Employers Consultative Association of Malawi (Ecam) has asked government to suspend the implementation of 16.5 percent value added tax (VAT) to be levied on pension administration fees beginning today.

Ecam, a representative body of employers, argues that there is need to suspend the implementation of the law until consultations are undertaken and Parliament subsequently amends the Pension Act, 2010.

In a letter dated August 25 2020 addressed to Secretary to the Treasury and Principal Secretary for Labour, Ecam executive director George Khaki said the implementation of Section 16 of the VAT Act will likely push upwards the cost of providing social security.

He said: “Besides the job losses, as employers struggle to raise money to pay both pension contributions and the new tax on pension administration fees, this will result in decent work deficits with negative implications on national economic growth and creating productive employment.”

Historically, pension business was undertaken by life insurance firms and pension contributions were paid together with life insurance premiums as a percentage of the payroll together with pension administration fees.

But following the enactment of the Pension Act, 2010, life insurance business was separated from pension administration operations to comply with the Act.

A quick survey of countries within the Southern African Development Community on the status of the tax levied on pension administration fees show that out of five countries, South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia, Tanzania and Zambia, only South Africa levies tax on pension administration fees.

As a member of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Malawi ratified ILO Convention Number 144 of 1976 on Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards).

By virtue of this governance convention, the Malawi Government is compelled to consult Ecam as a representative of employers and other social partners on any measures surrounding pensions as a matter of principle and this is non-negotiable.

Ecam’s concerns come in the wake of another proposal by the Malawi Congress of Trade Unions, a representative body of employees, to suspend the implementation of the tax until after the impact of Covid-19 has minimised.

But in an earlier response, MRA head of corporate affairs Steve Kapoloma said tax laws are formulated through policy at the Ministry of Finance and passed in Parliament.

He said: “Pension administrators charge an administration fee for managing pension schemes. The fee attracts VAT like any other fee charged on taxable services.”

Reserve Bank of Malawi figures show that total pension contributions amounting to K20.2 billion were outstanding at the end of 2019, a rise from K13.1 billion reported in the prior year.

Plan International Malawi has trained mother groups from four schools in Kasungu to make sanitary pads and face masks for learners.

The development follows government’s decision to reopen schools next Monday after almost five months since they were closed in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The mother groups from Kavizinde, Kanyantha, Kanjaluni and Kakwale primary schools also received a sewing machine each.

In an interview, Plan International Malawi child protection specialist Angela Manyeka said they want to ensure that girls are protected from the pandemic.

“Besides, girls fail to go to school during menstruation for lack of sanitary pads. So, the initiative seeks to help girls get pads easily,” she said.

On his part, Central East Education Division desk officer Mervin Chilongo said the gesture will advance education in the district.

“The pads will help girls attend lessons during their menstruation. The masks will also protect them from the pandemic,” he said.

Kavizinde Primary School mother group chairperson Catherine Phiri said the training will improve girls’ education through the provision of sanitary pads and face masks.

Plan also donated 27 rolls of various fabric, eight pairs of scissors, tape measure and sewing wool to the groups.

The training and donation cost about K7.2 million.

Confederation of African Football (CAF) has snubbed some of its member associations’ suggestion to consider shifting 2022 Africa Cup of Nations’ (Afcon) qualifiers due to their teams’ state of preparedness in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) was among the associations that enquired on whether there would be a possibility of shifting the qualifiers on the basis that players might not be fit due to the long break.

The Flames are scheduled to face Burkina Faso’s Stallions back-to-back in November.

But FAM president Walter Nyamilandu, who is also a CAF executive committee member, yesterday said: “Yes, CAF has made it clear that it will not change its calendar because of one country.

“The situation is rather tight for us, but we have enough time between now and November to prepare for the Afcon qualifiers against Burkina Faso if football restarts in September. It’s not too late.

“During the meeting we had with the clubs and national team captains last week, they raised concerns about the need for sufficient training so that they should gain match fitness prior to engaging in the forthcoming international competitions.

“They were subsequently satisfied with the six-week training that has been stipulated in the Covid-19 Football Medical Protocol and Safety Guidelines,” said Nyamilandu.

On his part, Flames coach Meck Mwase yesterday said as a technical panel, they have asked FAM to request government for a special clearance to allow the Flames to start camp training on Monday next week.

Stand-in captain John ‘CJ’ Banda said: “To be honest, we are in a tricky situation because locally-based players have been inactive for over seven months and that is a very long period in football.

“I am not sure if our opponents Burkina Faso’s season is on, but they have an advantage because most of their players are based in Europe where most of the leagues have been active.

“For now, it is not clear when football will resume and perhaps under such circumstances, FAM should seek special clearance for national team players to start training.”

Last week, football analyst Felix Ngamanya Sapao said it will be impossible to raise Malawi players’ fitness levels in time to face the Burkanabes.

He said: “We should not cheat ourselves. Malawi is not ready to play Burkina Faso in November. The bulk of our players in the team are from the local league, and most of them are not active. FAM should request CAF accordingly and tell them the truth.”

“Burkina Faso can raise two teams from European and North African-based players who are active right now.”

Some of the Stallions’ Europe-based stars are Jonathan Pitroipa (PSG, France), Edmond Tapson (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Charles Kabore (Dynamo Kiev, Ukraine), Betrand Traore (Lyon, France), Issa Kabore (Manchester City, England and Lassina Traore (AFC Ajax, The Netherlands). 

Malawi on the other hand has Charles Petro and Francisco Madinga in Europe while Yamikani Chester plays in USA.

Political and sector stakeholders have given a wish-list of issues they want President Lazarus Chakwera to tackle in his maiden State of the Nation Address (Sona) in Parliament this Friday.

Input from the stakeholders indicates high expectations from the President who was ironically a fierce critic of Sonas delivered by his predecessor Peter Mutharika between May 2014 and May 2019. That time, Chakwera was Leader of Opposition in Parliament.

The stakeholders’ wish-list includes management of the coronavirus pandemic, reopening of schools, challenges facing the health sector, Affordable Input Programme (AIP), youth empowerment and the economy.

