'Last Chance’ New Malawian Movie Launching On Friday

A local theatre, ‘Theatre International’ is set to premier at Golden Peacock Hotel its first film Mwayi Wotsiriza (Last Chance/Dernière Chance) on Friday the 2nd of October 2015. Performed in Chichewa language but has English and French subtitles, Mwayi Wotsiriza weaves its themes around sexual abuse of girls and working conditions of teachers in rural primary schools.

In the video clip released by Theatre International, a frustrated teacher named Chidyanji ‘propositions’ a daughter of an economically vulnerable rural woman and impregnates her. The system, already baffled by inadequacy of teaching staff, has to find a way of disciplining him.

The film’s Artistic Director, Chancy Mauluka says through engagement of reason and appeal to sympathy, Mwayi Wotsiriza drives audiences towards reflecting on some problems that demotivate teachers in primary schools alongside sexual abuse of the girl child by the male teacher. And most importantly, it calls for action.

Says Mauluka; “Mwayi Wotsiriza is a tragedy that aims at awakening discussion on issues concerning girls’ rights and basic education in Malawi.

It is a film that goes beyond entertainment and quests for solutions. Apart from entertainment-fanatic audiences, the film will appeal to development-oriented minds as it offers opportunities for facilitating community and social change.”

For the private sector, he added “Mwayi Wotsiriza opens a platform for conceptualizing strategic corporate social outreach,”

Actors featured in the film include Chancy Mauluka also former actor of the Chancellor College Traveling Theatre who featured as Ahedi (Head Teacher) in the once famous Timasukirane Soap by the Story Workshop, Rhoda Malowa of the then Chancellor College Theatre Heights, and Steve Mphonda who has a long history of acting with a number of theatre groups in Lilongwe as well as other visiting international theatre companies. Mwayi Wotsiriza, written and Directed by the Chancellor College trained Chancy Mauluka, will have first-night screening at the Golden Peacock Hotel in Lilongwe this Friday, from 7:00 PM.

Door fee is at K2000 and that Theatre International will also sell DVD’s of the film.

Malawi Introduces Visa Regime To Visa Paying Countries

Kalilani making and govt officials

Foreign nationals whose countries require Malawians to pay visa to enter their countries will now be required to pay visa to enter Malawi effective 1st October 2015.

The announcement made in Lilongwe on Monday evening cuts a long time regime where Malawi government allowed foreign nationals from visa paying countries to enter the country without visa.

Dr. Kalilani

Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Dr. Jean Kalilani when making the announcement, however, said the changes will not affect: Nationals from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, except Angola; Nationals from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA); Diplomats and Government officials; and Nationals from all countries that do not require Malawian nationals to pay visa fees when traveling to such countries.

“The validity of multiple entry visas (6 months and 12 months) shall reciprocate to the validity of multiple entry visa in the corresponding country” said Kalilani

“This decision is normal for reasons of security matters; you cannot just have people just entering the country anyhow, there must be a control and one of them is this visa regime.” added the Minister when asked some of the reasons that necessitated government to implement the new visa regime.

The minister has therefore played down rumour that the decision was anything to do with increasing revenue source base as a result of the current economic situation. But said, government wants to reciprocate visa regime its citizens are being subjected to when they travel to such countries.

Kalilani explained that the new regime was gazetted on 1st July this year, but implementation has been extended to 1st October this year in order to give adequate notices to travelling foreign nationals and the travel industry.

“Travellers are strongly encouraged to obtain their visas well in advance at their nearest Malawi Diplomatic Mission to avoid unnecessary inconveniences at the port of entry.” Warned Kalilani 

She also advised that visa applications can also be made through online requests using Immigration Department website (www.immigration.gov.mw) and that payments may be made through the same Malawi Embassmies, Consulate Offices or at port of entry.

The Table below shows categories of visas, and applicable fees payable. Different rates apply for the same type of Visa depending on whether it has been paid for in Malawi or at a Diplomatic Mission.

Category	Within Malawi (US$)	Malawi Diplomatic Mission (US$)
Transit Valid for 7 days	50	70
Single entry (to be used within 3 months from date of issue)	75	100
Multiple entry valid for 6 months	150	220
Multiple entry valid for 12 months	250	300
Gratis	Free	Free

Over 90 Women Seeks Fistula Treatment At Bwaila Camp

Over 90 women flock to Bwaila Fistula Care Centre in Lilongwe for Obstetric Fistula operation as Fistula Camp begins at the Hospital.

