Malawi Prepares ICT Experts in Cyber Security Threats

George Mkondiwa: Government
 is trying to fight cyber crimes 

Cyber Security issues have not spared Malawi, with the boom in mobile and computer use some Malawians have experienced hacking, online data theft and proliferation of destructive malware, these events and future serious cyber threats have forced Malawi Government to embark on training aimed at raising awareness among ICT Executives and Policy Makers on cyber security so that they know the need for urgency in making policies relating to cyber crime.

The workshop has began on Tuesday in the Capital Lilongwe following a study by Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) that established that member states, including Malawi, were lagging behind in the formulation of policies and legislation that deals with cyber crime as well as lack of awareness among government policy makers and top executives on the need to urgently formulate and pass laws relating to cyber crime.

Chief Secretary to the Government Mr. George Mkondiwa when opening the training said, Malawi is trying to ready itself from future possible cyber attacks following the emerging computers and cellphones in the country and that the workshop marks the beginning to talk and make Malawians aware of threats brought by ICT and know how to prevent them.

He said Malawi government recognise the role the ICT-revolution plays to national development and is harnessing the  ICT through putting in place regulatory and legislative frameworks intended to ensure that Malawi makes the most of this revolution in its efforts to transform the country from poverty to prosperity.

"However, the Malawi Government is aware that the emergence of the ICTs has brought along with it the concern of cyber threats." Says Mkondiwa, 

"As highlighted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and even if at a  relatively lower scale compared to what is happening in the developed world, Malawi is also today facing the same problems of identity and data theft, proliferation of destructive malware and denial-of service attacks which the ICT sector world over is facing. Needless to say, that these threats are a virus that can undermine the role of ICTs as a tool critical to national development and, at the same time, inhibit the growth of the ICT sector itself." 

But he said Malawi is commited to spare no effort in tackling these crimes, especially so because "ICTs are the superhighway toward transformation of education, commerce and and other sectors" among others.

"This is why the Malawi government, like a good general at the battle front,

has taken the leading role in enhancing cyber security in the country through drafting the Electronic Transaction Bill.

Among many other things, the bill provides for investment in Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), that will ensure secure exchange of data between and

among computer users. The Electronic Transaction Bill also proposes the formation of Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) in Malawi which will be handling internet security issues. The government believes that once passed into law, and working in harmony with several other ICT- related legislation already in place, this bill will address issues related to cyber threats, thereby enabling the country to maximise the usage of ICTs."

The Malawi Government Chief Secretary then assured the meeting that the administration of Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, will do all it can to create an environment that "provides a powerful arsenal to this war." 

"The government will continue to provide direction, undertake reforms and make necessary investments in requisite skills and infrastructure for the consolidation and further development of the ICT sector in the country."

Andrew Kumbatira 

Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has partners with COMESA in training the officers.

MACRA's Director General Mr. Andrew Kumbatira said Cyber security is an area that has not been explored extensively in Malawi and there is need for awareness as the nation is experiencing increasing electronic transactions, which in turn will enhance economic activity of the country.

He said though Malawi has not yet experienced a very serious cyber threats, but with emerging cellphones and computers it is apparent that the country will in two year period experience the worst if ICT experts are not trained in how to secure Malawi cyber space.

The three day training has drawn High Level Executives and Policy Makers including Government officials responsible for ICTs, Legal Experts and the ICT/IT and Telecommunications Experts.

Mphwiyo Shooting: Kasambara, Pika, Kumwembe Have Case to Answer

Dauka (middle) Kadzuwa (left)
freed from Mphwiyo shooting case 

Lilongwe High Court finds three suspects with case to answer in the attempted murder and and conspiracy to commit murder of former budget director Paul Mphwiyo in the night of September 13th 2013 at the gate of his home in area 43.

Former Justice Minister and Constitution Affairs, Raphael Kasambara, Pika Manondo and McDonald Kumwembe have been found with a case to answer. While Dauka Manondo, Robert Kadzuwa and Oswald Lutepo  have been acquitted as the court finds no substantive evidence against them to be connected to the shooting.

