Britain Committed in Empowerment of Malawi Youth Through ‘Zitheka!’

• Zitheka! Promotes entrepreneurship skills as one way of supporting Malawi economy

• British Council launched the programme on Thursday 

Michael Nevin 

The British High Commission to Malawi says remains committed in championing youth empowerment programmes as one way of supporting Malawi’s economy.

The UK government through British Council on Thursday launched ‘Zitheka!’ initiative (make happen), which aims at raising awareness of entrepreneurship amongst young Malawians and to encourage them to consider entrepreneurship as a viable route to employment for them and others.  The initiative, seeks to provide a forum to explore ideas, learn business skills, network with those who can provide support and above all motivate people to taking action.

In an exclusive interview British High Commissioner to Malawi, His Excellencey Michael Nevin says the launch of Zitheka! is a demonstration of Britain’s commitment in ensuring that Malawi youths have better skills and knowledge of how they can support themselves through entrepreneurship.

“This is not a large scale public works programme for the youth or anything like that but, what we are trying to do is to create a movement, attitude shift whilst also providing (particularly online), some tools, guidance and ideas for basically young people to do for themselves” said Mr. Nevin of this initiative

“As it has been quoted for so many times by ministers in the current government, it would be impossible for either the current private sector or government to provide jobs for such a large pool of young people. So, that means young people have got to side how they are going to help themselves”

The British High Commissioner then said Zitheka! “Is a target” trying to provide young Malawians with some guidance about how to help themselves so that they can also support Malawi economy.

“We have other programmes on economic development and agriculture sector” he said, “But this is particularly targeted on saying, Okay Young Malawians, the future is here but you've got to take it and here is how you might be able to take it. But it’s up to you to take it”

The British envoy explained that though Zitheka! has been done as one off event on Thursday where series of master classes were conducted to about 200 young people in Lilongwe, but all materials will be available on British Council Website and promoted throughout this year to make possible for every young Malawian learn various entrepreneurial skills.

He further said, such materials will assist youth in different stages of developing and implementing an idea, develop business plan and approaches to possible financiers and make that idea into reality. 

Whilst noting that Malawi is a bit lagging behind on youth entrepreneurship as compared to countries like Kenya, Mr. Nevin said initiatives like Zitheka! is another way of making Malawi go through an attitudinal shift for such a problem “This is a kick start on changing attitudes, change approaches by showing that you will need to do things for yourself in usual initiatives and this is types of things that you need to think about to be successful.”

Zitheka! project is part of the ‘Entrepreneurial Africa’ campaign being launched by the British Council to further support entrepreneurialism in Sub-Saharan Africa where a quarter of all young people are out of work and not in education.

The Britsh High Commissioner, Michael Nevin has assured that if the trial of this project develops a better of life, then British Council will see what more to do to extend its reach. 

Girl, 7 Dies in a Home Fire as Man, 25 Commit Suicide After Assaulting Wife in Salima

• Police establish the cause of the fire as a candle left unattended

A little girl, aged 7 got killed in Salima district after her grass thatched home caught on fire late hours of Wednesday, her mom is going to answer charges of conduct likely to cause breach of peace says Police.

Police Public Relations Officer for the district Sergeant Gift Chitowe says the deceased Diana Francis got burnt in her grass shelter located in Kantchetche fishing beach along Lake Malawi whilst a sleep and her body was burnt to almost ashes.

Police says the mother of the daughter is to blame for having left a candle burning as she went for a beer drinking at around 22:00 hours.

The Officer said it was people passing by the house who noticed the house engulfed in flames. 

“Our Investigations reveal that a 24 year old Felista Kumakange’s the mother of the deceased was left her daughter at 22: 30 hours of 18th March to a nearby drinking spree, leaving behind a flickering candle. Suddenly she heard a call from passers-by that her shelter has caught fire” said the Salima Police PRO, “She called for help to cease the fire but to no avail.” 

Sgt Chitowe said post mortem result has revealed that death of the young girl was due to severe burns. 

The officer said the death of little girl ‘Diana’ a Standard 1 pupil of Kachulu primary school in the area of T/A Kuluunda in Salima district was a result of her mother’s negligence. 

The mother of the girl was handed to police by Community Policing members after police had instructed that she had to be given chance to attend her daughter’s funeral ceremony.

In the same district, a 25 year old wife attacker has committed suicide to escape arrest.

• He beaten wife and Hacked her near to death

Sergeant Chitowe said Ibrahim Salimu has died after taking poisonous stuff on 18th March 2015 at Chikwawa Trading Centre.