In an interview, Civil Society Education Coalition (Csec) executive director Benedicto Kondowe said he expected Chakwera to outline a clear vision for the education sector which, he alleged, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration led by Mutharika failed to articulate.

He said: “We expect that he speaks on reopening of schools [after the premature closure in March due to Covid-19] and the commitment of government towards such.

“But that said, the budget provision is still inadequate because out of a K5 billion projection, only K2.1 billion is available. So, we need clarity on how the deficit will be addressed.”

Kondowe also said there is need to address how Initial Primary Teacher Education (IPTE) 13 teachers would be employed and how the issue of early marriages and teen pregnancies would be addressed and provide direction.

On his part, Malawi Health Equity Network executive director George Jobe said their expectation is for the President to touch on increased budgetary allocation to health to surpass the Abuja Declaration benchmark that 15 percent of the national budget should go to the health sector.

He also said Chakwera should explain how some critical equipment would be procured and maintained. The equipment includes X-ray machines, ventilators/oxygen concentrators, ambulances and scanning machines.

Jobe said besides completion of Phalombe District Hospital, Domasi and Mponela rural hospitals, the President should tackle the issue of increasing the number of health facilities to attain the five-kilometre radius between health facilities.

He also said the Covid-19 pandemic was another critical area that needs to be addressed.

In the agriculture sector, agriculture expert Tamani Nkhono Mvula said he expects the President to provide more clarity on the AIP which is targeting to enable four million smallholder farmers access fertiliser at K4 500 per 50 kilogramme bag.

He said: “The President may not go into detail, but he should explain to the nation as to how does it differs from Fisp [Farm Input Subsidy Programme] and measures put in place to make this a success.”

Nkhono Mvula also said government should address outstanding grievances among technical staff in the Ministry of Agriculture and how the stand-off would be addressed.

Governance commentator Undule Mwakasungula said through the address, Chakwera should demonstrate proactiveness in maintaining international relations, mainly considering that his predecessor did little in this area.

He also said Chakwera should state how he would ensure unity, reconciliation and address ethnic divisions.

In a separate interview, Leader of Opposition in Parliament Kondwani Nankhumwa said the opposition expects Chakwera to spell out his agenda on Malawi’s social and economic development.

He said: “Remember Chakwera promised Malawians heaven on earth. We believe all his promises will be factored in, including cheap fertiliser, creation of one million jobs, duty-free week and promotions of civil servants.”

Nankhumwa also said a review of corporate tax to ease the Covid-19 burden among private sector players should be addressed.

On the possible tone of the Sona, Jolly Ntaba, head of Journalism and Media Studies at The Polytechnic—a constituent college of the University of Malawi, said Chakwera should use a unifying tone during delivery of his Sona.

He said while many Malawians are looking forward to hearing the President speak on several issues, including impunity and misuse of resources by the previous regime, the tone should reflect assurance and hope.

Presidential press secretary Brian Banda asked for more time to consult on how the President was preparing for his maiden Sona as well as issues to be tackled.

The forthcoming meeting of Parliament is also expected to analyse and pass the full 2020/21 National Budget, among other business.

The meeting also comes at a time some civil society leaders alleged that the Tonse Alliance administration was planning to move a motion in Parliament to change the status of the Office of the Vice-President to that of a Prime Minister.

The High Court has faulted former president Peter Mutharika for attempting to mislead Malawians by suggesting that Parliament was superior to the country’s courts.

In his ruling on a judicial review case on the attempt to send on forced leave pending retirement Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda and Justice of Appeal Edward Twea, High Court Judge Charles Mkandawire observed that according to the country’s Constitution, all the three arms of government—the Executive, the Judiciary and the Legislature—were equal with separate statuses.

In the judgement delivered in Lilongwe on Thursday, the judge also touched on Mutharika’s assertion that Parliament was above the courts which he made when he delivered his State of the Nation Address (Sona) in June this year before being voted out of government through the June 23 court-sanctioned Fresh Presidential Election.

While describing Mutharika’s statement as “very dangerous”, Mkandawire observed that according to Section 5 of the Constitution, only the Constitution is supreme and that the rest of the arms of government, as per Sections 7, 8 and 9 of the Constitution, have separate statuses, functions and duties, but they are all equal.

He said: “With due respect, I see nowhere in the Constitution of Malawi or any other law in Malawi where it is said that Parliament is more supreme above the courts.

“I, therefore, take it that the first respondent [Mutharika] deliberately wanted to mislead the citizens of Malawi. What he said has no grain of truth at all.”

Mutharika, a professor of international law who publicly faulted the Judiciary for overturning the May 21 2019 presidential election and maintained that he won “fair and square”, pleaded with members of Parliament (MPs) to rectify what he said was the wrong committed by the High Court of Malawi sitting as a Constitutional Court and the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal in nullifying the election.

He argued that the petitioners—President Lazarus Chakwera and Vice-President Saulos Chilima—failed to prove that the irregularities affected poll results.

Claimed Mutharika: “And let us also admit that we sometimes do what is not right because the court has said so. But let us remember that Parliament is more supreme above the courts. We are elected members who represent the people and we have the authority to make laws for the Judiciary to interpret.”

In the case before Mkandawire, the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), Association of Magistrates in Malawi and the Malawi Law Society (MLS) took to court Mutharika—who is also president of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)—and former Secretary to the President and Cabinet Lloyd Muhara.

The three organisations sued Mutharika and Muhara—himself a judge of the High Court—over their decision to send Nyirenda and Twea on forced leave pending their retirements in June this year.

Among others, the organisations asked the court to declare that the two had no authority to force any judicial officer to leave office whether by way of leave or retirement without due cause.

They also wanted the court to declare that the decision by Mutharika and Muhara was illegal, unconstitutional and invalid. The court granted the petitioners their wish.

Reacting to Mkandawire’s clarification on alleged supremacy of Parliament, Danwood Chirwa, a Malawian professor of law at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, yesterday said the ruling would police the existing constitutional boundaries of the respective branches of government.

He said: “It deals with an obvious Executive encroachment on the independence of the Judiciary. As to the statement that Parliament is supreme, that was the case before 1994 not under the 1994 Constitution which establishes constitutional supremacy.

“This, too, is uncontroversial. If you were to ask Peter Mutharika now, he would readily admit that he was talking nonsense at the time.”

