Good people, the writing is on the wall: Malawi is the poorest country on earth.

This is not surprising. For years, symptoms of a failed State have been all over the place, being sanitised into officially understated statistics that once deluded us to think we were the world’s fastest-growing economy second to the oil-rich Qatar.

However, the greatest diagnosis of our pitiful decline in a fast-changing world came this week when the World Bank named Malawi the least developed nation on Earth.

What a disgrace!

Once upon a time, the world and Britton Woods experts knew our nation, which ranked 153 out of 169 countries on the UN Human Development Index, as a hard working people eager to uplift themselves the honest way.

It seems that virtue is up in smoke and the world knows us as a nation of lazy crooks where the only fastest-rising industry is corruption.

The main tragedy is that we are busy stealing the future of our country and children while one-time conflict-torn cousins—the likes of Mozambique, Angola and Rwanda—are not rising again. They are rising sharply.

But this is the penalty you pay for doing business as usual; using old means to achieve extraordinary results. In the 21st Century, an agricultural economy will not blame anybody for becoming a specimen of poverty if it chains its people to hoes.

The ricocheting effect of this politics of poverty mars a week we were supposed to be saluting Cabinet for passing the good ole national cultural policy which has been gathering dust at Capital Hill for decades.

If you were expecting confirmation of what a pitiful lot (the pun is intended) we have been for 51 years of our nationhood, this is it.

The need for the cultural policy was realised as early as 1981 when the United Nations Educational Scientific Organisation (Unesco) commissioned a study on how the country can safeguard, promote and profit from its immerse cultural heritage.

Ever since, government officials have been only happy to pocket UN-certified allowances in the name of wider consultation with stakeholders, including the creative sector which needs the guidebook most.

While the wait was continuing, our failed State in 2012 bagged millions of dollars from the “Expert Facility to Strengthen the System of Governance for Culture in Developing Countries” jointly financed by the European Union and Unesco to offer technical assistance on developing a National Cultural Policy.

It is amazing how the ministers of this Cashgate Republic came and left without passing the cultural policy as if they did not know how much entertainment, arts and culture nourishes our ailing economy. Needless to say, the industry at the heart of the policy ministers have long neglected comprises numerous Malawians earning a living the honest way and paying hefty taxes authorized by the same officials that abandoned the policy God knows where.

By nodding to the cultural policy, Cabinet will only end the long wait—a bitter gift which keeps gifting arts journalists and government critics tasty headlines that offer students of public administration good example of everything not to do when it comes to policy-making. But it is brings bad memories of wasted decades.

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Once upon a time, Malawi was a hub of Zambian music. Apart from the frequent visits by artists, local radio stations, entertainment joints and social gatherings were characterised by Zambian music.

Who can forget the music grouping called The Third from Zambia, which took the country’s music scene by storm with popular hits such as Love Yamufilimu? What about Danny’s controversial hit Yakumbuyo?

Gwamba

Recently, the Malawi music industry has been awash with the likes of Mampi, JK, Organised Family, Pentagon of Chishalala fame and B1, famous for the hit Sikileti ku Bedi, just to mention a few.

To make matters worse, even the music approach of some Malawian artists, both established and budding, began to lean towards the Zambian touch in a bid to get their music all over the place, too.

The impression is that if radio or club DJs are giving the Zambian music massive airplay, anything related to that taste—whether it is bubblegum or creative piece of art—could get similar support. Little wonder some established musicians have thrown their once mighty reputation to the dogs by copying anything foreign.

South African gospel music has also left an indelible mark on the country’s music platform, especially among gospel musicians. Today, everyone wants to sound like Rabecca Malope, Keke or Benjamin Dube, forgetting that they can equally make an impression with own innovative styles.

Just like Zambian and South African gospel, Nigerian music has also come with a bang on the Malawi music landscape, dominating every single radio station and entertainment joint. Just a walk in town, five minutes cannot pass without hearing a Nigerian music booming. Similarly, there was a time when a day could hardly pass without hearing songs like Doro Bucci or Skelewu on the local airwaves.

Contrary to the situation of foreign artists, whose music dominate even in the homes of most Malawians, none of Malawian artists command respect in Zambia, South Africa, Nigeria or the USA. A year can pass without hearing a song done by a Malawian on an American radio.

Even our own praised rappers Genii Blakk, Third Eye, Tay Grin, Gwamba, Crazie G and Dominant 1 are not recognised. Let alone their songs claim a spot in the land of such gifted rappers as Jay Z, Kanye West, TI and Lil Wayne.

“I have been in America for two years now, but I have never heard any song done by a Malawian on any radio. Even our own popular boys Tay Grin and Gwamba are not known here,” bemoaned Chancy Mazungwi, a Malawian based in the USA.

DJs blamed for promoting foreign music

If truth be told, Malawi has a pool of gifted music artists, but their talent is being rendered useless by the influence of foreign cultures that is successfully being transmitted through the art of music. Some radio DJs do not even feel ashamed of dedicating the entire airtime to foreign music at the expense of their own struggling local music industry.

However, some musicians have blamed the poor representation of local music on lack of guiding policies and principles on the promotion of Malawian art and culture.

“Today, everyone wants to sound like Nigerians or Zambians because it is the type of music that is enjoying massive airplay in our country. It is to do with the way our country’s policies were framed because one could ask what is the point of allowing local radio stations to play foreign music the time?

“Really, I don’t  understand whether it is a sheer hunger for the so-called quality music or prejudice for local radio DJs to allocate more airplay to foreign music at the expense of local flourishing talents,” said Brains Mbira, one of the up-and-coming artists.

He cited Nepman, BFB, Mafo, Kanny 1, Bucci, Mwanache, Martse, Gwamba, Flo-Dee, K2B, Crazie G, Piksy as some of the talented artists who keep on missing on some radio programmes when it comes to the promotion of Afro-urban music.

However, some players blame lack of creativity on the part of Malawian artists as loophole which gives room to massive promotion of foreign music by the country’s media.

Window of hope

But government said the newly enacted Cultural Policy provides guidelines that will jealously guard Malawian culture.

Martha Mituka, an official from Musicians Union of Malawi (MUM) said it is the union’s wish that 80 percent of music being promoted by the local media should be strictly Malawian.

“Since art is a form through which culture is conveyed, the Cultural Policy will encourage public and independent radio stations to increase airtime and programmes on traditional or local music as one of the strategies to promote Malawian culture,” said Kondwani Nankhumwa, Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture.

The Cultural Policy also proposes the establishment of the National Arts Council that will be coordinating and monitor implementing policies on arts by different arts associations and private institutions.

In the formal sector, Nankhumwa said government will strengthen its roles in the management of cultural activities through the Department of Culture and some statutory organisations such as the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), National Library Service, Copyright Society of Malawi (Cosoma), University of Malawi and the National Commission for Unesco.

However, speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior broadcaster working with one of the top radio stations in the country said there are yet to receive official communication from the Ministry of Information and Tourism on the new directives on promoting Malawi music.

“Talk is cheap. We spend much of the energy playing the blame game instead of implementing the policies on the ground. For your own information, media houses cannot start playing 80 percent of local music based on what the minister has said on the radio or newspaper. There must be formal communication to the media houses with proper guidelines,” alleged the source.

He, however, blamed government for lacking interest in the issues of culture and arts as a major setback to the promotion of the two.

