Police Arrests Two Men For Allegedly Lending Firearms To Criminals

Police in The Capital, Lilongwe arrests two men on suspicion that they hire their riffles to some criminals to conduct armed robberies around the city.

Inspector Kingsley Dandaula, Lilongwe Police Publoc Relations Officer named the suspects as Christopher Moya Chimzukira aged 27 from Zamula village T/A Khongoni in Lilongwe cureently based in area 24 and Symon Kaphata Kalitsiro aged 40 from Matapa village T/A Malili in Lilongwe but is based in Kaphiri.

Inspector Dandaula says police suspects that the two have been lending their licensed  guns to criminals.

Dandaula said the two own Short gun 12 Bore Greener and Short Gun CAL 12 Bore respectively. 

The police officer however said the first suspect Christopher Moya Chimzukira was found with 2 rounds of live ammunition while the second suspect Symon Kaphata Kalitsiro was found with 18 rounds of ammunition when police were making the arrest on Thursday.

Both suspects are in police custody pending further investigations of whether the suspects have been hiring their firearms to criminals for armed robberies happening in the city.

EU to Inject €560 Million For Malawi Projects, Plans to Support in Technical Education Skills

The European Union (EU) Delegation to the Republic of Malawi says very soon funds amounting to €560 million (Five hundred and sixty million Euro) is expected to assist in its various projects being implemented in the country in five years time.

EU office in Malawi further announces plans to invest more in education sector particularly on technical skills education as one way of economic empowerment for the youths.

“We will remain closely involved with Malawi” Said EU Head of Delegation to Malawi, Ambassador Marchel Gerrmann in an interview, “For the period of 2015 and 2020 there is amount of €560 million Euro that will be approved over the coming month.”

“And am also very excited that now we will start in the education sector, very important for the future of this country.” He said 

Ambassador Gerrmann continued, “We will invest in the Technical Vocational Educational and Training called TEVET, it is very important that young people in particular are developing skills that they can use in making a living. So am very excited by this prospect of investing more in the future of Malawi by investing in education and technical skills education.”

The EU delegation to Malawi is currently active in agricultural sector, rehabilitation of 500 Km rural roads every year, works with forestry where 11 thousand hectors of forest was set aside for regeneration and 24 thousand hectares are under sustainable management.

In addition, EU is also a largest contributor to Wide Sector Approach in Agriculture and that over last five years it has provided access to safe drinking water to 750 thousand Malawians and plans to double the impact in over the coming two and half years.  

Five EU Member States Diplomats Visits Malawi

A delegation of five European Union (EU) Member States Diplomats visiting Malawi over the weekend to appreciate development projects the organization is implementing in the country.

EU Head of Delegation to the Republic of Malawi, Ambassador Marchel Gerrmann says the four day visit of the incoming mission is significant because it gives an excellent opportunity for them to know Malawi better and report back to their head quarters at the same time assisting people around the world learn more about this country.

“I think this is an important visit. These ambassadors coming together to Malawi is a clear reflection of their interest in this country.” Says Ambassador Gerrmann, “They want to come to get first hand impression of the political and economic situation, they also want to see some of the projects that we are implementing in Malawi and it is also important because these are ambassadors from countries that are contributing to EU projects in Malawi”

He also mentioned that the delegation may also be interested to know more about business opportunities and trade.

The EU Head of Delegation to Malawi also said the incoming mission is not in Malawi for fault finding but will provide help in finding ways of enhancing areas where its projects seem not to work well “We have a very good relationship with the government of Malawi, we also work very closely with the communities, if we see that certain things are not going as they should then we discuss those things and see how we can improve together.”

Ambassador Gerrmann said the visiting ambassadors are among others expected to visit projects being implemented by EU including; Ntchisi forest, Kanengo maize silos for the National Food Reserve Agency currently rehabilitated by EU, Agricultural crops, rural roads, National Initiative for Civic Education NICE on forestry projects and on the respect for the rights of the persons with disabilities projects.

He further said the five senior diplomats are also expected to meet government officials, members of parliament, civil society and private sector. He among others said the visit will include in 

This mission of senior diplomats includes a three non-resident EU member states Ambassadors and two Charge’ d’Affaires of Italy, Finland, Belgium, Spain and Holland.

Security Guard Pays K30 Thousand Fine After Forcing An Old Woman To Drink Her Pee

• A 65 year old woman was having a pee outside hospital guardian shelter and security guard forced her to drink her urine

• The guard aged 20 has been fined K30 thousand which K25 thousand will be her compensation 

A security guard aged 20, working at Kasungu District Hospital in Kasungu district has narrowly escaped 18 month jail sentence after being found guilty of forcing an old woman to drink her pee.

A 65 year old woman identified by police as Loveness Phiri, complained to Kasungu Police on 6th April this year that she was forced by a watchman to drink her urine when found urinating outside Kasungu District Hospital guardian shelter and not in the toilet.

According to Inspector Edwin Kaunda, Kasungu Police Public Relations Officer says police rushed the woman to the hospital and made an arrest of the guard, Davison Baloyi who has since paid a fine of K30, 000 in default of 18 month jail term where K25, 000 will compensate the victim,

Inspector Kaunda explained that in the night of 6th April 2015 a woman aged 65 was sleeping at Kasungu district hospital guardian shelter waiting for her grandson who had been admitted at the hospital.

The Police officer said the one of the security guards at the hospital named Davison Baloyi aged 20, spotted the old woman having wee outside the shelter instead of using the hospital toilets.

“When asked of what she was doing, the old lady made an apology that she did not where the toilets were. However, the guard forced the woman to drink her flowing urine.” narrated Inspector Kaunda, and said the granny drunk her own urine for fear of the angry security guard.

