All Set For 'Malawi Investment Forum' All Prospective Investments Leads To Be Followed

Malawi confirm readiness to host the first ever Malawi Investment Forum, all delegates confirm participation says the Minister of Industry and Trade.

Malawi is expected this Monday to host a two day Investors conference and government says confirmed participants are drawn from across the world, with interested to bring their investment to Malawi.

Airtel Promise to Make Every Dream Happen

Heiko Schlittke 

Malawi’s mobile premier, Airtel challenges Malawians to live their dream as the company can make it happen through its number of services offered to customers.

The company is now running a campaign dubbed ‘Its Now’ which wants to make every dream happen.

“This campaign is a call for action to tell people that it’s time now to live your dream to go for your targets and use the technology that is at hand to enable you to achieve that" said  Heiko Schlittke, Airtel Managing Director

He said "Airtel is not just a technology company but Airtel is a friend who is there to help achieving those dreams" 

Schlittke said through number of services that Airtel offer, including internet solutions and corporate social responsibility Airtel can help to make people dreams happen.

He said, with its internet anyone can do a research for any information, look for jobs or apply for a job and learn any skills.

“Take that step now and let Airtel be your partner in making your dreams come true” he said, “At Airtel, our core values echo this dedication to our customer’s success. Our vision is to connect inspired Africans to knowledge and opportunities. Our vision is to provide them the tools they need to propel this great continent into the future.”

He added; “Our values drive the way we interact with our customers and with each other”

“We would like everyone to experience our cutting edge technology at their fingertip. To enable them pursue their passions whenever it may take them because their dreams are our dreams too.” Said Schlittke 

"We want to be a friend for life for Malawians" he said saying Malawi should count on Airtel at all times.

Airtel Malawi launched ‘Its Now’ campaign on 16th June 2015, in the capital city, Lilongwe.

Malawi Officially Ban Alcohol In Sachets

Malawi government officially ban packaging, distribution and marketing of ‘liquor in sachets’ and warn closure and revocation of license of any business that goes against the new prescribed Liquor regulation.

The new regulation gives recommendations for appropriate quantities and packaging in which liquor should be produced, packaged, marketed and distributed.

According to a Ministerial statement delivered in the National Assembly on Friday, by the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon Tarcizio Gowelo on ‘Liquor Regulations’, apparently responds to demands that Alcohol in Sachets be prohibited following numerous health issues and socially dangerous actions it poses to consumers.

The new regulation prohibits package of liquor in plastic or anything sachets or other similar packaging and that, it is illegal to use industrial grade ethanol, or other non portable ethanol with intoxicating liquor.

Hon. Gowelo told the house that his ministry has now been mandated to regulate and ban sale of alcohol in sachets.

He said now the authorized packages for Clear Beer is glass bottles or aluminium bottle of 320 ml, in 200 ml glass bottles for Spirits, in 250ml cardboard box for Traditional beer, in 200ml glass bottles for Liquors, and in 300ml glass bottles for Ciders and Alcohol Pops.

“From now on we do not expect to see beer in sachets, it is prohibited” said Gowelo who assured that officers are on the ground for enforcement.

He said the penalties for any person convicted of an offense under these regulations are imprisonment to 12 month and forfeiture of license and also forfeiture of intoxicating liquor which was used for the purpose of the offense.

He added that any License issued under the Liquor Act for the manufacture, importation, export, sale or supply of intoxicating liquor, prohibited under the new regulation is revoked forthwith.

Ideality the regulation wants to discourage the minors from taking alcohol as it has been the case. It was reportedly that both primary and secondary school students were drinking alcohol during class time and there were number of absenteeism as well as school dropouts. 

“Mr Speaker sir, the rationale for regulating the quantities and packaging is to increase the cost of liquor and hopefully deter purchasing and abusive drinking by minors.” 

Said Gowelo; “The ultimate objective of these regulations is to curb the excessive drinking and the abuse of alcohol by majority of active population including the minors.”

The Minister expressed optimism that the new regulation will help to reduce health problems such as alcohol dependence, livercerosis, kidney failure and other injuries. He also said reported cases of socially dangerous actions such as drink and driving, gender based violence, family disruptions and diminished incomes through diversions, addictions, commission of crimes, juvenile delinquencies, child negligence, abuse and exploitation will be reduced.

Added Hon Gowelo; “Significant economic harms that comprised work related problems due to absenteeism and under performance reading to unemployment, homelessness, and reduced workplace productivity will also be reduced” 

The statement came into the floor as an update following the court case between Malawi Bureau of Standards and some Liquor producers after earlier ban of alcohol in sachets.