“Malawi needs politicians who are committed to promoting arts and culture. Had it been we have such political will, we would have been talking about vibrant promotion of arts and culture in Malawi. We would have been talking about completed renovation work on Blantyre Cultural Centre by now,” he said.

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The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has opened a probe into alleged “malpractices and rampant breach of contractual and procurement procedures” in the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) Mzuzu Branch construction project, The Nation has learnt.

According to communication The Nation has seen on the ‘Reserve Bank of Malawi Mzuzu Branch Investigation’, the ACB has already requested for some information from the central bank as part of the probe.

No Activity: The front view of the new Mzuzu Branch of the Reserve Bank of Malawi

Under Section 11(c) of the Corrupt Practices Act, the ACB is mandated to request any institution or individual to furnish it with documents relevant to an investigation.

The bureau has also written the Office of the Director of Public Procurement (ODPP) to help it in the investigations due to the case’s “complicated procurement process.”

In a letter dated February 10 2015 from ACB director general Lucas Kondowe to ODPP director Dye Mawindo, the bureau said: “In view of the nature of the case and the complicated procurement process for such a project, I kindly request your office to join our team so that we investigate the case jointly.”

When contacted on Wednesday to confirm the investigation and his enlisting of ODPP’s help, Kondowe referred this reporter to the bureau’s senior public relations officer Egrita Ndala, who is also its official spokesperson.

But Ndala said she could not respond to the matter because she was out of office.

On his part, Mawindo, in a separate interview on Wednesday, said he has not seen the communication.

He said: “Well, I will respond to you when I see the letter. I haven’t seen it yet, so wait for my response [after] I get it.”

In another interview, RBM spokesperson Mbane Ngwira said he was not aware of any probe.

In December last year, The Nation revealed in an investigative story that the RBM Mzuzu Branch project was rocked by problems, including disagreements among stakeholders, some central bank figures, project managers and supervising architects regarding costs, deadlines and procurement issues.

For instance, the project cost, initially estimated at about K5 billion, jumped by K9 billion or 180 percent in August 2013, translating into K14 billion as the revised total project cost.

The project has also missed its deadline several times and has had multiple extensions of the contract period.

The project—which was originally scheduled to be completed within three years from November 2007—was divided into two phases. It is now more than seven years.

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The National Assembly yesterday rejected the proposed sale of State-owned Malawi Savings Bank (MSB) and has since referred the matter to the Budget and Finance Committee of Parliament for further scrutiny.

Presenting a private member’s motion on the issue, Dowa West Member of Parliament (MP) Alexander Kusamba-Dzonzi (Malawi Congress Party-MCP), said the relevant committee should be in the best position to scrutinise the proposed sale objectively.

MSB head office in Blantyre

In her contribution, Salima North-West MP Jesse Kabwila (MCP) said the country cannot afford to lose MSB since it is the only commercial bank with nationwide footprints.

She said: “Let government be transparent with the matter in disclosing its valuation and buyers. Our job is to protect people’s assets and Malawians don’t want their bank to be sold. Period!  We will do anything to make sure that MSB is not sold.”

Felix Jumbe, Salima Central MP (MCP), asked government to turn MSB into a cooperative bank other than selling it outright.

Said Jumbe: “Poor decisions over national assets and how they are disposed of have made us very poor. Over the years, the Malawi Rural Finance Company [MRFC], the Malawi Development Corporation [MDC] and the giant Commercial Bank of Malawi [CBM] were sold and the same argument was put across.”

Gondwe: Process is under way

In his response, Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe touched a raw nerve when he said the issue of selling MSB started in 2013 with the People’s Party (PP) administration of Joyce Banda and that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government is only implementing what was already agreed upon.

Said the minister: “Right now, the process of identifying an independent valuator to determine the wealth of MSB is underway and to curtail the process would attract legal challenges.

“Let me also take this opportunity to clarify fears that the MSB sale is aimed at shielding some people who have huge debts with the bank and no buyer has been known.”

However, leader of PP in Parliament UladiMussa, who is also Salima South MP, described Gondwe’s sentiments as “useless”.

Said Mussa: “His [the minister’s] statement leaves a lot to be desired. Does the minister know that this House can impeach the whole President?… What is MSB after all?”

With the House now charged, Mangochi Monkey Bay MP Ralph Jooma challenged Gondwe by saying MSB cannot and will not be sold behind Parliament’s back.

“The minister should know that lawyers or no lawyers, a national treasure like MSB can’t be sold under the counter,” he said.

Concluding debate on the issue, Dzonzi joined Jooma by asking government to stop pushing blame on previous regimes on the MSB matter.

In a separate interview, Gondwe told The Nation that the recommendation to sell the bank came from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which said a weaker MSB would have ripple economic effects on other banks and the overall performance of the country’s economy.

MSB has 74 outlets across the country with over 600 employees and its assets stand at an approximate K46 billion (US$102 222). Unverified reports that the bank is earmarked for an K800 million (US$1.8 million) disposal infuriated opposition backbenchers.

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Despite shortage of dependable health facilities in most rural areas of the country, government has ironically ‘ignored’ Mbalama Health Post in Mangochi for 15 years.

The facility, constructed by Malawi Social Action Fund (Masaf) funds under the initiative of the community members, is situated in the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Bwananyambi with about 40 villages in its projected catchment area.

Refereed the matter to Mangochi DHO: Chimbali

Since its opening in 1999, government has failed to consider upgrading the structure, which has been relying on health surveillance assistants (HSAs) to treat patients.

No nurse or medical assistant has ever been posted to the facility despite having six decent houses specifically constructed to accommodate them.

T/A Bwananyambi said in an interview this week government’s approach to the issue is impeding his people’s right to health and urged authorities to speed up the process of upgrading the facility.

Said the chief: “I have personally taken this issue up [of upgrading the facility and deploying medical staff] with all relevant authorities, including past presidents,  but to no avail. If this was made into a feasible health facility it would have been serving about 36 villages.”

But government has defended itself, saying the health post was completed without input from the district health office (DHO) and it is not an established health facility for the Ministry of Health to deploy qualified medical personnel.

Ministry of Health spokesperson Henry Chimbali referred the matter to Mangochi DHO communications officer Arnold Mndalira who said Mbalama was not an established health facility; hence, the ministry’s failure to deploy qualified medical personnel.

He said: “The structure does not meet the laid standards to be a full health centre. For staff to be sent to a facility the ministry first establishes the facility and deploys staff according to the need and Mbalama is a health post under Mkumba Health Centre.”

However, he said plans are underway to upgrade the health post which is currently being renovated.

Currently, the DHO is refurbishing the facility with funds from the Icelandic International Development Agency (ICEIDA) and contractors are on site installing solar powered water and constructing pit latrines.

“After assessing the facility the DHO will apply to ministry to upgrade Mbalama to dispensary or health centre level,” said Mndalira, adding that it has taken long to upgrade the structure because procedures were not followed.

He stated that HSAs were doing a commendable job after being trained in community case management to serve the under five population during emergencies as the area is hard to reach.

Following the development, communities around the health facility walk long distances to Mkumba Health Centre or Nyambi Health Centre, which is under Machinga DHO and Mulibwanji Community Hospital for treatment.

But health rights activist Maziko Matemba said problems people around Mbalama face are due to centralised power of authority, which has to change.

Kwataine: These are projects that were heavily politicised

“This is against people’s right to health which is one of fundamental human rights obligation of the right to life which government needs to provide as a duty-bearer,” said Matemba, who is also executive director of Health N Rights Education Programme (HREP).

