K923.9 Billion 2015-2016 Budget Passed

The Malawi National assembly Pass 2015-2016 Budget amounting to K923,989,940 (Nine Hundred Twenty-three billion, nine hundred eighty-nine million, nine hundred sixty-five thousand, nine hundred and forty Kwacha) this Wednesday evening having passed all allocated money to various government ministries and departments.

The budget was passed after the house approved and passed the appropriation bill authorising the finance minister to to appropriate the the money to the Consolidated Recurrent and Capital Accounts for the purpose set out in he Recurrent and Capital Estimates.

The house has since adjourned earlier to Friday as motion moved by the Leader of House Hon. Francis Kasaila as part of thanking members for the job well done.

Among some of the major allocations are in the ministries of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development to the provision of K135,687,667,113, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to the provision of K114, 753,372,357

Meanwhile Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly President for Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Hon. Lazarus Chakwera said this is a good development but committed to give an oversight role as opposition parties. 

Hon Chakwera said “We believe that Malawians out there are rejoicing with us because what we want is services to everyone in the country and so we are glad that the opposition with all of the vigor in debating the budget has passed the budget together with members of the government side.”

He however said, “We will continue to provide the oversight that is needed and our committees of parliament are vibrant and will vigorously follow what happens in the implementation of the same budget.”

The during pre-committee of supply and during the committee of supply the house was almost turned into disarray following demands from opposition parliamentarians who were demanding the speaker to allow the house debate the alleged K92 billion cashgate report first before the budget.

Several attempts were made by opposition parties in the National Assembly to halt the budget debate but they failed to secure the plot when they had later realized that the house was presented with analysis of the cashgate report and not the forensic audit report.

Get all approved votes here….2015-2016 Budget

People With Physical Disability Wants Free, Affordable Mobility Devices

Hon Richard Banda receiving Petition form Charles Banda

Representatives from people living with physical disabilities petitioned the National Assembly to force government make “available free of charge” essential assistive devices particularly for mobility.

An Affiliate organization to FEDOMA called Persons with Physical Disabilities in Malawi (PPDM) petition is pushing for free availability of assistive devices among the poor persons with disabilities and lower prices for such devices to those who can afford.

The petition recommends that policies or strategies related to assistive devices require regular budgetary support from government to ensure implementation and for the replacement, repair and maintenance.

It adds that the essential assistive devices needs to be identified and made available free of charge to the poor people who cannot afford the devices.

Charles Banda Reading the petition

Vice Chairperson for the organisation, Charles Banda, when handing over the petition on Wednesday evening to Hon Richard Chimwendo Banda, Chairperson for the Parliamentary Committee on Social and Economic Affairs, said the concerned population of persons with physical disabilities wants provision of assistive devices be part and parcel of development national agenda.

He said persons with disabilities are facing a number of challenges including lack of increased participation in development activities hence calls for government actions as defined in accordance with international and local disability rights instruments by making available of assistive devices free of charge to the poor.

Banda observed that assistive devices are priced as high as K500 thousand for wheel chairs in shops and at K300 thousand for pair of callipers in current services offered 500 Miles Project, prices that an average Malawian is failing to afford.

He said now with no mobility aids such as tricycles, wheel chairs, crunches and callipers many poor Malawians with physical disabilities have lost mobility or they crawl on the floor. Banda noted that the worsening situation is due to lack of support to organisations that gives out services and such devices including Malawi Against Physical Disabilities (MAPD) and orthopedic centres in Lilongwe and Blantyre who are currently inactive.

Banda said currently, persons with physical are being denied equal access to many other social amenities including education, employment and health.

“Mobility devices enable persons with disabilities to achieve personal mobility and access to these devices is a precondition for achieving equal opportunities, enjoying human rights and living in dignity” he said adding that article 20 of United Nations Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) also places the responsibility of States to ensure that persons with disabilities have personal mobility with greatest possible independence, promote and ensure availability as well as access to mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies.

Assistive technologies when appropriate to the user he said “Have been shown to be a powerful tool to increase independence and participation”

He therefore said this is opposed to provisions in Sections 12(2), 13(c)(f)(g) and many others of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi; some Priority areas of the National Social Support Policy; some Sections in the Disability Act of 2012 and some Articles of the UNCRPD

The PPDM vice chairperson therefore asked Malawi government to abide by its commitments ratified in the UNCRPD and adopted Disability Act, and signed international treaties to ensure that persons with disabilities have equal access to basic human rights through access to assistive devices (including mobility devices).

“To this end government must adopt comprehensive approach to strengthen in-country capacity for provision for assistive devices at all levels”

Receiving the petition hon Richard Chimwendo Banda, Chairperson for the Parliamentary Committee on Social And Economic Affairs of Parliament, said he will try to plead with the Speaker and the business committee to ensure that the petition is discussed in this budget sitting.

