The High Court Commercial Division, Blantyre has ordered government to pay Sigh Trust, a private firm, K1.1 billion after it dubiously sold the Trust’s two plots in Lilongwe to  economic planning and development minister Goodall Gondwe and deputy governor of Reserve Bank of Malawi Mary Nkosi.

The court’s ruling follows a failure by the Attorney General (AG) to contest against Sigh Trust’s lawsuit last month, in which it claimed K147 million for lost rentals, K1 billion as value of the two plots, arguing it bought the plots in 2000 from the embassy of Germany.

Government through the AG, according to the files, was given 14 days to respond to the filed lawsuit and was warned failure to do so would force the court to proceed with action and enter judgment against it.

However, the AG did not file notice of intention to file defence despite being served with the lawsuit and the court entered a default judgment on February 12, 2013, immediately rewarding the Trust K1, 147, 744, 000.

Goodall Gondwe: Developed the land and now tax payers will folk K1.1 billion to pay Sigh Trust

“No notice of intention to defend having been entered on the part of the defendant herein within the prescribed time. It is this day adjudged that the defendant (AG) does pay K1, 147, 744, 000 00,” reads the judgment in part.

Lawyer for the Trust, Ambokire Salimu said the court is yet to assess the claimed reimbursements of collection costs and costs of proceedings as well as interests based at current banking rates.

“Since its default judgment, the court will set a date to make the assessment,” Salimu said.

In January this year Sigh Trust through Salimu filed a lawsuit claiming lost rentals, value of the two plots.

Court documents indicate that the Trust bought the two plots located in Area 10 in 2000 from Germany Embassy and was issued with Land Certificates on January 25 2008.

But it was prompted to commence legal battle after government leased one of its plots, Title number 10/105 which was allocated to Nkosi on May 1, 2004 while the other plot, Title number 10/50 to Goodall Edward Gondwe and Getrude Gondwe in July 2005 with their Lease Certificate issued on March 24, 2011.

The court documents revealed that Nkosi and the Gondwes started developing the plots despite the appraisal of the Trust’s interests in the land.

The High Court in Mzuzu on Monday ordered Speaker of Parliament, Henry Chimunthu Banda to re-instate Henry Mpofu Shawa as Blantyre Bangwe legislator  pending a judicial review.

Shawa last week obtained a court injunction after the Speaker invoked the anti-defection law, Section 65 for crossing the floor in Parliament.

Making the announce in Parliament, Speaker of the House, Henry Chimunthu Banda said he received communication from the Attorney General (AG) advising him to allow Shawa back in the house.

The statement also stated that the judicial review on the matter taking place at the Mzuzu High Court will be concluded within a period of 28 days.

Shawa: Gets temporary relief from Mzuzu High Court

Shawa, who earlier on promised not to challenge the Speaker’s ruling, won Blantyre-Bangwe constituency on United Democratic Front (UDF) ticket and defected to Democratic Progressive party (DPP) and now is with People’s Party.

He became the first MP to have his seat declared vacant for crossing the floor since the law was last applied a decade ago during UDF’s era when it took its toll on Fred Nseula and Simeon Khanfula.

Section 65 of the constitution empowers the speaker to declare vacant seat of Parliamentarians crossing the floor in Parliament either by joining another political party or becoming independent.

Speaker Chimunthu Banda told Parliament that he has been served with a court order from the Attorney General’s office signed by Senior State Legal Advocate Zolomphi Nkowani to reserve his ruling until conclusion of judicial review.

Chimunthu Banda said following the communiqué, Shawa will only be allowed back in the House until 28 days from February 21, 2013 within which the judicial review will be concluded and court’s deliberation is made.

Banda also told the august House that Energy Minister Ibrahim Matola, Mangochi North East parliamentarian Alfred Mwechumu and Mangochi South West Shabil Asibu have commenced their own legal process of defending themselves from facing the jaws of Section 65.

Alfred Mwechumu of Mangochi North East and Shamil Asibu of Mangochi South West last week rushed to the High Court in Mzuzu where they got injunctions when they saw that the fire was coming their way as they are also on the verge of losing their seats.

Mwechumu, Asibu and Ibrahim Matola who now serves as Energy Minister all were UDF legislators but defected to ruling PP.

There has been growing pressure for the Speaker to invoke provisions of Section 65 of the Constitution and today’s action has sent shivers to most MPs especially those who defected from the DPP to PP after the death of former President Bingu Mutharika in April last year.

