Malawians To Elect President On July 2 2020

Casting vote in a ballot box

Malawians will once again to the poll to elect new president on 2nd July 2020, the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has announced.

Fresh presidential elections were called on 3rd February, when the High Court sitting as Constitutional Court in Lilongwe delivered a judgement in which it nullified the 2019 presidential elections and ordered that fresh election be held within 150 days.

MEC announced the date on Monday in Blantyre during the launch of the presidential election electoral calendar.

Chilima Urge Youth To Stay Focused, Stop Wasting Time With Trivia

Hon. Chilima speaking to St. Patrick Youths 

Youths in the country told to stop being obsessed with trivia but instead remain focused pursuing their dreams.

Malawi Has Excess Maize Now-Confirm President Mutharika

Mutharika says Nobody is dying of
hunger under his leadeeship 

President Peter Mutharika has announced that Malawi is now food secure and that people should jettison fears of hunger hitting hard people this year.

Mutharika on Monday afternoon told Journalist at Kamuzu Palace that earlier in the day got such an exciting report from National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) that Malawi has excess maize.

Following adverse weather conditions early 2015, Malawi's maize production and other food crops across the country declined puting a total of 2.8 million people representing 17% of the country’s total population at risk of hunger during the 2015/2016.

An assessment by the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC), carried out in June and July, 2015, the siuation required humanitarian food to support the affected people was 124,183MT of maize equivalence. 

“I was very pleased to hear from NRA that there is excess maize in this country and that they will be asking me to agree to allow traders to export maize outside this country.” Said Mutharika adding “and this is what I have been saying all along.”

Mutharika said earlier in the day got report from National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) that Malawi has excess maize and NFRA will be asking the president to allow traders to export maize outside the country.

At this point he reiterated with assurance that no Malawian will die of hunger this year or under his administration and all logistical issues are being sorted out to ensure that maize is available in ADMARC markets.

He said; “nobody is going to die of hunger” He repeated “Nobody is going to die in this country of hunger under DPP Government.”

His remarks comes just after his deputy, Saulos Chilima had recently made an update on food situation.

The Vice President had mentioned that although International Community has assisted the country amounting to about US$91million but still Government is appealing for more assistance because currently there is a shortfall of US$55.378 million is approximately K31 billion for hunger response.

Efforts to curb hunger 1,960,377 people, representing 69 percent of the affected population in 68 Traditional Authorities in 24 districts, were targeted with food distribution while 880, 117 people, representing 31 percent in 58 Traditional Authorities in 18 districts, were considered on cash transfers. 

To stabilize the price of the commodity on the market through ADMARC the Malawi government also, using its own resources, bought 30,000MT of maize from Zambia for ADMARC at a cost of K2.8 billion, and 22,193MT of maize locally at a cost of K2.6 billion.

CSOs Wants Reform Scrutiny By Parliament

Timothy Mtambo

Civil Society Organisations says proposed solutions by the Public Service Reform Commission must first be approved by National Assembly before implementation.

Timothy Mtambo Executive Director for Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR), said reforms being pursued by President Peter Mutharika administration are not inspiring because they are not aligned with the national vision. 

He therefore urged Government to ensure that all proposed reforms are periodically scrutinised by the National Assembly to improve the program delivery and ensure that reforms reflect the views and wishes of Malawians.

While appealing for depoliticisation of the Public Service Reforms by supporting it with necessary legal regime in order to ensure scrutiny, he said National Assembly is right institution that must be allowed to play its rightful oversight function to the reforms.

“I can assure Malawians that those reforms are not supposed to be implemented without an authorization of parliament. We are represented by parliament so, any kind of reforms should be scrutinized by the parliament, who are the representatives of the people of this country.” Suggested Mtambo 

Mtambo has said at the moment “the reform program is just a program which is empty and has no legal basis”. He also warned that by letting everything been done by few individuals to head the reforms then the country might end up with “deforms” instead of “reforms”

“These reforms are being taken as a law itself. There are changes in the name of reforms; cancelation of JCE exams, the hiking of school fees in secondary schools and colleges. People just woke up in the morning in the name of reforms and change things.” He observed 

Mtambo also underlined that the program would have done better to Malawians if the reforms had began first in the presidency office and then trickle down to juniors. 

