PP Says First Half Of 2015/16 Budget Underperfomed

Jooma

The opposition People's Party (PP) says it does not agree with Finance Minister claim that the the performance of budget in the first half of 2015 to 2016 fiscal year was good.

When delivering Midyear budget statement in the National Assembly, Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe informed the House that "The performance of the budget this year has been better than before except for the projected expenditure on FISP." 

He said the bulk of expenditure on FISP relates to the imports of fertilizers and in view of the escalated deep depreciation of the currency and the cost of procuring fertilizers.

However, People's Party spokesperson on finance matters in the National Assembly, Ralph Jooma said the performance of the first half of the budget was not all well.

“Am not of the same view, because the minister has already stated that he has underperformed on FISP side by K26 billion. So, that means that the Minister will have to be forced to borrow domestically in order to pay for the FISP.

If you have got arrears it doesn’t mean that you are performing well, if you haven’t spend and yet you are owing your people, is just a question of when you are going to pay them. So it’s not performing well it’s actually just a postponement of an underperformance.” 

Kabwila, Chakhwantha Bail Bond Extended: Fears Treason Case

Malawi Police have left two Malawi Congress Party (MCP) legislatures, Jessie Kabwila and Peter Chakhwantha in panic after informing them on Friday that their bail bond has been extended to 18th March 2016.

As a condition to their bail, Salima North-west legislature Kabwila and Lilongwe South-West legislature, Chakhwantha on Friday appeared at Area 30 Police Headquarters and were left gob-smacked to hear that their bail has been extended and should appear again to Police on 18th March. 

MCP supporters on Monday evening following
Kabwira arrest

Kabwila, spokesperson for MCP and Chairperson for Women Caucus in Parliament was arrested on Monday on her way to Germany Embassy to seek asylum while Chakhwantha, Chairperson of Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament surrendered himself to Police on Tuesday and were both charged with treason over Whatsapp conversation. However, Inspector General of Police Lexten Kachama on Wednesday clarified that the two were only called for cautioning and were never charged with any offense.

The two legislatures said they are surprised that Director of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has contradicted Police IG’s earlier statement regarding the arrests by extending their bail.

“We waited there for an hour then we were ushered into the office of the Director of the CID, it is where we got the shock of our lives where they told us that they are going to extend our bail bond to 18th March the very same day this House (National Assembly Meeting) will be rising.” Explains Chakhwantha

Chakhwantha reacted that the extension of this bail is a confirmation that Police would like to pursue Treason case against them

“This is something very strange because we understand that the IG had told the nation that we were never arrested and we are not on any charge so far, so by way of extending the bail bond we take it that legally what he said is has been contradicted by his own junior officers. 

By the extension of this bail bond we deem that we are indeed were formally charged and we are under arrest and as we are, we are suspects” said Chakhwantha waiting to hear what would be the next step by Police on 18th March

On her part, Kabwila expressed concern that these charges are preventing them from attending to important matters in National Assembly citing Friday as an example whereby as they were at Area 30, the House was listening to Minister of Finance presenting Midyear budget statement.

“You hear Police IG stating that there is no case and hear Area 30 Police saying we are extending your bail, so we don’t understand as who is telling the truth.” Reacted Kabwila

Kabwila said the bail extension is Government plan to keep them off from talking about the hunger in this country.

“To tell the truth what this is all about is trying to keep Malawi Congress Party quite because people know that what Malawi Congress Party has been saying that this Government has not handled the hunger that we kept on saying is looming for so long. And it is not by accident that we had to go and do this bail on the day that Minister of Finance was presenting his estimates and we missed that.” She said

The Case will cost public money 

Kabwila warned that their arrests will costs Malawians tax because at the end the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) will compensate them just like it is planning to do with the ‘July 20 victim’ families. 

“DPP Government seems to be bent on misusing taxpayer’s money because they are paying people for mistakes they did and now look at what they are doing to us. This is also another self inflicted pain on the state. We don’t have resources, why should we have a Government that is so good at making mistakes and costing the public money, now they are even costing public its legislatures.” Said Kabwila who described DPP government as clueless and the charges are ridiculous 

The two MP's also said their appearance at Area 30 Police Headquarters was violation of assurance of Legislatures immunity and privileges as made in the National Assembly by Leader of House Francis Kasaila that Police will follow procedures that are established as to how they can deal with members of Parliament once found on the other side of the law.

“What is happening now is that, apart from that commitment, the IG also came in the open and said there are no charges. And today behind the back of the speaker, they call his children to Area 30 and extend the bail bonds. This is where we are saying something very fishy is being cooked up and we are saying this Government does not even care whether there would be consequences in terms of monetary compensations at the end of the day as they have already demonstrated that they are now currently paying the 20 July victims with Millions of money’s. So what will happen to us?” asked Chakhwantha 

But Kabwila said their arrests means police are getting orders from politicians and that DPP Government does not believe in independence of institutions

Opposition PP, MCP Vary Opinion On Budget Reduction

Gondwe; Revised budget downwards

The two main opposition political parties in the National Assembly are holding varied views regarding the announced proposal to reduce the 2015/16 budget by K23.7 billion for the second half of the fiscal year.

