CSO’s Wants Mutharika Step Down For Poor Democratic, Economic Governance

Malawi’s Civil Society Organisations (CSO’s) have asked President Peter Mutharika to resign if he keeps failing citizens in democratic and economic governance.

Nine human rights activists and organizations have issued a media statement on Wednesday 14th of October 2015 which highlights the democratic and economic challenges the country is going through

Billy Mayaya, a Civil Rights Activist read from the statement claiming that Malawians are suffering due to “current administration’s lack of vision and failure to care for Malawians.”

He said the country’s economy is at brink of collapse and pointed out; water and electricity crisis, ills in the education and health sectors and a cloud of uncertainty over Farm Input Subsidy Program (Fisp) in the agriculture sector. He added that the incumbent president is failing to fairly prosecute corruption cases, stop unnecessary expenditure and that his nepotistic administration is a champion in bullying the media.

“The list could be endless” stated Mayaya while accusing President Mutharika of being arrogant and so defensive on matters that seek him to be transparent by mentioning his response to bloated entourage to the United Nations General Assembly as recent an example. 

“Malawians should not be treated as if they forced Mutharika into plot number one. It is the incumbent who asked for it, and he must deliver to their expectations or else quit if he has no clue to fix their problems.” Read Mayaya from the statement

When concluding reading the statement, Gift Trapence, Executive Director for Centre for Development of People (CEDEP) also repeated resignation calls saying the county’s economy is heading for the dead end due to government “costly man-made blunders”

“We have no doubt that, given a mature, patriotic and altruistic leadership; the country can easily smart from the current challenges. We, however, genuinely feel the President is honourable enough to consider stepping down if he keeps failing Malawians.”

Later, Timothy Mtambo, Executive Director for Centre For Human Rights and Rehabilitaton (CHRR) and Charles Kajoloweka executive director for Youth and Society both resonated to the resignation calls by stating that emotions by president Mutharika at recent media briefing where he was angrily banging tables when making defensive responses to media questions, is a clear sign of a failed president.

“It is dangerous for the country to be led by angry and frustrated president” warned Kajoloweka

Among others the statement has touched number of areas including; high cost of living as the presidency continue to be extravagant, dwindling service delivery and empty talks on Public Service Reform Program.

The statement also has asked President Mutharika to commit, as matter of urgency to eleven solutions that correspond with the problems highlighted in the statement.

Mtambo, has since urged government to utilize the solutions in the statement “We have offered the solutions in this statement because it has been said that we don’t offer solutions. The truth is that we have been providing solutions to government but they don’t take them. We have done before and we are doing it again.”

Others who attended the conference includes, Robert Mkwezalamba, Chairperson for Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC).

All human rights activists who held the press briefing apart from Robert Mkwezalamba have signed the statement including; Moses Mkandawire of Civil and Political Space Platform, Desmond Mhango of CEYCA, Bright Kampaundi of Forum for National Development (FND), McDonald Sembereka of Malawi Network of Religious Leaders Living and Affected with HIV/AIDS, Benedicto Kondowe of Human Rights Defenders Forum and Kiko Mapunda from Centre for Governance and Public Participation.

UN Urge Malawi Media To Help People Understand SDG's

Unite Nations office in Malawi, says the Media needs to take the initiative to help citizens stay engaged in both localization and prioritization process of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Mia Sepo, UN country representative was speaking in the Capital city, Lilongwe during the meeting with members of Bwaila Media Club (BMC) to discuss SDGs and its significance for Malawi’s dream of eradicating poverty and achieve sustainable economic growth.

She explained that SDGs is a very complex agenda which captures how development thinking has evolved from the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) to when these goals were approved by member states. 

The UN Country representative therefore said, one of the very important lessons from the MDG’s is that “There has to be very strong ownership and very strong local anchoring for these goals to be implemented.

For that to happen, Sepo emphasized that the media needs to be very actively engaged in helping people understand and monitor implementation of SDGs.

“The Media in Malawi has an absolutely critical role in explaining what SDG’s are, in helping people really understand how SDG’s are different from MDGs as well as in monitoring the implementation of SDGs when Malawi has gone through the process of localizing and prioritizing those SDG’s.” she said

She also advised that as Malawi is about to embark on the National Planning Process in the prioritization and implementation of SDG’s, it is absolutely important that the process is inclusive.

Sepo emphasized that the planning has to hear very broad range of partners, players and voices in society so that those “priorities that Malawians agrees on” is “something that everybody can mobilize around and everybody can feel ownership of.”

She then noted that this cannot be achieved without the media. She underlined that the Media must be on the forefront to help people “stay engaged than understand why this is important for them”

“And again the media has a role to cover and to explain the national planning process and to build some enthusiasm around it as well, because planning can sound a little bit boring but when you take the SDGs, you take the localization of SDGs, the need to prioritize the SDGs and the need to come up with the plan for Malawi that really matters. And that really drives the development agenda” said Sepo

Chairperson for Bwaila Media Club, Peter Makawa said the encounter with the UN Country representative has been very fruitful as the media has gained more knowledge about the SDG’s.