The affected MPs from DPP got an injunction restraining the Speaker from going ahead in declaring their seats vacant despite the Malawi Supreme Court ruling that declared that if an MP from a political party represented in parliament joins another political party also represented in parliament crosses the floor and the seat should be declared vacant to seek fresh mandate from the people.

There are fears that the Joyce Banda government may fall if the Speaker invokes Section 65 on the other members from the DPP who joined PP who include some influential cabinet ministers as it will have minority MPs on its side, thereby failing to conduct government business in the national Assembly.

Malawi shall soon establish a state-of-the art International Centre for Child Wellness courtesy of Accordia Global Health Foundation, an American Organization.

Accorda’s President Dr. Warner Greene who led a delegation that had an audience with President Joyce Banda at Sanjika Palace on Monday, disclosed this to the media in Blantyre.

Greene said Malawi deserves to have a centre for Child Wellness in order to improve child wellbeing through disease prevention which can be achieved through a comprehensive and deliberate blend of interdisciplinary support components.

“Malawi is one of the poorest countries in Africa and at the same time the country is committed to developing its capacity to care for its children.

President Banda in audience with Dr Green

“The state-of-the-art Child Wellness Centre will target under-five children and prevention shall be its major role.

“The foundation will also construct other children centres across the country and we are targeting issues to do with malaria, HIV and Aids, tuberculosis and malnutrition among others. In fact in ten years to come, Accordia shall work hard to get vaccines to cure people living with HIV and Aids,” said Greene.

He said Accordia sees an opportunity for global traction and impact at the intersection of several overlapping trends in global development methodology which together emphasizes children, preventative health and cost effective development initiative.

In his turn, Vice Chancellor for the University of Malawi, Dr. Emmanuel Fabiano said the International Centre for Child Wellness will be under the University of Malawi whereby the College of Medicine shall be playing a leading role.

Dr. Fabiano said since child health issues are broader, the operations of the centre shall involve a lot of experts in which case community involvement will be a must.

“Wellness will involve much training of expert personnel, researchers and academia among others,” Dr. Fabiano said.

Meanwhile, Government will have to decide a place where the state-of-the-art Child Wellness Centre shall be established.

Accordia is an international non-profit making organization with a vision to promoting health matters and it operates at the intersection of cutting edge global development strategy.

The organization believes that the absence of disease in children can be achieved through prevention, protection, and treatment and that all this could be realized if accompanied by optimized health through nutrition, physical activity, education and social support.

Malawi Fashion Week (MFW) has selected 35 models who will participate in the MFW scheduled for May 30 to June 3 this year in Lilongwe.

According to a press release dated February 25, a total of 57 models participated in the audition which took place at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe on 23^rd - 24^th February, 2013.

The auditions were hosted by Elegant Resources by ArianaLouise and African Dzuwa who are organizers of MFW 2013.

Out of the total number of models who came for the auditions, only 35 models met the requirements that judges were looking for such as minimum height of 170cm, etiquette, catwalk, confidence, grammar, smile and deportment, among others.

One of the models, Yamikani Mkhaya

Among the 57 models who took part in the audition, 37 models came from Lilongwe, 18 from Blantyre and 2 models from Zambia. 48 of the models were females while 9 were males.

MFW Public Relations Coordinator, Kimpho Hastings Loka, said the purpose of the audition was to identify models that local and international designers will use during the MFW 2013 event.

Loka expressed satisfaction for the turn up of models who took part in the auditions and the response they got after opening the registration on MFW website three weeks ago, where over 60 local models and 2 Zambian models registered.

“We are excited with the overwhelming response that we got. Having 57 models to audition is so amazing! And having those two Zambian models traveling all the way from Lusaka to audition is something that shows this is a huge event,” said Loka.

Loka said the two days of auditions involved measuring models, taking pictures and meeting with professionals from designers to make up artists.

The selected models will get official invitation to the MFW event, the first of its kind in Malawi, and their names will be posted on the MFW website and Facebook page.

The auditions judging panel included MFW managing team represented by Dawa Loga-Lemberger, Chikumbutso Mtumodzi and Tawana Mkorongo, and Hazel Warren and London African Fashion Week Consultant, designer Lilly Alfonso as guest judges.

Commenting on the quality of the models that came for auditions, Lilly Alfonso says: “Malawi has beautiful models and I’m pleased with the young men and women we have. Most of them are a new crop and we were able to select the quality we are looking for.

I’m proud to say that Malawi now has models of international standards, more especially the height.”

