Fire Guts Down Area 18 Market in Lilongwe

Fire guts down Area 18 A market in the Capital City Lilongwe, but the cause is not yet established.

However, it is rumoured that electric fault in one of the shops might be the cause of the inferno which has completely burnt to ashes the whole market.

According to Chairperson for the Market, Bernard Gama, it is suspected that an electrical device from one of the shops might have developed a fault since electricity have been on and off for three times on yesterday.

He also estimated that over 300 businesses businesses were operating in the market.

The chairman said the fire began around 8 pm just after the market was closed.

According to eye witnesses, fire brigade who came late at the scene failed to putdown the fire and that nobody has managed to rescue property during the fire.

Area 18 market is closer to Capital Hill and City Centre.

Malawi Journalists Forms Press Gallery Committee

A Press Gallery Committee for Malawi Journalists has been established in the National Assembly which among others it is expected to promote professionalism in parliamentary reporting and handle matters related to their day to day operations.

The Office for the Public Relations of Malawi National Assembly facilitated the establishment of the Committee having noted a long absence of platform responsible for handling issues concerning the parliamentary reporters and Parliament.

Chief Public Relations Officer for Malawi National Assembly, Mr. Leonard Mengezi says following the establishment of the committee, Parliament expects positive relationship as well as cemented partnership and trust between media and parliament.

He said it was sad to note that there has not been a formal plat form given to Journalists to discuss issues with Parliament although there have been several developments in parliament that required a special fora to handle such matters.

Mengezi mentioned several developments especially negative reporting and conduct of Journalists as some of the key issues “We call members of the media to capture information whenever there is an event but, if there is any misinformation or disruption of facts, you find that the media will always be blamed yet there is no any formal way of how we can discuss such issues.” He said

He then expressed hope that the newly formed Press Gallery Committee will provide a formal grouping where number of media related matters with parliament can be resolved.

“Now with plat form of this nature, when we see that there was some kind of misinformation or negative coverage, we will discuss the modalities of how we can operate and create a conducive environment for both sides to work properly.” Added Mengezi

Suzgo Khunga

The newly elected Press Gallery Committee is being chaired by Suzgo Khunga from Nation Publication Limited

“In the past, the media and the parliament have always been at loggerheads in terms of how we report parliamentary proceedings. So with the coming in of the Press Gallery Committee, this will change because now we will be working together when parliament is meeting in all Sessions and Sitting Days.” Said Khunga

Mponela Puma Filling Station ‘Super Sink’ Launches ‘Be Your Own Boss Promotion’

 

Puma energy in Mponela, Super Sink Service Station has launched a promotion called ‘Be Your Own Boss Sales’ aiming at thanking customers who buys fuel and lubricants at the station.

Customer who purchase petrol not less that K20 thousand or Diesel and Lubricants worth K30 thousand, automatically enters the promotion.

Esau cutting the tape marking launch of the promotion

Enoch Chithonje, Sales Manager of Super Sink Investment Service Station says the competition runs up to March 2016 and customers should expect fantastic prizes every week.

Chithonje: This is a give back to customer

“We would like to achieve that expression of giving back to our customers for the good partner service we have had” said Chithonje when launching the promotion on Friday at Mponela service station

He disclosed that, grand draw in March 2016 will see one lucky customer walk away home with a brand new Motor Tricycle while 43 Inch JVC Plazma TV and Nokia Tablet are for the second and third prize winners respectively.

Chithonje mentioned that the promotion which is budgeted at K4.5 million includes weekly prizes where lucky customers will win smart phones, T-shirts and cups.

“This has been a situation of expressing our gratitude’s and thanks. Whenever you want to give back it doesn’t necessarily require how much you have but the heart you have is what drives you forth. So we have just been driven by this heart to appreciate that good partner relationship that we have had” Chithonje emphasized

Esau: We will ensure that fuel is available

Guest of honor at the launch of the promotion, Gift Esau who is Sales Manager for Puma Energy responsible for Central and Northern Region, said their company (Puma) was happy to partner which Super Sink in this course of giving back to customers

He said Puma Energy will support Super Sink whichever way they want mainly in making sure that there is fuel at the filling station so that customers are assisted as and when they want.