“Member States have approved the SDGs some few weeks ago. So, this was a right time for us members of the media to engage the UN, to help us understand what the SDG’s are.” Said Makawa

He then disclosed that the Lilongwe based Press club is planning an ambitious project which will help to popularize the SDGs to all Malawians having learned that very few knew the just ending MDG’s.

“Even though Malawi managed to achieve half of the Millennium Development Goals, but very few Malawians knew them. So, as media we feel we have an obligation to engage citizens and help them understand these Sustainable Development Goals as well as how important they are to them.

We are therefore going to take an initiative which will help to reach a lot of Malawians. The project will help people understand these SDGs and demand government to play it’s role in the implementation of these SDGS. And more importantly, we want also to enlighten people that they also have to take part in the prioritization and implementation process of these goals”

SDG's are the world's time-bound and quantified targets for addressing extreme poverty in its many dimensions-income poverty, hunger, disease, lack of adequate shelter, and exclusion-while promoting gender equality, education, and environmental sustainability.

The just ended 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted new resolution which consists of 17 SDGs and 169 targets and will form a development blueprint for the next 15 years. 

Crocodile Kills Man, 4 Men Die When Boat Capsized In Lake Malawi

A Crocodile has attacked and killed a 21 year old man on Lake Malawi in Salima district. 

Police in the district identified the man as a Malawian national, Daniel Baitoni who after the attack went missing for more than 20 hours. 

"He was in the company of his friends on 12th October at about 16:00 hours. They were swimming on the lake at Kasache fishing beach where the attack happened" said Sub Inspector Gift Chitowe, Salima Police Public Relations Officer

Chitowe explained that while swimming, the deceased was suddenly grabbed by the  crocodile which carried him away vanishing from friends site. 

"He then went missing until the next day evening when his body was found by community members following intensive search and the dead body was found without both legs and arms." Said Chitowe 

The deceased hails from Sompho village of T/A Khombedza

Meanwhile Police in the district also says four fishermen have suddenly died after boat they were sailing developed a fault and got capsized. 

Sub Inspector Gift Chitowe said the 4 fishermen Jawadu Alli, Mdala Alli, Umali Imedi and Shukurani Matemba all from Nawanga village T/A Kulunda, in Salima district drowned at Nawanga fishing beach in Lake Malawi. 

"It is believed that the boat they were using sank because it had a hole which allowed water to enter into the boat. It is also believed that they were all asleep when the boat began to sink and their bodies went missing on 8th October till on 9th October" explained Chitowe

Timveni Asks Salima Communities To Protect, Support Girl Child

Timveni Child and Youth Media Organisation has urged parents and members of communities of Salima District to work together in ending numerous challenges facing adolescent girls in the district.

Mary Karen Mhango, Project Officer for Timveni Child and Youth Media Organisation, made the call at Katelera primary school, during the annual commemorations of International Day of the Girl Child which falls on 11th October every year.

This year’s theme ‘The Power of the Adolescent Girl: Vision for 2030’, focuses on adolescent girls and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s), which set a range of international targets including on gender equality to be achieved by 2030.

“Salima is one district that is facing challenges when it comes to girl’s education.” Noted Mhango, “Most girls are being taken by boys from South Africa, fishermen and vendors who come here to buy or sell different things. And the most unfortunate thing is that parents are also forcing their girl child to go for marriage.” She said

She added that these challenges are also preventing girls from living a normal life in their communities and that in most cases girls remain in fear of violence at school, in home, on street or as a result of forced marriages which she said are common.

Timveni’s Project Officer, Mhango then underscored the importance of community efforts in protecting, supporting and encourage girls to remain in school so that they also achieve their dreams.

“We have to end all practices that hinder girls from continuing with their education. We must work together in ending these forced early marriages, gender based violence and other forms of harassment in schools” she appealed

During the day which also saw good participation from boys and members of communities, girls had opportunity to talk and sing songs that highlight number of challenges they face and on importance of educating the girl child.

In the evening, parents, pupils, teachers and people from surrounding communities of Katelera primary school, debated and discussed ways of ending challenges that girls are experiencing in the area just after watching a local movie ‘Mwayi Wotsiriza’ produced by Theatre International which highlights the plight of girls and teachers in Malawi.

The screening of ‘Mwayi Wotsiriza’ (also set to be screened at Malawi’s National Assembly Wednesday this week for Women Caucus and other NGO’s), on International Day of the Girl Child was intended to show people that issues told during the day are real and happen.

“This movie highlights most challenges that girls are facing.” said Mhango “It is talking about the girl being disturbed in her education. Sometimes when you say things about challenges that girls face in school, people don’t really understand. So, movie brings in reality of issues that we are talking to them because through it people can see and come up with different solutions. So the movie can help enlighten communities and see the need to take an action”

Local Fim Producers Asked To Promote Local Languages

The Malawi Government has urged Local film producers to make high quality movies which promote local language and culture.