In the wake of spiraling economic malaise coupled with rising inflation, the government of President Dr. Joyce Banda is very much focused on addressing all thorny issues the country is facing, presidential aide Rev. Malani Mtonga told a rally in Chileka, Blantyre on Friday.

Mtonga said the Joyce Banda administration has scored highly on responding to people’s needs citing the handling of the just ended civil servants strike, drug shortage, Electoral Commission debacle, normalizing fuel situation, availability of forex and creating an enabling business environment.

Worsening economic crisis

On the worsening economic situation, Rev. Mtonga said Banda’s administration is working hard to bring back the economy on track through the implementation of Economic Recovery Plan (ERP).

Mtonga: JB government is going to succeed

He further added that the current government got rid of draconian laws soon after it took over from late Bingu wa Mutharika.

“When President Dr. Joyce Banda took over office the country’s fuel reserve tanks were dry to the bottom. Today isn’t it amazing that we are able to have reserve stocks for a three month period? queried Mtonga.

Rural community empowerment

On the empowerment of rural communities, the presidential advisor explained that currently the Malawi government is implementing several projects aimed at uplifting the living standards of poor Malawians.

He cited as an example of the ongoing social cash transfer which rolled out some few months ago in some parts of the country.

“Apart from social cash transfer, we also have the presidential initiative which is implementing other important projects like legume seed distribution, pass on goat and cow projects as well as irrigation to ensure the country achieves food security,” said the advisor.

Presidential initiatives

Mtonga further said President Banda is appalled by the shocking poverty levels in the country. He added that it is in same vein the president introduced the presidential initiative on poverty and hunger reduction with the aim to graduate farmers from subsistence to commercial farming.

“Malawi’s poverty statistics have not been pleasing at all. As such it is for this reason that president Dr. Banda saw the need to empower small scale farmers by enabling them to directly benefit from her initiative through the distribution of assorted legume seeds,” articulated Mtonga.

He added further that the safe motherhood initiative is aimed at reducing maternal deaths by at least half by end of 2015 in line with United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

Bingu’s projects to be continued

Meanwhile, Mtonga maintained President Banda administration’s commitment to sustain projects it inherited from the Mutharika reign provided they are to the benefit of Malawians.

He cited the continuation of subsidy programme as one of the examples.

On education, the senior aide told the people of Chileka that the current government will never tamper with academic freedoms at all levels as was the case previously.

Mtonga, a serving director of religious affairs in ruling PP, further explained that the president in her state of the nation address pointed out that the living standards of teachers will be improved by giving them incentives.

There was drama in Kasungu Central Constituency on Sunday as People’s Party (PP) parliamentarian for the area, Ken Kandodo, tussled over venue with Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Mulanje West parliamentarian, Patricia Kaliati.

The two camps crashed over Chipanga Primary School ground with both sides claiming to be the first to book the venue.

Reports indicate that the DPP camp sought permission to hold a political rally at the disputed venue nine days earlier and that a podium had already been erected.

On the other hand the Kandondo’s PP camp challenged that it wanted the same venue for a football bonanza.

Kandodo accused Kaliati of invading into his constituency arguing he could not seek permission to hold a rally i

Kaliati: Attacks ‘failurer’ Kandodo

n his own constituency.

Later the DPP camp gave in and shifted their rally to a closer by venue 500 metres away while PP led by Kandodo continued with their rally and the football bonanza.

Addressing the DPP gathering at Chipanga Trading Centre on Sunday, Kaliati attacked Kandodo, saying he has done nothing for the well being of his people.

“Can you imagine, since 2009 he calls Kasungu Central constituency developed? He is just as a barren woman promising to give birth one time,” Kaliati furiously said.

But in an interview with Mana, Kandodo who is also Minister of Defense brushed the claims of Kaliati saying that they are cheap political insults and that Kaliati is just a failure in politics.

“How can she come all the way from Mulanje and keep saying I have done nothing in as far as development is concerned? She is just being used as a cheap advocating tool pushing for my come back to DPP, a thing which I would not dare do,” he said.

Police in Machinga have arrested 45 year old Tima Ojesi Chabwera for killing her husband who wanted to marry a second wife against her wish.

Police Public Relations Officer in Machinga, Constable Amos Tione said on Monday that the police arrested the suspect Sunday after killing her 55 year old husband, Umali Chabwera at Dinji Village, Traditional Authority Ngokwe in the district where the two were staying.

Tione said when the wife did not accept that her husband should marry a second wife a disagreement ensued which became worse on Sunday as the husband insisted to marry the second wife.

“This did not go down well with the wife who resorted to hacking the husband on the right shoulder with a panga knife.

