Finance Minister Dr Ken Lipenga will present to Parliament the revised midterm before the current session ends next week, Leader of the House Henry Phoya told the House on Friday.

Phoya, who is also Minister of Lands and Housing, said changes had to be made to the original mid-term budget presented by Lipenga two weeks ago.

This comes after the withdrawal of the Budget Bill, asking Parliament to approve K68 billion (about $188.9 million) additional spending in the current fiscal year.

The withdraw, according to Lipenga,  had been necessitated by the need to rework budget estimates following the dismantling of some votes after giving civil servants a pay rise.

Phoya: Revised budget to be presented before parliament adjourns

Phoya told the House that the revised mid-term budget statement will capture increased wages for the civil servant .

“The ministry of finance will rework the figures,” said Phoya, adding “ I can assure the house that the budget will go through the committee stage and the vote by vote procedure.”

The midterm budget was presented to the house before civil servants went on strike and eventually agreed a 61 percent pay hike which was not included in the midterm budget.

Phoya’s assuarance comes after opposition lawmakers warned the Joyce Banda administration against spending extra money illegally when Lipenga withdrew his Budget Bill.

Malawi President Joyce Banda has urged women in Malawi to be resilient and keep on praying, saying women have always been blamed and criticized since biblical time.

The President’s statement came at a time when she is being blamed for exacerbating the country’s economic malaise, medical drug crisis in public hospitals and a general maize shortage among others.

The President was attending this year’s Women’s World Day of Prayer held at St Andrew CCAP Church in Mzuzu where she was guest of honor.

Black out

Malawi Broadcasting Corporation TV and Radio One went off  air simultaneously during the live coverage of this year’s Women’s World Day of Prayer held at St Andrew CCAP Church in Mzuzu where Malawi President Banda was guest of honor.

President Banda and First Gentleman attending prayers.-Photo by Sarah Munthali/Mana

Both stations stopped transmission at 2.28pm before the president spoke and MBC staff was seen in frantic efforts making calls shouting at each other in an effort to detect the problem.

TV screens tuned to MBC channel had a notice “No or bad signal” while radios tuned to Radio one’s 97.8 had s screeching sound.

MBC was restored live transmission at 3.52pm.

Malawi women joined the rest of the world’s women in celebrating the day, which falls on the first Friday of every March every year, 50 years later in 1982.  So far 170 countries are part of the celebrations.

Women in France are leading this year’s prayers, while Malawi has never organized the prayers at world level, according to Women’s World Day of Prayer Vice Chair-person Mrs. Beatrice Chilindiro.

“But we have been managing to send at least one women to where the prayers are done in a particular year because we lack resources to send a larger delegation,” Chilindiro said.

President Banda then donated MK2 million to the organizing committee of the Women’s World Day of Prayer to carry out its charity works at Mzuzu prison and Central Hospital.

Women responsibilities

President Banda said the fact that God ensured that women endure pain through childbearing is a coping mechanism enabling them to face any challenge.

“God gave us intuition and a duty to suffer pain with dignity so that we can comfort those around us,” she said.

Going biblical specifically  referring to the  book of Genesis in the Holy Bible,  President  Banda said when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, Adam blamed Eve.

“As women we should know that was the start of the problems. Even now if I do something, I always have critics and sometimes I wonder where it is coming from. What we should do that pray hard and not offer excuses because blame is part of our creation,” Banda said.

She then took about 40 minutes reminding women about their duties and responsibilities saying they should not fear their husbands but respect them.

“Don’t just be spectators, Kumatakata. Be a good partner, lover and friends to your husbands. The best gift a wife can give to her family is to show love to her husband,” Banda said.

Gender violence

She then attributed the ever increasing cases of gender violence in the country to unfair upbringing.

“Men become beasts because we treat boys as kings while girls never enjoy their childhood because of  heavy workloads. In fact we abuse girls,” the President said.

She said gender equality in Malawi will never be realized as long as parents do not bring up boys and girls as equals.

“Let’s protect our girl child. Let’s give them time to rest,” she said, adding that “I never enjoyed my childhood because my mother used to work but left me to care for my younger siblings,” Banda said.

The prayers held under the theme : ‘I was a stranger, you welcomed me’ and drew various women from various denominations in Malawi.

Malawi women have been urged to pray for God’s intervention on the Lake Malawi border dispute with Tanzania so that it goes in the southern African nation and that the matter is resolved amicably.

The call was made by Women’s World Day of Prayer Chairperson Regina Phanda during this year’s Women’s World Day of Prayer held at St Andrew CCAP Church in Mzuzu.

She urged women in the country to pray that a lake border row to be in Malawi’s favor.

“Let all women join hands to intensify prayers so that the lake dispute is resolved in Malawi favour and peacefully,” said Phanda during the prayers which were attended by President Joyce Banda.

Malawi women praying

Malawi claims sovereignty over the entire Lake Malawi, Africa’s third largest, while Tanzania claims it is entitled to over 50 percent of the lake known as Lake Nyasa in Tanzania.

The border row -which is more than 40 years old – resurfaced after Malawi discovered oil in the lake.

Phanda said the fact the name has always had the country’s name since colonial time is testimony that the lake belongs to Malawi.

