Category: National

By Chancy Namadzunda:

Leader of Opposition in Parliament Kondwani Nankhumwa has called on Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) employees to defy Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Robin Lowe’s suspension.

According to a statement released on Friday, Nankhumwa has urged the employees to return to work on Monday, calling the suspension an ‘illegal directive’ and they should not ‘not become collateral damage in the Tonse Alliance government’s quest for political expediency’.

On Wednesday, Lowe announced a series of measures ameant to solve the problems at ADMARC among others being the suspension of about 4,063 employees.

However, Nankhumwa said the approach that the Minister of Agriculture has taken leaves a lot to be desired and is suspiciously dangerous.

“ADMARC was established through an Act of Parliament to serve both commercial and social functions, primarily designed to help Malawi become food secure at national and household levels.

“For many years, since its establishment, ADMARC has been playing a pivotal role in helping millions of poor Malawians across the country, particularly those in rural areas through supplying affordable grain and legumes for household consumption, as well as buying agricultural produce from subsistence farmers.

“It is without question that ADMARC has been strategic, and is still very important to Malawi’s food reserve objective and to the entire economy. It follows, therefore, that those decisions regarding this strategic parastatal ought to be deliberative and encompassing. This is the reason why Parliament has always been involved in all the previous decisions regarding the restructuring of ADMARC.

“A cabinet minister cannot just wake up one morning and suspend the operations of ADMARC, including forcing out all employees. This is a shocking decision by President Lazarus Chakwera and his Tonse Alliance administration, and I wonder where they are getting those powers from.

“The minister said government has a plan for the corporation’s turn-around, which will be announced within three months. What is in that plan? Would the minister care to share that plan with Malawians? Why should the Tonse Alliance government suspend the operations of ADMARC before the necessary consultations?

“What Honourable Lowe should care to know is that sending home over 4,000 employees is a huge decision that ought to have been carefully thought through? In change management, it is important to walk together with the people who will be directly and indirectly affected by the change that is being made in terms of communication to avoid a backlash,” he said

Nankhumwa further said it is obvious that the plan is to retrench a majority of these ADMARC employees, and many of them on political grounds.

“In three months, the ‘leave’ that Honourable Lowe is talking about will turn into a ‘lay-off’, and the salary will dry out. People will lose jobs, which is what this is all about.

“These employees are human beings; mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts, brothers and sisters, with families. Many people depend on them for their livelihood. Honourable Lowe is not just sending home 4,000 employees; he is actually killing the livelihoods of thousands of other people as well with this one inconsiderate and politically-motivated decision.

“A good corporate turn-around strategy must be laid bare and be allowed to be tested by key stakeholders. Why suspending operations and sending employees home before disclosing contents of the strategy? This is suspicious and stinks more of politics than any turn-around strategy.

“The Minister of Agriculture must make a Ministerial Statement on this in Parliament, including giving a detailed account of how government plans to implement this turn-around strategy and a full ownership and management profile of the individuals or consultants that will be involved in the operation,” said Nankhumwa

He also urged the Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament and other relevant committees of Parliament to look into the matter to see its efficacy, and whether or not the move made by the Minister of Agriculture is in the best interest of the people of Malawi, the taxpayers.

“It is my considered opinion that there should be a thorough and exhaustive legal process before we begin to tweak and dismantle the operations and structure of ADMARC,” he said

 

By James Kanyenda:

First Lady Monica Chakwera has commended Save the Children for uplifting lives of ordinary and vulnerable children to greater heights through it’s sponsorship programme.

The first Lady made the remarks during the Sponsorship Programme_ National Dissemination conference by Save the Children which was held at Bingu International Convention Centre.

Madame Chakwera said the sponsorship programme which was being conducted in Zomba for 13 years has positively impacted the area.

She added that the area is really transformed through the rising of people’s livelihoods and education standards as more children have now access to early childhood, primary and secondary education.

She added that as the project continues to spread into other areas, the impact communities and Malawi won’t be the same.

Madame Chakwera then called upon other development partners to emulate Save the Children and join the stage in uplifting lives of the vulnerable children.

