Malawi Churches Say No To Abortion, Same Sex Marriage: Petition Parliament

Thousands of Christians, Muslims, Rastafarians and others from various denominations have held national wide peaceful march this Thursday asking the Malawi National Assembly to throw off proposed abortion bill and same sex marriage legalisation once they happen to find their way in the House for deliberation.

Uladi Give Reasons Why MPs Slept In Parliament

This is a very rare honest confession from a Malawian politician over a blander as one of the leaders for the opposition party gives more possible reasons why himself and fellow Parliamentarians had to take a nap in the Chamber.

PP Wants House To Approve Appointees Dismisals

Uladi

Peoples Party (PP) says Parliament must approve dismissal of all officers serving in positions that require Parliament approval when appointed by Presidet, in order to protect them from politically motivated firings.

The comment comes from the wake of President Mutharika’s statement that some officers in foreign missions will be recalled and replaced by new ones.

President Peter Mutharika in his state of Nation Address informed the House that during the 2016/17 fiscal year, Government plans to rationalize its foreign missions in order to make them lean and efficient with the right numbers of personnel with requisite competences. He then mentioned that Government will also recall individuals who, in some cases have stayed in these missions for up to 10 or 15 years.

However, PP acting President Uladi Mussa reacted that this is very unfortunate because Government wants to replace officers with their own party supporters or relatives.

“Mr. Speaker Sir, we in the PP continue to wonder whether it is necessary to recall everybody from our various embassies outside, just because we want to replace them with relatives of DPP supporters.” he said when presenting PP's response to the State of Nation Address

“It is very unfortunate, Malawi is one Mr. Speaker Sir. Malawi is one." He repeated "And no culture and no tribe is superior to another culture and tribe in this country.”

Later in an interview said this is a tendency which is costing Government alot of money and it must stop.

Mussa then suggested that the Parliamentary Committee on Appointment needs to check on this issue and must have a say whenever the Ambassadors and High Commissioners are being recalled.

“We need to find out” he said “because we are only interested in entry point but when they are exiting parliament has shown lack of interest.” he observed

“Even other appointments of positions like Inspector General of Police. They are approved here but when it comes to firing we seem not to be concerned so these are issue that we need to look at. We have to consider both hiring and firing”

PP Tells Govt To Save Albinos Now

Uladi

Peoples Party (PP) says plans set by Government to end abductions and killings of people with albinism will begin to bear fruits years after all albinos are killed and called Government to implement immediate plans. 

PP acting President and the party’s leader in Parliament, Uladi Mussa pointed out that plans to train personnel and sending representatives to Tanzania to learn best practices leaves room for criminals to continue with attacks and killings, but registering all albinos and guarding them by community policing will solve the problem.

Mussa was speaking in the National Assembly on Monday evening when responding to State of the National Address delivered by President Peter Mutharika on Friday.

He said this when highlighting number of security issues which he said PP is of the view that the country is in the security breakdown.

“There is complete security breakdown in this country.” He said mentioning the abductions and killings of people with albinism, gruesome robbery killings, rampant cart thefts, mob justice, killings of elderly persons who are suspected of witchcraft, random killings of innocent people, theft of drugs in hospitals and health centers making people feel insecure

“The idea of training of 250 personnel or having case studies in Tanzania, as the President has suggested, will not offer immediate solution to the current plight of people with albinism in the Country.” He noted saying PP view this as “a long term plan whose impact is likely to come long after all people with albinism have all been killed”

“When fire breakout, the immediate solution is not to build a Fire Station but, to stop the fire!” stressed the PP leader

“This being the case, the Peoples Party would like to suggest that total protection be provided forthwith to people with albinism by registering them in all the district assemblies we have in this country and providing them with adequate security either through police officers or community policing.” Mussa said and continued “In this regard I would like to inform the Minister of Home Affairs that in addition to police officers, we can use community policing, so that people can guard them here and there throughout the country but after knowing where they are staying.” He emphasized

PP acting President mentioned that there was need to mention short term plans that may protect the people with albinism and end the killings now.

“What will be happening? Will these criminals wait for that long term plan, because training them going to Tanzania, having case study, will these criminals wait for them? That is why we are saying we need to come up with protective measures.” He wondered later in an interview

Commenting on agriculture and hunger Uladi Mussa said Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Government has not taken the Agriculture sector as a priority particularly because it is failing to allocate more resources to irrigation in order to eradicate hunger in this country.

