Malawi Broadcasting Houses To Play 70% Local Music: New Act Passed In National Assembly

Hon Mary Navicha

The Malawi National Assembly has passed an Act requiring all local broadcasting houses play 70 percent of local music and 30 percent foreign music.

Huawei ICT Road Show Gives Malawians Opportunity To See Future Of Technology

Some Malawians and experts Information and Communications Technology (ICT) have expressed hope that Huawei Technology’s latest innovations being showcased at Bingu International Conference Centre (BICC), will enable Malawians and service providers move with new trends in the ICT.

Electronic Transactions Bill To Punish Online Publications

Online News Publications in Malawi must tread carefully as the newly passed Electronic Transaction Bill is almost ready to punish online publications publishing false information.

Malawi Communications Law Now Responds To New Developments

Kaliati: this will lead to communication improvement 

The National Assembly on Tuesday has repealed Communications Act of 1998 and replaced it with Bill No. 24 of 2015: Communications which responds to vast changes, upgrades and development in the Communications Sector which rendered the repealed law somehow irrelevant.

New bill has been passed after several consultations and lengthy scrutiny by the Committee on Media, Information and Communications, in which the bill was referred to following its debate in the House on March 1, 2016 after it was brought by the Minister of Information, Communication Technology and Civic Education.  

Malawians Now Protected On Electronic Transactions, Cyber Crimes

Government says passing of the Electronic Transaction Bill into law by the National Assembly on Monday, will open up the E-Commerce businesses in the country and protect people from various forms of harassment on internet.

Malawi National Assembly on Monday evening passed the bill with new title “Electronic Transactions and Cyber Security Act 2015.”

The bill seeks to enable to people to transact various services electronically with full protection of the law and also ensure that people are protected from computer related harassments like viruses, hacks and all cyber crimes.

Water Scarcity Hits Parliament: Force Early Adjournment

Deputy Speaker of the Malawi National Assembly, Esther Mcheka Chilenje on Wednesday evening adjourned the House earlier than agreed time citing health grounds as taps runs dry at the Parliament.

The adjournment that happened at 18:44 hours left Leader of House, George Chaponda and his fellow cabinet ministers gob smacked as it happened just after Government had successfully won the motion to extend the sitting time for the Committee of Supply to last night hours.

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.

Malawi Social Cash Transfer Programme Receives 18 Vehicles From EU, KfW

Cross section of EU, KfW vehicles 

Cutting the tape

The European Union (EU) and the German government-owned development bank KfW has donated 18 vehicles to Malawi Government to ease transport problems in the Social Cash Transfer programme 

Kaliati

Speaking at handover ceremony on Wednesday, in Lilongwe, Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare said the donation has come at a right time as the ministry was finding challenges in reaching out to remote rural areas.

“We have been having problems in reaching into our 18 districts which are our targeted areas and to travel from one place to another we used to borrow vehicles from other ministries and district councils” said Kaliati

“On behalf of Government and through you Ambassador Marchel Gerrmann, I would like to thank European Union and German Government through KfW for the support of the programme and buying of these 18 vehicles to assist us in implementation of this programme and make sure that our people are reached in this program.”

The Gender Minister then indicated that the continue financial support from European Union and KfW of German towards the programme is bearing fruit as lives of many beneficiaries are being transformed in many ways.

Kaliati said at the moment the programme is now reaching to over 50 percent of the targeted vulnerable utra-poor families and that most of the beneficiaries are beginning to graduate from the initiative.

Through Cash Transfer Programme, she said, utra-poor families are being empowered economicaly because they are now able to do small scale businesses, farming and owning livestock as well as do savings through village banking. She added that through these economic activities such targeted families are now building and living in better houses, becoming food secure, able to provide their children with basic needs and sending them to school a development which has led to an improvement in school enrollment with 40 percent in all pilot districts.

“If we are to bail out our people from extreme poverty, these are programmes that we need to support because they target utra-poor families both men and women.” said Kaliati

Kaliati receiving car keys from
Ambassador Marchel Gerrmann

However, she noted that there are 10 remaining districts that which Government wants to be reached with the programme and she asked EU and KfW and all institutions to help Government to roll out programme in those remaining districts.

