Prioritisation Critical In SDG's Implementation- UN Tips Malawi

Mia Seppo

The United Nation (UN) office in Malawi says prioritization of short term goals in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) is vital for the country amid resource scarcity. 

Following the adoption of the SDG’s by the UN General Assembly in September this year, Malawi is expected to start a National Planning Process of implementation of the SDG’s.

Speaking in an interview, the UN Resident Coordinator, Mia Seppo said “There is need to prioritise short term goals because there are limited resources and there are so many priorities in Malawi.”

“What Malawi needs to do in its National Planning Process is to prioritise. To think through the short terms; what are the most important goal’s and medium and long terms, what is the level of ambition.” She suggested

Seppo also hints that since SDG’s includes unfinished business of Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s), therefore, four unaccomplished goals in the MDG’s are obviously very good short term starting points for Malawi.

“So to really have an impact there has to be prioritization because otherwise you are going to continue to have what you have in some areas which is a very high level of fragmentation with a lot of small, small, small interventions that doesn’t really add-up and linkup to something that could have a greater impact.” said Seppo 

Alice Harding Shackelford (left)

Commenting on the same, Alice Harding Shackelford, a UN Women Country Representative agreed with Mia Seppo. Shackelford said Malawi needs to take advantage of current Malawi Growth Development Strategy 2 review and the process of the National Development Strategy as a very strategic platform to take course of prioritization.

“The Development Cooperation Strategy which was adopted more than a year ago really brings also an effort around development partners to work in a more coordinated manner which is also very important and all other ongoing processes are going to help also moving to the prioritization process” she added

CSOs Wants Reform Scrutiny By Parliament

Timothy Mtambo

Civil Society Organisations says proposed solutions by the Public Service Reform Commission must first be approved by National Assembly before implementation.

Timothy Mtambo Executive Director for Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR), said reforms being pursued by President Peter Mutharika administration are not inspiring because they are not aligned with the national vision. 

He therefore urged Government to ensure that all proposed reforms are periodically scrutinised by the National Assembly to improve the program delivery and ensure that reforms reflect the views and wishes of Malawians.

While appealing for depoliticisation of the Public Service Reforms by supporting it with necessary legal regime in order to ensure scrutiny, he said National Assembly is right institution that must be allowed to play its rightful oversight function to the reforms.

“I can assure Malawians that those reforms are not supposed to be implemented without an authorization of parliament. We are represented by parliament so, any kind of reforms should be scrutinized by the parliament, who are the representatives of the people of this country.” Suggested Mtambo 

Mtambo has said at the moment “the reform program is just a program which is empty and has no legal basis”. He also warned that by letting everything been done by few individuals to head the reforms then the country might end up with “deforms” instead of “reforms”

“These reforms are being taken as a law itself. There are changes in the name of reforms; cancelation of JCE exams, the hiking of school fees in secondary schools and colleges. People just woke up in the morning in the name of reforms and change things.” He observed 

Mtambo also underlined that the program would have done better to Malawians if the reforms had began first in the presidency office and then trickle down to juniors. 

“We have always said that the reforms were supposed to start from the presidency” he said “The head is not reformed, we have a lot of power in the office of the president and that is why corruption continues in this country. So how do you expect the juniors to transform?”

However, speaking in an interview, Chairperson for Parliamentary Committee on Government Assurances, Honorable Harry Mkandawire said their committee has already been requested by Vice President Office to work together with the Public Service Reform Commission in question.

“The Good part is that the office of the Vice President has requested my committee to work with the Public Reforms Commission. Now the area you are talking about, we are yet to agree.” Confirmed Mkandawire

When asked when did his committee received such a request, Mkandawire replied “We were asked long time ago during the last meeting of parliament”

But since the committee’s relationship with the Commission has just started and they are yet to agree as to the terms of reference of how they are going to work together, he therefore admitted that his committee was not part of reforms being implemented at the moment. 

Mkandawire has also asked the CSO’s to meet his Committee to discuss on how the committee should work with the Commission.

“This is what CSO’s would want to see, I therefore urge the CSO’s to come to us, to let us know what our relationship with the Reform Commission should be. And if they have an idea, they can sell it to us so that in turn we would be saying; look, people out there they want this, because CSOs are also the representatives of the people”

Mkandawire has since congratulated the office of the Vice President for seeing it fit that their committee should be a bridge between the commission and parliament.

In 2014, Malawi Government under leadership of President Peter Mutharika instituted Public Service Reform Commission being chaired by his Vice President Saulos Chilima.

