ECM Set Aside 31 Jan, 8 Feb Collections Towards Flood Victims As the Church, UN Continue Appealing for More Help

ECM Set Aside 31 Jan, 8 Feb Collections Towards Flood Victims As the Church, UN Continue Appealing for More Help

The Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) to dedicate all collections for AMECEA Thanks Giving Mass collection on 31st January and set aside Sunday 8th February 2015 a special day for collections towards the help of flood victims of all the affected 15 districts.

In a letter expressing dismay over the tragic consequences of the heavy rains since the onset of the first rains and solidarity message to the victims, the Church has also appealed to all well wishers to help the affected victims of floods. 

“Our Brothers and Sisters who have been affected by this national disaster, require immediate assistance for them to continue living a dignified life” reads the letter signed by Arch Bishop Thomas Msusa Chairman for ECM addressed to the church, all people of good will, companies and organizations

“In the spirit of solidarity we the Catholic Bishops in Malawi, call upon catholic faithful and all people of Goodwill to join hands and contribute generously”

“Inspired by the gospel values of our Lord; “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me” (Mt 25:35-36) we Catholic Bishops in Malawi are inviting priests, religious and the faithful to set aside Sunday 8th February 2015, as a special day for collections towards this noble cause” 

The letter says people can donate cash or basic needs like food (non perishable), kitchen utensils clothes, water, shelter, blankets and many other items and instructed that all items collected at the parish should be brought to the Bishop’s House by Saturday 14th February 2015 for records and forwarding to the affected people.

The letter also urged people to contribute through mobile phones either on Airtel or TNM by sending an SMS ‘Floods’ or ‘Pepani’ to 50121 where each SMS shall cost K100 “it is more blessed to gve than to receive (Acts 20:35)“ reminded the Bishops.

The Malawi President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika declared  Sunday 8th February which the Catholic Church has set aside as a special day for collections towards assisting flood victims as a Day for National Prayers for the victims of these floods.

An estimated 361,181 people (66,945 households) have been affected with 121,000 (22,000 households) displaced and over 70 people died and hundreds missing.

Similarly a group of United Nations human rights experts in GENEVA on 30 January 2015, has urged the international community to rapidly provide all necessary funding and assistance to the Government of Malawi and humanitarian actors in response to some of the worst flooding in the country in living memory. 

The statement from UN office in Malawi says the experts urged that assistance is needed to confront massive and complex challenges, “The flooding has displaced large numbers of people and presents massive and complex challenges for Governments and their humanitarian allies in the short, medium and longer-term,” said UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons Chaloka Beyani.

According to the statement, Léo Heller, Special Rapporteur on the human right to water and sanitation said “Safe water, sanitation and hygiene must be provided urgently for the survival of those affected, prioritizing the most vulnerable groups, but also for the prevention of water-related diseases such as cholera and malaria". An estimated USD 3.4 million is needed to respond to urgent healthcare needs and to prevent and control outbreaks of disease.

The statement adds that the experts also praised the Government leadership for responding quickly to the crisis and welcomed the immediate response by several countries and humanitarian agencies in providing funding and aid. However they called on others within the international community to do everything possible to meet the current serious shortfall in funds and provision of essential aid.

Pres Mutharika Declares 8th Feb Day of Interdenominational Prayers for Flood Victims.

Pres Mutharika Declares 8th Feb Day of Interdenominational Prayers for Flood Victims.


Government says His Excellency the President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has declared that Malawi observe a National Day of Prayer and Worship in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the flooding and thunderstorms that hit Malawi a few weeks ago.

"In view of this, the President has
directed that Interdenominational
Prayers be held on Sunday, 8th February 2014 at Robbins Park in Blantyre." Reads part of the statement signed by Honorable Kondwani Nankhumwa Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture.

"This will be an opportunity to pray for survivors and victims of the worst floods in the nation’s history."

In the statement, President and
Government have once more extend their deepest condolences to the families of the victims of these floods.

Malawi has this year experienced a worst rainy season. It is estimated that up to 638,000 people who have been affected by
the floods in the 15 districts. It is also estimated that 63,531 hectares has been submerged by flood waters as of 13 January 2015.


The situation has left hundreds of families homeless and many died.


"Government will with the support of its development partners continue providing assistance to the survivors and those in need of assistance. Government further wishes to thank and appeal to all well-wishers to continue providing assistance to the affected families and communities." Reads the statement and adds "May peace and comfort be with all affected ones and the entire nation during this difficult time."