 

Maluwaya

McDonald Maluwaya, the Chief Arts Officer in the Ministry of Sports and Culture made the remarks following the recent launch of local film, Mwayi Wotsiriza by Theatre International.

While expressing government commitment to continue with number of programs that promote the film industry in the country, Maluwaya emphasized that local film industry must promote local language which is essential in making easy communication with people in the rural areas.

The Chief Arts Officer in the Ministry of Sports and Culture McDonald Maluwaya, emphasized that local languages have to be used in local movies in promoting and preserving languages and culture as well as to disseminate messages.

He indicated that through this, artistic industry can take Malawi culture and languages to international community.

His reaction came following last Friday’s premiering of a local movie ‘Mwayi Wotsiriza’ by Theatre International, performed in Chichewa but has English and French subtitles.

Mwayi Wotsiriza is a film about sexual abuse of girls and working conditions of teachers in rural primary schools.

The Chief Arts Officer also pledged government efforts in ending 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.

“It is against this background that government is currently financing an integrated arts development programme being implemented by the copyright society of Malawi COSOMA and the Department of Culture to ease, some of these challenges existing in the creative industries.” said Maluwaya

Maluwaya added that the programme among others involve four main projects which are establishment of Art School, Aluso Savings and Credit Cooperative, Aluso Production and Marketing Cooperative and the National Arts and Heritage council.

“So this is a good news for in the creative industry. I would therefore like to ask the Producers of Mwayi Wotsiriza to explore how they can benefit from this provision of the Integrated Arts Development Programme to promote the film industry” He said

He then mentioned that in due course government will launch and implement the National Cultural Policy following the Cabinet approval of in February. He said the policy provides that there be a National Arts and Heritage Council established.

UN, WFP To Support Malawians Affected With Hunger

The United Nation (UN) and the World Food Programe are set to help Malawi on food situation as the country is trying to support millions of families that are more likely to face hunger this year.

President Mutharika: UN Secretary has promised us

Malawi President Professor Arther Peter Mutharika told the press on Thursday evening at Kamuzu Palace that there is good response on the country’s hunger situation as international community are showing keen interest to help.

He mentioned that UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-moon has promised the president that his office will support Malawi on the looming hunger.

“In my meeting with the Secretary General of United Nations (during recent trip to UN General Assembly), I mentioned to him about the situation. He said he was aware of the situation and he immediately instructed his department of humanitarian affairs to put Malawi situation as a priority” confirmed President Mutharika

He also said World Food Programme is expected to provide food to 2.8 million people while the rest will be supported by Malawi Government through its endeavors among them procurement of Maize from neighboring countries and through ADMARC markets.

“I would like to assure you that as long as I am the president and, as long as the DPP (Democratic Progressive Party) is in power, nobody is going to die of hunger. For that I can assure you.” Reiterated the Malawi leader

Over 3 million people are going to experience while others have already started to face hunger in Malawi following floods and erratic rains that hit the most parts of the agricultural based economy. However, the country has put several measures to avert the problem.

Airtel Malawi Launches Airtel Premier Plus Service

Airtel Malawi has on Thursday night, launched ‘Airtel Premier Plus’ a special tailored service and benefits program for customers from within Airtel Premier Program which kick-started 3 years ago.

Charles Kamoto

“We initially segmented some customers to Airtel Premier, but over time we also discovered that even the Airtel Premier category the needs are also different. So we have regrouped some from Airtel Premier to a segment Airtel Premier Plus” explained Charles Kamoto, Airtel Malawi’s Acting Managing Director at the grand launch of the service which took place at Bingu International Conference Centre in Lilongwe,

During the launch, Kamoto announced that the new service provides customers with a customized services and benefits in recognition of their value to the business.

“We have heard from you customers, the demand for a personal, fast and efficient one stop experience. With Airtel Premier Plus, our mission is to provide the best in class customer experience.” Said Kamoto

Kamoto promised that Customers in the program will be receiving “top promises” which includes Logo on handsets, a dedicated Relationship Manager, access to a Priority Call Centre Helpline 977, Doorstep service for fulfillment and Default Do Not Disturb services.

He added that Airtel Premier Plus Customers will also have some service discounts for accommodations, “We signed and sealed deals with various partners in the hospitality and lifestyle industries. You will enjoy customized discounts with our partners; Crossroads Hotel, Face Forward Beauty Parlor, Illala Cresta Lodge, Steers, Grand Palace Hotel and Buchanans Restaurants.”

Customers in this program are identified based on their value contribution to the business and their tenure with Airtel

“The patronage that you show to our network and your revenue contribution to our network will make you an Airtel Premier Plus customer. So, the more you stick to us, and the higher you use airtime you

will be upgraded to Airtel Premier Plus” said Kamoto

Kamoto has promised that Airtel will continue to provide more exciting services to its 3.5 million customers in Malawi and that the company is segmenting customers to meet customer needs.