Flood Victims in Balaka, Salima Hails WOLREC for the Humanitarian Response

399 Families Supported in Balaka while 465 Reached in Salima district 

Food Distribution in Progress in Balaka district

Flash floods affected Communities of Salima and Balaka districts that have expressed thanks to ‘Women’s Legal Resource Centre’ (WOLREC) a Women Rights organization for its humanitarian assistance to families that were affected by the disaster.

As part of WOLREC’s project of Promoting Women’s Economic and Social Empowerment (PROWESE) the institution distributed assorted relief items worth K6.5 million in the areas of Traditional Authorities Chanthunya and Sawali in Balaka district and Maganga as well as Mwanza in Salima district since 25 February, 2015.

Up to 399 affected families in Balaka received various relief items including laundry soap, sachets of chlorine powder (for water treatment), Maize flour, and blankets while in Salima 465 beneficiaries have further been given 3 tonnes of Cassava Stems and Sweet Potato Veins following requests by the victims themselves after realizing that maize and legume planting season is almost gone.

Some of the beneficiaries in Salima district 

Speaking during distribution exercise in his area, Group Village Head Kaniche of Salima district, expressed grateful for the timely response to their predicament. He, however, was quick to say that the gesture was beyond their expectation “WOLREC, is our friend indeed. When we got a call that you are ready to help us, we did not think that was possible.”

“You have shown us how much you care for us far beyond our expectation,” he said with jubilation and further asked WOLREC to continue with similar types of aids.

One beneficiary, Mai Esnala John of Msambafumu, a mother of 6 children was equally grateful. After her maize garden got washed away she did not know what to do as her husband is not involved in any income generating activities. The husband cannot walk after a sickness that left him paralyzed. She says medical expenses have depleted her savings (her Village Savings and Loan VSL) as such her business (selling sweet beer – thobwa and maize flour fritters – zitumbuwa) has been affected.

Woman looks at her washed away garden

Esnala said the bag of flour she got was going to go a long way. Her family will have proper meals for a few days and the cassava stems will assure her of an alternative harvests and source of income other than the maize.

Several other beneficiaries said the aid will help them rebuild their businesses as they will at least concentrate on the same for a few days when they will be using the items received from the response.

“We are supporting flood victims with immediate material needs to help cope with their everyday livelihoods as a result of the flash floods for improved livelihood” said Programmes Officer for WOLREC Gift Mauluka who added, “We decided to help flood victims in Salima with cassava cuttings and potato veins for replanting in fields where crops were washed away or destroyed”

Washed away maize field in Balaka district

“Through an assessment that WOLREC conducted, it was found that Members of Village Savings and Loan (VSLs) that WOLREC work with in the PROWESE project, have also not been spared.” enlighten the WOLREC Programmes Officer

Mauluka further indicated that 399 (287 female headed households) and 465 (302 female headed households) in Balaka and Salima respectively were affected in different ways, “VSL members have lost their houses; livestocks and crop fields have been washed away or their fields have been water-logged to the extent that it is impossible to cultivate the fields; and some have their household items completely destroyed.” 

WOLREC has made the donation through financial assistance from Swedish Organization for Individual Relief (SOIR) a partner working with the institution in a project on Women Economic Empowerment.

Over 15 districts in Malawi including Nsanje, Chikwawa, Phalombe and Zomba are some of the worst hit areas by this year’s devastating floods in memory. Floods have destroyed many hectares of fields where people had already planted different types of crops. Livestock have been destroyed; roads and bridges have been washed away, thereby disturbing socio-economic activities of most people. 

Malawi was declared as a State of Disaster with effect from 13th January 2015 when President Peter Mutharika in accordance with powers conferred upon him by section 32 (1) of the Disaster Preparedness and Relief Act, declared all the districts affected by floods Disaster Areas. 

Ex-MYPs Plans Vigil at Capital Hill If Govt Pays Blind Eye on their Petition

Ex-MYPs Plans Vigil at Capital Hill If Govt Pays Blind Eye on their Petition

The former MYP's during 2014 petition

The concerned Ex-Malawi Young Pioneers (Ex-MYP) have warned government that if it ignores their petition presented on Friday, they will congregate at Capital Hill until their demands are met.

Ex-MYP’s whose membership exceeds 2000 national wide, presented a petition to Lilongwe District Commissioner’s office and the letter was received by Naphtali Chabuka, Management Information Systems Officer. The group is battling with government on payment of their retirement compensation and premature retirement package.

Among others the group is asking president Mutharika to act on long overdue grievances surrounding on premature retirement package and compensation following 1993 disarmament exercise by Malawi Defense Force and Police, dubbed Operation Bwezani.