Meanwhile Judge Justice Michael Mtambo has adjourned the case to 22 May 2015 where the court will enter the defense. 

Reacting to the three acquittals, Director of Public Prosecution Mary Kachale says the state respects the decision of the court. 

Why some suspects have case to answer and not others?

Raphael Kasambara will enter defense on the charge of Conspiracy to commit murder while Pika Manondo and McDonald Kumwembe are expected to enter defense with two counts of Attempted murder and Conspiracy to commit murder of Malawi's former Budget Director Paul Mphwiyo.

Kasambara has been acquitted in attempted murder charge because there was no evidence to justify the alleged threats the victim (Mr. Paul Mphwiyo) had claimed and that Kasambara was not identified among the assailants who were at the victims gate during the shooting. 

However, Kasambara has a case to answer on conspiracy to commit  murder following Airtel call logs which indicates that he was in a constant contact with the other suspects prior to and the night when Paul Mphwiyo was shot.

Justice Michael Mtambo said the court also agrees with state that Pika Manondo has case to answer for the "unusual" kind of communication he had with Kasambara night of Paul Mphwiyo shooting which one would suspect that they were executing a certain plan. The court added that Pika was identified by the victim as one of the suspects and that  he fled out of the country immediately Paul Mphwiyo was shot and was arrested a month later.

McDonald Kumwembe has a case to answer says the court following Airtel call logs which trace him moving from Bvumbwe to Lilongwe while in constant contacts with the other suspects. Not only that but also, his phone number registered that he was in Area 43, a location where the shooting took place and within hours the shooting took place.

Court further finds no evidence that Kumwembe had travelled to Mozambique the period of Mphwoyo shooting since Kumwembe was also found with a bus ticket indicating that he travelled from Blantyre to Lilongwe a day before Mphwiyo's shooting. 

On airtel call logs and the ownership of the phone numbers, Justice Mtambo said the court finds that the call logs were credible since "none of the accused" had  asked Airtel experts even a single question of ownership of the phone numbers or disowning them.

Justice Mtambo also ruled against defense submission particularly made by Raphael Kasambara and John Mwakhwawa that there is possibility that the phones of the accused were with their spouses including the submission made by Kasambara that his phones could have been with his personal assistant because he would let them use his phones.

"Cellphones are meant for  personal holders and are not given to spouses to communicate even with husbands friends during old hours" said Mtambo who added that "It is not possible to let your personal assistant use your phone, communicating with your friends even up to old hours."

Robert Kadzuwa has been acquitted because there is no evidence against him apart from the claim by the state that he was found with millions of Kwacha's while with Kumwembe, the money which the state suspects to have been a payment after shooting and the two were about to share. 

The judge said there is no evidence that the money found with Kadzuwa was his payment after the shooting.

Similarity the court finds no evidence that Dauka Manondo was involved in the shooting and conspiracy to commit murder of Paul Mphwiyo.

Oswald Mtupila Lawyer for Oswald Lutepo 

Oswald Lutepo has also been acquitted following acknowledgement by the state that his name made it to the suspects list when the state witness mistakenly named him for Pika Manondo.

Meanwhile the lawyer for Lutepo, Oswald Mtupila who looked so happy, says he would wait for Lutepo for a go ahead on appeal for compensation for the costs incurred having being dragged into the case.

Nobody Is Going to Starve Says President Mutharika Amid Low Crop Estimates

President Professor Peter Mutharika says no one is going to die of hunger as panic of hunger looms among Malawians in the wake of reduced maize yields this year.

Second round agricultural production estimates show that maize production has decreased from 3,978,123 metric tons realized in 2013/2014 agricultural season to 2,898,123 metric tons in the current agricultural season, representing 27.7 percent decline in production. Other major food crops such as rice have seen a decrease of 13.6%, millet 11.9%, cassava 1.1% and sorghum to 9.3 %.

This decline is mainly attributed to floods and prolonged dry spell that the

country has experienced in the course of the season.

However, potatoes and sweet potatoes have increased by 5.9% and 4.4% respectively.