“We want to rollout also in districts like Dowa and Chiradzulu where we are experiencing a lot of gender based violence, defilement cases, problems of wills and inheritance. And if we are going to roll out Cash Transfer into these districts we are going to reduce all gender based violence because men and women are going to be busy and also they are going to benefit from programmes that comes along with Social Cash Transfer including adult literacy and nutrition programmes. And this is gong to propel our goal of achieving Sustainable Goals by 2030”

Kaliati also assured EU and KfW that effective measure are already in place to ensure that the donated vehicles are being taken care to achieve results.

On his part, Head of EU Delegation to Malawi Ambassador Marchel Gerrmann said EU is happy to support the programme because it is changing people’s lives and also hinted that the 18 vehicles have been bought at Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Euro (€ 650, 000) which is just 2% of the total support to the programme.

“The Cash Transfer Programme is a very important programme, it is helping the poorest of the poor of Malawi and am very proud actually that together with development partners we are supporting 700 thousand people who get these Cash Transfers. Out of this, 40% are being supported by European Union and we are working in 8 district and most of them are very large and hard to reach. So the vehicles are important to deliver in the programme.” he said

"I am very proud with the programme because it helps poorest of the poor to send children to school, buying some livestock helping them when they need health services, it helps to save a little bit, so very concrete ways of improving their lives and am very pround as EU that we are supporting this and also we are thankful to the Government and KfW of German organization and other partners implementing this programme.”

Responding to Government request to help in rollout in remaining districts he said "As EU we are currently active in 8 district and we still have two years of this programme to deliver so I think that is what we will do. 

I think we have to be careful that we cannot be active in all districts and I think it is also important that part of this programme is delivered by the Government because if not then actually Government will become completely depending on donors for this and that is not good at the time when we are also thinking on how can Malawi make the next move towards trade and investment agenda and lower its dependency, but nevertheless for the coming two years, we are fully committed  and to support this important programme.”

The Cash Transfer Programme was created to help contribute to national efforts to reduce poverty and hunger among ultra-poor and labor constrained households, increase school enrolment and attendance of children, improve health, nutrition, protection and well-being of vulnerable children. 

The Social Cash Transfer programme was launched as a pilot study in Mchinji district in 2006 and currently is in an additional 16 districts. However government plans to extend the programme to all parts of the country. The programme is funded through help from organisations such as European Union, German Government, Irish Aid, World Bank, UNICEF and the government of Malawi.

Programme support it self by EU is 35 million Euro and the 18 cars are valued at 650, 000 thousand Euro which is about 2% of their contribution.

Girls Work Hard In School To Achieve Your Dreams- National Assembly

Chambo girls pose with Speaker and Legislatures

The National Assembly asks girls to remain in school and work hard in their education to achieve their dreams.

The message was said on Tuesday when 94 girls from Chambo Girls Private Secondary School in Mzimba had a rare opportunity at Parliament Building of interacting with Speaker, some cabinet Ministers and female legislatures.

Kaliati speaks to the girls

In their encounter, Chambo girls were offered some motivation talks on how to pursue and achieve their dreams and some female legislatures made recounts of how they defeated challenges in their lives to become what they are today. One legislature said her family could not provide her with school fees for the belief that it could be a waste of time educating a girl who will possibly get married to rich men in future. Others narrated how in the face of financial challenges but worked hard to pursue education.

Msowoya 

Speaker of the National Assembly, Richard Msowoya, Minister of Gender, Patricia Kaliati, Minister of Sports, Grace Chiumia, former First Lady Shanil Dzimbiri, and Jessie Kabwila were among number of legislatures who inspired girls with words of encouragement on self confidence and hard work in school for them to become future leaders.

Kabwila, Msowoya, Nyalonje 

The girls were brought by Mzimba North Legislature hon Agnes Makonda Nyalonje who wanted to offer Chambo girls a platform where they can meet with role models to get some words of motivation on how they can pursue and achieve their dreams.

Agnes Nyalonje said organized the visit to expose the girls to number of role models so that they learn from them how they managed to become leaders in their society.

Mzimba North Legislature while encouraging Malawian girls to work hard in school, offered hope that National Assembly and female parliamentarians as well as education committees in particular, are working hard to ensure that education system is improved to enable girls to access to quality education.