“Let’s pray for the mediation efforts to be fruitful. This is our lake,” she said.

Malawi submitted its position on the disputed Lake Malawi at the end of January, meeting the deadline of January 31.

Principal Secretary of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Patrick Kabambe said Malawi has been informed that Tanzania has also made its submission

Meanwhile, Tanzanian authorities have said they are confident that a decision by three former leaders from the member states of Southern African Development Community (SADC), who would form a panel to mediate the Lake Malawi border dispute, will resolve the conflict once and for all.

Former Presidents Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique and Festus Mogae of Botswana said on Monday that they would form a panel to mediate the border dispute.

An NGO and Government official caused a storm during the court proceedings in Zomba, in a case of child defilement where a Malawian of Asian origin Abdul Sattar Hassan is answering charges of indecent assault and defiling a 14 year old girl contrary to section 138 and 137(1) of the Penal Code.

The NGO and Government officials were angered by questions the defence lawyer Sunduzwayo Madise kept asking the victim.

The concerned parties felt the questions were irrelevant and useless.

Pastor Mpinganjira, who is the Director of Compassionate Mission an institution that is taking care of the abused girl, raised his hand and told the presiding magistrate that the questions the defence
lawyer Madise was asking were irrelevant.

Madise: Defence lawyer for suspected sex offendor

Mpinganjira said it was important for the defence council to go straight to real issues rather than asking useless questions.

Another concerned official to question the conduct of the lawyer was an officer from Government Social Welfare Office Mrs. Nthatiwa who further argued that Madise was asking questions that were
confusing to the abused girl as he kept on repeating irrelevant questions.

The presiding magistrate Rosemary Liyawo informed the concerned parties that they were suppose to channel their concerns through the state prosecutor and not interrupting the court proceedings as that was against the court procedure.

Liyawo, then asked if the court could adjourn for few minutes. The defence council agreed and informed the concerned parties that they had no voice in the court proceedings and that it is not allowed for the audience to interfere with court proceedings.

The court was then forced to adjourn for 10 minutes and the state prosecutor Inspector Josephine Hlupikile Chigawa took time to brief the concerned parties on the court procedure. She then encouraged them to raise their concerns to the court through her.

Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) Media Networking and Advocacy Officer Charles Banda,who attended the court proceeding told Nyasa Times that there is need for orientation on court proceedings among concerned parties as many are not aware of what happens in a court of law.

He further said that under Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code (CPEC) section 214 (5)(7) the defence council has the right to ask questions as the section grantees him the right to ask questions that he may wish to ask and he is not limited to issues raised in the examination in chief where the prosecutor questions his / her witness.

Section 214 (5) state that the cross-examination need not be confined to the facts to which the witness testified on his examination-in-chief.

However, Banda noted that the court has the discretion to decide on whether the issues raised are relevant to matter or not. He added that this has to be in line with section 215 (1) of the CPEC. The
section state that “If any question asked under section 214 (7) relates to a matter not relevant to the proceeding, except in so far as it affects the credit of the witness by injuring his character, the
court shall decide whether or not the witness shall be compelled to answer it, and may, if it thinks fit, warn the witness that he is not obliged to answer it. In exercising its discretion, the court shall
have regard to the following considerations—
(a)     such questions are proper if they are of such a nature that the truth of the imputation conveyed by them would seriously affect the opinion of the court or jury, as the case may be, as to the credibility of the witness on the matter to which he testifies;
(b)     such questions are improper if the imputation which they convey relates to matters so remote in time, or of such a character, that the truth of the imputation would not affect, or would affect in a slight degree, the opinion of the court or jury, as the case may be, as to the credibility of the witness on the matter to which he testifies;
(c)     Such questions are improper if there is a great disproportion between the importance of the imputation made against the witness’s character and the importance of his evidence;
(d)     The court or jury, as the case may be, may, if it sees fit, draw from the witness’s refusal to answer, the inference that the answer if given would be unfavourable.”

The absence of court intervention to protect the victim raised a concern among the institutions that are promoting child rights.

The case was adjourned to 15th March 2013 when the State is expected to bring in additional witnesses.

The case has angered many Malawians who are expressing their dissatisfaction with judicial systems where an ordinary Malawian is not granted bail on such cases.

Ministry of Gender and NGOs are following up on the case. Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) is part of the concerned NGOs that are following up on the case through its National Child Helpline services that are being funded by UNICEF Malawi.

Malawi parliament this week passed a government bill which critics say will make abortion legal in the country and bishops of the influential Catholic church in Malawi in a pastoral statement—expected to be read on Sunday—they have spoken against abortion and artificial birth control measures.

When Gender, Children and Social Welfare Minister Anita Kalinde tabled the Gender Equality Bill lawmakers warned government against legalizing abortion in the country, saying it was an “immoral act” which can’t be supported.

The bill, which allows women to have the right to choose to have a child without coercion or duress, was unanimously passed into law.