Cashgate Case: Savala Chose Silence to Prosecution Evidence

Caroline Savala out of court 

Caroline Savala has spoken nothing relating to evidence brought by prosecution that she was aware that she was stealing immediately after her company certificate was borrowed by Leonard Kalonga.

The case was back in court this Friday where prosecution was trying to prove that Savala was aware that she was stealing public by lending her company certificate to Mr.  Kalonga, former deputy director of tourism.

Caroline: looked in good spirit 

Savala accused for siphoning K84 million, appeared before Justice Fiona Mwale looking in good spirit unlike last sitting of court when she cried as she was explaining how her company certificate was used to siphon government money and consequent revocation of her bail.

Caroline: leaving court for Maula prison 

During last sitting, Savala request court to be lenient to her guilty plea on grounds that she was not aware that Kalonga would use it to steal government money. In her testimony, Savala denied to have taken part in the cashgate but admitted that she found herself in because Kalonga had used her.  

Savala said nothing to presented evidence
Against her

But this Friday, the state brought evidence documents to prove that it could not have been just Mr. Kalonga using her since her own certificate were used yet she had responsibility under that certificate. 

Questions posed to her by State Counsel, Kamudoni Nyasulu during cross examination centred on finding out from Savala if she carried out her responsibilities and obligations as a certified contractor. However, she chose not to say anything.

“I choose not to say anything” Savala maintained such reply when asked of documents and matters related to her knowledge of some individuals that includes Leonard Kalonga who she has been naming as one who dragged her into the scam.

Savala: I choose not to say anything 

From such reply, She chose to be silent for example on: whether National Construction Industry Council legislations allowed her to lend someone her company certificates; if she had relevant equipment to do the work of construction; whether she knew if Kalonga had certificates or any equipments for construction; and even if she had any knowledge of sites where Leonard Kalonga was going to do the alleged construction works from tenders which he allegedly told her that he won from government. 

Meanwhile the case has been adjourned to a later date where defense is expected to bring two character witnesses; Leonard Kalonga and a church pastor.

Tisilila Kaphamtengo: I read nothing
for this case

Savala was being represented by lawyer, Tisilila Kaphamtengo who acted as agent of lawyer Raphael Kasambara who is reportedly sick, suffering from high blood pressure.

The agent lawyer did not re-examine Savala saying he knows nothing in this case.

In an interview, he described Savala silence as good position to prevent self incrimination.

Kaphamtengo: She was right for being
silent

He therefore justified defense application that Savala be allowed not to answer any questions where she would be incriminating herself.

Kaphamtengo explained that some of the questions would have lead to new more offenses other than present case which includes possibly offense of offending National Construction Industry Council legislations.

Airtel Life Insurance Subscriber Gets K500 thousand

Leonard Linyenga (left) receiving cheque

Mr. Leonard Linyenga becomes one of beneficiaries of Airtel Malawi’s Insurance scheme, ‘Three for Free’

Airtel health and life insurance policy is loaded with benefits of up to K500 thousand in life and accidental permanent disability cover and up to K50 thousand in hospital cash cover.

On Thursday morning, Airtel paid out insurance claim accumulated in the months of August. Mr. Linyenga, the only one life insurance claimer in the just ended month was presented with a symbolic cheque of K500 thousand. 

Rony: The product has been successful

Airtel Malawi Finance Director Rony Tohme before presenting the cheque to Mr. Linyenga said ‘Three for Free’ insurance has also been paid out to 8 hospital claims and that the product has been very successful since its launch in April this year.

“It is a successful product” he said while mentioning that as of this week the company has already reached 20% of its customer base.

Mr. Tohme then encouraged 3.5 million Airtel customers currently on the network to be on the scheme so that they realize benefit of having their life covered for free.

“Life is unpredictable” he said “but with this insurance, the 3.5 million Airtel Malawi customer can count on their subscription and airtime usage to secure the future of their families in a simple, yet effective and reliable way.”

Promise to bring more innovations 

He added, “We will continue creating these innovations for our subscribers as we have committed to our shareholders and to our lives” 

The company is providing the service in partnership with NICO Life and MicroEnsure and Tohme has since promised customers that both companies are fully prepared to provide the best health and life insurance services to the people of Malawi and offer peace of mind in times of need.

