Kandoje Spends Four Nights in Custody as Bail Hearing Expected on Monday at High Court

• The case has been committed to High Court and defense Lawyer was denied bail hearing by Senior Resident Magistrate Court 

• Kandoje charged with two counts is expected to apply for bail on Monday

The Malawi's Former Accountant General David Bill Kandoje will spend four nights in police custody as his lawyer failed to convince Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrate Court to hear the bail application after the case had already been committed to High court.  

Kandoje, who was arrested on Thursday 26th March, 205 worked as Malawi Accountant General, appeared this Friday evening before Senior Resident Magistrate Patrick Chirwa for formal charge.

Immediately the court had read out his charges and understood by the defendant, the state prosecutor Imrani Saidi prayed that the case be committed to High Court arguing that circumstances and nature of the offense would be better in jurisdiction of the constitutional court.

Successfully, Senior Resident Magistrate Chirwa accepted the application by issuing a certificate of referring the matter to High Court.

However, defense counsel Khumbo Bonzo Soko asked the court to hear bail application. But Snr Patrick Chirwa while acknowledging that it is everyone’s right to apply for a bail but was quick to mention that having committed the case to proceed in High Court puts the lower court in a tricky situation and therefore could not hear bail application until such a time when the high court will make determination in such circumstances.

In an interview, the defense said would commence with bail application on Monday at the High Court.

David Bill Kandoje has been formally charged with two counts of Abuse of Public Office contrary to section 25B (1) of Corrupt Practices Act and Theft by Person Contrary to Section 283 (1) of the Penal Code.

The first charge particulars are that “David Kandoje in or around August 2013, being a public officer named Accountant General abused his office or position status authority as public officer by signing a cheque numbered 016148 containing the sum of K244 Million and another cheque numbered 016149 containing the sum of K255 property of Malawi government to his personal advantage and for the advantage of Stanford Mpoola the registered owner of Staddal Building Contractors when said Stanford Mpoola had not through his company provided any goods or rendered any services to government.

The particulars of second charge reads, “David Kandoje being person employed in the public service namely Accountant General stored K500 million property of Malawi government and that happened under his controlling custody.”

Kandoje was arrested on Thursday 26th July by Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).

In a statement, the bureau said on 12th September, 2013, the Anti-Corruption Bureau received a complaint alleging that Government Officers at Capital Hill were making illegal entries in the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS). But investigations by te bureau established that Mr. David Kandoje, the then Accountant General authorised payment of two cheques amounting to MK500m payable to Staddal Building Contractors without appropriate supporting documents.

The bureau further indicated that it was likely to charge him wit; One count of abuse of public office contrary to Section 25 B (1) of the Corrupt Practices Act; One count of procuring of a person for the improper payment of public money contrary to Section 88 g (1) of the Public Finance Management Act; and One count of theft contrary to Section 178 as read with Section 21 of the Penal Code.

Malawi Benefits From Disaster Risk Reduction UN Conference

The Malawi government is certain that the level of harm caused by this year’s worst flash floods would be significantly reduced if similar floods happen again anytime in future.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation hon Dr. George Chaponda has uttered the comment following his return from Japan where he attended the Third UN Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction where among other things he said, Malawi has learn a lot from other countries that had similar experience of floods.

The conference, reviewed progress made in the implementation of Hyogo Framework of Action (HFA) and to consider and adopt its successor, Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. 

Speaking on Thursday evening at a Press Conference at Capital Hill, Chaponda emphasized that it was necessary for Malawi to attend the summit following recent experience of floods which has left over 230 thousand people displaced as well as damages on property, crops and infrastructure.

“It became necessary to see what we would learn from this UN conference and also share experience with other countries that have been experiencing these issues.” He said, and assured that “It was a good learning experience”

“Agreement from the frameworks will help us to develop resilient measures so that when similar disaster happens again, we should not experience deaths and other serious damages” said Chaponda

The Foreign Affairs Minister, explained that the UN summit has given Malawi an opportunity to among others adopt new techniques on building good houses that can withstand flooding water, measures in dealing with affected people and use of modern metrological technologies that can detect and give early warnings of disaster occurrences.

He added that through JAICA, the Japanese government plans to assist Malawi in dealing with issues of water movements particularly in some parts of Lower Shire which are frequent with floods.