Meanwhile, the he pastoral letter, dated March 2 2013 signed by all Catholic bishops, including Bishop Joseph Zuza, chairperson of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) and bishop for Mzuzu Diocese; his vice Thomas Msusa of Zomba Diocese, Tarcisius Ziyaye of Blantyre Archdiocese, Remi Ste-Marie of Lilongwe Archdiocese; Peter Musikuwa of Chikhwawa Diocese, Emmanuel Kanyama of Dedza Diocese; Alessandro Pagani of Mangochi Diocese; Dr. Martin Mtumbuka of Karonga Diocese and Montfort Stima, Auxiliary Bishop of Blantyre Archdiocese speak against abortions, especially direct ones.

Bishops of the influential Catholic Church

“The Catholic Church condemns all direct abortions as gravely sinful. Life must be safeguarded with extreme care from conception; abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes,” reads the statement quoting Pope Paul VI who declared that this teaching of the Church “has not changed and is unchangeable.”

The bishops also challenge medical personnel to choose the law of God and refuse cooperating in abortions.

“It is, for instance, inadmissible that doctors or nurses should find themselves obliged to cooperate closely in abortions and have to choose between the law of God and their professional situation,” the statement reads as quoted in the Weekend Nation.

The bishops observe that most abortions are procured not to save the life of the mother, but to obtain some other human value that is opposed in some way to pregnancy.

They further observe that most abortions involve healthy women and foetus.

“The foetus is looked at as a burden because the woman is unmarried, or poor, or at the beginning of her career, or at school, or that she has enough children already [birth control]. At stake is an effort to break the traditional link between sexual intercourse and procreation,” says the statement.

Against the argument that the woman has a right to her own body and, therefore, she can decide what to do with the foetus, the bishops say it must be asserted that the right of the unborn to life takes precedence over the right of a woman to control her body.

However, the bishops observe that cases of indirect abortions when another proportionately more important value is at stake constitute exceptions.

Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu told Weekend Nation that “Government may give official comment after the pastoral letter is out.”

The Bishops Church also denounced homosexuality, saying promotion of homosexuality threatens the existence of marriage as designed by God.

The Malawi government is condemning Tanzanian officials for making sentiments, which it says are in breach of the agreement of resolving the Lake Malawi boarder claim.

Tanzanian media quoted the country’s foreign affairs minister Benard Membe saying that the SADC former Heads of State Forum will decide ownership of the lake which will rest the case.

In reaction, Malawi’s Foreign Affairs Ephraim Chiume said what Membe said is a complete breach of the agreement the two parties made last year on 17th November held in Dar-es-Salaam Tanzania.

Speaking to journalist in Lilongwe, Chiume said the binding agreement which himself and Membe pended their signatures was that the two governments must give the mediation process a chance in an attempt to find a mutually agreeable solution.

Chiume: Tanzania are in breach of agreement, afterall the Lake Malawi belongs to Malawi

The agreement states that the SADC Former Heads of State and Government Forum after thorough analysis of the issue will only make recommendations from their mediation efforts and not making a concrete decision on who owns the lake.

According to the agreement the recommendations will be submitted later this month to state President Joyce Banda and Tanzania president Jakaya Kikwete.

The agreement further stipulates that if both Malawi and Tanzania heads of state fails to agree to the recommendations from former heads of state then they may be at liberty to take the matter to the International Court of Justice for a legal binding decision.

In this regard, Chiume described Membe’s remarks as misleading to citizens of the two countries, who are keenly following the issue as and a breach of their binding agreement between the two governments.

The foreign Affairs minister also affirmed the government’s stand that the whole lake belongs to Malawi.

He said the authorities have opted for dialogue to portray that Malawi is a peaceful country, which strives to keep diplomatic means of co-existence with its neighbors.

Opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) acting president Peter Mutharika on Saturday abandoned his posh motorcade for a public commuter mini bus ride in the capital Lilongwe when he went to the market.

Mutharika, the DPP presidential hopeful for next year’s elections, did not address hundreds of people who came to see him when he went about buying foodstuff in the market, apparently to appreciate the inflation levels that have been triggered by the devaluation of the Kwacha.

From Lilongwe main market, Mutharika took another minibus to Chinsapo market.

Asked what Mutharika is trying to communicate by taking a public minibus ride in Lilongwe, his personal assistant Ben Phiri said, the DPP president “wants to appreciate the suffering people are going through.”

Peter Mutharika goes by mini bus

Phiri said: “Mutharika wants to get close to the poor, because only close experience will teach him the great magnitude of the problems that afflict the majority of our people.”

The minibus drivers and conductors mobbed Mutharika, shouting: “President wathu, president wathu (our president, our president).”

However, ruling People’s Party supporters called the bus ride as “cheap politics and cheap populism.”

Malawi has reopened its High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya and Brigadier General Marcel Chirwa had been appointed Deputy High Commissioner.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said in a statement made available to Nyasa Times that the Malawi mission in Nairobi was reopened on March 1, 2013.

Brigadier Chirwa, who was arrested during the DPP regime on trumped up charges of treason, have been given the diplomatic post and will serve as deputy High Commissioner, according to the statement signed by the Foreign Ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Quent Kalichero,

Chirwa, according to the statement, “will be in charge of the Mission until the appointment of a High Commissioner in due course.”

Brigadier Marcel Chirwa: Malawi deputy High Commissioner in Kenya

The move to re-open diplomatic misison is geared at strengthening relations between the two nations.