Airtel Malawi customers ages of 18 to 70 are eligible persons to enter in the scheme by simply dial *191# and follow an automated prompts available in Chichewa and English or call 191 to speak to customer representative.

With airtime top up of K500 or more each month, the subscriber will enjoy up to K500 thousand in life and accidental permanent disability cover and up to K50 thousand in hospital cash cover of hospital admission for 3 or more consecutive nights in any recognized hospital in Malawi.

In the occurrence of any of insured events, customer or their next of kin can call 191 to make claim. Airtel says benefits will be received within 72 hours after completion of all necessary checks.

Standard Bank Beats Target for Internet Banking Registrations

Standard Bank has disclosed that over two thousand customers have registered for its internet banking service.

The Digital Banking Manager, Inqxhuiniso Dzoole Mwale made the disclosure in Lilongwe during the third draw of bank’s promotion ‘Be Your Own Bank Transact & Win’

“The promotion has received overwhelming response and we are proud to announce that we have registered over 2,200 customers. This surpasses our target of 2000 customers for three months” said Dzoole Mwale

In the first two weeks of the promotion the bank announced that it registered up to 400 customers and in the fourth week, the bank had registered 1700 customers on internet banking.

He also revealed that Standard Bank has introduced new and more secure method of resetting account password. He said the improved process will enable customers to change their account password without going back to the branch.

He explained that the customer is only required to call Standard Bank call centre and they will receive a text message as well as a PDF document through email. He said the text message in their mobile phone contains a pin number which customer will use to open PDF document which contains the password.

During the third draw of the promotion, a female customer Eddah Lijoni from Blantyre who she said works in Karonga at Kayelera, won the big prize for the fortnight draw, a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge

“I am really excited” she reacted when the bank contacted her immediately after the draw, “I’ve never won anything like that in my life”

Now there are two more fortnight draws to go. 15 lucky customers are winning T-shirts, another 15 winning caps, 5 winning flash discs while biggest prize is Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge.

Grand prize at the end of promotion in October is K1 million cash and K500 thousand for runner-up while third placed winner will walk way home with a DSTV Explorer plus a month’s premium subscription which will be given.

CSO, NGOs Nominated Few Women Commissioners For MHRC

Law Commissioner Gertrude Lynn Hiwa

Clarification from the Malawi Law Commission (MLC) on the imbalanced representation of women in the recent appointment of Commissioners for the 6th Cohort of the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC), suggests Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organizations are themselves to blame. 

The remarks from MLC, comes amid outcry that there is only one woman in the current list of Commissioners for MHRC. 

Bertha Msefu, Reverend Patrick Semphere and Baldwin Chiyamwaka are the newly appointed Commissioners who join Commissioners; Benedicto Kondowe, Dalitso Kubalasa, Justin Dzonzi and Steven Mkoka.

Last week CSOs released a press statement which declared that gender equality and women inclusion was missing the appointments of Commissioners of MHRC. 

The human rights defenders, also wrote President Peter Mutharika as final authority that endorse and swears in Commissioners, asking him to withdraw the nominations to allow new process start over again to include two more women from the existing list.

However, MLC on Tuesday explained to the press that all processes to appoint new Commissioners for MHRC was duly followed and that relevant NGOs submitted their nominations of persons to be Commissioners.

“The Law Commissioner and Ombudsman sent out the request to the concerned NGOs and other bodies that are relevant for nominating members that should be considered for the position of members of the Human Rights Commission.” Clarified Commissioner Gertrude Lynn Hiwa

“In the end, the Law Commissioner and Ombudsman being facilitated by the Secretariat of the Human Rights Commission went through the processes as set out by the law, taking into the regard of the provisions of Human Rights Act, the Constitution and the regulations that are made under the Human Rights Act. 

There is a set criteria that we took into account and this is a process that is both objective, transparent and quite comprehensive” she explained 

Hiwa: the out come is what CSOs presented 

“The outcome is a sign of what we had to work with. There were factors that were beyond our control so that although as Law commissioner we are aware of Gender Equality Act provision there was nothing that we could have done but to go through with the process as is provided by the law” she said

Hiwa then said president who is the appointing authority had only fulfilled his mandate by appointing the names that were before him.

Although the Law Commissioner, noted that the calls by concerned CSOs for more women representation were valid, but she also indicated that in the reading of the law, there is no reversal to the decision that was made.