Woman axed hubby to death

“The man who sustained a big cut on the shoulder and was severely bleeding, was rushed to Ngokwe Health Center where he died while receiving treatment,” explained Tione.

Tione said results of postmortem conducted at Machinga District Hospital revealed that Umali Chabwera died due to internal bleeding and heavy loss of blood.

Meanwhile, the suspect is under police custody waiting to appear before court to answer murder charges contrary to Section 209 of the Penal Code.

The suspect comes from Namunu Village, Traditional Authority Ngokwe in Machinga.

Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) has asked government to consider procurement of new state of the art equipment to replace the old and damaged one that is short-changing its operations.

Evance Namanja, chairperson at the broadcaster said although they were celebrating 15 years of Radio 2 existence, the broadcaster, in particular television, had outdated, damaged and pathetiuc equipment.

“This is making us not meet the publics’ expectations. We have engaged with the Ministry of Information over this matter and am positive that they will do something. Our equipment is either very old or broken down making our work difficult in most cases,” he revealed.

An engineer at the television sector said they only have two working video cameras, four sets of computers and one studio for all the programming.

MBC broadcasing house in Blantyre

“Imagine it is only one camera that can work inside and outside and this is the one mostly used on foreign presidential trip coverages. The other one can only work outside and its a challenge to have all the programming done in one studio,” he lamented.

The broadcaster has now and again highlighted it is poorly equipped, making it come last in quality and deadlines perhaps across the southern African region.

However, a few years ago the Chinese government donated some state-of-the-art video cameras, and with the current problems and revelations, it is a wonder where all these cameras have gone to in a short period of time.

Despite the challenges, television has made strides, including migrating to digital satellite television (DStv) on channel 295 on DTH, IS20 platform, in stride with other national broadcasters in the region courtesy of Multichoice Malawi.

The Malawi Immigration department in Mzuzu has  arrested a Zimbabwean national and his accomplice for attempting to get a Malawian passport fraudulently.

Public Relations officer for the Immigration department in the northern region Comet Jeremiah confirmed the arrest of Nevermind Kufakunesu from the Manicaland provisional city of Mutare and his Malawian ‘fixer’ Gibson Banda.

Ironically, Kufakunesu  - an economist  -was found with a valid Zimbabwean Passport which will expire on December 16th, 2020.

Jeremiah told Nyasa Times that Kufakunesu went to the immigration office with already filled passport application forms accompanied by Banda.

“On the forms he claimed he was Austin Mandala from Lilongwe and that his brother a Mr. Never Ngozo from Chiputula Township in Mzuzu had signed the affidavit confirming his birth details.

“But immigration officials got suspicious because they were interviewing Kufakunesu in Chichewa but he was replying in English only without any fusion of Chichewa word. When we asked him to take us to his brother’s place he said he did not know the place,” he said.

Jeremiah said Kufakunesu was arrested on the spot and revealed during interrogation that he had lied.

The Immigration department has since charged both Banda and Kufakunesu with trying to obtain or acquire a Malawi passport contrary to section 327 of the Penal Code.

President Joyce Banda has repeatedly pleaded with Malawians not to aid illegal immigrants into the country, saying the continued influx of illegal immigrants poses a threat to the country’s economy, security and even jobs.

“Interestingly I have some passports of people who cannot even utter any single word of Chichewa or any other Malawian language. And they got their passports in Mzuzu. Let’s love Malawi,” she said.

The President said this in Mzuzu during an Interdenominational memorial prayer service for the 20th July 2011 victims held at the Mzuzu stadium on 20th July 2012.

Malawi journalists are expressing concern over President Joyce Banda’s continued culture of ‘press rallies’ which late president Bingu wa  Mutharika was conducting.

The concern follows a news conference held by President Banda at Sanjika palace on Saturday, on her arrival from Equatorial Guinea in the presence of political party cohorts, who created a hostile environment to journalists that attended the event.

Journalists were booed by party loyalists when they asked critical questions to the Head of State.

At the peak of his reign, former president Mutharika shuffled venues for the holding of news conferences between State House and the airport, especially when returning from abroad.

Journalists at a press conference

Some argued the development left media practitioners exposed to ridicule and insults from party officials and hoodlums, who in one way or the other, found their way into these press rallies.

And speaking in an interview, the Malawi chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Malawi) vice chairman Thom Khanje emphasized the need for the government to make sure that party supporters are not allowed to news conferences.

“Without necessarily having to point a finger, it is evident that the media need to have a conducive environment in order to discharge their duty professionally and in a diligent manner when handling presidential functions” observed Khanje.