According to Chaponda, the conference also adopted the first major agreement of the Post-2015 Development Agenda, a far-reaching new framework for disaster risk reduction with seven targets which if successfully implemented, countries will achieve a substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health.

Some of the targets are a substantial reduction in; global disaster mortality, numbers of affected people, damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services; increased access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster information and assessments as well as enhanced international cooperation.

After attending the conference, Chaponda had several meetings with companies and governments where he invited them to assist and invest in Malawi.

After finishing his business in Japan, the Minister went to Namibia where he attended inauguration ceremony of President Hage Geingob.

2 Bodies Found Buried in Their Home, LL Police Arrest Man in Connection to Richard Master Murder

Two men were found dead and their bodies buried inside one of the three bedroom house they lived in, at Kaphiri, in Chiweza village in the Capital city, Lilongwe. Police have commenced investigations into this murder. 

One of the deceased was identified as a photographer Alex Makonyola aged 33 from Likhaka village of T/A Mwambo in Zomba while another person is only known as Patrick who is said to be the house boy of Alex.

According to Lilongwe Police Public Relations Officer, Sub Inspector Kingsley Dandaula, police suspects that the murder happened almost five to ten days before bodies were found on Tuesday 24th March 2015 saying they were in decomposed state.

Dandaula said on Monday, some members of community at Kaphiri informed Police on the matter after suspecting that Alex Makonyola was dead following a strong fetid smell from his house. But he said people in the area learnt of the development when a young boy who once stayed with Makonyola visited the house and informed neighbors that he found Makonyola’s house locked but an awful smell was coming out of it.

“When Police arrived and entered the house, could only locate the direction of the smell since the room was too dark to see anything inside” said the Sub Inspector Dandaula

“So we smashed part of the wall which was a brick sealed window, that’s when we saw the horrifying scene” he said, they saw what looked like a grave at the corner in that room and a shoulder protruding from the ground. 

He said upon dig up, they found body of Makonyola and another man which some members of the community have identified him as Patrick.

The Lilongwe Police PRO said Patrick was identified because of his necklace and not by face because the two bodies were already in decomposed state, of which he said failed medical doctors from Kamuzu Central Hospital to carry out the postmortem.

“We are investigating into this brutal murder to find the suspects and motive of doing such” said Dandaula who indicated that the two victims had severe injuries in the head leading to suspect that the murderers used heavy weapons.

The exhumed bodies have been buried by police at Chimwala cemetery behind Chimwala CCAP church.

Meanwhile Police in Lilongwe Area 36 Police Unit have arrested Tiyese James aged 22 from Kaondo village T/A Tsabango in Lilongwe in connection to March 13, 2014 murder of Richard Master aged 18 from Maloya village of T/A Chikowi in Zomba.

Lilongwe Police Public Relations Officer Sub Inspector Kingsley Dandaula says Richard Master was murdered in Area 36 and the suspect who is thought to be one of the members of Area 36 notorious group ’11 Bongo’s’ has been on the run since the crime was committed.

He will answer murder charges and other criminal activities he carried out together with 11 Bongo group.

Contractor Mis-Procurement for the Upgrade of Machinga, Chingale-Lilangwe Road Leading to More Sufferings: CCJP Urges Current Regime Not To Repeat Similar Decision

• Dr. Joyce Banda Govt misprocured contractor for the road

• Continued deaths enroute to hospital are among challenges

Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) of Zomba Diocese says government choice to mis-procure contractor to upgrade the Machinga, Chingale-Lirangwe road to tarmac has not solved any long and increasingly sufferings of people from districts of Machinga, Zomba and Blantyre, rather another journey of misery.

The construction works for the road was stalled immediately when Peoples Party (PP) led Administration launched the upgrade of the road in March 2014, as Kuwait Fund withheld its resources after observing that Malawi government had flouted procedure by hiring a European contractor ‘Mota-Engil to do the upgrade works, tangent of the Loan agreement that ‘the contractor should be sourced from Arab country.’ 

The withheld money was a bill passed by the National Assembly in 2013 ‘Kuwait Fund Loan Authorisation’ valued at $10.2 million for the upgrading and rehabilitation of approximately 62.3km Machinga, Chingale-Lirangwe road to a tarmac by 2014 and then Deputy Minister of Finance hon Cornelius Mwalwanda signed the Loan agreement on 19 November, 2013.

Director for Zomba CCJP office Raphael Yusufu, says the stall, is continuously leading to frequent death among patients on their way to referral hospitals of; Zomba Central Hospital, Mlambe Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre. 

