President Mutharika's Mention of Women Empowerment in Parliament Excites UN women

President Mutharika

President Peter Mutharika's commitment on women empowerment and promote gender equality is attracting applaud from various institutions as UN Women in Malawi (United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women) says is pleased with his continued commitment in gender issues.

Alice Harding Shackelford Malawi's UN Women country representative says she is impressed that President Mutharika's State of National Address stressed that his government will continue with programmes that empower women and enforce as well as implement  Marriage Bill which he has recently assented 

Alice Harding Shackelford says such commitments from a leader are well come  and encourages other stakeholders to commit themselves in women empowerment issues.

Alice Harding Shackelford pose with
Speaker Richard Msowoya

“His Excellency highlighted the commitment of the government of Malawi to gender equality and women empowerment and I think that for him to reiterate that on regular basis in all his speeches he is so critical." She said 

"He also highlighted that he is the first Head of State in SADC region to sign for He for She campaign and that shows that himself, cabinet and parliament are strongly committed to this. So, I think we are the excellent entry point in this country at this moment to further advance the agenda and ensure that areas of discriminatory and negative attitudes towards women and girls are stopped and we look at enforcing constructive and positive attitudes on these areas.”

Harding further highlighted “I think he also touched on a very critical area, we know the critical legislation has been passed by parliament and he has signed it just recently, The Trafficking in Person Bill and Marriage Bill. But he also emphasized the focus on the enforcement of the law. And I think the enforcement, awareness and capacity building around that have key challenges but we have to work together with the government in the coming months.”

LL Carpark Thieves Nabbed

Toyota Rav4 used in carpark theft 

Police in Lilongwe have arrested two men suspected to be thieves who have been stealing in carparks around Lilongwe shopping centres.

Public Relations Officer for Lilongwe Police, Inspector Kingsley Dandaula while conforming the development said the two suspects have since confessed to be thieves who steal items from vehicles parked at big shopping carparks like, shopprite, Lilongwe City Mall, Crossroads and Gateway Mall.

Toyota corolla vehicle used in car park theft 

He also said three men have been arrested inn connection to the incident after being named by the suspects as buyers for the stolen items.

Dandaula has identified the two suspected carpark thieves as Shamil Osman aged 42 from Mitawa village of T/A Likoswe in Chiradzulu district but stays in Area 36 and Mavuto Mataya aged 28 from Namadzowa village of T/A Mabuka in Mulanje district and stay at Kaphiri.

Two vehicles used in Car Park robberies 

Dandaula said when carrying out theft, the two suspects were using two motor vehicles Toyota Rav4 registration number PE 1769 red in color and Toyota Corolla silver color registration number TO 3064.

The two would park their vehicles next to their target then wait for the victim to come out of the vehicle and go for shopping, said Dandaula.

The police officer said using handmade keys, the two would then open doors of the victims vehicle and went away with various items left inside the vehicle.

Corolla vehicle used in Car Park robbery 

Upon the arrest, police recovered various items including laptop bags, several handmade keys, baby clothes Land Beacon Scanner, Overhead Projector, and cellphones among other items.

The two suspects were arrested during a raid police conducted in Area 36 following a tipp-off from members of general public.

Inspector Dandaula says police investigations are underway.

President Mutharika Is Yet To Deliver Promises says PP

Uladi Mussa

Leader of Peoples Party (PP) in the National Asembly and member of parliament for Salima South, Uladi Mussa says he can't agree with President Mutharika remarks in Parliament that his government is delivering promises made in campaign period.

Mutharika when speaking during official opening of the 2014/2016 Budget Meeting of the National Assembly on Tuesday said his government is laying strong foundation to propel the nation forward.

Mutharika: we are delivering campaign promises

He then said his government is already delivering promises even before his first anniversary of his administration.

Mutharika also talked of his continued commitment to ensure that there is tight security in the country, and make Malawi grow economically. On economic development Mutharika says, his administration has embarked on number of policy reforms particularly on designing sound macroeconomic policies.

“I don’t see anything being delivered in this country and worse in my constituency; no single borehole, no teacher house, no single road. Nothing! What is it that has been delivered?” asked Mussa

“There are only promises from this government as if it is time for campaign." He said and added, "Implementation and funding of the projects being mentioned in his statement is the problem as well.”

This Wednesday afternoon PP is expected together with Malawi Congress Party (MCP) to make a response to the State of National Address delivered by President Mutharika on Tuesday.

Mutharika State of National Address Not Explicit Says PAC

Rev Dr. Felix Chingota

Public Affairs Committee (PAC) says President Peter Mutharika's State of National Address was not explicit to inform Malawians of critical developments taking place in the country.

