers, all of them benefit regardless of whether or not they are members.

Kalekeni said the union consulted teachers throughout the country.

TUM has about 35,000 members and least paid teachers earn about K7, 000 per month. The Union collects over K1 million a month from teachers. The proposed deductions will increase the union’s purse to about K3 million.

MCP to petition Speaker on June 29

2007-06-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

The Malawi Congress Party has said its first agenda when Parliament petitioning the Speaker to nullify the seats of Members of Parliament would be the first agenda on June 29, 2007 when parliament resume seating following the Supreme Court landmark ruling on the Section 65, MCP has announced.

The party’s spokesperson in Parliament Ishmail Chafukira said the party wants only bonafide MPs to participate in the passing on the national budget and it is going to move the petition during the seating on the June 29.

“It will be the first business to be transacted in parliament when we meet and we want only bonafide MPs to participate,” he said.

Chafukira said his party was delighted with the ruling saying people were given a raw deal adding that as the party MCP was ‘more than’ keen to pass the national budget when presented.

Chafukira called upon government to find money and call for bye elections saying democracy is good but very expensive and government should aware of that.

Malawi Law Commission (MLS) also expresses happiness with the ruling on section 65 it will ease the legal problems which the country has been facing because of the section.

MLS spokesperson Chimwemwe Kalua with the ruling the section empowers the Speaker of Parliament to declare seat vacant of MPs who are deemed to have crossed the floor.

“We are happy now because the ruling is a final determination on the section 65, now there is proper guidance to the section and it is mandatory on the speaker to act with the law,” he said.

He said the ruling and the subsequent declaration vacant of seat of some MPs would not affect the operations of government as the remaining MPs would proceed with the seating of parliament.

“The remaining MPs will be mandated to proceed, debate and pass the budget,” he said cautioning MPs that when debating budget they should bear in Malawi the plight of Malawians.

Soon after the ruling Attorney General (AG) Jane Ansah said she accepted the ruling because it was made by the highest court in Malawi.

“We have received it well, the Supreme Court is the highest jurisdiction in the land and it is final,” she said.

One of the lawyers representing those who were against the removal of section 65 John Gift Mwakhwawa said the move to strike off the section in the Malawi Constitution was a mere attempt to derail the operations of parliament.

“The wish of Malawians has prevailed,” he said.

However one Lawyer of opted for anonymity said the ruling is going to pose a serious legal implications as politicians has been given a lot of power.

“In a normal circumstance the ruling would have been alright, but the way it is it will pose a big challenge to the legal fraternity as parliament as been given a lot of power.

“The reasoning of the Supreme court would be valid in a democracy where a ruling party is in majority in parliament not in the case of Malawi where party is in minority,” he said.

Meanwhile the number of MPs that stand to be affected by this outcome however is not known, as the figures placed in the petitions from a few months ago when the issue of Section 65 was raised are invalid and other MPs have since crossed the floor including MCP member Kate Kainja who made a public defection just after taking on her new post as Minister of Women and Child Development.

“I would be deceiving you if I said there is a number for the affected Members of Parliament. I think that every party will have to seat down and assess the damage. It will then be known. At the moment the figures we may have had before the ruling are invalid, there is no way the speaker can use those,” said United Democratic Front Spokesman Sam Mpasu.