Following this inhuman treatment by the guard, Inspector Edwin Kaunda said the victim, reported the matter to nearby Kasungu Police office and was rushed to hospital for medical care while the arrest was made.

Davison Baloyi was charged with Administering noxious substance (Contrary to section 240 of penal code) an offence which he had at first denied but pleaded guilty when Police Prosecutor Griffin Luhanga had paraded two witnesses.

The Kasungu Second Grade Magistrate Court, convicted and sentenced the security guard to 18 month imprisonment or pay a fine of K30 thousand in default. 

He has since paid the fine of K30, 000 in default to serve s jail sentence of up to 18 month. Part of the money amounting to K25 thousand will be given to the victim as compensation.

AU Decry Xenophobic Violence In South Africa

As acts of violence by South African citizens targeting foreign African nationals continue to soar in areas like KwaZulu Natal in South Africa, the African Union (AU) has condemned the attacks and call for immediate halt.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has described the attacks of foreign nationals specifically in the province of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa as “unacceptable, and unfortunate,” more particularly now as celebrations of Africa month approaches on 25 May where people remember the founding of the Organisation of African Unity, which played such a critical role in mobilizing international solidarity for the end of Apartheid.

Through AU Commission statement released on Thursday 16th April, 2015, Dlamini Zuma also says xenophobic attacks in South Africa are unacceptable whatever the challenges are, adding that no circumstances justify attacks on people, whether foreigners or locals. 

The Commission Chairperson has emphasized that challenges faced by South Africa, like poverty and unemployment, are equally experienced by all countries on the continent and needs all African nationals to work together to address these, and build a better future for all Africans. 

While appealed for dialogue in and amongst communities, to address the challenges and find peaceful solutions, the AU Commission welcomes the interventions from the South African government, including the deployment of the Inter-Ministerial committee to KwaZulu Natal to engage with those affected and with local communities, as well as the deployment of more police to instill peace and order.

Currently, Malawi government indicates about 420 Malawians are reportedly affected and are in temporary camps in South Africa. Only three (3) Malawians were seriously injured, one person heavily injured but the figure is expected to rise.

Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture hon Kondwani Nakhumwa says, Government of Malawi has set aside K30 million for the repatriation of its citizens wishing to return home voluntarily, escaping anti-immigrant (xenophobic) attacks.

Department of Disaster and Management Affairs is to coordinate the repatriation process with immediate effect and the returnees are expected this weekend.

Nankhumwa further says the Malawian Consulate and the High Commissioner’s office in South Africa are working hand in hand with the South African government on monitoring and assessing the situation on the ground on the production of temporally travel documents for the victims.

Malawi Catholic Education Policy Launched… The Church Promise To Promote Quality Education

The Catholic Church has launched Malawi Catholic Education Policy, aim at consolidate achievements in education and reposition itself to modern challenges. 

The development of the guideline policy is also an attempt to set out some aspects of Catholic perspectives in education.

The policy document among others, presents fundamental principles and ideas of Catholic education which should guide the management of over 1500 primary schools and close to 150 post primary education institutions including Secondary Schools, Teacher Training Colleges, Vocational and Technical Colleges and Special Needs Education College across the country. 

His Lordship Right Reverend Martin Mtumbuka, Bishop Chairman for Catholic Education Commission says the church hopes that contents in the policy will lead to greater clarity on the church vision of education and provide material for thought, reflection and dialogue among those engaged in its provision at all levels and other interested parties.

“We are trying to respond to the environment we are in, over a hundred years ago the environment in which we were working, was not as sophisticated as it is at the moment. The social economic challenges and moral challenges were not the same. Therefore, we are working in the environment that is far most sophisticated than before.” He said

“So, we considered it more necessary to organize our self in more systematic way and in a more coherent way so that we can better respond to the challenges that are in front of us in more prioritized way so that we tackle the most important issues first and move down in a descending order.”

Rt. Rev. Mtumbuka further said apart from promotion of quality education the church is also through its social services committed to end various social-economic challenges, poverty and ethical and moral challenges the country is facing.

The Catholic church began offering education in Malawi since 1901 when the first primary school was established by Montfort Missionaries at Mzama Parish in Ntcheu district.

The policy has outlined number of issues which the Catholic Education Commission shall strive to promote as it offers education in the country. Among others the church shall strive to promote: Catholic Education Institutions be open to all people regardless of their distinction of religion, ethnicity tribe among others; equity in the enrollment for basic education; quality education; discipline including teacher motivation.

Cannabis Sativa Smuggler Sentenced to Five Years Imprisonment

The First Magistrate Court in Nkhotakota has sentenced a man who smuggled 29 bags of Indian Hemp using his Carina vehicle to five years imprisonment or pay K900 thousand fine in default.

Nkhotakota First Grade Magistrate found guilty  Matambo Gizito Chikwa age 32 who was arrested on 11th March this year.

Chikwa dumped his Carina vehicle registration number NU 5592 when he saw police roadblock at a short distance.

When police inspected the abandoned vehicle found a driver's license and 29 bags of Cannabis Sativa well packed in the vehicle.

Few days later Chikwa was arrested in Blantyre and pleaded guilty in court. 

On mitigation, Chikwa's lawyer asked the court to be lenient saying he is married with three children who needs his care. He added that he is young and energetic who can contribute to the economic activities in the country and therefore sending him to jail would not be a good solution. 

However, First Grade Magistrate Fred Juma Chilowetsa said Chikwa committed a very serious offense and deserve a corresponding sentence.