Yusufu, further said Public as well as private servants are shunning away from working in the area; lack of viable markets even though the area is the food basket for Zomba, Machinga and Lunzu towns; and people are experiencing untimely delivery of materials such as school materials, agricultural commodities and FISP inputs when it rains because the road becomes impassable. 

While expressing disapproval of the decision made by then government and caution current government to refrain from committing such unjust procedure any time in future he said “Times for politicking is over and let us develop our nation by making sure that we respect all the due process required as stipulated in contracts signed with the cooperating partners.” 

“We have seen leaving of Mota-Engil from their designated camping site in Chipini without any explanation to the community. In addition, the road was to commence as soon as it was launched in March, 2014, however nothing has materialized on the ground.” observed Yusufu

Others who spoke to this reporter from Chingale Constituency, explained that in 2014, they had to cough in extra money to hire for a vehicle to carry their FISP inputs after the truck which was meant to deliver the same got stuck in Lirangwe and Pregnant women are still delivering along the way and patients dying on their way to referral hospitals. 

But in a recent interview, Minister of Transport and Public Works hon. Francis Kasaila acknowledged the problem but was quick to mention that current administration is in talks with Kuwait and that it has already removed Mota-Engil on the road site so that new procurement of Arab world contractor begins as per agreement of the loan. 

He said officials from Arab bank of Kuwait would be in Malawi by the end of March to finalize deal negotiations and within 90 days the Ministry would have all due processes finalized and by July latest the contractor could be on the ground.

“We are meeting with Kuwait Fund on how we move forward because they need to give us a go ahead, a no objection to procure another contractor. That process will definitely start as soon as we meet and agree on the way forward."

Kasaila equally expressed grief over the decision made by then government "It was a costly decision we have lost time, we had our relationship to save between us and the donors, because when you do mis-procurement you are putting yourself in bad light with donors as a country" 

The Minister, then said "Our colleagues in Lirangwe, Chingale and Machinga they have been expecting this construction works to start long time ago but nothing is on the ground”

“We should endeavor not to do that because it becomes sad, if that happens it is the country that loses resources, we have lost time as well. Therefore it is something that as government we have learned and we hope we will not repeat in the future." He assured

However, Zomba CCJP Director further reminds Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government to live up to its promise of upgrading the road “Machinga-Chingale-Lirangwe is one of the priority roads promised in the DPP Manifesto and is high time they rise to the occasion by fulfilling their promises through ensuring that the socioeconomic rights of people living along this road is respected by giving them a tarmac road.”

Concerned people from areas along the road have gone to the extent of warning that if their road is not upgraded into tarmac by this regime, then they will campaign against voting for DPP and its candidates come 2019 elections.

Working with Communities in Tree Planting Helping Has Helped LL Council In Protecting Newly Planted Trees

Efforts in protecting the newly planted trees seem working with Lilongwe City Council east it boasts that working with communities no cases of uprooting of trees are being recorded this year.

The Lilongwe City Council says involving communities in Tree Planting this season has been the best alternative of protecting newly planted trees in the city.

The Council during this year’s tree planting season has been involving communities led by Chiefs in planting of trees in their communities.

Assistant Director in the Department of Parks, Repletion and Environment responsible for Forestry Activities in Lilongwe City Council, Mr. Lackson Chingana says the Council used communities is the wake of past experience where communities have been uprooting newly planted trees for fear that they will lose land for farming. 

He said current communities involvement in tree planting has develop the sense of ownership of the trees.

“As Lilongwe City Council, one of our mandates is to make sure that we are protecting environment within Lilongwe city, so as a department which is responsible for environmental rehabilitation, one of the programmes that we have put in place is to rehabilitate the environment by planting trees.”

“What we are doing right now is that we are trying to involve the community as one way of protecting trees. Though we have patrol team that goes around to make sure that people are not cutting down trees, but in the past we have observed that still when the trees are still small there are always uprooted.”

“So, we thought this time around we should involve the community, because if we involve the community in the tree planting programme we are instilling the spirit of ownership” adding that, “if somebody plants the tree will make sure that that tree is protected.”

He further said “Whereas we are involving them in tree planting we are as well sending the message to them to make sure that we protect the environment because if we don’t protect environment it is the very same community which is going to suffer.” 