The commission was instituted to facilitate the creation of an effective and efficient Public Service that will spur economic growth through the nurturing of a market economy that is foreign direct investor friendly as well as one that will facilitate long term investments in the health, education and other social programmes. Since, the commission has made several recommendations which president has approved and have been implemented.

However, on Wednesday, CSO's claimed that the success of the reforms are just on paper and called for resignation of Mutharika over poor democratic and economic governance

Man Sodomised 16 Year Old Boy 8 Times Now In Custody

A 21 year old man is in police hands for sodomising a 16 year old boy for eight times, but all happened in separate occasions.

Police in Dowa says the young man identified as Rodney Kamanga aged 21 was arrested following reports that he sodomised his best friend aged 16.

Richard Kaponda

"Indeed we have arrested a 21 year old man Rodney Kanga for sodomising a fellow man aged 16." Confirmed Sergeant Richard Kaponda, Dowa district Police Public Relations Officer 

"The accused and the victim have been friends for a long time but we got report that the 16 year old has been sodomised by his friend. The victim told police that the day of the incident, he was invited into Kamanga's house then to his bedroom where the sodomy took place" explained Kaponda

He also confirmed that when the victim was referred to Dowa District hospital, doctors confirmed that the boy was really sodomised.

However, Kaponda also said the victim (name withheld) further revealed to police that this was not first time to have sex with Rodney Kamanga. he said this was eight time, only that he has been keeping the issue secret.

The police officer, said the victim, had once received a sum of K100 from the accused after sex and that after the recent incident which happened on 11th October 2015, was given some cooked irish potatoes.

The suspect comes from Mtambo village of T/A Simphasi in Mchinji district while the victim comes from Dzikometsa village of T/A Chiwere in Dowa. And the accused man is expected to appear in court soon to answer charges of sodomy.

Two Suffocates To Death On Lake Malawi During Mothers Day Holiday

A man and a woman have been found dead and their bodies floating on Lake Malawi in Salima district during Mothers Day holiday celebrations.

Police in the district says, the man was found on Mother's day Thursday 15th of October while the dead body of a woman was found floating on the next day 16th of October in Senga-bay

Sub Inspector Gift Chitowe, Salima District Police Public Relations Officer said the two from Lilongwe had separately gone to the Lake for Mothers Day holiday and has identified the two as Frazer Mwangala man aged 27 of Chamadenga village T/A Kaphuka in Dedza district but based at Chilinde in Lilongwe and Chimwemwe Chinyamula female aged 31of Mtandire village in Lilongwe.

"They both went into the deep waters but they failed to swim back to the shore." explained Chitowe 

The police officer then indicated that body of Frazer was was found on the same day at Baobab Cottage while the deceased woman, went missing at Kambiri Lodge and her body resurfaced on 16th October and was found floating along Kamb

iri lodge" said Chitowe

Women Caucus Wants Government To Sack Teachers Who Abuse Girls

Hon Jessie Kabwila making comments

Women Caucus of Parliament has urged government authorities in Education sector to sack all teachers found guilty of sexual abuse of girls and stop transferring them elsewhere.

The Caucus was reacting after watching Mwayi Wotsiriza (Last Chance) movie screened at parliament building on Wednesday evening.

“When a teacher has been found guilty of molesting and sexually abusing a girl child, the punishment that they get is to be moved somewhere else. There is need to stop transfer offenders because there are laws which punish those offenders and that we shouldn’t transfer those teachers.” Said Honorable Jessie Kabwila, Chairperson for Women Caucus

“As Women Caucus we want to make it clear, there should be no Last Chances for Teachers who abuse girl children. Once they do this there is need for strong punitive measures that will make people stop.” She added

However, through discussions that took place after watching the movie, female parliamentarians also expressed their disappointment over the absence of Ministry of Education officials at the screening although invitation was sent to them.

The Caucus noted number of areas in education sector exposed in the film which they would have wanted the Ministry of Education officials to see and answer their questions on how it is addressing those problems and on various problems which the Caucus feel may hinder girl child education.

Hon Patricia Shanil making omments

The Caucus mentioned recently introduced Secondary and College fees and how it neatly link to how long a girl child stays in school. The group emphasized that it was wrong to introduce or hike fees when there is looming hunger. They argued that there is ample proof that for the girl child, fees can be the very reason that teachers can use to abuse underprivileged girls.

It was also noted that there is poor working conditions which includes; poor salaries, bad housing, and late salaries of teachers a problem which has led to underperformance of teachers and increased sexual abuse of girls in schools. All these were supposed to be answered by the Ministry.

However Kabwila has said the Caucus will issue to the ministry a document that will highlight and "makes it very clear" that teaching service in Malawi has no place for a teacher who abuses the girl child.

