Governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) regional governor for the South, I would not boast about my party’s move to subsidise alcohol prices at a youth festival in Blantyre.
If the move was conceived to counter the re-launch of the United Transformation Movement (UTM) in the Southern Region, then it is a clear sign of kutha mapulani (cluelessness) in the governing party.
Oh yes, if I were the vocal Charlie, I would appreciate that the picture being portrayed is that DPP is losing its sleep (kutenthedwa) with the momentum the movement is gaining, but surely the solution is not offering free booze to the youth.
How I wish I were Chikuni cha Utsi, because I would realise that my party could have best used the funds to introduce loans to enable the youth start small-scale businesses or, indeed buy medical drugs for needy public hospitals—for alcohol impairs consumers’ thinking.
That is if I were the DPP outspoken regional governor for the South alternatively known as Chikuni cha Utsi, but I am not him!
During a rally at Njamba in Blantyre on Sunday, Michael Usi of the Wodya Zake Alibe Mlandu movement pledged unconditional support to the United Transformation Movement (UTM) led by Vice-President Saulos Klaus Chilima. Our reporter AYAMI MKWANDA caught up with Usi to unpack the move.
Usi: I am not desparate for positions, but to free Malawi
Q
: What has attracted you to join Chilima?
A
: The ultimate mission of the movements. When you look at the philosophy and issues that are raised by UTM and Wodya Zake Alibe Mulandu philosophy, both are talking about emancipating Malawians from the dungeon of poverty. Both are talking about empowerment, strategies which resonate with the philosophy of empowering Malawians. We are interested in respecting the rule of law. Malawi should be governed by policies and laws. No one should be above the law. Malawians should enjoy the fruits of development. We have had democracy since 1993, but governing parties seem not to embrace the principles of democracy.
Q
: In other words, you have joined UTM because…
A
: I wouldn’t say we have joined. We have partnered. It’s a partnership. When you say ‘join’, that would mean that the principles that we are embracing in Wodya Zake Alibe Mlandu Movement have actually been abandoned. This is an understanding based on what we are and understanding what Chilima’s philosophy is all about. We have come together as partners. I am not talking about positions, but a mission. When it comes to positions, it is his prerogative to see who to place where.
Q: At Njamba you called for mass empowerment to ensure Malawians no longer beg or depend on politicians. How is your movement empowering Malawians?
A
: I don’t usually talk about the good things I have done for people. But if you go to Mzuzu University, Malawi Police Service and various hospitals, not through Adra [Adventist Development and Relief Agency] but me, I have contributed something to the welfare of Malawians. These people will tell you what I am doing. I don’t want to mention names. That will be unethical. But I do what I preach. I strongly
believe that when Malawians are able to fend for themselves and earn some income, they will be powerful and make independent decisions. I don’t like seeing Malawians being beggars or looking up to politicians as solutions or to get money.
Q: Are you eyeing any position should Chilima win the presidency in next year’s elections?
A
: One thing that I like about Chilima as a person is that he has convinced me that he is not desperate for a position. I am also not desperate for a position. But we are desperate to help Malawians come out of the mess that we are in today. And this mess is not only from the DPP administration today, but a problem that has been persistent because of poor governance. So, I’m not there for a position. Right now, I am privileged to work with international organisations and have a CV that can take me where I can be and perform. With a position or not, I am in this movement for Malawians to earn what they deserve.
Q
: You criticised political leaders who quickly forget the people who voted them into power. If you get into power, can you criticise such leaders from within?
A
: It is not a question of just criticising, but understanding what ought to be done. I have been working with Adra. If you ask the country director Dr Tay Oden, he will tell you he received more criticism more from me as his deputy than from any other person. And he described me as his best colleague at work ever. When I criticise I don’t mean to destroy. I criticise constructively and I propose options that would make people better. So yes, I would offer my alternative options to what I see. If Saulos Chilima becomes the President of Malawi, I don’t think it will be difficult to criticise him because he listens and talks directly. I think that we can blend very well.
Q
: You have just earned a PhD. What is it all about?
A
: Governance. It focuses on the empowerment of the youth. And it goes into how policies have helped develop or derail Malawi. I am looking at issues slowing youth development and possible strategies that will help Malawi get out of poverty.
Q
: Do you have any ambition to contest at the UTM convention for any position?
A
: I will respond to that question when time comes, when the convention date is announced. I will see which positions to vie for. Now my headache is not about positions, but seeing Malawi out of this dungeon of poverty. If God told me I will die tomorrow, I would still do what I am doing today to help Malawi. It is not about my future, but Malawi as a whole.
Vice-President Saulos Chilima has parted ways with the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and is out to unpack his mission to reboot the nation.
As was the case in Lilongwe two weeks ago, his United Transformation Movement attracted a huge crowd in Blantyre on Sunday.
To Malawians yearning for change, he said it is high time the nation embraced new ways of doing politics and running government affairs which have been dented with rampant corruption and nepotism which benefit a few elites.
Chilima unpacks his agenda at Njamba on Sunday
“We want to reset the foundations on which the national development agenda can be built upon as things have been ruined,” he said at Njamba Freedom Park, a vast venue where the allure of every party is tested and rated by the numbers in attendance.
But this was a familiar message from the Citizen No.2 who once urged the citizenry against applauding mediocrity.
In his widely broadcast speech, Chilima spoke against more rot happening on the watch of DPP, from which his movement has sprouted.
He wants Malawians, both the electorate and elected officials, to stop doing business as usual and stop fearing elected officials.
But “doing business unusual” is not a new catchphrase. It is the same message he repeatedly chanted when he was at the helm of the Public Sector Reforms Programme now headed by lawyer Seodi White who once termed him a boy.
The onus is on the Vice-President, whom the oldest Cabinet minister Goodall Gondwe perceives as “a baby” too young to run State business, to prove that he is different from his predecessors who have all found the turnaround easier said than done.
Nothing new
Comedian-turned-politician Michael Usi deserved all the cheers that reverberated across Njamba when he told Chilima in the face: “You are not the first to fill this park with multitudes—neither the first to promise people heaven on earth.
“Leaders have come and gone, promising people paradise only to leave hell for them.”