“Should it happen that government doesn’t want to give us our money, we have to converge at Capital Hill” said Hendrix Chijota, National Publicity Secretary for Ex-MYP

“We will be on the Vigil” he added but said this will happen upon expiry of 14 days period expressed in their petition.

They have given Mutharika 14 days and 5 days grace
period then vigils at Malawis Administration Premise 

“We have given government 14 days, after the period expires and see that our demands are not met, then we will give them just 5 days as grace period” he said and assured that “From that point we have to make vigil”

Chijota said the vigils will be peaceful “But we will be camping at Capital Hill premises without being interfered with anyone or anything”

He repeated their demands “We are looking for premature retirement package because since the disarmament exercise was taking place most of us were young and did not reach a retirement age and secondly we are looking for compensation because the way they handled us we feel there were several forms of human rights abuse.”

Vigils will not end until government begins payment
Parade of their compensation

He explained “When we were being severed, we were handled as if we were not citizens of this country, our friends lost their lives and wives raped in presence of their children” 

He continued “We are citizens and we were civil servants who contributed immensely to the development of this nation in terms of agriculture, construction and security matters among others”

Communities, Police Tightens Security on Albino Abduction in Salima

Communities, Police Tightens Security on Albino Abduction in Salima

Communities and Police in the district of Salima have join hands in the fight against killings of people born albino by tightening security in all the communities.

The development comes as Salima Police in the week ending on Saturday 14th March, 2015, were sensitizing Salima communities of the significance of protecting albinos by reporting to police, cases and suspected persons to be perpetrators of the of albino abduction. 

Salima district Police Public Relations Officer, Sergeant Gift Chitowe said police encounter with communities has led to revamping and establishing community policing Forums as their message has been warmly welcomed

“The incidents of albino abduction and hacking of their body parts is now a big issue in this country, we know that the lives of our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters born albino are in danger” he said, “As Salima Police we thought, it is imperative that we communicate with members of the general public on the importance of collaboration in the efforts of safeguarding lives of albinos in the district.”

Sgt. Chitowe emphasized “We cannot end this malpractice without effective engagement with communities” and added, “We are happy that we received a warm welcome because people have promised to protect albinos and report suspects or any case to Police”

Salima Police PRO also mentioned that Community Policing Coordinator Prisca Maulana throughout the meetings assured communities that police will ensure that Community Policing group members are trained so that they conduct their duties professionally.

Chitowe said police in the district are pursuing one suspected case of albino abduction following disappearance of an albino man who used to be found at Salima Metro shop “We are continuing with our investigations to establish if his disappearance is a result of abduction or if he moved somewhere else”

Cases of albino abduction for human parts are on the increase in Malawi where, more than dozen cases have been reported and many have been arrested for being found in possession of bones and body parts suspected to belong to albino person. Each passing week, there are reported cases of either missing albino or exhumation of albino graves. 

Nkhotakota Man,33 Handed 3 Month Jail Sentence For Job Application of Killing and Hacking Human Body Parts

Man, 33 Landed Himself in Jail For Job Application of Hacking Human Parts in Nkhotakota, Gets 3 Month Imprisonment

A 33 year old man is to serve three months Imprisonment with Hard Labour for allegedly conducting himself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace says Nkhotakota Police 

Constable Willie Dick a Deputy Public Relations Officer for Nkhotakota Police says the man has been handed the sentence at Nkhotakota First Grade Magistrate court when he was found guilty of applying for a job which would see him kill and hack human body parts.

The convict identified as Samson Zapala from Bango village in the area of Senior Chief Mwadzama in Nkhotakota district was charged with the offence of Conduct Likely to Cause Breach of peace contrary to section 181 of the penal code and pleaded guilty.

The court heard state prosecutor Constable Cedrick Cosmas that on 4th March , 2015, Mrs Phroney Saidi received a phone call from unknown man requesting her to offer him any job and mentioned of killing people and bring human body parts to her for sell.

Immediately, Saidi reported the matter to police who arrested the man on 6th March, 2015 following a trick meeting with Saidi at Benga trading centre.

When taken to Benga police unit for questioning he admitted to have applied for the work but was quick to say he has never done this before. He further said he suggested doing this because of financial hiccups he is going through. 

During Court seating at Nkhotakota First Grade Magistrate Court on 11th March, 2005 prayed for a meaningful punishment in order to cub this act forthwith. 

The First Grade Magistrate Fred Juma Chilowetsa convicted and sentenced Samson Zamata to three months imprisonment with hard labor. 

TNM Plants 12 Thousand Trees At Kauma Sewage Site in Lilongwe

TNM Plants 12 Thousand Trees At Kauma Sewage Site in Lilongwe

Telecom Networks Malawi in the central region has embarked on tree planting exercise around Kauma sewage site as a way of reducing bad gases that are produced and evaporates from the sewage banks, reaching to residents around the area.

