DAPP Malawi Mobilize Communities To Plant 38,000 Trees In Three Districts

Members of community taking part in
Tree planting 

As rainy season continues, DAPP Malawi has already planted a total of 38,000 trees in Mzimba, Chiradzulu and Blantyre districts.

DAPP Malawi Project managers and project leaders in the three districts mobilized the community and planted 38,000 trees in order to combat climate change and improve agricultural yields by improving soil fertility.

“The tree planting exercise was done together with community members in the areas that DAPP Malawi has projects which in turn create structures that care for the trees.” said DAPP Malawi Partnership Manager Charlotte Danckert

The institution has since encouraged Malawians to plant trees this rainy season because at the moment the landscape in Malawi has experienced a vast rate of deforestation mainly due to population growth. 

“The population has increased pressure on the environment as the demand for wood for construction of houses, fuel for energy and business infrastructure. So in order to achieve the targets in the initiative our project managers and leaders also sensitized community on the dangers of climate change and how it is affecting their agricultural yields.” Said Danckert

According to Danckert the organization supports with extension services micro committees to monitor the implementation of the project.

Sekumana Investments Promotes Hospital Births During Festive Season Donation At Area 25 Health Centre

Edwin Mauluka presenting gifts to women at
Area 25 Maternity wing 

Lilongwe based business, Sekumana Investments, donated food items and other gifts to women in the Maternity Wing at Area 25 Health Centre in Lilongwe as part of commemorating Christmas and New Year festive season on Saturday, and made a strong message that women should go against the culture and deliver in hospitals.

Mphwiyo Shooting Case: Kasambara Former Chauffer Contradicts Housemaid Testimony

Chauffer of then Justice Minister, Raphael Kasambara testimony before Lilongwe High Court on Tuesday, denys’ witness of a former housemaid of Kasambara on events that took place a day after Paul Mphwiyo was shot.

The driver, Fostino Chimwaza told the court that in the morning of 14th September 2013, went to Kasambara’s house and found Mercedez Benz silver in color parked in front of Kasambara’s house contradicting last year testimony of Jessie Mussa, former housemaid of Kasambara who informed court that the very same day, that vehicle was hidden parked behind Servant Quarters and it had its number plates removed. 

The former driver also told court that that morning he drove wife of Kasambara to Kasungu opposed to former housemaid claim that on that day she was with Kasambara’s wife at Lilongwe Golf Club and that while there, Kasambara’s wife told her that the man she saw at home the previous day evening is Paul Mphwiyo and has been shot.

However, the driver’s testimony indicates that with Kasambara’s wife he spent whole day in Kasungu attending burial of nephew to the country’s then First Gentleman, Richard Banda (husband to former president Dr. Joyce Banda). 

He said, they arrived back in Lilongwe around 6 pm and that it could have not been possible for Kasambara’s wife to go to Lilongwe Golf Club with her child and the housemaid.

Former Justice minister, Raphael Kasambara is answering charge of conspiracy of attempted murder of former budget director Paul Mphwiyo on 13th September 2013. While Pika Manondo and McDonald Kumwembe are answering the same charge together with the charge of attempted murder.

The former housemaid was also on record in her last year testimony that she saw on 13th September 2013 the man who was later revealed to her as Paul Mphwiyo arriving at Kasambara’s house with a bag which contained huge sums of money.

She further told court that she was unceremoniously fired by Kasambara and while on her way home, she got a phone call from Kasambara’s wife warning to zip her mouth on what she saw at Kasambara’s house and anything related to Paul Mphwiyo shooting because Kasambara was not involved in the shooting.


Arms Deal And Government Plot Against Kasambara

Dauka (in black shirt and drinking water)

Earlier the court heard astounding testimony from Dauka Manondo who was acquited in the case saying the Paul Mphwiyo shooting is related to arms deal and that the interest of Government in the case is only to bay for blood of Raphael Kasambara.

Dauka disclosed to Lilongwe High court that his brother Pika Manondo together with Paul Mphwiyo had a deal of supplying ammunition to the Malawi Defense Force. He said his brother travelled together with Mphwiyo to South Africa on 6th September and came back on 10th September 2013 (according to Pika travel documents) for the said arms deal and he returned three days before the shooting.