Martha Kwataine of the Malawi Healthy Equity Network (Mhen) observed that the challenge with most projects of such nature is that they are done without collaborating with DHOs.

“DHOs and MoH are supposed to plan and project what deployment will be like. Yes, the right of the communities could be violated, but it is also a lesson for us as a nation,” said Kwataine.

She added: “These are projects that were highly politicized- where politicians decided where a health facility ought to be without consulting the DHOs who under normal circumstances would have a projection of what health facilities ought to be constructed in their District Implementation Plans. Technocrats must be left to do their work.”

She said as long as political interference is tolerated a blame game will always exist and there would be nobody to be held accountable.

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President Peter Mutharika on Thursday launched the He for She Campaign at Parliament grounds in Lilongwe.

The campaign being championed by several organisations, including UN Women and the Ministry of Gender, Disability and Social Welfare, seeks to streamline and promote gender and protection issues in the country.

Mutharika: Government is committed

In his speech, Mutharika said the campaign has come at the right time.

Said Mutharika: “I will make sure that we take a clear stand to reinforce principles of gender equality as enshrined in the Constitution and other relevant legislations. This gesture affirms my zeal to ensure that women and men are equal and have the right to equal opportunities in employment, decision making, politics, private sector, public life and indeed religious and civil society undertakings. I wish to reiterate that my government is committed to achieve the provisions of the Gender Equality Act; the Sadc Protocol on Gender and Development; and the African Union Charter on the Rights of Women.”

Minister of Gender, Disability and Social Welfare Patricia Kaliati affirmed that gender equality is everyone’s business.

Said Kaliati: “All girls aim to have access to education and the right to grow up with positive role models which respect women and I will make sure that proper legislations and policies are put in place to address challenges that women and girls face. We also want to ensure that men and boys become part and parcel of the country’s fight against gender inequality.”

Taking her turn, UN Women Country Representative in Malawi Alice Shackleford said a strong stand and call to action is required to achieve gender equality.

Shackleford said: “We want critical change to promote gender equality and women’s rights. We also need a strong Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare with an equally strong role in mainstreaming gender issues across sectors.”

The campaign comes barely a week after the passing of the Marriage Bill by Parliament, which is also expected to significantly address gender equality issues in the country.

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Efforts by Tukombo residents in Nkhata Bay District to curb cases of maternal deaths, women giving birth without help of health officials and other complications, have become shady following the district health officer’s (DHO) pronouncement that their prospective health centre has been reduced to a dispensary. The dispensary will not have maternity services.

The deserted health facility in Tukombo

By turning the facility into a dispensary, expectant mothers and other patients will still have to travel over 10 kilometres to access health services.

Over K19.8 million was injected in the construction of the facility. Of the investment, K16.5million was from the European Union, K2.2million from Dosani Trust, K800 000 from Krista Harris and K300 000 from Kunyanja Development Organisation (Kudo). K900 000 from Constituency Development Fund (CDF) was also released to help the DHO Albert Mkandawire to buy equipment for the dispensary to be certified.

Speaking during an interface meeting organised by CCJP, Mkandawire said due to inadequate facilities, equipment and personnel, the Medical Council of Malawi rated the structure as a dispensary in August 2014. However, it cannot be opened until some requirements have been met.

Area Development Committee (ADC) chairperson Frank Banda said people cannot continue suffering when there is a facility in the area.

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The High Court in Lilongwe yesterday reversed an earlier ruling to revoked bail for Cashgate suspect Leonard Kalonga after he failed to show up for court to start defending himself.

The former Ministry of Tourism official is facing charges of theft and money laundering of K105 million from government and has been found with a case to answer.

Kalonga irked High Court Judge Fiona Mwale when his lawyer failed to bring evidence of his illness.

The judge, however, reserved her earlier decision following an appeal.

The bail was revoked without hearing applications or responses from the prosecution or defence because Kalonga’s stand-in lawyer, Manuel Theu, was late for court.

Earlier in the day, Mwale had adjourned the court for close to two hours to allow the two sides prepare for the application.

Kalonga and Angela Katengeza were expected to start defending themselves in theft and money laundering charges.

Mwale was not pleased when Theu informed the court that his client was admitted to Dae Yung Luke Hospital.

She also rejected the defence’s application for adjournment in the absence of lead counsel Joseph Kamkwasi who was attending a funeral.

Meanwhile, Katengeza in her defence, told the court that Kalonga approached her on July 3 2013 asking to use the construction certificates of her company, Faith Construction, to get jobs within the Ministry of Tourism.

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Human rights activists on Wednesday described the passing of the Trafficking in Persons Bill as a landmark, saying it had been a struggle apprehending offenders with no law in place.

Speaking after the passing of the Bill, Eye of the Child executive director Maxwell Matewere said it has been a long battle with only 23 culprits apprehended out of the 145 cases recorded last year.

Osman: Now we can protect the people of Malawi without fear

Said Matewere: “In fact, those caught were charged with child labour, the rest were caught trafficking children and much as the children were rescued, the culprits were never taken to book because there was no law to back up the arrests, but now we have a law carrying a maximum sentence of 21 years. We are extremely happy with this.”

Programme co-coordinator for prevention of trafficking in women and children at Norwegian Church Aid Habiba Osman said the Bill has also recognised that any person below the age of 18 is a child.

Said Osman: “Now we can work and protect the people of Malawi without fear.”

Members of Parliament (MPs) agreed to the Bill, saying it needed to be passed.

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) spokesperson Jessie Kabwila said the root cause of human trafficking is poverty, which needs to be addressed.

According to Kabwila, as the country struggles amid rapid globalisation, Malawians wanting to migrate are in hundreds and most of these are women and children.

Said Kabwila: “Recent studies indicate a shock high rate of child trafficking, where most victims come from the rural areas and are brought to the cities where they are promised jobs as domestic helpers only ending up being forced to work in brothels and bars. This Bill, therefore, has come at a right time and we support it fully.”

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The Reserve Bank of Malawi says that changes happening in the information and communication technology sector have compelled government to change the cheques currently in use.

In an interview in Lilongwe on Monday, RBM spokesperson Mbane Ngwira explained that the bank, in conjunction with the Accountant General’s office, decided to change the cheques by bringing in new ones with enhanced security features.

Reserve Bank of Malawi

The new cheques will be in use from 1 March but the process of clearing old ones will be ongoing up to March 31 after which the old cheques will no longer be accepted.

Said Ngwira: “The ICT industry is changing very fast and this is one of the reasons why we have decided to change the cheques. With this change, government ministries and departments will have new accounts and we have already purchased new machines for checking the features on the cheques with ease.”

Ngwira said it was not unusual for the bank to change cheques, saying a similar process was done three years ago.

“What people should know is that cheques are normally valid for six months and instead of us restocking old cheques we decided to have new ones with enhanced features so that we are seen to be moving with the times,” said Ngwira.

“We are requesting the public to present all old cheques in their possession to commercial banks for clearing before the clearing date of March 31 after which replacement cheques will have to be requested from issuing offices,” said Ngwira.

The new cheques will be pink in colour, have a visible Malawi Government coat of arms on the face and a hologram of the coat of arms, which changes colour when tilted.

Bankers Association of Malawi President Misheck Esau commended the government for improving security features on the new cheques following the problems emanating from the old cheques.