Political commentator Rafik Hajat, the executive director of Institute for Policy Interaction, urges Chilima to talk less and do more to distinguish his push for radical reforms once abandoned by his equally vocal predecessors.
“Chilima’s agenda isn’t new,” he says. “But for the movement to achieve optimal impact, he must prove that he is different from the rest.”
In his agenda for transformative politics, Chilima has distinguished himself from the old-timers by persistently speaking of lost decades—a raw deal caused by high-level corruption and entrenched nepotism.
He says the country has enjoyed 54 years of independence with little to show as politicians get richer.
Political scientist Ernest Thindwa reckons that the anticipated fruits of independence continue to be “a mere mileage for the majority of Malawians” as inequalities widen and the rich elites are getting richer.
“Contrary to their envisioned free, prosperous, equitable and unified society where the Malawian symbolism would reign supreme over particularistic identities, what is obtaining is a society strangled by and struggling to shake off the yoke of abject poverty,” argues the lecturer at Chancellor College, a constituent college of the University of Malawi.
Now Chilima, who has been second in command of the State machinery for four years, blames the lost years on corruption, nepotism and cronyism.
For him, the country belongs to all citizens.
Tackling corruption
His speeches mirror a nationalist campaigner struggling to liberate the country from new captors and re-create a Malawi where those who work hard realise their potential long stifled by corrupt governors.
“Let us not segregate each other in terms of regions and tribes. That is why we formed this grouping—to be united while transforming the nation forward,” he said.
Corruption in Malawi is rampant.
As early as the turn of the millennium, the then Director of Public Prosecutions Fahad Asani told the press that the vice drains almost 30 percent of the national budget.
Chilima has not only promised to jail all corrupt Malawians if he wins next year’s presidential polls.
He has promised not to shield his political mentor, President Peter Mutharika, if he is proven guilty.
He has also composed a song in which he rejects corrupt leaders—and it gets loud sing-alongs from his hearers.
Ironically, the self-touted champion for financial accountability sounds reluctant to disclose sources of his political funding.
He reckons some donors may not be willing to have their names publicised for fear of reprisals from government, but this is not a new scapegoat.
It buttressed a time-honoured culture of secrecy which necessitated the passing of a new law which requires all political parties to disclose sources of their funding.
The Political Parties Act was driven by the parties themselves, says Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Samuel Tembenu.
Centre for Multiparty Democracy executive director Kizito Tenthani says the parties are familiar with demands to publicly account for their wealth, but the enforcement of the law has been slowed by government’s reluctance to appoint the registrar of political parties as required by the legislation.
To Hajat, this offers Chilima and his movement an opportunity to show their commitment towards transparency and accountability by voluntarily making known sources of UTM financing.
“If he wishes to win confidence as a transparent and credible champion, he must disclose the sources of his funding as well as his personal asset base,” he argues.
National development
A culture of secrecy offers a fertile seedbed for corruption and kickbacks the movement denounces and associates with deepening poverty.
The World Bank ranks Malawi the third poorest country at a time Mutharika relentlessly claims to be on track in his lofty ambition to transform the country like Europe.
National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) director Ollen Mwalubunju told The Nation recently.
“Economic and social rights—such as rights to food, education, health and employment are far from being realised. Poverty, nepotism, ethnic differences and unemployment are on the increase when it comes to access to national opportunities,”
And Chilima is says the nation is stuck in “a reverse gear” as a Ndirande Township where he lived in the 1970s looked more developed than the present one.
“Even in the cities, not many can afford a mere toilet paper. Even juice is seen as a drink of a selected few. Why? The country is failing to graduate from poverty,” he says.
He wants people to overcome fear and start demanding a fair deal from elected duty-bearers for the nation to develop.
“Do not fear political leaders,” says the Vice-President: Do not leak their boots. They must not be worshipped. They are not God.”
Bingu National Stadium (BNS) Youth Centre under the Ministry of Labour, Sports, Youth and Manpower Development will on August 11 host the international Youth Day to promoting art and talent among young students.
The day falls on August 12.
Luhanga: We have organised a number of arts activities
Temwanani Luhanga, coordinator of the BNS Youth Centre and chairperson of the event, said the event is targeting the youth because it is a commemoration for the youth.
“The International Youth Day tries to raise awareness on issues that affect the youth. So, government which has the welfare of the youth at heart decided to host this event,” she said.
Luhanga said since BNS was recently approved as a youth centre, it has engaged an extra gear to promote youth and matters affecting them.
“We have organised a number of arts activities that the youth will engage in and compete. There will be physical education teachers who will be judges and referees,” she said.
Government is partnering PSI in the event because according to Luhanga, PSI is interested in sexual and reproductive health issues among the youth.
“During the event, PSI will offer its services to the youth which is crucial,” she said
This publication however failed to get a response from PSI officials due to the institution’s bureaucratic system.
Other established artists such as Suffix will also perform during the event.
He said: “My work other than music involves reaching out to young people. My music is merely an outlet for the passion I have for art, but especially young people. I believe young people have a lot to offer and it is our responsibility to make sure they realize their potential and who has enabled them which is God.”
Other artists who will spice up the day include Fredokiss, Wikise, Luki and Vube.
The government has partnered PSI for the event while sponsors include Malawi Dairy Industries (MDI), Itel and Building Futures in Malawi.
Local R ‘n’ B music powerhouse Lawrence ‘Lulu’ Khwisa has said his experience at the Kigali Up Festival in Rwanda was so enriching and he has drawn so many lessons from it.
During the festival which took place from July 26 to 28 at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Lulu shared the stage with globally recognised reggae music icon Alpha Blondie. Another local artist, Third Eye, was signed up for the festival as well, but failed to make it.
Lulu: This festival really stood apart
In an interview on arrival, the Lilongwe-based artist said he has been exposed to a new angle of music and the energy and commitment that foreign artists invest in their trade left him baffled.
Lulu said: “I have performed at different festivals, but this one really stood apart. I met guys such as Americans Joey Blake and Kenny Wesley who are really good even without an instrument. It emphasises the point that an artist has to be good on his own before he steps in the studio.”
He said he will strive to instil a similar work ethic so that he fulfils his long-time dream of establishing himself on the international platform.
Third Eye, real name Mandela Mwanza, said he failed to make it to the festival because of some personal commitments which required him to be in the country on the dates the festival was scheduled to take place.