He explained during examination by his brother Pika who is representing himself that on 14th September 2013 him (Dauka) called his brother Pika if he knows who might be the shooter and possible reason.

"I asked you (Pika) who do you think has shot Paul Mphwiyo, you answered that this was probably the issue related to the arms deal and that the person had wanted money." Said Dauka

Paul Mphwiyo was shot at the gate of his house in area 43 around midnight of 13th September 2013.

Dauka explained that him as close friend to Paul Mphwiyo is aware of security cameras at Paul Mphwiyo residence which were functional and could have captured the shooting incident at his gate.

But when Pika asked Dauka if during his arrest he ever tried to tell Police to check on security cameras Dauka replied  he did and was told that "they were only interested in financier of the shooting as they already knew who shot" and about CCTV they just laughed before saying "they know it" and disclosed that this was said by the police officer named Maurice Makwinja.

He then disclosed that after his bail, he was called to Kanengo police, by Maurice Makwinja. He said Makwinja told him, that, then Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Bruno Kalemba wanted to meet him but he refused "because I was so bitter with my arrests"

He then said he was told that "I will and you (Pika) suffer because we are not cooperative to be state witness against Kasambara who Kalemba was after for"

During questioning by Kasambara, Dauka repeated that he refused to meet Bruno Kalemba because he was very bitter, since Kalemba "wanted me to be witness to testify against you and convince Pika to testify against you as they said you were the main target"

Mphwiyo Shooting Case: State To Object Defense On Call For Matemba, M’bweza

Kumwembe wants Matemba and Mb'weza in court

The prosecution in the case of conspiracy and attempted murder of former budget director Paul Mphwiyo has informed court that it will file a formal objection against defense stand to subpoena Reyneck Matemba and Sam M’bweza 

On Monday, defense asked court to invite two Anti-Corruption Bureau officers Reyneck Matemba and Sam M’bweza 

“Even though you can compel person to come and testify, it is not everyone who is compellable. You can’t force everyone. There are situations where court say you cannot compel this one. And we are going to submit that Mr. Reyneck Matemba and Mr. Sam M’bweza fall into those categories.” Said Mary Kachale Director of Public Prosecution

There was also long misunderstanding on procedure to call Brown Mpinganira 

Chitedze Research Station Be A Commission- Jumbe

Member of Parliament for Salima Central, Felix Jumbe says Malawi can enhance functions of Research Stations and also put to an end issues of inadequate funding for these institutions by turning Chitedze Research Station to become National Research Commission of Malawi. 

Jumbe also Chairperson for Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Food and Water Development, said in an interview that, at the moment Chitedze Research Station and all other research stations in the country are failing to function as it were in the past because of lack of Funding.

He said following the recent de-linking of Chitedze Research Station from Luanar turning the Research Stations as Authority will be the best way of improving effiencies than keeping them within Government Departments under Ministry of Agriculture.

The Research Stations in Malawi are among Government Departments under Ministry of Agriculture.

However, Hon Jumbe said there is need to reorganize these institutions whose organization structures were designed in 1960’s for them to deliver with efficiency at this time.

He therefore said the best alternative to the funding for research stations and ensure efficiency is to make them a standalone institution which can carry out agricultural research tasks for private sector at a fee. 

“We would rather want to see Chitedze Research Station becoming a National Research Commission of Malawi that would cover, Lunyangwa, Bvumbwe and all the research stations to be under their control” said Jumbe

He said other countries like Zambia and Kenya have done the same.

“If Chitedze become a Commission, will enable it to interface with private sector undertake work of Private sector on payment basis and make them be able to make money own their own.” He said 

“Chitedze Research Station is not functioning as it were in the past because of lack of Funding. But, to me lack of funding is lack of planning and lack of thinking; that we need to reform Chitedze and other research stations so that they could be operating own their own.

Chitedze has got a lot of land and capacity. They can undertake research for different companies on different fields and this can be at a fee.” 

He emphasize that this will help government agenda of breeding quality seeds and improved varieties and breed of animals.

He also said his committee will take this matter further by interface with the Minister to make him understand its importance so that the ministry can make a proposal of turning all the Research stations to become Commission.

