As Malawi joins the world today in commemorating World Toilet Day, our reporter ALBERT SHARRA, analyses Malawi’s performance in achieving zero open defaecation.

On this Monday afternoon, the sun was overhead and the atmosphere was dusty, but life at Mbombwe Primary School in Chiradzulu was just electric.

Joyful faces were all over. It was a historical moment. For the first time in a long time, villagers in Sub-Traditional Authority (Sub-T/A) Onga were declaring their triumphant victory over open defaecation.

With a glittering smile, Sub-T/A Onga, clad in a black shoe, a pair of trousers, white golf shirt and a waistcoat, spent over 20 minutes walking around the school ground with his hands holding an Open Defaecation Free (ODF) certificate up, displaying it to scores of his subjects, who had turned up to celebrate the feat. And the handclaps that adorned the moment cheerfully confirmed a sense of conquest in the community.

“For three years now, we have not registered any cholera or diarrhoeal case,” said the chief cheerfully.

Just six years ago, every rainy season meant more cholera and diarrhoeal cases. health surveillance assistant (HSA) for Sub-T/A Onga, Kenneth Kiyare, says cholera and diarrhoeal cases were around 15 and 30 percent, respectively.

He says for the past three years, the community has not registered any waterborne  disease. The community’s success dates back to six years ago following the launch of the community-led total sanitation (CLTS), a government water and sanitation (Wash) initiative.

CLTS is an innovative methodology through which communities are mobilised to eliminate open defaecation. It combines behavioural change with appropriate local solutions, including latrine construction, to create a culture of good sanitation.

The approach was first adopted around 2008 to complement government’s efforts in meeting the 2015 targets of the now phased-out Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

In 2010, according to Unicef, while 81 percent of schools in Malawi had access to protected water sources, only 23 percent had acceptable sanitation. The  sanitation, which includes open defaection, coverage was only 65.4 percent. Water Aid says 9.6 million people in Malawi do not have a decent toilet.

Government adopted CLTS to scale up Wash services at community level. It partnered different institutions, including Unicef, Plan Malawi and Engineers without Borders. More focus was on improving hygiene through access to water and eradicating open defecation.

Kiyare says his community was among the first that responded to CLTS concept quickly. He says HSAs and chiefs started to meet and conduct sensitisation campaigns. This, he says, helped the community to appreciate its Wash problems and develop an interest to act.

“We have made good progress since 2015 after World Vision introduced Wash projects in our community,” he reveals. “They did not bring ideas, but they supported us to construct toilets with a strong roof, floor, wall and a lid plus a water facility outside the toilet.”

During our visit to Nayelo Village, we found a toilet and water facilities at every household. All facilities are made from locally available resources.

Two years after launching CLTS, government declared 53 villages ODF. More than 25 000 people gained access to adequate sanitation with other 321 villages working towards the goal.

Today, according to World Vision communications officer Charles Kabena, 101 T/As out of the 263 T/As have been declared ODF. This represents 38 percent. So far, only two of the 28 districts-Balaka and Ntchisi have achieved ODF status.

Although chief director in the Ministry of Health Beston Chisamile says Nkhotakota and Rumphi have also achieved the feat pending final assessment, the figures cast doubt that government will achieve a national ODF status by 2019 as planned.

“The progress is good, but we are concerned with the few households living without toilets. To achieve ODF every household needs to subscribe to the campaign and own a toilet,” says Chisamile.

Kiyare reveals that despite Onga achieving ODF status, there are some people in the community who are still living without a toilet.

But World Vision director of programme, Charles Chimombo, whose institution is among the core partners of government in Wash initiatives, is optimistic.

“ODF is achievable and the progress made so far is encouraging. We just need to continue with behavioural change campaigns in areas declared ODF to ensure we do not move back,” he says.

Chimombo says by having ODF communities now, it means Malawi is on track to achieve global goals because the target is 2030. He says what is needed is an extra gear to reach the remaining communities.

Goal six of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) urges nations to ensure there is universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.  The second core target under the goal is to ensure each country achieves access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all. This includes ending open defaecation.

The CLTS approach adopted to achieve ODF is viable. However, as the 2019 ODF deadline draws closer, Malawi needs more than rhetoric in Wash projects if it is to reach the remaining 160 T/As still practising open defaecation. n

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Malawi Defence Force  (MDF) soldier Ndacha Mcherenje braved the 42.193-kilometre (km) stretch to win the Blantyre City Marathon in the men’s category yesterday.

Mcherenje finished the distance in 2:27:10 hours (hrs) to beat 70 other athletes while Hosea Chaola was 18 seconds behind to claim silver and Mphatso Nandolo settled for bronze in 2:28:42 hrs.

However Chiyembekezo Jamali, who took the lead all the way to the 30km mark, failed to pull through as he was pushed to fifth position, finishing 11 minutes behind the champion.

Another top athlete, Chancy Master, also failed to keep the pace with 10km left and finished just outside podium position on fourth position while the 2007 champion Mike Tebulo dropped off limping after covering 30km.

In the women’s category, Tereza Master and her rival Doris Fisher battled all the way to the finishing line.

But Master won gold medal in 3:19:49 hrs while Fisher settled for silver, clocking 3:20:37 hrs while promising athlete Nalicy Chirwa got bronze medal in 3:22:35.

Champions in both men’s and women’s events received K1 million each, silver medallists got K500 000 each while bronze winners took K250 000.

The prizes were revised after Minister of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development Grace Chiumia directed that women’s and men prizes should be equal.

In her speech, the minister commended Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) for reviving the Blantyre City Marathon, 12 years after the last one,  sponsored by Nico Holdings, was held.

“We need to start such programmes immediately as we were doing before because sports is important as it gives people an opportunity to earn a living,” she said.