He even recalled that President Mutharika's address only indicated of providing funds to ADMARC but failed to disclose amount of money allocated to ADMARC for buying food.

He futher mentioned that there are signs of poor Governance and that State of National Address failed to cover key areas that affect ordinary Malawians.

He also called for decisive plans to take Malawi to road to recovery and also take blames and not shifting it to natural calamities all the time and remined the Government that “The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is the power to harm us.”

Mussa even described the President Speech as “hotchpotch (Nansanganya) of operational reports hurriedly thrown together with no attempt at establishing overall strategic direction or policy linkages across the sectors.”

He among other things said 3 years since the DPP Government was voted into power the problems continue to get out of hand “and our people are angry, bitter and impatient.” He said people want action and not ideas only

“We cannot continue to have a Government that simply joins in to lament together with the people as if it has no tools to normalize the situation.” Said Mussa

Mussa in his remarks said there is no impact to the budgets that the House continue to pass which now for a period of 2 years it amounts to K1.7 trillion (2014/2015 – K760 billion and 2015/2016 – K906 billion).

MCP, PP Response To SONA Today: Inside MCP Response

Chakwera to respond to Mutharika speech 

Leaders of Opposition Parties will this afternoon respond to State of the National Address (SONA) by President Peter Mutharika delivered on Friday when opening the Budget Meeting for 2016/2017.

With immediate reactions the parties made through media just after Mutharika had finished speaking, expectations are high that both Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and Peoples Party (PP) will be full of critics. 

PP acting President, Uladi Mussa described Mutharika’s “Towards Recovery and Sustainable Social Economic Development” titled speech as repetition of old promises of development projects and lacked pertinent issues.

Similarly, honorable Jessie Kabwila, spokesperson for MCP says as their president Dr. Lazarus Chakwera is expected to respond this afternoon, MCP believes Mutharika speech was full of concessions that he has failed.

“It was good to hear him concede that growth has not gone according to the way they had said it will grow.” Observed Kabwila, “I think the speech was full of concessions of how life is difficult for the poor Malawian.”

President Mutharika speech admitted that due to bad weather conditions, Malawi economy failed to grow from projected 5.4% and went down to 3.1 in 2015 with inflation remaining high at 21.8 from projected decline of 16.4.

He however, he expressed hope that in 2016/2017 financial year economy is expected to register real GDP growth rate of 5.1% with inflation going down to 19.8%. He added that Malawi economy is slowly stabilizing due to austerity measures and fiscal policies that are in place and was optimistic that Malawi will do better and is gradually weaning itself from donor dependency.

“Where the speech comes short is on solutions.” She added then wondered “What are they planning to do to sort out this mess?”

Kabwila also observed that the State of National Address failed to articulate to their satisfaction on ending hunger in this country and she said that disappoints her party “that believes in the food security.”

“The State of the National Address was very economical with the truth when it came to focus on hunger.  I think it pussyfooted on the issue of hunger, it handled the issue of hunger with kid gloves. Actually, it went to the point of not telling the truth because we know people died of hunger.” She lamented disclosing that “In my own constituency [Salima North West] people had died”

She went on; “When I look at the State of National Address the major gap stands on the issue of hunger. However the leader of Opposition Right Honorable Dr. Lazarus Chakwera shall be responding in full on Monday.”

Honorable Kabwila concluded that in her own analysis, Mutharika speech “was very economical with the truth, it actually grossed over the hunger that we are going through, it grossed over the health crisis that Malawi is facing, the education sector is in a crisis, we know fees have just been introduced the universities are in disarray but he did not focus on that.”

Opposition Angered By Pres. Mutharika Little Details On Addressing Albino Killings

Mutharika: said little on albino attacks

Opposition parties in Parliament have expressed their disappointment over President Peter Mutharika’s failure to give more details of how Government intends to fight against attacks and killings of people with albinism.

Both People’s Party (PP) and the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) concurred in separate interviews that the issue of albino attacks is a national crisis and therefore President Mutharika should have spent time in his State Of National Address explaining more about this problem.

