There Is No Justifiable Grounds for Abortion Maintains Catholic Church in Malawi

Catholic Bishop Arch Bishop Ziyaye and Priests 

The Catholic Church teachings on abortion are not shaken even with the recent announced proposed grounds for legal abortion,  are unacceptable in the Church.

The Church has publicly announced its stance on the issue few weeks after pronouncement of findings and recommendations by the Special Law Commission on the Review on Abortion Law.

Secretary General for the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) Fr. Henry Saindi in his speech during commemorations for the Communication Day at Mtima Woyera Parish in the Arch Diocese of Lilongwe, said the Catholic Church stance on abortion will never change adding that Malawi Catholic Bishops will continue to uphold the church teaching on abortion.

The Special Law Commission on review on Abortion Law, findings and recommendations states that, termination of pregnancy be performed only for certain justifiable instances through an operation.

Recommendations propose that termination of pregnancy be done ‘only’ to save the life of pregnant woman, or if there is malformation of the foetus which will affect its viability or compatibility with life as well as where the pregnancy is as a result of rape, incest or defilement.

Fr. Saindi delivering speech

“Catholic Church already addressed this issue.” Said Fr. Saindi to the congregation “The position of the church has never changed and it will never change”

Fr. Saindi stated that issue of legalizing abortion has come in different way now as recommendations by the Special Commission allows termination of pregnancy for ‘only’ justifiable instances. However, he said nothing is “new” because the same issue was addressed in 2013 Catholic Bishops Pastoral Letter in which they tackled issues concerning Homosexuality and legalizing Abortion.

Fr. Henry Saindi

“Abortion in these instances cannot be tolerated or permitted by the Catholic Church.” He said and emphasized that “The position of the church is that Abortion is the killing the unborn child because we know that the life of a person begins when a child is conceived.”

“The unborn child has a right to live and must always be protected by the society.” Continued Fr. Saindi

He then explained that the Catholic Church on abortion advocates and always emphasize the role counseling of women and girls found in a situation of terminating pregnancy.

“For example those who have been raped and found to be pregnant, they have to be counseled, they have to be helped to accept their situation and the gift that God has given to them.”

Fastjet Flight Between Lilongwe-Dar es Salaam Begins

A newly licensed airline operator Fastjet launches flight route between Dar es Salaam and Lilongwe, twice a week.

Fastjet Airbus A 319 Aircraft with a capacity of 148 economy class seats had its first landing at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) on Monday morning from Dar es Salaam. 

The jet which carried about 50 passengers flown back to Dar es Salaam with over 100 passengers.

Jimmy Kibati interacting with Kasaila 

Fastjet General Manager for East Africa, Jimmy Kibati has promised customers from the two destinations; affordable, reliable and safety service. 

“We focus on reliability, safety and one of the biggest offer we are giving to our customer is affordability” said Kibati 

“We are extremely reliable. Our punctuality is at 90 percent on average” he said adding “We Were ranked a fast and cheapest airline in Africa and fifth cheapest airline in the world.”

Fastjet Captain and air hostesses 

Said Kibati; “Yes we are a low cost airline but, we are not a cheap airline in terms of products offer. We have got a high end aircraft type which is very spacey even the seat pitch gives comfort.” 

Kibati indicated that Fastjet is targeting fast time travelers, people who go by road and those in tourism markets. He therefore hoped that good number of Malawians and Tanzanians traders who travel by road in these two countries will be its customers.

Jimmy Kibati landing at KIA

In terms of expanding its destination in Malawi, he said the company eyes Blantyre as the next destination by December with daily flights as minimum. He also said they are looking for Eastern and Southern Africa routes that are within or below 3 hour flight range.

Welcoming the Jet in style

Minister of Transport and Public Works Hon. Francis Kasaila who was present at the launch said Malawi is pleased that Fastjet airline a Tanzanian registered low cost airline “seem to be here to respond to the calls for affordable air travel in the region”

Kasaila observed that, due to high fares, air travel has been associated with the rich and that a lot of people in the region opt to use ground transport.