Jacobs Events through Wendy Harawa brokered the deal for the two to participate at the festival, and she says it is part of their initiative to help as many Malawian artists to gain international exposure and recognition.
The organiser of the festival, Popo Marigande, said the music event aims at celebrating the Rwandan culture.
One interesting thing about world order is that when security is mentioned, then it has to be physical. It should be security of a person, house or property. But one type of security threat that is generally ignored, or forgotten, is that of plastic bags.
These things look simple, innocent and perhaps enticing. But that is the trick plastics contain-waiting patiently and then pounce.
Thin plastics are said to be hazardous to health
Environment
If you live in rural or urban areas of the country, among the nuisance that you come across are plastics, they are almost everywhere, blowing across roads or snagged in tree branches and streetlights.
Some produce bad smells, a sign that they are used as latrines. Plastics get into soil and slowly release toxic chemicals.
In urban areas, plastic bags cause significant environmental harm. Runoff water carries them to sewers. Once in sewers, the bags often form clumps with other type of debris and then block the flow of water.
This prevents runoff water from properly draining which inconveniences those living and working in the area.
Roads often flood when storm sewers become blocked which forces them to be closed until the water drains. The excess water can damage cars, buildings and other property. It also collects pollutants and spread them far and wide where they cause additional damage.
Clogged storm sewers can also disrupt the water flow throughout watersheds. Research shows that blocked sewer pipes can starve local wetlands, creeks and streams of the water way they require which can lead to massive die-offs and in some cases, total collapse.
Animal killer
Animals suffer a lot at the hands of plastic bags. When they eat them, they suffer from health problems.
A number of cattle die every year after eating plastic bags that are found in places they graze.
Animals that swallow plastic bags often suffer from intestinal obstructions which cause them to feel full then slowly waste away and die from malnutrition or starvation.
Wildlife has not been spared by plastic bags. They are their silent killers which are taken into the protected areas by people who seem not to understand their danger.
Speaking to The Nation in May this year, Lilongwe Wildlife Trust (LWT) communications manager Anna Dunlop described the problem as widespread in the country’s national parks and game reserves.
She said hungry wildlife mistake plastic waste for food which, when swallowed, cause health hazards. This results in serious complications in the animals.
In 2007, Status of Waste Management in Malawi 2007- 2016, a study by Patrick Medius Nyirenda from the Department of Environmental Affairs showed that Lilongwe generates 109 metric tonnes of waste per day.
However, only 30 percent of the waste is collected for disposal while the rest is indiscriminately disposed in open spaces, rivers, roadsides and other places, according to the report.
The ban
These are just some of the negative effects of plastic bags. Government was so worried that in April 2013, it banned the ‘production, importation, distribution and the use of plastic bags whose thickness is less than 60 microns’. However, enforcement was a problem because manufacturers challenged it in court despite government giving them a two-year breather to prepare for the prohibition.
Seeing that nothing was moving regarding the ban on the use of plastics, Lilongwe residents marched in protest. They felt discouraged by the fact that while government had wanted to end the use of plastics, manufacturers got an injunction that tied government’s hands.
As people prepared to march in Blantyre, the court gave government a go-ahead to effect the ban. However, a month has elapsed since the court ruling and plastics are still being sold. Does this mean that government has failed?
Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining spokesperson Sangwani Phiri said government is committed to banning the use of plastics in the country.
He said it would be unfair to declare an instant stop to selling plastic bags because a lot have already been produced.
“It seems manufacturers took advantage of the time there was a court injunction to produce many plastic bags. But we know what is happening and shortly we will enforce the ban,” said Phiri but he could not give a time scale.
During the previous ban, some manufacturers were still producing plastic bags secretly which resulted in the ministry imposing fines on some.
Phiri said he is aware that despite the ban, there will still be manufacturers who will be producing plastics secretly.
“We know that some companies will be manufacturing them at night and even in their houses. We are ready with this and our officials will be on the ground. Manufacturers and everyone should know that since the court’s judgement, it is illegal to manufacture plastic bags,” he said.
Centre for Environmental Policy and Advocacy (Cepa) programme officer of biodiversity Agatha Nkhonjera welcomed government’s decision to start implementing the ban.
“We wanted to march against plastic bags use, but after the court’s rule, we stopped. We need to do away with them because they are a nuisance and have negative effects not only to the environment, but also to aquatic animals like fish,” she said.
Nkhonjera suggested that government should give at least three months grace period then completely ban the sale of plastic bags.
Meanwhile, the High Court has again suspended the enforcement of the plastic ban, a situation that Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (Wesm) has described as a disappointment and setback. n
Since flush floods buried her two-hectare maize field in sand and rocks in 2014, Vick Chiyagwaza has been surviving on relief items, including food.
The 42-year-old, from Mapeza Village near Mzokoto in Rumphi, was among victims of perennial floods in Phwezi, Bale, Jalawe and Chiweta in the least dense district.
Trail of destruction: A settlement wrecked by Phwezi floods early this year
Recently, the hillside strip has experienced massive floods, hailstorms and landslides that worsen hunger and poverty.
“We have been hit by floods for four consecutive years and I have lost all the land where I once grew crops. Now, my family is starving. I can no longer afford school fees and basic needs for my children,” says Chiyagwaza.
Peter Mzumara, a youthful farmer in the neighbouring Gonamkhanda Village near Phwezi, is also struggling. He lost a power generator, radio set, blankets, fertiliser and K100 000 to floods which affected 73 households last December.
The district agriculture office indicates that for the past three years, floods have destroyed 127.3 hectares of farm land belonging to 599 families in Mzokoto, Phwezi and Bale.
On the M1 Road, travellers see settlements and mountains and waterways devastated by chronic floods that sweep crops, livestock and other goods into South Rukuru River all the way to Lake Malawi in Mlowe.
Downhill, Mlowe residents scramble for goods washed down shops and homes in Mzokoto, Phwezi and Bale.
The trail of destruction is evident in the vast arable land being turned into sandy stretches in Mapeza and Gonamnkhanda.
Fingers of blame point towards the neighbouring hills, where new homes and crop fields are mushrooming in what used to be thick natural forests.