Speaking at Kaumuzu Palace on Tuesday evening at a press conference, after a two-week visit to the United States of America (USA) where he attended an International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF) United States Congressional dinner in Washington, DC, Malawi leader made assurance that government is working tirelessly to ensure that there should be no hunger this year as a team has been set up working on how Malawi can pass through this difficult time.

"We know that there will be a deficit of about 1 million we are supposed to harvest up to 3.1 million and we expect about 2.1 million. But we are working. Now we have set up a committee chaired by Minister of Finance consisting of Minister of Agriculture and Trade and Industry to develop a response to this." Said president Mutharika

"We are also working with World Food Programme. Director General of World Food Programme has assured us that no person is going to die of hunger and I can assure that nobody in this country is going to die of hunger" said while acknowledge that Malawi is in a very difficult situation.

President Mutharika also said his visit to some northern region areas, observed that many people will not have any harvest as crops dried up due to lack of rainfall "There is no question that there will be a big deficit, but we are working on it there are people who have left yesterday going to other countries to look at issues of maize" added Mutharika who repeated assuring the nation that "nobody is going to starve"

Meanwhile, Ministry of Agriculture has put in place several mitigation measures to avert looming hunger including promotion of growing of cassava and sweet potato, distribution of agricultural inputs to farmers for irrigation farming and f Government in line with the Malawi Growth and Government intends to prioritize domestic procurement of maize grain a

Development Strategy which aspire to economically empower Malawian farmers by, among other things, providing a market for their grain.

LL High Court Rejects State Application To Revoke Bail For Mphwiyo Shooting Suspects

The state application to revoke bail of all suspects accused of attempted murder and conspire to commit murder of former budget director Mr. Paul Mphwiyo has been rejected by the court.

The Lilongwe High Court has on Monday evening rejected a state application made last month asking Justice Michael Mtambo to nullify bail of suspects following alleged interference with and threats to state witnesses.

However, Justice Mtambo said though there was an audio affidavit where two state witnesses claimed to have been threatened but observed that they lacked definitive identification of the one who was issuing such threats.

The Judge says, the court finds no evidence or probability of threat hence rejection of the state application 

Apparently this rejection will have an impact to the court determination of the judgement on Wednesday of whether to continue or discontinue the case considering that the state has for all along emphasising that its key state witnesses including Charles Chalunda were interfered with and threatened.

Justice Mtambo is expected to make a judgement on Wednesday whether the accused have case to answer or not.

Former Justice and Constitution Affairs Minister, Raphael Kasambara who is representing himself, Pika and his brother Dauka Manondo, McDonald Kumwembe, Oswald Lutepo and Robert Kadzuwa are the suspects in this case.

Two Suspected Poachers Nabbed, Found with Gun, Ammunition

Two men aged 30 and 32, have been arrested in Salima district for entering Thuma forest reserve with a gun for possible poaching mission.

Police Public Relations Officer for Salima district, Sub Inspector Gift Chitowe has identified the suspects as Alfred Leviasi aged 30 of Kaoche village from T/A Tambala and Kwetemu Kazola aged 32 of Jailosi village from T/A Kasumbi both from Dedza  district.

"Police we have arrested the two for conveying dangerous weapon into a protected forest reserve called Thuma in the night of 25th April 2015." Confirmed Chitowe

Sub Inspector Chitowe says the two, were arrested and have their weapon seized. He identified the weapon as Greener Gun and that four ammunitions were found which  police suspect that they were to be use for poaching. 

He said, it was the game scouts working within Thuma forest reserve who alerted police having spotted two men sneaking into the forest with a gun. 

"Their intention was to kill protected wild animals like elephants that are found in this forest" said Sub Inspector Chitowe

The two suspects will appear before First Grade Magistrate Court soon where they will answer charges of conveying a dangerous weapon into a protected forest reserve which is under Forest Act. 

"If found guilty are likely to face eight year jail term." Said Sub Inspector Chitowe

Mphwiyo Shooting Case: State Has No Evidence Says Defense

Case To Answer Or Not Set This Wednesday 

The Lilongwe High Court has reserved a ruling to Wednesday this week on whether the accused persons in the attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder of Malawi's former Budget Director, Paul Mphwiyo are guilty or not guilty.