“This is a very welcome development, we believe that the civil aviation sector has a big role to play if we are to improve economically as a country because when you are using the sector you are able to manage time very well and in so doing you are able to economically runaround than using the road sector” said Kasaila

The Transport Minister also said Malawi is looking forward to have more operators who offer direct flights to international destinations in order to significantly reduce the airfares.

Malawi government issued Foreign Air Operations Certificate to Fastjet on 23rd June 2015. But Kasaila also indicated that government will further facilitate services on the route by embarking on renewing the Bilateral Air Service Agreement between Malawi and Tanzania to ensure conducive environment for the operators and proper regulatory regime. 

Reforms in Aviation Sector

“We as a Ministry we expressed interest to engage some of the airlines operators but we still have some few  challenges that we need to sort out. Last sitting of parliament   there was a bill towards improvement of services in civil aviation. That is very key. Because big airlines they need to be assured of safety of their equipments and people that are travelling.” said Kasaila 

“Therefore government has to make sure that services that are being provided at our two international airports are upgraded to standard which will give confidence to the operators. We believe that come next year we should be able to move towards that and in so doing we may be able to attract other airlines” he assured 

Fastjet has been given two flights per week due to Malawi shortfalls on services on International Airports and the requirements of International Civil Aviation. As government work towards improving airport services complete, government says will give them more frequencies.

Proper Use of Communication Platforms Vital for Development, Family Life

Arch Bishop Ziyaye 

Proper utilization of modern and traditional communication tools and platforms couple with sharing truthful information to the public is central in accelerating development and deepening of love among people and the life of the family.

During his homily at Mtima Woyera Parish, commemorating the 49th World Communication, His Grace Tarcisius Ziyaye of Lilongwe Arch Diocese noted number of vital roles media houses, journalists and those working as communicators play in spreading of various messages to the people.

Part of the congregation 

However, the Arch Bishop Ziyaye emphasized the need for the appropriate use of information and mediums of communication stating that Communicators must share with public the truthful information.

Bishop Ziyaye who underlined the importance of true love in people’s daily lives, said communicators must have love of God in their heart to help them share information which foster development but not information which influence immoral behavior and strange cultural practices. 

Touching on this year’s Communication Day theme, ‘Communicating the Family: A Privileged Place of Encounter with the Gift of Love’ Ziyaye urged every person to use all communication devices and mediums in a Christian manner and properly exploit them to defend dignity of the family.

Ziyaye said communication platforms should be used to share Godly information and helping people to live a happy family life and move closer to God.

Arch Bishop Ziyaye also praised Government of Malawi for allowing the Catholic Church including other religious denominations as well as individuals to establish their own media houses.

Guest of honor at the ceremony, Justin Saidi, Principle Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Tourism and Culture, also noted the importance of sharing the right information.

Justin Saidi

He also commended the Catholic Church for having Communication Day saying it recognizes importance of communication and communicators in development.

He among others hailed the Catholic Church for establishing number of radio stations and printing houses which he said “helps” to disseminate information about the development of the country and Christianity

“Government alone cannot reach out to everybody, so we are happy that the Catholic Church is doing part of what government is supposed to do and us as government we are committed to work together with the church so that we should build our nation” he added

Earlier, Secretary General for Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), Fr. Henry Saindi, speaking on behalf of Communications Secretary, also emphasized the importance of responsibility and factual when sharing information. 

Saindi said communicators must always share useful and helpful information for the development of human beings, the church and the entire nation.

Communication Day is an opportunity where the Catholic church reflects the importance of communication in the Church as well as in development of human beings and the nation.

Deposit-Taking ATMs Reducing Banking Hall Congestion- Standard Bank

Standard Bank

Woman depositing money on ATM

Standard Bank Malawi says the newly launched deposit-taking Auto Teller Machine (ATM) services have significantly reduced queues in its banking halls across crevice centres in the country. 

In its quest to continue moving its customers forward Standard Bank on 22nd May 2015, launched deposit-taking ATMs is in line with the bank’s continued improvements in digital banking capabilities in response to increasing customer preferences.