In his speech titled “Towards Recovery and Sustainable Socio-Economic Development” President Mutharika touched on the issue of barbaric attacks of people with albinism when highlighting various support the Government made in 2015/16 financial year to disability and eldery.

He said Government undertook an investigative study to establish the root cause of attacks and killing of persons with albinism is some selected districts and that some cases have been speedily prosecuted and some suspects convicted by courts.

He then indicated that Government will in the next financial year intensify awareness campaign on the rights and welfare of people with disability, review the 1911 Witchcraft Act among others.

"We will ensure that our security institutions continue to work with relevant stakeholders in the protection of the rights of persons living with albinism, children, the elderly and other vulnerable groups" he assured later in his State of National Address 

However, opposition Parties are of the view that the President could have said more about this problem.

Mussa

Acting President for PP Uladi Mussa who described the Statement as a repetition of promises and that there was nothing new, expressed his disappointment that President Mutharika failed to provide clear details of how his Government intends to address the barbaric attacks of people with albinism.

“It is our worry as opposition, that we have seen there is nothing on the protection of people with albinism in this country.” Lamented then also singled out issues of secondary school fees hike, status of gay marriages issues and user fees in hospitals as some of the key issues that could have been articulated in the speech

“We thought that the President will give much emphasis on irrigation because the only way of dealing with our hunger situation is through irrigation, but the president has only mentioned about already existing [irrigation systems] saying Government would like to maintain them and not really that the big share of the budget will go for the irrigation in order to deal with hunger situation in the country” noted Mussa

“There is nothing new, it is a repetition, it is a song, it is like a campaign messages we have heard from this State of National Address.” he concluded

Eisenhower

Equally, the Malawi Congress Party Deputy Secretary General, Eisenhower Mkaka reacted, “We feel that the President could have said more on the issue of albino killings, attacks and exhumations of their bodies from graves but what has been said I think it is not enough”

He added that “It is worrisome” that the president did not give much importance to the issue which their party and Malawians regards “a crisis” that requires concerted efforts.

But, the United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator Mia Seppo observed that though there wasn’t much from President on ending albino attacks, however, much is being done on the ground to address the problem citing the recent president meeting with APAM [Association of People with Albinism] an institution that is driving and representing the people with albinism and strong statements from Minister of Home Affairs as well as Inspector General of Police.

“So I don’t think that there was no direct reference to people with albinism in the statement” he said, “Because there was direct reference to human rights in general, there was also direct reference to protecting the most vulnerable in the society and there was also direct reference to persons with albinism”

But she stressed that in view of strong pronouncements being made on the attacks and killings of persons with albinism with the help of the recommendations recently made by the UN independent expert on people with albinism and the existing Government Response Plan on Persons with Albinism, “the focus should now be to build on that and implementation of that response plan.”

Seppo further stressed provision of adequate funding to the Department of Disability for it to implement the Response Plan and that she is obviously waiting for Minister of Finance Honorable Goodall Gondwe Budget Statement next week on how it is going to allocate for the response to albino attacks.

“The Department of disability is an underfunded department in an underfunded ministry so it is challenging and there is need to be kind of action across the Government in terms of trying to fund implementation of the Response Plan. And again there is need have very senior levels championing these issues” she emphasized

But she further commended action taken by President Mutharika in terms of meeting with APAM and some of the statements by ministries saying they are “very encouraging.”

Irrigation Budget Prioritisation Solution For Malawi Poverty, Hunger- Uladi

Uladi

Leader of Peoples Party in the National Assembly and Salima South legislature Uladi Mussa says Malawi can eradicate poverty and hunger within five year period by implementing irrigation led budget.

Chiyembekeza Fails To Account For Questionable Sale Of Tractors, Maize Sheller’s

• Tractors meant for farm mechanisation by smallholder farmers were sold to former Vice President, present and former cabinet ministers, PS, Legislatures including Speaker and some companies

• Agriculture Minister failed to disclose amount realised, price for each tractor and Maize Shellers and how the realised funds were used

• Parliamentarians demands names of owners of companies that bought some tractors and views the sale as political

Kamulepo

Some opposition legislature’s have demanded total accountability and reasons that led to the sale of part of 177 Tractors and 144 Maize Shellers meant for farm mechanisation by smallholder farmers.