Sharing the judge’s and Chirwa’s sentiments was Sunduzwayo Madise, dean of the Faculty of Law at Chancellor College—a constituent college of the University of Malawi. He said Mutharika, as a professor of law, knew that he was “deliberately misleading Malawians”.

In an interview yesterday, he said: “We should not even be debating about that because he was doing that intentionally. He claims he was part and parcel of the constitutional formulation process, so if he indeed was, then he should know in Malawi we have constitutional supremacy.

“We don’t have Parliament supremacy or Executive supremacy or Judiciary supremacy. What is supreme is only the Constitution. So, I totally agree with the judge that Mutharika was deliberately misleading Malawians.”

Madise said the challenge with Mutharika was abuse of powers which he did not deserve; hence, he was making certain comments just to prove a point that he had absolute powers.

On his part, HRDC chairperson Gift Trapence said the ruling would go a long way in enhancing the understanding of separation of powers between the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary in the country among leaders.

He said: “Though the former president was the professor of law, his administration thought they were the law themselves; hence, the lawlessness. No wonder some of his officials had the audacity to castigate judges for the mere fact that the court decisions did not go in their favour.

“We had so many cases before the police that could not be investigated and indeed prosecuted because of political influence. Therefore, this judgement is a good lesson to the new government. The rule law and separation of powers must be key in their day to day operations.”

Mutharika lost the fresh election to the pair of Chakwera and Chilima which amassed 58 percent of the vote, surpassing the newly reconstituted 50 percent-plus-one majority to determine the winner of the presidential election as interpreted by the courts. Previously, Malawi used the first-past-the-post system.

Until Wednesday August 26 at 14:53 hours, Patience Namadingo had never met fellow artist William Kachigamba.

Yet, it was this young man Namadingo had in the previous 24 hours undertaken a challenging and bold task of turning himself into a temporary statue to raise K3 million to enable William travel to Zambia to receive specialist treatment for his cancerous lip.

After the successful completion of the task, which saw Namadingo sitting on the structure originally designed to carry the bust of Mahatma Ghandi at the corner of the Masauko Chipembere Highway and Mahatma Ghandi Road junction for close to five hours, the artist made the long trip to Lilongwe to meet William for the first time.

“I have never met him. This will be our first physical meeting,” said Namadingo on his way to Lilongwe on Wednesday.

He said the trip was meant to work out the rest of the logistical arrangements with William’s family.

Predictably, their maiden meeting was an emotional moment, shared between Namadingo himself, William and his family members. The moment he came out of their house in Lilongwe’s Area 23 shanty township, William appeared at a loss for words.

In his child-like excitement he reached out to his benefactor and said: “You are my hero. You are my idol.”

He smiled as he struggled to keep his emotions in check.

According to his sister Patricia Kachigamba, who is his guardian along with her husband Innocent Matandika,  William’s problem started while he was 15 years old when he developed what looked like a small pimple.

She said over the years, the strange outgrowth continued to develop. It was only in September last year when, during one of his regular check-ups at the hospital, the doctor told them the swelling had developed into cancer and, therefore, needed specialist treatment.

The 26-year old budding lead guitarist, a former student of Music Crossroads Foundation, said the condition has slowed  his ambitions as an artist.

He said: “I want to be one of the greatest artists. I have been working on that dream ever since. But sometimes it has been hard for me. The pain at times is unbearable such that I cannot join my friends for rehearsals.

“On the other hand, it has also been tough to socialise with friends of my age.”

Currently, William is a member of a five-member band called Mvula Band he set up with his fellow graduates from Music Crossroads.

His former tutor at the art school Moshu, real name Moses Shumba, himself an accomplished producer, spoke highly of William’s potential.

“He joined us in 2017 without any knowledge in music. But through hard work, we have seen him develop into a fine guitarist. Now, he is hired by several groups when they have performances. That speaks volumes of his potential,” he said.

Moshu said it was tough to watch helplessly as William’s health took a dip, in the process threatening his artistic dream.

But the intervention by Namadingo has given William hope for better things to come. He said he is positive that after the treatment in Zambia, he will get back to normal life. For that he is forever thankful to Namadingo, the man he repeatedly referred to as an ‘angel’.  

William said: “I am grateful that my fellow artist has come forward to help. If this can be the spirit then it is a good thing. I grew up listening and mimicking his music. I hope to be like him one day.”

His sentiments were shared by his sister Patricia: “You have been like an angel to this family. You have shown up right in time of our greatest need. It is like a dream. We tried everything within our means, but it was not possible for us to raise the money.”

Namadingo reacted to William’s plea for financial assistance which was sent through a video clip on the social media. He subsequently offered himself to pose as a statue to help raise funds for the cause. Last Tuesday, the artist embarked on the task and raised K3.3 million.

It was a great moment for William to finally meet the musician he has idolised for a while, but he will also be hoping that this encounter with his ‘angel’ is a start of a new beginning in his life.

Two people have died and 50 houses torched in the past two days in a fresh spate of inter-village fights over land issues in Nkhata Bay District.

The latest incident comes about 10 months after a similar scene occurred in the district which left four people dead with 21 houses torched following a fight between villages in traditional authorities Mkumbira and Timbiri in the district over suspected stolen property.

A police report we have seen shows that the fresh fight was triggered by the alleged murder of a 35-year-old man at Old Maula Trading Centre in the district last Sunday. The deceased, from Chinganga Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Fukamalaza, was killed by a mob allegedly from Nkhole Village under the same T/A.

In retaliation, people from the deceased’s village went to avenge, leading to the inter-village fight which claimed a life while houses were set ablaze and livestock killed, according to police.

In an interview, Nkhata Bay Police Station spokesperson Kondwani James said: “It is a long standing feud between members of the two villages over land. Members of the two villages had given each other boundaries or no-go zones. So, the first deceased was killed for crossing the line and his village fought back.”

He said the deceased’s village invaded the suspects’ village and “killed one person, injured four people currently admitted to Chintheche Rural Hospital, burnt 50 houses while 20 goats were stolen, and seven canoes burnt”.

