Manet+ Epress Worry Over Mw Govt Failure To Meet Abuja Declaration Targets

Safari Mbewe

An ambrella body of people living with HIVMalawi Network of People Living with HIV (Manet+), says Malawi seems to be far from meeting agreed target of allocating 15% of the total national budget to the health sector.

The body has expressed its concern during the stakeholder Meeting aiming at strategizing as CSOs on what they can do to help Government meet its commitment made in 2001 on Abuja Declaration.

In 2001 African Governments including Malawi  committed to allocate at least 15% of total annual budget to the health sector, However, records indicates that in 2012/2013 budget, Malawi allocated 12%, in 2013/2014 it was 8.3% while in 2014/2016 budget the allocation was 9.7%.

Safari Mbewe, executive Director for Manet+ said Malawi Government failure to fulfill its commitment to allocate 15% of national budget towards health sector is a worrisome development looking at how at the moment the health sector is continuously struggling to provide services.

“We are concerned on issues of sustainable financing especially when we reflect back on the commitment that our own Government made and this is in line with 2001 Abuja Declaration where our government committed to contribute at least 15% of the domestic resources towards health.”

And we see that that commitment is not being fulfilled and especially when we see the challenges that are facing our health delivery system”

Daniel Mkandawire, Mary Mount Catholic Secondary School Crowned Best In Old Mutual Maths Olympiad

Daniel Mkandawire of Nkhotakota Secondary School emerged as the best student and Mary Mount Catholic Secondary as the best school, during secondary school Mathematics competition dubbed “Old Mutual Maths Olympiad”

This year’s (2016) Old Mutual Mathematics Olympiad National Competition attracted 167 participants from 58 schools across the country representing 18 districts and drew to a close on Thursday.

This year, each school was allowed to send a maximum of three participants and out of the 167 participants, 64 were female and 103 were male.

As part of its corporate responsibility, Old Mutual—a long-term savings, protection and investment Group which provides life assurance, asset management and unit trusts in the country—sponsors the competition as a way of promoting interest in Mathematics among secondary school students in the country. This highly competitive competition is done in partnership with Mzuzu University’s department of Mathematics.  

Secondary school students across the country sit for a number of Mathematics examination papers aiming at identifying the 'crème de la crème' of Mathematics in the competition. 

After gruelling three examinations, Daniel Mkandawire of Nkhotakota emerged as the best student and was awarded K70, 000 cash prize together with a scientific calculator, while other 24 best students also walked home with cash prize, a scientific calculator and a certificate.

The competition had three stages. All students took a preliminary exam on Monday, 11th January.  A total of 75 qualified for semi final examinations which were written on Tuesday, 12th January. Out of these, 54 were male and 21 were female.

The top 25 students wrote the final exam on Wednesday, 13th January. 8 females made it into the final against 17 boys. 

This year, the Department of Mathematics also ranked the best Mathematics schools. This was dependent on the performance of their students. The score obtained by a school was the total score obtained by its representatives at all stages of the competition.

The best three schools this year were Mary Mount Catholic Secondary School, St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary School, Kasungu Secondary School, Chaminade Secondary School and Mzuzu Government Secondary School.

Two Men Arrested For Stealing Gun Belonging To Mw Evangelist Shadreck Wame

Police in Salima are keeping in lawful custody two young men for stealing Greener rifle (gun) which belongs to Malawi's renown Evangelist, Shadreck Wame. 

Police in the district have identified the two as Sayenera Chisomo aged 20 and Michael Esau aged 22 who were working as tenants at Pastor's estate located at Chifuniro village, T/A Kalonga in Salima.

"On the night of 26th December 2015 the two broke into the house of their master while the owner was away and stole a Greener rifle(gun) together with 17 rounds of ammunitions and escaped an arrest." Says Sub Inspector Gift Chitowe, Salima District Police Public Relations Officer

He went on, "When the owner had returned from where he went, he was surprised to see that his rifle was missing and his tenants also were nowhere to be traced."