People’s Party (PP) says the reduction of the approved budget of K929.7 billion will create more problems than solving them as Malawi Congress Party (MCP) welcome the move but only skeptical over promises that the country should expect good economic environment soon.

Minister of Finance, Goodall Gondwe announced on Friday in the National Assembly that Government has decided to revise downwards the 2015/16 budget for the upcoming second half of the fiscal year with cuts in some areas and prioritization on resources for important matters including food.

Finance spokesperson for PP in the National Assembly, Ralph Jooma said in an interview that it is sad to hear that Government would like to revise downwards the budget instead of asking the House to revise the budget upwards since the original budget value has been reduced by half due to devaluating local currency.

“We don’t welcome the reduction as PP, we should have been expecting an increase to total budget because the Malawi Kwacha has already lost its value.” He said 

PP is worried that original K930 billion budget passed in July was framed when Malawi Kwacha was pegged at K400 to a dollar. Now that Kwacha has depreciated by 100 percent where it is now being changed to a dollar at close to K800, the same amount can only pay half of the planned activities.

“Therefore we should have expected the Budget to be improved upwards in Malawi Kwacha if we are to achieve the objectives of this budget but coming here and say that the budget is being reduced even in Malawi Kwacha is a mockery and it is a disappointment to Malawians. What we expect is that people’s expectations will not be met, this budget will not achieve its objectives and it is a total waste of financial year for Malawian” said Jooma

Chakwera

However, Leader of Opposition Parties in Parliament and President of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Lazarus Chakwera gave thumbs up for the Minister decision to revise the budget downwards.

He said his party was happy to hear the Minister admitting in his statement that things are not well in this country and more money will be borrowed for hunger response.

The MCP President said some of the promises in the statement including on stabilizing economy were not new yet nothing is happening  “But you will recall that in the past they have given us this week this month’s; staff like that. They tell us that there is hope at the end of the tunnel, I hope it is not an oncoming trend”

“There is not much that is new really” Chakwera added

He continued; “The performance of this administration leaves a lot to be desired and so because of the past history it is kind of hard to tell that they are now telling us the truth. We will have to wait and see” 

Gondwe led into the chamber

Minister of Finance when delivering his statement on Friday did admit that the economy is still passing through turbulent times. 

“I regret that we have not yet established a stable macroeconomic environment in which low inflation and interest rates prevail, and where the variability of the exchange rate is narrow and predictable.” He said 

Gondwe informed the House that Inflation has stubbornly remained high since the shock devaluation of 2012, apart from a short period between May 2014 to April 2015 when inflation decelerated to 18.2 percent, thereafter it has kept on crawling up to 24.9 per cent in December 2015.

But he assumingly said last month’s decline of the rate of inflation to 23.5 percent is a welcome sign of light at the end of the tunnel. 

“In general however, the rate has remained high at an average of 23 percent during the period in question. In the circumstances, interest rates have also remained high, with the policy interest rate at the Reserve Bank of Malawi remaining for a long time at 25 percent, and lately increased further back to 27percent. In tandem, prime lending interest rates at commercial banks have also remained painfully high.” He noted

Gondwe then touched on the power of the local currency which is facing sharp decline against major trading currencies. He offered hope that the point of equilibrium for the exchange rate has been reached already since free floating exchange rate policy was adopted in May 2012 and “it is therefore expected that the rate should stabilise soon and those speculations that are perpetuating the depreciation should take note of this."

2015/16 Budget Revised Downwards By 23.7 Billion

Gondwe being led into the Chamber

To  embark  on  the  policy of  fiscal consolidation,  in  view  of  dwindling available  resources;  Government has decided to revise downwards the 2015/16    approved  budget by  K23.7 billion  from  an  approved figure  of K929.7  billion.

This means total budget for 2015/2016 will be K906.0  billion.

Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Goodall Gondwe announced this in the National Assembly when presenting the budget review for the first half of 2015/2016 financial year.

He said in the next second half of the financial year, Government propose  to reduce  the  Recurrent  budget  by  just over  K17.1  billion and the Development Budget by sum of K5.6 billion.   

He said this  will  entail  that  for  the coming  months,  the  Treasury  will withhold  resources  that  are  intended for filling vacancies especially reducing the bloated” Civil Service.

He went on to say that in reducing Other Recurrent Transactions (ORT) the Cabinet  has  decided that  the  Treasury and  the  OPC  should  review  the various  perks including  travel,  vehicle and  fuel  entitlements  that  could  be scaled down.

He said the proposed reduction includes the development  budget through a suspension  of  a  few  projects  that  can be  removed  without  major impact  on economic  growth. 