President Mutharika delivered a long speech in Parliament as he opened the 2015/2016 Budget Session. Mutharika talked a number of issues taking place in the country from almost every government department and ministry. He also said his administration has already began delivering campaign promises.

But, Rev. Dr. Felix Chingota Chairperson for PAC said the speech lacked focus hence his speech style of covering everything. He said this has therefore left people in suspense as his lengthy speech failed to articulate in detailed form on each point he made.

“There was kind of a uniform way of presentation, he would pick up a ministry looking at what has been achieved so far and then looking what they are planning to do and was picking every government department and ministry.”

“Simply from a formalistic point of view in terms of looking backward and looking forward I think it was oky.” said Chingota, then daid “However, one would have thought that picking up critical areas would have been better, it was a long speech but in certain areas one would ask if that was worth reporting."

"So picking only very critical issues would be very important and dwell on them, elaborate more rather than speak on each and every item and therefore not speak in detail of those issues.” 

The Public Affairs Committee chairperson also noted that although Mutharika mentioned number of issues including xenophobia and floods but failed also to talk of sale of Malawi Savings Bank issue which is topical now and was not explicit on user fees in public hospitals.

The PAC chair however said, commended President his elaborative explanation on the issue of Devolution and Empowering Local Authorities.

"Since it was mentioned we are very happy because it is an issue that we have been advocating for. There should be devolution in terms of activities and that the local authorities should be given a lot of power so that they can manage affairs. This will also ensure that development should be closer to the people."

Chingota however, mentioned that "So it has been mentioned I just hope that it will not be a matter of rhetoric but also it will be implemented”

He also encouraged members of parliament to be thorough when making scrutiny to each and every item they are presented in the national assembly warning that "Otherwise we may spend money on not so much important issues”

Peacock Seed Company Joins Media In Charity Work

Peacock Seeds 

As the Media was celebrating for World Press Freedom Day, Peacock Seeds Company supported Media Institute for Southern Africa, Malawi chapter (MISA MALAWI) with a donation of maize seeds worth K500 thousand Kwacha.

The support was meant to be part of MISA Malawi's donation to Rumphi hospital and for the 250 flood victims in Rumphi district.

"Having realised that MISA is donating few items to flood victims in Rumphi Peacock decided that it should intervene by contributing more to what MISA is going to donate to flood victims." said Innocent Jumbe Director for Production at Peacock Seeds Company, "In this context we are trying to look at peoples welfare. We are donating seeds so that they will plant in their fields, they will do inter cropping and then after three months we believe that these people will get something out of these seeds  if they really want to survive from the loss hey have experienced through floods."

Innocent Jumbe unpacking the seeds

The donated maize seeds to MISA Malawi chapter is half a tonne (that is 250 packs each weighing 2kgs amounting totaling to 500kgs)

Jumbe said "We have donated these seeds with hope that it will really get to the people and we will also follow up through MISA Malawi chapter and through any other means to make sure that the seed goes to the people and that people themselves should benefit from this donation."

Adrian Kwelepeta Recording Second Album

The young talented music artist, Adrian Kwelepeta is back in the studio recording his second album and at the same time is doing an EP project.

In an interview, he confirm to be in the studio recording his second album but the title is not yet decided “Am pretty sure that after am done recording this album I might decide the title to it.” he said

2 Nigerian Nationals Arrested In Malawi for Cocaine, Fake Currency

Two Nigerians nationals are in police custody in Lilongwe for being found in possession of Illegal drugs suspected to be Cocaine and fake local currency.

Police Public Relations Officer Inspector Kingsley Dandaula said the two men were arrested following a tipp-off that they were in dangerous drug business in the capital, Lilongwe.

The two have been identified as Emmanuel Uche and Izuchuku Ekemezia. Both are business men who owns shops in Lilongwe.

Inspector Kingsley Dandaula said when Police CIDs received information that two Nigerian nationals are involved in selling of dangerous drugs they did not hesitate to follow up the matter and made arrests immediately.

Dandaula said one man Emmanuel Uche aged 34, from Nigeria was arrested in Mchesi and was the one found with fake currency

"In the course of searching for the drugs CID officers found one thousand kwacha bank notes amounting to K11,000 but are suspected to be fake."

"Later officers went to area 47 where another accomplice Laurence Izuchuku Ekemezia aged 32 from Nigeria lives" said Lilongwe Police PRO

"After search, police found substance suspected to be Cocaine but we have not yet weighed the substance."

Inspector Dandaula has indicated that police have sent the suspected fake money to Reserve Bank for examination.

As for the suspected cocaine, Pharmacy and Poisons Board are also doing their examination.