Members of Parliament (MP’s) also wants to know actual amount realised and how the proceeds from the sale of tractors and maize shellers were used including value of each machinery during the sale versus cost of buying of each item by Government some years ago.

However, of Minister Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development responsible to answer all those questions was so furious at the inquisitive legislatures and only gave what he said was what the House needed to know about the matter.

The matter was brought in the House following the question from Honourable Member for Rumphi East, Kamulepo Kalua to Allan Chiyembekeza, Minister of Agriculture on the Status and whereabouts of the Tractors and Maize Shellers which the country acquired sometime back from India. 

The legislature said wanted to know why the country’s smallholder farmers are still failing to do their farming using modern equipments especially tractors.

In his detailed account of number of the matter Minister said a total of 77 tractors went to Government Institutions which are ADD’s across the country; Karonga ADD got 6 tractors, Mzuzu ADD got 13 tractors, Kasungu got 15 tractors, Salima ADD got 6 tractors, Lilongwe ADD got 11 tractors, Machinga ADD got 8 tractors, Blantyre ADD got 11 tractors and Shire Valley ADD got 7 tractors. 

Chiyembekeza said the second part involves 31 Tractors, 13 Maize Shellers, 23 Tripping Shellers and 8 Seed Cam Fertiliser Applicators that were issued out to Government Departments and Institutions. These were; Crops Department (Horticulture Farm), Natural Resources College, National Food Reserve Agency, Department of Agriculture Research, Department of Animal Health, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Green Belt Initiative.

But the house was in disarray when he mentioned that some tractors were sold to companies, individuals and some farming associations without clear explanation of what prompted the sale and how that profited Government.

Chiyembekeza said, Tractors and implements sold in the first half of the offer went to 31 individuals and businesses. Among them Government officers who includes; Clement Kumbemba (current Executive Director of Malawi Investment Trade Centre MITC) and Rashid Mtelera (from OPC). Companies includes; Anachuma Holdings, IS Fred Limited, Green Leaf Association, Kasinthula Cane Growers and Wuli Trading Company.

In the second half sold to individuals including Francis Kasaila Minister of Transport, Honorable Khumbo Kachali former Vice President, Godfrey Ching’oma Malawi Congress Party MP, Richard Msowoya current speaker of National Assembly and Samuel Madula from OPC among others. 

But the minister was not clear to demands on how funds were used, what exactly lead to the sale of the tractors and who authorised it.

Salima Central legislature Felix Jumbe proposed that since some names are of high rank officials from Government there should be an inquiry as to how they conformed to the procurement system.

Responding on this, Agriculture Minister said the equipments were sold to Malawians after normal tender was opened to anyone and applications were reviewed. He said some Government Ministries and departments were represented in a Committee that was chaired by Office of President and Cabinet (OPC).

He said the committee made equipment evaluation and restricted nobody from the floated tender. But mostly, he said small and medium enterprises with a minimum land of 5 hectares were eligible to buy.

However, Kamulepo Kalua who brought the matter said was not satisfied with the explanation 

He said, he still wants names of directors of some companies named and suspects that those names have been deliberately concealed to prevent exposure of some top government officials.

Kamulepo emphasised that the sale was worrisome considering that the tractors were acquired through loan to support smallholder farmers do farm mechanisation to help country’s food security.

Leader of House, Francis Kasaila said Kamulepo is continously making very serious allegations which are demeaning the president by alleging that President is doing corruption and that he recently bought some vehicles dubiously. He asked the member to present his evidence by Friday or withdraw his statement.

However, Kamulepo said he did not mention President and he is not going to withdral his remarks because in his remarks he never metioned President. Instead he said he mentioned Presidential assistance at State House as the ones who are among people who bought the tractors and recently bought the said vehicles.

However, Kasaila insisted on his point saying the member knows that Presidential assistance do not stay at state house and therefore mentioning State House he meant president at all cost.

This forced Second Deputy Speaker Clement Chiwaya to make ruling that Kalua should bring the evidence to the House on Friday.

Later Salima South Uladi Mussa rose and complained that the sale never saved the purpose of the loan.

This was echoed by Malawi Congress Party Chief Whip Lobin Lowe who inquired about value of each tractor when sold versus cost of buying it.

Members insisted to get clear information    and it was that insistence which forced AgricuAgriculture Minister to read the full list of beneficiaries. However members still feel that the names are doctored and that the tractors sale was against the purpose of buying them.