Govt sold subsidize fertiliser

2007-06-11T08:12:00.000-07:00

Government sold about 37,000 metric tones, worth about K2.2 billion, of the surplus fertilizer subsidy to Standard Bank of Malawi with the option to buy back the fertilizer during the next growing season. Malawi News has leant.
Principal Secretaries (PS), Patrick Kabambe, for Agriculture Ministry and Radson Mwadiwa for Finance Ministry confirmed the transaction saying government entered in a special arrangement with the bank where the bank bought all the surplus fertilizer government had with on understanding that government would buy back the stocks next growing season.
However the two PS would not agree with each other on who was footing the demurrage costs as Kabambe said government is meeting some of the costs while Mwadiwa saying Standard Bank was responsible for the demurrage costs as at the meantime the fertilizer was belongs to the bank.
“There are some costs which government is paying. Storing is not cheap,” said Kabambe. The demurrage costs including security, storage and other storage risks.
Mwadiwa said there were some benefits that government is going to get out of the fertilizer deal as the agreement they had with the bank meant that government would buy the fertilizer at the same price it sold to the bank.
“There was a premium of US$16 per metric tonne which we are going to add when buying back the fertilizer fortunately DfID paid the premium,” he said. DfID is a United Kingdom department responsible for international development.
He said government sold the fertilizer as US$450 per metric tonne and is expected to buy back the same stock at US$ 465.
“Right now, fertilizer is selling between US$ 530 to US$540 per metric tonne outside, if we are to buy back the fertilizer from Stanbic that mean we will serve US$85 per metric tonne,” he said.
Mwadiwa said the another benefits it that government would serve in terms of transport as the fertilizer is already in the country as well as that it would act as a head-start in the next subsidy programme.
Government, like last year, has also planned to purchase 150,000 metric tonnes for the subsidize programme and with the 37,000 metric tonnes already in the country government is going to buy only 113,000 metric tonnes.
“The money which was realized from the transaction was ploughed back into the budget, so nothing was lost,” he said.
Mwadiwa explained that the surplus come about when government decided to involve private companies to distribute the fertilizer after it had already authorized Admarc and Smallholder Farmers Fertilizer Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) to buy the whole 150,000 metric tonnes.
He said government authorized private companies to buy 20,000 metric tonnes resulting in the country having 170,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer against the approved K150, 000.
“Because of this it meant that Admarc and SFFRFM did not sell all its fertilizer, this is the fertilizer that was sold to Standard Bank,” he said.
Standard Bank spokesperson Rick Chikwekwe declined to comment saying that it was the bank’s policy not to discuss client’s information.
“It is a sensitive issues and government is our client so we have a confidential policy we can not discuss anything,” he said.
Malawi News source, however, revealed that Standard Bank agreed to buy the fertilizer on the understanding that government would bear all the demurrage costs including insurance.
He also wondered how would government decided to sell the fertilizer and plough back the money into the budget without parliament’s approval.
“Under what vote did the money that was collected from the sale ploughed back into the budget? K2.2 billion is not small money that could be put in the budget without the knowledge of parliament,” he observed.

Donor shuts down radio

2007-06-11T08:08:00.000-07:00

Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA), a South Africa-based organization that was financing Mzimba Community radio, has detained radio equipment for the radio station demanding and end to disagreements that have ensued over management of the facility.
Some equipment were sent to South Africa for repair following damage that was caused by a lightning at the station, but Osisa has refused to release the repaired equipment because of the squabbles that are taking place at the station.
Osisa Media Programme Manager Sam Phiri said the organisation will not release the repaired equipment to the station accusing one Samuel Lwara, a member of Mzimba Volunteers Association (MZIVA), of bringing confusion to the management of the station.
“In the meantime, Osisa has purposefully delayed the return of the equipment until Lwara ends his personal campaign to control the station, something that is against the grant agreement that was signed between Osisa and the station,” said Phiri.
In a letter to Professor Muzipasi Shumba, Phiri says as a consequence of the infighting, his organisation decided, with immediate effect, to suspend its support to the Mzimba Community Radio (MCR) in line with the provisions of the grant agreement signed between Osisa and MCR.
“We suspend any plans to transfer the transmitter to Chikangawa, We also suspend any further disbursements of funds to MCR. The equipment and funding was a donation to the Mzimba community as a whole not to a particular organization or grouping,” reads part of the letter.
Mzimba Community Radio (MCR) was established under the supervision of Mzimba Volunteers Association, but Phiri said the agreement states that management of the radio should be “de-linked” from the Mzimba Volunteers Association.
In the agreement it was stated that Mziva would facilitate the formation of the MCR station and allow the Mzimba community to own the station.
“We had not expected that Mziva, or any individual, or group of individuals, could seek to control the station as that would restrict the expected increased community participation in the running of the station and the production of the programmes,” a factor that is cited in the Grant Agreement as one of the criteria for judging the success of the project,” says the report.
The situation forced Inkosi ya Makhosi M'mbelwa to convene an indaba at Mzimba boma on May19, 2007 to resolve issues that have led to the stalemate.
The meeting agreed that representatives from all chiefs in Mzimba and the District Commissioner (DC) should convene and elect a board that would run the affairs of Mzimba Community Radio station.
One of the people who attended the indaba, Lance Ngulube, said at the meantime, the radio station was still off air and will remain so until the matter is resolved and a board appointed.
“The problem basically is Samuel Lwara who feels left out of management of the radio and wants to wrest power by all means,” he said.
But Lwara denied the accusations in an interview on Thursday saying that those accusing him have ulterior motives.

