Death has robbed Malawi an icon, a library, encyclopaedia, a father, historian, an economist.This was how mourners eulogised the late Desmond Dudwa Phiri, popularly known as DD Phiri.

There was a  sombre mood during the funeral ceremony at the residence of the fallen giant’s son, Kwame, in Blantyre where thousands of people from different walks of life, including politicians, gathered to pay tribute to DD Phiri.

The deceased’s cousin, Ian Phiri, said the family and the nation will greatly miss DD Phiri.

He said: “We have lost a pillar which our family leaned on. He was a very humble man who was there to help regardless the nature of the problem.  He was an icon where the family and Malawi as whole got some knowledge from. The family and the country will greatly miss DD Phiri.”

Nation Publication Limited (NPL) deputy chief executive officer Alfred Ntonga described DD Phiri’s death as a blow to the media institution where he regularly contributed The DD Phiri Column and the Business and Economic Forum in The Nation since NPL’s inception in 1993.

He said: “The death of DD Phiri is a big blow to the media fraternity and the country as a whole.

“But at Nation Publications Limited, our library has caught fire. He dedicated his life to reading different books to ensure that he gave Malawians the right information. But he will be alive forever because of his work.”

On his part, Malawi Writers Union (Mawu) president Mike Sambalikagwa Mvona said DD Phiri was a founding member and board chairperson of the union who provided guidance.

He said: “DD Phiri was the teacher. Mawu has about 900 members, but over 500 learnt from him. DD Phiri deserves to be honoured but the problem is that government is doing nothing to celebrate writers. There are some roads which were named after people we don’t even know. Why can’t we do this to our own heroes?”

Responding to Mvona’s sentiments, Minister of Information and Communications Technology Henry Mussa, who is also government spokesperson, asked Mvona to meet him privately and discuss the way forward on honouring Malawian heroes.

Dignitaries at the ceremony included NPL chief executive officer Mbumba Banda, Deputy Minister of Homeland Security Charles Mchacha, who represented President Peter Mutharika, former president Bakili Muluzi, former vice-president Khumbo Kachali, and United Democratic Front secretary general Kandi Padambo. 

Besides the officiating clercy, there was also high level representation from the Blantyre and Livingstonia synods of CCAP.

DD Phiri died at Mwaiwathu Private Hospital in Blantyre on Sunday and is survived by his son Kwame, 11 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

DD Phiri has been acknowledged as one of Malawi’s most eminent authors and historians. He wrote over 20 books on history, fiction, biography and culture.

In 2010, the Pan African Writers Association (Pawa) decorated Phiri alongside great African writers such as Chinua Achebe and Ngugi wa Thiongo. n

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Taxpayer-funded Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) has come under fire mostly from opposition parties for not living up to its promise to open up the airwaves during the 60-day official election campaign period.

Ironically, the discontent from opposition parties contesting in the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections comes against a background of the broadcaster pledging to provide airtime for pre-recorded campaign messages as well as 30-minute slots for interviews with each of the eight contesting presidential candidates.

In previous elections, MBC also came under fire for biased reporting against opposition political parties and candidates.

But in her address during the launch of the official campaign on March 19, Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah also assured that the State broadcaster would open up and that parties were given a March 15 deadline to submit their messages for airing.

At the weekend, specifically on Saturday and Sunday, four of the political parties contesting in the elections, namely UTM Party, Malawi Congress Party (MCP), People’s Party (PP) and United Democratic Front (UDF) had key events which, however, MBC did not cover.

UTM Party on Saturday launched its first-ever manifesto and election campaign in Dowa while MCP and PP jointly launched their campaign in Salima on Sunday and UDF did it in Mangochi the same day.

Ironically, during its main news bulletins after the events, MBC only provided coverage for the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) activities on both television and its two radio channels.

In an interview yesterday, MEC director of media and public relations Sangwani Mwafulirwa said only three parties to date have complied with the request to provide pre-recorded campaign messages to MBC.

He said: “Only three parties, Umodzi Party [UP], Tikonze People’s Movement [TPM] and Mbakuwaku Movement for Development [MMD] have submitted. We are working on with MBC to come up with a schedule for broadcasting.”

But MCP spokesperson the Reverend Maurice Munthali, in a telephone interview, said his party is not committed to providing the material due to the conduct of MBC officials.

He said: “We already expressed our worry over MBC’s failure to level the playing field. Now we are being given conditions in order to enjoy our right to use a national broadcaster funded by taxpayers’ money.”

On his part, UTM Party spokesperson Joseph Chidanti-Malunga said they were dismayed at the failure by MBC to cover their important functions, including the campaign launch.

He said UTM Party was yet to provide transport to MBC to facilitate coverage for its staff.

UDF spokesperson Ken Ndanga also said his party had delayed submission of material to MEC to streamline the messages with its manifesto.