State President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika recently revealed that these floods have already costed the Malawi economy at least K23.9 billion.

DPP Agrees With Judge's Wants; Conclusion of Mphwiyo Attempted Murder Case in May

DPP Agrees With Judge's Wants; Conclusion of Mphwiyo Attempted Murder Case in May

The Lilongwe High Court Judge has told both prosecution and defense lawyers for the case of attempt murder of former budget director Mr. Paul Mphwiyo to be concluded by the moth of May this year.

Justice Michael Mtambo said this on Wednesday evening before adjourning the case after finishing of cross examination by Pika Manondo's lawyer Gift Mwakhwawa since morning of the day.

"The judgement of this case should be in May" he said before adjourning the matter to 17, 18 and 19th of February where among others the court is to continue with cross examination by other lawyers Oswald Mtupila and Wapona Kita.

The judge observed that there should be no unnecessary adjournments and delays during cross examination and urged both parties to provide to the court all relevant documents so that there are no obstacles to delay the case.

Commenting on the judges proposal Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mary Kachale in an interview welcomed the decision saying "we are very glad to hear that the court is very committed in making sure we conclude this case with speed."

When the court convenes in weeks to come the court shall also hear an independent medical examination report from Psychiatrist pertaining to the state of Oswald Lutepo one of the accused in this case. The state is expected to bring the doctor in the court following a medical report submitted earlier to the court from Oswald Mtupila lawyer for Lutepo. The report indicates that Lutepo has developed an Anxiety Disorder a situation which may prevent him from making appearances at the court.

The lawyer said his client was admitted at Mzuzu MASM clinic and he is going to be reffered to Mzuzu hospital. But the state applied to the court to be given leave to obtain a independent doctor to examine Mr. Lutepo as to his fitness to stand trial.

The accused persons in the case of attempted murder of Mr. Mphwiyo are Raphael Kasambara, Pika Manondo, Dauka Manondo, MacDonald Kumwembe, Robert Kadzuwa and Oswald Lutepo answering the charges of conspiracy to murder and attempted murder.

Cross Examination

During cross examination Lawyer for Pika Manondo Mr. Gift Mwakhwawa quizzed Mr. Mphwiyo on several issues.

Mwakhwawa asked of Mphwiyo friendship with one of the accused Oswald Lutepo and how often he talked to former State President Dr. Joyce Banda.

The lawyer further inquired issues surrounding a note he wrote at the hospital hours after his shooting and reasons for his failure to hand it over to law enforcers. Mphwiyo said he wrote a note disclosing names of individuals responsible of his shooting and it was made available only to his wife, mother and aunt "in case" he died without telling his story. He also said he did not want to disclose that note to police for the safety of his family knowing that Raphael Kasambara (representing himself in this case) was then a Minister.

Much time on cross examination also was devoted on Mphwiyo's reactions to threats from the accused persons as well as information which Mr. Phwiyo got from a phone call from former Information Minister Brown James Mpinganjira alerting Mphwiyo that the accused persons have numbered days of his life to 10 days.

Mphwiyo who is the state witness told the court that he got numerous threats from the former Attorney General and Justice Minister Raphael Kasambara who used "agents" (other accused persons) forcing him to make dubious payments.

Mphwiyo said Pika Manondo "used to come to my house we would chat. Then they would tell me that it is good that you oblige to what the honorable Minister (Kasambara) is telling you because he is a dangerous persorn." Said Mphwiyo "But I did not believe he could be dangerous to the extent of killing a person."

He later told the court that he met with Mr. Kasambara to confront him on those threats but did not confront other accused persons for he thought they were just agents.

Later in the afternoon the cross examination continued particularly on ownership of vehicle which Mr. Mphwiyo was driving at the time of his shooting.

The shooting of Paul Mphwiyo led to revelation of cash gate scandal which involved public officers and other business persons as well as companies getting money from government through dubious payments. Both fake and well-known businesses were getting payments from government without provision of evidence of provision of service in relation to payments made or through over valued payments (inflamed procurement prices).

From the scam Malawi government lost billions of money and lost direct budget aid from countries that support Malawi government.

Cashgate Convict Soko Gets 7 years Imprisonment

Cashgate Convict Soko Gets 7 years Imprisonment

Former Deputy Youth Director for Malawi Congress Party Wyson Dzinyemba Soko has been sentenced to 7 and half years imprisonment.