HOUSE WON’T DISCUSS FUNERAL COSTS

2007-06-08T01:06:00.000-07:00

Expenses incurred on the funeral of the First Lady Madame Ethel Mutharika, who will be buried today at Ndata Farm in Thyolo, will not be debated in Parliament, but government is expected to provide the House with a complete report on expenditures, Malawi News has established.

Funeral Arrangements Committee chair Davis Katsonga, disclosed this week Government was using money allocated in the ‘Unforeseen Expenditure’ vote in the 2006/07 national budget for the funeral of the First Lady. Parliament approved K100 million in the said vote.

Former finance minister Friday Jumbe, who is also UDF’s director of economic affairs, said the K100 million in this vote was just a provisional figure.

He said since the money is in the unforeseeable vote, government would spend more money than allocated in it as long as it is going to account for every tambala.

He said government should also be ready to refund votes that it is going to borrow from if it spends more than what was approved in the Unforeseen Expenditures Vote.

“In the past, government would allocate K1 in this vote because it was unlimited. The money to spend depends on the nature of the calamity. The word ‘over expenditure’ does not come in because one cannot measure the unforeseeable,” said Jumbe.

He said he would not fault government in the way it has handled the funeral of the First Lady saying: “Nobody would do anything any better than the way they [Government] have handled it.”

He said what government would do was to add up the figures on the money used during the funeral and present them in the House, saying Parliament would only adopt the figures without discussing them.

MCP shadow finance minister, Respicious Dzanjalimodzi said the expenditure on the funeral would be decided by Cabinet but said if it spends more than what is in the allocated vote, government would be expected to refund the money.

“They are expected to explain how they have spent the money. If they borrowed from other votes, then they have to refund where they have borrowed,” he said.

But Dzanjalimodzi said while it is understood that government was using the ‘Unforeseen Expenditure’ vote—because nobody expected the death of the First Lady—the question which is supposed to be considered should be ‘to what extent would we go on the expenditure?’

“Every civil servant has got an entitlement on how government would assist in events like this including the President…OPC [Office of the President and Cabinet] would be in a position to know what was the President’s entitlement and they should spend within the entitlement,” he said.

PPM president Aleke Banda, a former minister of finance in the UDF- led government, said it is expected that government will spend within the allocated amount in the Unforeseen Expenditure vote.

Concurring with the other MPs, Banda said if government exceeds the K100 million allocation using charges in other votes ‘‘they have to justify all the expenditure. The most important thing is that they should account for the money.”

Katsonga who is also Presidential and Parliamentary Minister said government would account for every tambala spent on the funeral of the First Lady, saying even President Bingu wa Mutharika, the bereaved, has also emphasized accountability.

“Expenses are something that we want to reduce in anything that we do or spend our money on. Beyond that we also say that the government cannot be accused of being extravagant in the manner that we have spent money to deal with this funeral,” he said.