He said: “What we are trying to avoid is to record messages that do not speak the same language with our manifestos. We saw during the running mates debate that some candidates were speaking things that were contrary to their manifestos.”

PP spokesperson Ackson Kalaile-Banda said MBC had mastered the art of creating excuses to deny opposition parties access.

He said: “We have tried every means, including offering transport for MBC staff to cover our rallies, but they have refused.”

In a telephone interview yesterday, MBC director general Aubrey Sumbuleta admitted that the broadcaster was yet to include opposition parties in its news bulletins.

He said: “We are going to start the implementation this week with the pre-recorded messages.”

But when asked why the broadcaster was only featuring news on DPP campaign trail, Sumbuleta asked for more time to respond to the question.

Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Malawi Chapter chairperson Teresa Ndanga, who had previously applauded MBC for the arrangement, yesterday urged MEC to use its legal mandate to caution MBC once it notes that it was going off track.

She said: “We are also monitoring the situation to ensure that MBC keeps its word. Misa Malawi will be producing periodic reports not only focusing on MBC, but other media outlets as well.”

Senior MBC officials, according to Malawi Electoral Support Network (Mesn) chairperson Steve Duwa, assured electoral stakeholders at the National Elections Consultative Forum (Necof) meeting of its resolve to balance up its coverage.

He warned that failure by the public broadcaster to open up would eventually hamper efforts to achieve free, fair and credible elections in the country.

In an e-mailed response yesterday, Duwa faulted MBC for not fulfilling its role to offer balanced news to all parties.

In an earlier interview, Sumbuleta said the broadcaster was working with MEC to ensure that all candidates are given an equal platform on MBC radio stations, television channel and online platform to publicise their manifestos for the electorate make informed decisions. n

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Three presidential running mates last night battled out in the final debate organised by Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS), tackling some sticky issues that produced varying responses.

 The trio of Mohammed Sidik Mia (Malawi Congress Party-MCP), Frank Mwenifumbo (United Democratic Front (UDF) and Michael Usi (UTM Party) faced each other at the Grand Palace Hotel in Mzuzu after two other contests in Lilongwe and Blantyre in previous weeks.

Debate topics last night ranged from same sex marriages which MCP and UDF outrightly said they would not tolerate if voted into power, saying they will let the law take its course against any deviants.

But UTM Party said it would subject the issue of allowing lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) or not to a national referendum.

Usi said: “If they say yes, then we will go that way. If not, then we won’t. So, for us, we will have a people referendum.”

But Mia felt the LGBTI community is in minority; hence, a referendum would not be a fair arrangement.

The running mates also discussed how the country can deal with population growth, end corruption, the presidential age limit, political party financing and how they would manage the Malawi-Tanzania Lake Malawi border dispute.

While generally agreeing that the new Political Parties Act requires that party funders above K1 million be made public, the discussants were elusive to disclose their parties’ financiers.

But the trio stated that they would not get political campaign funding from companies seeking to exchange their pre-campaign goodwill with favours from their governments after the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections.

On the presidential age limit, they all agreed that 75 should be the ceiling.

Meanwhile, Mzuzu-based governance commentator Moses Mkandawire has said while the debate was fair, the challenge was that the discussants failed to clearly explain where they will get funding for the projects.outlined in their manifestos

He said: “The only challenge is that we should have asked them where will they get the money to finance all those ambitious programmes in health, energy, education in view of the fiscal deficit which is now around K250 billion and the debt servicing.

“There was also some little understanding on international relations. Some issues are sensitive that you require some careful thought when responding to them in public.”

Earlier, host Joab Frank Chakhaza led the audience in wishing Mwenifumbo a happy birthday. n

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The National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) has released K1.7 billion funding to five councils for beneficiary wages of the Productive Public Works Programme (PPWP) under the fourth Malawi Social Action Fund (Masaf 4).

The funds for Rumphi, M’mbelwa, Balaka, Nkhata Bay, Zomba Rural and Mwanza councils, were expected to be accessible in the councils accounts by yesterday.

According to a memo from NLGFC, Rumphi has been given K200 million, Balaka has been allocated K440.8 million, M’mbelwa has been given K375.6 million, Mwanza has been given K69 million, Zomba Rural has received K411 million while Nkhata Bay has received K206 million.

Of the total K 1 703 088 934 released, K1 657 108 800 has gone towards wages for regular PWP, while K45 980 134 is the 50 percent funding that remained on administration.

States the release: “NLGFCC, thus, wishes to remind the councils that payment of beneficiary wages should be prioritised due to the immediate benefits the cash brings for beneficiary households. Further, councils should ensure that liquidation reports should be submitted within two weeks upon the completion of Pay Parades.

“The councils are further advised that the funding has been provided in line with the revised wage rate of K900 per day for 24 days for each beneficiary. Additionally, the remaining 50 percent administration costs has been funded together with this wage component.”