The Camp is expected to run for ten days. But Dr. Ennet Chipungu an Obstetrician and Gynecologist who is a Fistula Surgeon at Bwaila Fistula Care Centre says doctors are ready to do operations to all women.  

Chipungu says two experienced surgeons are in the country to operate on complicated cases of obstetric fistula which local surgeons like herself could not operate on.

The Surgeon has also revealed that during the first day of the camp on Sunday, doctors have screened a woman who has lived with the problem since 1984. She said the problem is huge in the country because the hospital is operating up to 50 women every month and is seeing repairing women who have lived with the problem for 40 years. 

“We have recently operated on woman who lived with the problem since 1971 and another who lived with the problem since 1960’s. This means there are a lot of women with the problem out there. And may be these women that are coming now did not know that it was possible to get treatment.” Said Dr. Chipungu

Meanwhile, the National Coordinator for Freedom from Fistula Foundation, Margaret Moyo said was happy with the response and expressed hope that this camp will definitely assist a lot of women in a short period of time.

“This is really an overwhelming response.” Said Moyo who also expressed readiness to receive more women

Moyo has encouraged women with the problem to come to the hospital at any time “Even after the camp, we will continue to do operations. We are a facility solely dedicated for obstetric fistula repair, so any time the woman walks in she is welcome.” 

She said the operations are being done at no cost and a fistula patient stays in the hospital depending on the complexity of the operation. But said two to three weeks is the minimum period for simple case.

“We want to encourage women, that fistula is repairable. And we urge everyone to pass this information. Please fish out women living with the problem. Encourage them to come to Bwaila Fistula Care Centre so that they don’t miss this opportunity” pleaded Moyo 

Obstetric Fistula is an abnormal connection between the bladder and or therectum and the vagina which result in the continuous leakage of urine and or feaces  through the vagina following obstructed labour.

The Camp has been organized with support from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) – Malawi, Freedom from Fistula Foundation and Ministry of Health.

Judicial Complex, New Structures To End Courtroom Problems In Lilongwe

new court structure

The Malawi Judiciary says it is working against clock to ensure that Judges and Magistrates in the capital city, Lilongwe have enough courtrooms and Judge Chambers.

The assurance comes amid continued outcry by some of High Court Judges in Lilongwe who are presiding cashgate cases.

Recently Justice Fiona Mwale noted with concern of lack of enough courtrooms as a main reason which delayed sitting of  Leonard Kalonga and Angela Katengeza cashgate cases.

some buildings built at High Court premises 

Speaking to Spokesperson for Judiciary, Mlenga Mvula says the Judiciary is electrifying the problem of court spaces in Lilongwe by building new facility at the High Court premises which will house number of Judges and that there are plans to have a Judicial Complex to ease the current problem.

 “It is true that our Judges in the central region have the problem of infrastructure in terms of chambers and court rooms but government is working hand in hand with the judiciary to ease that challenge.” He said

“We are constructing a new structure that would take on board judges in Lilongwe. The building will accommodate only four to five chambers, but this means that after completion of this structure it will at least ease down the challenge we are facing at the moment.” He said while indicating that the structure after completion will have modern facilities that will enable Judges to work even during late hours.

Mvula further noted that the problem has even extended to the Commercial Court currently operating in City Centre due to insufficient space at the court premises and that Chief Residence Magistrates are also operating in a very poor environment whereby it is congested and poor infrastructure.

He then said this problem will be tackled in the plans for the construction of Judicial Complex in the City Centre.

“But we know that Government is planning to build a Judicial Complex in City Centre in Lilongwe that will take on board all the court rooms, chambers for both Magistrates as well as Judges. So we hope that if this is taken into account by the end of completion the problem might be eased. It may not be not completely ended but almost 50% to 70% of the current problem will be eased.” said Mvula

Malawi Land For Industrial Hemp, Mutharika Wants It Grown

A Malawian company ‘Invegrow’ says the country is potential land for Industrial Hemp farming in Africa continent and can offer enormous economic opportunity once it is adopted as cash crop.