In June this year, two people were killed at Sanga in T/A Mankhambira in another revenge killing traced to a drinking joint, according to a police report, where one was assaulted to death and, in retaliation, the aggrieved family members hacked the suspect to death.

In May this year, around Tukombo area in T/A Zilakoma, a 27-year-old man Miloni Banda was killed by his own friends. His family members had wanted to revenge, but the T/A intervened and quelled the situation.

Since January this year, Nkhata Bay has registered 11 murder cases, but national statistics for murder between January and July stand at 463, according to information from Malawi Police Service. Police say mob justice is among the top three causes of murder in the country.

In a statement, National Police spokesperson James Kadadzera warned against mob justice, saying: “The service strongly condemns this uncivilised behaviour and warns that all individuals who have had a hand in the above cited incidents will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.

“So far, three village heads, who are suspected to have been fuelling the violence in Chintheche [Nkhata Bay], have already been arrested.”

He appealed for dialogue where there is misunderstanding instead of resorting to violence.

First Lady Monica Chakwera has accepted to be patron for Association of People with Albinism (Apam) to support the welfare of people with albinism in the country.

During an orientation meeting with Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Patricia Kaliati in July, Apam proposed that the First Lady should take up the position of the association’s patron to help fight for the vulnerable group’s welfare.

A letter to Apam dated August 27 2020, issued by the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, states that the First Lady accepted the role with effect from July 28 2020.

Apam president Ian Simbota in an interview on Tuesday said the positive response from the First Lady indicates her support for matters of people with albinism.

He said Apam expects a bright future with the involvement of Chakwera, adding the association has a number of things that need to be done to improve their welfare.

Said Simbota: “We want the patron to help with resource mobilisation, emergency response, and to ensure people with albinism have equal access to opportunities such as employment and loans to ensure their economic freedom.”

On his part, presidential adviser on disability Overstone Kondowe hailed the First Lady for demonstrating commitment to the welfare of people with albinism, saying it will help promote visibility of the targeted population at national and global levels.

He said: “One of the challenges facing PWAs is lack of visibility, particularly in public spaces. The First Lady’s gesture is, therefore, a positive and timely development which will help increase the global spotlight on the welfare, protection and promotion of rights of persons with albinism.”

In the run-up to the tripartite elections in May last year, the country saw a spike in the number of attacks and killings against people with albinism attacks which the United Nations (UN) said stem from negative mystification of albinism, stigma, poverty and harmful practices.

A UN Resolution on Persons with Albinism, adopted unanimously by the UN General Assembly in December 2017, refers to the need to address the root causes of discrimination and violence against persons with albinism through ongoing awareness-raising and an effective justice system to hold perpetrators of the crimes accountable.

Minibus Owners Association of Malawi (Moam) on Tuesday asked minibus drivers to resume work, hours after they went on strike to force government to revise what they termed exorbitant road traffic fines.

Moam general secretary Coaxley Kamange in an interview on Tuesday said the association asked the drivers to resume work because the strike was affecting innocent people.

He said the drivers’ concerns were genuine, urging government to consider them.

Said Kamange: “Most of their concerns are genuine but we looked at the impact of the strike. Some patients failed to access medical attention in time because they were forced to walk long distances to hospitals, while some employees and businesspeople were late to their workplaces.”

He said the association has since written Vice-President Saulos Chilima, who is also Minister of Economic Planning and Development and Public Sector Reforms, to consider revising traffic fines and driving licence fees as part of reforms in the Police and Directorate of Road Traffic and Safety Service (DRTSS).

According to the drivers, road offences attract a minimum of K20 000 in fines, while their daily target is K13 000.

The drivers also bemoaned the cost of licences for minibuses, at K250 000, which they described as too expensive.

When the strike started in the morning, the drivers stopped operating passenger service vehicles—including minibuses and Sientas—leaving commuters with no choice but to walk to their respective destinations.

In a separate interview, one of the minibus drivers Blessings Mbewe, who operates on the Blantyre-Mangochi route, said it is unfair that law enforcers mostly target minibuses.

Efforts to speak to Chilima’s spokesperson Pilirani Phiri proved futile as his phone went unanswered on several attempts.

The Economics Association of Malawi (Ecama) says it wants the 2020/21 National Budget to be premised on realistic assumptions and ensuring that macroeconomic stability is entrenched.

The sentiments come as Parliament is expected to start meeting for the 2020/21 National Budget from this Friday up to October 9 2020.

In a written response on Monday, Ecama president Lauryn Nyasulu said to ensure that this happens, the fiscal plan needs to be aligned to the national development agenda.

She said this can be done by increasing budget allocations to key priority areas of the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS III).

Said Nyasulu: “Given the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020/2021 budget should focus on economic growth, job creation, economic empowerment, social protection and resistance and infrastructure development.

“There should also be clear strategies in place on how such programmes would be achieved and assessed.”

She said the key challenge of the budget remains poor growth prospects following the Covid-19 pandemic, with the country’s projected growth of 1.9 percent expected to plunge further to negative 3.5 percent should the pandemic persist to December this year.

Nyasulu said this will weigh negatively on government revenue, adding that this implies that the deficit will likely widen further.

Figures from the Reserve Bank of Malawi show that during the 2019/20 financial year, Treasury posted a K428.7 billion deficit, which is K113.8 billion shy of the projected K314.9 billion.

Nyasulu said at the current level of deficit, government needs to minimise consumption expenditure as the deficit has been persistent over the years.

“Worsening fiscal deficit necessitates borrowing, which would be costly to the economy as it could disturb hard-earned macroeconomic stability,” she said.

Last month, World Bank country manager Hugh Ridell said the new budget calls for hard choices and trade-offs as well as credible revenue projections and sustainable expenditure.

Speaking at the launch of the 11th edition of the Malawi Economic Monitor in Lilongwe last month, he said it was imperative for the new administration to rebuild fiscal buffers and reduce reliance on expensive domestic debt arrears.

Ridell said with Covid-19, the key challenge for many countries, including Malawi, is the balance between immediate response—to save lives and livelihoods—and the need to protect future recovery based on prudent fiscal management.

The government set last Sunday as the deadline for children to vacate the streets, but the problem persists.

The hustle and bustle of street life has become a new normal for some children thriving on alms from passers-by.