Earlier this month, the Rumphi Residents Association led by chairperson Moir Walita Mkandawire asked the district council to explain the delays in funding.

He described government’s failure to pay the beneficiaries in good time and to achieve the desired goals of the programme as a crisis and a sign that it had failed to implement its own pro-poor policies.

Mkandawire has since hailed government for responding swiftly to their plea, while advising on the need to always act on time before the situation gets out of hand.

In August 2015, the World Bank signed a $75 million (about K5.7 billion) financial agreement with the government to cover the financing gap for project activities under Masaf 4.

This was in addition to a $32 million (about K2.4 billion) funding for the project under a separate financing agreement the two parties signed in 2013.

PPWP, under Masaf 4, targeted 450 000 ultra-poor households with labour capacity on a repeater beneficiary approach in councils.

The nature of works focused on catchment rehabilitation and restoration of natural resources with a long-term objective of restoring soil productivity to boost agriculture and restoring forests thereby reducing the distance women take to fetch firewood.

According to NLGFC, the immediate impact on the households has been the cash from wages, which has been used for smoothening consumption and investment in productive assets. n

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The Chinese business community in Malawi, under the banner Chinese Chambers of Commerce in Malawi, have donated K38 million towards floods victims.

The donation made at Ministry of Homeland Security on Friday, came barely a day after the Chinese Government donated K60 million and rice towards the same cause.

Speaking on behalf of the Chinese community in the country, Chinese Charge de Affaires Wang Xiusheng said the Chinese business community were moved by the plight of the people affected by the floods.

He said: “The donation is aimed at offsetting the challenges being faced as a result of floods which have destroyed property and killed people and livestock in Malawi.”

Receiving the donation, Minister of Homeland Security Nicholas Dausi said it will relieve challenges being faced by the flood victims.

He said: “There’s more that is needed to restore livelihoods of affected Malawians. We need over K12 billion to be able to support the affected.”

Dausi also said 60 people have lost their lives while over 50 were hospitalised following injuries in the disaster.

He said: “About 700 000 people are scattered in different camps across the country and almost every district in the Southern Region of the country. We have over 103 camps in total.”

Apart from loss of life, livestock, crops, houses and other property have also been lost to the floods. n

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Malawi Health Equity Network (Mhen) has expressed optimism that the mother care group model introduced in Likoma will be a success in immunisation of mothers and babies against polio, tuberculosis, measles and other diseases.

Speaking during the introduction and election of mother care group at Yofu in group village head Mpima in the island district, Mhen programme manager Davies Mwachumu said he was overwhelmed with the response received.

“The response from the mother care groups here is encouraging, especially considering that this is the first time we are introducing this model in the district.

“The women look organised, motivated and eager to learn,” he said.

“Literacy levels among these women are overwhelming and I have no doubt that after training them, they will do a good job.”

Mwachumu said the major role of care groups is to encourage women to get immunised and also have their children  immunised to achieve zero-default rate.

Yoma Women Care Group chairperson Patricia Dilisha said she was happy with the initiative.

“There are some women who neglect immunisation. Many of them discontinue immunisation soon after giving birth. I hope we will be able to narrow the default rate,” she said.

Likoma district medical officer Wongani Mzumara said a healthy Malawi depends on immunisation of women and children against preventable diseases. n

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Traditional Authority (T/A) Jalavikuwa of Mzimba has appealed to farmers in his area to adopt modern farming techniques and diversify crops to ensure food security.

The chief made the appeal on Friday when Mzimba North Agriculture Office and other stakeholders held a field day to appreciate progress being made in promotion of modern farming methods.

The agriculture office is working with stakeholders such as Catholic Development Commission (Cadecom), Synod of Livingstonia Development Department (Soldev), Adventist Development and Relief Agency (Adra) and Find Your Feet.

The chief said farming techniques such conservation agriculture, intercropping, improved varieties and others can end hunger that some farmers face when disasters hit.

“If all of us can adopt these methods, I am sure we will achieve food security, but also have surplus which we can sell. I would like to encourage all farmers to embrace these techniques,” said Jalavikuwa.

Mzuzu Agriculture Development Division crops officer Ulemu Tembo said the division is also promoting irrigation farming to ensure that farmers cultivate throughout the year.

She said if they harvest more than once a year, farmers are assured of food security and the surplus can also be sold.

“We want farmers to adopt these technologies. There are a number of technologies that we are promoting and we believe a number of farmers are going to learn from that,” said Tembo. n

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President Peter Mutharika yesterday cheered victims of the Kampepuza Market road accident who are admitted to Ntcheu District Hospital.       

The accident happened last Friday.

Cheering the patients in male and female wards, the President wished them quick recovery and good health.

He also commended Ntcheu District Hospital staff for their untiring efforts in ensuring that the victims are taken care of.