“We have always said that the reforms were supposed to start from the presidency” he said “The head is not reformed, we have a lot of power in the office of the president and that is why corruption continues in this country. So how do you expect the juniors to transform?”

However, speaking in an interview, Chairperson for Parliamentary Committee on Government Assurances, Honorable Harry Mkandawire said their committee has already been requested by Vice President Office to work together with the Public Service Reform Commission in question.

“The Good part is that the office of the Vice President has requested my committee to work with the Public Reforms Commission. Now the area you are talking about, we are yet to agree.” Confirmed Mkandawire

When asked when did his committee received such a request, Mkandawire replied “We were asked long time ago during the last meeting of parliament”

But since the committee’s relationship with the Commission has just started and they are yet to agree as to the terms of reference of how they are going to work together, he therefore admitted that his committee was not part of reforms being implemented at the moment. 

Mkandawire has also asked the CSO’s to meet his Committee to discuss on how the committee should work with the Commission.

“This is what CSO’s would want to see, I therefore urge the CSO’s to come to us, to let us know what our relationship with the Reform Commission should be. And if they have an idea, they can sell it to us so that in turn we would be saying; look, people out there they want this, because CSOs are also the representatives of the people”

Mkandawire has since congratulated the office of the Vice President for seeing it fit that their committee should be a bridge between the commission and parliament.

In 2014, Malawi Government under leadership of President Peter Mutharika instituted Public Service Reform Commission being chaired by his Vice President Saulos Chilima.

The commission was instituted to facilitate the creation of an effective and efficient Public Service that will spur economic growth through the nurturing of a market economy that is foreign direct investor friendly as well as one that will facilitate long term investments in the health, education and other social programmes. Since, the commission has made several recommendations which president has approved and have been implemented.

However, on Wednesday, CSO's claimed that the success of the reforms are just on paper and called for resignation of Mutharika over poor democratic and economic governance

Chilima Joins St. Patrick, St. Ignacio, St. Thomas Christians in Suffering with Christ through Via Dolorosa... Hailed for Being With Fellow Christians

Malawi's Vice President hon. Saulos Claus Chilima this Friday has been together with Roman Catholic church, Area 18, St. Patrick, Area 30, St. Ignacio and Area 18, St. Thomas Anglican parish Christians in remembrance of precious gift of salvation and the price paid for it by the Lord Jesus Cross to Golgotha.

In a joint way of cross conducted by Christians from the three parishes, Chilima walked together with the devotion through some designated streets in Area 18 from St. Patrick catholic parish to St. Thomas Anglican church parish.

Being one of the devotees and in quest to experience Lord Jesus Passion, carrying a cross from the court of Pontius Pilate to the hill of Calvary, Chilima just like other devotees also at one of the fourteen stations had shouldered a cross which was being carried in front of the devotion. 

A Catholic christian from Area 18, St. Patrick parish, hon. Chilima also led the devotion the in reading of the Thirteenth Station where the devotion reflected moment the body of Lord Jesus  was taken down from the cross (the Deposition or Lamentation)

He was also chosen to lay wreath together with his wife.

Parish Priest for area 18 St. Thomas Anglican parish Fr. Francis Takilima had  at the end of the long procession for the passion of Christ, thanked  hon. Chilima for being humble and walk with the devotion regardless of the fact that he holds a high position in government.

"Throughout the journey from St. Patrick parish up to here,  we were asking ourselves if you would walk with us in that dusty road and finish together. But to our surprise we have finished the journey together. That is not a joke considering that you are holding the second a highest office of the land"

"We thank you for being with us from the start to the end." He said  

Malawi Public Service form Commission Flies to Singapore;

Chilima Leading the Lilongwe Team

Chilima far right, Mutharika centre& Muluzi (former President)

The Malawi team leading Public Service Reforms including its chairperson, Vice President Saulos Chilima is on Tuesday travelling to Singapore for knowledge sharing on Public Sector Reform.

The Lilongwe team is on trip to understand how to effectively implement the just launched Public Service Reforms.