“This is a very good move because government suffered a lot with the old cheques. However, as a way forward I would urge government to move towards removing cheques as other countries such as South Africa have done. With electronic banking we can remove some of the problems that come about due to cheque usage,” said Esau.

Malawi suffered one of its worst financial scandal in recent years when funds were looted using government cheques by people who did even render any service to government.

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Why do we always want to find excuses for our failures? We can’t fund hospitals, schools and infrastructure projects—we blame it on development partners who, we whimper, have withdrawn budgetary support.

We have gays in our society? Yes, silly, it is the Western influence. As if Westerners come to Malawi to hold homosexual orientation—or is it radicalisation—and recruitment conferences!

We have so many excuses, but the latest is ridiculous. Why are our young people drinking so much? Our lazy answer: It is the liquor packaged in sachets, stupid!

They make our children drink too much, thereby turning them into cabbages, or so we think.

Are we serious as a people? Do these companies go about people’s homes in search of young folks to dish out the drinks to?

Or do the companies pay these young fellows money so that they can buy their alcoholic sachets?

Why do we always dig out excuses for our failures? Why should the companies suffer simply because parents and guardians take their eyes off their children and, consequently, they end up consuming liquor, any liquor, excessively?

Why should government and society’s failure to create jobs for its youth—the lack of which keeps them idle enough to start searching for alcoholic drinks—be blamed on sachet-packaged makers?

As I said, we are busy looking for excuses for failing the young people. And I know why. These companies are easy prey—they do not have enough votes to make politicians pause.

I wish government would apply the same vehemence on kachasu brewers in our peri-urban areas and villages nationwide and rid communities of a local distil that is even more dangerous alcoholically and in terms of hygiene than the well-packaged sachets from the companies.

On top of that, these companies pay billions of kwachas in taxes that help to support even the kachasu brewers that government and the politicians behind the ridiculous ban, are coddling for the sake of votes.

How I wish government would act with the same ruthlessness to deal with charcoal burners and traders of the same, most of whom are littered all over the M1 road and other major roads nationwide.

The charcoal traders are even in formal markets, yet government is pretending that they are not there.

And guess what, government is so impressed with the charcoal makers’ destructive ways that Capital Hill has even decided to give them licences to cut more trees, burn more and contribute even massively to environmental degradation and the worsening climate change situation that brings drought and floods that recently killed hundreds of people as well as animals and displaced hundreds of thousands.

If only government would be similarly decisive on the scores of companies that are spilling toxic substances into the environment of communities they operate in, this country would be a much better place to live in.

Malawi has bigger and more complicated problems that need more government energy than its current fruitless crusade against sachet-packaged liquor makers.

But no, government has decided to expend its precious few kilojoules on something that should be prevented by households and consumers themselves—if they put their mind to it.

When a government thinks it can take over parents’ and guardians’ responsibilities and control all spheres of private lives that have no criminal elements in them, then as a nation we must be afraid, very afraid.

I mean, do you really want to kill a company like Malawi Distilleries Limited, manufacturers of Premier Brandy, Malawi Gin, Powers No. 1 and Malawi Vodka simply because people like their products so much?

There are other liquor sachet manufacturers that employ thousands of people, which are facing a similar fate.

What about the several entrepreneurs that have set up shops at every major trading centre across the country in all the 28 districts?

Get me right. I am not saying that industries should not be regulated. All I am saying is that we need common sense regulation, not that which acts on the emotional whims that comes with personal and societal failures as well as political expediency like this one.

At a time we are reforming to get rid of undue encumbrances to business in the country, we are busy adding layers on layers of ridiculous regulations.

And we think we can attract investors just because we have set up a so-called one stop centre? Please!

The point is I don’t know what these folks are trying to achieve with the sachet-packaged liquor ban.

The issue that must worry government should not be the packaging—it should be the content, which is what makes the product dangerous.

You ban sachets and the companies may simply innovate and come up with different packages, maybe very small bottles—who know? And the youths will keep consuming.

The only thing is that government will only be forcing the companies to incur more costs of doing business in Malawi, a measure, if you ask the World Bank we are in the bottom of the class of investment destinations partly because of this.

Why we are so full of excuses is something that always beats me.

And who told government that it is only the youths who are taking these sachets? In fact, there are more adults than youths taking this liquid in these small packets not because they want to, but because that is what they can afford in an economy the very same government has failed to lift. In the end, it is also the economy, stupid!

The post Why do we like finding excuses for our failures? appeared first on The Nation Online.

Recently, the United Democratic Front secretariat wrote the Speaker of Parliament to relocate its MPs to the government side. In this interview with our reporter Boniface Phiri, UDF Secretary General Kandi Padambo explains more about this move and more. Excerpts:

Q: What necessitated this move by the UDF secretariat to ask the Speaker to relocate UDF MPs to government side?

Kandi Padambo

A: The secretariat of the party does not work in isolation. The decision to relocate our Members of Parliament to the government side was made after open and candid discussions in relevant party structures beginning with the national executive committee (NEC) which, after the national conference, is the highest decision-making body. All our regional governors are ex-officio members of NEC.This ensures that crucial decisions by NEC reach all the levels of our hierarchy down to the branch.

The party understands that the programme of the ruling party is not very different, if at all, from our own agenda and as a result our position in the august House should reflect this reality.

QHow will you deal with MPs who are expressing misgivings about the move?

A: As I said, this was discussed at different levels of our hierarchy, and I must mention, including the party caucus with our Members of Parliament. I am sure if there are any MPs who are not in agreement or have misgivings, they will make their position known to our leadership in Parliament and through them, the party will be informed. Democracy is about abiding by the decision of the majority and all our members, including our MPs, subscribe to this overarching democratic ideal.

Q: Did you consult the grass-root followers when coming up with this decision?

A:  Participation by every grass root follower in a democratic decision might have worked in ancient Greece. But in modern democracies and democratic organisations the world over, what is practical is to leave judgements and decisions on most issues that may arise from time to time to an elected leadership with a mandate to be exercised for that purpose for a set period of time. In the case of UDF, the NEC, under the leadership of Right HonouableAtupeleMuluzi, was elected on 30 October 2012 with a six-year mandate to exercise the powers of the party as stipulated in our constitution.

But even with such a clear mandate, decisions on crucial matters are not normally made by the leadership alone. Issues are tackled and frankly discussed at various levels as earlier outlined.

Q: How will you convince your followers that the party is not being swallowed up by the Democratic Progressive Party as most of them are fearing?

A:  Our followers support the ideals and values that the United Democratic Front has always championed and stands for. They do understand that the party is fully mandated to enter into an alliance, coalition or working relationship with a political party or political parties. Precedents abound.

Q:  It appears all is not rosy in the UDF, especially in the Central Region where some NEC members are accusing the party’s vice-president Iqbar Omar of dividing the party by planting parallel structures.

A: We are aware of the chaos in the Central Region and we are aware of those responsible however they may disguise their moves. They are all going to be dealt with firmly sooner than later.

Q: Can you confirm (as it is being stated) that Mr Omar resigned? And what is the relationship between him and Hon Muluzi because we hear the two are no longer on talking terms?

A: I can confirm that at a NEC meeting in Lilongwe Honourable Omar did say that he had resigned from his position. Any resignation from a position in the party is, however, governed by a specific provision in our constitution. I find it difficult even to imagine my party president not being on talking terms with anybody.

Q: Can you confirm what we are hearing that Honourable Muluzi is being earmarked for the position of second vice president?