Earlier, the minister indicated that the tractors when procured in 2011 were supposed to increase the existing tractors in ADD's and offer some tractors to farmer groups and Malawian farmers through sale to increase ownership of tractors.

He thereforw said 69 tractors were offered for sale in 2014 and later sold 37 other tractors early this year by tender.

Full list

First half sale of tractors and trailers

Clement Kumbemba
Peter Zimba
Anachuma Holdings
IS Fred Limited
Balaka Market Resource Centre
Prince Nyirenda
Green Leaf Association
Alfred Nkhono
FISD
R.E. Enterprises
Mirriam Pamam
ISAM
Invesco Farms
Kasinthula Cane Growers
Wuli Trading Company
Mishek G Essau
Spencer W. D Ng’oma
Peter H Shawa
Mulli Enterprises
J. Manong’a
A. Y. Namaona
Grey Nyandule Phiri
Christine Mtambo
Moffat J. Chitimbe
Dr. I Benence
Hillario R. Chimota
Bright B. Kumwembe
Gerald A. Kachepa
Steve Donda
W. G. Lipita
Rashid R. Mtelera

Tractors and Implements sold in the second half

Tisi Nthukwa
Francis Enoch Juwawo
Richard Makondi
Tapiwa Phiri
James Maseko
Ronny Phiri
Mrs. Dorothy Mataya
Ms. Mada Sambo
Francis I Kasaila
M. F Kanjere
B.B.C Majoni
Ben Botolo
Thomas Makiwa
Arthur A. M. Liwonga
Hon. Khumbo Kachali
Peter Fret
Godfrey P. N. Ching’oma
Dorothy Chimatiro
Grant C. Kapiya
M. I Chikuntha
Newby Henry Kumwembe
Chisomo Farms
Ephraim Chiume
William Kantayeni
Dr. Lovemore
Mr. I. J Luhanga
Mrs. I. J Luhanga
Hon. Richard Msowoya
Nditse V. Kampane
Tcholose Simwaka
 Margaret Loka Mauwa
Mr. Peter K. Simbani
D. G K. Mtupa
James C. G. Ali
Eddie Makungwa
Samuel Madula
Charles Kambauwa

Bisnowaty To Write Speaker Over Racist Remarks As PP Brands The Incident Unlawful

Lilongwe City Centre legislature, David Bisnowaty says will write the speaker as soon as possible over the racism remarks uttered by some Malawi Congress Party legislatures from the opposition benches on Thursday evening. 

“First of all it is not the first time. Of course I condemn and I am not going to accept any racist remarks” said Bisnowaty while mentioning that the remarks just show that some people still believe they live in the old days where they can give racism remarks. 

"Of course am not going to keep quiet about it am going to write the speaker and demand that these remarks be retracted and you just can’t accept to live in the society when people are still racist and it was really the racist remarks that we should to stop.” He said 

Bisnowaty was silent when some members were outburst into racism remarks, he said he was silent because “I just don’t believe that you have to go into wars of words and we just have to go and follow procedures” 

Uladi

Meanwhile the Leader of People’s Party (PP) in the National Assembly, Uladi Mussa said “It was not good “Anyone who can contest as a member of parliament is a Malawian” 

He said what was said is against constitution which disallows discrimination 

“I think it is a matter of our leadership of parties to discourage our members that let us support each other, let us respect each other, we are all members of parliament so we have to behave honorably not discriminating each other because of race or origin. This is not proper.” Said Mussa 

He emphasized that countries are developing due to migration an there is no need to discriminate those who made decision to become Malawians. 

The National Assembly debate on national issues was put on hold for a while when some angry opposition members of Parliament failed to hold their temper and began to call the Lilongwe City Central legislature David Bisnowaty ‘ignorant’ of Malawi issues and ‘foreigner’ over remarks relating to late Ngwazi Hastings Kamuzu Banda rule. 

Bisnowaty who stood on point of order told the house that during the 31 year reign of Hastings Kamuzu Banda, Malawians were suppressed and therefore if there was any food shortages people wouldn’t have known about it and any person would have been in trouble once heard talking about existence of hunger. 