Rumphi district forestry officer Gift Nyirenda says the area is prone to run-offs due to massive deforestation, tobacco farming and uncontrolled cultivation on river banks.
The department’s “hands are tied” as most fragile areas—even mountaintops and riverbanks—remain customary land, he says.
“Mostly, such land is controlled and distributed by traditional leaders. Actually, people have cut down trees carelessly and are settling in fragile areas,” he explains.
He attributes this to lack of a national settlement policy to guide the locals on where to settle.
Senior Chief Mwankhunikira backs the calls for strict dos and don’ts amid rapid population growth.
“We need a settlement policy that will even guide us, as chiefs, when allocating land to our subjects. Currently, people are just settling anywhere and it’s difficult to question them with the growing populations,” says the traditional leader.
Unregulated settlements expose people to avoidable loss of property and life in disaster zones.
Following the annual disasters, government has been distributing relief items and putting in place measures to mitigate the suffering of affected communities.
Nyirenda says disasters will continue haunting rural population unless the tendency of settling in risky areas stops.
Disaster risk reduction is critical in improving human settlement and promoting sustainable land use and management.
District disaster management desk officer Alufeyo Mhango says it becomes difficult to relocate people from disaster zones in the absence of laws to empower the Department of Disaster and Risk Management Affairs (Dodma) and district councils to relocate communities from undesignated areas.
“The current situation is that everybody can settle everywhere he or she feels comfortable,” he says.
But Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources, Climate Change and Environment chairperson Victor Musowa says the Land Act gives government the power to stop the emergence of unlawful settlement.
He wants Malawi to learn from Tanzania where they use the Decentralisation Policy to regulate human settlement.
“In Tanzania, district councils have been empowered to formulate by-laws and committees to enforce such laws in communities. Empower every council in Malawi to come up with local by-laws and a committee in the community to enforce,” he says.
Last year, Musowa’s committee visited Tanzania where a bottom-up approach— from village and area development committees to the district council—is bringing sanity in the way settlements emerge.
When he visited flood victims at Phwezi in January, Vice-President Saulos Chilima, formerly head of Dodma, urged Malawians to stop settling in disaster-prone areas.
“There is no government, donor country or organisation that has money set aside to manage disasters, especially where they can be avoided. As such, we need to adopt preventative measures by conserving the environment through planting trees and avoiding construction in disaster-prone areas like river banks,” he said.
As change of mindset occurs slowly, Chiyagwaza and his neighbours are waiting for more handouts while shuddering to imagine another spate of floods further destroying their fragile livelihoods next rainy season.
I am tempted to concede that Vice-President Saulos Klaus Chilima grabbed the opportunity on Saturday at Masintha Ground in Lilongwe. He diligently sold his presidential candidature to Malawians and stood tall like someone who has a vision for Malawi.
The United Transformation Movement (UTM) launch was his opportunity to tell Malawians his dream for a Malawi beyond May 2019.
But what is SKC saying? He is determined to transform Malawi as the next President. Simple!
He announced that UTM rests on two broad missions: saving Malawi from destruction exacerbated by corruption and building a Malawi good for everyone.
Throughout his speech, Chilima emphasised on his commitment to fight corruption and enhance equity for all.
Like fallen president Bingu wa Mutharika, he also emphasised that Malawi has resources to develop itself.
SKC seemed to offer Malawians hope that Malawi can develop with the locally available resources if not diverted by corrupt leaders—a paradigm shift that calls for development from within.
Tanzania’s founding president Julius Nyerere said: “People cannot be developed; they can only develop themselves.”
SKC, marketed as a youthful and homegrown presidential candidate by many speakers at the launch, knows Malawi inside out. Educated and successfully worked in the country, he is not foreign to the real issues affecting Malawians.
But how does SKC intend to do things differently from the other five leaders who have ruled Malawi since independence?
Albert Einstein once said insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.
UTM calls for change. Thus, government reforms top UTM’s development priorities. Indeed reforms are a multisectoral strategy, foundational to any changes in how government transact business.
I feel SKC has won the hearts of many smallholder farmers with his indication that agriculture—income, value addition, nutrition and food security—is UTM’s second priority agenda.
The issue of structured markets has been the farmers’ outcry for ages. I wish some organisations in agriculture like Cadecom, CisaNet, Oxfam, Nasfam and FUM would let SKC commit this in writing. This is a serious issue. No more cosmetic and political rhetoric. Farmers have been cheated enough.
No leader can be faulted for committing to improve health service delivery. It is ironic that in the 21st century, Malawians continue to die of preventable and treatable diseases.
The role of education in the national development has not been well appreciated in the past regimes. The country’s education system experiences untold problems. Since SKC commented on higher education, I would like to bring to his attention that out of the 42 institutions of higher learning in Malawi, there are only four public universities.
Bingu dreamt of establishing five more universities, but only renamed Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) and established Malawi University of Science and Technology (Must) in Thyolo.
SKC thinks in a country where three quarters of the people still live in grass-thatched houses, housing ought to be a top development agenda. Malawians anticipate clarity on this point as the Malata Subsidy and Mudzi Transformation programmes have not been effective. SKC needs to underscore how he endeavors to enhance rural housing and development, given that about 80 per cent of Malawians live in rural areas.
The promise to create one million jobs in one year sounds appealing, but begs more questions.
The vision on transport infrastructure development sounds sensational. Indeed we need electric locomotives. Much has to change with the road and railway networks in Malawi. It is good SKC includes energy development in his manifesto, it’s a key sector.
Like the past governments, we hope that gender and women empowerment, social protection, security and land reforms will not only be mere lip service to woo voters in 2019.
As debate continues on United Transformation Movement (UTM)’s ability to pull large crowds during its two recent launches in Lilongwe and Blantyre, political analysts have advised the grouping to strategise on reaching out to the rural masses.
The analysts argue that much as UTM is seen to be gaining political ground, it has an assignment to reach out to rural areas which have up to 80 percent of the voting population.
Chilima unpacks his agenda at Njamba on Sunday
Chancellor College political scientist Ernest Thindwa hinted that while the movement is attracting huge numbers of people in its rallies in urban areas, a thing which should worry competitors such as Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), it is not an indication that it has a large following.