The central region team from TNM was on Thursday morning planting trees together with members of communities that surround Kauma sewage including officials from Lilongwe City Council.

“TNM is just continuing its annual programme regarding tree planting” said Danny Malisita Head of Central Region at TNM, “This time around, we felt the urge as a Malawian company to come in so strongly this time around after experiencing floods starting early this year”

When asked why taking this year’s tree planting season to Kauma, Malisita said “This area was affected in two ways, firstly the sewage system here releases toxic gases that are bad to the people around this area and we believe planting trees around this place will help to transform carbon dioxide into oxygen that would be beneficial to residents around here.”

Secondly he said “So many houses were damaged and roofs blown away (referring to a thunderstorm that affected the area early this year), so we thought if we could prioritize Kauma area it would make a big difference to the lives of people that lives around this place”

“We thought we are the right people to intervene and resolve these problems” he said 

Malisita has indicate that TNM this year is planting 36 thousand trees national wide, whereby 12 thousand trees are to be planted in all the three regions of Malawi. He said in the southern region TNM is planting in Monke-bay, Mangochi district and in the northern region they are planting in Chikangawa, Mzimba district. While in the central region TNM has chosen Kauma sewage which is also very close to Lilongwe river.

TNM’s Head of Central Region, Malisita mentioned that the company all the trees being planted costs up to K2.7 million.

Group Village Headman (GVH) Kauma who was among the community members planting the trees, commends TNM for decision to plant trees around his territory. He promised cooperation with other village headmen and come up with set of restrictions in order to protect the trees being planted in his area.

“We will condone any conduct that will lead to deracinate trees here or allow cattle’s to graze around this place, we will make sure that these trees are well protected” Said GVH Kauma   

6, Named on Diplomatic Mission

6, Named on Diplomatic Mission 

Mutharika in the middle sitting on red chair

The President of the Republic of Malawi, Peter Mutharika has appointed four men and two women on diplomatic mission.

Their appointment has been effected on March 12, 2015.

Statement from the Office of President and Cabinet says His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika made appointments in exercise of

the powers conferred upon him

by section 89(1)(e) of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi.

The appointment is with immediate effect but are subject to confirmation by the National Assembly.

The appointee's are:-

° Mr. Kena Mphonda, as High Commissioner to the United

Kingdom

°Mr. Michael Kamphambe-Nkhoma, as Ambassador to Germany

°Mrs. Anne Kumwenda, as

Ambassador to Zimbabwe

°Mr. Wilfred Ali, as Ambassador to Kuwait

°Dr. Isaac Munlo, as High

Commissioner to India and 

°Mrs. Caroline C.S. Bwanali Mussa, as Ambassador to Egypt

Mutharika appoints LUANAR, MUST Council Members and Approve Appointees for NCHE

Mutharika appoints LUANAR, MUST Council Members and Approve Appointees for NCHE

His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi, has appointed Council Members for Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR); and the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST).

This is in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by Acts of Parliament establishing LUANAR and MUST. The appointments are with immediate effect.

Malawi leader has also made  approval of  appointment of Council Members of the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE)

Below is the list 

1. Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR)

•Professor James H. Seyani- is Chairperson

•Mrs. Daima Thyangathyanga 

•Dr. Dorothy Namate 

•Mr. Frank Mbeta

•Mr. Fletcher Zenengeya

Ex-officio's are Secretaries for Education, Science and Technology, Natural Resources, Energy and Mining and Secretary for Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development

Professor George Y. Kanyama-Phiri- is LUANAR Vice Chancellor while Professor E. Kaunda is Deputy Vice Chancellor

Senate Representatives, LUANAR

Senate Representative, LUANAR

LUANAR Students' Representative (Male)

LUANAR Students' Representative (Female)

2. Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST)

Dr. Andrew Daudi - is Chairperson

Professor Address Malata

Mr. Chancellor Kaferapanjira

Ambassador Ron Nkomba (Retired)

Dr. Meria Nowa Phiri

Professor Bright Uledi Kamanga

Ex-officio's are Secretaries from Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the Treasury and Transport and Public Works.

It has also pleased His Excellency the President to approve the appointment

of Council Members of the National Council for

Higher Education (NCHE) 

Dr. Stanley Khaila- as Chairperson

Dr. Agnes Chimbili

Ms. Maureen Chiphwanya

Professor Chinyamata Chipeta

Dr. Peter Kazembe

Comptroller of Statutory Corporations

Secretary for Education, Science and Technology

Secretary to the Treasury

Secretary for Human Resource

Management and Development 

Two Vice Chancellors (LUANAR and MUST representing Public Universities)

Vice Chancellor of Malawi Adventist University representing Private Universities