But even before Bisnowaty took his seat, some Malawi Congress Party (MCP), legislatures including Dedza North West Alekeni Wodala Menyani were heard shouting point of order while some legislatures especially Mchinji South West Deus Gumba Banda shouted racism remarks. “Khala pansi Iwee! … Ukudziwa chiyani zakuno ku Malawi munthu olowera pa passport ngati iwe!.. Foreigner”

PP Contemplating Coalition With MCP: Claims To Have Solutions For Malawi Economic, Governance Problems

Uladi Mussa; no problem working with MCP

Leader of Peoples Party (PP) Uladi Mussa says his party and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) poses much needed expertise to rebound current state of economy and good governance lacking in current administration.

Mussa who stood to speak on behalf of his party in the National Assembly challenged that given chance to rule PP and MCP can turn round the current problems in a month or three. 

However, inclusion of MCP in his speech was surprising as this did not contain in his written speech. 

If that was not enough, Mussa for several times also sounded that PP is planning to join forces with MCP come 2019 elections when he ended PP response to President Peter Mutharika’s State of the National Address with declaration that PP and MCP will make good government come 2019.

Asked to elaborate more on expertise he referred to in his speech Mussa said PP and MCP are the only political parties that have experienced people when it comes to governing this country.

“Definitely, both parties are full of experienced people!” he said

“The problem we are facing now is because of lack of expertise and experience. When Bingu came in, he hired ministers of Muluzi and new ones. And when Joyce Banda came to power, he also did the same by hiring Bingu Wa Mutharika Ministers and new ones. But this one (Peter Mutharika) has just taken new ones from their party.” He explained 

On his pronouncement which sounds PP and MCP are working together readiness for the 2019 General Elections, Mussa said “I don’t see any reason or harm that PP and MCP working together. And more over Malawi is a small country and I don’t see any necessity of having over 50 parties working in this country so we need to work together, we need to amalgamate and map way forward for the country.”

"Actually you journalists must encourage party coalitions" he added

Among others, Uladi also warned during his speech that his party is ready to take to court Government over the alleged plans to introduce fees in primary schools.

“We have heard that Government intends to introduce fees in the primary school up to K5000 per pupil which is very, very exorbitant and parents in villages cannot afford that. Peoples Party is wondering why this government is going against the Constitution of Malawi [Section 13 (f)] and introducing primary school fees. If this DPP Government continues with primary school fees, PP is ready to challenge that in court because it is against Constitution which guarantees free primary education”

He added that their lawyer Ralph Mhone and others are ready to to take the matter to court.

Negotiations May Bring Back Donors- PP

Uladi Mussa

The opposition Peoples Party (PP) says Donors may resume direct budgetary aid if the current administration swallows its pride and begin to negotiate with donors and accept their demands.

Leader of PP in Parliament Uladi Mussa was speaking in the National Assembly on Monday evening when responding to State of National Address by President Peter Mutharika delivered on Friday.

Mussa said the main reason donors are reluctant to come back is because the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is failing to effectively negotiate with them and listen to their demands.

Donors suspended their direct budgetary aid to Malawi following revelations of massive looting of public money at the Capital Hill dubbed Cashgate.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration of Peter Mutharika says Malawians should move away from donor dependency and start to focus on ways to outsource resources locally and bringing in investors.

However, PP says “does not agree” that Malawi cannot negotiate further with our donors “donor age should not end abruptly because this is not first time happening in the country.”

Uladi Mussa said all President Peter Mutharika’s predecessors came in when donors had left but they managed to bring them back.

“When Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda got voted out of the office in 1994 the Paris Club had left. But Dr. Bakili Muluzi came in they negotiated and donors came back. Ten years later, when Bingu Wa Mutharika came in donors had also left due to bad governance and corruption. But did the same. He went to New York in September of 2004 to give his maiden speech” said Mussa.

He noted that similar development happened in 2012 when Joyce Banda came to power. Also donors had left because the incumbent was off-track with IMF policy but made negotiations until donors came back.

“So we are greatly surprised that DPP is telling people that we must suffer, no aid will be coming to Malawi. No!” he said “The aid can come to Malawi if there is a political will to negotiate with donors.” He added

Mussa then alleged that he is sure that Mutharika administration has failed to convince donors to come back because of the known problems and reasons.