He said: “Having a huge turnout at a political rally is one thing and having the vote is another thing. We have seen situations in the past where a large number of people turn up to rallies but come voting, it’s disappointing. The turning up to rallies does not necessarily translate into votes even though it’s a positive indication.
“The key challenge for UTM is to sell the movement to the rural masses because that is where most votes are and people rarely change their electoral preferences. That can give a good indication of how strong the movement is because in this country, elections are decided by rural voters, not urban voters.”
Commenting on the issue, social and political commentator Emily Mkamanga said the movement needs to strategise on penetrating into the rural population because if they stick to urban areas, they will soon lose momentum like other parties.
Responding to the comments, UTM interim secretary general Patricia Kaliati said they appreciate the feedback.
However, she said they have already set up area committees, constituency committees and political district administrations in all corners of the country.
As Malawi joins the rest of the world in observing World Breastfeeding Week from August 1 to 7, the latest United Nations Children’s fund (Unicef) report has shown that the country’s breastfeeding rates within the first hour after birth has gone down, minimizing chances of child survival in the country.
According to the report newborns breastfed in the first hour of life are significantly more likely to survive, however a delay of a few hours after birth could pose life-threatening consequences.
The number of children who are exclusively breastfed in the first six months has gone down
Quoting the Malawi Demographic Health Survey, Unicef said, the number of children who are exclusively breastfed in the first six months has gone down from 71percent in 2011 to 61 percent in 2016.
The latest figures, between 2013 and 2018, ranks Malawi on position 11in the world with Sri Lanka on position one and Montenegro the last among the 76 countries.
The report further observes that about 78 million babies globally– or three in five – are not breastfed within the first hour of life, putting them at higher risk of death and disease and making them less likely to continue breastfeeding.
Reads the report in part: “Breastfeeding rates within the first hour after birth are highest in Eastern and Southern Africa (65 percent) and lowest in East Asia and the Pacific (32 percent).”
The report released by Unicef in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) encourages countries to advance policies and programmes that help all mothers to start breastfeeding in the first hour of their child’s life.
Commenting on the report, Unicef Malawi Representative Johannes Wedenig said breast milk alone is sufficient and beneficial for a baby to survive the first 6 months of life.
He added: “Breastfeeding gives every child the healthiest start to life. It is a baby’s first vaccine and the best source of nutrition. It can also bolster brain development.
“Family members, health care workers, employers and governments must support mothers so they can give their children the start they deserve. Babies are at greater risk of death due to diarrhoea and other infections when they are only partially breastfed or not breastfed at all. ”
It is recommended that children under six months be exclusively breastfed but nine percent of babies less than six months in Malawi consume plain water, three percent consume non-milk liquids, two percent consume other milk, and 18 percent consume complementary foods in addition to breast milk, according to Unicef.
Furthermore, seven percent of babies under six months are not breastfed at all.
Unicef ran a poll on its Short Message Service (SMS) polling platform- U-Report- to assess the knowledge and opinions of young people around breastfeeding where 96 percent of U-Reporters say they think that breastfeeding is important for children to survive and be healthy but only 57 percent know that children should be breastfed until the age of two.
Most U-Reporters, 66 percent, generally know that children should start eating complementary food in addition to milk when they reach six months old.
U-Report allows young people to share their views through regular opinion polling. It has 130,000 participants called U-Reporters, from across Malawi.
The Malawi Demographic Health Survey data shows that the proportion of children who are breastfed decreases with increasing child age from 91 percent among children age 12-17 months to 77 percent among children aged 18-23 months.
But Wedenig highlighted that breastfeeding keeps babies healthy in their first days and the benefits last well into adulthood.
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) says 875 138 people registered in the voters’ roll during the just ended phase two of the voter registration exercise ahead of the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections.
The registered voters in the phase represent an 83 percent turnout in the exercise that covered Dowa, Nkhotakota, Mchinji and Ntchisi districts.
MEC said it projected to register 1 048 080 voters in phase two.
Alfandika: Exercise caution with statistics
The turnout was slightly higher compared to the first phase conducted in Dedza, Kasungu and Salima districts where MEC reported that 798 351 registered, representing 73 percent of projected voters. Initially, MEC estimated to register one million voters at that phase.
This means 1 673 489 people have registered in the two phases. MEC projects to register 9.1 million voters over eight phases nationwide.
In a statement signed by chief elections officer Sam Alfandika, MEC said the total number of registered voters is 97 percent of the registration figure for the May 20 2014 Tripartite Elections which was 904 567 voters in the four districts of Dowa, Nkhotakota, Mchinji and Ntchisi.
He said 462 925 of the registered voters are women and 411 706 men.
Said Alfandika: “The commission is urging stakeholders to exercise caution with the statistics because they are based on preliminary information captured during field operations and might change during computerisation exercises.”
Different electoral stakeholders have raised concerns over low turnout, particularly in the first phase with Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) asking MEC to consider reopening registration in the affected districts.
But MEC said it needed to consult on whether it was necessary to re-conduct the exercise.
However, at the beginning of the second phase, some electoral stakeholders observed an improvement in the turn out as compared to the first one.
MEC chairperson Jane Ansah is on record as having said phase three currently under way in Lilongwe will be free of challenges.
United Democratic Front (UDF) says its new national executive committee (NEC) will meet soon to decide how the party will contest in the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections.
UDF president Atupele Muluzi, who reclaimed his position unopposed during a convention at Comesa Hall in Blantyre, said this in an interview with The Nation last evening.
Ngolongoliwa congratulates Atupele on his re-election
He said: “It is extremely important that we sit down as a party with the new leadership now in place to make sure that we set an agenda. The emphasis is on a new beginning for the party and hopefully we would also want to bring in new ideas.”
Atupele’s sentiments come barely a week after re-elected secretary general Kandi Padambo told The Nation in an interview that the party—currently in a working relationship with governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)—is open to coalitions as its constitution does not restrict the same.
Atupele, who is Minister of Health in President Peter Mutharika’s Cabinet, also said UDF will assess ideologies of political groups, interested individuals—including losing candidates at the convention—as it seeks a new beginning.
Besides Atupele and Padambo, others re-elected unopposed were Lillian Patel (vice-president for the Eastern Region), Victoria Mponela (vice-president for the Northern Region), Carlton Sichinga (treasurer general) and Andrew Mkana (deputy national organising secretary).