Chiumia advised Sports Council to publicise such events to attract more athletes to participate.

MNCS executive director George Jana said the competition would be sustained and extended to other cities.

The event also incorporated relay races and fun run events were also held. n

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The Minister of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development Grace Chiumia yesterday urged sports associations to work together and develop a national sports development plan.

In her key note address during a national sports conference at Malawi Sun Hotel in Blantyre, the minister said the initiative will help to ensure proper selection and training of athletes and technical officials.

“I have noticed that there is no collaboration and coordination among sports bodies. This has led to poor planning and implementation of sports programmes, resulting in poor performance in international event,” she said.

“I expect all sports bodies, led by the sports department, to develop a comprehensive national sports development plan.”

Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) president Khungekile Matiya and Athletics Association of Malawi (AAM) general secretary Frank Chitembeya  welcomed the development, saying it will help to uplift sports standards in the country.

She said: “It is really important for us associations to work together and bang heads because we have different skills and expertise that can benefit us all.”

On his part, Chitembeya said: “We do not need to work in isolation. We can achieve our intended goals if we join hands to develop sports. For example, we can have a deliberate plan for an athletics event to curtain raise a high profile football match.” n

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Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu says the Flames did not lose to Comoros on Saturday, but a French select side.

He was reacting to the Flames’ 2-1 loss to lowly-ranked Comoros in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations’(Afcon) qualifier in Moroni which virtually ended Malawi’s campaign that yielded nothing.

Nyamilandu also accused the Indian Ocean island nation of “buying foreign nationals to make a national team”.

He said: “This is unfair practice and its immoral.It’s tantamount to cheating to buy success. The reality is that Malawi lost to French select and not Comoros.

“It defeats the whole purpose of fairplay and the spirit of nationalism [and] I won’t stop denouncing this shameful practice.

“A small nation which is the size of Likoma Island cannot raise a national team to beat Malawi. What’s the difference with cheating?”

The FAM president, who is also a Fifa Council member, said at continental level, Africa will continue to lag behind “because we are developing European football players and not exposing real African players”.

Asked on the way forward, the FAM boss said it had been a rough campaign, but it could have been better.

“We did not yield the desired results from the rebuilding exercise, but I am sure this will put us in good stead for the future.

“It was a necessary investment that has seen a lot of talented players coming into the team, but unfortunately it has come at a cost,” he said.

Nyamilandu said the Flames should have still won against Comoros “irrespective of them fielding French nationals”, but they lacked depth and the killer instinct.

However, local football analysts Charles Nyirenda and George Kaudza Masina said the FAM president was missing the point.

Said Nyirenda: “The president’s outburst is misplaced. I thought we beat the same side at Bingu National Stadium, that time we did not complain and now it is an issue because we have lost?

“Comoros have not committed any crime because Fifa are very clear on how a player can be allowed to change his nationality and it happens elsewhere. It is not an issue at all.”

He said the problem in Malawi is that things are done haphahazardly and not much is being done to develop players.

“If Comoros featured French nationals, then that should be their problem in terms of the future and not ours. We should concentrate on doing the right things,” said Nyirenda.

On his part, Kaudza Masina said: “Whether Comoros featured a French select side or not is not an issue. We have seen France winning the World Cup with the bulk of players that have migrated from other countries.

“I thought it should have been time to conduct some soul-searching on the way forward.”n

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Blantyre Sports Club (BSC) golfer Edward Kauka on Saturday won the two-day 2018 edition of the HaBp and Castrol Oils Suppliers Limited Invitational Golf Tournament at Mulanje Sports Club (MSC) to end his two-year drought.

In the women’s category, Connie Karuku’s sheer excellence again shone like a flare when she defended the title.

Excitement was the prevalent emotion for Kauka who had a 68 net score to pip Harold ‘Shoulder’ Lungu who had 69 net.

As a sponsor, Lungu, who is HaBp managing director, was a model of modesty as he surrendered his prizes to third-placed Ajay Singh (61 net), who is also MSC golf captain.

For his feat, Kauka received a trophy, a five plate Logik gas burner and oven, K150 000 worth of fuel and 10 litres of Castrol GTX 25W50 oil.

“Today was my day. I had so many pars and a number of bogeys. This is the beginning of good things to come and come next year, I will be on top of my game,” he said.

In the women’s category, Karuku, also from BSC, had a 67 net score, a feat that earned her a trophy,  a Hisense washing machine, K80 000 worth of fuel and 10 litres of Castrol GTX 25W50 oil.

“I am proud to have defended the tile because it is a major. My game was balanced and I managed a number of pars and a few bogeys,” she said.

Her runner-up was Arnese Araujo who had a 71 net score while Faith Samati (72 net)—who also had the longest drive—was third.

With a net score of 73, veteran golfer Gilbert Chirwa won the seniors category. He pipped second-placed Bashir Shariff (74 net), who in turn, counted out Sope Kayira. Chirwa was also nearest to the pin.

Rajiv Rawat (74 net)  triumphed in the tea estates category while Prem Singh (80 net) was the runner-up while Simon Grant (81 net) was third.

Kingsly Chimdima Mhango, Grant Mwenechanya and Greig Hubbard had two clubs and got away with K33 000 each.

Lungu also had the best gross of 77 while Paul Araujo had the longest drive in men’s category.

The lubricants supplier’s technical services and sales manager Canaan Kumwenda said this year’s tournament was about informing the golfers on their migration from BP to Castrol branded lubricants.

“That is the theme of our tournament this year, but even though things have changes, the quality is still the same,” he said.

Lungu said they were impressed with the turnout of 114 golfers.

“I would like to thank you all for gracing our competition. It has been great. Keep on supporting us, we want to see you again next year,” he said.