A: I am not aware of that, but what I can confirm is that the kind of relationship between UDF and DPP will help in creating an environment conducive for the forward moving of the country as a whole as our leaders are allowed to focus on real issues impacting on the standard of life of Malawians. This is one greater good one should expect from a political environment that is free from unnecessary destructive tensions.

So, that my party president, Right Honourable Muluzi has been earmarked for position of vice-president, is only a rumour and I am not in a position to confirm it.

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We are in Kasungu. In case you forgot, Kasungu is the home Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda, Malawi’s founding president, the first life president of Malawi, the first life president but second president of the once mighty Malawi Congress Party, the first chancellor of the University of Malawi,the founder of the Kamuzu Academy, the first destroyer of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland and first unmarried president in Africa.

Kamuzu Banda was above all, the first and only Ngwazi and very proud of his Chewa ancestry and his Kasungu home. The other district Kamuzu fondly talk about was Nkhata Bay. Up to now we don’t know why. Kasungu is also home to no lesser mortals such as chief Kaomba who replaced Chief Mwase, Gogo Jenala, Katola Phiri, Aaron Gadama, Jumani Kamuzu Banda, journalists, tobacco farmers, and Kazombo Mwale.  Yes, Kasungu is also home to one of the most talented Nyau performers, Gule wachokera kwa Njombwa.

Kasungu also gave birth to some of the best and most courageous Malawian writers, Onjezerani Kenani and Joji Kasakule.

In case you did not know. It was in Kasungu that Kamuzu was expelled from school allegedly for cheating during exams, which might explain why he grew to loathe the Livingstonia Synod until he died.

Before 1994, Kasungu was as feared as Dedza was because in these two districts, even the grass could hear and report you to the aging Malawi Youth League and Malawi Young Pioneers, the police, and the party Orton Chirwa and his colleagues founded and registered while Kamuzu was in jail. Even today, politicians have to come here, literally to seek the support of Kamuzu’s spirit for them to win elections. Muluzi has been here, Mutharika was here, Joyce Banda was here, Chakwera was here, and we are here.

Kasungu provides evidence that despite his political terrorism, Kamuzu did not necessarily favour his home district at the expense of other districts. Unlike kaNgwazi, the Ngwazi tried to please every district, except districts such as Nkhata Bay, Rumphi and Karonga, which produced the largest number of Kamuzu’s real and perceived enemies and rebels. If you went to the remote areas of Kasungu 25 years ago, you saw nothing that distinguished it from rural Mangochi or Machinga, Zomba, Mzimba or Nsanje. The same is true today.

We have elected to be here because this is a nice place. We like the expansive flatlands, light-blue hills, and the scenic greenery that the tobacco crop offers during this time of the year. We are here so that we visit Chatoloma, Chisemphere, Kamuzu Academy, and the Nkhotakota National Park. We plan follow the Bua River through the Nkhotakota National Park, home of marauding lions, gigantic elephants, Ntchira and Mpasa. We will also go KwaChulu and the Kasungu National Park. We will also visit Chiwengo village to find out why Jumani Kamuzu Banda was deported from his fatherland.

We will be lodged at Kasungu Inn, one of the sturdy places Kamuzu Banda built across the nation to promote tourism. Other inns were and still are at Chinthechi and Chitipa among other strategic locations. We are lodged here, at Kasungu Inn, because, in case our all wheel all-terrain vehicle, the VW Amailoko, develops a fault we can easily jump into Account Number’s Coach, which predictably comes here from Mpoto and Blantyre through Cashgate City. We will be here at Kasungu Inn because we do not want to support cashgate related businesses.

We arrived here last Monday, but since yesterday, Sheikh Jean-Philippe LePoisson, SC (retired) and our leader of delegation and expedition, Abiti Joyce Befu also known as MG 33, have not been on talking terms.

We have tried to reconcile them. We have failed. Even the Inn keeper has failed.

“Unechidempete? Chitsilu chotheratu? Chindele chakufikapo? Me? Thanks to Kaliyati’s marriage and sex law, no man will exploit any woman. You associate with me you marry me by repute or association or whatever Kaliyati’s law provides,” MG 33 shouted.

“But I don’t love you!”Jean-Philippe said, exasperatedly.

“Love? What’s love got to do with marriage? We have associated for over two years and by repute we are legally married. Mbiribasi, banja lakwana! Clear, mister playboy?” MG 33 challenged.

The post We are in Kasungu, join us appeared first on The Nation Online.

At least 18 members of Parliament are seeking court intervention for allegedly going seven months without receiving their salaries due to what they call misunderstandings between Treasury and CDH Bank over vehicle loan payments.

Dedza South parliamentarian Alekeni Menyani confirmed to Weekend Nation on Wednesday that the affected legislators—from opposition PP, MCP and UDF—have decided to seek court redress after their pleas regarding the issue seem to have been falling on deaf ears.

Parliament in session

“We are very broke and heartbroken. We have been engaging government to intervene in trying to make the loans manageable as we were promised at the beginning, but we are not being assisted.

“So, yes, we have engaged a lawyer to that effect. It’s probably the only way to rectify the inconveniences this has brought in our lives,” she said.

He, however, refused to shed more light on the matter, referring the paper to Parliament secretariat.

His frustrations were echoed by MP for Mzimba South East Chihaula Shawa: “I have to negotiate with the bank every time I want to draw my salary. This is inconveniencing.”

A member of the parliamentary staff, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the paper that the issue dates back to last August when government allowed each MP to get a K24 million loan from commercial banks.

According to the source, government made a special arrangement with CDH Bank to help facilitate the loans for the 18 MPs, as could not access them from other commercial banks in the country.

“In the initial communication between the two (government and CDH), it was agreed that the bank would loan the money to the parliamentarians on the basis that government would repay half of the loans with the MPs servicing the remainder,” said the source.

But in a twist of events, government is reportedly failing to keep its word on the deal, prompting the bank to deduct hefty sums from the parliamentarians’ salaries in its attempt to recover its loans.

Parliament spokesperson Leonard Mengezi confirmed the development, saying the matter has been referred to Treasury.

“We are aware of the issue at hand. The concerned members indeed brought it to our attention, but there is little we can do as a secretariat; as you know issues of money are handled by the Treasury,” he said.

Minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe said in an interview on Thursday he was not aware of the matter, but said he would sort out the misunderstanding.

CDH service manager for Lilongwe Branch refused to comment on the matter, saying he is not allowed to divulge customers’ details to a third party.

But a letter from the bank to secretary of Treasury dated February 24 registers a concern over the manner in which the loan scheme is running.

“We have arrears by the Accountant General from December 2014 amounting to K34 292 184 84 and January arrears by the National Assembly amounting to K6 367 984 47.

“Please note that the bank deducts all loan repayments from MPs salary accounts…and in turn credit the accounts with claims received from the Accountant General and National Assembly,” reads part of the letter signed by the manager for the bank’s Lilongwe banking centre Benson Jambo.

It is estimated that the MPs personal motor vehicle loans, will cost taxpayers about K2.3 billion by the end of the current National Assembly in 2019, as government is expected to subsidise half of each MP’s loan as well as foot 72 percent of the of interest on the credits. n

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Government has revealed that it is considering to introduce English in adult literacy programmes to enable learners gain maximum benefits.

Ministry of Gender and Social Welfare assistant community development officer for Blantyre, Agnes Napwanga, made the revelation last weekend during the graduation of 20 adult learners at Mpingo Hunger Project Malawi Epicentre in Traditional Authority Somba, Blantyre.