The First lady also appealed to parents to send their girl children to school and ensure they complete their education instead of dropping them out of school and marrying them off.

Speaking during the event, Minister of Education Agness Nyalonje said her ministry is impressed with what Save the Children is doing and is also learning from it. She said the sponsorship programme has improved education standards in Zomba and this has been clearly shown through the way the district is now performing in national examinations.

Nyalonje added that whatever Save the Children is doing is in her Ministry’s mandate and the ministry is set to implement them countrywide.

Speaking earlier, Director of Operations at Save the Children International Frank Mwafulirwa said his organisation is always impressed and inspired with what the First Lady is doing in uplifting vulnerable children through her ‘Shaping Our Future Foundation.’ He said Save the Children aligns it’s activities with what the First Lady is doing.

In it’s sponsorship programme, Save the Children worked in education, health and improvement of people’s livelihoods through economic empowerment among others.

During the Event, the First Lady was crowned as Ambassador for for Abwezi a Ana programme to be run by Save the Children in Zomba replacing the sponsorship programme which is now going to Ntcheu.

 

By Mana:

Minister of Homeland Security, Jean Sendeza and Minister of Labour, Vera Kamtukule have rebuked illegal recruitment agencies that are leading to human trafficking and labour migration which have gone rampant in the country.

Speaking in Lilongwe on Friday at a press briefing held under the theme “Trapped in Oman,” Sendeza said many Malawians seeking employment in foreign nations are working under unfavourable and unfair working conditions forcing them to cry out for help from the government.

“Issues to do with Trafficking in Persons are increasing due to unregistered agencies in the country from which a lot of cases are already in the courts. Most people working outside the country are facing a lot of challenges after being cheated that they will find job opportunities and yet it is modern slavery,” she said.

She, therefore, encouraged all Malawians to report any acts of trafficking in persons to the nearest police in their localities.

Sendeza also highlighted that investigations are underway to avail all those involved in the business that is rendering many to dire situations.

“My office has been informed that one of the police officers at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) who was involved in the clearing processes has been arrested together with a police officer from Area 30 and a health officer from Kamuzu Central Hospital,” Sendeza said.

Meanwhile, seven cases have been concluded by the courts and 71 other cases are still under scrutiny.

On her part, Minister of Labour, Vera Kamtukule highlighted that most of the current job agencies sending people abroad are illegal and the ministry is not aware of them.

“Our recent problem is with those that went to Oman. We are unable to assist them because we are being denied entry into the country and we do not have any bilateral or international agreements with them. However, we are using our embassy in Kuwait to find out more.

“The current situation is very sad and heart breaking. Our people are being trafficked as this is done outside the confines of the law and most of them are either underpaid or not paid at all,” she said.

Kamtukule further added that her Ministry is under discussion with Job Centre that has expressed interest in leading as a legitimate institution regarding labour migration issues.

“We are ensuring that we are working with our partners, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Organisation of Migration (IOM), to help us assist Job Centre to formalise their institution.

“We are going to amend our guidelines to reflect that if you are not a member of the institution then you are illegal,” Kamtukule said.

She further added that the Southern Africa Development Corporation (SADC) is working hand in hand with member countries to ensure a reduction in the porousness of boarders to end illegal migration and trafficking in persons.

She, therefore, pleaded with all Malawians to be patriotic and inform them whenever they suspect such a behaviour in their communities.

 

By Christopher Jimu:

With the succession battle in  the former ruling Democratic Progressive Party  (DPP) reaching fever pitch, political analyst Humphrey Mvula has warned the party to tread carefully on former President Professor  Peter Mutharika’s successor, saying the move can either make or break the party.

The DPP so far has five candidates who have expressed interest to take over from Mutharika  and battle lines have been drawn.

Ironically all the five come from the southern region an area which is regarded as the bedrock of the party.

The five  are Kondwani Nankhumwa, Bright Msaka, George Chaponda, Joseph Mwanamvekha and Dalitso Kabambe.

According to Mvula the fact that DPP has five candidates vying for the presidency shows that democracy is flourishing in the party but warned  that if one of the candidates ditches the party to join the Malawi Congress Party then it is game over.