Chitowe said the suspects were arrested following man hunt operation launched by police after receiving several leads to their whereabouts.

Sub Inspector Chitowe said the  first suspect was apprehended at his home village of Kamwana T/A Mponela in Dowa district who revealed that the rifle was with the his accomplice, who was also at his home village of Godi, T/A Kabudula in Lilongwe district where the rifle was recovered together with the amunitions.

The two suspects will appear in court soon where they will be answering to Burglary and Theft charges.

Ntchisi ADMARC Official In Maize, Fertilizer Theft; Police Officer Involved

• Admarc official was arrested on after stealing Maize worth close to a Million Kwacha after customer logged complaints about fertilizer 
• Few hours after arrest police were tipped that last night he diverted 300 bags of fertiliser subsidy with help of Police Officer 

Police officer was also involved in fertilizer theft

Police in Ntchisi have arrested Unit Marketing Officer for Msumba ADMARC for allegedly stealing maize valued close to a Million Kwacha and few hours after his arrest, police stumbled upon information connecting him to the missing 300 bags of subsidy fertiliser in Ntchisi district.

Police have identified the suspect as George Kambwiri, aged 56, of Nankhako village in the area of Traditional Authority Ntema in Lilongwe.

Ntchisi Police Public Relations Officer Sergeant Gladson M'bumpha says his arrest on maize allegations came following complaints from customers around Msumba ADMARC depot that the officer had tricked them to pay money for fertilizer but was unable to give them the commodity in return.

M'bumpha says "The complaints reached ADMARC officials at Mponela who reacted by sending an internal auditor supervisor, Prince George Kambwiri to follow up the matter but upon carrying out  maize and fertilizer stock inspection at the depot, it was discovered that bags of maize in quantities of 50kgs worth K787, 930 (Seven Hundred and Eighty Seven Thousand Kwacha, Nine Hundred and Thirty Kwacha), were found missing."

M'bumpha says police arrested the Unit Marketing Officer on charges of Theft by Servant immediately when the incident was reported to Ntchisi Police Station on 15th January, 2016.

He further indicated that, police in the district are investigating other complaints related to the matter and in the mean time, no single bag of maize has been recovered.

Fertilizer Scandal Involving Police Officer 

As police are continuing with the maize investigations, have also leveled new charge to George Kambwiri on Official Corruption after coming across information that the maize suspect, was involved together with three other individuals among them a police officer, in fertiliser theft which occurred night before his arrest.

Sergeant M'bumpha has disclosed that Kambwiri is currently in police custody together with the three accomplices suspected to be responsible of the missing 300 bags of 50kgs containing Urea fertilizer meant for Nsinda and Mzandu ADMARC depots in Ntchisi.

Three other suspects have been identified as Dalitso Chafika, a driver aged 36, business man, Chikondi Kalulu aged 34, and a police officer, Sub Inspector Stephen Katundu working at VIP Branch in Lilongwe. 

"The motor vehicle registration number BU 3009 for Apita Investment carrying subsidy fertilizer from Kanengo to Mzandu and Nsinda ADMARC selling points in Ntchisi under police escort of Sub Inspector Stephen Katundu was diverted to Msumba ADMARC selling point (where Kambwiri worked as Unit Marketing Officer) where 200 bags were offloaded and the remaining 100 bags were sold to a vendor at Ntchisi Trading Centre" explains M'bumpha

Police Public Relations Officer for Ntchisi district, Sergeant Gladson M'bumpha says the  fertiliser of Urea type was under Government program, Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP) being sold to smallholder farmers.

According to M'bumpha police have established that business man, Chikondi Kalulu bribed the Unit Marketing Officer with K175, 000, the driver with K130, 000, the Police officer with K50,000 and assistant driver with K20,000.