He said organizers of such functions as well as the media themselves should make sure that party cohorts and officials who have no business being at a presidential conference, are not left to interject or influence proceedings meant for the media.

Khanje asked President Banda to hold news conference when arriving from abroad at the VVIP lounge at the airport or at State House without party zealots.

Newspaper columnist, Raphael Tenthani, writing in his ‘Muckraking on Sunday’ published in the Sunday Times  recently advised new press secretary Steve Nhlane and a band of press officers  to bring sanity into the president’s office in the way they conduct the news conference.

But government spokesperson Moses Kunkuyu was defensive, saying the presser have always been conducted in appropriate areas.

In a twist of events, the World Boxing Forum (WBF), a body that sanctioned the bout between Agnes Mtimaukanena and Happiness Nkhoma last weekend in Lilongwe has stripped Malawi’s top female boxers of the belt and has since declared the welterweight category vacant.

WBF declared the welterweight fight null and void on Monday.

According to WBF African representative Emmanuel Mlundwa, incompetence on part of the judges Andy Muyaya and Gertrude Sanjale has cost the female boxer the belt.

During the fight, Zambian judge William Selekete scored 94-98, Sanjale scored 95-100 and Muyaya scored 93-100 in favor of Mtimaukanena.

Mtimaukanena: Stripped of belt

The WBF representative claimed that the scores were not in harmony with the 10-point system they used during the fight.

“It seems Muyaya and Sanjale do not understand the 10-point system used for the fight. Their scores were not in harmony with the system. Only the Zambian judge got the figures right.

“As such we have declared the fight a no contest and the welterweight belt vacant,” said Mlundwa.

Henry Sakala, vice president of Malawi Boxing Committee, who presided over the fight, also claimed that Muyaya and Sanjale got it wrong.

By scoring 93-100 and 95-100, the judges meant that the top female boxer won all the rounds which were not the case.

“They were ignorant of the rules. They should have consulted first,” said Sakala.

There was no immediate reaction from Mtimaukanena.

Opposition Member of Parliament for Karonga South, Chembe Glad Munthali on Tuesday asked government to consider health of men rather than concentrating on maternal health only.

The MP said President  Joyce Banda has from the time she assumed the presidency emphasized on the need to care for pregnant mothers who she said should not die as they were giving another life.

She also launched the Presidential Initiative on Maternal health and Safe Motherhood with the goal of reducing deaths of pregnant mothers.

While contributing to the Mid Term Budget Review statement presented in parliament by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ken Lipenga on 15 February 2013, Chembe said much as the Government claimed to be caring, a lot of men were suffering in silence.

Gotani Hara: Government vaues both men and women

He said for the past nine months, much attention was seen to be given to mothers as if men were free from diseases.

Munthali said, “The current Government is not serious as it is putting much effort on maternal health leaving out men suffering. Much as we appreciate these efforts but we would like to ask government not to forget that even men are human beings and can fall sick.”

However, Minister of Health, Catherine Gotani Hara said what government was doing was to make sure that both men and women were given the health care required.

She said: “The government values both the poor men and women and the member is not aware of what he is saying.”

Member of Parliament for Thyolo Thava Lifred Nawena has hailed the impact of the subsidized fertilizer, saying there has been a marked improvement in the pattern of distribution and the availability of the commodity in the selling points.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) parliamentarian said this in August House on Tuesday during the question and answer segment as part of the general business as the house continues its deliberations on the ongoing 44th session.

Nawena stood to recuse himself from the question which was appearing on the order paper informing the house through the Second Deputy Speaker of parliament Julian Mphande that the question appearing under his name was supposed to be on the order paper last year and not during this session.

“Madam Deputy Speaker am surprised that the question appearing under my name on today’s order paper is coming today. That question was meant for last year and not for this particular sitting, in fact it is worth noting that there has been a massive improvement in terms of fertiliser distribution this year as compared to the previous years,” said Nawena amid hand clapping from the Government benches.

Nawena: Hails improve fertiliser distribution

According to the order paper the legislature from Thyolo Thava was supposed to ask the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security if he was aware that the deliveries of the farm inputs to his constituency were scanty and erratic forcing some farmers to spend weeks at Chonde market to wait for the commodity.

Reacting to this statement the Deputy Minister of Agriculture Ulemu Chilapondwa who was answering the questions commended the spirit shown by Nawena saying what the DPP parliamentarian echoes to what he has been saying in parliament all along.