Katsonga said the President wanted the First Lady to have a proper, respectable burial, but he warned the committee to be careful on the expenditure.

“Everything that we have done is something that would be accounted for. Having said all this, this is our First Lady. She has to go in a dignified fashion; our goal is to achieve that goal,” he said.

Several committees were appointed to oversee funeral arrangements.

The committees included that of Protocol and Accommodation headed by Foreign Affairs Minister Joyce Banda which has been arranging for the accommodation of local and foreign dignitaries.

The Catering Committee was headed by Minister of Irrigation and Water Development Sidik Mia. It was responsible for feeding all delegates local and international while transport was headed by Minister of Transport Henry Mussa who was tasked to ferry all the delegates from all walks of life.

Minister of Home Affairs Ernest Malenga was responsible for security while Minister of Local Government George Chaponda was responsible for the church arrangements.

“I wish it were cheaper. I have never heard a cheap or an inexpensive state funeral,” Katsonga summed it all.

Madame Ethel Mutharika would be buried in a grave that would keep the body intact for the next 200 years, according to Katsonga.

BT primary schools as taps run dry

2007-05-21T03:42:00.000-07:00

. Pupils health at risk
. Govt yet to pay K5m

By Rex Chikoko

Ministry of Education’s failure to pay water bills for primary schools in Blantyre City has put at risk lives of over 124,000 pupils, who have to use nearby bushes to relieve themselves, Malawi News can reveal.

Some 22 urban primary schools have been operating without running water for over six months, forcing pupils, at the schools most of which use water closet toilets, to help themselves in the bushes around the schools.

Notable primary schools that have been badly hit by the water crisis are Henry Henderson Institute (HHI), Blantyre Girls, Chilomoni, Limbe Girls, Kanjedza, Limbe, Mpingwe, Chitawira, Manja, Ndirande, Nyambadwe, Chirimba and Kapeni Demonstration. Blantyre City has 53 primary schools.

Education authorities admitted that the water situation in schools was a serious health hazard to primary school pupils and suggested closing the schools to avert an outbreak of waterborne diseases in the schools.

A Malawi News visit to Chichiri Primary School one of the badly affected schools, revealed the school is now not cutting the overgrown bush around the premises because it is now serving as ‘toilets’ mostly for grown up girls.

Chichiri Primary School deputy headmaster Wilson Khamula said the situation was ‘very’ pathetic at his school as most of the classrooms are self-contained resulting in an unbearable stench from the toilets which suffocates the students when they are learning.

Khamula said the school, which has 1,800 pupils, has been relying on the goodwill of neighbouring institutions that have been assisting them with ‘some’ water, basically to clean the toilets and reduce the stench that has been causing discomfort to pupils and teachers.

“We are really concerned with the health of the pupils. This place is littered with human excreta. We cannot stop the pupils from relieving themselves. However, the situation is embarrassing when it involves grown-up pupils, mostly girls.

“We apply chlorine to reduce the stench, at least, near the administration bloke. As for drinking water, we ask the pupils to bring from home,” he said. Scores of water bottles pupils carry from their homes were lined in front of every classroom when the Malawi News visited the school.

Ironically, the handy bush which pupils have turned into a toilet happens to be the water catchment area for Blantyre Water Board, which disconnected the water at the school because of outstanding water bills.

Khamula said the school owes the utility service provider K287,000 in unpaid bills. He said although the school reported the problem to the Blantyre Urban District Education Office, nothing has happened.

“If I had the authority, I would have closed this school,” he lamented.

Blantyre Urban District Education Office Desk Officer Enock Kanjedza, speaking on behalf of District Education Manager, said the situation in Blantyre City primary schools is due to the small allocation of funding from government for water bills.

