Malata, Cement Subsidy Programme To Reach 15,000 Houses By April

Atupele Muluzi

Government expects to reach a record of Fifteen Thousand , Four Hundred and Forty houses by April next year through the decent and affordable housing programme.

Atupele Muluzi, Minister of Lands and Housing said during his ministerial statement in the National Assembly on the Decent and Affordable Housing: Cement and Malata Subsidy Programe that 6900 houses are at different levels of construction across the country 

“And as am speaking the number is growing up each and every day” he added

Speaking about some details of the programme, Muluzi said Government is in the process of capturing data to enable proper identification of the location of each beneficiary and that the data base will be ready by this month.

Hon. Atupele indicated that as the first phase of the project is near completion by the month of April in 2015 the Minister said he anticipate the number to reach 15, 440 houses.

Muluzi greeting beneficiary before interview 

His statement was brought in the update legislatures on what has been achieved, explain to Malawians what the programme seeks to do so as to end some understanding that people have pertaining the programme as well as dispel some misleading statements. 

Muluzi also pledge to present additional data to the house of all houses to be constructed under the programme in order to comply to achieve transparency and accountability.

Muluzi who brought beneficiary families to the Parliament from M’bwatalika in Lilongwe, said the Programe is also changing people’s lives.

However the statement was welcomed with mixed views especially from the opposition parties. Among them was Salima West Legislature, Jessie Kabwila, who expressed dissatisfaction with the information from the minister for lacking transparency and accountability on the names of the contractors working in the supply of the materials for the programme.

“The minister instead of him telling us the status of subsidy transparently, expose who are the people getting the contracts there who is trading. Because we all know there is set of people, we hear names like the Mulli’s and whoever is there.” He said 

He said the programme is not benefiting all Malawians and bringing to parliament five families was cheep politics.

“People are suffering in this country. Instead of coming when you know that this programme is being used to politicize this country and siphon government money to be used for the political party purposes, you come here and said I have brought five people the programme is working, No!”

“We are saying tell us how many people have benefited, and tell us who is trading? Because we want is that there should be equity.”

He said the programme is happening in her constituency but people in her area says would rather have had a much more constituency wide response to housing.

He also said the figures of the subsidy beneficiaries they don’t agree with calculations that they should have reached this far.

“So we would like to know what is happening to part of the money you already received. So it’s an issue of fiscal discipline. Remember we are in the country that is where it is especially because of Cahsgate 

What we want to make sure is that we don’t have this cashgate going on and then we wake up five years from today.” She said

“No Panic” Says Police As Malawians Are Shocked with Death of Police Officer

Hon Atupele Muluzi& Lexten Kachama

Malawi Police Service says Malawians should not panic, as the death of police officer shot by armed criminals shock the nation.

Inspector General (IG) of Malawi Police Service Lexten Kachama made the remarks Monday evening in Lilongwe when giving an update of the armed robbery leading to the death of one police officer and serious injury of another officer and an official from Petroda filling station.

The two survivors are receiving treatment at Kamuzu Central Hospital after being attacked on Monday morning at around 10:00 hours near Cash build in the Capital city, Lilongwe by unidentified armed robbers. 

The three were in a police escort taking Petroda filling station money to the bank using Petroda minibus registration number BQ 3422. But unexpectedly, armed robbers fired shots at the bus killing one officer and injured the two before going away with the cash. 

No arrest has been made but police have managed to recover the attacked minibus and the vehicle used in the crime together with a pistol stolen from the officer killed in the action.

The Police IG, Kachama who was with the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security honorable Atupele Muluzi at the briefing declined to disclose particulars of the victims saying police will reveal them once communication is passed on to their family members. 

Kachama said Malawi police is deeply saddened with the death and critical injury of another officer and has condemned the incident calling it “barbaric unbecoming practice” 

“Police is however assuring the members of the general public not to panic and live in fear” he said, “Police are on the ground day and night living no stone unturned to arrest those involved in the commission of the crime”

He said roadblocks have been mounted across the country, intensive foot and vehicle patrols are being conducted and that civilian clothed police officers are on the ground to investigate the incident.

Kachama however, appealed to general public to tip police and that those who witnessed the crime should help police with information to be treated with confidentiality.

The Police IG also asked police officers not to be discouraged with this incident. While asking Malawians to work together with police Kachama also assured the nation that police shall wake and fight crime according to the laws of Malawi and will use all possible means. 

Muluzi and Kachama

Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Hon Atupele Muluzi who sent his sympathy to the victims, has described the deceased officer as a “brave officer that lost his life today during his line of duty” 

Hon Muluzi mentioned that issues of safety and security of citizens and investors is high priority for government. He said this incident is one of the unusual incidences and promised that the matter will handled very seriously. 

“I would like to join the Inspector of Police to assure the general public that we are taking these incidences very, very seriously indeed. Perpetrators will be caught” he assured, and repeated “Perpetrators will be caught and put behind bars where ever they may be.”

The Minister also echoed Kachama remarks that Malawi police is geared to take a decisive action to send strong message to criminals and appealed that Malawians should share with police any information of whereabouts of these criminals. 

During the press briefing the Inspector General of Police indicated that about five criminals were at the scene during the shooting and that more than sixteen bullets were shot. 

Kachama who described the situation as “Pathetic” having lost a life of a police officer on his line of duty also said it is apparent that the two officers were in a terrible situation which he hopes they were taken by surprise.

