Malawi Has Excess Maize Now-Confirm President Mutharika

Mutharika says Nobody is dying of
hunger under his leadeeship 

President Peter Mutharika has announced that Malawi is now food secure and that people should jettison fears of hunger hitting hard people this year.

Mutharika on Monday afternoon told Journalist at Kamuzu Palace that earlier in the day got such an exciting report from National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) that Malawi has excess maize.

Following adverse weather conditions early 2015, Malawi's maize production and other food crops across the country declined puting a total of 2.8 million people representing 17% of the country’s total population at risk of hunger during the 2015/2016.

An assessment by the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC), carried out in June and July, 2015, the siuation required humanitarian food to support the affected people was 124,183MT of maize equivalence. 

“I was very pleased to hear from NRA that there is excess maize in this country and that they will be asking me to agree to allow traders to export maize outside this country.” Said Mutharika adding “and this is what I have been saying all along.”

Mutharika said earlier in the day got report from National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) that Malawi has excess maize and NFRA will be asking the president to allow traders to export maize outside the country.

At this point he reiterated with assurance that no Malawian will die of hunger this year or under his administration and all logistical issues are being sorted out to ensure that maize is available in ADMARC markets.

He said; “nobody is going to die of hunger” He repeated “Nobody is going to die in this country of hunger under DPP Government.”

His remarks comes just after his deputy, Saulos Chilima had recently made an update on food situation.

The Vice President had mentioned that although International Community has assisted the country amounting to about US$91million but still Government is appealing for more assistance because currently there is a shortfall of US$55.378 million is approximately K31 billion for hunger response.

Efforts to curb hunger 1,960,377 people, representing 69 percent of the affected population in 68 Traditional Authorities in 24 districts, were targeted with food distribution while 880, 117 people, representing 31 percent in 58 Traditional Authorities in 18 districts, were considered on cash transfers. 

To stabilize the price of the commodity on the market through ADMARC the Malawi government also, using its own resources, bought 30,000MT of maize from Zambia for ADMARC at a cost of K2.8 billion, and 22,193MT of maize locally at a cost of K2.6 billion.

Mutharika Calls For Patience As Power Outages Continues

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President Peter Mutharika has appealed for patience from Malawians as the country continues to face persisting unreliable power supply from Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) saying much effort is being done to end the problem.

Irrigation Budget Prioritisation Solution For Malawi Poverty, Hunger- Uladi

Uladi

Leader of Peoples Party in the National Assembly and Salima South legislature Uladi Mussa says Malawi can eradicate poverty and hunger within five year period by implementing irrigation led budget.

African Comedy Need Support To Catch-up-Basketmouth

One of Africa’s top standup comedian, Basketmouth, says comedy industry in Africa require more support to reach to a level other continents have accomplished. 

Mphwiyo shooting Case; Kumwembe Wants Friday Jumbe As Kasambara Goes To Supreme Court Again

Mcdonald Kumwembe suspected shooter in the attempted murder of former Budget Director Paul Mphwiyo, has asked court to summon to court Mr. Friday Jumbe, former Minister of Finance as his witness.

Kumwembe also mentioned former Peoples Party spokes person, Patrick Gada and Robert Asumi to be among the list of his witnesses. 

The accused however, rescinded his earlier decision to have two policemen, Mr. MacLean and Mr. Thengo in court as witnesses because of the nature of their job. 

Towards the end of hearing of the case on Friday, there was bail application from Raphael Kasambara of which the ruling by Judge Michael Mtambo will be delivered to towards the week ending on 18th December 2015 through emails.

Kasambara served the court with notice that he is once again appealing to the Supreme Court of Appeal, now to a panel of three judges after his first attempt which was presided by a single judge got dismissed.

The High Court revoked bail of Kasambara over noncompliance to his bail conditions and he appealed the decision to the Supreme Court before a single judge but it was dismissed.

The Court Sets 4th and 5th January 2016 as dates for the continuation of the case.

The defense hearing resumed sitting on Thursday, 10th December till afternoon of Friday, 11th December 2015 at Lilongwe High Court. On Thursday the State continued and finished to cross-examine First Accused McDonald Kumwembe after which Raphael Kasambara started cross-examining the witness up to Friday.

However during cross examination by Kasambara who is the third accused in the case, Kumwembe told the court that the state has no evidence linking him to the shooting as there is nowhere in all the 3 affidavits that were among the people former budget director Paul Mphwiyo had mentioned in all his three caution statements.

Kumwembe is the first accused in the Mphywiyo shooting case to enter defense. He was charged together with Pika Manondo of Attempted Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Murder of Formwe Budget Director Paul Mphwiyo while Raphael Kasambara is answering one count of Conspiracy to Commit Murder.

ACB Calls For Patriotism Ahead Of Commemorations

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has encouraged citizens to continue working with the Bureau in the fight against corruption.

Senior Public Relations at ACB, Egrita Ndala made the call ahead of International Anti-Corruption Day commemorations scheduled for 17th December 2015 at Chisitu ground in Mulanje district.

Speaking in an interview, Ndala noted with gratitude the encouraging support and participation the Bureau got from people this year in the fight against corruption. Among others she said people were able to provide the Bureau with tips, able to cooperate when being interviewed as well as being available to Court when asked to.

“We see that there is that participation from people, but what we would want to ask is patriotism because this fight is not for ACB alone, but is for everyone. So we would like everyone to be patriotic, to love their country and take part in the fight against corruption by not engaging in it.” She said

While adding encouraging people to continue reporting to ACB on any suspected corruption acts, Ndala also urged Malawians to take part in civic educating others on dangers of corruption to the country. 

“They can also educate others on importance of desisting, rejecting and reporting corruption because sometimes people do things out of ignorance, so they should us help in educating people that practicing corruption is evil and bad to our country.” urged Ndala

The ACB is commemorating International Anti-Corruption Day on 17th December 2015 at Chisitu ground in Mulanje district under theme ‘Patriotism Key to Fighting Corruption’. Initially the Bureau planned to commemorate this year’s event on 9th December  at the same venue.

The Bureau used to commemorate the National Anti-Corruption Day on February 5, but they changed to December 9 to match with the World Corruption Day.

Parliamentarians Asked To Read, Get Used To House Rules

National Assembly has urged Legislatures to always read Parliamentary Standing Orders and other relevant laws to enhance transaction of business in the National Assembly.  

The call comes ahead of Second Meeting of 46 Session of the National Assembly expected in February 2015 for Mid Year Budget Review.

Problems with adherence to Standing Orders was common in just ended First Meeting of 46th Session of the National Assembly. Most legislatures were presenting different matters by quoting wrong rules of the House. The problem was causing unnecessary attention and debate in the House.

Francis Kasaila

Leader of House, Francis Kasaila while admiting that adherence to Standing Order is a big challenge in the House, he also observed that this has affected the transaction of the business in the House.

Kasaila said it is sad that the problem continues to happen in the House although the Secretariat has been organizing the training sessions at MIM. However, since the House shall continue to provide some orientation workshops with strong emphasis on proper use and adherence to Standing Orders, Kasaila said there is possibly therefore that this problem will come to an end soon if parliamentarians begins to make good use of the Standing Orders.

"I believe that at the end of the day when everybody else is oriented and trained probably we will be able to transact our business here much better. But it also requires all of us as members to find time to read Standing Orders and understand them. Not just Standing Orders but other laws, because we have those books, laws of Malawi they are there because they are supposed to be reference materials.

We need to read them and when we bring any business here we should know that that business should not be in contradiction with the existing laws because if we do that then that becomes null and void. This is something that all of us should try and get acquainted to” urged Kasaila