HaBp donated K500 000 towards the maintenance of the greens.

MSC board member Jim Melrose thanked HaBp for sponsoring the event, saying it is probably the premier golf tournament in Malawi. n

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Nyasa Big Bullets are impressed with friendly games they played in Tanzania against JKU of Zanzibar and Simba from mainland  last week in preparation for CAF Champions League game against Kenya’s Gor Mahia.

The games, played on Thursday and Friday, ended in goalless draws, but Bullets beat JKU 2-0 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre three weeks ago in another friendly game.

Bullets chief executive officer Fleetwood Haiya said the games had offered them a good test to work on their weaknesses ahead of the Champions League game.

“The games were very crucial in our preparation  for CAF and not conceding a goal in both games is a good result. We have successfully achieved our purpose of the friendlies,” he said.

Haiya commended Bullets board of directors for supporting the trip.

“We thank the board for allowing us to have the friendlies abroad,” he said.

The CEO said the team would now focus on preparations for the Gor Mahia game.

“No more friendlies as next week is the CAF fixture week.”

Silver Strikers, who have joined CAF Confederations Cup are also arranging a friendly game against Ethiopia’s St George on their way to play a Gabonese side, AO CMS. n

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The Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) says despite the country being “deep in the lean period” in foreign exchange availability, the import cover is still healthy to sustain critical imports.

RBM spokesperson Mbane Ngwira was responding to observations that the kwacha has lost ground, particularly against the dollar and that foreign exchange reserves have slightly dropped in recent weeks.

In an interview, he said this year’s foreign exchange reserves at $1.09 billion (about K804 billion) or five months of import cover, compare favourably with 2017 and are far much better than 2016 when Malawi had about 2.6 months of import cover, but the kwacha was stable.

“From July to mid-November, a reduction of 0.3 months of imports or $90 million (about K66 billion) translates to $20 million (about K15 billion) a month. This cannot be attributed to the lean period. In fact, we are now deep into the lean period, but the nation as a whole has about five months of import cover,” said Ngwira.

He said the country is also expecting the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank reviews to be favourable and could result in an injection of further foreign exchange.

“Presently, our import cover is above three months and we intend to move to six months. We have also seen that the market is able to clear itself, an indication that demand for foreign exchange in the market has been matched by supply.

“We, therefore, do not see any deficits on the kwacha, but rather there will be some surplus,” he said.

Commenting on the movement of the kwacha, Ngwira said the central bank has and continues to enhance its open market operations—the purchasing and sale of security in an open market by the central bank—by mopping up excess liquidity on the market; hence, no possibility of worrisome kwacha depreciation.

“We do not see any pressure on the kwacha in the near or foreseeable future. There are many exchange control policies that we have and follow at the central bank,” he said.

Over the past month or so, the kwacha is losing some ground against the dollar, now trading at around K738 from K733 to the dollar, where it had stabilised for some time.

In its monthly economic report for October, investment management firm, Alliance Capital Limited, said although the foreign exchange reserves are still above the internationally accepted three months of import cover, the downward trend is due to the pressure of the lean period.

During the lean period, foreign exchange is spent on buying mostly agricultural inputs, apart from the usual fuel and medical drugs.

University of Malawi’s Chancellor College (Chanco) economics professor Ben Kaluwa said Malawi is heavily dependent on imports; hence, always depleting its foreign exchange.

He said during this period, Malawi has already exported most of its commodities such as tobacco and is now importing farm inputs, medicines and fuel, among others.

His colleague, Chanco’s economics lecturer Lucius Cassim cautioned the central bank against tampering with the policy rate which is at 16 percent. n

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Technical, Entrepreneurial, Vocational Education and Training Authority (Teveta) has launched its five-year strategic plan with a call for innovation from technical colleges.

The strategic plan, to run from 2018 to 2023, seeks to scaleup Teveta’s efforts in regulation and compliance, quality and relevance, access and equity, institutional strengthening and mainstreaming of cross-cutting issues in its programmes.

Speaking in Blantyre on Friday during the launch, Ministry of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development Principal Secretary Joseph Mwandidya said the plan is crucial in the implementation of Teveta’s programmes.

He said: “The strategic plan is going to give guidance on how Teveta should move forward.”

On his part, Teveta board chairperson Gilbert Chilinde said through development planning, the authority has seen growth in its programming.

However, he cited lack of tutors in its colleges as one of the challenges, but said the authority is discussing with University of Malawi (Unima) and the Malawi University of Science and Technology (Must) to assist in training more tutors for the colleges.

Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) vice-president James Chimwaza called on the private sector to support Teveta by paying Tevet levy and offer attachment places to students from Tevet colleges to gain practical experience. n

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Malawi’s increasing external debt stock continues to come under the spotlight with fresh figures from the World Bank report showing that external debt has risen to $2.168 billion (about K1.58 trillion) from $1.847 billion (K1.35 trillion) the year before.

The International Debt Statistics, which is the World Bank’s compilation of statistics covering external debt and financial flows of 121 low and middle income countries during 2017 shows total exports for the country marginally rose to $172 million (about K125 billion) from $151 million (about K110 billion) in the year before.

Malawi’s external debt figures in the review period represent an approximately 17.3 percent increase compared to the prior year, raising fears the situation could be unsuitable if left unchecked.

University of Malawi’s Chancellor College economics lecturer Lucius Cassim, in an  interview yesterday, feared the growing external debt is a burden on future generation, and could lead to increased taxes.

“Increased borrowing means an increased burden on the future generations and the economy at large. We fear that if left unchecked, we may see Malawians being heavily taxed to enable government service the loans which may in the end strain the country’s economic growth,” he said.

Cassim argued that if authorities manage the country’s domestic resources properly, the country could reduce borrowing from both external and internal sources.

