Dzaleka CDSS Students Goes Rampage; Wants Deputy Head Teacher Reinstated

Dzaleka CDSS Students Goes Rampage; Wants Deputy Head Teacher Reinstated 

Students at Dzaleka Community Day Secondary School Friday went on rampage protesting against the removal of their Deputy Head Teacher. 

They were furious having learned that contract of the said Mathematics teacher a Congolese national has not been renewed  this year.

"The development has angered students who likes the teacher" said Dowa Police Public Relations Officer Sergeant Richard Kaponda but did not mention the name of the teacher.

"They were destroying school properties both at their school and Umodzi Katubza Primary School (a near by school managed by the Jesuit Refugee Service JRS). Police rushed to control the situation and no arrest was made."

He said police managed to stop students from destroying school property, and police are continuing carrying out patrols in the area following rumours that students have vowed to continue with their protests up to Monday next week. 

Dzaleka CDSS under UNHCR is situated at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa district.

ActionAid, UN Women, WOLREC Excited With Passing of Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Bill

ActionAid, UN Women, WOLREC Excited With Passing of Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Bill 

The passing of Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Bill by the National Assembly on Thursday evening has brought joy to civil society organisation particularly institutions working in promotion of rights of women, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls related issues.

Immediately after the house passed the bill, gender activists who attended the national assembly deliberations in the day were excited that finally "the battle is won"

"Am very happy that the bill has been passed" said Julie Juma Regional and Thematic Manager for Education and Youth at ActionAid Malawi "This is something that we have been fighting for since 2009 and it is going to bring a big difference to our advocacy work on child marriages and it will help us to end child marriages now that we have a legal backing" 

Alice Harding Shackelford a country representative for UN Women in Malawi also shared her happiness and how UN Women has received the development "Ooh! We are excited, we are excited!" she said, "We are crying with joy and we are happy that finally the parliament has taken this step. It has been a long journey for the civil society and for the ministry"

"We know this is one step but very important step" she continued and thanked parliamentarians, civil society which kept advocating on the bill and congratulated "all the girls who are keeping hope eye in Malawi"

In an email response Women's Legal Resource Center (WOLREC) Programmes Officer Gift Mauluka said "This is a very good news. It is one of the great things that this government will be remembered for. The passing of the bill is one of those things which shows that government has the interest  of the people as long as gender equality issues are concerned."

Commenting on legal technicalities observed in the bill particularly on raising of the marriage age from 15 to 18 years which is being considered as in gross conflict with Constitution provision in section 22 (7) "For persons between the age of fifteen and eighteen years a marriage shall only be entered into with the consent of their parents or guardians.", Julie Juma reacted that "The technicalities are always there" but Malawians should be happy that now there is a legal backing people can refer to and the other processes can be done from "now onwards"

Alice Harding Shackelford said on the same "There are many steps one is, we need the president to assent the bill, we need a bit of enforcement of the bill, we need to work with ministry of justice which is already in support of the bill and working on the amendment of constitution a package which is already in preparation" 

She also highlighted "We need to start working on distribution and dissemination (of the bill) to make sure that law enforcement, judiciary, traditional authorities and others are aware that this is now being enforced by peace of legislation. So we have a lot of work to do and a lot of efforts but I think this shows that if we work together change is possible"

Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Bill Passed Without Proper Oversight

As Uladi, Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament Says Some Provisions Contravenes with Constitution

Member of Parliament for Salima South Constituency Uladi Mussa has insisted that the bill ‘Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations has been passed in haste and the house failed to have a critical eye on some provisions that contains in the bill and those in the Malawi Constitution.

Mussa at the beginning when the bill was about to be presented by the Minister of Gender, Children Disability and Social Welfare hon. Patricia Kaliati pointed out that the proposed legislation should have been referred to Legal Affairs Committee of the house before debating it in the house.

“Even the Minister of Justice can agree with me” he said “am totally supporting this bill I don’t have any problem with it, but it is involving Section 22 of the constitution of the Republic of Malawi. Minister of Justice is fully aware of that legal necessity required to be done” 

He insisted “Am worried that we are violating our own constitution, this bill is proposing to change marriage age from 15 to 18 which we all agree but that is also in the constitution of the republic of Malawi and for that to happen requires amendment of the constitution.” And suggested, “After amendment of Constitution that will be a right time to bring the bill otherwise this bill will be null and void outside the parliament because the Act cannot be above the constitution”

When Minister of Justice and Constitution Affairs hon. Samuel Tembenu hold the floor, he clarified that the bill is not seeking to amend the Constitution “Actually the provision in the bill merely states that the age is subject to what the constitution says so there is no attempt or what so ever to amend  the Constitution”

Later in an interview Mussa maintained his argument based on Section 22 subsection 7 which stipulates “7. For persons between the age of fifteen and eighteen years a marriage shall only be entered into with the consent of their parents or guardians."