Ntcheu district health officer Mike Chisema said all the seven victims at the hospital are in a stable condition and that they are being monitored closely.

“We are giving them all the necessary care. As you have seen, some of them have started walking but there are others that have not yet started walking. We are trying our best to ensure they all get well, soon,” he said.

Three other victims were referred to Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe.

Before visiting Ntcheu District Hospital, Mutharika, who was on a whistle-stop tour to Lilongwe, stopped at Kampepuza Market, the accident scene, and observed a minute of silence in honour of those that died during the accident.

On Friday, a truck rammed into a crowd of people at Kampepuza Market killing 17 people on the spot and injuring several others.

The death toll has since risen to 21. n

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The Malawi Girl Guide Association (Magga) has said engaging the youth in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is one way of protecting them from early pregnancies and child marriages.

Magga national coordinator Mphatso Jim made the remarks on Saturday during a meeting on girl guiding for sexual and reproductive health rights with students from various secondary schools at Bwaila Secondary School.

She advised the students to always consult when in doubt because they are the ones who face negative effects of not exercising their sexual and reproductive health rights.

“I believe this meeting will produce better outcomes that will not only help those present, but also others within their communities. It is high time the youth started seeking help when necessary,” said Jim.

Youth Hub coordinator Linly Dumuka said many young people do not know that youth friendly health services exist.

“It is all about lack of knowledge. They do not know which reproductive health services they can access.” she said.

A young leader at Magga, Ebenezer Mapemba, who is also a student at Malawi Institute of Journalism and an SRHR mentor among her peers, said through sexual and reproductive health rights programmes such as the National Standards on Youth-Friendly Health Services established in 2015, the youth can now access the services. n

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Bishop Brighton Vita Malasa of the Anglican Diocese for Upper Shire (Adus) has advised traditional leaders around Malosa in Zomba to be on guard and save lives of communities in the area.

The bishop made the call following the deforestation of Malosa Mountain, the source of water supply for communities, by people who come from other areas under the guise of marriages.

“Over the years, we have witnessed people from different areas coming under the pretext of marriages but their intention is to invade our mountain for charcoal.

“Once they accomplish their ulterior motives they abandon our women and disappear. I urge our leaders, particularly chiefs, to be vigilant otherwise our lives will be doomed,” said Malasa when he led a tree planting exercise around Malosa Mountain.

Village head Nsoma, a representative of Senior Chief Malemia, agreed with the bishop, saying as leaders, they would want to witness Malosa Mountain forest cover is restored in the next four years.

He said the chiefs, after realising that the mountain was being destroyed by ‘strangers’, established a new by-law that requires a woman to introduce her prospective husband to the chief.

“Those who proceed with their marriage rites without the chiefs’ knowledge are summoned alongside their families for questioning,” he said. n

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Blantyre-based Kalibu Ministries and Kalibu Academy on Sunday rolled out a K10 million relief effort to Shire Valley flood victims.

  Each beneficiary received a plastic bucket, a roll of plastic sheet, soap, matches, a bottle of chlorine, sugar, a kilogramme (kg) of meat, cabbage, soya pieces, 10 kg of maize flour and clothes.

Kalibu Kwa Yesu Ministries administrator, who is also Kalibu Academy head teacher, Paisley Mabvutula, said they have started the programme with Chikwawa and Nsanje because they are areas of their immediate concern.

“We also want to reach out to other areas like Phalombe and other affected districts. In short, I would say as the Lord provides, we intend to reach out to more,” he said.

Mabvutula said the relief programme was initiated by Kalibu Kwa Yesu Ministries and Kalibu Academy director Pastor Michael Howard who said the school will expand their relief programme to other areas of need they identified.

Margaret Livison, a beneficiary from Traditional Authority Kasisi in Chikwawa, thanked Kalibu for the gift after their possessions got lost in the floods.

Gaius Phiri, a Form Five student at Kalibu Academy, said they were moved to participate in the programme after seeing pictures of the affected areas. n

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Local musician Lazarus Chigwandali has released his first-ever professional single done in collaboration with The Very Best’s Johan Hugo.

The song, titled Ndife Alendo, shines a light on the persecution of people with albinism in Malawi and other African countries.

The song was premiered on BBC 6 earlier this month in preparation for his first album later this year.

Chigwandali, who is a person with albinism (PWA), said he hopes the song gives hope to PWAs across the continent.

“Ndife Alendo speaks of hope beyond the horrors of the world. I am sure it will set me on a good course as I look forward to my first ever professional album,” he said in an interview.

In a separate interview, Hugo said this single marks a new chapter in the life of talented Chigwandali.

“Lazarus’s first single Ndife Alendo is out on all digital platforms now. It was premiered on BBC 6 Radio in UK [United Kingdom] last week and got very good reviews. It has been played on the mainstream radio in UK seven times since its premiere and this is amazing.