Napwanga said government arrived at the decision having realised that functional literacy is becoming an integral component in the success of small and medium entrepreneurship.

“Government realises the importance of education as it changes the way people think and do things. We, therefore, thought of incorporating English in functional literacy classes to enable learners maximise profits from the lessons,” she said.

She expressed optimism that the lessons would empower learners to understand modern farming techniques, democracy and family planning issues.

Napwanga hailed Hunger Project Malawi for its efforts to educate men and women who dropped out of school for various reasons in the area.

“However, our major concern is the low male participation in the programmes. Out of 37 people that registered for the programme, only two were male and only one completed the programme,” she said.

The male graduate, Maxwell Albert, speaking after receiving his certificate, said he plans to proceed to the primary school to achieve his goal of obtaining a Primary School Leaving Certificate.

Hunger Project Malawi project officer for Mpingo Epicenter, Mwayi Kadzongwe, said her organisation is committed to introducing initiatives and programmes that can help address social and economic challenges affecting Malawians.

The post Malawi introducing English in adult literacy appeared first on The Nation Online.

The history of Malawi democracy is littered with so many celebrities, particularly artists, who have taken temporary or permanent leave of their calling to join politics, ostensibly to serve the interests of their artistic constituencies better.

However, seldom does the love affair between celebrities — be they from music, fashion or sports — and politics not end in tears. Either their artistic career flounders with time or they fail to fit in in politics as the two worlds speak different languages and rarely gel.

Lucius Banda

Admittedly, musicians such as Lucius Banda (United Democratic Front), Joseph Tembo (Democratic Progressive Party) and Billy Kaunda (DPP and People’s Party) do not have the same pull as before they dabbled their hand at politics.

For some of their fans, the political choices the artists made may sit uncomfortably with their own political persuasions. Other fans, however, feel the critical edge in the artists’ works goes out of the window the moment the celebrities choose the political bed on which to lie.

Despite his flirtation with the Malawi Congress Party towards its last days in power, dramatist Du ChisizaJr (late) emerged almost unscathed, partially because when it came to art, he was perceived as impartial.

The jury is still out on comedian Bon Kalindo, aka, Winiko, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) MP for Mulanje South.

Yet modern day artists-cum-politicians do not deem to have learnt anything from the theatre maestro as their decision to use their art for political gains has led to their artistic demise.

Celebrities have no place in the political world, says Ezekiel Katsaya, a Zambia based Malawian political scientist.

“The problem with the celebrity culture is that it encourages the people to blindly follow them. Celebrities are often interested in getting attention to themselves and pushing their own agenda.

“The very fact that celebrities are not completely woven into the political fabric has a negative side in that they may not be capable of serving people and are only elected because of their names,”  said Katsaya.

He continues to argue that celebrity undermines any claim to representativeness.

“It pushes to the margins issues of political substance in favour of irrelevant gestures and superficial appearances; celebrities boast of irrelevant qualities that don’t justify their claim to represent,”adds Katsaya.

He further adds that this is dangerous for the nation.

“Celebrities are too influential, especially in a society dominated by social media. If we’ve gotten to the point where a soccer player’s actions, for instance, determine the way people view certain crucial things then there is definitely something wrong.

“They can’t relate to regular society anymore. Some of them are so out of tune with what really affects the middle class. All they seem to really care about are social issues and not what would make a better middle class standard of life and I wouldn’t want someone like that representing politics on your behalf,” says Katsaya.

But Mable Nyozani, an accountant residing in Balaka, feels celebrities reinvigorate the political process by introducing new blood, ideas and ways of doing things which harness democratic tenets.

Nyozani says:“They resonate with the general populace in ways that the traditional forms of politics cannot because they are ordinary and relatable. Because of their fame people know who they are and how they act. Political and celebrity life are inextricably linked; take musicians for example who connect and reflect current feelings of people and as a result they try to be relevant. Since celebrities generally have an ascendancy among their followers, people listen to them.”

He continues that celebrities are a face for the little groups that don’t get recognised enough.

“They are just the same as everyone else and it’s their right to be able to express their views and opinions on different matters. Why would people want them to stop helping out just doesn’t make sense? If everyone else can express their views celebrities should be able to as well.

“So, they do not need to stay out of politics because they have a very unique platform in which they can speak out about issues and in support of things and be heard in a way few people do,” adds nyozani.

Social anthropologist Max Bimphi says celebrities make good candidates but mixed office holders.

He affirms that some of the very qualities that make celebrities appealing to voters create difficulties in the governing process since political success requires qualities beyond a famous name and celebrity background.

“It’s important to note that there’s two types of relationships between politics and celebrities. The first being celebrities engaged in political action and second being those that use their fame to become politicians. Most of the time they tend to run on platforms that position them as political outsiders not opportunism often associated with career politicians. Because they are new and exciting they ride on their fanbase and allure that is unique to their position in society, unfortunately they seek political office just to prove a point,” says Bimphi.

The post Should celebrities stay out of politics? appeared first on The Nation Online.

Pali kusemphana maganizo kutsatira kulengeza kwa boma kuti laletsa mowa wa m’masacheti umene Amalawi ena akhala akuthudzulira.

Pamene mafumu ena akugwirizana ndi ganizoli, ena akuti palakwika ndipo boma libweze moto.

Msonkhano wa nduna pa 16 February udavomereza zoletsa mowawu.

Kuletsaku kumatsatira chigamulo cha bwalo la milandu lomwe lidati nthambi yoona kuti katundu wopangidwa m’dziko muno akukhala wa pamwamba la Malawi Bureau of Standards siyilidalakwe kuletsa makampani wotcheza mowawo kuleka kutero.

Nkhaniyi pano yabwerera kukhoti pamene makampani amene amafulula mowawu atengera nkhaniyi kubwalo lalikulu kusaka chigamulo china.

Kulengeza kwa bomaku kudadzetsa mpungwepungwe—ena akudana ndi lingaliroli, pomwe ena akugwirizana nalo.

Mwachitsanzo, m’sabatayi mkulu amene wakhala akumenya nkhondo yoletsa mowawu, Jefferson Milanzi, wa bungwe la Young Achievers for Development (YAD), adafuna kupandidwa ndi anyamata ena ku Zingwangwa mumzinda wa Blantyre polimbikira kuti mowawu uletsedweretu.

“Adalipo anthu pafupifupi 15 omwe amati ndinene chifukwa chimene mowawu wandilakwira. Adati athana nane chifukwa cholimbikitsa nkhondo yoletsa mowawu,” adatero Milanzi amene akuti adathamangira kupolisi ya Soche mumzindawu kukadandaula.

Nawonso mafumu ena adauza Tamvani m’sabatayi kuti palakwika kuletsa mowawu chifukwa achinyamata amapezerapo phindu pogulitsa mowawu.

Senior Chief Nthache m’boma la Mwanza akuti achinyamata ambiri m’midzimu akhala akupha makwacha ochuluka pogulitsa mowa wa m’masachetiwu.

“[Zoletsa mowa wa m’masachetizi] ndiye ziwonjezera umphawi wathu wakalewu. Ndiye achinyamata azitani? Ngatitu kuli bizinesi yomwe imawapatsa ndalama zochuluka achinyamata kumudzi kuno ndiye ndi mowawu,” adatero Nthache pouza Tamvani.

