Malawi Public Sector Reforms Remedy To Get Economy Back- EU

A delegation to Malawi of five European Union (EU) Member States Diplomats has promised to support implementation of the Malawi Government reform agenda saying these reforms are a promising path to sustainable economic growth for the country.

The five Senior Diplomats of EU Member States of Finland, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Ireland had on Tuesday met Malawi Vice President Hon Saulos Claus Chilima as they were about to conclude a four day visit to Malawi to appreciate number of projects being Funded by EU. 

EU Head of Delegation to Republic of Malawi, Ambassador Marchel Gerrmann at a press conference on Wednesday in Lilongwe said their encounter with the vice president was fruitful because the EU got an over view of what Malawi government is doing.

He said the issue being pursued by Malawi Government on reforming the Public Sector is the way to go and the EU is ready to help in the implementation.

Malawi government is implementing the Public Sector Reforms in order to improve efficiency and effectiveness in public institutions. 

“With the Vice President we discussed mainly the reform agenda of the government in terms of public sector reform and the public finance management reforms. The vice president gave an overview the current state of affairs.” Said ambassador Gerrmann

“From our side, we have commended the government for launching these reforms and we have also committed ourselves to support government in the implementation because at the end of the day implementation of those reforms is needed to get Malawi back on the path to sustainable growth.”

“We are ready to assist and we are assisting and we are working closely with the Government to do that and it was a positive meeting as well.” He added

On his part the Ambassador Koen Adam of Belgium based in Tanzania also said was impressed with the reforms being championed by Malawi Government but emphasized that the implementation is very crucial.

The Belgium Ambassador further hailed the Malawi National Assembly for its diligence in promotion of constitution and democracy in the country.

"Xenophobic Attacks Tantamount to Boko Haram Acts" Malawi Human Rights Activists Threatens To Report South Africa To ICC, UN

A human rights activist and executive director for Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR), Timothy Mtambo says Malawi Civil Society Organisations will seek help from international organisations on human rights to investigate the Government of South Africa it fail to stop to an end the ongoing bloody attacks against African immigrants.

Mtambo and other human rights activists including politicians have on Tuesday presented a petition to South African embassy in Malawi calling the immediate halt of the Xenophobia attacks against African immigrants a bloody violence which has killed more than five people including two Malawians. The petition which was received by South African high commissioner to Malawi, Ambassador Cassandra Mbuyane Mokone has threatened boycott South African products and businesses once no concrete steps are taken to end the violence. 

In an interview, the human rights activist Timothy Mtambo said apart from action to boycott any product and services which are South African once the violence continues, Malawi CSO's will be left with no other option but also to mobilise themselves to report South African Government for atrocities being committed through its citizens to international human rights institutions like International Criminal Court (ICC), United Nations (UN) And African Court of Justice and Human Rights saying South Africa is commiting crimes of the highest order.

“As civil society we will be watching, if we see that the South African Government is not handling this issue seriously we have other forums to complain to” said Mtambo who mentioned International Criminal Court saying such acts taking place in South Africa are "crimes against humanity! People have been killed” he said 

"We will mobilize ourselves to complain before ICC or United Nations (UN) which Malawi is signatory so that they can intervene and investigate the South African Government." 

Disapointed with reports of violence in South Africa, Timothy Mtambo has also branded xenophobia violence in South Africa as tantamount to Boko Haram acts, "They are both killing people so for us there is no deference and the way we condemn Boko Haram we also condemn the Xenophobia in the strongest terms.”

“What is very painful is that this is not first time for xenophobic attacks happening in South Africa, it is very shocking” he said and continued "Why is it that the government of South Africa continue dehumanizing the rights of the people in such a manner through its people?” 

"So, we want the South African government to show leadership, condemn this and make sure that justice is met. The repetition of Xenophobia shows lack of seriousness on the part of South African Government." 

Mtambo added "We citizens of SADC we would like them to make sure that people that have been victimized receive justice and those responsible be punished and xenophobia must end once for all, that should not repeat itself in the history of Africa.

Meanwhile, reports in South Africa indicates that Government is stepping up efforts in ending the violence following deployment of military to support police in Johannesburg township of Alexandra. According to News24, the South African Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula announced on Tuesday that the army will be involved in fostering peace in volatile areas. 

Reports also indicates the tribal leader for Zulu ethnic group King Goodwill Zwelithini, has distances himself from the widespread allegations that he uttered remarks which fueled the Xenophobia violence.

King Goodwill Zwelithini who is being blamed for inciting deadly xenophobic violence in South Africa claimed he was misquoted by media to have uttered words "foreigners must pack their bags and go home" during speech last month. He has since appealed for calm and condemn attacks against foreigners. 

Malawi Should Consider Job Creation To Protect Its Youth From Future Xenophobic Violence- Kalindo

Hon Bon Kalindo

Mulanje South legislature, Honorable Bon Elias Kalindo says xenophobic attacks against African immigrants in South Africa should serve as a wake up call to Malawi government on the need to addres unemployment amongthe youth.