Statement from Press Office of the Vice President says His Excellency President Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika has delegated Vice President Saulos Chilima to lead a team on Public Service Reforms to study the Singapore reforms in-depth. 

"The Southeast Asian country is one of the highly rated nations that have successfully implemented Public Service Reforms hence the importance of the study visit by Vice President Chilima and his delegation." Claim part of the statement released on Monday

The statement indicates that Malawi's Vice President, who is also Chairperson of the Public Service Reforms Commission, leaves Malawi on Tuesday, March 10, through Kamuzu International Airport KIA in Lilongwe at 13:30 hours. And arrives back home on Thursday, March 19, through Lilongwe’s KIA at 12:20 hours.



President Mutharika when launching the Public Service Reforms emphasized he is trying to make the public service efficient and effective. While his vice, Chilima has been emphasising that reforming the Public Service is not a matter of multiple choice, but will be done and it must be done now.




Malawi Public Service Reform Commission made several recommendations among them reforms which focus on optimal allocation of human resource, improving service delivery like decentralization and moving other departments to relevant government ministries including decision to make the Malawi Investment and Trade Center (MITC) a one stop shop.




Some of the recommendations were approved and implemented by last year.

ECM AMECEA Thanks Giving Mass; Credits the Faithful, Zuza & MW Govt for Supporting the Plenary

ECM AMECEA Thanks Giving Mass; Credits the Faithful, Zuza & MW Govt for Supporting the Plenary 

Arch Bishop Thomas Msusa
Photo by ECM Communications

The Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) has recognized the role Catholic faithful, all Malawians, individuals and government played for the support towards the successful hosting for the 18th Plenary of Association for Member Episcopal Conferences for East Africa (AMECEA) last year in July.

During the Thanks Giving Mass for the successful hosting of AMECEA Plenary on Saturday at Don Bosco Parish in the Arch Diocese of Lilongwe, the newly elected chairman for ECM His Grace Arch Bishop Thomas Msusa said the church in Malawi has been the envy for the AMECEA region for the successful host of the conference between 16th to 26th July 2014. 

He among others said the church did well in preparations, hosting delegates and ensure that everything went on as planned to the last hour of the conference. He said this was dedication and cooperation by the faithful a positive spirit shoeing that the church in Malawi can do more.

Arch Bishop Thomas Msusa
Photo by ECM Communications

“As we are thanking God for the successful host of AMECEA conference, we also have to remember all those who worked tirelessly ensuring that we have a very successful conference.” said Msusa in his introductory remarks at the beginning of the mass, “We Catholic Bishops are very grateful that this success came from all of you and all other groups in the church. You really made us proud hosting that event” 

Part of Congregation

Arch Bishop Msusa also attributed successful host of AMECEA conference to the wise leadership of the late Bishop Joseph Mukasa Zuza who at that time as a chairman for ECM provided various oversight roles that enabled the church to take a good path for hosting the conference and asked the congregation to remember him in prayers.

Congregation asked to Pray for
Late Bishop Zuza

Msusa further thanked the Malawi government for supporting the church during the time of the conference particularly on security of all the delegates from AMECEA region.

The Chairman noted “a very big contribution to the success of the plenary” the support to the church from State President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika towards the conference using his pocket money.

He also expressed gratitude for the continued support to the church by the Vice President of Malawi Hon. Saulosi Chilima. The Arch Bishop said from start, Chilima helped the church in mobilizing resources for the conference.

Chilima appreciated for his support 

Collections for the mass were dedicated towards the help of flood victims of all the affected 15 districts and Bishop Msusa reminded priests, religious and the faithful to set aside Sunday 8th February 2015, as a special day for collections towards assistance of flood victims and appealed for more donation of cash or basic needs like food (non perishable), kitchen utensils, clothes among others.. He also reminded that all items collected at parishes should be brought to the Bishop’s House by Saturday 14th February 2015 for records and forwarding to the affected people.

At the end of the Mass representatives from all eight dioceses were given a book containing agreements made by Bishops during the 18th Plenary for AMECEA so that the message is taken to all the people. 