He noted that there has  been  no significant  over  expenditures on budgetary performance vote by vote adding that the  performance  of  the budget  this  year  has  been better  than before  except  for  the  projected expenditure  on  FISP. 

On FISP he said the expenditure  relates to  the imports  of  fertilizers,  deep depreciation  of  the currency and the cost  of  procuring  fertilizers. He added that Government also shouldered other costs on the seeds for the programme since donors  declined  to  contribute  to the seed  subsidy whose  total  cost  is estimated  at  K9  billion.   

Among others on Budgetary performance, Finance and Economic Planning Minister Goodall Gondwe said total  revenue  and  grants  that  were targeted at  K386.1  billion  at  the  end of  the  first  half  of  the  2015/16 financial year  were  under-collected by K50.8  billion while Domestic  revenues that were  targeted  at  K312.4  billion fell  short  of  this  amount  by  K12.7 billion  down  to  K299.7  billion.  

He informed the House that although  a number  of  taxes performed  well,  the VAT  underperformed  considerably  by an amount  of  K5.6  billion. In  parallel, grants  performed  even  worse where the  target  of  K75.3  billion  was  under performed  by  K36.5 billion, less than half this targeted amount.

He therefore expressed need to strengthen  efforts at raising  domestic revenues  and  to  down  play  all  donor grants  in general  and  only  expect  to focus  more  on  development  loans from donors as a reliable mode of donor aid delivery.  

He however casted hope that Government is invigorating policies that aim  at  becoming  progressively,  more self-sufficient  in  budgetary matters than  has  been  the  case  so  far.

House Adopts Proposal To Change Act On ACB Appointments

The National Assembly has adopted a motion that seeks to amend section 5 (1) of the Corrupt Practices Act with resistance from Government side.

The motion which came under Private Members' Business was moved by Honorable Member for Lilongwe South West, Peter Chakhwantha proposing amendement of the section so that powers to appoint and fire Anti-Corruption Bureau’s Director General and its deputy be moved to the Parliament and not the President as it has been long practice.

Chakhwantha moved that “In order to ensure total independence and tenure of office of the Director and Deputy Director of the Anti Corruption Bureau ACB, this House resolves that an Amendment Bill to amend Section 5 (1) of the Corrupt Practices Act be drafted forthwith and presented for consideration in this House by the mover of the Motion in liaison with the relevant competent experts before the end of the Meeting specifically the Bill must amend Section 5 (1) of the cited Act to provide for the appointment of both the Director and Deputy Director by the Public Appointments Committee of Parliament based on merit and through an open recruitment process and that the Director be reporting and answerable to Parliament through the Public appointments Committee”

The motion got overwhelming support by most opposition parties and some independent legislatures whilst Government side opposed any alteration of the provision.

There was also division of votes which lead to the row call where each member of parliament was voting if they want mover of the motion to continue to windup his motion or not. The Government benches voted no while the opposition members voted yes. But at the end of this voting opposition won with 75 votes while Government side got 67 votes and there were 51 absentees.

Speaking in  an interview after the motion was adopted the mover, Honorable Peter Chakhwantha said was excited at last that the process to the independence of the Anti-Corruption Bureau has begun.

“The motion was all about trying to help the members of staff of Anti-Corruption Bureau particularly starting from the top to the bottom. We know that since 2005 this country enacted the law to establish an office which is supposed to be a watchdog over all government institutions and private individuals is issues of embezzlement. 

We know that corruption is evil, but the only way we can manage eradicate corruption is by driving the change. Having worked with ACB before, I came to their conviction that we need to start with creating room for the Director and Deputy Director then to the rest of members to feel and independent working environment. 

He said he in consultation with other opposition parties including his party, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) are ready to make the drafting of the amendment bill before the rise of this 2nd Meeting of the 46th Session of National Assembly.

“So what has happened is that the members of the August House have agranted me as a mover of the motion and those who are willing to help me to come up with an amended bill so that we are able to proceed with such an amendment to have the Director of ACB to be reporting to Parliament instead of current scenario where he reports to President as well as to be appointed by the Public Appointment Committee so that even his job security is well secured." He said 

"You have witnessed a number of times where president come in and fire Director of ACB simply because they feel he is not one of their own, so with this motion we feel we must protect ACB and make it absolutely independent.” added Chakhwantha

Kaliati Ordered Out Of Parliament Chamber

Speaker of the National Assembly has ordered Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, Patricia Kaliati to get out of chamber for calling clerk officers by their names.

Patricia Kaliati was forced to get out of Parliament chambers for calling by name one of the parliamentary clerks who sit closer to speaker.

Speaker of Malawi National Assembly, Richard Msowoya was forced to invoke Standing Order 105 to the Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare for failure to comply with first warning made by the speaker that no member shall again call the clerks.

After ordering her out of the chamber the speaker told house that Hon Kaliati continued to call one of the clerks by name against the order.