“The radio premiere for the song in [United States of] America was last night on KCRW, a big radio station in Los Angeles.

“The video for the song is coming outnext week. We’re also preparing for a second single in April before the Tribeca Film premiere. Lazarus album is called Stomp On The Devil and will be out in September,” he said.

Hugo’s involvement came after he saw a music video of Chigwandali performing with his homemade banjo along the streets of Lilongwe.

Meanwhile, Chigwandali’s documentary will be premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City from April 24 to May 5.

It chronicles the story of the musician on his escapees performing in the capital city while singing of the plight of people with albinism. n

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It is over a decade ago when I read the personal finance management best-seller, Rich Dad Poor Dad, co-authored by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter. Many who have read this book will agree that it is a simple, but inspiring book on how one can attain financial independence.

The book is widely touted to have challenged and changed people’s perception of money and how to spend the finances.

Talk about investment and retirement, planning has dominated public discussions from time immemorial, especially among people in formal employment.

In Malawi, for a long time, many in formal employment as well as those in business depended on life insurance policies and savings accounts as avenues of saving. Economic liberalisation in the mid-1990s opened up alternative investment platforms such as shares on the stock exchange and related products.

However, having gone through a presentation made at a Financial Planning and Wealth Management Seminar in Blantyre by business executive Simon Itaye under the topic Creating and Managing Successful Investment Groups: The Case of Investments Alliance Limited, I picked out what I feel are some practical homegrown tips that have worked.

In the presentation made courtesy of Nico Asset Managers in Blantyre on March 1 this year, Itaye highlighted use of investment groups as a key to creating wealth.

Do not be scared with the terminology. Investment groups, simply put, are platforms for making money by like-minded people who pool their resources together for a common goal. Such groups or consortium as Itaye put it, act as insurance and provide some security to lenders. But, he stressed on some virtues not common among many of us: professional approach, patience, discipline, transparency and accountability.

From the presentation, Investments Alliance Limited (IAL) started in 1998 initially by 18 Malawian professionals, but now has 12 members or shareholders, as an economic investment portfolio empowerment company. It has stakes in companies such as Marsh Malawi, TNM plc, Icon Properties plc, Malawi Telecommunications Limited (MTL) and CDH Investment Bank Limited.

But, as they say, talk is cheap. What does it take to set up an investment outfit that grows?

I have drawn several lessons from the IAL chairperson’s presentation. These include preparation for investment and financial independence and taking charge of your financial future plan ahead. Further, start a savings/investment plan while you earn an income whether from your business or employment, keep savings and stick to your goals, plan your lifestyle and budget for it and, above all, save first and spend later—put a little more each month.

That done, never depend on a single income. Work to create a second income, start your own business.

Warren Buffet says: “The first rule is never to lose money and the second rule is not to forget the first rule.”

When all is said and done, what is the best time to start or plan your investment and how?

Based on his experience alongside his colleagues, Itaye advises: “Start plans as early as possible, preferably while in the 20s and 30s. Save about 10 to 15 percent of your gross income every month, including, if possible topping up pension contributions to boost savings.”

If you are in your 40s or 50s, do not despair. It is not too late. What you need to do, though, is to save a larger proportion of your income.

Finally, to move forward with your plans, according to Itaye, you will need to get rid of high rate consumer debts.

Food for thought from Itaye: “Lack of savings leads to longer working years or falsification of age to make up for lost savings… Do not remain in employment for too long…”

Good financial advice is priceless and can be the key to success.

We plan, but God fulfills. Things may not always work out according to our plans. In such situations, when bad things happen in your life, you have three choices. You can either let it define you, let it destroy you or you can let it strengthen you.

It is time to explore more avenues of investment. Remember: Do not put all your eggs in one basket. Spread the risk, as insurers like to put it. n

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Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism  Francis Kasaila says the introduction of the Business Incubation Centre in Dowa will boost the growth of small and medium enterprises. (SMEs)

The minister said this on Monday in Dowa during the  launch of the centre established with $1 million (about 738 million) grant from the Government of Indian.

Said Kasaila: “We  normally sell raw materials, and the earnings are low, but when we add value the earnings increase. So, it is government’s agenda to launch the business incubation centres to ensure small and medium enterprises use it for value addition.”

On the challenges of start-up capital and the lack of markets for SMEs, the minister mentioned the launch of the Malawi Agricultural and Industrial Investment Corporation (Maiic), a vehicle to provide capital for SMEs.

Small and Medium Enterprise Development Institute (Smedi) chief executive officer Rhodric Chattaika said the business incubation centre stems from an agreement that the two governments—India and Malawi—signed four years ago to support the growth of businesses in Malawi.

The centre has five different types of machines which include one for making briquettes and composite manure to deal with challenges of climate change.