“The deceased had altercation with his wife on family matters and failed to reach to the compromise. He then took a panga knife” said Sgt Chitowe, “He began hacking his wife, cutting her twice in the head, and another deep cut on the shoulder until she fainted”

The officer said it was at this point the husband thought her wife is dead “In the course of escaping an arrest late Salimu left home to a nearby garden field where he was found dead by some women returning from their garden field. The postmortem has revealed that he consumed poisonous stuff.” 

The injured widow is admitted at Salima hospital and the officer says health officials have confirmed that her health is improving.

The deceased man, Ibrahim Salimu hailed from Kasache village of T/A Makanjira in Salima district.

President Mutharika Sends Strong Warning on Albino Killings

• Condemned albino attacks, abductions and killings

• Describes the malpractice as inhuman and barbaric 

The Malawi President Professor Peter Mutharika finally speaks out against the ‘barbaric’ killings of people born albino- by making a strong warning that his government will hunt down perpetrators without relent until apprehended and justice take its course.

Mutharika was speaking on Thursday afternoon at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe, where in his succinct speech he has condemned the act in strongest terms and described albino killings as “in human and barbaric acts”

“As commander In Chief of Malawi Defense Force and the Malawi Police Services, my message to those perpetrating this is that, we will hunt you down and not relent until apprehended and justice takes full course on you” he said and send his and the First Lady’s message of condolence to families that lost their beloved ones through such “inhuman acts”

President Mutharika while expressing shock of the widespread reports from media of attacks, abductions and killings of albino, he said attacks of people with albinism is evil and threat to human right to life for all human beings enshrined in the republican constitution.

He said he has made a directive to Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Inspector General of Police and all security agencies to be on “high alert” and arrest all people responsible for attacks, abductions and killings of albino.

“I have further directed the Minister, Inspector General and all security agencies to provide maximum protection to our brothers and sisters with albinism”

The Malawi leader has called upon Judiciary to speedup trials for all suspects arrested in connection with attacks and killings of albino so that they move in one direction as government in stopping this vice.

President Mutharika further appealed to all people of good will to cooperate with security agents in reporting all suspected people involved in such barbaric acts. He has assured the nation that he will not allow people born with albinism to live in fear of losing their lives because of their condition following some peoples “unreasonable beliefs”  

Suspected Robber Dies, 1 Survive From Car Accident in Dowa; Two Others At Large

• The accident happened when their driver failed to negotiate a corner

• They were coming from a robbery mission

Unidentified man has died while the other is admitted at Dowa District Hospital after Toyota Stout pickup truck they were travelling in over turned three times in Dowa.

Police in the district says there were four passengers in the vehicle but, are being suspected to have been robbers who were returning from a village where they stole three cattle’s. 

Dowa Police Public Relations Officer Sergeant Richard Kaponda said two other men runaway immediately after the accident happened but one of the passengers who survived the accident is receiving treatment at Dowa Hospital for sustained serious injuries. The survivor has since been identified as Isaac Zakeyu Gwembere aged 32 of Sitole village from T/A Mzuma in Mulanje district. 

The police officer said beef meat was also found in the Toyota Stout pickup truck which its registration number is BJ 3813.

Sgt. Kaponda who said investigation are under way to arrest the two suspects currently on the run, indicated that the four suspected robbers were coming from Chibazi area where they stole three heads of cattle and slaughtered them. He said, they were going to the Capital city Lilongwe via Dzaleka when their driver failed to negotiate a corner and lost control before it over turned thrice. The deceased died on the spot due to head injuries. 

Kanengo Police Arrest 2 Suspected Armed Robbers, Recovers Pistol Gun

• The suspects have confessed of carrying out criminal activities

• Other convicts have been naming the two to be masterminders of robberies in the capital

Police in Kanengo have arrested two men who are suspected to be “notorious” criminals who have been terrorizing some parts of Capital city, Lilongwe.

Sergeant Esther Mkwanda Kanengo Police Public Relations Officer says one of the suspects had a Pistol gun used in their criminal activities.

The Kanengo PRO has identified the two as Andrew Nyirongo aged 41 of Kacheche village from T/A Lukwa in Kasungu district and Bernard Kumisuku (found with a pistol gun) aged 32 of Sambe village from T/A Kapeni in the commercial city, Blantyre”

“Nyirongo was residing in Chinsapo while Kumisuku has been residing in area 25 sector 8 and in the process we have managed to recover a Pistol with four live bullets” confirmed Sgt Mkwanda, who added “After the interviews these criminals said they have taken part in several criminal activities in different locations in Lilongwe which involved armed robberies and robbery with violence”

Kanengo PRO further said the two were being hunted following confessions made by some of the previously arrested criminals. The officer said some of the convicts have been naming Andrew Nyirongo and Bernard Kumisuku as some of the perpetrators in criminal activities led to their arrests.

They have since been charged of robbery with violence and illegal possession of firearm contrary to section 301 of the penal code.