“It is good that the DPP has many candidates but if for example one of Nankhumwa, Msaka or Chaponda is frustrated and end up  joining the Malawi Congress Party  (MCP)  then the DPP will be weakened considerably. In Chakwera, the MCP has a very good torchbearer without excess baggage and if the party (MCP) can convince one of the  strong Presidential candidates from the DPP to join, then advantage MCP,” predicted Mvula.

Mvula added that if the MCP can make more inroads in the southern region then it will not have much work in the north because it already enjoys support from the area if current politicak trends are anything to go by.

“If MCP can penetrate the Lomwe belt then I do not see the party failing to convince  people in Nsanje, Chikwawa, Nkhota Kota, Salima, Machinga and Mangochi to vote for it. The party has many supporters in the centre and what is remaining is consolidation,” explained Mvula.

Mvula however urged the DPP to put its house in order and end the current squabbles rocking the party.

He claims that a strong DPP can offer strong opposition to the Tonse Alliance administration unlike what is happening now because the party is divided.

“A strong and united DPP is good for democracy while a divided one is also detrimental to the current democratic dispensation. The MCP has already started playing a tactical political game by invading the DPP stronghold and coaxing people like Brown Mpinganjira to join its rank and file and this will only help them garner more support in the southern region,” Mvula said.

Asked to name a candidate whom he thinks would give the MCP a run for their money during the forthcoming elections, Mvula said Nankhumwa comes first followed by Msaka and Mwanamvekha and then Chaponda and Kabambe.

Mvula said Kabambe could be a very good candidate for the party but what disadvantages him is the fact that he has not been in the political limelight for so long.

MCP Regional governor for the centre Zebron Chilondola could not be reached fdor comment but he recently told a rally that people like Brown Mpinganjira will strengthen the party because of their experience.

He dismissed assertions that the party is roping in recycled politicians who are spent forces.

“If people are claiming that we are roping in spent forces thn many of us are also spent forces because this is a new Malawi Congress Party,” said Chilondola.

By Mike Van Kamande:

National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust says the police have a responsibility to ensure that suspects and convicts in their custody still enjoy their fundamental human rights and dignity.

Speaking in Balaka during an impromptu visit with various stakeholder to the police holding cells, Balaka NICE District Civic Education Officer Henry Zechariah said “equal access to justice is a right based on human rights obligation which guarantees against exclusion and inequality”.

“With funding from European Union we are implementing ‘Chilungamo Programme’ aimed at enhancing access to justice of suspects and convicts” he added.

Access to justice entails capability of people to claim their rights and protect their livelihoods.

“We are grateful to Balaka police for keeping the holdings cells clean and ensuring that suspects are brought to court within the 48hour provision, although there are some challenges but generally the situation is promising and we will continue monitoring the general handling of suspects and convicts,” Zechariah said.

In his remarks Balaka Police Station officer Gideon Chisale said they are facing challenges in terms of ferrying convicted persons to Ntcheu prison which is the nearest.

“Apart from having no female holding cells and for minors which is in conflict with the law, we are facing challenges to ferry convicts found Covid-19 positive because Ntcheu doesn’t accept them, we instead take them to Zomba Maximum Prison where there is Covid-19 isolated room but it is costly,” Chisale said.

Balaka Second Grade Magistrate Peter Nkuzi said the Police has an obligation to comply with the 48hour rule to avoid congestion and uphold suspects’ rights and dignity.

“Holdings cells designed to accommodate 10 suspects are holding 20 suspects and convicts which is unhealthy. I have since given bail to some four suspects whose court appearances were delayed,” he said.

 

By Staff Writer:

A 32-year-old pastor identified as Edward Samkera for Living Waters Church who hails from Manyowe Village, Traditional Authority Kuntaja in Blantyre District has been convicted and sentenced to seven years imprisonment with hard labour for raping an 18-year-old girl who was under his custody in Mangochi.

Station Prosecution Officer ( SPO) Inspector Amos Mwase told the Court that the victim and her family are congregants of the said church and during the month of February, 2021 the convict and his wife asked the victim’s parents to allow her to be staying with them at their house a thing which the parents agreed.