Chilima and madam Chilima exiting from
Don Bosco church 

The Thanks Giving Mass was attended by the vice president of the republic of Malawi honorable Saulosi Chilima

Public Service Reform Commission Recommends 13 Actions to Get To Efficient Civil Service

Public Service Reform Commission Recommends 13 Actions to Get To Efficient Civil Service

After six months of study, getting views from public and learn from other countries, jut to find solutions halting Civil Service, the appointed seven member Public Service Reform Commission chaired by Vice President Saulos Chilima has come up with 13 recommended actions that the commission says will end inefficiencies in public service.

Vice President Saulos Chilima announced yesterday in Lilongwe that President Mutharika has approved all the proposed reforms.

He said the commission will make submission of its final report in January but on 11 February 2015 government will launch the report together with other recommended actions that were in existence but need to be reinvigorated like Reform Programme, National Plan to guide development initiative; Vision 2020 and Organisation Performance Assessment.

Some recommendations gives President authority to chair and champion some reforms just to raise their profile, however other reforms have stripped off some OPC functions by moving other initiatives to relevant ministries so that OPC remains with its core function of Managing Civil Service.

The Commission in its preliminary report which the final report will be made available in January 2015, recommends and propose issues of restructuring, decentralization of services, instill discipline in civil service, continued partnerships with private sector and quick enactment of up to 16 outstanding legislations that have an effect in effective implementation of the reforms.

Presenting the recommendations Vice President of Republic of Malawi Saulos Chilima says the recommendations will be implemented because are necessary and nothing will stop government.

He noted that other recommendations have already been implemented.

Some recommended actions will involve crucial decisions particularly on resizing civil service to maintain current 40% vacancy rate following Mutharika decision to have a 20 Cabinet members led to reduction of government ministries.

According to Chilima the Commission recommends and an exercise that reduce number of Principle Secretaries by 56 from current 96 to 40, through a consultative process that is transparent in order to ensure fairness and credibility.

He said irrelevant portfolios will be deleted, some PSs will be deployed outside civil service and exiting those that may not be required, but with a decent one-off package, and similar exercise will be done in entire civil service in order to come up with “lean and vibrant organization.”

But on constitutional reforms the Commission recommends that “number of government Ministries should not exceed twenty and the size of cabinet should not exceed 25 including the president and the vice president”

Furthermore the commission proposes ten public positions to follow presidential tenure of office in order to prevent ongoing perceptions of political appointments and termination of contracts when new regime is ushered in. And National Vision be legislated to make it legally binding and avoid tendency by Ministries, Department and Agencies deviating from the countries plan and strategies so to keep such visions stand the test of time including any change of government.

Other recommendations include restructuring of Ministry of finance, establishment of School that train government workers, development of individual, Institutional performance contracts and strengthen Green Belt Initiative  by moving it from OPC and establish Green Belt Authority so that it brings to reality Malawi dream of becoming a producing and export nation.

The commission has selected 8 ministries and departments to pioneer the implementation of these reforms and promote service delivery and accountability in some areas. In addition it has also recommended that a permanent Reform Commission be created.

Cabinet Ministers Defer Their Salary Increment Joins President Mutharika and Vice President Chilima

Cabinet Ministers Defer Their Salary Increment Joins President Mutharika and Vice President Chilima

Ministers and Deputy Misters have deferred their recent revealed salary increment until the economy is normalized but are firm that they will not demand their arrears.

Minister of Finance Economic Planning and Development Honorable Goodall Gondwe announced the development on Thursday evening in Lilongwe and said the cabinet minister’s decision was consensus.

“Following the decision by the President and the Vice President to forgo their salary increment, the Ministers and Deputy Ministers also have met and decided that they too in solidarity with the President and Vice President will not receive salary increment provided to them until the economy is normalized.” Announced Gondwe who was accompanied by Minister if Information Tourism and Culture honorable Kondwani Nankhumwa

He assured that when the economy is normalized Cabinet Ministers will not ask to have back their arrears but the envisaged salary increment will only be applicable to them when it is felt that the economy has been normalized.