He said: “Over the years, we have seen government misusing public resources.  This in the end leaves us no choice but to borrow from both domestic and external sources.

“The important thing for us to do now is to manage public funds because this is the major factor contributing to increased borrowing.”

Malawi’s public debt has increased rapidly since the country got a relief of its external debt in 2006, a development analysts say consumes about 15 percent of the national budget in interest payment alone.

Available figures show  that Malawi has in the past 10 years spent K123 billion on debt servicing and that is required to cover the repayment of interest and principal on debt for the period, out of which K52 billion was interest payments.

In September 2006, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank wrote-off Malawi’s $2.9 billion (about K2.1 trillion), which totalled 90 percent of the official foreign debt.

This reduced Malawi’s debt to around $400 million (about K295 billion). n

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People of Kachewere Village in Sub-Traditional Authority (ST/A) Masache in Chikwawa District will always remember March 3 2017 when unknown assailants attacked two brothers with albinism, Alfred and Yohane Misoya.

Alfred, 24, recounts that in the wee hours of that fateful day, unknown thugs broke into their house carrying pangas and knives to harm them.

“Memories of the incident still haunt us. My brother and I were fast asleep when four men broke into our house in the early hours of that day. We were sleeping in different rooms then when the men wielding pangas and knives stormed into our respective rooms and hacked us,” he recounts.

The brothers, in panic, shouted to alert their neighbours who rushed to their rescue. When the thugs noticed people coming to rescue the two brothers, they escaped and disappeared.

“Our lives have not been the same since that incident. We feel like we are no longer in a free world,” explains Yohane Misoya.

However, the two brothers thank the police and the community for providing protection to them from the time they were discharged from Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (Qech).

Looking back, the other brother, Yohane attributes their attack to the house they were living in, saying it had made it easier for the thugs to attack them as it was poorly constructed.

“If we lived in a well constructed house, the situation would be different. The house had no door protectors,” says Yohane.

Alfred concurs with his brother that most people with albinism in the country are going through such experiences for what he regards as lack of proper care and protection.

“Proper housing with well protected doors, windows, well-reinforced walls and, possibly, a fence, would likely save us from the attacks,” says Alfred.

Interestingly, Alfred, a Form Four student at Migoti Community Day Secondary School (CDSS), aspires to become a lawyer and contribute to the fight for the rights of persons with albinism in the country.

Soon after the attack in March 2017, President Peter Mutharika directed that two houses for the two brothers be constructed to ensure they have proper care and protection. The houses were constructed through government’s Decent and Affordable Housing Subsidy Programme (Dahsp) under the grant component. Government spent close to K8 million for the construction of the two houses, each with two bedrooms, a kitchen, toilet and bathroom.

On October 28, 2018 Alfred and Yohane realised their dream of living in a decent house when the former Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Anna Kachikho handed over the two houses to them.

Visibly elated, ST/A Kachewere expressed gratitude for the construction of the two houses.

“It is quite pleasing that today we are receiving the two houses for the two brothers which will likely enhance their security. These two houses have brought joy not only to the beneficiaries but also to the entire community,” Masache said.

He hailed the police and communities for working together to enhance security of people with albinism. Chikwawa District has 54 registered persons with albinism.

Alfred and Yohane could not hide their excitement as they walked with their shoulders high side by side with Kachikho and scores of other community members behind them to receive the keys for their decent houses.

“I wish the houses had solar power to help light up the place in case thugs come again to attack us in the middle of the night when we are out, probably, to answer nature’s call,” he said.

On her part, Kachikho said the two young men had received a lifetime protection gift from government and it was quite pleasing to note that what many people thought was only lip-service had been fulfilled.

“Government is ensuring that vulnerable groups are not left out within the Dahsp Consideration goes to the poor, the elderly, people with disabilities and children, that is what we are seeing today,” Kachikho said.

However, the former minister said government cannot do this alone. “So there is need for other players to come in with support for the vulnerable groups to enjoy their rights and have access to basic necessities.” n

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It was a night of fun and laughter on Sunday  when four of Africa’s top comedians held a joint performance in Lilongwe.

The four comedians entertained patrons at Bingu International Convention Centre (Bicc).

All roads led to the magnificent venue such that as early as 7pm, scores of vehicles had pulled up at the Malawi Square.

Qoncept Creative brought together highly-acclaimed comedy forces in the names of Uganda’s Anne Kansime and Coltida Inapo, Malawi’s Daliso Chaponda and Zimbabwean Carl Joshua Ncube under the Grand Coalition banner as part of the Kweza Arts Centre fundraising project.

Chaponda once again proved why he is regarded as one of the best comedians of the moment. He left no stone unturned as he joked about slavery and racism and how he was called “a Penguin and I was left confused because they are cute”.

He showed how much he follows local current affairs, especially  political issues which is not surprising given that his father George Chaponda is a politician. He did not spare his dad as he threw several jibes at him.

“I was relieved that nobody thought my dad had started the fire at Lake of Stars this year. Last time I was here [Malawi], I could not say anything as stuff was still in court [referring to Chaponda’s Maizegate court case].

“I was relieved when he was cleared because I was 80 percent worried that he was going down. I was going to say ‘Dad they say you stole money and you didn’t give me any,” he said sending the auditorium, including his father, into wild applause.

He moved on to a topic that perhaps none in the audience thought about. On American pop singer Madonna and her love for Malawi.

“We are not doing enough to sell Malawi. Madonna has not come back to adopt a fifth. We need to send her a catalogue, better still, we need to develop an app with cute orphans where she will swipe right to choose from,” he joked.

Moving back to politics, Chaponda had no kind words for Vice-President Saulos Chilima.