“The centre has in place agro-processing machines for value addition so that farmers can get value for money on the market,

India’s Acting High Commissioner Anil Suri said the Government of India believes in sharing the projects that have been successful in his country with partners such as Malawi. 

He said: “India started implementing these business incubators way back in villages and towns and urban centres. People have opportunities to go and learn and start their own business.

“So, people are able to grow and sustain their business. That is what is contributing to India’s economic growth”.

Suri said the grant for the centre signifies his government’s commitment to supporting Malawi’s socio-economic development.

Business incubation programmes are often sponsored by private companies or municipal entities and public institutions such as colleges and universities.

Their goal is to help create and grow small businesses by providing them with necessary support and financial and technical services. n

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At an event convened in Oslo,Norway last week, I had the opportunity of discussing issues related to capacity building with the well-known economist Lant Pritchett.

In a fascinating book titled Building State Capacity: Evidence, Analysis, Action (2017), Pritchett and his co-authors Matt Andrews and Michael Woolcock argue that despite good intentions aimed at strengthening capacity and improving effectiveness, the history of organisational reforms in the developing world has been one of failure. Why is this so?

In large parts of the world, many well-meaning actors have encouraged and financed initiatives to strengthen the policymaking landscape. Thus, new legislation and organisational reforms are routinely proposed, debated, criticised and adopted. But they may fail to deliver the intended results and hence the oft-repeated lament that many countries are policy rich but implementation is poor.

The book argues that implementation failure often results from organisations “that cannot equip their agents with the capacity, resources and motivation to take actions that promote the organisation’s stated objectives”. It suggests two main sets of explanations for this: isomorphic mimicry and organisational overload.

Many countries and organisations adopt “isomorphism” as a strategy, i.e. they want to look or pretend to be successful. Thus, leaders may actively embrace and promote reforms to improve performance even when very little of that performance is achieved in practice.

By recognising the need for reforms, organisations and their leaders give the impression that they are more successful than they are. They do this to increase their legitimacy in the eyes of the public or donors. The problem is that isomorphic mimicry substitutes “looks like” for “does”, and participation in trainings and workshops or formulating impressive budgets may count as “success” even when such rituals do not change actual behaviour.

Another reason why reforms fail is when organisations are prematurely overloaded with ambitious tasks which force them to do too much too soon. When asked to perform complex tasks such as regulating industrial activity or collecting taxes, routinely carried out by their counterparts in more affluent parts of the world, organisations with weak capacity face immense pressure.

Many well-intentioned attempts at promoting good governance and good institutions have ended up transplanting western models and legal instruments in low-income country contexts.

Pritchett and his co-authors warn us not to conflate “form” (e.g. rules on procurement, which may be easy to transplant) with “function” (proven performance). Simply transplanting “forms” without considering actual ability to perform can be counterproductive.

The same applies for imposing unrealistic expectations on weak organisations and hoping they will perform miracles overnight. A better strategy, the book argues, is “problem-driven iterative adaptation” (PDIA) where local problems are identified and solved through innovation and feedback through horizontal and interlinked networks. I will discuss the merits of PDIA in a future column. n

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Sweltering sunshine had just returned to the Shire Valley when we met Grace Bragiyo in her maize field where floods flashed past two weeks earlier.

The 66-year old, who was replanting, is among 125 000 people displaced by devastating floods that hit 923 000 people in Malawi, killing 56 and injuring about 580.

Her field, the size of a football ground, where gushing Likhubula River washed away crops ready for harvesting, is near a gaping gully where the river broke the M1 Road, burying crops in mud on the way to the Shire River.

“It’s a big loss,” she said. “We experienced heavy rains for three days. On March 8, Likhubula burst its banks and swept crops into the Shire, which had also swelled.”

The torrents ripped homes to rubble and swept away livestock and crops in Samson Village, Chikwawa. The seed in Bulagiyo’s bowl symbolised a new beginning that could wait.

“The tragedy struck while we were rising from hunger caused by last year’s drought. For a year, maize prices have been rising every week. In fact, a basinful that cost just K300 now sells at K1 200.

“Sadly, all crops were destroyed just when some people had started harvesting,” she explained.

Looking forward, the disaster will deepen hunger and poverty.

“The grain isn’t getting cheaper. We have to dig deeper in our pockets to buy food while enduring the cost of rebuilding,” said Hilda Tomas, from Chisadula Village.

Like her, Bulagiyo sounded defiant to the destructive rains that have disrupted livelihoods in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

“We don’t know what tomorrow brings. If floods come again, we will plant again to ensure our families do not starve. When the soil dries, the maize will be ready for harvest,” she says.

For decades, the Shire Valley has suffered back-to-back spates of flooding and hunger. Government estimates that the climate-related extreme weather events rub out 1.7 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

Speaking at the global climate talks in Poland four months ago, Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining chief director Bright Kumwembe counted the losses eroding “hard-earned economic gains”.