Frank Chirwa 

Speaking in an interview, Standard Bank’s Sales and Customer Experience Manager, Frank Chirwa while encouraging customers to utilize the Deposit-taking ATMs, said unlike the past, the bank has reduced congestion in banking halls.

He said, with capacity of making deposits of up to K40 thousand at a time, customers are able to deposit quickly without getting inside of the banking hall hence the reduced incidences of congestion. 

“We don’t want our customers to queue.” Said Chirwa “What you have to do is go outside and find ATM and deposit. In that way you are able to do deposit during both day and night. So you don’t have to wait for the bank to open”

When launching the service, Standard Bank announced that the new service is available at existing ATM points across 11 strategic branches of the bank and that Customers must use their personal ATM cards in order to interact with deposit-enabled ATMs.

Reckless Driver Fined K450 thousand

Kasungu First Grade Magistrate Court has sentenced a 30 year old man to pay a fine of K450,000 (four hundred and fifty thousand kwacha) in default 18 months imprisonment for reckless driving causing the death of a 31 year old passenger.

Mr. Goodwin M’gawa aged 30 from Enukweni village T/A Mtwalo in Mzimba district was answering charges of reckless driving following the accident which occurred on early this month when his vehicle overturned killing one of his passengers as he was trying to overtake another vehicle.

According to Kasungu Deputy Public Relations Officer Sub Inspector Edna Nzingwitsa the deceased was identified as Shadreck Zimba aged 31 from Mtondo village T/A Kaomba in Kasungu district.

Goodwin appeared before Kasungu First Grade Magistrate Court on the Thursday where he pleaded guilty to the charge of causing death by reckless driving.

When passing the sentence, First Grade Magistrate Damiano Banda said such accidents have increased in Kasungu district and his judgement serves as a lesson to other drivers.

When the driver pays the fine a sum of K400,000 will be given to the family of the deceased as compensation.

Reckless or negligent driving is contrary to section 126 of Road Traffic Act.

Two Kasungu Men Sentenced To 10 Years For Defilement

It seem issues of defilement refuse to die in Malawi, as Kasungu First Grade Magistrate Court on Friday sentenced two men to stay for ten years imprisonment  for defiling little girls.

According to Kasungu Public Relations Officer Inspector Edwin Kaunda two young men  Frank Nyirenda aged 28 who defiled a 12 year old girl and John Magombo aged 30 who defiled a 14 year old girl are to remain behind bars for ten years.

According to Inspector Kaunda,  the two had in their separate incidences defiled the girls and and appeared before Kasungu Court to face justice.

Kaunda said Nyirenda attacked the girl (name withheld) by dragging her to a bush at place which is between Lukwa Trading Center and Mwimba village. On this day the girl was on her way to a maize mill. 

In similar incident John Magombo defiled a 14 year old girl. Magombo who worked for the father of the girl, coaxed the girl to escort him to Chinkhoma Trading Center where he defiled her.

Appearing before Kasungu First Grade Magistrate Court on Thursday both pleaded guilty to the charges of defilement.

In passing the sentence on Friday His worship Damiano Banda while observing that cases of defilement are so rampant in Kasungu district emphasised that the two needed stiffer punishment to protect the society and send a lesson to would be perpetrators. 

Some few days ago, a 28-year-old teacher from Mingu Primary School in Ntchisi has been sentenced to 50 months imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a 14-year-old girl who was in standard eight.

Ernest Banda,  a 48 year old teacher at Mziza Secondary School is also expected to answer charge of defilement of a 14 year old imbecile,  contrary to section 139 of the Penal Code.

Kasungu Police Public Relations Officer,  Inspector Edwin Kaunda said the teacher, a Seventh Day Adventist, invited in his house the fellow church member (14 year old girl) and defiled her.

Malawi Abortion Law Slightly Changed

• The Future Legislation Proposes Grounds for lawful termination of Pregnancy

• Termination of Pregnancy be done at certified service provider and service points

• Any abortion outside proposed grounds remain criminal

Some of the Commissioners for the Abortion
Law Review 

The Special Law Commission on the Review On Abortion Law resolved and agreed that the law be liberalised (that is, conditional relaxation of the restrictions) as opposed to decriminalisation to cater for certain justifiable instances where termination of a pregnancy should be permissible.