In an interview with Power 101 Kaliati said the decision by the speaker was personal and political

Kaliati is expected back in the House on Friday 

Her eviction came when the House was debating on the Private Members' Business motion from Honorable Member for Lilongwe South West.

The motion which has been passed was asking the House to allow amendment to Section 5 (1) of the Corrupt Practices Act be drafted forthwith and presented for consideration in the House by the mover of the Motion in liaison with the relevant competent experts before the end of the meeting to provide for the appointment of both the Director and Deputy Director by the Public Appointments Committee of Parliament based on merit and through an open recruitment process and that the Director be reporting and answerable to Parliament through the Public appointments Committee.

The legislature said this is in order to ensure total independence and tenure of office of the Director and Deputy Director of the Anti Corruption Bureau ACB.

House To Debate Motion On Industrial Hemp Legalization

Legislature for Ntchisi North, Boniface Kadzamira is expected to make history on Thursday 25th February, 2016 as he is expected for the first time to move a motion in the National Assembly which is asking Government to legalise and allow cultivation of Industrial Hemp.

His motion is listed among three motions appearing on Order Paper begining Wednesday under Private Members Business earmarked for Thursday business.

The Motion Reads; “That considering the enormous economic, medical and nutritional value industrial hemp has, this House resolves that Government should legalise the growing and usage of Industrial Hemp and that both at policy and legislation levels, Industrial Hemp must be recognized appropriately as an agricultural cash crop for industrial distinct from other cannabis varieties”

Speaking in an interview, Kadzamira said he wants this matter to be debated in the House; passed and the motion adopted so that Government should start to look again at laws which prohibits the cultivation of the hemp.

“I want to emphasies that Industrial Hemp is not Chamba, it is like Chibuku beer and Thobwa. So Industial Hemp cannot be smoked” he said

The cash crop, is the sister plant to marijuana but health experts say it won't get one high when one attempt to smoke it because athough hemp and marijuana are both from the cannabis species, hemp contains virtually no THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.) Its THC level is less than 1%, whereas marijuana may contain between 5 - 15%.

Industrial Hemp seeds are pressed for oil that can be used for food including salad dressings, supplements, among others and industrial lubrication, diesel fuel, paints, varnishes and many more.

Legislature Kadzamira Says Industrial Hemp Can Save Forests

Ntchisi North Legislature continues to advocate for the legalization of Industrial Hemp, through the National Assembly following Wednesday’s remarks that the best answer to the accelerating depletion of trees and forests in the country due to charcoal burning industry and need for wood and timber is to start cultivation of Industrial Hemp.

Kadzamira

Honorable Kadzamira remarks on Wednesday came when contributing to the debate in the House on the Report of the Delegation to the 3rd Inter-Parliamentary Hearing on Exemplary Forest Policies in Africa held in Nairobi, Kenya from 30th September to 3rd October, 2014 by the Honorable member for Chitipa South

Honorable Kadzamira told house that the country will reduce the need to cut down of forests once people begins substituting hemp fiberboard for timber and that a decent income to be realized from cultivation of the cash crop also will help poor families from cutting down trees as means to earn a living.

“We have tried everything but we are not solving the problem” said Kadzamira in an interview after his contribution in the House, “I was suggesting that we can use communities around mountains and forests to engage them in Industrial Hemp farming because advantage of Industrial Hemp is that we can make a lot of products from Industrial Hemp.”

Garments made from Industrial Hemp

“Our forests are depleting because people are just cutting down trees in order to earn a living; to sell charcoal and wood for a living. So I was saying we can protect our forests if we engage communities around the forests into Industrial Hemp for farming. 

This Industrial Hemp can be used for paper, wood, fibre, and for everything. In that way people will stop wantonly cutting down trees, because they will have something to use in order to earn a living. I was putting across a suggestion to government to employ that measure.” He said 

As measures to replenish the environment through re-forestation and more awareness of importance of planting and protecting trees are underway, on the other hand poor families are increasingly cutting down trees and invading forests in order to get wood, timber and burn charcoal to earns them little income.

These varieties of products were made from hemp

With incessant wanton cutting down of trees in Malawi for charcoal, wood and timber, mostly by vulnerable poor families to earn a living, Industrial Hemp seem to be the viable solution because the hemp which is also a cash crop can be used to obtain same products made from trees and other wide range of durable construction materials and health products.

If Malawians begin to grow the hemp as cash crop, farmers will earn good income and save the trees because there is likelihood that this will lead to establishment of more manufacturing industries that will use the crop to produce wide range of products.

Industrial hemp is known for quality products including: all types of paper products from tissue paper to cardboards; food made from the hemp seeds which contain a protein that is more nutritious; Hemp seed oil can be used to produce non-toxic diesel fuel, paint, varnish, detergent, ink and lubricating oil and the list is endless.