“As we speak here, some people in Malawi are dying and some are left homeless; livelihoods are threatened and affected.

Generation and supply of electricity is being disrupted. Agricultural production is hampered. Ecosystems are losing their resilience. There is resurgence of human and agricultural pests and diseases,” he stated.

In 2015, both Chikwawa and the neighbouring Nsanje suffered the worst impacts of what President Peter Mutharika termed the country’s worst disaster.

But survivors, presently confined to overcrowded camps, say they have not seen worse floods than they experienced this year.

“The 2015 misfortune did not destroy crops in these fields,” recalls Tomas, who fears for her three children, especially a baby on her back. “Unless we find a quick solution to hunger, our children will starve and stunt. They will be prone to diseases and people will heap all the blame and redicule on us.”

About half of the children in the country are stunted, shows the 2015 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey. The condition disrupts a child’s physical growth as well as capacity to learn and fight diseases.

East of the Shire, we met Grace Jameson crossing a broken bridge on  Nasolo River in a sunny afternoon walk to Mapelera Health Centre. The baby on her back had been shivering and vomiting all night, she said.

“It must be malaria,” she said. “The floods have left stagnant pools where mosquitoes are multiplying. We sleep in treated nets, but mosquitoes mostly bite before we go to bed,” she said.

Catholic Development Commission (Cadecom) works with communities in the valley to strengthen their understanding of climate change and conservation of nature.

Raymond Chimsale, Cadecom secretary in Chikwawa Diocese, reckons the recent floods offers numerous lessons on disaster risk reduction and management.

“The country needs to analyse what happened, appreciate how prone affected communities are and decide whether going back there will be the best option. Now, their crops are gone. We need to provide seed to help affected families replant and rebuild their livelihoods,” he said.

According to Rain Water Harvesting Association of Malawi secretary general MacPherson Nthala, providing seed, fertliser and other farm inputs to affected farmers will help survivors take advantage of the moisture and fertile soils in flooded zones to replace the lost crop.n

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Four days before the expiry of Flames coach Ronny Van Geneugden’s (RVG) contract, some expatriates have already shown interest to take over from the Belgian.

However, Football Associations of Malawi (FAM) says as of now there is no vacancy for the job and that its executive committee is yet to meet and decide on the future  of RVG.

So far, Jorge Añón De Leon (Uruguay), Fredrico Azolez (Peru) and Vincenzo Alberto Annese (Italy) have expressed interest in the Flames coaching job.

De Leon, 58, ISEF A Licence holder and former Granada and Indonesia national team coach, said his interest in the Flames coaching job is because of his background in youth development.

“I would like to develop Malawi’s up-and-coming players in the national team,” he said.

Annese, 34, a Uefa Pro coach currently head coach of Liga 1 Indonesia club PSIS Semarang, said he is also interested in working as Malawi national team coach.

Portuguese coaches’ manager Carlos Paulo and Falope Ayotunde from Cameroon, have also recommended their clients for the Flames coaching job, but did not disclose their names.

The Flames are set to play Swaziland on April 20 in a Championship of African Nations (Chan) match and Cosafa Cup in May; hence, FAM is in a race against time to make a decision on the future of RVG, who reportedly bid farewell to players after his last assignment in 2019 Afcon qualifier against Morocco which ended goalless in Lilongwe.

However, FAM president Walter Nyamilandu said there is no need to panic as the association will ensure that there is no vacuum.

“The executive committee will be meeting during the first week of April to deliberate on the matter and make a final decision.

“Whatever the outcome, we will ensure that there is no vacuum when we face Swaziland in the Chan qualifier,” he said.

Soccer analyst Charles Nyirenda has advised FAM to go for a local coach and not an expatriate again.

“Mind you, we already know how things have not worked out with RVG. It would be foolhardy to hire another expatriate coach again. Let FAM hire a local coach and give him maximum support,” he said.

Under RVG in his two year contract, Malawi won two games, drew 11 and lost eight, sparking calls for his firing from fans and government.

However, RVG takes responsibility of 19 games saying he did not pick the players for Kenya friendly and Madagascar 2018 Chan qualifier first leg despite Nyamilandu stressing in April 2017 when RVG was unveiled that he would start his job immediately with the two fixtures. n

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The Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development has allocated K300 million to the Mzuzu Youth Centre, a project that has been getting funding for the past 10 years without registering noteworthy progress on the ground.

In the 2018/19 National Budget, government did not approve any funds towards the project, but this changed in the Mid-Year Budget Review passed during the just-ended Parliament meeting.

A budget statement which responsible minister Goodall Gondwe presented in the National Assembly, has also pointed out that China will no longer be responsible for the funding.

“Initially it was expected that the project would be funded by the Chinese. The government has decided to finance the project,” he said.