“I have always said here that the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP) has improved so much this year and we have recorded a huge success. I have to thank honourable Nawena for being such bold to admit and applaud us because it is not only in his constituency where things have worked out well but a majority is scared to acknowledge that,” said Chilapondwa.

The deputy minister said the establishment of toll free line in the areas also helped a lot as people were able to notify the police, agriculture officers and even political leaders if and when they noted any anomalies in the distribution of fertiliser in their respective areas.

“Right now as Government we want to identify areas where the maize production has not done well due to poor rains so that they embark on irrigation farming to avert any possibility of hunger in the country and the president has already given us an okay to that,” said Chilapondwa.

The issue Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP) has come out as one of the main contentious subjects during the current seating of parliament with many members decrying the use of coupons as it is giving loopholes to some unscrupulous traders to access the commodity for resale at a high price.

Tonga people of Nkhata-Bay District are banging their heads to seek ways of reviving their culture which they say is losing its originality due to migration of other people into the district and intermarriages.

Speaking in an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana), Traditional Authority Mankhambira said some of the major factors that have contributed to the loss of originality of Tonga Culture include language being threatened due to inter-marriages and migration of other people like Tanzanians into the district.

“Tonga people have lost direction in language and culture. Let us revive our culture, why can’t we form a Tonga grouping like what other ethnic groups have done like, Mzimba Heritage and Mulhakho wa a Lomwe?” T/A Mankhambira wondered.

On his part, Traditional Authority Mkumbira welcomed the idea of forming the grouping, saying doing so could unify Tonga People wherever they are.

Tonga people with their Malipenga dance

“Tonga people used to speak Tonga, but now with the coming in of other languages, the youth speak other languages, if we leave the situation as it is, we would lose our language, hence the need to promote our culture and language,” Mkumbira explained.

Joseph Nduna, who is also a Tonga, observed that traditional dances like Chilimika and Malipenga have been modified and lost taste in the process, a development which he said needs to be revised to the old style of dancing.

“Our youth now shun traditional dances like honala and malipenga, fearing they would be labeled old fashioned people, in this way we lose the roots of our culture,” he said.

Apart from Nkhata Bay, the Tonga people are also found in Nkhota-kota and Likoma districts in Malawi. They are also found in Mozambique and Zambia.

The Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) on Tuesday unveiled MK4.5billion (69million NOK) health project aimed at improving access to health care in communities of Malawi from 2013 -2015.

The project is targeting 20 districts across the country and it targets women of child bearing age, pregnant women, men, orphans and vulnerable children, people living with HIV, tutors and management of health training, according to NCA’s Senior Program Manager, Esther Masika.

She said Christian Health Association of Malawi (CHAM) would be the leading partners in the implementation of the project in health facilities and in health training institutions while psychosocial support would be implemented by faith-based organizations in the 20 target districts.

“The program seeks to improve health and environment of the mother and child through the provision of quality maternal, neonatal, child health, psychosocial support services and improving the quality of health workers in Malawi by 2015,” explained Masika.

Minister of Heath, Catherine Gotani speaking during the opening cerenmony.-Photo credit Mana

Speaking during the program launch at Pacific Hotel in Lilongwe, the Norwegian Ambassador to Malawi, Asbjorn Eidhammer, described the initiative as good division of labour considering that while the Embassy was working with the Government, the NCA was working with CHAM – an institution which is very instrumental in the country’s health services.

He said as development partners, Norway realizes the hurdles Malawi’s health system is going through and that it is incumbent upon his country to give support.

“We are all aware of the present difficulties in the sector, with the shortage drugs,” said Eidhammer, adding, “Donors are heavily engaged in this sector through our extensive funding and as development partners we cannot free ourselves from being part of this situation; we must be part of the solution to the problems the country is facing.”

The Norwegian Ambassador said his government had, over the last months, worked hard with the Malawi Government to find ways out and that Norway was ready to assist to see the situation improving in few months.

He further observed that the program NCA had just unveiled was very much in line with the initiative for Maternal Health and Safe Motherhood, which President Dr. Joyce Banda was implementing in the country.

In her remarks, Minister of Health Catherine Gotani Hara thanked the Norwegian Government for the support it gives to Malawi and she said the launched project would play a vital role in enabling the country in attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) 4, 5 and 6.

She said government would ensure that the project’s objectives are achieved as anticipated and that all the program’s activities are well coordinated in all the 20 target districts.