Malawi and Kenya cooperate in a number of areas under a Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPCC) established in 2002.

“The re-opening of its Diplomatic Mission in Nairobi that was closed in 2005 will further cement the bonds of friendship existing between the two Governments,” Malawi government said in its statement.

The reopening of the Mission fulfills an agreement that was reached between Malawi’s President Joyce Banda and her Kenyan counterpart, Mwai Kibakki when the latter visited Malawi in January this year.

Malawi and Kenya established their diplomatic ties in 1964 and since then, the relations have grown from strength to strength.

Political rabble-rouser Kamlepo Kalua on Saturday formally announced his joining of ruling People’s Party (PP) at a political rally attended by President Joyce Banda and her deputy Khumbo Kachali in Chintheche, Nkhatabay.

Kalua, who is one of the politicians who played a significant rule in the fight for multiparty democracy, was leading a tiny Malawi Democratic Party (MDP) has since the ascendancy of President Banda in power been supporting the governing party,  was welcomed in PP by the President.

Speaking after being unveiled to the crowds, Kalua said opposition parties in the country have tough elections ahead as combination of him and other PP members spell doom for them.

Kalua said he has been in opposition for so long and knows a good leader, saying President Banda has demonstrated to be a leader that Malawi needs.

President Banda and Vice President Kachali inducting Kamlepo in PP colours

“I have joined this party today because I see there is bright future in PP and in Dr Joyce Banda,” said Kamlepo.

“I am sad that people cannot appreciate what this strong woman has managed to achieve in just nine months of being in office,” he said

Kalua noted that during the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) regime, the country was facing a lot of challenges ranging from lack of fuel, forex and the sick economy, but said just a day after Joyce Banda became President, things started improving.

He said President Banda has displayed mature and tolerant leadership since she has been at the helm.

He urged the people to support President Banda during the next year’s elections.

Malawi President Joyce Banda has vowed to get the country’s economy growing again and to do more to end hardships which she noted were caused by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Speaking at a “development rally” in Chintheche, Nkhatabay district in the northern Malawi, the Head of State  assured that her government will work tirelessly to ensure that hardships that Malawians are facing end  and resuscitate the ailing economy of one of the world’s poorest countries.

JB, as President Banda is fondly called, told the mammoth crowd that she inherited a government which was almost broke that is why she had to embark on reforms.

She reminded Malawians that the country’s  economic difficulties worsened last year after donors, that had traditionally bankrolled about 40% of the budget, suspended aid over human rights concerns about the former president, Bingu wa Mutharika.

Woman of the people: Pres.Banda with a old lady whom she helped with maize donation in Nkhatabay

The collapse of donor funding put pressure on the currency, the kwacha, forcing devaluation last year.

“I know Malawians are suffering, but devaluation was necessary, we had to get the economy on track, devaluation was the only solution,” said Banda.

She added that her government has introduced some initiative to ensure that people are cushioned from the effects of devaluation and that her administration will improve the lives of Malawians by saving the troubled economy and creating good paying jobs.

Late Mutharika refused to devalue Malawi’s currency because he worried the move would hurt the poor.

But President Banda said the country’s economy will be revived, assuring Malawians especially women that she will not disappoint them but make them proud to have a woman as a leader.

PP gurus took turns speaking at the rally telling people why Joyce Banda is the right leader for Malawi.

Vice President Khumbo Kachali in his remarks said it is now time for PP to steer this country to greater heights hence the need to work with the party.

The Vice President then advised PP members to open up and allow new members in the party so that the party can grow.

Some of the people who spoke at the rally include, Member of Parliament for the area, Professor David Mphande, Frank Mwenefumbo, Uladi Mussa among others.

Over 1,000 people including Ralph Mhone a lawyer and close confidante of former vice president Cassim Chilumpha, were welcomed as   PP members.

Part of the mammoth crowd that attended PP rally of President Joyce Banda atChintheche in Nkhatabay

Malawi Parliamentarians on Saturday, March 02, 2013 showed supremacy over visiting legislatures from neighbouring Zambia, beating the visitors in social football and netball games played at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe.

In football, the Malawi MPs won 3-2 with the goals coming from Billy Kaunda, Vasco Chimbalu and David Kaweche.

The Malawi side prides itself of bustling midfielder, Speaker Henry Chimunthu-Banda, who is influential in the team’success.

Leader of Opposition John Tembo and DPP’s presidential aspirant Peter Mutharika were as usual missing on the team’s line up.

Billy Kaunda: Scoredament

The hosts also proved too good for their guests in netball, thrashing them 13-5.

Some of the stars that featured for the Malawi team were former Information Minister Patricia ‘Akweni’ Kaliati, Labour Minister Eunice Makangala and Grace Obama.

At the time of posting, chess games were still in progress at Parliament buildings in City Centre. The Malawi team had Chess Association of Malawi president and Chitipa East MP Kezzie Msukwa on board one with Jerome Waluza and Robin Lowe occupying the other two boards.

When the two Parliaments met in Chipata last year, Malawi triumphed in football and chess but lost in netball.

For a week now, about 300 patients admitted to Rumphi district hospital are surviving on porridge as the hospital coffers have run dry.