The project, launched in 2008 ahead of the 2009 general election campaign under former president Bingu wa Mutharika, has so far witnessed two ground-breaking ceremonies under the current Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration with the pledge to start construction “soon”.

Capital Hill has since the 2010/11 fiscal year allocated and spent over K300 million on the project. For a decade, over K500 million has been allocated to the project.

After the Peter Mutharika administration was ushered into power in 2014, a further K200 million was allocated and part of the funds were used for the groundbreaking ceremony.

 On the progress of the project which is expected to have sports facilities for netball, football and basketball among others, the budget statement just indicated that “designs are available”.

Meanwhile, Youth and Society (YAS), a civil society organisation which has been pushing for the project implementation, has said there is nothing exciting about the current K300 million allocation.

“The problem which has been facing this project is not lack of financial allocation, but we fear these funds are being abused because there is no progress at all. What we want is that government should account for the funds it has been allocating to it,” YAS executive director Charles Kajoloweka said in an interview.

He urged government to involve Mzuzu-based stakeholders in the project implementation.

“The problem is that government is doing this project in isolation. We want it to engage actors within the city. This will ensure accountability in use of resources,” he said. n

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About 11 players are in contention for individual awards at the Nyasa Big Bullets Red Carpet Gala Event scheduled for tomorrow evening at Comesa Hall in Blantyre.

Since early this month, Bullets supporters have been voting for their preferred outstanding players in the 2018 season in  positions of goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and striker by SMS through the code *477# at K50 cost.

The club’s senior business development manager Kelvin Moyo yesterday said so far, Ernest Kakhobwe and Rabson Chiyenda are in a tight race for  best goalkeeper  while John Lanjesi, Yamikani Fodya and Bashir Maunde tussle for best defender award. 

The contest for best midfielder has Mike Mkwate, Nelson Kangunje and Fischer Kondowe. Chiukepo Msowoya, Patrick Phiri and Brighton Munthali fight for the best striker award.

“So far, the picture shows that it is these 11 players that are in real battle for the awards. But the list might change as voting continues up to the day of the gala,” Moyo said.

The player with the most votes among the team’s 30 players for last season, will automatically become Player-of-the-Year.

The voting process sees registered Bullets supporters having their votes counted five times while those of unregistered fans are counted once.

Bullets chief executive officer Fleetwood Haiya said they have injected K15 million into the event and that a number of companies have joined the exercise by pledging financial support. n

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Celebrated playwright Smith Likongwe has written a book of four plays Kamuzu Banda, Mission to Nyanjania, Stop the Fire and Love and Tears.

In an interview, Likongwe said the book, titled Kamuzu Banda and Other Plays,  will be launched on March 31 at Malawi Sun Hotel in Blantyre with a grand unveiling at the Bingu International Convention Centre (Bicc) in Lilongwe on April 24.

“After launch, there are plans to produce and present the plays in the book to the public. There are also plans of shooting the Kamuzu Banda play into a movie. All this shall require funds that we do not have now, but it [funding] will be sought.

“This book should be a treasure to every household because a play is not only enjoyable, but also easier to read as it mainly uses dialogue. It is also unique because it is a combination of completely fictitious plays and a true-life story of an extra-ordinary character in Malawian society,” he said.

Likongwe added the inspiration for the book is the fact that Malawi is lagging in terms of publication of plays and other literary works.

“When you read most books that educate people about African theatre, the examples they give about plays is from South Africa about apartheid, plays by Nigerian and Kenyan playwrights and a few other countries. Malawi is hiding the lamp of literature.

“The truth on the ground, however, is that we have many written plays but unpublished. Therefore, out of my over 150 plays I thought that some of these should be in book form,” he said.

Commenting on the Kamuzu Banda play which takes up 97 of the 192 pages, Likongwe states that it was motivated by the founding father’s contribution to the society.

“The play maintains historical accuracy in spite of the dramatisation and can be relied upon in terms of hard facts,” he said.

According to the book’s summary, the play Love and Tears is about machinations, intrigue and conspiracies of various characters in a historical and cultural set up.

On the other hand, Mission to Nyanjania was the winning play in 1995 Association for the Teaching of English in Malawi (Atem) Drama Festival. It was performed by Likuni Boys Secondary School.

“It is among the greatest plays to be performed in the Atem contest since its inception in 1969. It is a play that takes place in future in Malawi on Earth and in Nyanjania on Mars. It is a science fiction play,” reads the summary.

This is a second book Likongwe is launching in under four months. In December, through the Chancellor College Travelling Theatre, he released an anthology of five African plays written by eight distinguished dramatists from Malawi, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Previously, the playwright also wrote plays about Malawi’s former presidents. In his book Living Playscripts-a Trilogy, there are plays such as Bakili’s Wit, The Tragedy of Bingu and Amai’s Turn. n

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