Nutricom Cheers Up Patients, Promise To Fix Some Challenges At Area 18 Health Centre

Official from Nutricom giving gifts to a woman

on the floor are some Items donated to the patients 

A local company, Nutricom, brought laughter on New Year’s Eve to patients and guardians at Area 18 Health Centre in Lilongwe, when the company paid a visit to shared with them various food items including their famous product, Kombucha juice.

Peter Ndalama, Director for Nutricom while cheering up the patients made a promise to the hospital management that the company is coming back make a donation of bedsheets and help to sort out some other challenges facing the health centre.

Masiyano in white gown and to his left is Ndalama

Ndalama and Masiyano giving gifts to patient 

Ndalama said as the year of 2015 comes to an end enters 2016, Nutricom felt the importance of cheer-up the sick at Area 18 Health Centre which is closer to the company’s operational area.

The company presented to each patient some New Year’s Eve gifts which included various food items and some toiletries. 

For these gifts, Ndalama said “We also knew that the clinic has admitted some patients who may not be able to access to some basic items during this festive season.” He then added that this was also part of showing appreciation to the society for the good business happened in just ended year of 2015.

Apart from reaching out to patients, Nutricom has also committed itself to fix some challenges facing the Health Centre.

“When we entered the hospital wards, we noted that the Health Centre has inadequate bed sheets. So we are definitely coming back soon to donate the bed sheets. 

We also learnt that their water reservoir is not functioning, so on Monday (on 3rd January 2016) we are sending our Plumber to fix the problem.” Assures Ndalama

Masiyano

Meanwhile, the Chief Clinical Officer for the Health Centre, Kedson Masiyano has expressed the hospital’s sincere appreciation for the gesture and asked other companies to borrow leaf from Nutricom.

Masiyano explaning more about the hospital to
Nutricom officials

“We are very excited and it has been a double celebration for us. We are just coming out of Christmas and we are entering a new year, so with their coming they have assisted us with food items for patients. As you may know, Area 18 Health Centre does not have a kitchen. Patients that we keep they bring their own food from home but some of them do have some challenges to access the food.” Said Masiyano

He further highlighted that the food items that have been given to patients was complimenting to the hospital’s advice that patients must always take nutritious food.

Speaking on the promised support from the company, the Chief Clinical Officer said Nutricom assistance “is a positive move in the right direction” 

Masiyano pointed out that at the moment the health centre does not have enough bedclothes and for this reason most patients bring beddings from home.

On the problem of water reservoir he said; “Sometimes we do face problems with intermittent water supply from the Water Board and yet we do have a reservoir which is not functioning for some time.”

ETG Sales Clerks In Custody For Overcharging Subsidised Fertiliser

Two female sales clerk for Export Trading Group (ETG) in Mwanza district have been arrested for allegedly overpricing fertiliser under Government 'Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP)' meant for smallholder farmers.

Under FISP, smallholder farmers are buying each bag of fertilizer at K3, 500. However the two officers asking farmers to pay an extra K1,500 per bag of the commodity.

Two employees Thokozani Chitaonga aged 18 and Martha Jali aged 32 working at Mchotseni ETG Depot were caught red handed after a victim customer reported them to police.

Confirming on the development, Mwanza district Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Edwin Kaunda, said as the two were on duty on Tuesday selling fertiliser they told a customer wanting to buy two bags of fertilizer to pay more than normal price.

Inspector Kaunda said when the customer identified as Richard Mikeasi was about to pay for his two bags of fertilizer the two female sales clerks asked him to pay K10 thousand instead of K7 thousand.

"The customer was surprised to hear these women asking him to pay extra K3 thousand to get two bags of fertiliser. But he accepted to pay as told and he later tipped police about his encounter at the shop." Explains Kaunda

"When we got the information we did not hesitate to effect an arrest of these two women" said Kaunda

The suspects Thokozani Chitaonga aged 18 hails from Malili village in the area of Traditional Authority Malili in Lilongwe while her accomplice Martha Jali aged 32 hails from Mapila village in the area of Traditional Authority Njolomole in Ntcheu district.

The Police officer said the two will get charges of Official Corruption and are expected to appear in court soon.