Both patients and hospital officials corroborated this in separate interviews with Nyasa Times on Saturday.

According to an official from the catering department, the hospital does not have funds to meet the patient’s dietary needs.

The official, who pleaded for anonymity said suppliers of various food items have stopped providing foods as the hospital owes them a lot of money.

Rumphi district hospital

The source said a day the hospital spends 20kgs of beans, 35-39kgs beef, 40kgs vegetables and 50kgs maize flour to feed the 300 patients.

”But currently suppliers are not bringing in anything as the hospital owes them a lot of money,” said the source

Several patients that Nyasa Times managed to talk to confirmed that they are surviving on porridge.

”Infact we are sleeping on porridge and sometimes we get rice, they said.

Sources from the catering department said on Wednesday, the hospital’s administrator a Mr. Mwanyongo managed to source 35kgs of rice at Rumphi ADMARC.

The administrator is said to have also sourced 5 extra bags of maize each weighing 50kgs and a bag of beans.

The source said that the hospital is failing to pay food suppliers due to an overdraft in the district hospitals account held at NBS bank-Rumphi branch.

According to Rumphi district council’s director of finance Humphreys Phiri, the hospital overdrew K6 million kwacha from their NBS bank account.

”When their funding comes, the bank is making deductions inn order to get back their money,” said Phiri.

Meanwhile, linear at the district hospital are not being washed as the laundry department has no soap.

”Its three days now and the dirty beddings are just being piled. There is no laundry soap to watch them,” said a source from the laundry department.

President Joyce Banda will Tuesday join the Chapananga family, Chikhwawa community and Malawians at large for the burial of Senior Chief Chapananga who died on Saturday at Mwaiwathu Private Hospital in Blantyre.

The burial will take place at the departed chief’s headquarters, Chibisa, some 50 kilometers West of Chikhwawa Boma.

State House Press Officer Tusekele Mwanyongo told Nyasa Times, President Banda was expected to arrive at the bereaved home at 10.00am on Tuesday.

“I can confirm that the State President will attend the funeral ceremony of the late Senior Chief Chapananga at his headquarters on Tuesday. He is expected to arrive there at 10am,” said Mwanyongo.

President Banda: To attend the funeral ceremony

The press officer said President Banda has meanwhile expressed shock and sadness over the passing away of the senior chief, described by many as one of the few instrumental leaders in developmental issues not only in his area but the country as a whole.

In May last year, President Banda appointed the late chief into a steering committee on Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health and Safe Motherhood which comprised 10 traditional authority leaders.

Chikhwawa District Commissioner Felix Mkandawire also told Nyasa Times, Senior Chief Chapananga’s demise was a major loss not only to Chikhwawa but the country as a whole.

“Late Senior Chief Chapananga was very instrumental in development matters. He was a very strong, faultless and capable chief with high respect from all chiefs in the district. As you know his area is where the railway line will be constructed by Vale, he was very central to that project. He advocated development in Chikhwawa and peaceful coexistence with other tribes and districts,” mourned Mkandawire.

In their tributes, Traditional Authorities Maseya and Kalilima said death has robbed Chikhwawa people their guide who inspired the masses with his leadership approach and was credited for bringing development and growth to the district.

“We are all dispirited with his death. He was a loving chief who displayed quality leadership at all times. He was a motivator and encouraged all his people to be development conscious. As Mang’anja people, we have lost our father and we can only wish his soul to rest in eternal peace,” regretted TA Mlilima in a phone interview.

And TA Maseya who had worked with the departed leader for three years, concurred with his counterpart saying late Senior Chief Chapananga will be greatly remembered for his objective judgments during disputes.

“He was a community-builder and a great servant of the Chikhwawa people, who always endevoured to bring his people together. He never sided with an individual but carried his duties with impartiality,” he lamented.

Born Lucius Kalima Chapananga, the late 53-year-old chief had been sick since November last year. He had been to Adventist Private Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital before being taken to Mwaiwathu Private Hospital some five days.

According to the District Commissioner, the late Senior Chief Chapananga who is survived by a wife and four children, was installed TA in 2000 before getting elevated to senior chief in 2006 by the former President late Bingu wa Mutharika.

The death of Chapananga comes barely two weeks after the country lost another senior traditional leader in Paramount Chief Mmbelwa 1V of Mzimba who also died at Mwaiwathu Private Hospital.

In another development, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has announced the death of Sub TA Kachenga of Balaka District.

Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development Spokesperson Maganizo Mazeze told Nyasa Times, the late Sub TA died Sunday morning at Balaka District Hospital after a short illness.

Mazeze said Sub TA Kachenga, born in 1941, has left three wives and two children and was installed Sub TA in 2000.

He will be buried on Monday at his headquarters, Chalenga village, in the district.

Rev. Sam Ng’oma of the Catholic Church has said God is Malawian. He made his observations during this year’s 3rdMarch Martyr’s Day Remembrance Memorial held in Nkhata-Bay, where about 31 people were massacred by British colonialists on the day in 1959 at the event that started at exactly 11:51am.

In his sermon, the priest said:“As Malawians we should all be with God and remain in God. Someone once said God is Malawian, and so He is of every other nationality. Yes, God is very Malawian as witnessed by our fight for freedom which did not take so long unlike in South Africa during apartheid struggle which was long and painful.