Most of them cite poverty and orphanhood as factors that push them into squalid street life despite the national drive to reunite them with their families and next of kin.

For two years, a 10-year-old disguised as Charity has been escorting her blind father to Chilambula Highway in Lilongwe where they beg money from passers-by.

Every morning around 6 am, while her peers are going to school, Charity and her father leave Area 23 Township to beg on the capital city’s main highway named after Rwanda President Paul Kagame.

On a good day, they get almost K3 000 to supplement her mother’s earnings from selling sugarcane.

“Life was better before my father lost sight. He used to do piecework for our survival. Now we survive on alms from the street,” she says.

His father narrates how he found himself in the streets.

He says: “I had sore eyes which did not respond to medical treatment.

“Before I lost sight six years ago, I was a builder. Now I struggle to feed my family and pay monthly housing rentals.”

The 42-year-old finds begging degrading and devastating on her daughter, a Standard Three learner at Tsabango Primary School, who seldom goes to school.

In the capital, children bearing the brunt of street life like Charity flash past.

The Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare has ordered them to vacate the streets by  August 30, but this comes as “a big blow” to Charity’s father.

He says the family has to swiftly figure out what to do next as economic hardship deepens.

Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Patricia Kaliati says time has come for the government and its partners to join hands and remove children from the streets.

 “We want to improve the welfare of children currently working or living on the streets. Currently, local councils have developed plans to remove all children from the streets of Malawi to safe homes and rehabilitation centres,” she says.

Kaliati says the recommended centres will equip the children with special skills so that they do not return to the streets where they live rough.

Her ministry is expected to issue a public warning for children to voluntarily withdraw from the streets and those who will defy the notice will be removed.

“I find it disheartening when parents or guardians send, encourage or force children to go on the streets. I warn those involved in this malpractice that they will face the law as stipulated in Child Care, Justice and Protection Act,” she states.

 In March 2019, Ombudsman Martha Chizuma ordered Kaliati’s ministry to remove all street children.

The Office of the Ombudsman is expecting to receive a progress report from the ministry in the next two weeks, says Chizuma.

“From the reports we are currently getting from the Ministry, there seems to be some positive developments and commendable political will from the responsible minister, so we are hoping for the best,” she explains.

“My office will see what happens after 30 August which the ministry has set as a deadline for children to vacate the streets.”

Child rights activist Amos Chibwana says although the government and its partners are working together to save the children from the streets, they need to support their families with income generating activities.

The National Plan of Action for Vulnerable Children, which expired in 2019, shows that there are almost 1.8 million vulnerable children and 53 percent of them are girls.

Child and youth advocate Fred Nyondo says parents should take the lead to protect their children from hazards of street life. “Communities should take up the responsibility of cautioning parents who send their children to source funds on the streets. It exposes children to numerous hazards,” he says.

Consumers Association of Malawi (Cama) has warned Malawians to prepare for an imminent fuel price hike following changes in basic fundamentals that determine petroleum pricing.

Speaking on Monday in Blantyre during a workshop to update journalists on petroleum pricing trends amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Cama executive director John Kapito said the recent slump in kwacha’s value and the easing of Covid-19 restrictions in most parts of the world will eventually result in Malawians paying more for petroleum products.

He said: “We know that there was no demand for petroleum products globally because of Covid-19.

“There was no activity on the global market and, therefore, the prices of petroleum products went down,

when people were importing and Malawi also [benefited] from lower prices of fuel.”

When making its price determination, Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) assesses the combined effect of the movement of Free On Board (FoB) prices, kwacha exchange rate against the dollar and changes in local factors such as inflation.

The kwacha is currently losing value, trading at around K756 against the  dollar in authorised dealer banks.

Kapito said now that people are managing to live with Covid-19, “we have noted that there is demand where prices internationally have started going up and Malawi will be affected”.

Yesterday, Reuters reported that oil prices climbed 49 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $45.77 (about K33 750) a barrel.

The price has jumped from below $20 (about K15 000) a barrel registered in March, when the global oil industry faced its biggest demand drop in history.

Kapito said the most recent trend in global prices have so far not been reflected on the local market because Mera is cushioning the prices using the Price Stabilisation Fund.

He said: “The reduction in fuel prices was a good development for Malawi as it helped to calm the markets and we saw that benefitting everybody.

“The consumer should now prepare to pay higher prices.”

On her part, Mera spokesperson Fitina Khonje said they can only make fuel price adjustments when the regulator’s board has been instituted. The Mera board was dissolved in June this year.

“The establishment of Mera was provided for in the Act that we should have a board and we are sure that the appointing authority is well aware of this and they are working on it,” she said.

Up to the first half of this year, Mera revised fuel prices downwards three times before maintaining them at K690.50 per litre for petrol, K664.80 per litre for diesel and K441 per litre for paraffin.

In an earlier interview, energy expert Grain Malunga, who previously served as Minister of Energy and Mines, observed that the rising global oil prices could lead to fuel increases on the local market as players strive to meet importation and price costs.

Reserve Bank of Malawi Governor Wilson Banda recently said there are impending significant inflationary pressures emanating from a gradual pick-up in food prices.  n

Senior Chief Kachindamoto of Dedza has ordered village chiefs to dissolve all the child marriages that took place since the confirmation of coronavirus in Malawi so girls can return to classes when schools start reopening next month.

The traditional leader, a well-known campaigner against early marriage, said an increase in the illegal practice as well as teen pregnancies during the pandemic had spurred her renewed push to save child brides.

Kachindamoto joined forces with women’s rights groups for the campaign, spreading their message among parents and village leaders across the country, where nearly half of girls marry before their 18th birthday despite a 2015 ban.

“We’ve been going in the villages advising people … to take care of the children so that they can return to school when they reopen because that’s where the children’s future is,” she said. “I removed some chiefs before for the same reason, so chiefs know the consequences of not adhering to my directive,” she added.

In the case of girls who got pregnant during the Covid-19 pandemic, Kachindamoto said she has told local chiefs to encourage them to go back to school after they give birth.

Malawi passed a law banning child marriage in 2015 and raising the minimum age to 18, but it remains widespread.