Malawi Inflation Ease by 1.5% In February

The National Statistical Office (NSO) says February 2015 Malawi Consumer Price Indices (CPI) Dashboard is pegged at 19.7%.

The headline inflation for February 2015 stands at 19.7 percent compared to the headline inflation of 24.6 percent for the same period last year (February 2014). 

This figure show that, there is a decrease of 1.5 percent from last month (January 2015).

January Overall Inflation was at 21.20 while in the month of February was at 19.70

The urban and rural rates stand at 22.5 percent and 19.0 percent respectively.

Overall, food inflation stands at 19.0 percent from 21.5 percent in January 2015. 

"Although food prices have gone up the rate of increase is much lower than the corresponding rate in the same period last year, reads NSO statement "The decrease in non-food inflation is still emanating from mainly the effects of decline in fuel prices."

January Statistics Visavis February 

According to Reserve Bank of Malawi statistics:

January Overral Consumer Price Indices (CPI) was at 185.60 while in February is at 193.50

In the month of January, Food CPI was at 184.70 while February is at 195.00

January's Food Inflation was at 21.50 while February is at 19.00

This year's January Non-Food CPI was at 186.10 while in February is at 196.60

As of January 2015, Non-Food Inflation was at 20.80 while in February is at 20.40

CFTC Continues With Investigations into ‘Aqua Pure' Defective Water; Bowler Beverage Complying with Investigations

CFTC Continues With Investigations into ‘Aqua Pure' Defective Water; Bowler Beverage Complying with Investigations 

The Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) says Bowler Beverage Company alleged in selling of defective product a bottled water ‘Aqua Pure Water’ is complying to its on going investigations as the company has acknowledged of distributing of defective product.

Following increased consumer complaints, CFTC and the Ministry of Industry and Trade requested the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) to conduct laboratory tests for Aqua Pure bottled water to determine its conformity with prescribed consumer safety standards, in particular MS 699- Mandatory Malawi Standard on Bottled Water other than Mineral Water Specification 

The request was in pursuit of the Commission's mandate of regulating, monitoring, controlling and preventing acts or behaviour which are likely to adversely affect competition and consumer welfare in Malawi as provided under the Competition and Fair Trading Act, 

Executive Director for the commission Charlotte Wezi Malonda said the commission is currently on preliminary stage of its investigations, which if it finds wrong doing by Bowler Beverage then the Commission together with other stakeholders would be involved in “trying to find ways of helping the company” 

The findings of laboratory tests showed that “Aqua Pure bottled water failed to comply with minimum standard requirements on total plate count and coliform bacteria.” Which essentially means that the Aqua Pure bottled water which Bowler Beverages Company Ltd was supplying into the market was certified unfit for human consumption by the bureau until it satisfies whatever requirements stipulated by MBS.

“As a Commission we are going to fully investigate the matter so that we see the extent of the defective product which was distributed on the market we received the complaint that there were some government departments that procured this product and they realized that after some time the product was having some residues in bottles, even though it had not been opened”

She said “Samples of the product were sent for testing to the bureau of standards and we requested the results which proved that indeed the product was not fit for consumption. We also understand that further action has been taken by the Malawi Bureau of Standards in relation to the production but our main concern is the distribution of the product which we feel is the breach of the law because according to the Act, an enterprise is not supposed to sell to a consumer the product which is not fit for human consumption.” 

Then CFTC ED said is pleased that Bowler Beverage has already acknowledged of distributing defective product “We have been provided with new information that, actually it is specific product manufactured within a specific period of time, so we are happy with the acknowledgement that has been made by the company, that some of their products did not pass the fitment test”

The commission’s action of recalling the product from the market Malonda said “We did not ban the product but we want the company to take the responsibility of the defective product and remove it from the market.”

She however said the commission is yet to find out if the company has completely removed its defected product on the market.

CFTC on March 11 2015, issued statement informing general public that it has instituted formal investigations against Bowler Beverages Company Ltd for alleged supply of products which are likely to cause injury to health or physical harm to consumers, when properly used or which do not comply with prescribed consumer safety standards contrary to Section 43(1)(e) of the Competition and Fair Trading Act. 

In light of the prima facie evidence on the standard of this product, and in the interest of protecting the public, the CFTC further advised Bowler Beverages Company Ltd, to immediately recall the product from the market given the substantial evidence provided by the MBS certifying that the product is unfit for human consumption.