“I thought I was Malawi’s best comedian but he [Chilima] is funnier than me. I listened to his BBC Hard Talk programme and the way he was answering the questions. It was absolutely hilarious,” joked Chaponda, visibly enjoying himself and the moment.

In a fashion similar to what happened during her maiden visit in 2014, Kansiime got on stage dancing but this time it was not Tsika by Sonyezo but Tay Grin’s Lubwa.

“Malawi, the love you have for me makes me worry… Let me make myself comfortable before I start talking,” she said before taking off her fluffy wig, adding, “Let me make you laugh and give you a balance.”

She then joked about her failed engagement.

“For five years, I was engaged to a man. He did a degree in me, he booked me for five years, imagine, the whole of me. Of course, it is not much but this is me,” she joked while pointing at her svelte self and continued, “Some of you are sitting on something that is not yours”.

One of the show’s hosts Patience Namadingo mocked the current crop of prophets in terms of how they preach before calling on stage Inapo, another Ugandan comedian.

“Nowadays the greatest fear for women is no longer labour but growing fat,” she joked before taking foreigners head on.

“I saw a Chinese guy with a Malawian passport yet there’s nothing African in them. Even when they pass it’s like a blackboard ruler walking,” she joked.

Then it was Ncube’s turn who joked mostly about politics in his country, Zimbabwe.

“The last time I was in Malawi, Mugabe was being removed from power and up to now, nothing has changed.  Mugabe ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years and I am turning 39 and that’s how I wasted my time,” he remarked.

Random interviews after the show indicated satisfaction on the part of the audience. Many felt the show was too good for the gate fee of K15 000 per head.

“This was unbelievable. Daliso is a world-class act, so is Kansiime. Ncube and Inapo are both great and I wonder why they are not well known yet,” said Charity Liwonde, a patron. n

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Apart from hosting tutorials, Room B at the University of Malawi’s (Unima) Chancellor College (Chanco) is renowned for being a workshop for writers critiquing literary works every Thursday evening.

The Writers’ Workshop itself is as old as the Chanco campus in Zomba which opened in 1973. Then, the literary discussions used to take place at the Senior Common Room before finding a home in Room B.

Situated along the Administration Corridor down the School of Law, the room has remained a haven for writers 45 years on. And on November 8, the room saw another discussion take place, oblivious of the chatter from students passing in the long corridors outside.

On this chilly night, writers discussed four pieces of poetry: Amarantha,Gowokani, Catalayah and Anonymous.

The first was Phindu Banda’s Amarantha in which the persona is cautioning young women not to fall prey to men’s sweet promises as their intentions, just as those of bees that suck a flower dry of its nectar, are bad.

From the second stanza the warning goes: “When that boy with skin like earth comes to you/And whispers sweet nothings in your ear/When he whispers that you are more beautiful than the flowers the Lord made/Take a step back, look him in the eyes and say ‘Thank you, I know.”

Commenting on the imagery of the poem, Pemphero Kathumba observed that Amarantha symbolises the flower of immortality.

“Amarantha is a flower that is believed to never fade or die. It is this flower that a young man is comparing to a woman whom he has fallen in love with in the poem,” he observed.

However, the woman in the poem sees through the deceit in the man and speaks to herself, thus: “Remind yourself that flowers die when they are picked.”

And in his contribution, head of English Department Ken Lipenga Junior (PhD)mentioned the irony in the title Amarantha.

“The title is ironic when it says it is immortal, yet, flowers fade, just as beauty itself,” observed Lipenga.

Banda’s second poem, Gowokani, is an apology to anyone the persona might have offended wittingly or otherwise whose tone is angry and defiant at the same time.

“To every woman I have scandalised, knowingly or otherwise/With my tongue ignoring the ways of our kind, having the lights of its own/Or my feet taking me to places forbidden to the chitenje-clad group I belong to/It was never my intention to leave a cloud of dust in my wake/Just that/Sometimes I took ‘fumbi ndiwe mwini’ too far,” reads third stanza.

Lipenga opined that society is limiting the freedom of the individual in this poem and the struggle is that of the self against society.

“There is an acknowledgement that human beings are not perfect. That is why the persona does not care about what people will say to her, bubbling with anger because society is defining her,” he argued.

Arguably, the individual’s struggle to assert herself in society is a motif in Phindu’s poetry, taking the path of the old age philosophical dilemma on the illusion of freedom as postulated by the French philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau who said man was born free but is everywhere in chains.

Then Anonymous by Pemphero Kathumba is a poem in which the persona rues the lost chances of life with the message going to the unknown addressee with a tone of regret for having failed to achieve things in life because of procrastination.

“I am the portrait Da Vinci would’ve painted/The ‘tragedy’ Shakespeare took to his grave/The years Bingu never saw through/ ‘Dear Papa’ Tupac would have released,” reads the first four lines.

Reading the poem one discovers that the poet was inspired by Robert Frost’s poem The Road Not Taken as it portrays someone who had squandered his productive years of life pursuing mundane appetites instead of working hard to get important things.

The last piece for the night was Catalayah by Wendy Hara, a poem addressing gender based violence issues.

“Because of a man who knew only of planting his seed inside me but could never tend to the flower that was to grow/Throwing fists/Throwing knives/Throwing me/And one day I hit the ground/And you shattered/And I bled/and you bled too/and you died/and I died too,” reads the final stanza.

Lipenga’s take in this poem was the contrast of the innocence and brutality depicted in stanza one line five which goes thus: “The tiny footprints you made on the home we shared, I could never erase them, and you had me wrapped around your finger while his fingers were wrapped around my neck.”

In the end, Banda asked Lipenga to give his observation on modern poetry in comparison to the traditional poetry written by the generation of Jack Mapanje, Steve Chimombo, Anthony Nazombe, Frank Chipasula, Zondiwe Mbano and others.