“An accumulative water bill of primary schools in Blantyre city hovers around K400,000 a month but government only gives us K100,000. Right now we owe Water Board K5 million. This issue is being handled by both Ministries of Education and Local government,” he said.

Kanjedza said pupils are using nearby bushes around their premises to relieve themselves. He concurred with Khamula on the need to close the schools to safeguard the lives of pupils.

There has been communication between Ministry of Education and Blantyre Water Board appealing for reconnection of water in schools.

A letter dated March 1, 2007, signed by Education Ministry Principal Secretary Anthony Livuza, to Blantyre Water Board, appeals for reconnection of water. It says the disconnection of water at the learning institutions would affect the facilitation of school feeding programme underway in schools around Blantyre City the Ministry has embarked on.

The letter also said the reconnection of water in primary schools would also address the sanitation problems which “are already being experienced in the schools”.

In another letter also dated March 1, 2007, Livuza also appealed to Treasury to intervene by processing funding to Blantyre City Assembly through the National Local Government Committee.

In an interview on Thursday, Livuza said he was not in a position to know the progress on the money saying if released Treasury would channel it through Ministry of Local Government that controls assemblies, which in turn, control primary schools in assemblies.

“With the decentralization programme management of primary schools are under assemblies, Ministry of Education is only involved in policy issues,” he said.

But Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government Wezi Mjojo said the ministry referred the issue to Blantyre City Assembly to pay the water bills because the affected schools are under the assembly’s jurisdiction.

“We advised the assembly to pay using money from Property Rates. Blantyre city assembly and all other assemblies in the country are responsible for primary schools within their assembly,” she said.

Editor in-cheif suspended over court document

2007-05-15T08:04:00.000-07:00

A Court document that implicated a manager at one of Malawi’s leading banks—National Bank—in sex scandle has resulted in Blantyre Newspapers Limited (BNL) boss, Jika Nkolokosa being suspended indefinately for publishing the story.

The Blantyre Newspapers Limited(BNL), the publishers of three newspapers in Malawi, The Daily Times, Malawi News and The Sunday Times, published the story based on the court documents, however, directors of the publishing house suspended the editor on what they ‘termed as a business decision’.

National Bank holds accounts for the publishing house and the publishing company also owes the bank millions of Kwacha in loans.

The Blantyre Magistrate court delivered a judgement, which implicated a dead catholic priest and a Bank Manager in a love triangle involving a family of— an unknown businessman.

A senior reporter of the publishing house Caroline Somanje wrote the story and was published in Monday edition of The Daily Times, however the management of Blantyre Newspapers Limited suspended the editor —indefinately and also summoned the reporter to the disciplinary hearing.

Conditions for cabinet casualties

2007-05-14T23:29:00.000-07:00

Parent political parties for casualties of Thursday’s Cabinet reshuffle the United Democratic Front (UDF) and Republican Party (RP) have said they will not automatically take back the fired ministers, Jaffalie Mussa and Bazuka Mhango.

President Bingu wa Mutharika dropped Mussa as Ministers of Sports and Culture and Mhango as Minister of Justice from his increased 42-member Cabinet Thursday replacing them with Khumbo Kachale and Henry Phoya, respectively.

While in government the two remained members of their sponsoring parties---UDF and RP.

UDF spokesperson Sam Mpasu said Mussa had to go through a process of evaluation before he could be accepted back into UDF.

“You see, UDF did not remove him. It was him who made a decision to leave UDF and join the DPP. But the circumstances have now changed for him. As a party, we have our own interests. We don’t want to have Trojan horses people who say they are UDF today and they are not tomorrow.

“If he expresses interest to join the party, then he will go through the normal process where we have to evaluate him just like any person, who wants to join a party,” Mpasu said.

The UDF spokesperson, however, said his party has always kept an open-door policy whereby those who want to leave the party are free to do so and those who want to join it also do so.

But RP spokesperson Effie Somanje said the party would only accept Mhango back if he came to the party with one mind of serving it.

