‘Mwayi Wotsiriza’ Movie Gets Grand Welcome From Audience, Government

Mwayi Wotsiriza Actors

Local movie, ‘Mwayi Wotsiriza’ by Theatre International (TI) has received an impressive reception on Friday night at Golden Peacock Hotel in the Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe where the film was screening for the first time.

Mwayi Wotsiriza is a film about sexual abuse of girls and working conditions of teachers in rural primary schools. In the film, a frustrated teacher ‘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.

Reactions after watching the 1 hour movie, from the audience who filled the hall were mainly good appraisal to directors and producers for making a realistic and quality work which they said is a true representation of current plight of primary schools teachers and girls as well as how communities often responds to such situations.

Female member of audience making comments

“This is a remarkable work. It reflects reality on the ground in our communities and towns. And it ends on the good note.” one of the woman in the audience said. 

Male Audience member making comments to the film

There were a lot of comments from the audience

Some of the reactions were questions to invited government officials from Ministry of Education and Ministry of Gender on how education system responds to the situation presented in the film, on girl child protection and how best can people respond to those situations.

Others made their observations by presenting real stories similar to situations presented in the movie while sharing some best practices that other few communities are doing in dealing with such problems. And more importantly, there were comments with proposed solutions and call for action by every person. 

Joseph Chimombo

When responding to some of the questions from the audience, one of the invited guests at the launch, Dr. Joseph Chimombo, Director of Basic Education in the Ministry of Education Science and Technology, acknowledged that Mwayi Wotsiriza highliths almost all challenges being faced at the moment in the education sector.

“As Government we are aware of these problems. We are very much concerned and we are at the moment working hard to end them.” He said

Austine Owen

The undersecretary for the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social welfare Dr. Austin Owen Luhanga while indicating that the ministry is also at the moment making number of strides to ensure that a girl child is being protected, also made a positive remark about the film.

“The film has given all of us some food for thought to critically examine the plight of both the teacher as well as the girl child. Solutions are in our hands as the TI Artistic Director did indicate.”

“Let’s continue from where the film stopped, lets discuss and find solutions together so that the girl child is protected. This film has set a right direction of how we can solve the problem” added Luhanga 

Maluwaya

Welcoming the film, McDonald Maluwaya, the Chief Arts Officer in the Ministry of Sports and Culture commended TI: “The mission….the vision…. Superb! The strategy…all wonderful! And what touches me the most is the idea of promoting cultural expression while appealing to the minds of the international world...” He added.

He promised that government will continue with number of programs that promote the film industry in the country.

He indicated that government is working hard to end challenges that the film industry is facing in the country such as lack of formalized markets, growing rates of piracy, high costs of producing movie and also technical expertise. 

Chancy Mauluka

Before comments and questions from the audience, the Artistic Director for Theatre International Chancy Mauluka said the movie was inspired by his encounter with one teacher ‘victimized’ by the system and one girl victimized by the victimized teacher in Kasungu District.

Mauluka then emphasized that the movie aims at inciting debate on how Malawi can effectively deal with some of these problems including on reporting channels when such issues arise and how communities can solve such problems.

Later in an interview, Mauluka who said was overwhelmed by the high numbers of the audience also appreciated their response.

“It was encouraging to hear some responses from audience; that it was good that the film does not offer solution, because actually when I was developing this film it was to ignite such discussions for action. As one of the viewers saw, it would have been very simplistic to offer a solution” he said.

“This movie is something that can be used for social development and is a good example of communication for social change” added Mauluka.

Underprivileged To Pay Secondary School Fees In Installments, Apply for Withdrawal

Following the increment of school fees in Public Secondary Schools, parents can pay fees in installments or withdraw their child for single academic year if they don’t have money.

To achieve cost sharing Ministry of Education Science and Technology recently, announced upward revisions of fees paid for various categories in Public Secondary Schools with immediate effect in 2015/2016 Academic Year. Government said previous rates were “unrealistic and too little”

Mussa: parents can negotiate with head teachers

Speaking in Lilongwe on Wednesday evening, Director of Secondary and Distance Education, Chikondano Mussa, says in view of the new changes Head Teachers have already been advised to give students adequate time to pay school fees. 

She therefore advised parents and guardians having difficulties in paying fees at once to negotiate with Head Teachers on modalities on how to pay school fees by installments. However she said installments should be done within one specific term.

In her speech, Mussa said in situations where parents have completely failed to find fees, there is an option of application for withdrawal of their child and reserve the place. 

“They should write to the Education Division Manager through the Head Teacher, a letter of withdrawal of their child from school in that academic year and request for the place to be reserved for the following academic year.” Said Mussa

But she has indicated that when the reservation period elapse, students would be required to apply for the re-admission in the following academic year at their previous school.