Nthache adati si mowa wokha wa m’masacheti umasokoneza achinyamata kotero sakuona chifukwa choletsera.

“Kuli mowa wa kachasu womwenso ndi mowa woipa kwambiri. Kuli mtonjani komanso ena amasuta chamba. Ndiye si masacheti okha amene ali ndi vuto. Boma liganizepo bwino pamenepa,” adatero Nthache, amene adati samwa mowawu.

T/A Mwakaboko wa m’boma la Karonga nayenso adagwirizana ndi Nthache pamene adati anthu kumeneko akukatamuka ndi bizinesi ya mowa wa m’masacheti.

Koma Mwakaboko akugwirizana ndi ganizo logulitsira mowawu m’mabotolo kulekana ndi kuletseratu kutcheza mowa wotere chifukwa akuti zikhudza bizinesi ya anthu ambiri kumudzi.

Koma T/A Kabunduli wa ku Nkhata Bay akugwirizana ndi ganizo la boma loletsa masacheti ponena kuti achinyama ambiri asokonekera ndi chakumwa chaukalichi.

“Achita bwino, ambiri akufa komanso kusokonekera chifukwa cha masacheti. Koma aiwalatu kuletsanso mabotolo a pulasitiki. Amenewonso aletse kuti mowawu usaonekenso,” adatero Kabunduli.

Pali chiopsezo chachikulu kuti makampani ambiri amene amapanga mowawu angathe kutseka chifukwa cha phindu lochuluka lomwe amapeza akagulitsa mowawu.

Pamene makampaniwa akutseka, bomanso litaya ndalama zankhaninkhani zomwe limapeza makampaniwa akakhoma msonkho.

Koma mneneri wa boma, Kondwani Nankhumwa, adauza atolankhani sabata yatha kuti maso a boma ali posamala miyoyo yambiri yomwe ikusokonekera ndi mowawu, osati phindu lomwe boma likupeza.

Mneneri mu unduna wa zaumoyo Henry Chimbali adati nkhaniyi ikukhudzanso unduna wawo chifukwa mowawu umakhala ndi mavuto ena amene umabweretsa ngati munthu wamwa.

Chimbali akuti mowawu umachititsa kuti chiwindi chilephere kugwira bwino ntchito yake komanso umayambitsa matenda a shuga (diabetes).

“Si mavuto okhawa, mowawu umayambitsa mitundumitundu ya matenda a khansa komanso ena okhudza ubongo,” adatero Chimbali amene adati m’dziko muno anthu 8 pa 100 aliwonse osaposa zaka 25 amamwa mowawu.

Mabungwe ena akhala akunena kuti ndibwino boma lipeze ndondomeko zothana ndi kumwa mowa moposera muyezo wake.

Mu 2012, dziko la Zambia lidaletseratu mowawu ndipo lidalanda zitupa za makampani amene amafulula mowawu komanso kubweretsa mowawu m’dziko lawo. Yemwe adali nduna ya zamaboma ang’ono pa nthawiyo, Nkandu Luo adati boma lidabwera ndi ganizolo chifukwa cha zotsatira zoipa zomwe mowawu udabweretsa m’dzikomo.

Ndunayo idati ganizolo lidadzanso boma litafunsa mbali zonse za dzikolo. Mowawu m’dzikolo umatchedwa kuti Tujilijili pamene m’dziko muno timangoti masacheti. Ndunayo idati munthu amene apezeke akugulitsa kapena kufulula mowawu adzaseweza kundende kwa zaka ziwiri.

The post Asemphana maganizo pa zoletsa ‘masacheti’ appeared first on The Nation Online.

Last year, the Ministry of Education issued a circular condemning self-boarding in community day secondary schools.  Weekend Investigate finds out, the situation is just as it was.

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On July 26, 2014, then principal secretary for the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Dr Macphail Magwira issued a circular to education division managers reminding them of a ban on operating self-boarding in the schools.

The circular also warned the managers against being involved in any issues concerning girls renting houses close to schools as a result of rape cases at Namikasi Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in Blantyre.

According to the ministry’s acting spokesperson, Manfred Ndovi, the circular was issued “after it was observed that some schools were conducting self-boarding without [the] ministry’s consent”.

Ndovi said pupils in self-boarding situations face multiple challenges.

“There is lack of security; alcohol and drug abuse is rampant; there is lack of guidance since the students are neither in the hands of the schools nor their parents leading to exposure to prostitution, poor diet and as they engage in more chores, there is less time for study,” said Ndovi.

Weekend Nation spot-checks in various schools in Neno, Blantyre, Mulanje and Phalombe showed that self-boarding is still thriving as ever, as the ministry has done little to address the problems which force students to opt for the system.

An assessment last year of self-boarding of 135 schools in nine districts by the Kalondolondo Programme uncovered problems such as lack of security, poor quality of accommodation, long distances between schools, congestion at self-boarding facilities, harassment of girl-students by men and lack of basic necessities.

The study showed that only three girls in the sampled schools got below 20 points in Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations and only one girl made it to the University of Malawi from a self-boarding school primarily because of the hardships they face.

Although Ndovi said on Tuesday the ministry is not aware of the continued existence of self-boarding, visits to Namikasi, Thawale in Mwanza and Mpasa CDSS, Migowi CDSS, Ngozi and Nkhulambe CDSS in Phalombe proved nothing had changed.

Same old song

When Veronica Kadeni was selected to Thawale CDSS in Mwanza, mixed feelings engulfed her mind. On the one hand, she saw one door to attain education open.

On the other hand, the idea of walking for two hours from her Thambala Village in T/A Kanduku to the school, and another two hours from the school worried her.

Veronica and her parents were left with one option: She had to go for self-boarding. She is one of 12 girls living in eight rooms owned by Odetta William close to the school.

As Veronica sits on the veranda of the mud and thatch block, she can’t help but look forward to the time she will say bye to the gruelling life of a self-boarder when she sits for her MSCE examinations this year.

“It’s a hard life. In the past two years, five of my friends have dropped out of school due to pregnancies. For ndiwo, we need at least K2 000 a week. Yet some of our parents can’t afford to give us more than K5 000 pocket money per term,” she says.

According to her, studying is difficult as night beer parties in the village are an everyday staple.

Veronica’s story is similar to that of many girls and boys selected to community secondary schools which are situated more than 10 kilometres from their homes.

Brenda Banda, a form four student at Namikasi CDSS, says many girls are being enticed into prostitution to top up what their parents can afford. She says some of her fellow students easily sneak out at night to entertain truck drivers and other older men at a nearby cotton ginnery and road construction camp. The bars stretching across the Zalewa Road are also teeming with men looking for girls from the school.

“At times, the men force themselves on the girls. Some time back, they broke into one of the rooms and raped four girls. Only one managed to escape. Cases of theft and harassment are also common,” says Brenda.

Her story was corroborated by the school’s head of the Parent-Teacher Association, Emma James.

“It happened in 2013, when the culprits broke into a room the girls were renting. They demanded the girls surrender their phones. Finding no valuables as the girls come from poor backgrounds, the men forced themselves on the girls,” said James.

Although the community reported the matter to police, no one has been apprehended, she said.

In the words of Senior Chief Chikumbu of Mulanje, government should deal with the problem of boarding facilities in secondary schools by constructing girls’ hostels in most schools.

Instead of running from the main problem of lack of boarding facilities, government should face it head-on as most of the girls who go to boarding facilities are students, who irrespective of poverty and long distances, have decided to continue with their studies and they need to be encouraged.

