AU Donates US$100 Thousand Towards Disaster Response Programme

Symbolic cheque 

The African Union Commission (AU) has assisted Malawi government with a contribution of US$100,000 (US$100 thousand) to help alleviate the impact of the floods on the people of Malawi.

His Excellency Ambassador Mohamed Fathi Edrees, Ambassador of Egypt to the AU and Ethiopia, made the symbolic presentation of the donation through Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture Kondwani Nankhumwa on Thursday evening in the Capital, Lilongwe.

The ambassador Mohamed Fathi Edrees is leading the delegation from the AU Permanent Representative Committee (PRC) Sub-Committee on Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons. The delegation composed of three persons were on a four day Humanitarian Assessment and Support Mission, following up on the consequences of the floods that occurred in January and resulted in displacement of thousands of Malawians. 

The team toured affected areas of Phalombe, Chikwawa and Nsanje districts after meetings with government officials and groups involved in humanitarian assistance to the recent floods.

“One important thing that we wanted to tell all our brothers and sisters here is that you are not alone.” Said Ambassador Mohamed Edresees while making assurance that African family will continue render support to Malawi in addressing some of the problems the floods have brought to the victims.

Ambassador Mohamed Edrees

“We also wanted not to stay at our offices and receive reports and just read and hear. Definitely seeing is not like hearing or reading. So it was important that we have this first hand encounter with the officials, peoples at the sites and different humanitarian actors and to have some sort of a more elaborate and comprehensive understanding of the situation.”

Receiving the donation, Hon Kondwani Nankhumwa said Malawi government is grateful of the kind gesture from the AU saying it will go a long way in the ongoing translocation and rehabilitation process. 

Hon Nankhumwa said the situation is now improving in the flood affected areas and that people will be relocated very soon. He also indicated that in some areas people have begun returning to their homes. 

However, Nankhumwa said currently, government is involved in the process of doing assessment of the damage caused by the floods and the report will be out very soon which will inform the financial resources, materials and technical support needed for the reconstruction and rehabilitation process.

Nkankhumwa has therefore asked governments and organizations to come in and assist Malawi as it is conducting reconstruction and rehabilitation process.

TNM takes ‘SMART DATA” to Mzuzu University...

Nesnes recent performance at Polytechnic

Students set for Smart Data Campus Promotion & blitz during
Social Weekend

TNM Smart Data has announced the sponsorship of the Mzuzu University (MZUNI) Students’ Social Weekend from 1st to 3rd May, 2015.

During the Mzuni students’ social weekend, Malawi’s premier mobile telecommunication company, TNM, will be brushing shoulders with University

students with their Internet baby; Smart Data.  On the weekend, TNM aims at

demonstrating reliability, affordability and most importantly a great variety of bundles that have been introduced as an icing on the cake of their advanced internet offerings. 

Essentially, TNM aims to empower students and everyone in Malawi to minimise the hassle in information and networking as they have a package of bundles that fit each person’s internet needs.

‘Smart Data” is TNM’s revolutionary basket of innovative products powered

by the Internet. The bouquet is helping enrich the TNM customer experience on the Internet as users now enjoy easy access to social networks and browsers such as Opera Mini. Heavy downloaders and merely fun-seekers are all taken care of in this consortium of advanced smart access to data services.

Announcing the sponsorship, TNM Head of Region for North, Richard Kwatiwani said Smart Data unlocks the barrier of access to academic and social

information for students.

“Internet is what every student needs in their academic life and it adds value to their social networking edge. With Smart Data, TNM offers a wide variety of internet bundles for the students to choose from according to their needs,” he said.

Kwatiwani said the Social Weekend will provide a platform for students to

appreciate Smart Data through a Smart Data Students’ promotion in which lucky students will win Smartphones, Dongles and various TNM merchandise.

He encouraged all interested people in Mzuzu to be part of the fun this weekend as TNM has also featured young urban music stars Nesnes (who did the Smart theme song with Gwamba) and Blakjak to headline and reinforce the messaging. 

“Smart Data presents a complete shift in TNM’s core data proposition in that it has come to enrich our customers’ experience and our staff will be

available during the social gathering in order to provide information about the product,” assured Kwatiwani.

Events will hit a climax on Saturday night as a Mr and Miss Smart Data will be crowned during the event.

The company also sponsored the Polytechnic social weekend which was held from 6th to 8th March, 2015 where Evans Banda and Vanessa Thyolani were crowned Mr and Miss Smart Data respectively. The two received Huawei Ascend Y221 smartphones from TNM.

Former MYPs Fighting For Leadership As Govt Is Yet To Pay Compensation

Concerned Ex-MYP Victims of 1993/94 Operation
Bwezani during 2014 petition to president Banda

Tension have emerged in the group of dismembered Malawi Young Pioneers (MYP) on who should lead their group and who should negotiate with government on their outstanding grievances.

MYP ended during disarmament of 1993 Operation Bwezani but they rejoined to ask government to give them compensation and premature retirement packages.

In 2012, government halted payment parade of their retirement packages after it was found that there were some ghost members on the payment list. Grey Chisale who led the unified MYP group was accused of perpetrating such malpractice and was ousted by angered members.

Almost three years after the incident the former MYP leader, Grey Chisale has now began issue warnings to the group now being led by Pastor Pearson Banda to stop engaging with government on revamping the payment parade saying government still recognise him as the leader for Defunct MYPs.