Industrial Hemp Products 

On farming part, the hemp can indeed save trees in the country because it is ready for harvesting only 120 days after it is planted while it takes years for trees to grow until they can be harvested for paper or wood. As well, Industrial hemp can also do well in Malawi because the hemp can grow on most land suitable for farming. 

It is estimated that on an annual basis, 1 acre of hemp will produce as much fiber as 2 to 3 acres of cotton and that 1 acre of hemp will produce as much paper as 2 to 4 acres of trees. Unlike other cash crops, Industrial Hemp triumphs on the fact that it does not require pesticides and herbicides in the production but only moderate amounts of fertilizer.

No More Arrests: Mw Govt Assures Legislatures

Business back to normal on Wednesday 

The Malawi Government has assured members of Parliament today afternoon that law enforcement agencies will follow National Assembly Powers and Privileges Act where none of them will face arrests while Parliament is meeting.

Government assurance come as a response to yesterday request by the Speaker, Richard Msowoya who following arrests of two MP's also top members of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) adjourned the House early and said these arrests threatens immunity of everyone including himself and that the House will meet once assurance was granted by Government.

Members of Parliament enjoys special privileges and immunity except when it is the case of Treason. The two MPs Jessie Kabwila who was arrested on Monday evening from National Assembly meeting and Peter Chakhwantha who handed himself to Police on Tuesday were being accused of Treason following Whatsapp conversation.

Kasaila

"It is the commitment of the Government that we will make sure the provisions of that Act in as far as the procedure are followed as to the Law. That is important for us and that is important for the future of our country." Assured Francis Kasaila- leader of House

"As Government, am giving that commitment and that is commitment of president as well, that the provisions of the Act will be followed" guarantees Kasaila

However, at the beginning of making this assurance the Leader of the House indicated that during the Business Committee meeting held in the morning, it was agreed and clear that provisions of Privileges Act have been violated on several occasions and that this violation was not first time.

Also Speaker of the National Assembly, Richard Msowoya informed the House at the beginning of the sitting today that the meeting of Business Committee of the House in the morning was assured of the immunity and privileges of the members of the Parliament.

He therefore said the meeting resolved that Speakers office should be informed on arrests of members of Parliament inline with Section 4 of the National Assembly Powers and Privileges Act.

"From now onwards, the Speakers office will expect the authorities not to arrest members of Parliament while Parliament is meeting, unless, procedures has provided the following Powers and Privileges Act and section 60 of the Constitution is adhered to" said Msowoya further informing the House that members of Parliament have been requested to write to Speaker's office of any violation of this regard

"My office will write to the Ministry of Home Affairs and International Security advising her that the mounting of roadblocks and arrests of members of Parliament while Parliament is meeting should not be repeated unless the relevant laws are provided.

I wish to assure the House that Parliamentary Committee on Privileges will be handling matters related to the bleach of members of Parliament Privileges as provided for in its mandate"

Immediately after the assurances were made, Leader of Opposition also rose to agree that the business Committee did agree not to proceed with the motion on Yesterday for the sake of harmony and progress in the transaction of the business of the House.


Chakwera discribed the agreement as "best interest of our nation"


And owner of the motion, legislature for Liongwe North East, Maxwell Thyolera said "Assurances from Government must be adhred to"

Motion from Lilongwe North East Legislature which asked the House to deliberate on the arrests of two legislatures, Jessie Kabwila on Monday and Peter Chakhwantha who handed himself to Police on Tuesday on Treason charges, triggered the ruction in the House on Tuesday evening where both Government and opposition side had different opinion whether it was necessary to debate on the motion

Hon Thyolera complaint was that the arrests of the two was in bleach of members immunity and privileges as well feared that this could happen to anyone.

Ruling after house resumed sitting after an hour of house suspension, Speaker Richard Msowoya expressed his concern that there are arrests of MPs yet the house had assured the members of their immunity following reports that on yesterday there was a roadblock mounted by police just outside of the Parliament Building.

He mentioned that just like all members of Parliament are afraid of being targeted, he himself is afraid.

He therefore ruled that until such a time Government will come and assure the Speaker and the Whole House of their immunity, he adjourns the House till Wednesday at 2pm.

The ruling brought an uproar in the house with discontent from Government side and jeering from opposition members.

There were also exchanging of words as the members were leaving the House.

However, Government Leader of Businesses, Francis Kasaila rubbished the ruling saying the speaker as head of an executive arm of Government was in better position to assure the House of members immunity.

Kasaila further said Speaker was also supposed to consult with heads of Government and hot rush to make such a ruling.

He made it clear that there is no any other assurance that Government could make since the matter at hand is to do with Treason which does not give immunity to any member and that police can effect an arrest at any time.

National Assembly Demands Members Immunity Assurance: House Adjourns Prematurely

Speaker of the National Assembly demands assurance from Government of the immunity to himself and all legislatures and adjourns the House till tomorrow at 2 pm following springs of arrests Government is making to members of Parliament. 