Landlords making it big

For landlords, running blocks of single rooms is booming business. One landlord is based in Mulanje but rents out a block of 10 single rooms in Rumphi.

“There is money in it. In our case, we don’t care whether the girls do well in class or not. It is not for us whether they go out with men or bring men and boys into their rooms. It’s none of our concern,” said the landlord, opting for anonymity.

He said he collects K1 000 per room a month. “This helps me pay my father’s water and electricity bills. The students have no option but to rent since their home villages are far from the schools. Most of them are from poor homes and they go out to make money to sustain their stay,” he said.

But Odetta William says she does not want to compromise the girls’ education in her pursuit for money. From two rooms in 2013, she now rents out eight rooms to 12 girls in Mwanza.

“I have set strict rules. Some girls who feel the rules are too harsh do not stay long in my premises. For instance, I do not allow boys near my compound after six in the evening. Neither do I allow the girls to be elsewhere at that time. I am like their mother and father here,” she said.

Civil society open eyes

According to Oyamba Jim Jim, programme officer at the Girls Empowerment Network (Genet), their research on self-boarding in 15 schools in Blantyre and Neno showed high sexual activity and abuse, poor sanitation, living in dilapidated shacks as some of the reasons students in self-boarding situations are more apt to fail.

It complements other studies by the Livinstonia Synod’s Church and Society in Mzimba, Active Youth Initiative for Social Enhancement in Phalombe and Mulanje and Centre for Youth and Children’s Affairs in Kasungu.

Observed Jim Jim: “It is most touching that most of the girls who are just reaching puberty, when their bodies are transforming and the urge for sexual activity is great, find themselves in such situation of seeming liberty, which leads them to succumb to men’s advances. The living standards are so poor.

“In some schools, we found girls sleeping in rooms with no lockable doors; rooms that leaked heavily when it rained; poor ventilation was not strange and in some areas, girls and boys are sharing the same bathrooms and toilets.”

He suggested it was high time government considered constructing more community secondary schools to reduce the distance day scholars have to travel to school. If not, he observed, boarding facilities have to be constructed.

“Currently, government is concentrating on primary school education where classroom blocks and teachers’ houses are being constructed using Local Development Funds. Can we not use the funds for the construction of more community schools and hostels? Education does not end at standard eight,” said Jim Jim.

Kalondolondo Programme manager Jephter Mwanza said the ministry of education has to reconsider its ban on self-boarding.

“Government has no moral authority to ban self-boarding because it still has gaps in ensuring accessible education services and facilities. The ban is like saying all school going kids who stay outside walkable distance from school have been expelled from school until a school is built near their home,” said Mwanza.

Mwanza suggested that schools and community-based stakeholders have to sit together and work out local solutions that can improve security, sanitation of premises as well as protection mechanisms against abuse of girls in self boarding.

“Some communities in Mangochi, Phalombe, Kasungu and Karonga have already done their local bye-laws. I think that’s the way to go. Some schools have formed committees to oversee the welfare of self-boarders,” said Mwanza.

The post Self-boarding woes continue, defying govt ban appeared first on The Nation Online.

I was left mildly unimpressed on Thursday, February 26, as President Peter Mutharika launched the #HeForSheCampaign which calls for solidarity for gender equality and women empowerment.

It appears there is a groundswell of sentiment for gender equality in Malawi, with this campaign coming hot on the heels of Parliament passing the Marriage Divorce and Family Relations Bill, albeit grudgingly among some male Members of Parliament.

In his speech at the launch on the grounds of Parliament, Mutharika pledged his commitment to promoting gender equality and women empowerment while noting that there exists great disparities in the opportunities men and women are accorded in politics, employment and education, among others.

That Mutharika, a man, should be at the forefront of driving that agenda, which his predecessor should have championed, perhaps attests to a leadership that went AWOL since 2012.This time last year—or the year before— former president Joyce Banda was well poised to push that agenda through and have the Marriage Bill passed by the time she left office.

But instead of building a legacy, the former tenant-in-chief of Kamuzu Palace was pre-occupied with the mundane: distributing a goat here, building a house there, installing or promoting chiefs in almost every household and reducing herself to a social welfare assistant. Her desperation to get re-elected, however, was at the expense of substantive matters of State such as the Marriage Bill.

Banda came from an activist background and, as she reminded us as she went about her so-called charitable works, she survived an abusive marriage. But she let the Bill, which could offer protection to women caught in a situation like hers, stall under her watch. That it has been rejuvenated by her successor — a man — should be an irony that must not be lost on casual observers like me. That is also the reason I have been left unimpressed by the #HeForSheCampaign: Where are the women to push the gender equality agenda?

Before he delivered his speech, senior chiefs, Cabinet ministers, parliamentarians and principal secretaries—all male—were made to sign their commitment to promoting gender equality and women empowerment.

It would seem Mutharika loves these grand occasions where he makes his juniors make their public commitments in full view of everyone. A few weeks ago, when he launched the Public Sector Reform Programme he had his ministers signed pacts of their commitment to diligent public duty. It was as if they were signing off their lives. But that will be the day when he shall drag some errant minister by the ear and bring him the public for a verbal flogging.

But I digress.

Understandably, as the campaign suggests, it ‘he’ for ‘she’, so naturally men would be encouraged to be there for women. But gender is about a two-way relationship between men and women. Now, where are the women who should have committed themselves to promoting and driving the cause of gender equality between men and women?

As for Mutharika’s pledge to uphold and promote gender equality, well, he is a politician first and foremost. I would not hang on his word if I were you.

Politicians are not unknown for paying lip service to their commitments and Mutharika will not be the first nor will he be the last. For instance, less than a year ago, Mutharika promised he would separate party events from State functions. I’m not sure if the presence of young democrats and dancing women clad in party cloth reads like separating party from State.

Talking of the dancing women. While the men were signing their commitment to gender equality and women empowerment, the irony was not lost on me that that was followed by women dancing—for men. Some gender equality indeed!

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The Malawi Organic Growers Association (Moga) has disclosed that Germany is interested in Malawi’s organic coffee and moringa.

According to Stanley Chidaya, Moga executive director, the market for organic crops in Germany is around $96 billion and Malawi alone cannot manage to supply the required amounts.

In an interview in Lilongwe on Monday, Chidaya said Moga has so far mobilised 350 farmers in Lilongwe, 200 in Ntcheu and 100 in Salima to grow moringa and coffee.

Said Chidaya: “Germany requires three tonnes of moringa every three months but we can only send them 10 tonnes a year. We want all the farmers in the areas we are working in to have 3 000 coffee trees and 2 000 moringa trees by next year,” said Chidaya.

Chidaya also disclosed that some buyers from Germany are in the country and will be taken around the areas where organic crops are grown.

“The good thing with moringa and coffee is that once planted, a farmer will continue harvesting for over 30 years,” said Chidaya.

Farmers Union of Malawi President Alfred Kapichira Banda said the country’s GDP can only grow if more crops are exported.

“As a country we have all the natural resources required to grow various crops and what is required is to encourage farmers to diversify. If crops such moringa and coffee can be grown in large quantities then we will have alternative [exports] to tobacco and sugar,” said Banda.

Apart from Germany, other European, Middle East and American countries are also reported to be interested in Malawi organic crops.

The crops that are being sought after include macadamia, tea, moringa, baobab powder, beans, sesame, potatoes, legumes and bananas.

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