“The position of the law is that abortion is illegal in Malawi except where it is performed to save the life of the pregnant woman through a surgical operation.” Said Justice Esme Chombo chairperson for the Special Commission at a pressbriefing on Friday night in the Capital city, Lilongwe

Justice Esme Chombo

“The Penal Code criminalises all such acts of procuring or assisting in the procuring of a miscarriage of a pregnant woman. Anyone found guilty of such offences is liable to serve a prison sentence ranging from three to fourteen years.” She said

Chombo then said on the basis of this recommendation, the Commission proceeded to identify the grounds to justifying the termination

Reviewed Law on recommends that, termination of pregnancy be performed only for certain justifiable instances; particularly to save the life of pregnant woman, or if there is malformation of the foetus which will affect its viability or compatibility with life as well as where the pregnancy is as a result of rape, incest or defilement.

Proposed Legislation on Abortion Clear On Conscientious Objection

The Special Law Commission on the Review On Abortion Law says the health-care providers should have the right to conscientious objection subject to the limitations.

Commissioners for Abortion Law Review 

Apart from touching on proposed grounds for lawful termination of pregnancies as well as proposed service providers and service delivery points, the newly proposed Legislation also set out recommendations for the health-care providers once they have ‘Conscientious Objection’ on termination of pregnancy.

Special Commission Chairperson Justice Esme Chombo, said the Commission observed that “principles of religious freedom” protect physicians, nurses and others who refuse participation in medical procedures to which they hold conscientious objections. In addition, she said, international and national law in most countries including Malawi (Section 33 of the Constitution), guarantees the right to freedom of conscience, religion, belief and thought.

“Patients as well as physicians may appeal to conscience in refusing treatment or procedures.” Said Chombo when delivering the findings and recommendations on Friday “Abortion remains one of the most morally and ethically sensitive issues in medicine and many doctors have opted out of performing terminations because they do not agree with the procedure.” 

However, the Commission still encourages certified health institutions and well trained health service providers who may refuse “on moral or religious grounds” to terminate pregnancy to find other ways of assisting the woman who deserve to have her pregnancy terminated.

“Based on this, the Commission found it necessary to address the issue of conscientious objection upon the revelation that sometimes it has been used outright to deny women access to legal medical services including termination of pregnancy and also because it is an internationally recognized human right for health care personnel.” Said Justice Chombo

Justice Chombo said, the Commission recommends that; if a health service provider refuses to provide legal abortion services having registered a conscientious objection, that provider must refer the pregnant woman to a practitioner who is willing to perform the abortion.

She also said health service providers, regardless of their religious or moral objections, have a duty to perform an abortion if the woman will suffer adverse health consequences if the abortion is not promptly carried out.

Furthermore, the commission recommends that service providers must provide women seeking to terminate a pregnancy with information on legal termination of pregnancy services and that it is only health service providers who are directly involved in the provision of abortion that may object to providing the procedure.

Commissioners for the Abortion Law Review 

The work of the special Law Commission on the Review On Abortion Law started in June 2013 following high prevalence of maternal mortality in Malawi and identified unsafe abortion as one of the major contributing factors to this problem. 

Unsafe abortion are common in Malawi particularly among poor women and girls due to restrictive law on abortion and the criminal sanctions that follow.

This special Law Commission was appointed under section 133 of the Constitution and the membership of the Commission comprised representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Judiciary, the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, Malawi Council of Churches, Muslim Association of Malawi, Traditional Leaders, the Law Society, Ministry of Justice and the Malawi College of Medicine.

The Commission’s findings and recommendations are contained in a Report which the Commission will submit to the Government. Further, contained in the Report is proposed legislation entitled Termination of Pregnancy Bill which the Commission commend to Parliament and the people of Malawi for enactment into law


Read the full report for the Review On Abortion Law