“The regulations have been duly gazette and now they are effective for implementation and we do not expect to see any beer outlet selling beer in sachets or outside the new liquor regulation.” Confirmed Hon Gowelo in an Interview but said Companies have right to produce liquor but the quantities and packaging may be regulated”

He said his ministry has communicated to all local authorities to collaborate with law enforcement agencies to monitor that liquor manufactures abide to the regulations.

He also asked parents and communities to make sure that they support government in ensuring that the regulations are adhered to and that people of Malawi are protected.

Last year, concerned Malawians held protests and petitioned the National Assembly to pressure government ban packaging and distribution of alcohol in sachet. The group the petitioners observed that Alcohol in Sachets were easily accessible by minors such that cases of alcohol abuse and addiction were on the rise.

Peoples Party Wants Prudence in the Implementation of 2015-2016 Budget

Jooma 

The opposition People’s Party (PP) expects prudence in the implementation of the appropriated K923 billion 2015/2016 budget and warns that parliament will keep monitoring the budget implementation.

Spokesperson for the party on Finance matters in the National Assembly, Hon Ralph Jooma said in an interview that the Minister has to stick to the Public Finance Management Act and Appropriation bill guidelines.

Jooma said there is no need to overspend the money or spend outside the budget line, “Now that we have passed the budget which we are calling it a largest budget in this country has ever had, K923 billion, is quite a lot of money”

He said “The expectation is that government should make sure that it implements the budget to the full.”

Hon Jooma warned that since the parliament has been allocated enough money, the committees of parliament will make sure that it monitors the implementation of this budget.

Responding to this call, Leader of House in the National Assembly, Honorable Francis Kasaila says government will ensure that the budget is implemented as approved by the whole house.

“Our expectation is that our colleagues in the offices will start working hard from the 1st July and we want to see some impact from this budget” He said, “Figures in the budget will mean nothing if there will be nothing tangible happening on the ground”

Kasaila who promised that the cabinet work hard to monitor the implementation of the budget, jettison out fears of misappropriation and future cashgate scam.

He said since Bingu Wa Mutharika regime particularly the period of 2009 to 20012, DPP government tried to monitor and supervise government workers in preventing misappropriation, “indeed there is a very clear testimony from the analysis that has been made by the auditors that if we look at the reconciliation reports the figures that could not be reconciled in 2009 to 2012 were minimal but that figure rose sharply from K20 billion to K300 billion in one year (2013, during Joyce Banda administration). But in 2014 that figure went down again to K20 billion.”

Hon Kasaila said their DPP government will make sure that it reconcile the figures and make payment to the right people to prevent future cashgate and misappropriation “We want to assure Malawians that we are going to work hard as government and with the reforms taking place in the Ministry of Finance we believe that the situation is going to improve” 

Malawi Celebrates Day for African Child: We are Ending Child Marriages- Kaliati

Hon Patricia Kaliati 

Malawi Government says positive strides are being made in ending early child marriages which are helping young girls to stay at school.

Gender, Children and Disability Social Welfare Minister said this as the country prepares  for the commemoration for the Day for African Child on 30th June in Ngabu, Chikwawa district.

The Day for African Child is commemorated every 16th of June annually but Malawi will commemorate the day on 30th June, under the theme "Accelerate Our Efforts to  End Child Marriages" 

Minister of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, Patricia Kaliati says government finds this year's theme more fit in Malawi agenda to end early child marriages particulary among young girls. She said there are now positive indicators that Malawi is on the right track to achieve end of various forms of child abuse and child marriages particularly among girls who are the prime victims.

She said Malawi has enacted a number of legislations that criminalise marriage before child attain the age of 18 such as Marriage Divorce and Family Relations Act and Trafficking in Persons Act that were passed and assented recently.

She said such legislations are helping government protecting young girls from becoming young brides, "We have number of legislations which we have in the country of protecting the girl child and leave the girl child in school up to time she finishes school and also getting married at the age of 18”

Hon Kaliati

She said together with number of partners, efforts are being made in mobilising resources for child protection and securing future for girls among other interventions and activities. Kaliati mentioned  number of child protection programes such as school feeding programme, cash transfer programmes, re-admission of girls at school, and construction of girl hostels are helping Malawi children to stay at school.

The Minister added that some interventions that encourages reporting of child abuse cases as well as community bylaws that criminalise early marriages have helped to reduce cases of child abuses and other forms of harrasment among girls 

Kaliati also hailed the media for well coverage of issues of child related violence which is helping the Ministry to identify cases and act upon them. She called for collaborated efforts among chiefs, police, judiciary and parents and guardians in ending practices that encourages early marriages and report such cases to police and relevant authorities.

At Ngabu, the Plan of Action for Vulnerable Children which will run from 2015 to 2019 containing a situation analysis of 2013 will be launched. According to the Gender Minister, the report finds that there are 1.8 million Malawi vulnerable children.

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.