He mentioned failure to honor donor demands and instructions on fiscal audit on K92 billion cashgate scam which took place from 2009 to 2012 during the time of Bingu Wa Mutharika and calls for an investigation into the murder of Issa Njauju one of the top Officials at the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) and many other things are the main reasons why DPP won’t go for negotiations with donors. 

“So to avoid these conditions this government is saying No donor aid. But I strongly believe if there is political will donors can come back to assist the poorest of the poor in this country.” He added

However he made it clear that PP does appreciates the need for Malawi to be self-sufficient, but believes that Malawi should develop a plan to gradually wean itself from donor aid.

Mussa also in his response rubbishes President Mutharika State of National Address as empty statement which does not give hope but full of lamentations with no proposal about how the country will come out of current mess.

He in several times called for Mutharika resignation.

The PP leader also bemoaned over new procedure in the identification of Farm Input Subsidy beneficies and its price by saying that at the moment, the programme will benefit the rich and not the poor of the poorest.

He further bemoaned with the state of Governance and Human rights issues that includes; Conflicts between branches of government, on tackling corruption and protection of the officers involved in investigation of corruption cases, interference by the Attorney General in Parliamentary Affairs, denying former President Joyce Banda to entitlements (official salary, security, vehicles and residence) and failure to commit to amend the Electoral Laws.

Hunger In Nsanje District; People Eating Water Lily ‘Nyika’ says MP

The Malawi National Assembly was shocked Thursday evening when legislature for Nsanje South West constituency showed the house what majority of people in his area are eating for survival, the area is facing shortage of staple food ‘maize’.

Hon Joseph Chidanti Malunga showed the house a bunch of aquatic plant ‘water lily tubers’ and said such are types of foods that people in his constituency are surviving on due to hunger which has hit the area following the past drought and floods.

Hon Chidanti Malunga

The Parliamentarian was making his constituency statement during Thursday’s Private Members Day where he emphasized that there is no more “looming hunger”in his constituency but now “hunger is here”

“We need to know where we are with the maize purchase.” He demanded, “We need to know if we have started purchasing and how long shall we wait while eating this before it gets to ADMARC markets” he told the house as he asks those charged with responsibility to answer the question.

He said Nsanje South West hunger situation has changed from looming to reality, quicker than the rest of disaster areas due serious problem caused by two ecological zones which are subject to agricultural activities. He said this year the area faced both floods and drought, a combination of the two have reduced crop yields.

He then said Nsanje South West Constituency requires immediate food assistance and that government should respond as soon as possible.

However, Leader of House Hon Francis Lazaro Kasaila said the nation has enough stock of grain reserve in all storage facilities remarks which did not go well with Leader for Peoples Party in the National Assembly Hon Ulladi Mussa who said the leader of house was out of order to say that maize is available at Grain reserve yet people are suffering. He demanded that that maize be available to people of Nsanje

But speaking in an interview, hon. Chidanti said “The problem is probably in the whole of Nsanje” but noted that he could not speak for the whole Nsanje district“I was just speaking for a small part of Nsanje which is my constituency Nsanje South West but the truth is that the situation is the same everywhere else” he said

“We are in a very critical condition; there is no food and there is no maize in ADMARC market depot.” He said refereeing to two ADMARC market depots in his area of Nsanje Mbenje and Ng’oma.

He said the development has worsened situation as those that have money to afford maize have joined others to flock to the streams and swamps in search for “things that they can eat”then said ‘water lily’ locally known as Nyika is the hottest food now.

“I know government has not abandoned us but I am just to reporting this development to government to do more on saving the people of Nsanje” he saidwhile maintaining that the money that was approved by the National Assembly to buy maize should trickle down to people of Nsanje.

“People are suffering right now and we don’t want them to suffer forever and be eating the stuff that I showed in the parliament” he said

“I think this is a wake-up call that something quickly must be done” he added

The financial year of 2015/2016 budget to be approved in this session has the amount of K133.7 billion allocation to the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water development which part of it will be for maize purchase and that the a US $80 million Loan Authorization bill has been passed by the National Assembly on the same course.

“I have two suggestions” said Hon Chidanti regarding the money to be for the food purchase, “Firstly, we have to make sure that the ADMARC markets have enough maize to enable those that have money to buy the maize and that secondly, the most vulnerable be given free maize.”