 

Tanya Clarke

Invegrow Founder and Director, Tanya Clarke disclosed this in Lilongwe when her company and another South African company, Hemporium were making presentations of importance of Industrial Hemp and how it must be disassociated with Indian Hemp or Marijuana locally known as Chamba.

Clarke said Industrial Hemp not used for smoking can support diversify Malawi economy and offer opportunity for foreign exchange earnings.

She said; “Government is pushing for the agro-processing and farming, The Industrial Hemp is a crop with extremely economic potential and supports National Export Strategy of oil seed cluster in Malawi.”

Products from Industrial Hemp

Concrete for construction can be obtained fro the crop

From natural fibres of the crop, Clarke said can be used make range of products such as: food products for the health food market; construction materials and automotive industries; pharmaceutical products; cosmetics; and textiles.

Currently she said the crop is being grown in over 36 countries across the globe and the plant grows organically easily; grown without herbicides or a lot of pesticides.

“Climate is good here and almost everyone is an expert farmer, so we really see Malawi becoming a World Leader in Industrial Hemp” she added

Since, some people have got a very conservative view towards the plant and are very scared of hemp mostly due to regulations, Clarke, clarified that Industrial Hemp is not Marijuana but are of the same family. She said industrial hemp therefore does not contain psychoactive chemical elements that affect people when smoked.

The Invegrow founder has asked support from all Malawians to request Government have the Legislative changes of definitions of cannabis so that the hemp is adopted as a new cash crop in Malawi and Malawians benefiting from its products on both a health and economic level. However, she said this requires market access, creating production lines and showing a proof of concept model.

Tony Budden

To cement Invegrow’s remarks, Marketing Manager for Hemporium, Tony Budden, emphasized that the Industrial Hemp fibre is three times stronger than cotton. “Its fabrics are durable and long lasting and that its seeds are incredibly healthy source of protein and nutritious oils packed with all 8 of the Omega or essential fatty acids needed for immune system.” He said

                                          

“This crop fits so well into small scale farming and commercial farming. So the opportunities are definitely there.” He added

Budden also distanced the herb from Chamba saying the herb is not used for smoking it and is not a drug crop. But he said though, it is from the same family, it is used for different purposes.

“In nature we have to look at how we use things, the plant is not bad; some people use for bad purposes, while some people use for good purpose. So we are promoting the Industrial uses of the herb plant” he added

Budden also expressed hope of opportunity for change in Malawi looking at the way government has recently responded to calls for the approval of the plant and how people look at the plant now.

He said it is very important that government has allowed Chitedze Research Station to carryout study of the crop with funding from Invegrow (Government as a joint venture to do the research.)

The Hemporioum Marketing Director has emphasized that said it will be up to the government to make new regulations to allow Industrial Hemp grown and also Malawians to demand speedy enactment of the legislation so that they can begin to grow it and start to realize the benefits.

Hon Boniface Kadzamira: President Mutharika wants it

Meanwhile the Nchisi North Parliamentarian, Hon Boniface Kadzamira who first brought the issue in the National Assembly that the Industrial Hemp should be grown in Malawi, has hinted that President Peter Mutharika expressed his full support to idea that the herb be grown in the country during recent meeting with him.

“Government has seen the need to diversify and try Industrial Hemp” said the parliamentarian who could not hide his excitement following government go ahead to Chitedze Research Station for trials of growing the plant.

“Since I mention this issue in Parliament, I see change in people’s opinion toward the plant because at first they thought I was talking about Marijuana. But now people from my constituency and others from across the country are calling to ask for the seeds” said Kadzamira

However, the parliamentarian has since urged media to create awareness on the economic benefits of the hemp and how it is different from Marijuana because at the moment he said Malawians knows little on this matter.

Police Nets 52 In Salima, Ntchisi, 2 Vendors Sentenced Over Alcohol In Sachets

Malawi Police Service Vehicle and Police Officer

Police in the districts of Salima and Ntchisi have intensified security through sweeping exercises being carried out day and night in order to arrests criminals.

Police in Salima on Wednesday night arrested 33 people as one way of making Salima district a go-zone area says the Police Public Relations Officer in the district, Sub Inspector Gift Chitowe.