The target districts of the NCA Health Program are Mulanje, Phalombe, Thyolo, Nsanje, Mwanza, Machinga, Chikwawa, Mangochi, Balaka, Blantyre and Zomba in the south; Ntcheu, Dedza, Lilongwe, Ntchisi and Dowa and Nkhotakota in the centre, and in the north, Chitipa, Mzimba, Nkhatabay and Rumphi.

NCA’s interventions in Malawi’s health system started in 2005 with a health training program in cooperation with CHAM and Ministry of Health following Malawi’s call to development partners in 2004 to increase production of health workers when the country’s health system faced a crisis in human resource.

Airtel Malawi Limited, one of the country mobile telecommunications company, has said as Timaitha SMS promotion enters its third and final month, over K15 million have already been won since it was launched in December last year.

At the end of the promotion, one lucky customer will walk away with the vehicle as a grand prize, a K8 million (about $22 857) worth KIA Rio  car.

Airtel Marketing manager Acquisition and Research, Richmond Chinula disclosed on Tuesday during the eighth draw of Timaitha SMS Promotion and the finale of Timaitha Fiesta that the promotion has been a success as it has helped to transform lives of many Malawians.

“This far, we have a month before we wrap up this promotion that has brought smiles and changed lives of so many people across the country. We still have slightly over K6 million to fight for in the promotion. That means we have spent more than K15 million since we launched the promotion “said Chinula.

One of the winners in the promotion, Chimtele receiving his prize from Airtel’s Edith Tsilizani

Chinula said Airtel is happy that it has managed to touch the lives of many lives across all sectors in the country. Adding that it was pleasing to note most of the winners have invested the money they won in the promotion in small scale businesses that will change lives for good.

“On our part, we have also been impressed by the response that we are getting from our customers. Despite the economic hardships prevalent in the country, support has been astounding. The adage that a good turn deserves another has indeed lived its meaning” added Chinula.

The Airtel Timaitha SMS promotion is expected to end, on March 26 and the company has invested over K30 million in the promotion which will see one lucky customer winning a brand new KIA RIO as the grand prize.

The High Court in Blantyre has ordered Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) to settle hotel accommodation bills for late President Bingu wa Mutharika’s daughter, Tapiwa occasioned as result of case adjournment amounting to around K800,080.00.

MRA and late Mutharika’s family are in court fighting over the intention by the tax-collection body to impound 41 vehicles late Mutharika bought whilst in power on duty free, arguing the family should pay duty if they are to use the vehicles.

The case which was supposed to start on February 12, 2013 was, however, adjourned after MRA noted that was not ready with its affidavit, forcing the court to immediately order the institution to settle all transport and accommodation bill Tapiwa incurred during her two-stay in Blantyre to represent the family in the case.

The bill include legal fees for the family’s lawyer, Chancy Gondwe.

Late Mutharika’s children: In step to defend the former president’s estate

However, controversy erupted in court on Tuesday when the case resumed after Gondwe noted that the case could not proceed unless MRA settles the bill.

Gondwe also argued that the tax-collection body had served him with its affidavit in opposition late and could only challenge whatever points raised in the affidavit if given sometime as the law stipulates. He asked for an adjournment.

“I would like to see the direction of the court on the point that the bill ordered has not been paid. And I was only served with affidavits in opposition yesterday (Monday) evening therefore I will need time to prepare defence as required by law,” Gondwe told the court.

But MRA counsel comprised of Christopher Likomwa and Beatrice Mangwera challenged the bill as exorbitant, arguing it will only be settled if it’s reasonable.

Likomwa said it was not deliberate not to settle the bill but “the figures are not clear. We are willing to pay but it needs to be reasonable”.

The two sides could not agree on the bill, forcing judge Joseph Manyungwa to intervene.

Justice Manyungwa wondered why MRA failed to comply with the court order to settle the bill and urged the two sides to appear before the Court Registrar responsible for taxation to work out on their differences.

Manyungwa adjourned the case and ordered MRA to settle the bill before case hearing resumes on March 18, 2013.

Fact of the matter

The tax collecting body demanded duty on late Mutharika’s personal 41 vehicles he purchased duty free while he was in power.

MRA Commission General John Biziwick on October 23, 2012, wrote the late Mutharika’s young brother, Peter Mutharika, a letter referenced number MRA/CE/TECH/30:00 demanding the said customs duty.

Biziwick attached registration numbers and the vehicles make such as Nissan Pickup, Toyota Hilux, Isuzu KB, Iveco Eurostar, Mercedes Benz CLK240, KIA Sportage, TATA LTP7135, Toyota Fortuner, Toyota Land Cruiser and MF Tractor among others, some of which belong to Bineth Farm.