Almost 47 percent of girls in Malawi are married before they turn 18, according to Malawi Demographic and Health Survey.

Unicef, the UN children fund, reports that nine percent become child brides before their 15th birthday.

Early marriage not only deprives girls of education and opportunities, but raises the risk of death or serious childbirth injuries if they have children before their bodies are ready.

Child brides are also at greater risk of domestic and sexual violence.

Reflecting a similar trend elsewhere in Africa, officials and charities in Malawi say more girls than usual have become pregnant or married during lockdown restrictions, which kept school children at home and hit family incomes.

Education activist Benedicto Kondowe cited Mangochi District, where cases of teen pregnancies and child marriages rose to 7 340 in July 2020 from 6 359 during the same month last year.

Maggie Kathewera Banda, executive director of Women’s Legal Resource Centre said girls’ educational rights were being jeopardised.

“Obviously, it’s a concern to us because it means that rights to education of the girl-childen are being infringed upon,” she said, adding that her organisation has commissioned a detailed study into the reasons for the increase.

Government officials backed Kachindamoto’s campaign and urged parents to prioritise their children’s education despite current economic difficulties caused by the pandemic.

“Some of the parents are having a tough time making sure that they get school fees for the children,” said Patricia Kaliati, Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare.

She added: “The communities are committed and have convinced us that they would like to educate their children. Let all the children who were married go back to school after the marriages are dissolved.”

The process of dissolving the marriages should, however, involve church and other influential community leaders, the minister added.

School closures in 185 countries during the Covid-19 outbreak will “disproportionately affect adolescent girls further entrench gender gaps in education and lead to increased risk of sexual exploitation, early pregnancy and early and forced marriage,” according to Plan International and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).

By Emmanuel Kanike

Recently, the media has reported an increase in unplanned pregnancies among school-going girls nationwide attributed to prolonged closure of schools due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Teen pregnancies should be understood in relation to household wealth, education levels and location.

According to the Malawi Demographic Health Survey of 2016, 31 percent of rural girls aged 15-19 start child-bearing compared to 21 percent of their urban peers.

Teen girls from poor household (44 percent)are more likely to start child-bearing than those from better-off households (15 percent).

Similarly, rural women with little or no education start having sex earlier than those in urban areas, with more than secondary education and from better-off families.

This increases chances of adolescent pregnancies among the rural, less-educated and poor.

These factors should be considered when addressing adolescent sexual and reproductive health issues.

A recent study by Judith R. Glynn and others shows the risk of adolescent pregnancy increases when one is out of school and risk of being out of school increases when one is pregnant.

It’s not surprising, therefore, that girls from poor households are exposed to harsh realities of prioritising livelihood strategies such as petty trading or farming over school.

This increases their susceptibility to quit schooling and chances of becoming pregnant.

Now, when calls to reopen schools are deemed a protective measure for adolescents, we should never forget that adolescent pregnancies are not a result of closed schools alone.

Even in the closed schools, adolescents from better-off and more educated urban households have a lower risk of getting pregnant compared to those from rural, less educated and poor households.

The government and civil society organisations need to tone down on investing in interventions which do not get to the root of the problem. They only provide temporally relief.

Policies that allow girls to go back to school after child birth, investing in teaching girls life skills and how to make menstrual pads, facilitating access and uptake of sexual and reproductive health services, arresting men who defile underaged girls to deter would-be wrongdoers and many more, contribute towards keeping girls in school and reducing teen pregnancies.

However, no matter how much sexual and reproductive health education and services are provided to adolescents from a rural, poor household with less educated guardians, they remain at risk of getting pregnant.

Even if we invest billions in HIV education for girls, it is sheer imagination to reverse trends of adolescent pregnancies if poverty characterises their adolescents’ households.

It is time the government and civil society implemented strategic interventions that root out poverty from the rural households.

This will eventually contribute to increasing the number of girls who stay in school because they can afford most basic needs.

For instance, how much investment do civil society organisations make to facilitate Malawian-owned factories that can process and produce export quality products and create well-paying jobs in rural areas?

How much improvement of road conditions does government do in rural areas to trigger trading between rural areas and their closest urban satellites?

We are not talking about investments of uplifting a household without a goat to own two in three years.

Neither are we talking about expensive investments in irrigation schemes managed by households who hardly recover from need for humanitarian assistance.

Strategic steps such as the removal of import duty for solar products allow investment in sustainable energy equipment for building factories in rural areas, thereby creating decent jobs for rural households and ending poverty.

Investing more in such initiatives would be like a vaccine to ending poverty and reducing adolescent pregnancies instead of treating symptoms.

Hosting of this year’s Mulhako wa Alhomwe cultural festival hangs in a balance as the group’s board is yet to meet and start preparations for the annual festival.

Previously, Mulhako wa Alhomwe organising committee would start its preparatory activities in June, but this year up to now no preparations have started.

In an interview on Monday, Mulhako wa Alhomwe chief executive officer Muchanankhwaye Mpuluka said the Lhomwe cultural grouping was yet to start preparations for the celebrations which usually take place in October.

He said the festival was supposed to take place this year, but due to the coronavirus pandemic and government restrictions on gatherings of not more than 100 people, the board and chiefs failed to meet last month to discuss whether or not to cancel this year’s celebration.

Said Mpuluka: “If the Covid-19 situation in the country improves by end September, the celebration will take place, but if not, we will cancel.”

He, however, said the final decision will be made by the board meeting which he said will take place soon. He did not indicate when the meeting will take place.

“We need a physical meeting since some members cannot afford these virtual meetings. The challenge is we are over 100 people who include chiefs,” he said.

Mulhako wa Alhomwe was widely associated with the former ruling party- whose stronghold lies in the so-called Lhomwe belt. The cultural group was also founded by the late President Bingu wa Mutharika.

Another group within the Muhlako wa Alhomwe is said to be of the view that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the celebration should not take place.

In a separate interview, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Wildlife Michael Usi said if Mulhako wa Alhomwe fail to hold the celebration because of coronavirus, it will be understandable as the pandemic has affected many sectors including tourism and culture.

He said: “The Tonse Alliance government is going to promote culture as a product of tourism. But I need to get details of their plans. Mulhako wa Alhomwe attracts a lot of people and with the current situation I don’t think it will be advisable to hold such a big event.”