“Even after the Catholic Pastoral letter was issued against the one party state, its effects in 1992 were quick and short.

“Yes, God is Malawian, and He favours Malawi. Even during the wrangle between Malawi and Tanzania, your Excellency, no blood will be shed because in Jesus Christ we shall be saved as God is Malawian,” he said.

President Banda and the First Gentleman lays a wreath on the martys memorial pillar in Nkhatan Bay

“Metal is as strong when alone but becomes soft when it is torched. In school, we were told about evaporation where clouds must be greater than water as they control the rainfall. Likewise, we have stronger people in the villages who are very strong and are feared – but they and we all end up in the grave. Just as fear is strong, rest is stronger than fear as it overpowers it when even those in fear succumb to rest through sleep,” adding at this time of Lent, we should all know and remember that Jesus said we shall all be in paradise.

President Joyce Banda led Malawians in Nkhata-Bay as the country commemorates Martyr’s Day and the northern lakeshore district of Malawi has been chosen due to its significant role in the start of the fight for freedom from British colonial rule.

About 27 men and four women, three of whom were pregnant, were murdered on 3rd march 1959 by the colonial regime when they protested against ill-treatment of the natives, causing an uprising that saw Malawi attain its freedom in 1964 on 6th July.

The group was protesting the arrest of founder and first president of the Malawi Republic, the late Ngwazi Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda the same day alongside hundreds of other African nationalists in Operation Sunrise.

The arrests followed allegations the natives planned a massacre of all Europeans in the former British colony.

Banda, accompanied by her husband, retired Chief Justice Richard Banda, who also comes from the same district, was taken to the scene of the killing near the jetty/dock on the shores of Lake Malawi, where soldiers from the 3rd Battalion of the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) performed solemn drills, rifles facing down, in respect of the people that lost their lives in the struggle.

She led in laying of wreaths at the epitaph in the place that is now called the Memorial Garden, where the massacred were buried in unmarked graves.

Traditional Authority Mkumbira said he wished that the Head of State should always be at such a function, which is very important, and the people of Nkhata Bay have been highly honored as the event of 1959 is key to Malawi’s freedom.

“The deceased families would like to have an audience with the president so too the chiefs. Our strong wish is to have this event a National Monument and we are happy that the ministry of Tourism and Culture are already helping here, including the road to this spot and elsewhere. We pray that they shall also fix the road to the graveyard with tarmac,” he said.

Readings of the day came from Rev. Chapanda Mwale of Assemblies of God, Psalm 122: 1 – 9 (Old Testament) and Rev. K.K. Nyirenda who read from the New Testament’s John Chapter 1: 18 – 2.

Others that offered prayed included Rev. Mphonde Banda of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and Sheikh Issa of the Muslim faith. More prayer offerings came from the Anglican Church, and choirs included the Salvation Army Choir, New Apostolic Church Choir, Assemblies of God, Christian Voices, etc.

Some of the 25 known names of those that were killed include, Asiya Simanga, Gomaso Mhone, Andrea Manda, Pongazeru, Lamwell Mhone, Willie Mhone, Achmetal Kondowe, Manasi Zimba, Isaac Kakwata, Kajani Phiri, Harness Banda, Keystone Ngulube, Jimuloja Phiri, Njakala Phiri, Loyce NyaMufumba, Witness NyaBanda, Loyce NyaMtawali, Lizzie NyaSumba, and a Kunowa Nyimba, among others.

The theme of the event was “With God it is possible to build and develop Malawi”.

Important guests at the event include Vice President Khumbo Kachali and his wife, Chief Justice Lovemore Munlo, MP of the Area Simon Vuwa Kaunda, Lt. Gen. Clement Kafuwa, Deputy Malawi Defence Force (MDF) Commander, Mr. Loti Dzonzi the Inspector General of the Malawi Police Service (MPS), Ms. Thandiwe Dumbutchena of the Zimbabwe Embassy and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Speaker of the National Assembly Speaker Henry Chimunthu-Banda, and Bishop Fanuel Magangani of the Anglican Northern Diocese and Malawi Council of Churches vice chairperson.

Flames caretaker coach Eding’ton Ng’onamo has released a 25-member locally based squad scheduled to go into camp on Monday 4th March at Chiwembe Technical Centre in the commercial city of Malawi, Blantyre in readiness of Namibia Match which is expected to be played at the National Stadium in Windhoek on 23rd March 2013.

In the squad, which has three goalkeepers, six defenders, ten midfielders and six strikers, Ng’onamo has selected seven players from Big Bullets and Silver Strikers respectively.

Some of the notable names which he has included from The People’s Team are Fischer ‘Jahman’ Kondowe, who was not in good terms with former Flames mentor Kinnah Phiri on disciplinary grounds.

Big Bullets wonderboy, Gabadihno Mhango alongside Sankhani Nyirenda, George Nyirenda, Chimango Kayira, Owen Chaima and Douglas ‘Section 65’ Chirambo have made it into the squad.

Fischer Kondowe : Earns Malawi team recall

From 2012-2013 Champions, Ng’onamo has drafted in Lucky Malata for the first time into the squad, versatile midfielder Harvey Mkacha, Charles Swini, Frank Banda, Chimodzi Junior Rodrick Gonani and Ndaziona Chatsalira.