“We are also fighting for the girls hostels, because we know that when girls have to walk 10 kilometers or even longer sometimes to go to school, there is no way we can expect them to stay focused when they get to school and there is no way we can expect them to attend school all the times” said Nyalonje

She also noted the recently passed Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations bill which safeguards welfare of girls as one way the National Assembly is protecting and ensuring that girls remain at school.

“There are programmes being undertaken by Government and NGO’s that empower girls and encourage them to stay in school including bursaries.” She added

Then she offered a word of encouragement to girls “My message to girls is focus on education, push those around you to give you opportunity. Sometimes it is not always about waiting to be given it but girls too have to take initiative and they have to believe in their selves, and they have to have confidence, to claim that which is theirs and never give up” encouraged Njalonje

Rachel Vachi

“When I came here I was so much encouraged by the speeches that we need to have self confidence and that we can do anything but we should not be flirting with boys but love school first.” Said one student Rachel Vachi

She added “Watching deliberations in the Chamber I got encouraged by the courage that female parliamentarians have. They speak boldly on issues of national importance in the face of men.”

Wendie Chimbayo

Another student Wendie Chimbayo said “As the parliamentarians have told us that the sky is the limit, I would like to encourage girls that we have to work hard in school because doing so we can achieve anything. We also need to stay focused no matter how big are challenges that we are facing, lets aim to achieve our goals.”

Catholic Church Fight To Curb Child Abuse Launches Child Protection Policy

Arch Bishop Msusa

The Catholic Church in Malawi launches Child Protection Policy which seeks to provide guidelines, coordination and support for child protection in the socio-economic, cultural and pastoral reflection of all Catholic institutions.

The Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) Bishop Chairman, His Grace Thomas Luke Msusa said at the launch that the policy will contribute to fulfilling the Church mission in creating awareness and empowerment of people at grassroots to undertake development that is sensitive to children’s welfare in order to make sure that children are protected in all spheres.

The policy contains issues of child care, justice, protection and dignity of the children and an assurance that the rights of a child are protected in accordance with the Gospel values of Jesus Christ.

It also recognizes different forms of child abuse including sexual, physical, emotional, neglect, negligent, child labour among others that persist in Malawi society.

Msusa said the Church is through the policy set to advance child protection issues in all its instutitions as a matter of urgency by ensuring that Church activities become sensitive to Child Protection issues "in fulfillment of Christ’s evangelization mission of love and justice.”

He mentioned that as the country continues to experience a lot of heinous crimes against children that includes: early marriages; the unimaginable rape cases in courts; the child trafficking cases and the abduction of people with albinism, the Church is convinced that the Policy “is timely intervention”

He said the Policy will complement government’s interventions to curb child abuse and urged everyone to take active role and support implementation of the Policy for full realization of tangible strides.

“As Church we shall continue to mainstream protection in all our spheres of work… we also wish to challenge all our cooperating partners and Government as well to join hands in programming to advance safeguarding issues.

Together let us design our programmes so as to tackle child abuse cases holistically and bridge the gaps that exist in this area.” He said

His Grace Msusa also called upon Government to seriously priorities review of some of the documents guiding child care as well as effective implementation of the 2010 Child Care Justice and Protection Act. He added; “We urge all responsible authorities to be proactive and take swift action on reporting issues to do with child abuse.” 

The Catholic Bishop Chairman further asked Malawians to reject and denounce the evil social morals that perpetuate violence and abuse and cause moral decadence. But emphasized the need to uphold only positive cultural norms that present a brighter future for the nation.

"I am at pains to accept the deep rooted systems in our country that perpetrate child abuse. Undeniably there are some harmful cultural practices that we must all join hands to eradicate as they are counter to Gospel values that we profess.” Said Msusa

Kaliati

Meawhile, Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare who was present at the occasion of the launch on Thursday at Msamba Parish in Lilongwe, thanked the Church for its continued efforts in complementing Government efforts in ending Child Abuse.

"We are really very grateful that our Catholic Bishops have taken this positive. This Policy will complement the Government Policies.

Kaliati

We are very sure that with this policy we are going to reduce violence against our children because a lot of people will be aware of the child rights and to know the importance of taking care of the children as well as consequences that follow if someone abuses the child” said Kaliati

According to Msusa, ECM developed the Policy to guide child care and safeguarding of children after long time reflection on the status the children, and the future of generation of the Church and country, in cognizance to country’s cultural and moral values and demand to embrace modern technology.