But in response, Professor Peter Mutharika, the late president’s wife Callista and his daughter Tapiwa Mutharika rushed to court through the Chamgwanjira and Company law firm, seeking an injunction saying they have a constitutional right to property and freedom from arbitrary deprivation.

In the affidavit supporting notice of application to apply for judicial review, Tapiwa wants the court to quash the demand for payment of the said customs duty, an order quashing MRA’s decision to seize the vehicles, an order prohibiting the impounding of the vehicles and an injunction restraining MRA from effecting their decision.
High Court Judge Healey Potani granted the Mutharika’s an injunction restraining the MRA from effecting their action.

According to Tapiwa’s affidavit, her father was entitled to importing limitless duty free vehicles under Schedule Part 1 of the President (Salaries and Benefits) Act Cap2:02 of the Law of Malawi.

But Biziwick says in his letter that no person other than the late President is entitled to the privilege and cannot therefore take or use the vehicles before duty is paid.

Mutharika’s children have been fighting with their step mother Callitsa Mutharika over the administration of the deceased’s estate.

The children argued that Mutharika’s property was under a Bineth Trust, which he and his first wife, late Ethel, founded.

The children are some of the beneficiaries of the trust. But Callista argued that at the time of Mutharika’s death, she was the legally married to the president.

Malawi’s prominent human rights activist Billy Mayaya has drafted a petition which Malawians are signing online denouncing demands from members of Parliament (MPs) to get K10 million (about $27 777) each as fuel allowance arrears.

The National Assembly has 193 MPs, which means the total amount paid would add up to K1.9 billion (about $5.3 million).

But the petition demands the legislatures to drop their “preposterous” demand.

“Since the dawn of multiparty democracy in Malawi, Members of Parliament once elected have taken their constituents for granted. Enough is enough. We, the People of Malawi demand that the prop estrous request by Parliamentarians be withdrawn as it will continue to place the burden on poor Malawian taxpayers,” reads the petition.

Mayaya: Petition to MPs to withdraw demands for MK10 million in fuel allowance arrears

One of the signatories to the petitition, activist Faustace Chirwa wrote: “For heaven’s sake our Parliamentarians should be realistic in their demands in view of the economic challenges the country is facing. They should be in the fore front feeling sorry for civil servants who are earning pathetic and low salaries in this country. Their constituents continue leaving in dire poverty while they collect hefty allowances and salaries! Serve the people first!”

Another signatory Dawn Gowa Nyasulu wrote: “The demand is ill-timed and not in good faith!”

In his post, John Chirwa of Lilongwe said Malawi needs “medicine in hospitals as priority.”

Meanwhile, president of Civil Service Trade Union (CSTU), Eliah Kamphinda Banda has threatened to resume the civil servants strike which they suspended last week if President Joyce Banda’s administrations bows down to members of parliament’s fuel allowance arrears demands.

“Parliamentarians have the right to claim their arrears but the economic situation now is not ideal for such claims,” Kamphinda Banda said on Zodiak Broadcasting Services (ZBS).

He warned that if Banda’s government dares to disburse the arrears, civil servants will resume the strike.

“The understanding would be government has the money, it cheated us,” said the Union leader.

But President Banda has put her foot down, saying her administration will not bow down to such demands because “the economy of Malawi is in a mess “.

Contributing in a live radio debate organized by ZBS last Friday, members from the general public took turns to dress down the legislators some going to the extent of calling their demands ‘total madness.’

Speaker of Parliament, Henry Chimunthu Banda has clarified that a written speech which Leader of Opposition John Tembo failed to deliver in response to President Joyce Banda’s opening speech was on record and part of the House’s Hansard.

Tembo’s prepared speech among several issues talked about rampant corruption and abuse of national resources, the floatation of the kwacha, the travels by the President, and government failure to keep its promise of having the opposition covered on national MBC radio and TV.

Some opposition parliamentarians have been referring to Tembo’s abandoned speech when making their contributions which prompted Leader of the House Henry Phoya to question that.

But Speaker of Parliament clarified: “Honourable members, I also noted that what the Leader of Opposition said in his response to the President’s opening speech, much of it was not related to what was in his written speech.

Tembo: Speech part of records

“I asked him whether he wanted his written speech to be circulated to members in the House and he said yes. Therefore, on that basis, honourable members can make reference to the Leader of Opposition’s speech because it’s part of our records,” said Chimunthu Banda.

After abandoning his written speech, Tembo lashed out at some Cabinet ministers who were in former Bingu wa Mutharika administration and accused them of misleading Banda.