He therefore said "Amending that Section of Constitution we would have been absolutely sure that early marriages will stop and perpetrators penalized but as of now this bill is not stopping early marriage”

Malawi National Assembly Building Entrance

He also pointed out that he is not happy with provision that divorce of religious marriage also be done through the courts. He strongly said the bill should have cited that all marriages falling under ‘Religious marriages’ make divorce with consultations from clergy or churches officiated the engagement. He said as the bill stands now it is in conflict with some religious laws of some churches like Catholics that does not allow divorce and others like Islam which accepts divorce but given valid grounds like dishonesty and unfaithfulness of a marriage partner.

Reacting on the same, Chairperson for Legal Affairs Committee Hon. Peter Chakhwantha said at the same time as committee is contented with some provisions in the bill on protection of girl child and women, it also noted that the legislation contains issues that shall later be amenable to amendments and needed immediate correction.

“In this case there are so many areas in this bill that very soon we shall hear legal battles and challenges simply because we did not want to take our time to do homework properly”

He went on “We are not saying the bill is in its entirety wrong, but as member for Salima (Uladi Mussa) pointed out, we also as committee pointed out section 22 which clearly shows that this bill has grossly contravened the constitution”

As Chairperson for the Committee said his expectations were to see the government bringing the bill in the house by following standing order 125 where the bill was supposed to go through Clark of Parliament then sent to the relevant committee in this case Legal Affairs Committee to scrutinize it and make recommendation before debate in the house.

“The way this bill has been passed it has been a marathon and there was no room for those expected to bring controversial issues” he said

The Chairperson further observed that processes happening in this Meeting are short charging the entire essence of having standing orders “There are a lot of bypassing, maneuvers that does not want to recognize relevance of some procedures to be followed to avoid obvious issues that arise after the house short-circuited process.

Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Bill Receives Overwhelming Response: Passed Without Amendment

Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Bill Receives Overwhelming Response: Passed Without Amendment 

The much awaited bill Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Bill has received irresistible positive reaction from members of National Assembly.

The Bill was presented on Thursday afternoon by Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare hon. Patricia Kaliati. She told the house that the bill seek among others raise the marriage age from 15 to 18 years in order to promote wellbeing of children especially girls who are being married at tender age.

“The bill adds value to the promotion of education and empowerment of children especially the girl child.”

She said girls are continuously facing gender based violence and that Malawi is among 10 countries with the highest child marriage levels in the world currently estimated at 52% which she called the “sad note”

She said this development is ruining the future of girls because of fistula due to teen pregnancies and school dropouts.

Responding to the bill party spokes persons hailed the bill saying it will assist alleviating challenges that women and girls are facing in the country in absence of this legislation.

Malawi Congress Party Spokes person on Gender issues in the National Assembly hon. Jessie Kabwira in her remarks said “It is a longer awaited bill” adding “It declares Malawi’s fight in ending gender violence and early marriages”

She said early marriages are creating a cycle of poverty in the country and it denies girls right to heath, education and on behalf of MCP Kabwira urged all parliamentarians to support this bill in order to make people from their constituencies (those who voted them) to live better life.

Peoples Party Spokes Person hon. Patricia Kainga Nangozo said “PP supports this Bill because it will help this country to ably define who the child is in our own understanding” she added that this will help girls to stay in school and be mature before getting married a development which will help them contribute effectively to the economy.

She also hailed that the bill will protect women during divorce and added “This is a bill to benefit both men and women”

United Democratic Front (UDF) Chief Whip and Spokes Person on gender issues in Parliament hon. Lillian Patel said the party supports the bill.

She said the early child marriages are worse in her constituency “Over 21 girls aged 11 years dropped out of school in a single term at one school. I hope that problem is not only in my constituency, this might as well happen in other constituencies. We have to support this bill”

But she bemoaned that the fees contained in the bill are mean and urged the ministry to change. 

However male MPs expressed dissatisfaction with the level of debate of the bill because no male MP was given an opportunity to hold the floor and very few female MPs spoke on the bill. During the tea break male MPs were heard on top of their voices over dissatisfaction on how the bill has been debated.

The development saw leader of the Opposition in Parliament hon. Dr. Lazarus Chakwera immediately after tea break expressed his dissatisfaction over lack of men’s voice in the chamber.

“I am concerned over procedure of the debate which has been curtailed without men contributing on the bill.” He said “It should have been better to let men to speak on the bill because this is not women issue”

But the bill was passed without amendment. Immediately after the bill was passed the Leader of House Honorable Francis Kasaila thanked all parliamentarians for passing the Bill and announced that the house be adjourned immediately (That time was 16:30 hours) which was 30 minutes earlier to the official adjournment time at 17:00 hours.

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Norwegian Church Aid Appeals for Passing Trafficking in Persons Bill

Norwegian Church Aid Appeals for Passing Trafficking in Persons Bill

The Norwegian Church Aid has appealed to Members of Parliament to pass Trafficking in Persons Bill without hesitation once it is presented in the house on Thursday.

The bill is already appearing on order paper and is expected to be presented in the house this Thursday.

Cases of human trafficking are increasing in the country due to lack of specific legislation to curb such illegal practice. Last month 13 children the youngest being 6 years old were trafficked from Zomba to Mozambique and in Phalombe, Police have been involved in rescue operations with Mozambican authorities and more than  124 children have been rescued but some of these were mutilated their genitals according Norwegian Church Aid information.