Lipenga observed that the emerging poetry in Malawi both in vernacular and English language lacks criticism that was there during the time of the generation of the Mapanjes.

“Poems are being produced but the criticism is not there. The Mapanjes and others had their poems critiqued. That is what made their works attain high quality,” he explained.

At 7.51pm, the writers, with faces beaming with joy, made their way out, some heading to the library and others to their residence halls, satisfied with an hour well spent in Room B. n

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Bandawe Station Choir of the Thipula CCAP congregation in Nkhata Bay have said all preparations for the launch of their latest DVD titled Mulumbike on December 2 are complete.

Choir secretary Yolam Nyirenda in an interview said the production of the DVD, which was handled by John Nguluwe of Positive Arts, are through.

“The production of the DVD was completed some months ago. We are now launching it on December 2. The launch will take place at Thipula CCAP Church located at Bandawe in Nkhata Bay. We, therefore, urge all music fanatics to come and grace the launch,” he said.

Nyirenda said the DVD is the third from the choir.

He said the launch will attract several choirs such as Gospel Ambassadors from Lilongwe, Kakoma Church Choir from Embangweni, Mchengautuwa CYF from Mzuzu, Mathabwa Fellowship and many more.

“It will be a family day of music. People should expect a good performance from the choir,” said Nyirenda.

He also said the 25-member choir plans to take the launch to other places after the Nkhata Bay launch.

The audio songs contained in the DVD were all recorded at Roy B Studios in Kawale, Lilongwe by Robert Liwawa.

According to Nyirenda, all the songs have a traditional beat.

“The DVD contains 10 songs. All but two are in Tonga. These are traditional songs,” he said.

A music fan, Happy Kondowe, said having listened to the group on radio, it is time to watch the group live in performance.

“I have listened to the Bandawe Station Choir. Their songs contain mature message, and this time I am going to attend the launch to see how they perform on stage,” said Kondowe.

Some of the songs include Ndimwi Yesu, Calvary, Kankhuskani Chiuta, Mulumbike, Zowala, Petulo, Yona and Ndasankha Kuyenda ndi Yesu. n

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Despite crashing out of the 2019 Afcon qualifiers after losing to Comoros, National football team coach Ronny van Geneugden (RVG) has expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Flames.

He said they are moving in the right direction.

The Flames mentor was reacting to the team’s elimination from the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers following the 2-1 loss to Comoros on Saturday.

“We should not have an attitude whereby when we win then everything is good and when we lose then everything is bad.

“We have to look at the bigger picture. We have a strong foundation and a good development programme [in place].

“So, I would say we are going in the right direction,” said RVG on Sunday evening.

He said the team created a plethora of chances, but failed to make them count.

“We had both the [TNM] Super League leading scorers Chiukepo [Msowoya] and Gastin [Simkonda] and it’s just bad lack that we are failing to score.

“So, the programme for next month is to continue bringing in young players that are ready such as Patrick Phiri who came in as a substitute in Comoros and showed strong character by scoring a goal.

“Now, we need to draft more of them from the Under-20 and Under-23 teams into the senior team step by step,” he said.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu on Monday said the rebuilding exercise did not yield the desired results.

“But I am sure this will put us in a good stead for the future. It was a necessary investment that has seen a lot of talented players coming into the team, but unfortunately, it has come at a cost,” he said.

However, football analyst George Kaudza Masina said the Flames have not made any progress under RVG.

“What is there for him to show? Among the targets set for him were to win the Cosafa Cup and qualify for Nations Cup, but he has failed. Winning just two out of 19 games is a shame and if we can’t beat Comoros then where is the progress?” he said.n

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Malawi Under-23 national football team coach Meke Mwase says the Junior Flames need to exercise caution this afternoon when they host Botswana’s Dream Team in the preliminary round second leg encounter of the Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.

The Junior Flames have a spring in their step having won the first leg tie 1-2 away in Lobatse Town on Saturday.

But in an interview yesterday, Mwase said his charges are not in the comfort zone yet and will have to fight from the start to finish today.

“We cannot afford the luxury of thinking that we are there because there have been occasions when our junior national teams have done well away only to falter at home.

“Football is unpredictable in which the mood can swing when you least expected. So, we will need to exercise a lot of caution,” he said.

The coach said the plan will be to score an early goal so as to unsettle the visitors.

The Junior Flames returned home in the early hours of yesterday (at about 1am) through Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe and drove straight to Blantyre to prepare for today’s showdown.

Asked on the recovery strategy to avoid fatigue, Mwase said: “We will be resting for the better part of the day [yesterday] and we will only loosen up at the stadium at 4.30pm.

“We believe that is enough time to rest and then switch focus to tomorrow’s [today’s] game.”

He was also uncertain on how they will accommodate some of the seven players who travelled with the Flames to Comoros who were expected to arrive yesterday afternoon.

The seven are goalkeeper Brightone Munthali, defenders Dennis Chembezi,  Precious Sambani, midfielders Felix Zulu and Levison Maganizo and striker Patrick Phiri.

“We will have to sit down as a technical panel to see how we can include them without affecting the rhythm,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Dream Team also jetted in yesterday afternoon and their coach Letang ‘Rasta’ Kgengwenyane expressed confidence of upsetting the tables.

“The scales are tipped in Malawi’s favour since they are leading and they will also have home ground advantage.

“But the battle isn’t over yet. We will fight to the end and see what happens,” he said.

Kgengwenyane  was also quoted by Botswana’s daily newspaper, Mmegi, as having said they are  aiming for a maiden Afcon berth, which will put the side in contention for the 2020 Olympics qualification.

“The preparations have been going well thus far. We will only accept failure when we reach the Afcon finals; that is the minimum point we should reach. We should reach the Olympics for the first time, that is how ready we are.”