He said few months later, as the victim returned from drawing water one day, the convict hugged and caressed her from the back and warned her not to disclose to anyone and the behaviour escalated reaching to the point of visiting the victim’s bedroom where he raped her several times during day and night hours.

Mwase further explained that on 8th November, 2021 after being abused so long, the girl gathered courage and narrated the ordeal to the prophet of the same church who reported the matter at Chilipa Police unit where she was issued with a referral letter to the hospital and results from Chilipa Health Center confirmed that the victim was being raped.

However, Samkera pleaded not guilty to the charge prompting the state to parade five witnesses who proved the case beyond reasonable doubt

In mitigation, the Pastor asked for the court’s leniency saying he is a breadwinner for his family and has church obligations but in his submission, prosecutor Mwase reminded the court that as a guardian, the convict was supposed to protect and not exploit the girl and that the convict’s immoral behavior could dent the image of men of God hence the need for a stiff custodial sentence.

Passing sentence on 1st September, 2022, Senior Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe concurred with the state hence pronounced the seven-year-jail sentence to serve as a lesson to other would be offenders.

By Peter Phiri:

Malawi Police Service Commission has promoted Commissioners Happy Mkandawire and Casper Chalera as Deputy Inspector Generals of Police responsible for Administration and Operations respectively.

According to a memo dated 1 September 2022, addressing all commissioners of Police, heads of branches, Police Training institutions, Mobile divisions and Stations, said the two IG deputies have been promoted following a resolution of the commission’s 408th meeting held on 29th of August 2022.

Chalera and Mkandawire will now be deputising the newly appointed Inspector General of Police, Merlyn Yolamu who in August replaced Dr George Kainja who was recently fired by President Lazarus Chakwera.

The commission has further promoted six deputy commissioner to the rank of commissioners.

The six include; Commissioner Violate Magwaya, Rhoda Manjolo Emmanuel Dominic soko, Ackis Muwanga Noel Kayira and Babra Mchenga Tsiga.

By Staff Writer:

Lawyers representing the 19-year-old Mussa John who has had his eight years sentences slashed to three years said they will appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court of Appeal.

On Thursday, High Court Judge Vikochi Chima’s reduced the sentence to three years following a review of case files from the Magistrate’s Court.

Mussa was found guilty on his own guilty plea for being found in possession of Indian hemp.

Addressing the media soon after the ruling, Mussa’s lawyer Chikondi Chijozi from Centre for Human Rights Education Advice and Assistance (CHREAA) said the defence still feel that the convict does not deserve a custodial sentence.

Among others, Chijozi said Mussa was given an excessive custodial sentence since other offenders in the past were only fined and not given custodial sentences.

The lawyers further argued that the Magistrate Court erred in law for accepting a plea contrary to the statement recorded from the convict since Mussa was not in possession of the illicit drug and the drugs were found at the house of his friend .

Mussa’s lawyers also argued that Mussa was not represented by a lawyer during the proceedings in the magistrate court hence his rights were violated.

According to the lawyers, Mussa is aged 17 and not 19 as it was recorded in the lower court. High Court Judge Vikochi Chima said Mussa’s lawyers can make an application to be allowed to file evidence on the new age.

Mussa was arrested after allegedly being found with 78 plastic bags of Indian Hemp.

By James Mwale:

President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has called on Malawians to embrace theological concepts in migration from current line of thinking, if the country is to succeed in its pursuit of Malawi 2063 Agenda.

The President was speaking at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe on Thursday during the official launch of Theological Society of Malawi, which he presided over.

Chakwera said theology plays a central role in ones beliefs, attitudes and values about the world they live in, the origin and destiny.

He said the beliefs and attitudes, in turn, drive how one behaves towards his surrounding and the world around him.

“Our view of the world is what drives our life in the world. And here in Malawi, we are able to look around us and see a country in desperate need of change.

“Every Malawian is able to see that we need new roads, new hospitals, new transport system, new schools, new universities, new trade deals and new cities.

“But what is not obvious to everyone, which is actually the most important thing, is that if Malawi is going to have all these things we have great appetite for, then the first thing Malawi must get is a new kind of citizen,” he said.