Justice Michael Mtambo is expected this Wednesday to make his determination of whether to continue or discontinue with the having finished listened to oral submissions by both parties on Monday.

Meanwhile the judge is also expected to rule whether Oswald Lutepo should be acquitted in the case following acknowledgement by state that Lutepo was a mistaken identity by the witness who implicated him.

State and Defense were since Monday morning till afternoon making oral submission following written submissions made on 21st of April 2015 and that Justice Mtambo was expected to make a ruling following day on Tuesday however, this has not been possible because submissions ended very late in the day.

The defense, in its submission argued that the state has failed to provide substantive evidence to demonstrate beyond reasonable doubt that the accused had conspired and attempted to kill Paul Mphwiyo who happened to be their friend.

Defense lawyers, John Gift Mwakhwawa, Wapona Kita and self represented lawyer Raphael Kasambara have submitted that the case is a script written by Paul Mphwiyo as it has demonstrated that the lead investigator in this case Kankhwala Chilinda had failed to provide evidence that he had investigations following testimony of Paul Mphwiyo and other witnesses.

The defense further accused Chilinda for lying to court in many occasions and that the state throughout the case has been inconsistent including its witnesses.

The defense also attacked Airtel call logs indicating suspects communication web even the night when Paul Mphwiyo was shot, saying the investigator or the state had not at any point indicated or brought any witness to prove that the phone numbers found in the call logs belongs to any of the suspects.

The defense also pointed out lack of bringing material evidence especially a note which is said to have been written down by Paul Mphwiyo to his aunt bearing names of those that shot him. 

But in its submission, the state has maintained that it has never been inconsistent but some inconsistencies came in due to accused persons interference with state witnesses and threats.

The state further submitted that it brought enough evidence that reveals how the suspects were communicating prior and during the time Paul Mphwiyo was shot. Adding that Paul Mphwiyo who survived the attack on 13th September 2013, was a living testimony to tell who shot him.

The suspects in the case of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder of Paul Mphwiyo are; Dauka and his brother Pika Manondo, McDonald Kumwembe, Robert Kadzuwa, Raphael Kasambara and Oswald Lutepo

RTS, S Malaria Vaccine Candidate Study Shows Success

Malawi team in Malaria vaccine study

A study on Malaria vaccine candidate has registered positive results, now thought to be a break through in the fight against Malaria in endemic regions in sub-Saharan Africa.

Final results from a large-scale Phase III trial of the RTS, S Malaria vaccine candidate including a booster dose shows that it can protect children and infants from clinical malaria for at least three years after first vaccination. 

Eleven research centres in 7 African countries including Area 18 Health Centre in Lilongwe conducted the efficacy and safety trial where the evaluation was in the context of the existing malaria control measures such as incectcide treated bed nets which were used by approximately 80% of the 15, 459  participants.

Prof. Francis Martinson

A Principle Investigator in the trial in Malawi, who is also UNC Project Country Director, Professor Francis Martinson says the latest results to the end of study demonstrates that RTS, S followed by a booster dose of RTS, S administered 18 months after primary schedule, reduced number of cases of clinical malaria in children aged 5-17 months by 36% and by 26% to Infants aged 6-12 weeks.

However without a booster dose the reduction in clinical malaria cases were between 28% and 18% in children and infants respectively.

"Today we have a vaccine which has shown to be effective in one way or the other, the vaccine had showed the efficacy of 36% in the order age group of 5 to 17 months so we are very happy because this is the first time that a vaccine has show some efficacy said Prof. Martinson who added that this is a progress and it is a first vaccine against the parasite."

"We believe this is a beginning of something big, we believe that this is a beginning is something good thats the vaccine hopefully will be improved over the years for us to also have something that works better than something we have seen."