The early adjournment of the house followed a heated debate following a motion from Lilongwe North East legislature who requested the house to suspend proceedings for the house to deliberate on the privilege of members. 

The motion came following arrests of two Malawi Congress Party officials and legislatures, Peter Chakhwantha and Jessie Kabwila on allegations of treason following a Whitsapp conversation. The parliamentarian said such arrests are bleach of members privileges and feared that this could happen to anyone.

Ruling after house resumed sitting after an hour of house suspension, Speaker Richard Msowoya expressed his concern that there are arrests of MPs yet the house had assured the members of their immunity following reports that on yesterday there was a roadblock mounted by police just outside of the Parliament Building.

He mentioned that just like all members of Parliament are afraid of being targeted, he himself is afraid.

He therefore ruled that until such a time Government will come and assure the Speaker and the Whole House of their immunity, he adjourns the House till Wednesday at 2pm.

The ruling brought an uproar in the house with discontent from Government side and jeering from opposition members.

There were also exchanging of words as the members were leaving the House.

However, Government Leader of Businesses, Francis Kasaila rubbished the ruling saying the speaker as head of an executive arm of Government was in better position to assure the House of members immunity.

Kasaila further said Speaker was also supposed to consult with heads of Government and hot rush to make such a ruling.

He made it clear that there is no any other assurance that Government could make since the matter at hand is to do with Treason which does not give immunity to any member and that police can effect an arrest at any time.

Kabwila Out On Bail: Charged With Treason

Malawi Congress Party MCP top official and Legislature for Salima North West, Jessie Kwabwila has been released on Police bail at Kanengo Police station after spending night at the station over treason charges.

Kabwira is expected to appear before police on 26th February.

The arrest on Monday evening in city centre near Germany embassy happened just after she had attended to the first sitting of the National Assembly meeting.

Kabwila was going to the embassy to seek asylum but this was later after Peter Chakhwantha had successfully entered the embassy premises where he is as asylum seeker to escape arrest following Whatsapp conversation.

The two have been hunted by police following Whatsapp conversation allegedly bearing their phone numbers and of some MCP officials discussing ways to oust Peter Mutharika Government. However, police on Sunday failed to arrest them because they were nowhere to be seen. But they successfully managed to arrest Ulemu Msungama who is now on police bail over similar charges. 

MPC legislatures and supporters went to Kanengo Police station to demand the release of Kabwila however, police granted her bail last night but was released this Tuesday morning at 06:00 hours.

Gustave Kaliwo, MCP secretary General said he was disappointed with Police that after being assured not to arrest the two until the end of ongoing meeting of National Assembly they went ahead with plans to arrest the two.

Below is part of the Whatsapp conversation

27/01/2016, 21:25 –+265 998 58 24 45: What are we doing as MCP to deal with this stupid DPP administration and its president? In the last dpp regime, things were bad but we made Malawians to fight back. This time we seem to be normativising these deadly failures.

29/01/2016, 03:26 –+265 999 54 44 70: Kaya aMalawi kupusaku kunachokera pati eish! The DPP is messing up big time and we all seem Ok

27/01/2016, 21:59 –+44 7963 139218: I presume Diaspora movement should kick start it then the Nation will follow but it’s not easy for MCP as a party to start something, I know the consequences but let the masses do the job, they just need a starting point. Then everyone else will be ok board, these people are suffering and can react so quick.

29/01/2016, 04:18 –+1 (404) 617-9530: APM can be taken down, just using The Mubarrack Egypt style nkupita ku nyumba yathu, Kamuzu Palace osachoka iyayi, atha kukomokera momo ataona kalikiliki panja anthu atalusa ndithu

27/01/2016, 22:02 –+44 7754 944607: Does not opposition have youths who are fearless to tackle the issue head on?

27/01/2016, 22:08 –+265 998 58 24 45: We have youth, pp also has them . I think it 7th a matter of structuring, defining exactly what has to be done, well timed, not reactive, apologetic or too careful, logical etc. Rather, some organised chaos chipping at the elephant from all corners till it falls, all hands on Dec

27/01/2016, 22:09 –+44 7963 139218: We have the youth in opposition but legally any uprising started by opposition result in treason cases, let’s use the people. I believe if Malawians start it, MCP is ready to take care of them, there might be differences but even those starting this know the potential and opportunities that lies ahead.

29/01/2016, 01:48 –+1 (404) 617-9530: Pita ndiofunikatu kukamuchotsaku ku Kamuzu Palace yathu. Nyumba yathu imeneyi ngati anspangira Mubarrack in Egypt

29/01/2016, 06:14 –+44 7969 216335: But if a small group can pull out a campaign kunena Kuti sitichoka ku city centre till atatulapansi udindo I’m sure people can join in.