Botswana’s key players include midfielders Kago Monyake and Mothusi Cooper and striker Tshepo Malgas who play in their Premier League.

The Junior Flames displayed characteric grit to come from behind and snatch a 2-1 victory in Botswana after Mothusi Johnson had put the hosts in the lead. Hassan Kajoke levelled the score before Gregory Nachipo struck the winner. n

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Keta Mulwafu has been elected Blantyre Sports Club (BSC) golf captain.

The immediate past vice-captain was ushered into office during an elective annual general meeting (AGM) held at the club on Friday.

In his acceptance speech, Mulwafu said he was aware of the mammoth task ahead in the quest to improve the golf course, among other things.

“We have a big task ahead of us as a committee and there is need for hard work and commitment.

“Having served under the captaincies of Webster Kaunga, Sam Mwale and [immediate past captain] Andrew Ngomwa, as well as many dedicated and selfless persons in the past three committees, I have learnt a lot about the game in terms of administration,” he said.

Mulwafu said the two important lessons he has learnt are that of servant leadership and that captaincy is not for one man alone.

“Therefore, without the support from the golfing fraternity and the business community, it will be very hard for anyone to make meaningful progress. There is need for continued support from all our traditional and prospective sponsors and, of course, all members,”  he said.

The golfer said his captaincy will be inheriting some of the unfisnished projects and also embark on new ones.

“Some of them include completion of the wall fence so that we deal with all trespassers and safeguard our assets on the golf course.”

He said the new committee will endeavour to maintain the course by, among other things, improving and upgrading the irrigation system, replacing old sprinklers, beefing up another pump, changing the course sand in some bunkers and rebranding the course with bill boards to generate income through adverts.

Outgoing captain Ngomwa wished his successor and the new committee well, saying: “He has my full support and I have given him advice on how to go about the tasks.

“Actually, for the past couple of months I was delegating him to preside over some major events as one way of learning the ropes.”

The other members of the new committee are Mayamiko Kalizang’oma, Gift Chidya Gondwe, Francis Mwansa, Stevie Kamanga, James Katunga, Nasir Surtee, Chikumbutso Mphatso, George Chirwa, Honest Chirwa and Ntchane Nkhwazi. n

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Special Olympics Malawi (SOM) athlete Mphatso Chiphwanya and her playing partner Bridget Kaunda have won silver medals in unified doubles at the just-ended Special Olympics World Tennis Invitational Games in Santo Domingo, The Dominican Republic.

Chiphwanya scooped another silver medal in singles category at the event that attracted 220 athletes, 100 coaches, 500 families, 50 judges and officials from 30 countries in the world.

The victory has taken Chiphwanya’s medal tally to five; two gold, two silver and a bronze.

During the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles, USA, she won gold medals in unified doubles and as the only African tennis athlete plus a singles’ bronze.

“It feels great to continue winning medals in international games,” she said.

SOM national director Enid Mauluka said she was proud of the athletes’ achievements.

“This success story is worth celebrating because it has put Malawi on the international map,” she said.

Special Olympics organised the World Tennis Invitational Tournament, whose theme was ‘Stand Up for Inclusion,’ as part of the body’s 50th Anniversary celebrations. n

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The Karate World Federation (KWF) on Sunday hosted a belt-grading exercise for karate students in Lilongwe.

The function drew top senseis and students from renowned karate dogs (schools) in the country, including KWF Malawi Chapter president Frank Mvalo and Barry de Jager, head of international security company, Pro-elligent.

In an interview on the sidelines of the event, Mvalo said grading is done after students have shown dedication to training after passing examinations.

He said students progress from novice through the coloured Kyu grades (ninth to first Kyu) to black belt (first Dan).

“Learning Karate is unlimited and first Dan Black Belt is only the first in a series of black belt grades. The purpose of karate is to develop well-balanced mind and body, through training in fighting techniques,” he said.

“The ultimate aim of karate is to cultivate great human character of a higher class that prevents any violent attack before an actual fight occurs.”

De Jager appealed to karate students in the country to embrace the values of karate.

“In karate, respect is the foundation of what we teach. Another value is courage, which allows students to overcome challenges, reach for their goals and become successful in whatever they do,” he said.

“Karate is also about discipline and self defence and not aggressive behaviour,” said de Jager, whose company has opened a karate school at its headquarters in Lilongwe.

He said Malawi is at par with other karate schools in the world going by the demonstrations at the event.

“The expertise of sensei in this country is on the same level with other countries. It means what they teach here is what is taught in other countries,” de Jager said

The revelation of the grading was 11 years-old Bambino Private Schools learner,  Mafunanse Kuwali.

She demonstrated rare karate skills that earned her not only respect from sensei but also fellow students.

“I was inspired by my father who practises at home. I love it and will work to earn a black belt before I reach 20 years old,” Kuwali said. n

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It was a low key opening for the Fourth Meeting of the 47th Session of Parliament yesterday with several legislators seeking to be seated elsewhere while others such as Mulanje West’s Patricia Kaliati were relegated to the back benches.

Unlike previous first days of meetings which would be beset with numerous points of order to the annoyance of the Speaker, there was order in the House.

A moment of excitement emerged when a member of Parliament (MP) drew the attention of the House to what appeared to be smoke in the chamber.

But Speaker of the National Assembly Richard Msowoya brushed off the claims, saying it was vapour because the room was warmer after the air conditioning system was switched off.

Said the Speaker: “I see something as well, but I don’t think it is smoke. If you remember, the airconditioners were switched off and this could be the reason. However, let me ask Parliament staff to investigate and I will report back.”

However, Lilongwe South West MP Peter Chakhwantha (Malawi Congress Party-MCP), who raised the alarm, insisted there was a smoky smell in the air.