“We will also make a strong case of the linkage between fees payment at Secondary Schools how that is going to increase child marriages and dropout rates in schools if nothing is done to assist the parents who cannot afford  to take their children to school.” Said Kabwila

Efforts to find out from the Ministry of Education officials on their failure  to show up at the parliament did not yield as the Spokesperson for the ministry was not picking up the phone call.

Mwayi Wotsiriza by Theatre International 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.

Pope Francis Appoints New Bishop For Zomba Diocese: Fr. George Tambala

Pope Francis has on Thursday appointed father George Desmund Tambala as Bishop who will take charge of Zomba diocese.
 

“The Apostolic Nunciature in Malawi informs that the Holy Father Pope Francis has appointed Reverend Father George Desmund Tambala, O.C.D., as bishop of Zomba” reads announcement from Episcopal Conference of Malawi

The statement indicates that the announcement was made Thursday 15^th of October 2015 in the Vatican City.

“His Grace Most Reverend Thomas Msusa, Apostolic Administrator ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the Diocese of Zomba, remains in charge of Diocese until the new Bishop will take possession of the Episcopal See of Zomba.” Reads the statement

Born on 11 November 1968 in Zomba, Rev. Father George Desmund Tambala was ordained priest on 13 April 1996 at Chiphaso Parish in Kasungu district in the Arch Diocese of Lilongwe after his theological studies at Tangaza College in Nairobi.

Among others held several positions including; Parochial Vicar in Kapiri- Arch Diocese of Lilongwe (1996-1998); Postulants Master in Balaka and teacher of Spirituality (2000-2002); and Superior of the House of Spirituality of Nyungwe- Blantyre.

From 2009 until his appointment he is Definitor General in charge of Africa and Madagascar and the Order of Discalced Carmelites.

Since 21 November 2013 when His Holiness Pope Francis appointed the Right Reverend Thomas Luke Msusa Archbishop of Blantyre, transferring him from the Episcopal See of Zomba., the Diocese had no bishop.

Malawi CSO's Confirm Plans For Demonstration Against Mutharika Administration

CSOs

Civil Society Organisations says plans are underway to hold demonstrations in the country against what they call "loss of leadership and direction" by President Peter Mutharika administration.

Various CSO leaders said on Wednesday evening that there is leadership crisis as president Mutharika has failed to take charge of this country as evidenced in number of challenges people are facing.

Confirming the development on Wednesday evening, Human Rights Activists, Billy Mayaya, Robert Mkwezalamba, Gift Trapence and Timothy Mtambo said the citizens of this country have asked CSOs to resort for demonstrations as president has lost legitimacy and direction.

Timothy Mtambo

“People have been asking for demonstration, citizens have spoken, citizens have approached us to say; we are tired of this mess. So people are tired and we as the civil society leaders we will not hesitate to take leadership of the citizens to mobilize them to express their anger through a demonstration which is a constitutional right.” Said Mtambo

“At the mean time we have not decided the date but we are planning” confirmed Mtambo who also appealed to the president to take charge desist from making statements which may further demotivate Malawians.

He hinted that the Malawians who are the “employers of the president”, are angered by President Mutharika’s defensive approached on matters of accountability

“We were crying to say this president left this country with hundreds of people at the moment the country is suffering in unemployment, problems in the health sector, education sector and many other”

Going to the meeting was not bad, he was representing us, but he took hundreds of people. When employers of this president asked him to account which is tenant of democracy and good governance to be transparent in the manner he held this issue, he became emotional, he shouted at everyone. He told the nation that when he came here he was a millionaire. We don’t care about his millions, but what we care is him to take us forward.” Explains Mtambo

While stating that people are tired of the president who can shout at them, Mtambo said president actions are not only signs of arrogance but also shows has lost the control of this country.

“Who is supposed to be angry, who is supposed to shout at the other, the person who is making us a failed country or the people who are suffering?” query Mtambo then said “When someone becomes emotional, banging tables and calling everyone garbage and threatening the media, is a clear sign that somebody has lost direction and has lost his legitimacy. This is why we are asking if the president feels that this office is too heavy for him to handle then he should honorably resign” he said

He also pointed out that the president has contradicted himself all over and that Muthatika has failed to walk the talk and in most cases contradicting himself both in his statements and actions

“He tells the donors to help on the looming hunger the same day he leaves to New York with hundreds of people. He tells the country that a’m challenging you am not going to stop hiring the jet, the same tomorrow he says as a country we are broke.

He challenges the civil servants that we are broke and we are not going to raise the salaries yet he raises school fees for the children. So, where are the suffering people of this country going to get the money to pay for such school fees? So it is clear loss of direction and loss of leadership.” Emphasized Mtambo