Judicial Strike Haunts LL Police Operations

Judicial Strike Haunts LL Police Operations

As Judiciary continues with strike across the country, Lilongwe Police Station says the development is failing police to perform their duties properly.

Lilongwe Police spokesperson Sub Inspector Kingsley Dandaula says police cells have been overcrowded by people waiting to get justice through courts and backlog of cases to handle by prosecution officers is multiplying each passing day.

He said in order to observe 48 hour rule and minimize situation of overcrowded cells, police are forced to grant bail those who committed minor offences. But he said this is not proper as it is sending a wrong perception among the members of general public to see a criminal walking out of police without being tried in court.

Sub Inspector Dandaula added that the situation has reduced number of people arrested during operations and that as Christmas and New Year festive season approaches it is likely that police will be limited in number of arrests because there is no place to keep the criminals. He however mentioned that Lilongwe Police is also trying to reduce overcrowding cells by taking some criminals to Maula Prison for remand.

On 10^th November Malawi courts came to a standstill when Judiciary support staff downed their tools demanding government adjust their salaries corresponding to the rate that has been implemented for Civil Servants recently.

Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Goodall Gondwe on Sunday reiterated earlier statement made by Minister of Justice and Constitution Affairs Samuel Tembenu that government will not vow to demands as doing so would defeat the whole purpose of salary harmonization process being implemented because what happened in the Civil Service was salary restructuring exercise and not general increment.

Mw Govt Hits Back at Chakwera Sentiments

Mw Govt Hits Back at Chakwera Sentiments

Kondwani Nankhumwa

The Malawi Government has hit back at several sentiments that Leader of Opposition and President for Malawi Congress Party MCP made on Monday during a press briefing at its party head quarters in Lilongwe.

During the conference Chakwera said Mutharika government has failed in almost everything due to deepening sorry state of affairs of Malawi “The dark shadow of protests now hangs over the education system, the justice system, and the legislative system, and if the President is not careful, his tenure in office may be reduced to a presidency of protests.”

“Instead of solving the salary problems of teachers, civil servants, and judiciary staff within the rule of law, the President’s government chooses to distract Malawians with the revelation that effective from October 1, salaries for MPs, Ministers, Leader of Opposition, Vice President, and the President himself were increased by 376%, 168%, and 80% respectively” aid Chakwera

He denied that the increment was debated or approved in parliament but was convinced that the decision was between the President and his Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe.

Chakwera asked Mutharika to reverse decision of suspending his salary hike waiting for economy to respond because it is just creation of a perception that he is not greedy when he is just postponing the time of payment. And instead Chakwera asks Mutharika to uphold the decision he made in August not to approve salary increments.

Chakwera said government has failed 

 “I will never tire and I will never relent from speaking the truth. And here is the truth: 7 months ago, we had a childish government; Now we have an unethical government. After all, if the President rejected something as unethical in August, then approved it in September, then pretended to suspend his own decision in December, then he is a hypocrite whose government is run by distractions and deceptions, not leadership.” Said Chakwera who also asked Mutharika to resignation of if he finds it hard to end numerous challenges that Malawians are experiencing

Government statement signed by Hon Kondwani Nakhumwa Minister of Information Tourism and Culture faults Chakwera on every point “Like a Pharisee of now, Hon. Reverend Chakwera, would obviously have loved to see - as we have been instructed by his manner of effort, tone and mood - President Mutharika and his administration wear sack cloths and flagellate themselves to demonstrate that they care.”

“There will be no empty theatrical gestures or actions or pronouncements, no prancing on the stage and no flagellation, but we will simply continue to act against the suffering of our people, as decisively as we have sought and resolved to, without being seduced to do otherwise by holier than thou sentiments of those that are obsessed with the desperation of seeking cheap political capital from the sanctuaries where the untried and the untested hide, who because they are in the safety of not being in office, and who by possessing the advantage of not being on the stage of public scrutiny, pretend to be present day Messiahs with all the answers.”

The statement says Government is solving economic woes inherited six months ago among them is undertaking Public Service Reforms.

On recent announced salaries government wondered as to why MCP has taken conflicting positions because MCP spokesperson Hon Dr. Jessie Kabwila celebrated the news “and went the whole hog of justifying the salary review.”