Govt to Introduce a Standalone Environmental Protection Agency- Muluzi

Govt to Introduce a Standalone Environmental Protection Agency- Muluzi

The Minister of Natural Resources and Energy and Mining Hon. Atupele Muluzi has told National Assembly that he will soon present to the house a Environmental Protection Policy Act for review, a legislation seeks to introduce Environmental Agency.

Muluzi said this when presenting his Ministerial Statement on the Malawi Rural Electrification Programme and Power Shortages affecting the country on Monday afternoon. He said main reason of bringing the policy in the National Assembly is for the house to make its consideration.

“We are bringing to the house Environmental Protection Act for Review” said the minister in an interview

He said “What we are looking at is the establishment of Environmental Protection Agency that will be a standalone agency that will be responsible for enforcement and oversight over environmental aspects.” 

Muluzi indicated that the policy among others contain “Stiffer penalties” for those that will violet the provisions in the Act and proposes establishment of the standalone agency. 

He emphasized the importance of having a standalone environmental agency as it will be in a better place to enforce and oversee environmental aspects. 

In his statement Muluzi also informed the house that his ministry has a long term solution on energy. He promised to bring to the house the strategy and the report of the recent geological survey. He added that Compendium of geological resources will soon be released saying it is of economic interests.

He further recognized efforts by the private sector in reforestation and replanting of trees during this year’s tree planting season.

Huge Energy Demand in the Capital City Fueling Dzalanyama Deforestation- Muluzi

Huge Energy Demand in the Capital City Fueling Dzalanyama Deforestation- Muluzi

Government lay blame on huge energy demand in the capital city Lilongwe as the major cause of the tree loss at Dzalanyama forest reserve.

Minister of Energy and Environment Honorable Atupele Muluzi was responding to a question put to him by Lilongwe Msodzi South Parliamentarian hon Vitus Dzoole Mwale immediately after finishing his Ministerial Statement on the Malawi Rural Electrification Programme and Power Shortages affecting the country.

Dzoole Mwale in his question expressed dissatisfaction that hon Muluzi in his Statement failed to explicitly outline strategies put in place in ending massive deforestation being perpetrated by charcoal and wood fuel businesses. The parliamentarian said Malawi is being deforesteted by greedy people who are going into protected areas and forests especially Dzalanyama, and other forests of Chikangawa and Zomba Mountain a development which he said is resulting into among others the recent floods.

“Charcoal burning is a very serious issue in our country” Said Dzoole, “go to Dzalanyama forest reserve, is now bare, similarly to other protected areas. My worry is, if we are not careful Malawi as a country will be deserted.”

But in his response Atupele Muluzi accepted that Malawi continues to experience energy crisis because statistics indicates only 9% of urban population has access to power with only 2% in rural areas have access to electricity.

Specifically answering on Dzalanyama forest reserve problem, Muluzi said “We have huge energy demand in the city of Lilongwe. That is what is fueling the massive deforestation at Dzalanyama.”

“This energy demand is more towards biomass which is wood fuel and charcoal production.” He said

Muluzi said his ministry is implementing number of interventions ensuring that it addresses the huge fuel demand for Lilongwe City and communities around Dzalanyama having realized that this problem require a holistic approach.

“We have carried out enforcements, there is Malawi Police Service, Malawi defense force and Forestry Department. But honorable member should appreciate that enforcement sometimes has its limitations. So long as you have huge demand for charcoal and wood it is very difficult to enforce over a long period of time. What the enforcements should do is to address the short term requirement, which is to contain the situation while implementing long term measures.”

“So long as you have the charcoal sellers who are dependent upon the selling of charcoal for their livelihood for jobs, we take that away, we are creating another problem. So what we are doing as a ministry is encouraging them to be licensed.” He said while adding that by having charcoal sellers properly certified will enable them do their job in a sustainable manner.

“Enforcement alone cannot work!” said Muluzi

He also mentioned that government is considering other solutions like encouraging private sectors to grow trees in some specific areas for providing wood fuel in sustainable manner. He said government has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Global Environment Fund within this intervention.

Muluzi who emphasized that enforcement will continue said government will carry on with finding other alternatives on energy demands in Lilongwe particularly rolling out “extensively” Clean Cook Stoves Projects in areas around Dzalanyama and adopt other options like introducing wild animals or turning the place into national park.

He further informed the house that very soon a first time regional conference will convene in Lilongwe where Dzalanyama crisis will be discussed “extensively”

Govt Says Nurturing Artisanal, Small Scale Mining Potential To Support Economy

Malawi government is optimistic that transforming the Artisanal and Small Scale Mining (ASM) sub-sector from informal to formal with proper regulation in place, would increase the mining sector income and cause an upward adjustment of mining contribution to the GDP.

Currently the mining sector contributes 10% of Malawi’s GDP and when all the upcoming mining projects are in full operation including proper regulations in ASM, government’s projection is that the contribution of the sector to GDP will move up to 20%.

Banda Now UDF Leader In Parliament; Replaces Muluzi

Banda posing with Atupele

Honorable Lucius Banda replaces Atupele Muluzi as leader of United Democratic Front UDF in the National Assembly

Speaker of National Assembly Richard Msowoya made the announcement today as the house continues meeting in the fourth day of the second week of their meeting.

Msowoya said the "business committee was advised Honorable Lucius Banda member for Balaka North Constituency is now the leader of UDF replacing Hon Muluzi following his appointment as a cabinet minister"

The Speaker also mentioned that his office "received the communication from Democratic Progressive Party DPP to the effect that Honorable Aron Sangala member for Blantyre Malabada is now representative for Parliamentary Service Commission replacing honorable Dr. Peter Kumpalume."