"The Unit Marketing Officer (George Kambwiri) admitted to have been bribed." confirmed M'bumpha

Driver, Dalitso Chafika comes from Chizumba village, Traditional Authority Ntema in Lilongwe, while business man, Chikondi Kalulu comes from Ndendere village, Traditional Authority Chikho in Ntchisi and Sub Inspector Stephen Katundu works at VIP Branch in Lilongwe.

Man, 49, Admits Having Anal Sex With 15 Year Old Boy: Sentenced To 9 Years Imprisonment

Girls kissing 

A male security guard has been sentenced to 9 years imprisonment after admitting having forced anal sex with his junior, a 15 year old boy, between September and October 2015.

The convict Epharaim Kangandula aged 49 who hails from Njalam’mano village of T/A Saimoni in Mneno district had anal sex with the boy in two separate occasions when both were on night duty.

Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrate Court heard on Wednesday 13th January 2016 that both the convict and the victim were employees for Maka Security Company in the capital, city Lilongwe, and that the convict was a Security Supervisor.

Court heard from Police Prosecutor, Sergeant Daiton Phiri that in two separate occasions between 30th September and 5th October 2015, Mr. Kangandula had sexual acts with his male junior and these incidences happened at their office premises.

The prosecutor, explained in court that on the first occasion, just like it happened on the second day, the convict told the victim that they will work together at the office during the night. But in the middle of the night, the convict invited the young man into a dark room and switched off his torch when the boy entered the room.

Court heard that in both occasions, Mr. Kangandula, would lay on his back naked, ordering his junior to perform foreplay on his genitals. Then, he would order the boy to remove his pants while he stands in a bend position and have anal sex afterwards.

The prosecutor, Daiton Phiri, said, in all occasions, the young man was warned not to reveal the sexual ordeal to anybody and that if he does he will be killed.

Court was further told that, few days after the two separate incidences, the boy had abnormal stomach pains while at work and was sobbing  incessantly and was given pain killers by the convict. However, the pain never stopped and was forced to privately disclosed about the sexual encounter with his supervisor to his trusted workmate who took the matter to Area 36 Police Unit.

Kamuzu Central Hospital examination proved that there was canal knowledge.

On Wednesday, the convict asked court during mitigation that he wants leniency because he is old.

However, the Police prosecutor, Daiton Phiri prayed for stiffer punishment “This practice is unacceptable; in our laws, even in our cultures and our religious groups. More unfortunate thing is that this has happened to a young boy who is now traumatized by this incident. We pray for a stiffer sentence to deter the would be offenders”

In his verdict, Senior Resident Magistrate Paul Chiotcha said such acts are criminal in the country and agreed with prosecutor that it was sad that the incident happened to a young man. 

Before sentencing the man to 9 years imprisonment, Chiotcha also asked for good protection of young male victims in these incidences.

Public Hospital Problems: Everyone Needs To Support Hospitals

• A Health personnel believes Communities can help to end Public Hospital Woes just like they did during Chrismas and New Year Festivities helping Patient's 
• He said more company's and individuals came to help patients but forgotten hospitals striving to provide good care for patients

Kedson Masiyano

The noble gesture of hospital visits to share gifts with patients as part of festivities for Christmas and New Year may actually be unforeseeable lesson to communities that in the same manner they helped patients, they can make a collective efforts to end uncountable challenges facing public hospitals.

Says Kedson Masiyano Chief Clinical Officer for Area 18 Health Centre in the capital, Lilongwe, that the trend if continued throughout the year with focus on supporting public hospital facilities could be a problem solving for numerous challenges in hospitals.

He said during New Year and Christmas Festive Season Area 18 Health Centre saw a lot of well-wishers, companies and institutions coming to support patients admitted at the hospital. 

He said this noble course was done as the public hospital like many others, continue to experience number of problems while trying hard to save lives of patients.