“In the last sitting of Parliament, Mhango said RP does not exist. It had to take Deputy Speaker Mcheka Chilenje-Nkhoma to defend the party. What do you make out of that person?” she asked.

Somanje said the party does not have problems with Mhango coming back if he first reaffirms his loyalty to it.

Gwanda Chakuamba, President of New Republican Party (NRP), an RP splinter group, said the party would not rush to offer amnesty to Mhango as there is Section 65 in court which would determine the fate of MPs deemed to have crossed the floor in Parliament.

“They should not rush in joining their former parties. Let them wait for the ruling on Section 65. We can only take them back after the ruling,” he said.

The Supreme Court of Appeal will on June 4 rule on Section 65. The ruling will determine if those MPs who joined other parties crossed the floor.

In the reshuffle, Mutharika has added nine new faces in the Cabinet, increasing it to 42.

Bugdet

2007-05-14T23:17:00.000-07:00

Government bureaucracy, procurement procedures, low absorption capacity and slow donor inflow are some of the factors that have affected the implementation of the 2006/07 budget, Economic and political analysts have observed.

National Assembly recently announced that Parliament will be meeting from May 21, 2007 to discuss the 2007 to 2008 national budget. However analysts observed a number of developmental activities that were budgeted in the 2006/07 budget are yet to be implemented.

The experts observed that the 2006/2007 national budget has made notable strides in economy recovery, food security and microeconomic stability, but failed in implementation of development infrastructures which has been attributed bureaucracy.

Malawi Economic Justice Network (Mejn) Executive Director Andrew Kumbatira observed that government was doing well in implementing the Recurrent Account but said low absorption capacity in government civil service was affecting the implementation of Development Account.

He bemoaned the civil service inability to spend the money allocated in the budget in a specified period which resulted in low budget expenditures in ministries and government departments.

Kumbatira cited an example of Ministry of Health, which he said used only 40 per cent of the money which was allocated to the ministry in the 2006/07 budget.

“When ministries and departments under perform it means development slows down and also means budget will not make the intended impact and no meaningful dent can be made on our poverty,” he said.

Kumbatira attributed the slow implementation of the budget to the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of the civil service in the country which he described as a vehicle to the implementation of budget.

“We would like government to quickly look at the civil service reforms to make the civil service more efficient and effective to be able to implement the budget fully,” he said.

In the K140 billion budget, document number four, highlights several developmental programmes and projects, which are yet to be implemented about ten months after the budget was approved.

Malawi News investigations revealed some of the developmental projects and programmes highlights in the 2006/07 budget that were to be implemented, are still at the planning.

In Ministry of Education, about K538 million was set aside for the purchase of learning materials and desks, K145 million which was meant for the construction of 40 community day secondary schools, K100 for the rehabilitation of four national secondary schools, K903 for the development and rehabilitation of University of Malawi K371 million for the University Trust Fund and K40 million for University of Science and Technology while K15 million was set aside for the construction of school for the special needs students. However non of the projects has been implemented.

In ministry of Health, despite the drug shortage in the country, money amounting to K494 million for the purchase of medical supplies was set aside while K200 million was earmarked to construction of Blantyre District Hospital.

Some of the under utilization of allocations in the K140 billion budget included the construction of Chiromo bridge in Nsanje pegged at K236 million, K2.7 billion was approved for the rehabilitation and sinking of boreholes while K84 million was set aside for rural electrification in 58 trading centres in the country. The rural electrification programmes was set to complete in September 2006.

A Member of Parliamentary Committee on Budget and Finance, who is also MP for Mzimba East constituency Abbie Shaba described the 2006/07 budget as a mixed bag saying it achieved its objectives despite some shortfalls.

Shaba said, though budget cannot achieve all its objectives, 2006/07 managed to make strides in food security through fertilizer subsidy programme, private sector participation as well as roads rehabilitation through public works programmes.