Last week the Chewa Heritage Foundation (Chefo) cancelled its annual cultural festival called Kulamba due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Organisers of the Maseko Ngoni cultural ceremony called Umhlangano wa Maseko said they will continue to monitor the coronavirus situation before deciding if the cultural event will take place.

Other cultural events whose celebrations this year are not clear are Mgonapamuhanya for Tumbukas and Chiwanja Cha Ayao.

There is uncertainty over Ministry of Education’s decision to partially reopen schools next Monday with some teachers threatening not to return to class unless government gives them risk allowances in the face of Covid-19.

A group of concerned teachers expressed their sentiments during a media briefing at a hotel in Lilongwe on Tuesday. They said government should first commit to fuflfil their demands for risk allowances, among other demands.

But in an interview on Tuesday, Ministry of Education spokesperson Chikondi Chimala said the issues the concerned teachers were raising were under discussion with other stakeholders and assured that teachers would get a proper response soon.

During the briefing, Staffuel Chitukuta, who is the chairperson for the concerned group, said teachers would be exposed to the risk of contracting the virus because they will be sharing the same learning and teaching materials with hundreds of students.

He said ignoring their concerns would mean government’s own deliberate move to doom the future of students in the country.

Chitukuta noted that government was not forthcoming to meet some of the grievances teachers have been raising through their mother body, Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM).

He said: “Listening to speeches from government [representatives], we are so surprised to hear nothing about risk allowances. Teachers need risk allowances. They are the engine of the economy. So, neglecting teachers in this way will spoil the future of children…

“As concerned teachers, we believe we will be prone to Covid-19 because we will be in direct contact with learners.”

In an interview, TUM general secretary Charles Kumchenga said he was aware that some teachers had resorted to stage a sit -in soon after schools open if government does not come out clearly on risk allowances.

He said TUM was engaging government on the matter and that both parties were still discussing it.

Kumchenga said the deadline to decide whether teachers should return to work will be Saturday this week.

Reacting to the development, education activist Benedicto Kondowe, who is also the executive director for Civil Society Education Coalition, feared that the education system will be disrupted in the country if government and teachers cannot reach a compromise.

He supported the teachers’ demand for risk allowance, saying that would be important for their safety in a scenario that government has not provided personal protective pquipment both to learners and teachers.

The teachers have not specified the rate of the risk allowance.

Last week, Ministry of Education announced the re-opening of schools from September 7 and that strict compliance to Covid-19 preventive measures will be in force. The ministry budgeted K5 billion to be allocated to the education sector for Covid-19 fight.

President Lazarus Chakwera first hinted at the re-opening of schools two weeks ago in his weekly national addresses. Schools were closed on March 23 this year as precautionary measure to fight coronavirus and comply with a ban on public gatherings of not more than 100 people as prescribed then.

Previously, government bowed to the demands and gave risk allowances to employees working in public institutions such as the health sector and security institutions like the Malawi Police Service and Immigration Department.

Ex-president Peter Mutharika’s Democratic Progressive Party is a house on fire following calls for his retirement from politics. Recently, the party summoned its secretary general Gilzelder Jeffrey for saying the party is ready to move forward without him. Our News Analyst MERCY MALIKWA engages political scientist Happy Kayuni, from University of Malawi’s Chancellor College, on the future of the party.

How does a political party’s proper succession plan look like?

Although all political parties in general share same characteristics, it is clear that each political party has certain unique features which emanate from its socio-historical background; hence, the succession strategies may not be exactly the same across parties. However, there are certain general principles that are applicable across political parties.

Firstly, successful succession planning is not a one-off event. Not something being discussed when the incumbent is about to leave office. It should be regarded as a process which develops over several years. When we hear that a political party leader is refusing to step down and using the excuse that their departure would create instability that is a clear sign that the said leader has failed.

Secondly, the ‘big man syndrome’ in political parties gives the impression that he or she is the sole decider of who should succeed him or her, but the appointment of a successor should not be the incumbent’s sole responsibility. The incumbent’s main role is to identify a pool of potential leaders and develop their talent. In other words, the leader ensures that a proper platform is created for those who have potential for leadership. Through this exposure, it is easy for the party to choose its next leader who is deemed more competitive. A leader, therefore, allows a culture of healthy competition to thrive within the party membership and this reduces emergence of factionalism. A health competition exists when individuals demonstrate that they want to succeed and they fight for this goal, but at the same time are not disappointed when they see others succeed, as long as it strengthens their party.

I should also mention that it’s possible for the party to tap resources from outside its rank and file when the transparent succession plan has revealed deficiencies within the party. The problem is that party leaders are worshipped and regarded as the only alternative; hence, no opportunities are created to develop a pool of potential leaders until when it’s too late.

Why do political parties need a clear succession plan?

Firstly, political parties that embrace succession planning are more likely to reinvent themselves when the situation requires them to do so. If they do not have a transparent succession plan, they reinforce the political culture of creating cliques around their party’s supreme leader or an extended family network linked to the party leadership. Ultimately, the party fails to grow, but takes on a regional or tribal identity.

Secondly, studies have shown that new leaders who have emerged through a succession planning process are more likely to be more successful than leaders who have come through other means.

Thirdly, every organisation, including political parties, have formal and informal rules. Both have advantages and disadvantages. When informal rules become the dominant defining element, the organisation is unlikely to objectively identify potential leaders with talent and there is less predictability as well as much infighting. Succession planning ensures that informal rules do not become the dominant characteristic feature of the party.

How best can political parties free themselves from being platforms of a select few individuals?

Party members should strengthen accountability systems within political parties and not take their leaders as gods. What has reinforced this problem is what we call ‘rent-seeking behaviour’ within parties. Some individuals join politics to make money. When the leader has a lot of money that he liberally gives them, they do not question his decisions; hence, the identity of the party is synonymous with the leader and his or her family members.

Political leaders tend to handpick their loyalists to their politburos or national executive committees. How does this affect democracy within the party?

This behaviour closes off entry of potential talented leaders. As a result, it is very difficult for the party to reinvent itself to suit the changing socio-political environment.