Kalindo remarks comes as he joins in solidarity with the rest of concerned Malawians in condemning bloody attacks against foreign African nationals by South African citizens on the root that the immigrants have taken up their jobs.

Kalindo in font of protests carrying Malawi flag

Kalindo on Tuesday joined the march from Parliament building to Kang'ombe house in city centre to South African embassy to present petition calling the rainbow nation to immediately halt the ongoing violence against fellow Africans and was dressed in black a symbol of mourning and carried national flag in the front of the protesters.

In an interview, the Parliamentarian has urged government to consider job creation as the remedy to protect its citizens from being victims of Xenophobia in South Africa or any other country in future. He said as Malawi condemns South Africa there is need also to address the unemployment problem in the country so that youth do not flock to South Africa.

“The word to government is that it should look beyond xenophobia, because if we are not creating job opportunities to our people surely we are going to continue experience more problems and see more victims from Malawi whenever such forms of violence errupts."

The Mulanje South parliamentarian says will speak in National Assembly on this issue and matters relating to the ongoing violence in South Africa.

Hon. Kalindo has also condemned the South Africa violence “As a Malawian I needed to join this demonstration to show our solidarity and anger to the rest of African countries that what is happening in South Africa is very bad and we cannot support it” he said, “We condemn what is happening in South Africa”

“We are all Africans we don’t have to kill each other” appealed Hon Kalindo

Two Men Arrested For Possessing Prohibited Weapon

Two men suspected to have been on armed robbery mission from Lilongwe to Kasungu district were interrupted by police and are expected to answer charges of possessing prohibited weapon.

Lilongwe Police Deputy Public Relations Officer, Constable Margaret Selemani has named the two suspects as Decent Amos aged 27 from Kambalanje of T/A Chiseka in Lilongwe and Kazimkambani Bongololo aged 21 from Mvela village of T/A Kwataine in Ntcheu district and were arrested this week.

Constable Selemani said Police arrested the suspects in Lilongwe at Area 13 near Kamuzu Institute for Sports and were also found with four live ammunition.

The Lilongwe Police deputy PRO said police managed to arrests the suspects when investigators followed tip-off from members of general public that some criminals were on their way to Kasungu for robbery operation.

"Having received the tipp-off we elected a temporary roadblock at Area 13. There, we detained a vehicle registration number; BM 9279 Toyota Carina silver in color." Said Selemani

"After thorough inspection we found a pump gun and four live ammunition hidden in the boot" said the police officer who also indicate that the size of the gun appear to have been reduced probably to fit in a pocket of a jacket.

Police says the two are in police custody pending further investigations but have been charged with Found in possession of prohibited weapon.

For the past two month police in Lilongwe have recovered more than seven firearms especially pistol guns. Last week, Lilongwe police arrested two men who are suspected to be those that are hiring their licensed firearms to criminals. They were found with  Short gun 12 Bore Greener with 2 rounds of live ammunition and Short Gun CAL 12 with 18 rounds of ammunition.

Constable Margaret Selemani has since hailed members of the general public for reporting suspects and criminal activities to police "We encourage everyone to report crimes and suspects to police whenever you suspect any criminal act so that together we end these crimes in the city"

South Africa Xenophobia: Malawians Issue 48 Hours for South African Govt to End Xenophobic Violence Or Face Boycott of Products and Businesses

March Begins at the National Assembly Premisses

The largest crowd has marched in Malawi on Tuesday morning from outside National Assembly building to Kang'ombe House in the city centre of the Capital, Lilongwe where the South African embassy is based to give petition which is calling South African Government to immediately halt the ongoing Xenophobic attacks against foreign African nationals.

 The demonstration organized by a group of human rights activists was joined by legislatures Honorable Bon Kalindo,  and other dignitaries including Mr Dalitso Kubalasa of MEJN, Martha Kwataine (MHEN), Hon. Rev. Malani Mtonga (PP), and The Presidential Advisor on NGOs Mavuto Bamusi, and others. 

Hon Bon Kalindo carrying Malawi Flag

Hundreds of Malawians took to the streets while dressed in black attires, some demonstrators were in T-shirts having face of President Jacob Zuma and others for Mandela while another man was seen putting on Ngoni costume.

Songs of expressing anger with South African government and calling President Jacob Zuma to end these attacks were chanted throughout the way to South African High Commission office.

Man put on Jacob Zuma T-Shirt

The protesters have presented the petition to South African High Commissioner to Malawi, Ambassador Cassandra Mbuyane Mokone who has since told those who gathered outside the embassy office that she was sending the petition immediately to Pretoria and thanked the demonstrators.

Cassandra Mbuyane Mokone receiving petition

The petition signed by Malawi Human Rights activists, Billy Mayaya, Gift Trapence, Robert Mkwezalamba, Lucky Mbewe and Timothy Mtambo on behalf of concerned citizens of Malawi is asking South African Government to address the worsening violence within 48 hours, else face boycott to all South African products, businesses including ban of South African airlines from operating or landing in Malawi airports.

Ambassador Cassandra Mbuyane Mokone listening attentively

The South African Government is urged to take a proactive action in protecting rights of all people living in South Africa, in line with provisions in their constitution and international legal obligations and address the cause of xenophobia.