In the race for national organising secretary, Abubaker Mbaya beat Martin Jawadu while Ken Ndanga retained the post of publicity secretary after amassing 1 400 votes against 837 for Aisha Mambo.
The position of national campaign director went to Innocent Baisi who beat Austin Kalimanjira and Ibrahim Jamali while Mike Anthony defeated Clement Stambuli to become vice-president for the Central Region.
UDF’s new deputy treasurer general is Nelson Phoya who defeated Square Mkwanda; national director of elections is Wellington Nakanga who beat Pemba Mussa; and Lance Mbewe—UDF founding member Patrick Mbewe’s son—won the vice-president for the South after beating Frank Mkwanju. Ndanga’s deputy is Judith Ngwira while Dave Rally will deputise Padambo.
In attendance at the opening ceremony were Atupele’s father, former Head of State and UDF founding president Bakili Muluzi; and his colleagues Peter Fatch and Patrick Mbewe who were given a special mention for their contributions to the transition from one-party dictatorship to multiparty democracy in the early 1990s.
In his address, Bakili Muluzi called on politicians not to exaggerate the spirit of multiparty democracy as it is easily destroying the country.
He also urged people to exercise their democratic rights with responsibility and respect their leaders.
Said Bakili Muluzi: “Please do not destroy this country because of politics. This is the only country we have. Should we destroy it because of politics? Multiparty should not destroy this country.
“Whether mlamu [in-law] or not, you cannot stand on the podium and call your President mtchona.”
Padambo said Bakili Muluzi and his colleagues have directed the party on how democracy should be; hence, the party still remains relevant up to date.
Also present were Democratic Progressive Party vice-president (Southern Region) Kondwani Nankhumwa, secretary general Greselder Jeffrey and Southern Region governor Charles Mchacha. Lhomwe Paramount Chief Ngolongoliwa was also present as was United States of America Ambassador Virginia Palmer.
People’s Progressive Movement president Mark Katsonga, Umodzi Party president John Chisi, businessperson Leston Mulli, Senior Chief Kawinga and Senior Chief Kapeni were also present.
The convention budget was pegged at K75 million and it attracted about 2 500 delegates.
Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) Lloyd Muhara has come under fire for illegally extending the contract of Law Commissioner Gertrude Hiwa contrary to Section 133 of the Constitution.
In an interview yesterday in view of the communication from Muhara extending the contract that expired on June 21 this year, private practice lawyer John-Gift Mwakhwawa observed that the Chief Secretary’s action is in violation of the Constitution which provides that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) is the body constitutionally mandated to recommend to the President for a new appointment or extension.
Alerted the Chief Secretary about contract expiry: Hiwa
From the communication The Nation has seen, the JSC was not involved in the extension.
Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has since asked President Peter Mutharika and Hiwa to respect Section 134(2) of the Constitution.
In a letter to Hiwa dated July 27 2018, Muhara, himself a lawyer, advised the Law Commissioner to continue working as until a decision regarding her deployment is made.
Section 133 of the Constitution provides that the President, on the recommendation of JSC, shall appoint the Law Commissioner and Section 134(2) states that a commissioner shall serve a term of not more than five years and can be appointed for a further term or terms not exceeding five years.
Hiwa was first appointed to the position of Law Commissioner on June 24 2008 and her second term was renewed on June 24 2013.
In letters dated March 22 and June 21 2018, Hiwa reminded Muhara about the expiry of her term and also asked the Chief Secretary to allow her to continue serving in her position until an appointment was made.
In his response, Muhara said: “I have taken note of your notification. I wish to advise that you should continue to serve to continue working as Law Commissioner until the decision regarding your deployment is made.”
But Mwakhwawa said there is no provision in the law that the Chief Secretary would make the appointment or extend the term of the Law Commissioner. He said in the absence of the recommendation from the JSC, the decision of the Chief Secretary is unlawful and illegal.
He said: “The position is currently vacant if the term has expired. The only extension that can be made is by recommendation from the Judicial Service Commission and in the absence of that recommendation anything that is happening now with the holder of the office does not have the authority to conduct the business of the Law Commission.”
In her letter, Hiwa informed the Chief Secretary that she would continue to serve as Law Commissioner until she received directions regarding her replacement.
In an interview yesterday, Hiwa said all questions regarding her position in the public service should be referred to the Chief Secretary.
Muhara did not pick up his phone on several attempts. He also did not respond to a text message sent to his phone while Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda, who chairs the JSC, did not respond to questions sent to him through WhatsApp after he did not pick his phone.
In their statement jointly signed by chairperson Timothy Mtambo and vice-chairperson Gift Trapence, HRDC demanded that Hiwa repays to government all the benefits that have accrued as both a Law Commissioner and a member of Malawi Human Rights Commission after June 23, arguing such benefits were unconstitutionally and illegally obtained.
The coalition has also asked the President to appoint a new Law Commissioner as provided in the Constitution.
Malawi’s foreign missions have not remitted K357 million in passport and visa fees collected in the 2016/17 financial year, with government conceding that there is no system of remitting the funds back home.
Treasury Instruction 5.7.3 of 2013 states that revenue collectors “shall collect and account for revenue and other public moneys falling within their control in accordance with instructions issued by the designated Receiver of Revenue”.
Munlo: There are restrictions
The revelations in the Auditor General’s report comes against a background of the Immigration Department expressing concern that foreign missions do not remit money for passports and visas issued and are not held to account on how the money is used at the embassies.
In the end, the Immigration Department is left to answer queries from the Auditor General as contained in the 2016/17 report for the year ended June 30 2017.
In the report, the Auditor General found that the Immigration Department issued visa books to embassies worth K300.9 million, but there were no records to show that the money collected was accounted for.
The visa books are issued to allow visitors to Malawi apply and be allowed to visit the country through embassies available in their region.
Reads the report: “No report of revenue collected and how it was remitted or used could be provided. In the process, it was established that the office did not account for revenue totalling K300 986 899.08.”
In the same financial year, Immigration Department issued embassies with 1 138 passports worth K57.6 million, but this could also not be accounted for.