Ng’onamo has also called three players from Mighty Wanderers namely Foster ‘Zagaf’ Namwera, Richard Chipuwa and Bongani Kaipa.

Surprisingly, missing from the Nomads camp is their lion-heartened left back Francis Mlimbika, who has instrumental in the just ended soccer season.

Other players, who have made it into the squad are Blue Eagles  slippery midfielder Mecium Mhone, Patrick Gunde from Civo United, Ishamel Thindwa and Gastin Simkonda.

Making into the squad for the first time are the trio of Red Lions hit-man Boniface Kaulesi, Azam Tigers Moses Nankumba and Victor Limbani for Blantyre United.

According to Football Association of Malawi, the team will be coached  by an interim technical panel headed by Eddington Ng’onamo and assisted by Patrick Mabedi and Ernest Mtawali.

Charles Manda will be the Team Manager while Captain Kondwani Chipanda will be the Team Doctor.

FULL SQUAD LIST

Goal Keepers

1. Charles Swini – Silver Strikers

2. Owen Chaima – Big Bullets

3. Richard Chipuwa – Mighty Wanderers

Defenders

4. John Lanjesi – CIVO United

5. Wongani Kaipa – Wanderers

6. Foster Namwera – Mighty Wanderers

7. Sankhani Mkandawire – Big Bullets

8. George Nyirenda – Big Bullets

9. Lucky Malata – Silver Strikers

Midfielders

10. Chimango Kayira – Big Bullets

11. Frank Banda – Silver Strikers

12. Patrick Gunde – CIVO United

13. Young Chimodzi Jnr – Silver Strikers

14. Victor Limbani – Blantyre United

15. Ndaziona Chatsalira – Silver Strikers

16. Douglas Chirambo – Big Bullets

17. Miciam Mhone – Blue Eagles

18. Fisher Kondowe – Big Bullets

Strikers

19. Ishmael Thindwa – EPAC United

20. Gabadhino Mhango – Big Bullets

21. Gastin Simkonda – Moyale Barracks

22. Boniface Kaulesi – Red Lions

23. Harvey Mkacha – Silver Strikers

24. Rodrick Gonani – Silver Strikers

25. Moses Nankumba – AZAM Tigers

Pressure in mounting on Malawi President Joyce Banda to intervene and ensure that the passing of the harmonized electoral law is given priority in the current sitting of parliament,  a move that would allow the Malawi Electoral Commission  (MEC) and all other stakeholders to push ahead in preparations for 2014 tripartite elections.

The pressure from the Malawi Electoral Support Network (MESNE) comes amid fear that the delay in the passing of the harmonized electoral laws would negatively affect the electoral process as it would likely stall all the preparatory activities.

The bills that were proposed for the harmonization for the electoral laws in question are, the Constitution Amendment Bill, the electoral Commission Act Amendment Bill, the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections Election and the Local Government Electoral act Amendment Bill.

Speaking at news conference on Sunday in commercial Capital Blantyre, MESNE’s Publicity Secretary, Steve Duwa called upon the Minister of Justice and  Attorney General offices to expedite the process of presenting the proposing harmonized electoral laws in parliament for passing.

Duwa: Need to harmonise the laws

According to Duwa, “failure to do so the nation of Malawi will hold  them responsible for any failure in holding tripartite elections in 2004”.

MESNE representatives also called upon minister of finance to present the supplementary budget which is expected to include a budget for MEC to enable it effectively implement 2014 tripartite elections activities.

“We are also calling upon al donor partners to make their funding commitments towards support for the tripartite election elections known and timely. This support should include technical and financial support to MEC and the would be accredited service providers for the 2014 tripartite elections”, said Duwa

According to Duwa holding the 2014 tripartite elections will enable the country to elect councilors alongside the president and members of parliament.

Malawi has been without local councilors since 2005 a development which  according to Duwa means that  the people of Malawi have been denied their right to participate as citizen for ten years which is contrary to the tenets of  democracy  .

President Joyce Banda has disclosed that government will have a site for Malawi’s  first-ever national heroe’ acre.

Banda was speaking at Nkhata-Bay on Sunday during a Martyrs Remembrance Day Memorial Service. The theme for the service was: ‘With God, it’s possible to build and develop Malawi.’

The Malawi leader disclosed that she had instituted a Ministerial Committee to look into the possibility of having a heroes’ acre.

“We as government have constituted a committee to come up with a hero’s acre to honour those who have done great things,” she said.

President Banda and the First Gentleman lays a wreath on the martys memorial pillar in Nkhatan Bay

“We want as a country to have a heroes’ acre where our fathers who fought for our freedom should be cared for and reburied at one place if their families accept. But if they will not, then where they are we will rebury them,” President Banda said.

President Banda said that the committee would go to Karonga where Dunduzu Chisiza is buried, famous pro-democracy campaigner Chakufwa Chihana’s home district of Rumphi to ask their relatives if they would rebury them at heroes’ acre.

“As a nation we must honour all people that have done great things for our nation,” she said, adding “I will not rest until I bring to fruition my dream of having a heroes’ acre.”