“If it is not possible we will make sure it is given priority in the next sitting of parliament” he said adding that their grievances will be well articulated in by the legislatures through lobby for increased funding targeting their challenges.

Mzuzu Needs TTC- Education Committee

Chilenga (right)

A Parliamentary Committee for Education accuses government for overlooking at importance of re-establishment of Mzuzu Teacher Training College (TTC) since long ago it was changed to Mzuzu University.

A lot of members of Parliament from the northern region particularly those from Mzimba district have also been complaining through various forums including in the National Assembly that government has sidelined people of North for not re-establish their Mzuzu TTC.

However, government maintains ‘the decision was normal and there is nothing wrong’ according to Minister of Education Science and technology Emmanuel Fabiano

He argued that the decision to change Mzuzu TTC to University was based on demand for secondary school teacher’s and there is no need to complain for replacement as teacher colleges do not only benefit people from within districts near the college but the nation at large.

“In the first place the Teacher Training College that was in Mzuzu was not for Mzuzu, the people that went there to train as primary school teachers came from other part of the country.” He said

He also mentioned that the decision to change the status of TTC to University without replacement was not new odd by giving an example of similar primary school teacher training colleges that were changed to institution that train Secondary School teachers which now offer Diploma and Degree programmes including Domasi college of Education.

“So what happened in Domasi is similar to what happened in Mzuzu” and added “In a similar way in 1973, government decided that Soche College that was training Secondary teachers at Diploma and Degree level started training primary school teachers”

He continued “Am sure that when the government made the decision at that time was looking at the demand for the secondary school teachers. The demand was very high”

He said “So depending on need government will change the status of an institution so that it meet the demands at that particular time”

He also indicated that in order to promote quality education in primary school level new colleges will be established in Rumphi, Mchinji and in Chikwawa and that funding is available and that by the end of this year they may be completed.

But in an interview, Parliamentary committee on Education lambasts over government failure to make immediate re-establishment of Mzuzu Teacher Training College (TTC) since it was changed to Mzuzu University in 1997.

“This issue has been overlooked by government” reacted chairperson for the Education Committee in parliament, hon. Elias Chakwera who emphasized that “Ideally when Mzuzu TTC was taken over by coming in of the Mzuzu University we needed to relocate Mzuzu TTC to another place so that our numbers in terms of Teacher Training Colleges are not affected by that.”

He therefore asked government to seriously look at the issue “It’s true that when we train teachers in all TTC’s we are not saying that those teachers will be teaching in those districts, but the issue here is that when that TTC was taken way we had lost in terms of number of teachers to be produced and in order for us to regain that number we needed to have a TTC.”

Chakwera said in which case, there is no valid justification that city of Mzuzu considered as centre for the northern region is not equipped with all necessary amenities that could support education such as Teacher Training College.

He therefore said it is an anomaly to have no TTC in Mzuzu and that though there may have excuses but they don’t add-up to anything in terms of what government should be thinking about plan for this country

The Education Chairperson said though the matter was not discussed in the committee but was hopeful that it will take up the matter seriously.

Malawi To Follow Up All Interested Investors Promises

Cliff Chilunda

The Malawi government has put in place measures to follow up investment interests to be made by all potential investors in the upcoming Malawi Investment Forum 2015.

This comes as the country is expected on 29 to 30th June this year to host the first ever Malawi Investment Forum 2015 to be participated by over 300 delegates of whom 100 are foreign while as 150 are local companies.

According to the Principle Secretary for the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Cliff Chilunda says all the preparations for the event are done and Malawi is ready to show case 7 key opportunity priority areas in the seven sectors.

The Principle Secretary (PS) for Industry and Trade Cliff Chilunda held a news conference in Lilongwe a companied by chief executive officer for Malawi Investment Trade Centre (MITC), Clement Kumbemba to confirm the readiness of Malawi and give highlights for the upcoming event.

Clement Kumbemba

The Industry and Trade PS assured the nation that government has several ways of tracking all the investments promises to be made by the businesses interested to come to invest in Malawi

MITC Chief Executive Officer Clement Kumbemba concurred with the PS saying each and every participant will be followed up using several channels and that some reports on the same will be made available to several government levels and committees of parliament.

Malawi is hosting the Malawi Investment Forum in order to show case investment opportunities to the global community in order to attract companies that can establish their businesses in the country and contribute towards economic growth and wealth creation.

According to the Industry and Trade PS, Malawi will for the two day conference, show case seven opportunity areas in the seven sectors of Mining, Agriculture and Agro-processing, Energy, manufacturing, Infrastructure, Tourism and Financial Services.

Chiunda said the MITC expects to generate prospective investment of up to US $16 billion which is K7.2 trillion.

He also confirmed that most delegates and companies have confirmed to attend the conference adding that this underscore the importance of the forum on the international scene.