He said: “Some of us are asthmatic and this is not good for us.”

The Speaker later reported back that burning of stuff at the nearby Bingu International Convention Centre (Bicc) resulted in smoky air being drawn into the Parliament Building and the chamber.

While consultations were in progress, most of the legislators remained in their seats and debate continued on the ministerial statement by Minister of Health Atupele Muluzi.

Apart from Cabinet changes and paying respect to the six Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldiers who died in a rebel ambush in the Democratic Republic of Congo last week, Msowoya also announced new seats for four MPs, among them former deputy minister of Defence Vincent Ghambi who has been relegated to the back of the government seats.

Kaliati, who is UTM interim secretary general, lost her seat close to the Cabinet ministers’ bench and now occupies seat 119, the last seat available on the government side.

But Kaliati, like many MPs on the government side, was not present in the House yesterday.

Balaka West MP Patricia Shanil Dzimbiri (independent) and Mzimba North MP Agnes Nyalonje (formerly of People’s Party-PP) have also been allocated different seats.

Nyalonje ditched PP for newly formed UTM that is promoting the presidential ticket of Vice-President Saulos Chilima in the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections. She has moved from the front row to seat number 54.

Dzimbiri, who used to occupy a section reserved for independent MPs on the government side of the House, has asked to be allocated a seat on the opposition side instead.

Parliament resumes meeting today with questions to ministers for oral replies.

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Her breathing was laboured and shallow. The cruel November heat was weakening her further as sweat poured freely all over her.

Still—in her ninth month of pregnancy and on bare feet—Martha Chilabade trudged on as she braved the humid air to reach a hospital and bring life into the world.

Balanced on her head was a load of foodstuffs and other materials necessary for her unborn child; adding more burden to the heavily pregnant woman, who also has two children.

Her feet were swollen—either as part of the burdens of the pregnancy or the effects of the long, desperate walk to deliver her baby.

When The Nation reporter met her with her mother at midday on Thursday, she had trekked 22 kilometres (km) from her village towards the M1 Road at Senzani Trading Centre where she would get a bus to Ntcheu District Hospital.

But the 22km slog was not even half the distance she would walk. The whole journey is more than 50km on her tender feet.

She had left home at 3am with her mother—who had carried firewood on her head for use at the hospital—and hoped to be at the bus stop by 5am.

Between them, the two could not raise K8 400 to pay a motorcycle taxi commonly known as kabaza, to save them from the 11-hour walking ordeal.

With traditional birth attendants (TBAs) banned, today, women from about 60 villages in Traditional Authority (T/A) Phambala in Ntcheu District have to endure the 50km distance on foot before they reach where they can get public transport for another 42 km road trip to access safe delivery.

This is the case because government abandoned the life-saving facility, Namisu Health Centre, in their vicinity back in 2007.

To get to Senzani means crossing rivers and shortcuts for a majority who cannot afford the K4 200 one-way fare for kabaza per passenger.

In the company of her 71-year-old mother, a former TBA, Chilabade, 30, said: “I am in the ninth month of my pregnancy, almost due for delivery. So, it is difficult for me to walk. I left home around 3am. I am expecting to reach Senzani at around 2pm and by five o’clock I will be at the hospital.”

Chilabade, who is on separation from her partner, had already covered about 22km when we met her as we headed in different directions.

She earns her living by selling mangoes and her business, she said, does not generate enough for her to hire a motorcycle taxi.

Said Chilabade: “I needed to have about K20 000 for transport to the hospital, which I cannot afford. Actually, I was supposed to be at the hospital by last month, but I did not make it because I was taken ill and couldn’t walk.”

The community in the area had a health centre constructed by World Vision Malawi and handed over to the Ministry of Health (MoH) in 2005.

But since MoH took charge of Namisu Health Centre before abandoning it, government has failed to run it, depriving the community access to skilled health workers.

Ntcheu district health officer Mike Chisema confirmed visiting the place and conceded that he left an angry man after seeing the state of the community.

In a telephone interview yesterday, he said: “It is very far, but still people walk to the district hospital.

“I have tried my best to mobilise companies that we have a facility in the area, including reviving the abandoned structure, but it has not worked.”

Dorothy Ngoma, president of the National Organisation of Nurses and Midwives in Malawi, asked the community leaders to take duty-bearers to task to revive the health centre.

She said: “I am sure those people have a member of Parliament [MP], chiefs and others in positions. What are they doing? They need to fight until there is a hospital.”

She also asked government to find a lasting solution, saying: “Those people pay tax. This community needs to have a midwife, medical assistant, nurses and clinicians. What is government doing?”

The development has angered Malawi Health Equity Network (Mhen) executive director George Jobe who has asked MoH to revive the health centre.

He said: “This is very sad, of course I know that people are walking long distances to access health services, but this case has saddened me.

“As we wait for government to revive the health centre, there is need for an outlet clinic so that these people should not continue suffering.”

In 2007, the Malawi Government banned TBAs who assisted women in the rural areas when giving birth.

According to the Malawi Demographic and Health Survey of 2015/16, the country’s mortality ratio is at 439 per 100 000 live births.

The survey also found that 56 percent of women face challenges to access health facilities due to long distances to the hospital and due to this, 24 per cent of births occur at home.

Reads the report: “About 86 percent of women  in  urban  areas  are  more  likely  to  deliver  in  a  health  facility  than  71 percent in the rural areas.”

Ntcheu South legislator Damson Chimalira (Democratic Progressive Party-DPP) said he was aware of the problem in the area.

He said he was in the process of identifying a contractor to use Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to revamp the abandoned health centres which provided maternity services.

MoH recommends that people should not walk more than five kilometres to access a health facility, according to MoH spokesperson Joshua Malango.n

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