The President assured that the 2013-2014 financial plan, government would consider putting aside money for the heroes’ acre.

She cited as an example Zimbabwe which she said had a heroes’ acre where all heroes who fought for Zimbabwe’s freedom are buried.

Government insiders said the land for establishing the acre has already been identified.

The national heroes’ acre is expected to be set up along the M1 Road approaching Kamuzu International Airport [KIA], on the piece of land opposite to the site where American pop singer Madonna wanted to build a girls academy.

The national heroes’ acre is expected have an information centre, library and literature centre to enable people to easily identify Malawi’s great people.

Malawi President Joyce Banda on Sunday repeated her claims that administration policies are producing a robust economic recovery.

Speaking at the Martyrs’ Day commemoration in Nkhata-Bay district on Sunday, March 3, President Banda said her government was sleepless over turning around Malawi’s economy.

She said her government is implementing an inclusive and participatory economic reform program that is aimed at empowering those at the grassroot.

“Economically, from 7th April years back Malawians cannot be said to have enjoyed their economic rights and freedoms which they fought for. This is time to rise up and uplift the people’s economic status,” said President Banda.

JB upbeat to turn around Malawi economy fast enough

The Malawi leader said she has created an all-inclusive government with other political parties “to formulate administration towards a collective need to get into people’s homes through agriculture, through employment, and other avenues. It saddens me that the rich get richer, the poor poorer, but this will transform our lives for the betterment of all.”

She pointed out that her administration has initiated reforms in the agricultural sector aimed at diversifying the economy, introduced a two cropping seasons per year and has also launched a number of pro –poor programmes like ‘A Cow a Family’.

Banda also said her government has expanded Small Scale Irrigation and a Cooperative Movement for youth and women.

She said her People’s Party government has    realigned the energy sector to overcome blackouts and broaden the delivery of electricity.

“We have refocused the mining sector to lay the foundation for industrialization and increase foreign earnings,” she said.

“My Government has also lined up infrastructure projects in roads, rail and air to reduce cost of doing business and increase accessibility to the market.

“We have repositioned tourism to make Malawi a global tourist destination, create jobs and earn foreign exchange.”

President Banda said in all this, the underlying principle for her government is that “Malawians must be the primary beneficiaries of our national resources.”

The Head of State said Malawi attained political emancipation but fight for economic emancipation “is by all standards and measure far from being won.”

She observed that “49 years down the line of self-rule and political independence, very little progress has been achieved in the fight against poverty.”

Adding: “The majority of our people, particularly in the rural and semi urban areas continue to live in unacceptable conditions. It is against this background that my government is reconstructing and restructuring the country’s economic philosophy.”

President Banda introduced reforms I after taking over power from late president Bingu wa Mutharika last April  and has restored stability after inheriting a crisis characterised by foreign exchange shortages that crippled key imports such as fuel.

Economic experts both local and international, says Banda’s economic recovery plan has set a foundation for improved growth.

The Malawi government has indicated that it will cancel contracts for the Mzuzu University (Mzuni) Council and appoint a new one to steer the embattled institution to a path of growth so that it provides quality tertiary education.

Of late Malawi NGOs have called upon President Joyce Banda, who is Mzuni Chancellor by virtue of being Head of State, to fire the Council saying it had lost direction.

Mzuni is saddled with huge debts and gets MK1.5 billion government subvention instead of MK2.5 billion. Apart from that the institution’s lawyers are always in courts trying to save in from numerous legal battles.

A senior official in the Ministry of Education, Science and technology, confided in  Nyasa Times that Mzuni Chancellor had lost confidence in the Council and “is embarrassed with the negative publicity the institution receives from the media”

Chimphamba: Mzuni Council boss

“Honestly, Mzuni is always in the news for the wrong things. It appears as if it’s the only University in Malawi. Something is terribly wrong there,” he said.

Mzuni Council Chairperson Professor Brown Chimphamba refused to comment on the issue but referred Nyasa Times to a Mzuni new Registrar a Mr. Jegedwa, who neither responded to our questionnaires nor answered our calls.

A few days ago Youth and Society, a local NGO, asked government to consider that Council members serve for a fixed number of years and not any open term as is the case now.

“This will help to inject fresh accepted wisdom into the university’s leadership. Some members have been Council members for almost a decade, a situation that has brought laxity and inefficiency,” it said.

They singled out Prof Chimphamba and Mzuzu Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative Boss Harrison Kalua as some of the Council members dragging Mzuni down because they have been in Council for as long as the existence of Mzuni.

“We are dazed by developments that have stalled the recruitment of the Vice Chancellor allegedly due to breach of recruitment procedure by the Council. We condemn the Council’s failure to competently conduct the recruitment process to fill the position of the Vice Chancellor.

While the Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) also asked Dr. President Banda to immediately reconstitute the  Council saying the path of policy direction that the Council is taking, is by all measure vindicative of its failure to practice good governance.

“Why should the Council be so mean as to allow the university to run without the Vice Chancellor for three years?” questioned CSEC Executive director Benedict Kondowe.

He said  Mzuni Council, amidst all the developments, can only be said to have lost direction which compromises the provision of quality education at the institution.