His party not speaking with one voice

 “All the increments are according to the budget” reads the statement and asked the Opposition Leader to regularly consult with experienced MPs from his party, to help him understand how to read budget documents because he approved same figures he is attacking when he voted for the budget on the floor of the House.

“Government will not accept that the leader of the opposition should blame his ignorance on parliamentary matters on the President.” Reads the statement adding “It is nonsensical for the leader of the opposition to claim that the increments were deliberately leaked to divert people’s attention from the challenges that the country is facing because these are not new”

But the statement challenge Hon. Chakwera to use his position to respond to the President with a cross-party approach which creates a new spirit of national unity in dealing with these challenges “Let us consider the need to join hands to provide our contribution in our respective roles by placing the interest of the country above that of our own parties or politics in general.”

The statement says failure to adopt a common vocabulary will consequently be difficult to enter into the national partnership that Malawi need.

CCJP Asks Mutharika To Add More Women In His Cabinet

CCJP Asks Mutharika To Add More Women In His Cabinet

The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (CCJP) has asked government to live up to its promise of putting more women into decision making positions.

Out of 20 Cabinet Ministers in current administration has three female; Jean Kalirani Minister of Health, Grace Obama Chiumia Minister of Youth and Sport and Patricia Kaliati Minister of Gender Children, Disability and Social Welfare.

The commission in its statement which is outlining number of problems that Malawi is experiencing says is not happy with the current cabinet of only three female ministers.

The statement which has been signed by Mr. Chris Chisoni CCJP National Secretary on December 6, 2014 has asked President Prof. Peter Mutharika, to commit himself to promise made in his inaugural speech that his government will promote gender equality.

“It is sad that only few women have been appointed in leadership positions. For example out of 20 cabinet ministers 3 only are women. We think there must be a deliberate affirmative action for women leadership in various governance systems and structures than it is the case now.” Reads the statement

Mutharika asked to put women in his cabinet
and stop making appointments without consultations

“We therefore implore the state leadership to proactively consider social inclusion, women participation, and maintenance of the doctrine of the separation of powers and roles in sustaining the consolidation of democracy in our country.”

The statement is also asking government to stop appointing people without making consultations because this leaves people with questions of the seriousness of the appointing authority as well as its legitimate expectations from the appointed people.

CCJP in the statement also consider recent appointments of advocates on development and human rights and faith leaders to have crippled the conscious of the civil society and faith based movement in Malawi.

CCJP has further requested government to stop redeployment of people because it is causing cases of two people being paid on the same post when the other one is just doing nothing. The commission further also bemoaned that some are being redeployed to departments which do not match their skills or career path and this is resulting in wasting tax payer’s money and misallocation of human resource.

Noting numerous labour related strikes currently under way and others in the offing, CCJP while acknowledging the right of employees to a just and fair wage, encourages engagement and dialogue between employers and employees to resolving their differences.

But CCJP says as government is riddled with acute shortage of financial resources, striking staff should realise that government has a weaker capacity at the moment. However, CCJP asks government and its other departments like state houses, and judiciary to be exemplary in their appetite for spending and living in luxurious life as it is “unfair and unjust” to deny increments of salaries elsewhere and in another approve rapid changes to salaries.

CCJP comprising of CCJP National, CCJP Chikwawa, Arch diocese of Blantyre, Zomba, Mangochi, Dedza, Archdiocese of Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Karonga gathered on 2^nd, December 2014, at Msamba Pastoral Centre in Lilongwe to reflect numerous challenges being experienced by Malawians today.

During the reflection CCJP on socio-economic and living context of Malawi noted that the lives of most Malawians 6 months after the tripartite elections is a mixed bag of joys and sorrows that CCJP seeks from various stakeholders to take a correct and proactive interventions to ameliorate the suffering and the agonies of the people.

The statement has also asked Malawi citizens to exercise patriotism and responsibility in among others curbing corruption and ending deforestation.

Mutharika Appeal for National Prayers on Good Rains

"God will surely hear us"-Mutharika 

President Peter Mutharika

His Excellency the State President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, is            calling upon all religious leaders and the entire nation to set a side this coming weekend, (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) the 12^th to 14^th of December  2014, to dedicate time within their normal service of worship and pray for Good rains across the country.