29/01/2016, 06:17 –+265 999 54 44 70: As MCP we were supposed to take advantage of all this mess and play it from the background

28/01/2016, 22:00 –+265 996 24 30 27: I entirely agree with you, me too wonder- why we are not ticking and get necessary backing. Few of us had/have careers elsewhere but opted to join liberation movement. Alas its business as usual. Ask JK and myself. Even in parliament, we don’t get the support we need to get this DPP down

29/01/2016, 06:43 –+265 998 58 24 45: I used to think joining politics would give me a chance to be more active, use my activistvoice with those of others but what I have seen is speaking out, walking in the streets has earned me the title waphuma ameneuja,the bulk of those I stand with prefer apologetic so called calculated politics. I’m an activist and do not apologise for my belief in people power. I must say, I’m reaching a point where it seems I belong more to my classroom where my phuma led in defeating bingu, it gets frustrating to be in a party everyone wantsand is looked up but it is afraid of its own power, I feel like a person dying of thirst when I’m in a river. Me and my phuma seem to belong elsewhere.

29/01/2016, 06:44 –+265 999 54 44 70: Zimatopetsadi JK

Kabwila Arrested: To Spend Night At Kanengo Police As Chakhwantha Seek Asylum At Germany Embassy

MCP supporters and MPs at
Area 30 Police Headquarters 

MPs discussing next move \after
Overpowering police 

Member of Parliament and top official from opposition Malawi Congress Party Jessie Kabwila has been arrested by Police while another parliamentarian and top member of the party Peter Chakhwantha is to spend nights at Germany Embassy where he is as an asylum seeker.

Police vehicle was seen
hidden parked
outsidParliament building after clashes with MPs

Kabwila and Chakhwantha were in hiding following reports alleging the two together with other members of MCP were involved in Whatsapp conversation strategising ways to overthrow Peter Mutharik Governmnet.

Police mounted roadblock at parliament building after reports spread that the two are out from their hiding and were inside attending the National Assembly deliberations.

Both Kabwila and Chakhwantha were in the day attending the first day National Assembly deliberations meeting which have began on Monday afternoon.

Kabwila was attempting to enter Germany Embassy when Police intercepted her at Tourism offices in City Centre just steps away to the Germany Embassy. Her arrest came few minutes after Chakhwantha had successfully entered the embassy house.

The arrest came just after Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security had assured the House that legislatures should not be afraid of the roadblocks mounted outside the parliament building when speaker of the National Assembly Richard Msowoya asked the minister to assure the House that members will not be intimidated and arrested when coming and leaving the building.

The speaker requested the assurance from the Minister following a concern from Lilongwe Msodzi South legislature, Hon Vitus Dzoole Mwale who informed the House that “We are under siege”

Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Jean Kalirani said “What I am aware is that there is visibility of police around the country and is very important. I would like to assure you Honorable Speaker Sir, that there is nothing to fear if you have done nothing wrong.”

Immediately when the deliberations were adjourned to Tuesday, angry opposition MPs led by MCP members wrestled with Police outside the Parliament Building and successfully dismantled their roadblock. 

Legislatures then were seen in discussions and agreed to go to Area 30 Police Headquarters upon hearing rumors that Kabwila was there.

At Area 30, opposition MPs together with Malawi Congress Party supporters held protests outside the gate of the Police headquarters. They prevented any vehicle from entering or leaving the place and a driver suspected to be one of the senior police officers was about to be manhandled by the angry party supporters when he attempted to drive his vehicle and pass the through the gate.

Gustave Kaliwo

30 minutes later, the protesters left the place for Kanengo Police Station when Police informed MCP Secretary General, Gustave Kaliwo that  Kabwila was being detained there.

The two have been hunted by police following Whatsapp conversation allegedly bearing their phone numbers and of some MCP officials discussing ways to oust Peter Mutharika Government. However, police on Sunday failed to arrest them because they were nowhere to be seen. But they successfully managed to arrest Ulemu Msungama who is now on police bail over similar charges. 

Gustave Kaliwo, MCP secretary General said was disappointed with police that after being assured not to arrest the two until the 2nd Meeting Of 46th Session of National Assembly was over had went on with plans to arrest the two.

He described Kabwila arrest as political.

President Mutharika Invites American Companies To Invest In Malawi: Meets Six US Congressmen

As Malawi continues to market to the global community its endowed resources and investiment opportunities, President Peter Mutharika on Friday asked American investors to come and invest in Malawi.

Mutharika was speaking in Lilongwe when meeting with a Six member delegation of Republican Senators and Representatives from the United States of America who were on five hour visit to Malawi. The members of Congress are on their trip to some African Countries.

Mutharika informed the Congressmen that there are investment opportunities in Malawi that the country is seeking investors from around the globe. He therefore invited American Investors to come to explore opportunities in Malawi and also to participate in the second Malawi Investment Forum to be hosted later this year in October.

"We are hosting the second Malawi Investment Forum this year possibly on 11th October and it will be bigger. So I would like to call American companies to come" said Mutharika

He said Malawi is wooing investors across the globe because this is one way that will make the country to move away from donor dependece to an economically independent nation.

