Mutharika says WHO FCTC Serious Threat to Tobacco Production: Commends JTI for Commitment to Support Tobacco Industry

Mutharika says WHO FCTC Serious Threat to Tobacco Production: Commends JTI for Commitment to Support Tobacco Industry

President Mutharika his Vice and Minister of Agriculture

President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika says tobacco production is still facing a lot of challenges and key among them is the issue of the anti-smoking lobby spearheaded by the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in order to safeguard human health.

He says Anti smoking lobby has had and will continue to have negative effects on demand for tobacco world-wide and may therefore seriously affect Malawi’s foreign exchange earnings and the livelihoods of tobacco farmers.

“The WHO FCTC is a serious threat to tobacco production since it restricts demand and supply of tobacco products through various strategies, which include restrictions on marketing and consumption of tobacco products.” Said President Mutharika when opening JTI’s new Factory Warehouse Extension and Factory Line Upgrade Project in Lilongwe

“My Government is concerned with this development” he said, “but Malawi cannot stop overnight growing tobacco. We will continue growing tobacco based on trade requirements until when there is no demand.”

He however said his government will continue seeking other alternatives such as Green Belt Initiative, Cotton Up-scaling Programme, and Oilseeds Promotion Programme, a well as encouraging farmers to transition and switch from tobacco to other economically viable enterprises.

President Mutharika further commends JTI for initiating investment that promises future of tobacco industry in Malawi and promised that his government is committed to passing a new laws that support sustainable growing and selling of tobacco, which will protect the livelihoods of the country’s millions of smallholder growers including creating conducive environment for business of tobacco companies.

Tobacco contributes 60% of foreign exchange earnings to Malawi.

Paul Neumann, Senior Vice President of JTI said the new warehouse and substantial upgrades to their tobacco processing line at their site in Lilongwe, is worth more than 5 billion Kwacha and it is JTI’s long-term commitment to the future of tobacco in Malawi.

“Seeing people develop as they learn new techniques in management, contribute to the development of our long-term business strategy, and bring online sophisticated IT projects, makes me confident that JTI is bringing Malawians, and Malawi, further onto the stage of international business.” He said

“That future is bright, but seems at times a long way off. I believe that we are on a journey towards that horizon, together.”

He said JTI apart from continuously supporting its business in Malawi through targeted social and economic investments the company is improving the lives of not only individuals, but of entire communities in order to boost mutual success.

He also mentioned that JTI’s long-term focus on four basic areas among them preserving tobacco growing and related businesses, demonstrate Social and Environmental leadership, and maintain close relationships with growers to achieve a stable long-term supply of tobacco leaf is key to future shared prosperity.

He said the company is convinced that Malawi is a great place to invest because of mutual desire that exists in this area and added that for the past four years JTI invested over 400 million dollars with foreign currency and buying of the leaf apart from other investments in social responsibility and programs on ending child labour.

JTI Malawi operations employ more than 1 300 people and works directly with over 11 000 growers, and after some years since the company terminated its plans to build a cigarette manufacturing plant in the country following government administration delays Mr. Neumann firmly said that their business model does not support such investment now but JTI is not done with other kinds of investments in Malawi.

The newly built warehouse adds additional storage area equivalent to more than two football pitches, while the upgrades to the processing plant (threshing) enhance quality, productivity and safety.

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.

Malawi’s BBA Hotshot Sipe to promote Agriculture issues and wants to start Acting as career

Malawi’s BBA Hotshot Sipe to promote Agriculture issues and wants to start Acting as career

The last woman standing in this year’s show Big Brother Hotshots Sipe intends to spearhead issues of agriculture particularly on changing people’s mindset and negative perceptions they have on agriculture.

Sipe whose real name is Sipherile Chitambo says was inspired by message from Africa’s well known artists Fally Ipupa and Diamond Platnumz who entered the house and spoke passionately to the Hotshots about making agriculture sexy and encouraging the youth to get involved with looking after and living off their land.

Sipe said this upon arrival through Kamuzu International Airport on Wednesday evening from South Africa where she stayed for 63 days in the Big Brother house.

“I have so many things that I want to do…, and I cannot wait to see what opportunities will present themselves for me.  But mostly am going hard on agriculture because I still feel that both men women and youth should do more on that.” Said Sipe “Because as much as we would think that it is just agriculture, it is a future for everyone and we need to move forward”

She lamented that foreign agro-product traders are ones benefiting from agriculture because they come to buy agriculture products then back to their countries to process them into various products and pack them and later sell the products back to Malawi at unaffordable price to the farmer.

“This is one thing I learned in the house and this is a thing that I would really want emphasize on. I would talk about this and push it as hard as possible.” She said

She said the show has impacted her life greatly and would like to take acting as her career. She said the passion came when she felt pleased with herself after performing a task involving writing a play script which she acted upon.

 “I feel this season was more about talent and challenging one to do something. I never knew I could be a comedian but Big Brother show gave me a platform to act. The show played a major role to my life” she said

Sipe also mentioned that her experience in the Big Brother house was a mixture of good moments and bad moments. But thanked fans for keeping voting for her till the last day and said though she failed to win the money she is still a happy person.

Chimwemwe Nyirenda  a Multichoice Marketing Manager commended Sipe for representing well her country by displaying good manners and expose Malawian culture to Africa and the world.

Nyirenda encouraged Malawians to vote for their representatives during these games for Malawi to have more chances of winning Big Brother money one day adding that supporting neighboring countries will also help in forming a regional block of supporting a candidate who might one day be a Malawian housemate.

“This year’s show had mixed reactions” said Nyirenda, he mentioned the change of the house which he said affected a lot of things including reducing number of days from 90 day show to only 63 days and the losing the money by Malawi contestant who reached the final stage of the competition.

“So next year it will be now tenth season of Big Brother so obviously when ten is a magic number we expect a lot o changes but next year the show will be back and I think this time around the show might be bigger and probably the biggest ever” assured Nyirenda

Natasha also known as Mama Africa a Malawi’s former Big Brother housemate came to welcome Sipe and encouraged people to vote for contestants and not just watching the show and criticizing their representatives.

A Tanzanian housemate Idris emerged the winner of 9^th Season of Big Brother Africa show which ended on Sunday December 7. Malawian housemates Sipe and Mr.265 failed to bring home $300,000 prize.

This coming Friday there will be a welcoming party for Sipe at Amazon in Lilongwe and on Saturday there will be another event in Blantyre.

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.”