“The police have intensified day and night patrols which have seen a lot of suspects being netted. This is being done to make Salima a safe and secure district.” Said Chitowe while confirming the arrests

He said on 23rd September police managed to arrest 16 women who were earning their living on prostitution, 12 men for Rogue and Vagabond and the remaining 5 people, for illegal (unregistered) bicycle hire operations. All will appear in court soon to answer the stated charges, he said

Malawi Police Officers intensify security

Meanwhile, Police in Ntchisi district says, at least 19 people are expected to start appearing before Ntchisi First Grade Magistrate's Court following their arrests during a sweeping exercise police conducted during the night of Wednesday this week.

“The sweeping exercise led by Ntchisi Police operations officer Inspector Keston Madela was conducted at Ntchisi Trading Centre.” Said the district Police Public Relations Officer, Sergeant Gladson M’bumpha

“Following the sweeping exercise, 19 people were arrested during the exercise after being found at the trading centre on the same night and have been charged with the offense of Rogue and Vagabond.”

M’bumpha says the suspects have already been questioned by police and are expected to appear before court soon.

In the same district of Ntchisi, Second Grade Magistrate Court has ordered two men to pay a fine of K40,000 each or in default serve a twelve-month jail term for being found selling liquor without a license.

The two, Masa Makina aged 29, from Kabwazi village of Traditional Authority Njolomole in Ntcheu and Chipiliro Kachigunda aged 37, from Zionetsa village of Traditional Authority Malenga in Ntchisi, were on September 3rd of this year, found selling liquor without a license.

According to Sergeant M’bumpha, two were arrested during sweeping exercise at Ntchisi Trading Centre after they were found selling liquor in sachets and had their cartoons of beer seized.

Lilongwe TNM Customers Gets Business Starter From TNM Tikolore Promo

Madalitso Jonazi presenting Tricycle to previous winner

Three TNM customers from Capital City, Lilongwe will become possible millionaires after winning Tricycle each, from the promotion dubbed 'Tikolore' being run by the Malawi's leading mobile company.

The three winners, Haswell Banda, Amidu Bwanali, and Kafelapangira Chunga received their prizes from TNM at a presentation ceremony held on Thursday at area 49 Zebra in Lilongwe.

Through the promotion TNM is giving out four Tricycles (mini vehicle with three wheels) to four lucky customers every month as the main random prize in the promotion. There are 4 more mini vehicles to be won and other prizes are sprayers, fertilizer and other farming tools.

“I have got a very big plan for this tricycle which at the end will make my dream come true." says Kafelapangila Chunga a teacher at St. Gallen Private School in Lilongwe,

"I want to do a taxi business using this Tricycle and the money will be used to pay for my education because I desperately need money to proceed with my education” he said

Another winner, Amindu Bwanali said; “Am happy that I have won this Tricycle because I have never thought I can be one of the winnersa and at first I thought it was a joke when TNM contacted me to inform that I have won. He said, 

"This prize will help my family, and relatives because I will use this Tricycle for taxi business.”

Tikolore Promotion aims to celebrate the harvest season and help Malawians prepare for the coming farming season

Speaking in an interview after presenting the three prizes, TNM’s Commercial Manager, Chimwemwe Mganga expressed the companies grattitude for overwheling support it gets from subscribers since the begining of the promotion on 1^st May.

"We were supposed to end the promotion on 31^st of July but due to overwhelming response we extended this promotion to August but after being overwhelmed again, we extended again to this month of September 30^th. Said Mganga who also indicated that the promotion continues to attract an increased response from customers and that there has been subscriber base increment.

With one more draw ahead, before winding up the promotion, Mganga encouraged customers to continue participating in the promotion and win the prizes that are designed to reward customers with farming inputs as they prepare for the next farming season.

To date TNM has given out bags of fertilizers, sprayers and farming tools to over 1200 customers, 400 customers have won 2 bags each, 400 customers have won sprayers and the other 400 have won 400 sets of farming tools.

During the seventeenth draw TNM splashed out 100 bags of fertilisers to 50 luky customer, sprayers to 50 people and other 50 customers walked away with farming tools. In addition to the main prizes, TNM subscribers also stand a chance to earn 50% bonus on their daily airtime recharges during the promotion.

To enter the promotion subscribers are only required to top up their phone with a minimum of K50.

The promotion ends on 30th September 2015 and only prepaid customers are eligible to enter.