The PS among others mentioned that companies from India, Germany South Africa and USA have already confirmed their participation.

He said VVIP delegates including Vice President for OPIC, SADC Executive Secretary and Africa’s Richest Man, Aliko Dangote who has already shown interest in investing in Malawi.

Steve Bedi Tips Malawi Pupils to Nurture Their Talents

Steve Bedi (Left) and Bright Malopa (Right)

The UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador on HIV/AIDS, Steve Bedi a Ghanaian Jazz Saxophonist encouraged Malawi primary school pupils to use their school break time for recreational activities as a way of developing their talents and skills.

Bedi was speaking over the weekend at a Mlumbwira full primary school where he donated 40 classroom desks on behalf of Telecom Networks Malawi (TNM).

At welcoming the donation Steve Bedi watched pupils performing Mganda and other traditional dances. 

Bedi said was reminded of his musical career beginnings after watching the performance and that he was impressed with the pupils dancing skills. He therefore appealed to parents and teachers to encourage them to utilise the break time for recreation activities so that their skills are cultivated.

"They (pupils) don't have to be restricted to only class staffs but they have also to do recreational activities to entertain themselves" he appealed "because may be tomorrow they will be future Michael Jackson or Jenifer Lopez” 

Bedi also encouraged the pupils to work hard in class as well advance skills they feel are good at, like singing and dancing.

Bedi who narrated of how he rose from playing a pipe at school to a world class skilled Saxophonist said Malawi pupils can do the same and become future famous celebrities.

“It is really important because recreation is not just entertainment, but is something that recreates the mind and body, and it heals also.” he said,  "So recreation is very important for the students in schools because they get refreshed during their break time"

Man Kills Wife, Daughter Then Commit Suicide After Suspecting Wife Infidelity

A 45 year old man in Dowa district was found hanging from a tree with his wife lie dead in their field garden, but the body of their daughter is still missing, Dowa Police says and suspects this was a family matter.

It is suspected that wild animals have eaten the  body of the daughter as the dead body of the wife was found with one leg eaten by unidentified wild animals.

According to Police in Dowa district the deceased man identified as Ishmael Chambali Damusi aged 45 from Kachikunda village of T/A Chiwere in the district committed suicide after murdering his wife and 1 and half year old daughter when he suspected cheating by his wife.

Police Public Relations Officer in Dowa, Sergeant Richard Kaponda says police were told by the brother to the deceased woman that the man had warned his wife before that he will kill her when he suspected of her sneaking out with another man.

Sergeant Kaponda says the man had on Friday last weekend gone to the garden together with his wife and the daughter but never came back. The police officer said this surprised neighbours who went to search for the missing family on Sunday.

The police officer said it is suspected that while at their garden, the man murdered his wife Gilina Maliki Chambali aged 33 and daughter Tamandani Chambali of Nyangu village T/A Chiwere in Dowa.

Kaponda said there is strong sign that the man had committed suicide after he strangled his wife and the missing daughter.

A 1926 Primary School Gets First Classroom Desks

A Lilongwe City North primary school considered the very old, located approximately 14 kilometres from the Capital city,  gets classroom desks for the very first time, a donation from Telecom Networks Malawi (TNM)

On Friday afternoon, pupils and teachers from  a 1926, Mlumbwira primary school looked happy at receiving 40 desks valued at K1.2 millionon from Malawi's Premier mobile TNM.

The UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador for HIV/AIDS, a Ghanaian Jazz Saxophonist, Steve Bedi handed over the donation  on behalf of TNM and said "It is disheartening to note that the school with an enrollment of 949 students does not have a single desk." 

Bedi said an education institution with basic facility like desks gives a great motivation to students to do better and expressed the need for government and every person to take responsibility in provisio of the good learning enviromnet to pupils, the "future leaders." 

The UNAIDS Ambassador, who gave a motivationals speech to pupils also urged pupils, parents and guardians to refrain from undulging themselves in immoral behavior which may put them at risk of contracting HIV virus.

TNM Head of Marketing Sobhuza Ngwenya said the donation was part of TNM's corporate social responsibility and affirmative commitment in supporting government efforts in the provision of quality education.

Head Teacher for the school, Matthews Magwaza who thanked TNM for the donation said the school has a lot of problems.

He said, before the donation the school had only 10 plastic chairs for teachers and that students sit on the floor. He said the development has fueled school dropout among girls who mostly feel unconfortable sitting on the floor.

"This donation is a great thing to us" said the head teacher who promised to make sure that their first desks are taken care of.

"Pupils from this school sits on the desk for the first time when they got selected to secondary school" added the head teacher

On other challenges Mlumbwira primary school is experiencing, Mr. Magwaza said there is no staffroom office and that  all meetings are held under the tree. He further said the school has only six classrooms yet the it requires 15 classrooms.