The developed Policy provides that Child Protection Office will work proactively with all Catholic institutions towards ensuring that reasonable measures are taken to minimize the risk of harm to children in church institutions, programmes and activities.

It also states that the Church will work proactively and reactively, responding to concerns and allegations of child abuse and liaising with all Catholic institutions to ensure that cases if child abuse are properly dealt with.

In Malawi, child abuse cases from 2013 statistics released by Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare on the study on Violence against Children and Young Women indicates that half of Malawians aged 18 to 24 years and one third of Malawians aged 13 to 17 years reported witnessing violence in the home.

The Church is expected to take the Policy documents to all its institution across the country and every person taking care of the child will sign that they are going to safeguard the protection policy.

Mutharika Brands 2013 Arrest and Detention “Abuse of Power”;

Thanks Cadets, Police Judiciary as He Walks Down Memory Lane

Mutharika 

President Professor Peter Mutharika has described his arrest in March 11, 2013 as ‘abuse of power’ and ‘irresponsible behavior’ of the Joyce Banda administration. Mutharika has for the third time also called the treason charges leveled against him as ‘stupid case’

The Malawi leader was speaking on Wednesday in the Capital Lilongwe at a commemoration of second anniversary of his arrest together with eleven other Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) officials.

Mutharika with fellow detainees
 (Photo by State House)

Peter Mutharika was arrested on treason charges following the findings and recommendations of Commission of Inquiry into the death of his brother former president late Professor Bingu Wa Mutharika, a commission instituted by Joyce Banda Administration. The Commission findings lead to suspect that Mutharika and other officials plotted bar of then vice president Joyce Banda from being Malawi president, in the course committing treason offense and insight mutiny for allegedly asking then Malawi Defense Force Commander General Henry Odilo to take over the government.

Mutharika speaking at Lumbadzi Police
(Photo by State House)

But speaking of his arrest at Mtunthama State Lodge Mutharika said “I think the arrest of me and the other ten was a typical example of irresponsible behavior and abuse of power”

“That’s why I have said all this time, and I will say it again that it was a stupid treason case” said President Mutharika while challenging that he is not afraid of media critics for reiterating the word “stupid treason case”

Mutharika in Lumbadzi
police cell with Other detainees
(Photo by State House)

Last year, similar remarks attracted mixed reacts on Mutharika’s choice of diction and credibility of his arrest when he uttered the words at Mjamba in commercial city of Blantyre and Masintha ground in the Capital city Lilongwe during rallies of thanking party supporters for voting him to presidency.

“Never again should this country allow that kind of abuse of power and there is nothing worse than abuse of power” he continued as began to express word of thanks to those that rallied behind him as he walked through agony from 11 march 2013 until the time he made it to presidency in May 2014. 

Mutharika writes his name on the wall
Of Lumbadzi police cell
(Photo by State House)

On this, Mutharika has thanked youth cadets for offering him protection from three suspected doctors who came to his police cell at Lumbadzi. He said one of them was identified as Head of Criminal Investigations Department were trying to enter into Mutharika’s cell claiming Peter Mutharika required medical attention and were there to help. When the men tried to force themselves in to the cell further raising suspicions, youth cadets thwarted their mission by beating them.

DPP Youth Cadets at Mtunthama
State Lodge: Protected their leader

Here, Mutharika said, had it not been for the protection of youth cadets he would by now have been “buried six feet under the ground.”

“Anything could have happened,” said Mutharika as he also expresses thanks to police for the defense and professionalism exercised throughout the time he was detained at Lumbadzi Police station.

He further, commended Judiciary for handling treason case professionally “I want to thank the judiciary for their real professionalism, and I want Judiciary to continue with this tradition because judiciary must stand between the abuse of power and helpless individuals. The judges are supposed to stand between that to protect innocent people, so am very grateful”

To all Malawians and DPP followers support Mutharika said “May be you don’t know what it is like when you are there, you are there and you have the whole force of government against you! It’s not easy there is humiliation as well! So myself and fellow prison graduates we say thank you!”

Women and all Malawians hailed for
Support

President Mutharika who was them interim President for Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and other ten party officials were arrested and charged with treason.