In the aftermath of Mutharika’s loss in June 23 rerun presidential election, some DPP top brass are petitioning hard for Mutharika to step down and pave the way for rebuilding. How important is this?

This is important but it must be done systematically. Several previous opinion polls have shown that Mutharika’s popularity has been going down, so he is not a leader that may assist in rebuilding the party. If a new leader is identified through a proper democratic process, Mutharika’s role would be to demonstrate that he fully supports the new leadership. This will provide some legitimacy and acceptability that the new leadership may need in the party’s rebuilding process.

If you had a chance to meet with DPP executives, what would you tell them?

Political parties need to take the issue of succession planning seriously. The idea of worshipping leaders, as if they will continue ruling forever, must stop. A culture of healthy competition should thrive within political parties, which ultimately reduces factionalism.

The Tonse Alliance administration has resolved to move the proposed indoor netball court project from Blantyre to Lilongwe on grounds that the commercial capital is suffocated with sports infrastructure projects.

Minister of Youth and Sports Ulemu Msungama confirmed the decision in an interview on Monday, saying the original plan was to have the facility in the capital city before the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration shifted it to Blantyre.

Meanwhile, DPP has said it is not surprised with the decision as “the new government will always favour the Central Region when it comes to development”.

The arena, to be the first of its kind in Malawi, will have a modern court, shops and offices for netball and would also benefit other minority sports such as volleyball and basketball.

Said Msungama:  “We are investing a lot in sports infrastructure in Blantyre. Remember we have made a commitment to continue with Bullets and Wanderers stadia projects. Again, we are upgrading the BAT ground and Chilomoni stadium is also based there. Blantyre is congested with sports facilities.”

Msungama said that the state-of-the-art indoor sports complex, which was set to be built at Njamba Park in Blantyre, will now be constructed in Area 48 near Bingu National Stadium (BNS).

He said relocating the indoor court to Lilongwe will also help Malawi to ably host the 2022 Africa Union Sports Council Group 5 games which will attract about 10 countries.

“With a modern stadium and netball facility in one town, we can easily host other international competitions after 2022,” he said.

But in an interview yesterday, DPP spokesperson Brown Mpinganjira said he suspected nepotism was at play.

“We can expect more of it where the new government feels that everything else should go to the Central Region. Whoever did not see it coming was short-sighted. They will try and change everything to their advantage which is unfortunate,” he said.

Put to him that the project was originally set for Lilongwe, Mpinganjira said: “I am not aware that it was moved from Lilongwe to Blantyre. I will try to find out.”

Basketball Association of Malawi general secretary Peter Gomani welcomed the decision to relocate the netball complex to Lilongwe.

“Lilongwe is centrally located, therefore, it will help us in terms of cost-cutting when organising tournaments. We will also utilise the facility to generate revenue for the federation and government,” he said.

Volleyball Association of Malawi (VAM) general secretary Jairos Nkhoma also supported the indoor project switch while urging government to consider constructing similar facilities in Blantyre and Mzuzu in future.

“Many international events are held in Lilongwe and that will be an added advantage to have two magnificent structures in the Capital City. Initially, the Bingu Stadium was supposed to have also an indoor facility. Therefore, the construction of the indoor facility in Lilongwe will save its purpose,” he said.

Former president the late Bingu wa Mutharika promised the state-of-the art netball court in 2009, but 11 years down the line, the project is yet to start.

In the 2019/ 2020 National Budget, a total of K200 million was allocated for preliminary works of the project and mid this year the government issued a tender calling for contractors to bid for the project.

This is the second time, government is switching a major sports project between the two cities. In 2010, the late Mutharika’s government moved the BNS project from Lilongwe to Blantyre.

The decision received a barrage of criticism from opposition political parties. After Mutharika’s death, the People’s Party government shifted the project to the capital city.

Ministry of Youth and Sports has finally submitted its sports restart roadmap to the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19.

The ministry’s spokesperson Simon Mbvundula yesterday said the proposed roadmap was submitted on Friday.

He said: “They did not give us a hint on when a determination would be made. So, all we have to do is wait until a decision is made.”

Last week, the ministry asked for associations’ input on the proposed restart measures.

“We wanted them [associations] to tell us the areas they feel should be scrapped off or added with justification and they did,” he said.

Among the measures proposed by the ministry titled Guidelines for Reopening of Sporting Activities Amid Covid-19 Pandemic, are strict adherence to the coronavirus preventive measures once sports resumes.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu said they are confident that an approval will be sought for sports.

“The Minister of Youth and Sports [Ulemu Msungama] was also optimistic of resumption at our meeting held last Wednesday,” he said.

Malawi National Council of Sports suspended all sporting activities in March this year as a preventive measure against the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nominations for Super League of Malawi (Sulom) legal adviser’s post have started following an announcement of the annual general meeting (AGM) to be held on September 26 in Lilongwe.

According to Sulom general secretary (GS) Williams Banda, 16 Super League clubs are expected to nominate one candidate each for the election.

“The nominations are now open. The names of the candidate should to be sent to Sulom secretariat at least 14 days before the AGM,” he said.

“After the nominations, the nominated candidates will have to complete a form to ascertain if they meet requirements.”

Banda said the nominated candidates should meet the requirements as stipulated in Sulom constitution.

“The constitution is very clear on who can be Sulom legal adviser. The nominated candidate should be a lawyer by profession and have knowledge of football,” he said.

The GS has also encouraged female lawyers to vie for the position as the league runners are aiming at increasing female representation in the executive committee.

The post of Sulom legal adviser fell vacant following the resignation of Muhammad Seleman after he was elected Football Association of Malawi (FAM) executive committee member.

Meanwhile, former Silver Strikers general secretary Thabo Chakaka-Nyirenda, who is the only one to have announced his intention to contest for the position, said he is confident of getting a nomination.

He said: “Firstly, because I was approached by the clubs to compete for the position of legal adviser. Secondly, because I have the necessary skills and experience to be legal adviser for Sulom.

“I have been legal adviser for Silver Strikers FC as well as general secretary for the club. I know the needs and aspirations of the clubs. The position needs a person who can deliver and not just a figurehead. I am a person capable of delivering.”