He added that the broken healthcare system the country has did not break by itself but rather by citizens with a broken mindset.

“The corrupt state we are working to clean up now did not corrupt itself. It was corrupted by citizens with a corrupted mindset change.

“The substandard roads, buildings and farms that have created substandard services and products that cannot compete on the world market did not create themselves; they were created by citizens with a substandard mindset,” he added.

Chakwera further said if Malawians are going to achieve the new objectives outlined as a nation in Malawi 2063, then they need a new kind of citizen with a new kind of thinking and a new kind of seeing the world.

He stated that one fundamental broken way of thinking the country has is that from top to bottom, everyone thinks that the only responsibility they have is to point out what is wrong with their country, and that the one responsible for the wrong is someone else, hence the thinking that the responsibility of solving that which we see as wrong falls on the one we point at as the responsible one.

In her earlier remarks, Minister of Education, Agnes NyaLonje, said from the Malawi 2063 perspective, her ministry is responsible for Enabler 5 which is Human Capital Development that she said could be fully developed and future-looking if Mindset Change was in active play.

“To realise mindset change, there is need for us all Malawians to embrace moral values that are critical to the creation of a society with integrity. Theology has (always) been one of the gatekeeper fields for morals and values.

“In this regard, the Theological Society of Malawi can play a role in contributing significantly to the mindset change that we seek,” she said.

In his remarks, Chairperson of the Societys Executive Committee, Rev. Dr. Felix Nyika, said one of the objectives of establishing the Theological Society of Malawi institution about three years ago was to address issues of national interest.

He cited issues such as giving opinion and advice on matters that affect the nation at large, and to bring theological perspectives bare on social, economic and political issues that present themselves in Malawi and the world at large.

The launch of the theological body was also held along with the launch of a book: “Decolonising the Theological Curriculum in an Online Age.”

The book is a collection of essays researched by scholar members of the society on interpretation of Africa at large, and Malawi in particular, of theological concepts in contrast with Western interpretations.

 

 

By Staff Writer:

FDH Bank plc has made commendable strides in areas of digitization, innovation and Cyber Security.

FDH Bank Plc Head of Information Technology, Ganizani Phiri, one of the panellists considered to be regional Fintech Leaders, at the recently ended 9^th Africa Bank 4.0 Summit for the SADC Region held in South Africa under the theme of ‘Scaling Up Digital Transformation’ made the remarks at the end of the summit.

“It was a great experience to be recognized as a key panelist to share our experience with Top Leaders in Banking and Technology from across the Globe. It shows how much progress we have made as FDH Bank plc in the area of digitalization, innovation, and Cyber Security. Feedback from other professionals indicated that our progress is worth emulating,” said Phiri.

He further said FDH Bank plc has worked tirelessly to narrow the digital divide and enhance access to financial services to customers through introduction of innovative products like 525Banking, One Click, WhatsApp Banking, Agency banking and the flagship Ufulu 525 Account.

“Customers can access these innovative products with any phone from a simple to an advanced one. FDH Bank plc has also taken serious steps to ensure that customers are safe while using our products. FDH Bank plc has committed to remain ahead in her pursuit to bring more innovative products and solutions to the market,” explained Phiri.

Giving a background to the panel engagements at the summit, Phiri said the discussions were mainly about how the SADC region can align efforts to digitalization, innovation while considering cyber security risks inherent in these initiatives.

“We also discussed issues of policy and inter-country collaboration to mitigate cyber- fraud. Overview of SADC’s Cyber Security Outlook, how robust and agile IT security policy can bridge the gap between innovation and security. We also discussed how countries can take progressive steps now to protect critical national infrastructure against cyber-crime,” said Phiri.

Picking on key lessons to the banking sector in Malawi as a whole, Phiri said there is no limit to innovation and there is need to be ahead of the game to give customers the best.

“Much as we are in competition there are many areas we can collaborate for the benefit of customers. We need to tackle issue of cybersecurity jointly for significant progress to be made,” he said

The 9^th Africa Bank Summit was conducted to address a digital divide that has been created due to Africa’s internet coverage that is still lagging behind other regions due to the availability of poor services and issues for the remote and poor areas in many countries.