"We want to move away from aid dependency to economic independence" said Mutharika further expressing hope that through its investiment goals Malawi will attain economic independence in few years time

Malawi leader also thanked American Government through the delegation for continued support to Malawi Government in areas of human rights, economy, energy, and peace and security through bilateral and multilateral support. 

He further thanked US Government for the support in the fight against HIV and AIDS. He mentioned that US government has been influential in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Malawi and expressed hope and determination that through such support Malawi will achieve ending the pandemic by 2030. He addes that the country has already demonstrated its willingness to achieve this by putting many people on ART treatment and being the first country to adopt Option B+. 

He further thanked American Government for the humanitarian assistance to Malawians who experience floods that hit most parts of the country early last year. 

"United States of America continues to to play an instrumental role in Africa and Malawi." Added President Mutharika

Senator James Inhofe, a ranking member senate of armed services Committee said the visit to Malawi was to appreciate number of achievements the country is making.

Inhofe added that USA Government consider Malawi as one of its strong friend.

US Ambassador to Malawi Virginia Palmer hinted that the coming of these Senators was also to appreciate the impact of US government assistance to Malawi.

The five hour visit to Malawi  by the delegation had first stop-over in Tanzania and are proceeding to Rwanda and Ethiopia.

The six Congressmen are: U.S. Senator James Inhofe R-OK, a ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee; Mike Enzi R. WY, Republican leader of the Sub Committee on Children and Families; Mike Rounds, Services on the Senate Armed Services; Rep. Randy Hultgren, Services on the Financial and Science, Space and Technology Committees; Rep. Tim Welberg and Rep. Reid Ribble.

Malawi Government Commends UK Government For Connecting Classrooms Programme

Michael Nevin, Vincent Ghambi, David Mundell 

Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has hailed Government of United Kingdom (UK) for its education progamme ‘Connecting Classrooms’ for being one strand supporting Malawi in improving education.

Connecting Classrooms is a UK’s programme which is benefiting individuals and institutions globally through research, links and scholarships.

Vincent Ghambi

Speaking at the launch of the third phase of the programme in Lilongwe, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Vincent N’gambi said the programme will support development of core skills of young people and help teachers to impart necessary skills to students.

“If people from UK they come and teach our students and our teachers trained by the British Government, this is indeed good development as far as education in Malawi is concerned” he said

The education minister hailed the programe's new phase focus on attainment of Core Skills and said the launch of this third phase of Connecting Classrooms coincides with the introduction of the new curriculum for secondary schools this school year and further wellcomed the focus for thennext three years of the programme on working with Secondary Schools sector. 

Vincent Ghambi exchanging gifts with
David Mundell

"I believe it will make a valuable contribution to two priority policy goals of improving quality and equity in the secondary schools and improving management of secondary schools. Connecting Classrooms will support teachers to introduce young people to new ways of working, new ways of thinking, and new ways of living in a global world. It does this by providing opportunities for education professional and policy makers to contribute to education discourse in national, regional and global forums, supporting system development and through the provision of continuous professional development opportunities for teachers and school leaders"

He underlined that the opportunities for international collaboration for both teachers and learners in Malawi and the UK brings forth additional benefits saying as it offers early exposure for our young people to the outside world and help foster a natural curiosity and deeper understanding that will benefit their future engagement with the world of work, higher education and communities in which they live.

“As Government we are doing a lot to make sure that this UK Government is gets full support from my Ministry and Malawi Government” he added

David Mundell

The visiting Scotland Secretary of State David Mundell who also graced the occasion said was delighted that the programme has began to bear fruitful results through partnerships that schools and teachers have established with their friends in the UK. 

“What this initiative mean is to link schools in Scotland and the rest of Britain with schools here in Malawi and it means teachers can share experiences with teachers back in Britain and that pupils in Britain can get a real feel for Malawi  and the self support that they can give to Malawi and schools. And that is real sharing of experiences so that both sides came out of this better than they went into it”

“Friendships have been developed between Scotland teachers and Malawi, friendships have developed between pupils who had opportunities to go between schools. I know from my own constituency schools that have a very strong links now with schools in Malawi” said Mundell

He also urged Malawi Government to further enhance the programme by making sure that more schools are involved in the Connecting Classrooms programme

“I think that it is good to see that there is spread of schools across the whole of Malawi because obviously it is quite different in the South and cities in the North so I think it is very encouraging to see that there are schools in rural areas, schools in towns and cities taking part. So am pleased that there is whole range of schools and when I look at the list of schools in Scotland I see that they got from very north of Scotland to the South of Scotland cities and rural areas. So there is good range of schools and experiences in there.”David Mundell

There has been a lot of schools who have already been in the previous phases of connecting classrooms initiative and more are coming in this phase and it is expected that more schools will want to join in the programe because of the benefits.