Senior Resident Magistrate Patrick Chirwa when passing the sentence on Wednesday said the accused conduct deprived of government coffers which could have been used to benefit all Malawians.

The court gave Soko  4 years for money laundering and 3 and half years for theft.

Dzinyemba Soko was last year found guilty of siphoning K40.9 million from ministry of tourism through his Wymbaso General Dealers

Wyson Soko has been pleaded not guilty to all two charges of Theft and Money Laundering

Soko has become a third convict to get a prison sentence since the commencement of Cash gate cases

Fire Damages MAFCO Quartermaster: MDF, Police Establishing the Cause

Fire Damages MAFCO Quartermaster: MDF, Police Establishing the Cause

Malawi Police Service and Malawi Defense Force are in a joint investigation into the cause of fire which has gutted down Malawi Armed Forces College (MAFCO) Quartermaster destroying property worth Millions of Kwachas.

Salima Police Public Relations Officer Sergeant Gift Chitowe confirmed that the raging fire which began on the evening of 25th January has burnt to ashes property including uniforms, beddings and kitchen utensils and food.

"By the time police visited the scene found that the fire was still on and items such as uniforms that is Camouflages, boots, and beddings, kitchen utensils, fridges plus food items all got burnt to ashes." He said "Currently the soldiers in collaboration with the police are working hand in hand to establish the cause of fire."

Global Fund Allocates $574 M to Support MW on AIDS, TB, Malaria

Global Fund Allocates $574 M to Support MW on AIDS, TB, Malaria

The Malawi high-level delegation to Geneva, Switzerland to hold discussions with the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria on a number of issues, has disclosed that Global Fund has committed to allocate $574 million to Malawi for initiatives that strive for the best use of the money in the fight against three diseases over the next three years until December 2017.

Minister of Health Dr. Jean Kalilani who led Lilongwe delegation between January 17th to 20th January 2015, told members of press on Monday evening in Lilongwe that Global Fund has "declared its strong support" for 90-90-90, the road map developed by UNAIDS that is designed to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030 with rapidly increased HIV testing, prevention and treatment and with eliminating stigma and discrimination.

The minister said Malawi government in the meeting "expressed commitment to maximizing the impact of Global Fund resources through a responsible, accountable and efficient use of funds including implementing public financial management reforms and measures to strengthen procurement and supply chain management systems."

A joint statement issued at the end of the meeting between Malawi and Global Fund indicates that Malawi Government has made steady progress in public financial management reforms and has installed a Fiscal Agent at ministry of health which has led to improvements in the control of Global Fund resources.

It adds that a reform process for the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) and oversight structures for the Global Fund grants has been initiated together with various stakeholders.

The statement further indicates that Malawi government has committed to domestic financing that is "willingness to pay" of $30 million towards the national response to fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria spread over a three year period.

The minister mentioned that the delegation also held meeting with Executive Director for UNAIDS, Mr. Michael Sidibe.

Dr. Kalilani said the UNAIDS director commended Malawi for "taking concrete actions" particularly reforms on proper management of HIV/AIDS resources and an allocation for the very first time of Malawi's own domestic resources for the ARV budget to the tune of $8.5 million.

The Minister noted that the trip was an important confidence building mission to update Global Fund on the performance improvement plans submitted by two principle recipients Malawi Government and National AIDS Commission (NAC) in 2014 and inform Global Fund on measures to be undertaken to restore confidence in Malawi's financial management and oversight as government is still writing concept notes requesting for funding for HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria from Global Fund.

The Lilongwe delegation to Geneva included Chief Secretary to the Government, UNAIDS Country Director, acting Executive Director at NAC and Executive Director for Malawi Network for People Living with HIV (MANET+).

Salima Police Confiscate 27 Bags of Indian Hemp

Salima Police Confiscate 27 Bags of Indian Hemp

A 28 year old man is in police custody in Salima district for being found with 27 bags of Indian hemp.

 Salima Police Public Relations Officer Sergeant Gift Chitowe said the suspect Calvin Malisani was found in possession of the prohibited product in the minibus he was traveling in on Thursday from Nkhotakota district to Salima district.

Sgt Chitowa said police arrested the man at Kuti turnoff along Salima Lilongwe road following a tip from members of general public that the suspect was on his way while in possession of Indian hemp. He said all 27 bags weigh 50 kilograms each.

Calvin Malisani Mphonde hails from Chikunichowola village of T/A Mphonde in Nkhotakota district and will appear in court soon to answer charges of found in possession of Indian Hemp.