He said communities around public hospitals like Area 18 Health Centre can draw a lesson from the spirit shown during festive season by taking ownership of their nearby hospital and start to solve the challenges so that people can start to see improvement in the quality of services from the public hospitals.

“Since this hospital is our hospital, people should take responsibility and ownership of the hospital by not expecting that Government can do everything.” Said Masiyano adding "Government has a lot of issues to take care of"

Masiyano said in an interview that the better way of solving public hospital challenges which includes insufficient beds and other hospital equipments is through ownership by communities than just sit and wait for government do everything.

“I urge companies and well-wishers to come forward, this is our hospital. Let’s assist where Government may not reach, in that way we will make the health of the people around this area better and in that way we will also help to make our health sector move forward” he said

At the moment, public hospitals are experiencing number of challenges including shortage of drugs, fuel for ambulances and beds due to inadequate funding from Government. Companies, institutions and well-wishers celebrated with the patients in hospitals across the nation, but probably overlooked the aspect of assisting also the public hospitals which are trying to save lives.

Mphwiyo Shooting Case: Mpinganjira Not Ready To Testify As His Summon Delayed

Brown Mpinganjira

On Thursday, Brown James Mpinganjira, failed to give testimony in the ongoing attempted murder case of former budget director Paul Mphwiyo because summons which were sent by the registrars’ office never reached his hands.

Mpinganira, former People’s Party (PP) Vice President for the Southern Region was expected to stand in court before Justice Michael Mtambo to inform the court what he knows about the attempted murder of former budget director Paul Mphwiyo in September 2013.

Judge presiding the ongoing case, Justice Michael Mtambo directed court that following evidence, it was necessary to call Mpinganjira whose name has been mentioned through ought. Victim, Paul Mphwiyo was first to name him when he told court that prior to his shooting former minister of information, Mpinganjira alerted him that people who are threatening him to make dubious payments had given him ultimatum of 10 days to live if he continues not to comply.

On Thursday morning, the former Mulanje Central Legislature, Mpinganjira, actually presented himself to court and held closed door meeting with both parties where he informed them that he never came to testify because court summons never reached him therefore he needed more time to spend with his lawyer since he was not ready to testify.

Chibwana

“What happened was that there was some kind of communication breakdown.” Explains Enock Chibwana, state advocate, “The one who was sent to Blantyre to give him the summon was "told that Mr. Mpinganjira lives in Mulanje and he did not travel to Mulanje to hand him the summon. Unfortunately, this information was never relayed to the court”

However, Chibwana said “Had he relayed the information that there was need to travel to Mulanje we would have done so. But since there is proof that he wasn’t served with the summons it is in the interest of justice that he should prepare himself before he takes stand”

 

Director of Public Prosecution, Mary Kachale informed court after the closed meeting with Mpinganjira that he will testify in the next sitting of court scheduled for  27, 28 and 29 January, 2016.

Later, in the day, Chief Secretary to the Government, George Mkondiwa who testified around ministerial engagements which Kasambara had starting on 13th September 2013 the day Paul Mphwiyo was shot and on 14th of September.

Mkondiwa replied to Kasambara during cross examination that "it would be surprising" to hear someone stating that on 13th September Kasambara was with Mphwiyo around 3pm following tesimony last year by his former nanny who claimed that on 13th September Kasambara was with Paul Mphwiyo who was later shot that night.

Later, the court heard testimony from Mercy Mwadiwa from Reserve Bank whose testimony concur with that made on yesterday by an economist Daniel Jenya that there was investigative meetings early September on suspicious rise in government expenditure immediately Paul Mphwiyo was appointed as budget director.

Paul Mphwiyo was shot the night of 13th September, 2013 while serving as budget director.

This unearthed massive plunder of public resources which led to number of arrests of public officers and business gurus.

Former Minister of Justice, Raphael Kasambara, is answering Conspiracy while two others, McDonald Kumwembe and Pika Manondo are both answering the same charge together with attempted murder.