Chisale warning follows the recent petition which the group now known as Concerned Ex-MYPs Victims of 1993 Operation Bwezani led by Pastor Pearson Banda asked President Mutharika to intervene and quickly address their outstanding grievances that is; recommence payment of reasonable premature retirement package, compensation and stop continue engaging with MYP old committee.

Grey Chisale told journalists in Lilongwe that the Concerned Ex-MYP leadership should stop engaging with government because he is still recognised as MYPs negotiator.

Chisale justified his claim saying there is a letter to the Concerned Ex-MYP leader Pearson Banda dated 10th April 2013, from John Kalanga Secretary for Human Resource Management and Development which said Government believes that there is only one secretariate to which all Ex-MYP members are affiliated to whose national coordinator is Mr Grey Chisale and advised to sort out their issues with Mr. Chisale.

He added that on 16th September 2013, former ACB Director Justice Rizine Mzikamanda  wrote to accountant General informing on ACB concluded investigations pertaining to all allegations some Ex-MYP members had brought. The letter claimed that ACB has not been able to substantiate the said allegations as such the process to disburse compensation to the remaining Ex-MYP members can proceed.

“Am not defending the government”, Chisale claimed “But I initiated this group when others fled this country during the disarmament in 1993, it was me and my committee who initiated dialogue with government and this is why the government is opting to work with me and not the so called the Victims of the Operation Bwezani (Ex-MYP led by PearsonBanda) who were rejected by government immediately at the first attempt to introduce themselves as elected members of former MYPs.”

He further accused the Ex-MYP group for creating confusion among members of defunct MYP and prompting delays for the government to recommence the payment parade for their pension.

“To show their failure, they are insulting the president through their petitions and threatening the nation, so it means that they have nothing to do and have nowhere to go”

“These people have said are not satisfied with the calculations and model government is following when paying the terminal benefits for the Ex-MYP” said Grey Chisale

“I being the person who was briefed on how the calculations were done, am satisfied because there is no way a person who worked for few years would get millions of money but only those who worked for a long time and are eligible for pension can receive a lot of money yet the other group does not know this hence making so many demands.”

Reacting to the Chisale claims, Publicity Secretary for the Ex-MYPs Mr. Hendrix Chimjota said “This is very unfortunate because the sentiments are lacking truth. There is no justice in that.” Adding  that "documents being used by Mr. Chisale to justify the claim are outdated" 

“What Mr. Chisale and his committee would have done was to sit down and think why we came up with this petition. I still cling as group being lead by Pastor Pearson Banda, we are saying that these people were smoked out by genuine Ex-MYPs because of the ghosting that was masterminded by Mr. Grey Chisale in 2012 payment parade.” said Chimjota

“Mr. Chisale prompted for anomalies of ghosting, he ferried non Ex-MYPs from various districts to receive compensation money a thing which did not go well with the fellow Ex-MYPs. His action has left several genuine Ex-MYPs not receiving any compensation and retirement packages during the first payment parade.” Explained Chimjota who added that “We lost trust in Mr. Chisale for what he did, and if he was intelligent enough he would have resigned and stop this.”

“Some people were caught red handed with faked IDs by police” he continued and indicated  "government is aware of it, some were arrested includong those that were in committee of Chisale and Chisale masterminded that ghosting” he claimed

“It is the government that should respond to our petition a thing that we are waiting patiently, nobody should intervene with this!” warned Chimjota who also mentioned that government is still recognizing them and is taking into consideration of any issue they presented.

President Mutharika Plans To Develop National Parks As Part of Animal Conservation

President Peter Mutharika plans to develop a big national park as a way of conserving wildlife and has vowed not to relent fight against poachers.

Mutharika was speaking at Kamuzu Palace Tuesday evening at a Press Conference following return from United States of America (USA) where he attended an International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF) United States Congressional dinner in Washington, DC.

"I would like to start a viable park service with trained armed rangers to defend and match the poachers." He said 

"I would like to have a nice park, because parks are very important for people and their families, they can go there for picnics and so forth.  And am determined to do that as part of conservation" said President Mutharika who emphasised that Malawi needs a national park and that international institutions have shown interest to support Malawi in the project including on the restocking of endangered animal species.

On international support Mutharika has assured that the country has now secured an international support of getting resources for conservation activities. 

The Malawi leader, has among others hinted his government efforts in ensuring success in conservation. He said government is developing a Comprehensive National Conservation Policy and also piloting a community participatory programme where by, all communities living around game reserves get share of fees that are collected so that communities have an interest in fight against poaching and takes part in preservation.

President Mutharika added that the community participatory programme has began in lower Shire's Majete game reserve with funding from the World Bank but it will be extended to the rest of the country.

The Malawi leader who said meant his words on conservation plans, has bemoaned with pace at which protected animals including elephants and rhinos are fast facing extinction a development which he described as a threat to future generation.

President Mutharika said Malawi airports have become a conduit for smuggling of ivory and that other powerful curtails are venturing into timber smuggling business but Malawi is not relenting but fighting them.

But has warned that whoever is involved in crime of poaching the law will take its course.

Professor Mutharika told journalists that his invitation to ICCF was part of appreciation to the efforts Malawi is making in combating crime of poaching and environmental conservation.

Mutharika has also announced several positive promises from potential business investors to come and invest in Malawi and that he has successfully marketed some of the Malawi's potential areas for investments.

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.