Sgt Mkwanda has assured the nation and people in the capital city Lilongwe that “We are doing our best and we will keep on doing what we know as police to stop these criminal acts” but appealed, “As police we are also pleading with members of general public that they should also tip us whatever they see suspicious.”

“For example, where we recovered this pistol gun at Kumisuku’s house people were seeing him residing in a big house but had no clue of his job. So had it been that people tipped police way back, probably we would have arrested him earlier.”

A Lawyer ‘Cashgate Suspect’ Yambani Mulemba On Bail

• His K5 million worth bail follows Monday arrest on cash gate related suspicions

• Asked to pay K3M bond in cash, Two surerities each to pay K1M cash bond

High Court in Lilongwe has granted bail to a Nights and Nights private practice lawyer Yambani Mulemba who was arrested on cashgate related charges

Judge, Justice Esme Chombo has granted Mulemba a bail bond of K3 million in cash and provide two sureties who should each pay a cash bond of K1 million. 

The court further ordered that his two houses, in area 12 and 43 should be attached to the bond. Mulemba has also been ordered to be reporting at Lingadzi Police station every Wednesday, surrender travel documents as well as not leave Lilongwe or go outside Malawi without informing the Officer In charge of Lingadzi Police.

Yambani Mulemba has formerly been charged with money laundering to a tune of K50 million for facilitation of procurement of house which is linked to the cashgate case involving Paul Mphwiyo wife’s and her Good Deeds Trust. He is also been accused of facilitation of procurement of some cars belonging to Mr. Paul Mphwiyo among them Toyota Fortuner and Mercedes Benz.

Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Prosecutor Imran Saidi said Mulemba charges of money laundering is related to other offenses that other people are answering before various courts.

“His involvement is that he facilitated and helped some of the accomplices in money laundering. When the money was looted he had facilitated some other activities to have laundered some of the money’s” 

Mulemba was at one point brought to the court as state witness for the ongoing case of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder of Malawi’s former Budget Director Mr. Paul Mphiyo who survived three gunshots.

In the afternoon of Wednesday, Mulemba was taken to Lilongwe Resident Magistrate by ACB to be told the reasons of his arrest. But eventually it was told in the court that his lawyer had earlier made an application of bail at the High Court. On that basis the lower court considered that since the matter is in the constitutional court, there was no need to proceed with bail hearing at Magistrate court.

In the evening, upon hearing arguments from both sides Judge Justice Esme Chombo felt and deemed fit that Mulemba be granted bail saying it is everyone’s right.

Prosecution Applies for Revocation of Bail to Suspects in Mphwiyo’s Attempted Murder

Suspects are interfering with and intimidating state witnesses -the State claims

The Prosecution in the case of attempted murder of former Budget Director Paul Mphwiyo has applied before presiding Judge Justice Michael Mtambo, a revocation of bail to all the accused involved in the case following claims of “interference and intimidation” to state witnesses.

On Wednesday, Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mary Kachale told Lilongwe High Court that state wishes annulment of the bail granted to all accused persons in this case because they have “interfered with and intimidated” state witnesses. 

In the case, Raphael Kasambara, Pika and his brother Dauka Manondo, McDonald Kumwembe, Oswald Lutepo and Robert Kadzuwa are answering charges of Attempted murder and Conspiracy to commit murder of Former Budget Director Paul Mphwiyo who survived from three gunshots in September 13, 2013. 

Kachale indicated that the state has audio recordings of its two witnesses including Charles Chalunda claiming that their lives are at stake because some of the defendants are issuing various forms of threats.

“My Lord, there is an affidavit which is showing that some of our witnesses are fearful of their lives”, she continued and further said “Mr. Chalunda had called police for protection and he asked the state to have him transferred to a safe pace elsewhere in Mangochi district”

Kachale tried hard to convince court that the state plea be sustained due to seriousness of the matter and taking into consideration that Malawi has no Witness Protection Programme. 

Since the state made the application without serving the court and the defense with documents of such application, led to objection from the defense, they asked for the files before making their submissions on Thursday. Judge Mtambo has ruled that the ruling on the matter will be made during another court session since the three day session this week is dedicated for the parading of the remaining state witnesses.

The invalidation of the bail for the defendants will lead to arrest of all the five suspects currently on bail.

One of the accused who is presenting himself, Raphael Kasambara expressed displeasure with the expression used by the state to refer the accused persons in this case as persons carrying out ‘clandestine mafia’

On Wednesday, the state paraded one of its remaining witnesses. A Dedza boarder officer, Griffin Tembo was making testimony on issues surrounding travel of McDonald Kumwembe to Mozambique during the period of Paul Mphwiyo’s shooting, his witness was to clear whether Kumwembe claim that he was not in Malawi at the time of Mphwiyo’s shooting is valid or not.