Cabinet Minister decision will encourage 
Malawians that their leaders are geared 
to get economy going

Godwe said from this consensus government will save for the next duration of this financial year which began in October this year a figure “inside” K100 Million.

Though he said these savings have no power to impact on the economy but the President and his deputy together with cabinet minister decision will encourage Malawians that their leaders are geared to get economy going.

He also dispelled allegations that Ministers had received part of their salary increment from first of October as was supposed to be. He said Ministers did not get any salary increment due to administrative issue and nothing else.

The Ministers decision to defer their salary increment comes amid criticism from various organizations including Leader of Opposition and Malawi Congress Party President Honorable Dr. Lazarus Chakwera for Muthrikas decision to approve salary which he previously denied to do so on basis that the Malawi economy cannot not support it, however this time the President and his Vice have opted to suspend theirs, because again, the economy cannot support it.

It was revealed few days ago that Members of Parliament, Opposition together with Ministers and President and his deputy have 376%, 168% and 80% salary increment respectively however Minister of Finance recently clarified that this salary increment was part of salary harmonization and that current figures are mainly a reflection of amalgamated basic wage (which was very little) with some of their allowances and therefore current percentages are misleading Malawians.

Goodall Gondwe this Thursday also explained that there is no provision that salary scales should be approved by parliament as stated by Leader of the Opposition recently.

 “The only thing that the parliament does is that, inform of budget approval they approve total wage Bill for everybody that receives the salaries and wages through the budget and number 1 account what is also called consolidated account. But after that various scales that are applicable are not for the parliament to approve so the leader of opposition does not know about this but he ought to know because he must have attended the parliamentary commission.”

“The Leader of Opposition was not factual to say that the matter should have gone to parliament because that is not the rule.” Said Gondwe while maintaining his point and indicate that it is only President who has final authority of approving the salary.

Government reiterates its stand on Judiciary pay hike demands

Government reiterates its stand on Judiciary pay hike demands

Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Goodall Gondwe on Sunday said vowing to demands of salary increment being made by Judicial staff currently on strike would defeat the whole purpose of salary harmonization process.

The judicial staff wants their salary adjusted corresponding to the rate that has been implemented for Civil Servants but government says what has happened in the Civil Service is a salary restructuring exercise and not general increment.

Goodall Gondwe maintained that there has been disparity in salaries to the effect that a driver from one department would get more than a professional from other departments and in the same way the Judicial officers and supporting staff have always had higher salaries than other officers in comparable grades within the Civil Service.

He said current salary harmonization is part of public order to end salary chaos that has happened for so many years. He said to get to that new level those that were getting more than in the civil service meant that they would get a smaller increment.

He said there is a very good reason for this procedure, though others are against it by demanding increment equivalent to one implemented to other civil servants.

“The question there is that, if we were to do that then the policy of harmonization and issue of propriety that we want to achieve would not be achieved. And a number of people think that we have been hardhearted in this.” Said Gondwe

“There is a very good reason for this, apart from the fact that we don’t have resources. We have to have harmonization in civil service. The service is not working well because we have a disjointed salary scale. It is not possible for a lawyer for example in the ministry of justice to work very whole heartedly when he is getting almost three quarters of what his colleague in Judiciary is getting yet have same education level or work same hours. Therefore the impetus to work hard and work with dedication is very much interrupted.”

He added that the aim of harmonization therefore is to get to have alignment that can contribute towards the dedication and hardworking spirit in public service.

But the minister said government will ensure that there is continued discussion with the judiciary so that they are back to work.

On salary adjustments to elected officers (President and his deputy, Members of Parliament and cabinet Ministers) Gondwe said this was done as part of salary structuring particularly of cabinet ministers which has been neglected since 2005. He said government in the course maintained comparative salary adjustments of MPs Ministers, President and his deputy.

He said government has made a minor increment in the salaries of these elected officers since current figures are mainly a reflection of amalgamated basic wage (which was very little) with some of their allowances. He therefore said government maintained MPs salary at 50% of salaries that Cabinet Minister’s get and those salaries of Ministers, Vice President and President remain at a difference of two third each.

Meanwhile President Mutharika together with Vice President Chilima have deferred their new salary until the economy is back on track.