“The reservation of the place is only for one year except where medical condition and other circumstances dictate otherwise” she stated

Among other grounds set for possible withdrawal are; being pregnant or responsible for pregnancy, prolonged sickness and taking care of siblings (in case of child headed family) but the ministry stressed that evidence must be provided when making the application for withdrawal or re-admission.

Noting that a good number of students failed to proceed with the education because of lack of school fees and other vulnerabilities, Mussa said Government and other stakeholders will continue to provide bursaries to the neediest of the needy students in Public Secondary Schools through bursary scheme that was introduced in 2010 along with guidelines to govern bursary provision.

Mussa indicated that bursary structures are currently at three levels; school based bursary committee, District based bursary committee, and division bursary committee. 

She said the Ministry provides twenty bursary beneficiary identification forms to all public schools which a school bursary committee use to identify, rank and select the most vulnerable students according to their “degree of neediness”

She then urged parents and guardians to check with their District Councils on what other types of bursaries exist within their district which could be accessed by their children

Egypt Training Prepare Malawi Police To Fight Terrorism

Paratrooper officer getting scholarship from Egypt

Group of Malawi Police Service officers that attended the recent Capacity Building programme in Cairo, says Egyptian skills and techniques on national security prepares Malawi police in combating acts of terrorism.

Some countries closer to Malawi including Kenya have experienced acts of terror in recent years, a waking up call for Malawi to strengthen its security in preparations to combat such acts in case may happen in near future.

New batch posing with Egyptian Ambassador
And other Malawi Government officials 

Representative of the Six Malawi Police officers, who went to Cairo for capacity building training in different areas, Gladson Chipumphula also Deputy Director of Police responsible for Operations, says police officers have learnt a lot of skills from Egypt.

Chipumphula was speaking in Lilongwe on Monday evening at Egyptian Embassy during presentation ceremony for Awarding Capacity Building Scholarships other 16 Malawians working in various disciplines.

He said “The training to do with terrorism is very important to Malawi as well. Countries closer to us including Kenya and Somalia they are faced with a lot of terrorist activities. So, one day we might wake up to see that those people have migrated to Malawi.

So it is better to have the knowledge in place than wait for the situation to come and yet we don’t even have capacity to combat those situations” he said

Chipumphula who graduated as top of class in Cairo in the class of Anti-riot for police Commanders said the training has given them skills in proper use of modern sophisticated equipments currently not available in Malawi and professional handling of situations like riots. 

“The curriculum covered throughout the course one would see that Egyptians have gone further. They even have modern and sophisticated technologies which they use even to police demonstrations and make sure that they are working professionally.” He said

Chipumphula while thanking Egyptian Embassy he also mentioned that the training has helped them to share ideas and skills with other police officers from other 20 African countries that participated in the training.

Ambassador El-Adawy: We will support Malawi 

“For Egypt, we are giving hope to Malawi because, with hope and with work then Malawi can develop.” Said Egyptian Ambassador to Malawi His excellence Maher El-Adawy “This programme is about exposure, getting latest techniques and technologies and networking because they are not just learning from Egyptians but they are also learning from other participants from other African countries.”

 “The world is now is very competitive and we need to move forward as fast as possible so if a brotherly or sisterly country like Egypt is offering this to Malawi I think it is a good thing that Malawians can benefit.” Said El-Adawy

He also said Egypt is not looking at the cost of the programme but how much it is benefiting Malawi because Egypt is not expecting anything in return. 

Chilabade; Malawi is has skill shortage 

Mean while Malawi Government has thanked the Government of Egypt for its support to Malawi through Capacity training programmes which has seen over 114 persons receive training in their field.

“This means a lot to the Government of Malawi because we have skill shortages in various areas, and we are looking at partners who can help us build capacity in those areas.” said Blessings Chilabade Principle Secretary of Human Resource Management who represented Malawi Government at the event.

“Government of Egypt has been one of our close partners in terms of addressing some of those areas that they have expertise based on our needs” he said

Egyptian Government on Monday awarded 16 Capacity Building programs financed by the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development (EAPD) in some of Egypt Premier Institutions in the fields of Health, Agriculture, Defence and Trade. 

The group is composed of candidates in the field of: Safe Motherhood for doctors, Health Care Workers or Nurses (2) and Women Health Across Lifespan for African Nurse Leaders (5); Animal Production (2); Paratroopers (5); and Data and Information Analysis (2).

Since September 2014, before this batch, Egypt has provided 98 capacity building programme in the fields of Health, Police, Information, Diplomacy, Agriculture, Trade, Rural Development, Empowerment of Women, Natural Resources, Education, among others. With this group Egypt has now offered 114 Capacity Building Programs.

'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