“Through this budget we have seen the construction of roads like Kamphata, Ntchisi and Zomba-Jali-Chitakale,” he said.

He, however, said the Budget and Finance committee—which was meeting this week—noted that there was delay in distribution of learning materials in school, construction of girls’ hostels, sinking of borehole and also construction of teacher training schools and purchase of drugs.

“The problem is in developmental projects we are using donor money which needs transparency and accountability. The procurement procedures are also long, complicated but unavoidable. There is slow progress in procurement procedures,” he said.

An economist, who opted for anonymity, said there were a number of factors that affects the implementation including natural disasters and inflow of donor money.

“Some of the money which the donors pledged in the 2006/07 on development Account was not yet in due to procedures in various foreign governments. The problem is that they fund direct to the projects.

“In the event of natural disasters money can be diverted from on vote to another. Our budgets have always been theoretical,” he said.

Minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe said some of the projects were at the planning stage, some were still waiting for donor funding while some projects are not started because there was no money for the projects.

Gondwe cited the Chiromo bridge project that waiting for money from Japanese government while rehabilitation of University was under planning.

“There is no money for the construction of 40 community day secondary schools,” he said

Gondwe, however, dismissed the assertion that civil service has no capacity to implement the budget saying the availability of money was a problem not the human resources.

An Economic lecturer at University of Malawi, Polytechnic campus Abel Mwanyungwe the 2006/07 budget has succeeded in stabilizing the countries economy but there was a big problem in the implementation of various programmes and projects.

Cabinet

2007-05-10T06:56:00.000-07:00

President Bingu wa Mutharika, today, has once again blotted his cabinet a bringing several several deputies ministers. The president has also taken over the troubled ministry of education, from Anna Kachikho, making himself a head of two more potifolios on top of the presidency.
More to come.....

Politics of food security

2007-05-10T06:41:00.000-07:00

For a woman Margret William, the politics of the world--fight for positions in government would be nothing. Staying in Mwanza district, about 100 kilometers away for Blantyre, Malawi's commercial city, she is one of the many peasant Malawians who are surviving on hand out.

William, 43 years old, caste her vote in 2004 general elections to choose a member of parliament and a president that would lead her and her piers out of miserable life they were leading.

The hoped, after hearing so many, campaign messages that from the day the MP’s and there presidents would be sworn in she would experience an automatic transformation from poverty to riches. Nay it never comes.

Two years down the line, with a hole and a watering cane, William and her friends have decided to change her life completely with or without assistance from government.

About 19 women of Kanduku village in Mwanza district decided to launch a big fight against hunger at house hold level by instituting an irrigation scheme that saw the group planting three times a year.

"We plant different kind of crops and we can say that things are working for us," she told the Minister of Irrigation and Water Development Sidik Mia, who visited the irrigation to appreciate the efforts of the women.

Mia shocked with the fact that the women were watering their plants using watering cane, promised to assist the women with a motorised pump. There was deafening ullulations.

"You have sorted out our problem," William said on behalf of her fellow women.

The member of Parliament for the area Davis Katsonga, who is also a Minister of Defence, went a step further: "I will buy eight bag of ferliser," he told the women.

The

What should be expected from this blog

2007-05-02T09:46:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it is imperative to voice youself out. As a journalist I write stories that some of them do not manage to cross the borders of Malawi. But I need space out there and this is the only way I would enjoy my space in the world. This is my world and I will ake sure that I enjoy my world.

On this blog I will be posting all my stories published and unpublished. My opinions on different matters affecting Malawi, Africa and the world.

I will tackle issues ranging from politic, social, religion as well as entertainment and sports.

Comments are welcome

About me

2007-05-02T09:27:00.000-07:00

I am a journalists working for Malawi News in Malawi.

A member of Society for Proffessional Journalists (SPJ)

A member Investigative journalists and Editors (IRE) Only seven in Africa

Practically I handle almost every subject that comes my way.