Part of the crowd

The letter is further calling for thorough investigation of these ongoing violence and hold those responsible accountable so that they face justice. Similarly, the petition while accusing Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini, Edward Zuma and Small Businesses Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu for their alleged remarks which are fueling the attacks against foreign African nationals it asks south African Human Rights Commission to investigate such xenophobia comments and take appropriate action.

However, the petition noted with disappointment that perpetrators of 2008 xenophobic violence were not held accountable for the killings of more than 60 people.

Though not addressed in the petition, human rights activist Timothy Mtambo says they want compensation to Malawi victims.

The ongoing violence in South Africa against foreign African nationals is premised on alleged  crowding of South African jobs by immigrants and lender the citizens jobless.

But the petition says "We call upon the Government of South Africa to urgently remove the structural inequalities that are rooted in apartheid and white privilege. We believe these are main causes of worsening economic inequality and marginalization. 

Timothy Mtambo

These inequalities were not instituted by migrants and will not automatically disappear if the migrant population decreases."

The petition adds "The most sustainable way to address the economic frustrations felt by many South Africans is to adopt policies that reduce the inequalities and create programmes that empower ordinary South Africans."

The petition also reminds South African Government of how other African countries including Zimbabwe, sacrificed their socio-economic and political resources in solidarity with South African liberation movements to bring to an end to evil apartheid. 

"In solidarity of these extreme sacrifices by African people, we expect the South African authorities and its citizens to reciprocate the solidarity through Ubuntu and shunning of Xenophobia."

Billy Mayaya posing with one of the demonstrators

Billy Mayaya one of the organizers for the demonstration said it is possible to boycott South African businesses and products if Malawians agrees to.

South African businesses including Game shop, Shoprite and Standard Bank have large customers in Malawi.

South Africa Xenophobic Violence:Malawi’s Repatriation Budget Keeps on Rising...From K30M to K195M

The Malawi victims of the ongoing Xenophobia violence in the republic of South Africa keeps on rising so does the costs to repatriate them back home.

From K30 million as a cost of ferrying citizens escaping violence, the figure rose to more than double last week and now has gone to K195 million.

First six buses for Malawians who freely accepted to come back escaping the ongoing attacks have been expected to arrive in the afternoon in Blantyre at Kwacha Social Welfare Centre and are totaling 390. 

Malawi government says K195 million is now the cost of hiring of the busses to ferry its citizens from South Africa.

Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture Hon. Kondwani Nankhumwa revealed this morning in Lilongwe at a press briefing that there are now 3,200 Malawi victims and two confirmed deaths but the number may continue to rise.

Nankhumwa says the buses, which have a seating capacity of 65 each, cost an average of R100, 000 per bus but approximately 50 buses are needed which translates into R5 million or MK195 million.

“We are currently estimating K195 million for the hiring of the buses and the figures will continue to rise but we have the money in place” he said

“So far we are talking of the figure 3,200 even more who have been affected and two death have been confirmed of Malawians and one of them was already laid to rest on Wednesday”

“Day by day we continue to discover that there are more Malawians for example we had a figure of 90 then went up to 120 then 1000 so as we are speaking now is 3,200 which means this is necessitating the rise again in the economic cost of it”

The Minister has since identified one of the deceased person as Adam Kaunga from Chilipa in Mangochi  district and was laid to rest on Wednesday, but Government is yet to establish identity of the other body that is still is still at the mortuary.

He added that another one person was seriously injured and is in a Plaster of Paris (POP). He is too afraid to seek medical attention while expressing Government deepest sympathy and condolences to families of the deceased.

According to the government plan, the returnees who are to arrive in Blantyre will be separated with those coming from other regions being ferried to their regions of origin as per their choice.

Meanwhile, Hon Nankhumwa has confirmed that Malawian foreign minister will be meeting South African counterpart later this week but Secretary for Foreign Affairs is already in South Africa to discuss with his counterpart on the agenda to be discussed when the two ministers meet. 

As some angry Malawians are to hold anti-Xenophobia demonstrations in the capital, Lilongwe this Tuesday where a petition is to be delivered to South African Ambassador, the Minister has asked the demonstrators to exercise caution and conduct their protests in “free and fair” manner without attaching any form of violence to it.

“We maintain Malawi is a peace loving nation, we undertake freedom of association, freedom of expression which is there and freedom of demonstration which is there. We don’t intend to block anyone from doing this, they are exercising their rights.” He said

The Government Spokesperson has assured peace and security for all foreigner’s and their businesses whether of South Africans or others.

LL District Assembly Finance Director Gets Two and Half Years Imprisonment

A former Director of Finance at District Assembly office has been sentenced to serve two and half years in prison after Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate Court found him guilty of misappropriation of K6, 227, 500 (Six million  Two Hundred and Twenty Seven Thousand Five Hundred Kwacha) in the year 2010.

Leonard Kishombe aged 40 from Mpondaliwonga village of T/A Chikowi in Zomba was arrested in 2010 while working as a Director of Finance at Lilongwe District Assembly.