Chief immigration officer Masauko Medi said since the money is not remitted to the Immigration Department, Treasury and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation should account for it.
He said: “We cannot say the money has been misappropriated, but it does not come to Immigration Department. The money is not used without Treasury approval.”
Medi said his department has completed procurement processes for an e-visa platform and is awaiting authorisation from the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) to sign the contract in United States dollars.
In a separate interview, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Principal Secretary Isaac Munlo confirmed that foreign missions do not remit the money to Immigration Department because of financial regulations in the countries they are located.
He said: “The money that is generated through passports and visas is deposited in the revenue accounts of the embassies and we cannot use that money without authorisation from Treasury.”
Secretary to the Treasury Ben Botolo said foreign missions are not supposed to spend the money. He, however, confirmed that in most cases the funds cannot be remitted to Malawi because exchange control restrictions.
He also confirmed that Treasury has on many occasions authorised embassies to spend the revenue collected from passports and visas, with the intention of deducting from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation budget.
Battle lines have been drawn between rivals Nyasa Big Bullets and Be Forward Wanderers over the Flames highly-rated left-back Precious Sambani.
The Flames defender is reported to be boycotting training at Wanderers for two months following a dispute between the Nomads and his parent club, Namiwawa FC, over transfer fees payment.
Wanderers rivals Bullets, have taken advantage of the impasse between the youth team and the Nomads and enticed the youthful defender to join the red side of town once his loan deal expires at the end of season.
Bone of contention: Sambani in action for Malawi at Cosafa Cup
But Wanderers chairperson Gift Mkandawire yesterday warned Big Bullets to stay away from the player since he is still contracted to them.
“We sorted out the differences we had over his transfer fee payment. We still owe him, but we agreed on how to pay him his signing on fees. He is set to return to the club [second round] and will resume training tomorrow [Friday],” he said.
Mkandawire said he had already warned Bullets to back off but was aware that they still want to ‘steal’ the player.
“We heard that they had approached the player with an offer and I personally talked to Fleetwood Haiya [Bullets chief executive officer] that this will lead to chaos,” he said.
Haiya confirmed Bullets’ interest.
“I can only confirm that we want him not for this season,” he said.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) player transfer system manager Casper Jangale confirmed that the player still belongs to Namiwawa.
“The fact is that Precious [Sambani] is a Namiwawa player loaned to Wanderers until the end of the season,” he said.
Jangale said Wanderers and Namiwawa FC were better placed on what they agreed on what to do at the end of the loan deal.
“Of course, he can sign a pre-contract if he has six months to go with his club.”
But the loan agreement with Namiwawa FC, gives the Nomads the first option to sign him permanently, according to Wanderers.
The Nomads apparently, already agreed on the permanent deal with the player, but the they have struggled to pay the signing on fee.
Namiwawa coach Sailasi Luwindo, who also manages Sambani, insisted that the player would not return to Wanderers for failing to honour the agreement.
Apart from Sambani, the Nomads have also been struggling to pay signing on fees for Peter Cholopi, William Thole and Dan Kumwenda from Azam Tigers, Dennis Chembezi and Misheck Botomani from Premier Bet Wizards, due to what Mkandawire described as financial problems.
Isaac Chilemba’s opponent in tomorrow’s World Boxing Association (WBA) light-heavyweight title fight Dmitry Bivol says the South Africa-based Malawian boxer has a good chin, in reference to his ability to take punches without being knocked out.
The two clash at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in what will be Chilemba’s second shot at a world title after he was outpointed by Sergey Kovalev for the unified crown in Russia two years ago.
“He’s a tough and persistent guy,” Bivol, who is unbeaten in 13 fights with 11 knockouts, was quoted as having said by ESPN.
Tough and persistent: Chilemba
“He has a good chin. I expect him to move a lot, jab a lot and look to counterattack. He’s not an easy opponent. It’s hard to look good against him because of his movement. Every fighter that moves a lot is difficult.”
After suffering a major injury to his arm when he fought against Oleksandr Gvozdyk, Chilemba underwent surgery.
He was idle for a year and returned to the ring in March and re-launched his career after beating Blake Caparello.
Chilemba, 25-5-2 (10), who last won a world title—the World Championship (IBO) nine years ago—has twice unsuccessfully had a go at world titles, but says this time he will be crowned world champion.
He said: “Nine years ago I won a World Championship [IBO], only vacated after a single defence and moved up a division. Since then, I became WBC International Champion three times, won an Nabf Championship, ABU and WBO African Championships.
“I got a chance to fight for WBC World Championship twice, but came short in elimination challenges. Fought for a unified World Championship IBF, WBA, and WBO and still came short.”
The Golden Boy feels now is the time to reclaim his position among world title holders when he faces the Russian.
Chilemba said: “Now, nine years later since being a World Champion, God has blessed me with yet another opportunity at WBA World Championship. After all those fails, this time I’m not letting go.
“It’s time that I achieve what I have been chasing all these years, and I believe the opportunity came at a right time. I have the experience and been tested, August 4th is my day! I’ll be crowned as a New WBA Light Heavyweight Champion of the World.”
Malawi Police Service (MPS) outfit Blue Eagles will tomorrow parade the Airtel Top 8 trophy in Lilongwe.
The parade is scheduled to start from MPS Headquarters at Area 30 from 8am to Area 25, Area 49, Ntandire Area 3, Malangalanga, Mchesi, Biwi, Area 36. Kaphiri then bypass to Chinsapo, Likuni, NRC, Old Airport, Mbavi, Nsaru, Kabudula and back to Kabudula to Area 30 Senior Officers’ Mess for the climax of the celebrations.
Eagles general secretary Ulemu Kalua said the parade will concurrently run with the club’s anti-violence campaign launch.
Blue Eagles and Big Bullets (in red) battling it out in the Airtel Top 8 final
“We are also launching anti-violence campaign around townships. As law enforcers, it is our duty to sensitise people against violence,” he said.
Eagles chairperson Alexander Ngwale said during whistlestops, they will talk against football hooliganism, gender-based violence, killing of people with albinism and crime in general.
Eagles won the 2018 edition of the cup after beating Nyasa Big Bullets 1-0 last month at Bingu National Stadium (BNS).