Habiba Osman Gender Justice Programme coordinator for Norwegian Church Aid says current proposed legislation contains necessary provisions that can help to end the human trafficking which is rampant in Malawi in all regions and most vulnerable areas being border districts due to porous boundaries.

Habiba said Malawi is the only country in SADC region that does not have a comprehensive law on trafficking “There has been no specific legislation that prosecutes traffickers adequately” but assured “current proposed law is a good one” and hoped that the National Assembly will do the “need full” to pass this legislation.

She said absence of the legislation puts everyone in a vulnerable to trafficking and that everyone is living in fear. She therefore pleaded that, MPs should debate the bill of trafficking with sober mind and seriousness taking into account that trafficking is happening everywhere in the country.

“This legislation should be passed even without debate” she added

“It is my deepest call that when the bill reaches parliament members of parliament should not sent it back but should pass it” reacted Maxwell Matewere President for Southern Africa Network against Trafficking and Child Abuse (SANTAC)

He said “This bill is very important because it is supporting the victims through care programmes and rehabilitation and sheltering programmes among others. This is also important for the collaboration with other countries where prosecution will also be easy if for example Malawi arrests traffickers from other countries or Malawian traffickers arrested elsewhere”

Floods continue dominating national Assembly deliberations; MP’s Calling Govt to Assist flood victims in their Constituencies

Floods continue dominating national Assembly deliberations; MP’s Calling Govt to Assist flood victims in their Constituencies

A lot of Members of Parliament are continuing pleading with government to assist their respective constituencies with food , and farm inputs like fertiliser and seeds for the families that were affected by floods. 

Attention for humanitarian aid for the flood victims has been given to 15 districts that were declared 'flood affected areas' particularly the worst affected areas of Nsanje and Chikwawa districts. 

But the 3rd Meeting of 45th Session of Parliament has proven that floods spared no corner of the country as call for help for flood victims continue dominating deliberations in each sitting day since last week whereby a lot of parliamentarians from districts thought to have been free from floods are also bringing to the attention of government that parts of their constituencies were hit by floods and urgent help is required. Similarly, some parliamentarians from districts declared ‘flood affected areas' are also complaining that distribution of relief items in their constituencies were either delayed or not enough and some did not receive the help.

On Monday sitting as members continued with General Debate on the Budget Review statement, Zomba Chingale Parliamentarian was one of the members who brought to the attention of government that his constituency needs urgent assistance.

He said in his constituency over 5,000 people were affected by floods during early week of January but the response from UNICEF through government was made last week on Friday.

He said government brought to his area 190 bags of maize, beans and blankets but said food distributed in his area is not enough as two families were required to share a single bag of maize.

“Although nobody died in our situation in Zomba Chingale we still experienced a lot of difficulties in having houses collapsing, crops being washed away, bridges damaged like Masaula at Wisiki and another one at Namitembo going to Zomba town…” he said “Yes we have been assisted minimally but that’s not the end of it all because there is still two months before we get the next crop out for people to feed on and until that time what will people do?” 

The parliamentarian like all other members he said delay or failure to send relief items to people in his constituency will create more problems especially hunger.

Several other members of Parliament who spoke in the day also asked government to assist people from their constituencies with food items and seed as crops in most fields were washed away.

Bushiri Encourages Fellow Prophets to Start Businesses

Bushiri Encourages Fellow Prophets to Start Businesses

Prophet Bushiri 

Prophet Shepherd Bushiri has asked his fellow Prophets in the country to do a lot of personal investments like venturing into businesses for the support of their own families and their ministries 

Prophet Bushiri was speaking during the first ever Prophets Summit on Friday in Lilongwe. He said Men of God can do so many businesses that may not necessarily need much of their time. 

He urged them not to rush buying things like cars “First of all invest…, am saying this from my own experience” he said and gave an example of himself saying he owns several companies including his diamond business.

In order to run away from widespread notion that Prophets take money from the people he said “Let us have our own things in order to expand our ministries.”

“We are not growing, Prophets in Malawi our Ministries are not growing!” he said “That is not success, there are people out there we must reach them out, we have to gather millions in stadiums, we need to make some crusades but we cannot do it without finances.”

Group of Malawi Prophets 

“If we don’t have money we will not achieve anything so it is good that you own personal businesses if you want to take this far. It’s not about fame but impact you are bringing to the people.”

Later in an interview Bushiri dismissed widespread notion that Prophets take money from poor people by saying that Prophets spend church money for events and services though Sunday collections are not enough to support the prophetic missions.

“If there are poor people then they don’t have and you can’t get something from somebody who don’t have” he said “If pastors were rich because of the church then all pastors could be reach”

Prophet Bushiri speaking to fellow Prophets. 

Bushiri made emphasis that personal investments among church leaders will stop people from continuing denting their image on church finances at the same time motivate believers who often take from their pastors to start working hard in their endeavors and stop relying on saying that God will always provide “but also God provides for the hardworking people” he said