The Malawi leader has made the call some two hours ago through a press statement signed by Mr. Timpunza Mwansambo Deputy State House Press Secretary.

Mwansambo says the President has noted with great concern that most parts of the country which by now should have received the first rains have not yet received the rains. 

Government proposes that Muslim conduct prayers on their day of worship which is on Friday, on Saturday be those who worship on Saturday and on Sunday for those who worship on Sunday.

The appeal has also been extended to those that congregate at Lunch hour fellowships, night of Prayers, Youth prayer groups, women’s prayer groups and other religious gatherings during this week and beyond.

“To those who can fast the president is calling upon them to do so. For this reason the State President requests all religious mother bodies to encourage their followers to attend these prayers.” Reads the statement

“The State President is also appealing to all cabinet Ministers, senior government officials, and members of parliament, Leaders of all political Parties, Civil Society leaders and Traditional leaders to attend these prayers in their respective or nearest places of worship.”

“The President Strongly believes that if we unite in Prayer as a nation God will surely hear us and we will have good rains and a bumper harvest.”

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.

Police in Salima Intercept 28 Bags of Cannabis

Police in Salima Intercept 28 Bags of Cannabis

Salima district police are hunting for unknown men who dumped a vehicle carrying 28 bags of Indian hemp.

Police in the district says a Toyota minibus Hiace registration number DA 1780 belonging to Peter Katasya of Chintheche was dumped when both driver and passengers had spot the police vehicle at a distance.

According to Police Public Realations Officer for Salima District Sergeant Gift Chitowe this happened at Nkhuki village in Salima along Salima-Nkhotakota road on 3^rd December around 15:30 hours.

The Police officer said from the abandoned vehicle police found bags weigh 1,200 killograme. He said police had a tip off from members of the general public that the named vehicle coming from Dwangwa heading to Blantyre was carrying the Indian hemp.

“But inquiry is still on to trace the culprits” said Sergeant Chitowe

Mutharika Defers Proposed Salary Hike

Mutharika Defers Proposed Salary Hike

The Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) says President Peter Mutharika, has deferred implementation of his proposed salary increment and that of the Vice President, Right Honourable Saulos Klaus Chilima, until the country’s economy recovers.

President Mutharika defers Pay Hike

“The OPC wishes to further advise that while the proposed salary increase may be justified, the President has decided to forego the increase at this time.

The President made this decision in solidarity with Malawians, who are presently undergoing very tough economic hardship.” Reads the statement dated 6^th December 

The statement says “President assures the Nation that he has people’s best interest at heart and he fully appreciates the suffering that ordinary Malawians are going through as a result of the suspension of aid by the country’s bilateral donors due to massive looting of public resources (Cashgate) at Capital Hill.”

“President Mutharika and his Government pledge to continue working tirelessly to bring the confidence of the country’s development partners back into the economy and improve the living standards of ordinary Malawians.” Says the statement signed by George Mkondiwa Chief Secretary to the government

The new salary structure was implemented from October 1, 2014, and in line with the 2014/2015 budget.

The president’s salary which remained unchanged since 2009, has 80% increment, meaning Mutharika would have been pocketing K2.7 million per month from MK1.5 million while his vice president Chilima would have been getting K1.8 million per month in addition to fuel coupons amounting to 1500 litres and will remain getting K1 million.

Dr. Lazarus Chakwera
MCP & Leader of Opposition
will also benefit from the effect
of the pay hike

 Leader of Opposition, Lazarous Chakwera whose salary is pegged at that of the cabinet ministers will together with the Ministers be getting K1 608 million K600 000 per month a 168% rise. Will also be getting fuel coupons of 1 000 litres per month and K350 000 as housing allowance.

Deputy Minister’s salaries have been raised to K800 000 from K428 000, representing 87 percent with fuel coupon of 1 000 litres and will be paid K250 000 if they are not living in a government house per month.

The parliamentarians will be getting K600 000 per month from K126 000, a 376% increment in addition to 1 000 litres of fuel per month and K350 000 as housing allowance.