Prof. Francis Martinson
(second from left) Next to him 
is Dr. Portia Kamthunzi 
(a Lead Physician/ Investigator 
of Records

On the recorded percentage efficacy against severe malaria to the end of the study period wich did not even reach 50%, he said If we look carefully the 36% sounds small but this is on top of 80% of bed net usage and that translates to 1774 cases of malaria prevented per every 1000 children. So it looks small but to have over a thousand cases of malaria prevented for every thousand people or children is not a mean achievement. It means at least everybody has been spared in one episode of going to the hospital and therefore the mother of that child is in a great relief because we all know what it means to get malaria and how our mothers suffer through the process for these kids.

Currently the data has been passed on to the European Medicines Agency, where they are looking at it and if they are happy with it they will refer the information to the WHO, who will also look at the results. 

"If the WHO will be happy with the information hopefully they will recommend to African governments to include the vaccine in their EPI programmes." said Prof. Francis Martinson

It is intended to complement and not supplement other malaria control interventions.

The results are important as infants are considered to be the primary target for RTS, S immunisation.

The Sumary details of the research 

Prof. Francis Martinson (middle) and Dr. Portia
Kamnthunzi to his right 

We are pleased to announce that the Final results from a large-scale Phase III trial of the RTS, S malaria vaccine candidate, including the impact of a booster dose, show that the vaccine candidate helped protect children and infants from clinical malaria for at least three years after first vaccination.

The latest results demonstrated that vaccination with RTS,S, followed by a booster dose of RTS,S administered 18 months after the primary schedule, reduced the number of cases of clinical malaria in children (aged 5-17 months at first vaccination) by 36% to the end of the study and in infants (aged6-12 weeks at first vaccination) by 26% to the end of the study. Efficacy decreased over time in both age groups. Without the booster dose, the vaccine reduced clinical malaria cases by 28% in children and 18% in infants to the study end. The efficacy of RTS,S was evaluated in the context of existing malaria control measures, such as insecticide treated bed nets, which were used by approximately 80% of the children and infants in the trial.

For children in the 5-17 month age category who received a booster dose, an average of 1,774 cases of clinical malaria were prevented for every 1,000 children vaccinated across the trial sites, at the end of the study. For infants aged 6-12 weeks age category, who received a booster dose, 983 cases of clinical malaria, on average, were prevented for every 1,000 infants vaccinated. More cases were averted in areas of higher malaria transmission. In the absence of a booster dose, 1,363 cases of clinical malaria were prevented, on average, for every 1,000 children aged 5-17 months and 558 cases for every 1,000 infants aged 6-12 weeks at first vaccination to the end of the study.

Statistically significant efficacy against severe malaria to the end of the study period was observed only in children who received the booster dose. There was indication of increased risk for severe malaria in children who did not receive the booster dose, compared to those in the control group.

Eleven research centres in seven African countries conducted the efficacy and safety trial, in partnership with GSK and the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI), with grant funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to MVI. The trial, started in March 2009 and concluded in January 2014, enrolled 15,459 participants, in two age categories: children (aged 5-17 months at first vaccination) and infants (aged 6-12 weeks at first vaccination).

Safety

RTS,S continued to display an acceptable safety and tolerability profile during the entire study period. 

The incidence of fever in the week after vaccination was higher in children who received RTS,S than in those receiving control vaccine. In some children who experienced fever, the febrile reaction was accompanied by generalized convulsions, but all those affected fully recovered within seven days. The meningitis signal previously reported remains in the older age category, including two cases reported after the booster dose of RTS,S. This could be a chance finding, as comparisons were made across groups for many different diseases, and because some of these cases happened years after vaccination without any obvious relationship to vaccination. The occurrence of meningitis will be followed closely during Phase IV studies, if RTS,S is licensed.

These data was part of submissions to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in July 2014. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is currently reviewing the regulatory application for RTS,S through the Art. They will also be shared with appropriate World Health Organisation (WHO) committees. All these agencies are expected to play various roles in the registration of the vaccine for use in future. A positive opinion from the EMAs Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, together with a potential policy recommendation from the World Health Organisation (anticipated by the end of 2015), would be the basis for licensure applications to National Regulatory Authorities in sub-Saharan African countries. If positive, these regulatory decisions would help pave the way for the introduction of RTS, S through African national immunisation programmes. If RTS, S is approved, GSK has committed to making the vaccine available at a not-for-profit price.