Necton Mhura was detained with Mutharika
(Photo by State House)

The other ten are; Goodall Gondwe, Bright Msaka, Vuwa Kaunda, Dr. Jean Kalirani, Patricia Kaliati, Kondwani Nankhumwa, Henry Mussa, Necton Mhura, Nicholas Dausi and Unus Mussa.

President Mutharika Walks Down Memory Lane of 2013

Visits and Paint His Detention Cells at Lumbadzi and Maula Prison In Commemoration of 2nd Anniversary of His Arrest in March 2013

Pres. Mutharika

The State President Arthur Peter Mutharika is this Wednesday March 11, 2015 commemorating 2nd anniversary of  his arrest in 2013.

President Mutharika programme includes a trip down memory lane to see the prison cell in which he was once detained in 2013 that is in Lumbadzi and Maula Prison cells.

Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Bill Receives Overwhelming Response: Passed Without Amendment

Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Bill Receives Overwhelming Response: Passed Without Amendment 

The much awaited bill Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Bill has received irresistible positive reaction from members of National Assembly.

The Bill was presented on Thursday afternoon by Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare hon. Patricia Kaliati. She told the house that the bill seek among others raise the marriage age from 15 to 18 years in order to promote wellbeing of children especially girls who are being married at tender age.

“The bill adds value to the promotion of education and empowerment of children especially the girl child.”

She said girls are continuously facing gender based violence and that Malawi is among 10 countries with the highest child marriage levels in the world currently estimated at 52% which she called the “sad note”

She said this development is ruining the future of girls because of fistula due to teen pregnancies and school dropouts.

Responding to the bill party spokes persons hailed the bill saying it will assist alleviating challenges that women and girls are facing in the country in absence of this legislation.

Malawi Congress Party Spokes person on Gender issues in the National Assembly hon. Jessie Kabwira in her remarks said “It is a longer awaited bill” adding “It declares Malawi’s fight in ending gender violence and early marriages”

She said early marriages are creating a cycle of poverty in the country and it denies girls right to heath, education and on behalf of MCP Kabwira urged all parliamentarians to support this bill in order to make people from their constituencies (those who voted them) to live better life.

Peoples Party Spokes Person hon. Patricia Kainga Nangozo said “PP supports this Bill because it will help this country to ably define who the child is in our own understanding” she added that this will help girls to stay in school and be mature before getting married a development which will help them contribute effectively to the economy.

She also hailed that the bill will protect women during divorce and added “This is a bill to benefit both men and women”

United Democratic Front (UDF) Chief Whip and Spokes Person on gender issues in Parliament hon. Lillian Patel said the party supports the bill.

She said the early child marriages are worse in her constituency “Over 21 girls aged 11 years dropped out of school in a single term at one school. I hope that problem is not only in my constituency, this might as well happen in other constituencies. We have to support this bill”

But she bemoaned that the fees contained in the bill are mean and urged the ministry to change. 

However male MPs expressed dissatisfaction with the level of debate of the bill because no male MP was given an opportunity to hold the floor and very few female MPs spoke on the bill. During the tea break male MPs were heard on top of their voices over dissatisfaction on how the bill has been debated.

The development saw leader of the Opposition in Parliament hon. Dr. Lazarus Chakwera immediately after tea break expressed his dissatisfaction over lack of men’s voice in the chamber.

“I am concerned over procedure of the debate which has been curtailed without men contributing on the bill.” He said “It should have been better to let men to speak on the bill because this is not women issue”

But the bill was passed without amendment. Immediately after the bill was passed the Leader of House Honorable Francis Kasaila thanked all parliamentarians for passing the Bill and announced that the house be adjourned immediately (That time was 16:30 hours) which was 30 minutes earlier to the official adjournment time at 17:00 hours.

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Mw Gender Campaigners Targets 15% Reduction Of Sexual Violence by 2017

Players in Gender Sector in Malawi have jointly launched a three year campaign initiative to end sexual violence against women girls and children ‘Malawi Unite to Act Campaign’ which its main goal is to reduce the current rate at 25% by 15%.

The new campaign has been launched on Tuesday in Lilongwe and will run up to 2017 where it is set to invigorate people and institutions in Malawi to unite and act until women and girls in the country are safe and free from violence.