However, the match was marred by violence after Nyasa Big Bullets supporters went on the rampage in protest against referee Misheck Juba’s added time penalty to eventual winners Eagles.
Bullets have since been fined K7.2 million and banned from the 2019 edition of the cup.
Director of sports in the Ministry of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development Jameson Ndalama says an incentives and welfare policy for sports persons is at an advanced stage and will be launched this year.
The director made the statement on Wednesday at the funeral of Malawi Queens’ legend Emma Mzagada in Chilomoni Township, Blantyre.
Mzagada’s daughters jointly lay a wreath on her grave
“It is unfortunate to lose this netball legend before we finalise the development of the incentives and welfare policy for sports persons, which will help to take good care of our athletes,” said Ndalama.
“As government, it pains to lose such important sports personalities. For your information, we are about to complete the developing of the welfare policy, which will be launched soon.”
Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) president Khungekile Matiya said they are keeping their fingers crossed to see the policy coming to life to help their players, most of whom suffer financial struggles after retiring from active netball.
The late Mzagada, who is survived by two daughters, died on Monday at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre after a long illness.
The multi-award winning legend started playing netball in 1985 and had stints with City Queens, Produsack, Whitex, Silver Sisters, PostNets and MTL Queens (now Thunder Queens) until she retired in 2009. The 50-year-old played for the Malawi Queens between 1995 and 2009.
The current Malawi Queens’ squad, NAM officials and government officials paid their last respects to the fallen legend during her ceremony.
The absence of prizes at regional phase of the Carlsberg Cup has frustrated at least 13 eligible teams from taking part this year.
All the regional leagues’ premier division teams qualify for the annual competition.
But Northern Region Football Association (NRFA) general secretary Masiya Nyasulu and Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) vice-general secretary Kingsley Simbeye yesterday confirmed the 13 teams have opted out due to lack of incentives.
FAM and Carlsberg officials during the 2018 Carlsberg Cup launch
Carlsberg Cup prizes are only distributed at the national phase, where 16 regional league teams (the best three from the North, five from the Centre and eight from the South) compete for the ultimate glory against 16 TNM Super League teams.
Zomba United are the only lower league side to reach the paid ranks when they lost to Nyasa Big Bullets in 2014 final.
Lufita FC general secretary Jailosi Ghambi, whose team is one of the NRFA sides that have abandoned the contest, said they spend a lot of money to fulfil their regional fixtures.
“At present, there is nothing that motivates us to join the Carlsberg Cup,” he said.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) acting competitions manager Casper Jangale said he would take the concern to the body’s competitions committee for consideration.
“The essence of the competition is for teams to aim for the ultimate prize. Regional teams can make it if they play their cards well because winning a cup competition is about the game plan. Nowadays, big teams struggle against the so-called smaller outfits,” he said.
Good people, a shunned show sponsored by the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) brought to mind a schoolboy definition of ‘savanna’.
I remembered my good ole teacher, clad in his faded stripped suit, milky spectacles and threadbare shoes, pacing across a crammed classroom to pick a pupil to distinguish a savanna from a rainforest.
“What is a savanna?” he would yell with hissing forcefulness, yet a savanna is just thick grassland with trees here and there”.
Substitute ‘trees’ with ‘drunks’ and you will have a fair picture of the music show DPP elites organised in a futile attempt to counter Vice-President Saulos Chilima’s rally at Njamba Freedom Park.
The mislabelled music party to ruin a rival’s rally was a day of small things, an empty ground dotted with drinkers of free booze standing far apart.
It appears DPP executives will stop at nothing in their agenda to create a drunken generation high on handouts and subsidies instead of ‘sweet for sweat’.
The party’s youth wing, branded Blue League, would have done better.
But this was not the first time their party was dishing out liquor to young citizens who need skills development and jobs more than intoxicating substances.
Even their leader, President Peter Mutharika, treated college students to an open bar when he bussed them to Sanjika Palace to speak against the youthful Saulos he loves to hate.
Well, it appears no one, not even a hurricane of sense, will prevent the President’s lieutenants from doing as much?
Enough of politics and all its ugly jazz!
These pages of straight talk shall not glorify the so-called dirty game, but take sides with artists’ power-hungry politicians’ abuse willy-nilly.
The sham of a show has earned international glow as a dark day scheming politicians in Malawi bought beer to ruin their new archrival’s rally.
In public entertainment, terms and conditions apply. One of them is integrity, a world President Peter Mutharika parrots more frequently that Standard Three pupils at Ukwe Primary School once recited Cats Sleep Anywhere.
This is why it was shocking when posters went public, bearing names of Umakwana hitmaker Piksy, Dear Jah Jah’s Fredokiss, Cholapitsa star Phyzix and Divorce singer Janta who admittedly had no idea about the show and its divisive agenda.
Piksy publicly distanced himself from everything about it. Phyzix preferred to be in the House of the Lord in Lilongwe, not at the drunken gig. Fredo graced Gwamba’s traditional wedding among the Vendas of South Africa and Janta opted to stay home instead of using his creative genius to prop up an undemocratic agenda.
Artists worth their salt know when to say NO. Desperate ones say yes, yes, yes.
Joseph Nkasa, Dan Lu and Nepman said yes and got whatever they wanted.
But this politics of using artists’ names without their express permission does not add any glory to the party in power. It has to take the lead in giving artists a fair deal, playing by laws of the game and protecting artists’ rights.
So, it appears the organisers of the show, where the youth signed loan forms without any address, were so desperate to pull off their undemocratic mission at all cost and did not care about integrity.
If this was really about offering the youth business opportunities, the graphic designer who put together posters littered with names of artists who were not consulted in the first place got a disgraceful job to forget.
But the rest of the show, which got a better crowd after the end of Chilima’s speech, was a sham that earned DPP deserved ridicule.
Politics, like music, is a game of numbers. The treeless ‘savanna’ that was the beery show conceal protect the youth from intoxicating substances was utterly shunned for what it really was-abuse of artists (except some were willing to be used like condoms ostensibly because pennilessness does not add any glory to the jobless ).
It was an affront to democracy and use of creative minds.
But every goat has a price. The artists who accept what choosers declined with a straight face named their price.
Yet artists who glorify causes that objectify artists as politicians’ toys and vessels of propaganda only edify enemies of their art. n
